“What? Shang’ai has sent troops?” Early in the morning, upon hearing the report from the scouts, Duan Moji’s face changed abruptly.
Just a few days ago, he received military orders; General Wang mobilized the forces from Ji City to launch a full-scale attack on Bing County. Duan Moji was somewhat relieved, thinking that the days of guarding the supply route were finally over.
After the unsuccessful siege a few days ago, losing thousands of soldiers, Duan Moji was left by the main commander near Jingxing. Officially, he was supposed to guard the supply route, but in reality, it was a way to blame him for damaging the morale of the army, stripping him of his vanguard title, and punishing him for his role. As the crown prince’s close confidant, Duan Moji couldn’t tolerate such treatment.
He had thought that as long as he endured a few more days, he could withdraw from this damned mountain pass. Unexpectedly, before the main army arrived, those soldiers from Bing County crawled out like tortoises from their shells.
Duan Moji stood up abruptly, “Perfect timing! The main army is about to reach Bing County. Since these rats have come out of the city, give me all the strength to attack! We must tear down Shang’ai City!”
After being bottled up in Jingxing for over a month, it was time to strike back and show those soldiers from Bing County some colors! Although most of his cavalry had been sent away, he still had twenty thousand infantry, twice as many as the defenders in Shang’ai City. He wasn’t good at siege warfare, but with a numerical advantage in an open-field battle, what was there to fear?
The troops and horses moved in unison, forming their battle formation and advancing. Mounted on his horse, Duan Moji squinted his eyes, gazing at the enemy formation in the distance. The enemy numbered over ten thousand, seemingly mobilizing all their forces. It appeared that these soldiers from Bing County had also heard about the mobilization from Ji City. However, even if it was a desperate battle, it would be futile!
“Cavalry, take the field and launch the first attack!” Duan Moji shouted loudly.
With the command of the war drums, three thousand light cavalry rushed out of the formation, like bloodthirsty birds of prey, pouncing towards the enemy!
“General! The enemy is attacking!” Beside Sun Jiao, the messenger reported loudly.
“Prepare the crossbow formation.” Sun Jiao’s tone remained unchanged. “Hold back the main force of the enemy and buy some time for General Tian.”
Although he had deployed all the troops, the decisive factor in this battle was not the frontal battlefield but the flank where General Tian’s forces were stationed. Sun Jiao certainly wanted to win a resounding victory, but winning the overall battle was more important than personal martial achievements.
Defense and containment were his specialties, after all.
Arrows filled the sky, and fast horses darted like lightning. Both armies hesitated no more and engaged in a fierce battle!
The deployment of forces was straightforward, but the expected results were not achieved. After half an hour, Duan Moji’s brow furrowed tightly. Why was the enemy so difficult to deal with? Despite their defensive formation, they held their ground as if defending a fortified city, leaving no room for frustration. Did he need to request reinforcements? With another three thousand light cavalry, he could easily break through this enemy force!
However, before he could make up his mind, there was commotion on the side of the camp.
Duan Moji roared, “What’s going on? Who dares to sow discord among our troops?!”
“General, it’s a serious matter!” A deputy commander on horseback approached. “The enemy has launched a surprise attack on our rear camp, and the supplies are all on fire!”
What?! Duan Moji’s body swayed, almost falling off his horse. To ensure the safety of the provisions, he had specifically dispatched three thousand elite soldiers to guard the camp. How could it have been breached? Wasn’t the enemy deploying all their troops?
“How many troops launched the surprise attack?” Duan Moji’s voice sounded like it was squeezed through his teeth.
“Enough, there are at least ten thousand…”
“Turn the right wing, hurry to support!” Duan Moji heard this and instantly understood. The enemies in front of him were just bait, trying to force him to divert his attention!
Duan Moji’s reaction was nothing short of swift. Withdrawing troops on the eve of battle, he did so methodically, keeping the battle formation intact.
But how could such a movement escape the eyes of others?
“General Tian has succeeded.” No need for communication, Sun Jiao already knew the situation at the rear. Watching the retreating enemy troops, he smirked, “Did they think we were just bait? Pass the order, charge!”
His Thunderbolt Army excelled in archery, but all the Liang family’s troops were fundamentally trained to face the enemy head-on!
