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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 192: Clever Victory
In Jinyang City, amidst the joy, the threat of the Turkic people was not forgotten. The next day, discussions began anew, although there was little to deliberate. Generals Zhang Hutan and Qin Shubao led an army of eighty thousand northward to capture the two counties of Lou Fan and Mayi.
If the Turkic forces and Liang Shidu from Shuofang did not come to their aid or hesitated, they would first deal with Liu Wuzhou, then fortify Mayi and Yanmen to resist any potential Turkic invasion. If no attack came, they would then advance against Shuofang.
Despite Liu Wuzhou and Liang Shidu having over a hundred thousand troops, their forces were not much different from Wei Daor's ragtag group. In fact, due to the short preparation time, they might even be worse off.
The crux of the issue lay with the Turkic people: how far were they willing to go? Would they spare no expense or retract their outstretched hands after testing the waters? If the Turkic forces were determined to push south at all costs, how would they respond?
To be honest, if the Turkic people were to descend without restraint, the strength of just a few counties around Taiyuan would be utterly insufficient to withstand them.
However, the Turkic forces could not sustain such an effort for long; by autumn and winter, they would have to retreat. In that limited time frame, the gains from a large-scale southern advance would not be substantial. Thus, Shibi Khan consistently advocated for supporting Liu Wuzhou and others rather than occupying Ma Yi Shuofang himself.
In April, the army marched out of Jinyang and broke Lou Fan. During the battle at Mayi against Liu Wuzhou, both Liang Shidu and the Turkic forces arrived in time to assist. The three sides combined their forces to over two hundred thousand, standing against Li Jian Cheng's eighty thousand troops.
Shibi Khan personally commanded his army, but Qin Shubao and Zhang Hutan held their ground firmly. With high morale among their troops, they managed to withstand the Turkic onslaught.
At this moment, Li Jing and Dan Xiongxin had already crossed from Bolin County through Yanmen with fifty thousand elite soldiers in support. They first launched a surprise attack on Shibi Khan's flank before joining forces with Qin Shubao.
Li Jing took command of the army using Li Jian Cheng's Tiger Tally. Although his troops numbered less than those of the enemy, they were all elite soldiers. Moreover, he had three fierce generals—Qin Shubao, Zhang Hutan, and Dan Xiongxin—leading the vanguard.
Li Jing was steady in his command. On the battlefield, he skillfully arranged his troops to accumulate small victories while at night conducting raids or creating disturbances. He continuously divided the enemy's forces internally, leaving Shibi Khan like an old ox stuck in a mire—full of brute strength but unable to exert it effectively.
Meanwhile, Li Jian Cheng did not remain idle. Taking advantage of Shibi Khan's absence from Dali City, he used his wealth and connections with Turkic nobles to free Ashina Tuo Bi from captivity.
Princess Yicheng also helped him send a message to Shibi Khan, informing him that remnants of Tiele had united with Ashina Tuo Bi to seize Dali City and urging him to return swiftly to the grasslands.
After settling Xiao Chanyan safely, he set off towards Mayi, intending to meet Shibi Khan in person to ensure his withdrawal and prevent future incursions for several years.
When Li Jian Cheng arrived in Mayi, he met with Li Jing and Dan Xiongxin after a long separation. The two congratulated him first on having successors.
Li Jian Cheng sat down and smiled, "Master, have your wishes come true?"
Li Jing appeared radiant, looking even younger than when the two first met years ago. He solemnly clasped his hands in salute and said, "It's all thanks to you, my lord. Otherwise, Jing would have been hesitating in Chang'an for a lifetime."
Dan Xiongxin excitedly stepped forward, and Li Jian Cheng patted his shoulder. "In just ten days, we captured Xindu County. Upon hearing the news, I drank three barrels of fine wine from the Western Regions before I could be satisfied. I've brought back the remaining dozens of barrels for you."
Dan Xiongxin immediately replied, "After this victory, we shall drink together with you, my lord!"