As the war drums resounded, rows of soldiers stowed away their longbows and crossbow mechanisms, took up their weapons, and with gleaming sharpness, a forest of long spears advanced! With the majestic drumbeats, they stepped forward, a thousand as one, and the entire army charged!
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
The thunderous shouts echoed across the wilderness, like a released tiger, launching a charge!
Just as they changed their formation, how could Duan Moji anticipate the enemy’s sudden and swift arrival? With just one clash, the front troops collapsed!
“We can’t hold it! Retreat! Retreat! Hold onto the mountain pass!” Rows and rows of soldiers fell back to the front of the formation. Seeing signs of the army breaking apart, Duan Moji panicked and, under the protection of his guards, shouted loudly.
Provisions could be lost, and the army could be defeated, but this mountain pass was the lifeline to Ji County. He had to hold onto Jingxing. As long as the mountain pass was secure, the main army could continuously receive reinforcements from Ji County. What did losses or victories in this battle matter?
“General! The mountain pass, the mountain pass has fallen! The enemy is releasing arrows; we can’t get close!”
Hearing the scout’s report, Duan Moji felt his vision darken. How could this happen? Wasn’t there news just last night? How could Jingxing be lost like this? How could this happen!
No one could answer his questions.
On that day, the rear army of You County suffered a major defeat, and Jingxing fell!
“How is this possible?” The next day, when the military report arrived on his desk, Wang Chang couldn’t help but exclaim. It was the same exclamation!
Leaping Tiger struggled so hard, and the opponent just avoided battle, so how did they suddenly launch a counterattack? The front army of sixty thousand, with half of the provisions in the rear, once the supply line was cut, how could they continue the campaign? The damned Leaping Tiger had fortified their position and cleared the land, leaving them with not even a grain or a blade of grass!
“We need to quickly dispatch troops and recapture Jingxing! Don’t they know the main army has already reached Fanyang? In three or four days, they can reach Changshan Country. With a pincer attack from the front and rear, what is just a Jingxing?” Wang Chang felt an uncontrollable anger. If not for the consideration of Duan Jilu’s family, he would have scolded the useless waste Duan Mojii, who couldn’t withstand a single blow in the vanguard and suffered a total defeat guarding the rear!
Duan Jilu stepped forward, “Commander, this matter cannot be reckless! The soldiers of Bing County have always been cautious; their sudden attack may be a trap! If we hastily return to Shang’ai and fall into an ambush again, wouldn’t it be disastrous? As long as General Dajiang leads the army to reach Changshan, and both sides encircle, we will surely crush Jingxing. The provisions for the front army are still sufficient, and we can proceed steadily.”
This was his most profound realization during the month he spent in Bing County. Fighting Bing County troops was nothing like the engagements with official forces; it resembled more an operation to eliminate bandits in the mountains, and they were the kind of fierce bandits that would catch you off guard. One moment they’d attack, and the next, you wouldn’t even find their shadows. Anyone would struggle against such tactics. The sudden attack on the rear army’s supply route was not without preparation, as if they were dealing with the supernatural.
The best strategy was to be calm and withdraw gradually. Regardless of the enemy’s intentions, they needed to proceed according to their own pace.
Upon hearing this, Wang Chang hesitated for a moment but soon nodded, “The Prince’s words make sense. The news of General Dajiang’s mobilization should have spread throughout Jinyang by now. It must be Liang Zixi fearing chaos in the rear, prompting an early attack. Although we lost the supply route, our army still has sixty thousand troops, which is not a cause for concern. Issue the order to withdraw the camp cautiously and be alert against the enemy!”
This was a comprehensive strategy. Both Wang Chang and Duan Jilu had made ample preparations. However, when they eventually returned to Jingxing, they were met with another piece of bad news.
※
These days, Liang Feng hadn’t rested much; he waited patiently for news every day. The progress in Leping was extremely smooth. Sun Jiao and Tian Yun joined forces to defeat the rear army of You County, and the hidden elite soldiers in Jingxing took advantage of the situation to recapture the mountain pass. The entire supply route was completely cut off.
The remaining sixty thousand enemy troops did not act hastily; they slowly retreated to Shang’ai. This was also expected. What awaited them was not a sneak attack but a frontal assault, just waiting for the right moment. Waiting for the results transmitted back from You County.
That result did not disappoint Liang Feng.
Wang Jun was killed. In his seemingly impregnable main camp, he met an untimely death!
Yiyan, leading two thousand light cavalry, staged a false surrender and successfully attacked Wang Jun, causing the main camp to collapse. No one knew how he accomplished it, but the news was not false. The troops stationed in Zhao County had already begun attacking Changshan County. There would be no one breaking through Jingxing anymore. The remaining sixty thousand Xianbei troops in Bing County had become completely isolated.
Everything went smoothly, almost terrifyingly so. Except for one thing. Yiyan did not lead his troops back; instead, he changed direction and headed for Ji City.
Liang Feng was well aware of the significance of attacking Ji City at this moment. It was Wang Jun’s stronghold. Although his legitimate son was still young, there were several adult illegitimate sons in the city. The dispersal of the main camp would not result in many casualties; even if there were some injuries, it would only be superficial. Once someone consolidated this large army, what did it matter if Wang Jun died? It would just be a change of leadership. However, that would be a formidable enemy harboring hatred for Bing County, relentless and unforgiving.
Yet Yiyan would not allow such an enemy to linger on the side of Bing County. He intended to eliminate all threats at their inception! Once Ji City fell into chaos, the enemy would lose its supply route and its core. Regardless of the faction, they would not be able to focus on Bing County. They needed to quickly return to You County and contend for the power left behind by the Wang family. Apart from Wang Jun’s direct line, there were also the somewhat distant relations of the Duan and Yuwen families, and even the Murong and Tuoba Xianbei were watching closely. With various factions vying for power, You County would be thrown into chaos!
And this, precisely, was the best opportunity for the development and growth of Bing County.
Yiyan’s strategic vision was truly unparalleled. But what would he have to endure? A remnant army racing hundreds of miles to the enemy’s stronghold. Could they make it back?
Somewhere in his chest, pain surged, as if a knife were stirring. Liang Feng reached out, steadying himself on the desk in front of him. The day he ordered the troops to march, a secret message arrived that very night. He remembered every word. Yiyan said he wanted to apologize and would not let down Liang Feng’s efforts. However, he did not mention the dangers he would have to face.
That letter was almost like a farewell.
“Go to Shangdang…” After what seemed like an eternity, Liang Feng finally spoke.
“My Lord?” Sun Li, who had been waiting silently, was somewhat confused. The news of Wang Jun’s death had already arrived. Why was his Lord acting so… lost? Weren’t they supposed to be victorious?
“I want to go to Shangdang.” Liang Feng did not pay attention to Sun Li’s astonishment, rising to his feet.
“What? My Lord?” Sun Li was truly shocked this time, quickly trying to dissuade him. “My Lord, the situation is still unstable. If you go to Shangdang now, what will happen to Jinyang if it falls into chaos…”
The news of Wang Jun’s death and the dispersion of the main camp had not spread. At present, many noble families only knew that You County was about to send a large army, and their minds were in turmoil, eager to take advantage of the chaos. If the Lord were to leave, wouldn’t it give them an opportunity?
“Those who seek chaos will find it. If it doesn’t happen this time, it will happen next time. If I leave, won’t I make it easier for them?” Liang Feng’s voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling resolve.
Sun Li shivered. Was the Lord trying to lure the snakes out of their holes? Yes, once the Lord headed to Shangdang, assuming a defensive stance, wouldn’t those opportunistic factions take advantage of the chaos? Killing Wang Jun and eliminating the unruly noble families would resolve both internal and external threats. This was indeed the safest course of action.
However, Sun Li still needed to offer his advice. He added, “If that’s the case, my Lord must bring enough troops to prevent disturbances by rogue forces.”
Liang Feng nodded slightly but didn’t say much. Was this just a ploy to lure the enemy? No, he was going to Shangdang to wait for Yiyan’s return! The battle in Bing County was not over, and he couldn’t spare the forces to rush there, especially not to catch up with Yiyan. But at least, he could go to Shangdang and wait for him—the closest point to the mountain pass, the first place Yiyan would return to!
He would come back.
Liang Feng took a step forward, his gait slightly unsteady. But soon, he halted the almost imperceptible tremor, step by step, walking away.