In the following days, both armies experienced victories and defeats, but it was clear that they had seized the initiative. Liu Wuzhou and Liang Shidu could no longer withstand Shibi Khan's reckless use of their troops to wear them down.
Liu Wuzhou met secretly with Liang Shidu. "The situation is unfavorable; we have already suffered defeats. We must plan early. If our troops are exhausted, Shibi Khan can easily retreat. But how can we survive?"
Liang Shidu said, "It's infuriating that Li Jian Cheng is so arrogant. Even Wei Da'er knelt to surrender and still couldn't escape death. If we surrender, we would likely meet the same fate."
"We cannot surrender, but we also cannot continue alongside the Turks," Liang Shidu frowned.
"We are caught between the Turkic forces and Li Jian Cheng. If we flee, neither side will accept us; it would be a dead end."
"Brother Liang, as they say, trees move but people live. The world is in chaos now; with you and me as brothers, there is nowhere we cannot establish ourselves. I believe the Shu Region is a land of opportunity!"
"If we lead our trusted followers there and recruit soldiers along the way, if we can successfully establish ourselves in the Shu Region, we can observe the world's changes from there. If an opportunity arises, we can emerge from Shu to fight; if not, we can wait for a new dynasty to stabilize and offer up Shu Region—after all, it would still be a title of Duke."
Hearing these words, Liang Shidu's heart stirred; any place seemed better than here.
While Li Jian Cheng was still waiting for Shibi Khan to withdraw his troops, during a normal engagement between the two armies, suddenly over ten thousand cavalry broke away and fled. Li Jing immediately issued orders to be on guard.
However, those ten thousand riders fled without looking back. Their shouts as they left drew many soldiers from Ma Yi Shuo Fang to follow suit. The enemy's formation scattered in confusion; Shibi Khan was shocked but did not understand what was happening. He could only order his confidants to rush to protect him and sound the retreat.
Li Jing keenly judged that this was not a tactic to lure them into a trap; something had indeed gone wrong with the enemy forces. He immediately commanded his front lines to charge and engage the enemy while Zhang Hutan and Dan Xiongxin led their cavalry straight into the enemy's center, leaving five thousand of Qin Shubao's cavalry to guard against the recently withdrawn troops.
The guards brought out by Shibi Khan were indeed valiant, but their numbers were limited, and amidst the chaotic army, it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe, rendering them unable to exert much strength.
Thus, the rout began. Finally realizing what had happened, Shibi Khan roared in anger, "I will kill those two traitors! I will slaughter their wives and children!"
The guards beside Khan had no time to spare. They loudly commanded the remaining guards in Turkic and then forcibly pulled Khan's horse to begin the retreat, while Khan's Wolf Banner moved in another direction.
The Turks were clearly divided into two parts. Zhang Hutan immediately shouted to Dan Xiongxin not far away, "You chase the main banner; I'll pursue that one!"
Dan Xiongxin quickly responded. The Turkic Khagan's Wolf Banner was already a significant achievement, and if Shibi Khan was also captured, it would be a complete victory.
Zhang Hutan kept a firm grip on his troops, unstrapping his iron spine bow from his back and nocking a special Black Feather Long Arrow. One knight after another fell to his shots, as he treated the most skilled riders of the Turks like wild game.
Shibi Khan's chief guard immediately ordered the last Hundred Riders to halt and turn around. This made Zhang Hutan's eyes light up; even if it wasn't Shibi Khan among them, they must be important figures of the Turkic.
Zhang Hutan's troops were elite among elites, personally recruited and trained by him in Liaodong City. Over the years with Yan Yun Iron Cavalry, they had rampaged through Goryeo, Turkic, and Khitan nations without encountering defeat.
Naturally, they were not afraid of the Turks. The hundred or so riders were quickly dealt with, and Zhang Hutan maintained a tight grip on his forces without any intention of letting up. Meanwhile, on the other side, Dan Xiongxin had already seized the Turkic Wolf King Banner with the help of reinforcements.
……………
(End of Chapter)
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