“What? Shang’ai has sent troops?” Early in the morning, upon hearing the report from the scouts, Duan Moji’s face changed abruptly.
Just a few days ago, he received military orders; General Wang mobilized the forces from Ji City to launch a full-scale attack on Bing County. Duan Moji was somewhat relieved, thinking that the days of guarding the supply route were finally over.
After the unsuccessful siege a few days ago, losing thousands of soldiers, Duan Moji was left by the main commander near Jingxing. Officially, he was supposed to guard the supply route, but in reality, it was a way to blame him for damaging the morale of the army, stripping him of his vanguard title, and punishing him for his role. As the crown prince’s close confidant, Duan Moji couldn’t tolerate such treatment.
He had thought that as long as he endured a few more days, he could withdraw from this damned mountain pass. Unexpectedly, before the main army arrived, those soldiers from Bing County crawled out like tortoises from their shells.
Duan Moji stood up abruptly, “Perfect timing! The main army is about to reach Bing County. Since these rats have come out of the city, give me all the strength to attack! We must tear down Shang’ai City!”
After being bottled up in Jingxing for over a month, it was time to strike back and show those soldiers from Bing County some colors! Although most of his cavalry had been sent away, he still had twenty thousand infantry, twice as many as the defenders in Shang’ai City. He wasn’t good at siege warfare, but with a numerical advantage in an open-field battle, what was there to fear?
The troops and horses moved in unison, forming their battle formation and advancing. Mounted on his horse, Duan Moji squinted his eyes, gazing at the enemy formation in the distance. The enemy numbered over ten thousand, seemingly mobilizing all their forces. It appeared that these soldiers from Bing County had also heard about the mobilization from Ji City. However, even if it was a desperate battle, it would be futile!
“Cavalry, take the field and launch the first attack!” Duan Moji shouted loudly.
With the command of the war drums, three thousand light cavalry rushed out of the formation, like bloodthirsty birds of prey, pouncing towards the enemy!
“General! The enemy is attacking!” Beside Sun Jiao, the messenger reported loudly.
“Prepare the crossbow formation.” Sun Jiao’s tone remained unchanged. “Hold back the main force of the enemy and buy some time for General Tian.”
Although he had deployed all the troops, the decisive factor in this battle was not the frontal battlefield but the flank where General Tian’s forces were stationed. Sun Jiao certainly wanted to win a resounding victory, but winning the overall battle was more important than personal martial achievements.
Defense and containment were his specialties, after all.
Arrows filled the sky, and fast horses darted like lightning. Both armies hesitated no more and engaged in a fierce battle!
The deployment of forces was straightforward, but the expected results were not achieved. After half an hour, Duan Moji’s brow furrowed tightly. Why was the enemy so difficult to deal with? Despite their defensive formation, they held their ground as if defending a fortified city, leaving no room for frustration. Did he need to request reinforcements? With another three thousand light cavalry, he could easily break through this enemy force!
However, before he could make up his mind, there was commotion on the side of the camp.
Duan Moji roared, “What’s going on? Who dares to sow discord among our troops?!”
“General, it’s a serious matter!” A deputy commander on horseback approached. “The enemy has launched a surprise attack on our rear camp, and the supplies are all on fire!”
What?! Duan Moji’s body swayed, almost falling off his horse. To ensure the safety of the provisions, he had specifically dispatched three thousand elite soldiers to guard the camp. How could it have been breached? Wasn’t the enemy deploying all their troops?
“How many troops launched the surprise attack?” Duan Moji’s voice sounded like it was squeezed through his teeth.
“Enough, there are at least ten thousand…”
“Turn the right wing, hurry to support!” Duan Moji heard this and instantly understood. The enemies in front of him were just bait, trying to force him to divert his attention!
Duan Moji’s reaction was nothing short of swift. Withdrawing troops on the eve of battle, he did so methodically, keeping the battle formation intact.
But how could such a movement escape the eyes of others?
“General Tian has succeeded.” No need for communication, Sun Jiao already knew the situation at the rear. Watching the retreating enemy troops, he smirked, “Did they think we were just bait? Pass the order, charge!”
His Thunderbolt Army excelled in archery, but all the Liang family’s troops were fundamentally trained to face the enemy head-on!
As the war drums resounded, rows of soldiers stowed away their longbows and crossbow mechanisms, took up their weapons, and with gleaming sharpness, a forest of long spears advanced! With the majestic drumbeats, they stepped forward, a thousand as one, and the entire army charged!
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
The thunderous shouts echoed across the wilderness, like a released tiger, launching a charge!
Just as they changed their formation, how could Duan Moji anticipate the enemy’s sudden and swift arrival? With just one clash, the front troops collapsed!
“We can’t hold it! Retreat! Retreat! Hold onto the mountain pass!” Rows and rows of soldiers fell back to the front of the formation. Seeing signs of the army breaking apart, Duan Moji panicked and, under the protection of his guards, shouted loudly.
Provisions could be lost, and the army could be defeated, but this mountain pass was the lifeline to Ji County. He had to hold onto Jingxing. As long as the mountain pass was secure, the main army could continuously receive reinforcements from Ji County. What did losses or victories in this battle matter?
“General! The mountain pass, the mountain pass has fallen! The enemy is releasing arrows; we can’t get close!”
Hearing the scout’s report, Duan Moji felt his vision darken. How could this happen? Wasn’t there news just last night? How could Jingxing be lost like this? How could this happen!
No one could answer his questions.
On that day, the rear army of You County suffered a major defeat, and Jingxing fell!
“How is this possible?” The next day, when the military report arrived on his desk, Wang Chang couldn’t help but exclaim. It was the same exclamation!
Leaping Tiger struggled so hard, and the opponent just avoided battle, so how did they suddenly launch a counterattack? The front army of sixty thousand, with half of the provisions in the rear, once the supply line was cut, how could they continue the campaign? The damned Leaping Tiger had fortified their position and cleared the land, leaving them with not even a grain or a blade of grass!
“We need to quickly dispatch troops and recapture Jingxing! Don’t they know the main army has already reached Fanyang? In three or four days, they can reach Changshan Country. With a pincer attack from the front and rear, what is just a Jingxing?” Wang Chang felt an uncontrollable anger. If not for the consideration of Duan Jilu’s family, he would have scolded the useless waste Duan Mojii, who couldn’t withstand a single blow in the vanguard and suffered a total defeat guarding the rear!
Duan Jilu stepped forward, “Commander, this matter cannot be reckless! The soldiers of Bing County have always been cautious; their sudden attack may be a trap! If we hastily return to Shang’ai and fall into an ambush again, wouldn’t it be disastrous? As long as General Dajiang leads the army to reach Changshan, and both sides encircle, we will surely crush Jingxing. The provisions for the front army are still sufficient, and we can proceed steadily.”
This was his most profound realization during the month he spent in Bing County. Fighting Bing County troops was nothing like the engagements with official forces; it resembled more an operation to eliminate bandits in the mountains, and they were the kind of fierce bandits that would catch you off guard. One moment they’d attack, and the next, you wouldn’t even find their shadows. Anyone would struggle against such tactics. The sudden attack on the rear army’s supply route was not without preparation, as if they were dealing with the supernatural.
The best strategy was to be calm and withdraw gradually. Regardless of the enemy’s intentions, they needed to proceed according to their own pace.
Upon hearing this, Wang Chang hesitated for a moment but soon nodded, “The Prince’s words make sense. The news of General Dajiang’s mobilization should have spread throughout Jinyang by now. It must be Liang Zixi fearing chaos in the rear, prompting an early attack. Although we lost the supply route, our army still has sixty thousand troops, which is not a cause for concern. Issue the order to withdraw the camp cautiously and be alert against the enemy!”
This was a comprehensive strategy. Both Wang Chang and Duan Jilu had made ample preparations. However, when they eventually returned to Jingxing, they were met with another piece of bad news.
※
These days, Liang Feng hadn’t rested much; he waited patiently for news every day. The progress in Leping was extremely smooth. Sun Jiao and Tian Yun joined forces to defeat the rear army of You County, and the hidden elite soldiers in Jingxing took advantage of the situation to recapture the mountain pass. The entire supply route was completely cut off.
The remaining sixty thousand enemy troops did not act hastily; they slowly retreated to Shang’ai. This was also expected. What awaited them was not a sneak attack but a frontal assault, just waiting for the right moment. Waiting for the results transmitted back from You County.
That result did not disappoint Liang Feng.
Wang Jun was killed. In his seemingly impregnable main camp, he met an untimely death!
Yiyan, leading two thousand light cavalry, staged a false surrender and successfully attacked Wang Jun, causing the main camp to collapse. No one knew how he accomplished it, but the news was not false. The troops stationed in Zhao County had already begun attacking Changshan County. There would be no one breaking through Jingxing anymore. The remaining sixty thousand Xianbei troops in Bing County had become completely isolated.
Everything went smoothly, almost terrifyingly so. Except for one thing. Yiyan did not lead his troops back; instead, he changed direction and headed for Ji City.
Liang Feng was well aware of the significance of attacking Ji City at this moment. It was Wang Jun’s stronghold. Although his legitimate son was still young, there were several adult illegitimate sons in the city. The dispersal of the main camp would not result in many casualties; even if there were some injuries, it would only be superficial. Once someone consolidated this large army, what did it matter if Wang Jun died? It would just be a change of leadership. However, that would be a formidable enemy harboring hatred for Bing County, relentless and unforgiving.
Yet Yiyan would not allow such an enemy to linger on the side of Bing County. He intended to eliminate all threats at their inception! Once Ji City fell into chaos, the enemy would lose its supply route and its core. Regardless of the faction, they would not be able to focus on Bing County. They needed to quickly return to You County and contend for the power left behind by the Wang family. Apart from Wang Jun’s direct line, there were also the somewhat distant relations of the Duan and Yuwen families, and even the Murong and Tuoba Xianbei were watching closely. With various factions vying for power, You County would be thrown into chaos!
And this, precisely, was the best opportunity for the development and growth of Bing County.
Yiyan’s strategic vision was truly unparalleled. But what would he have to endure? A remnant army racing hundreds of miles to the enemy’s stronghold. Could they make it back?
Somewhere in his chest, pain surged, as if a knife were stirring. Liang Feng reached out, steadying himself on the desk in front of him. The day he ordered the troops to march, a secret message arrived that very night. He remembered every word. Yiyan said he wanted to apologize and would not let down Liang Feng’s efforts. However, he did not mention the dangers he would have to face.
That letter was almost like a farewell.
“Go to Shangdang…” After what seemed like an eternity, Liang Feng finally spoke.
“My Lord?” Sun Li, who had been waiting silently, was somewhat confused. The news of Wang Jun’s death had already arrived. Why was his Lord acting so… lost? Weren’t they supposed to be victorious?
“I want to go to Shangdang.” Liang Feng did not pay attention to Sun Li’s astonishment, rising to his feet.
“What? My Lord?” Sun Li was truly shocked this time, quickly trying to dissuade him. “My Lord, the situation is still unstable. If you go to Shangdang now, what will happen to Jinyang if it falls into chaos…”
The news of Wang Jun’s death and the dispersion of the main camp had not spread. At present, many noble families only knew that You County was about to send a large army, and their minds were in turmoil, eager to take advantage of the chaos. If the Lord were to leave, wouldn’t it give them an opportunity?
“Those who seek chaos will find it. If it doesn’t happen this time, it will happen next time. If I leave, won’t I make it easier for them?” Liang Feng’s voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling resolve.
Sun Li shivered. Was the Lord trying to lure the snakes out of their holes? Yes, once the Lord headed to Shangdang, assuming a defensive stance, wouldn’t those opportunistic factions take advantage of the chaos? Killing Wang Jun and eliminating the unruly noble families would resolve both internal and external threats. This was indeed the safest course of action.
However, Sun Li still needed to offer his advice. He added, “If that’s the case, my Lord must bring enough troops to prevent disturbances by rogue forces.”
Liang Feng nodded slightly but didn’t say much. Was this just a ploy to lure the enemy? No, he was going to Shangdang to wait for Yiyan’s return! The battle in Bing County was not over, and he couldn’t spare the forces to rush there, especially not to catch up with Yiyan. But at least, he could go to Shangdang and wait for him—the closest point to the mountain pass, the first place Yiyan would return to!
He would come back.
Liang Feng took a step forward, his gait slightly unsteady. But soon, he halted the almost imperceptible tremor, step by step, walking away.
