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墨書 Inktalez
Yang Liang and Shiwansui were confronted by the main force of the Turkic led by Datou Khan, who could now also be referred to as Bujia Khan.
Before either side could engage in battle, Bujia Khan asked the reconnaissance cavalry, "How many troops are there in total, and who leads the Sui army?"
"The number of troops is still unknown. The main general of the Sui Army is Yang Liang, the son of the Sui Emperor, who commands Shiwansui, Zhang Ding, Li Yaowang, and Yang Yichen!"
"Shiwansui!" Bujia Khan hurriedly asked, "Is that the Dunhuang Sentinel Shiwansui?"
The scout grimaced and replied, "Yes."
Bujia Khan felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively wanted to order a retreat. The Turks feared Gao Shan and respected Changsun Sheng, but they were most afraid of two individuals: the Dunhuang Guardian and the Dunhuang Sentinel.
In earlier years, these two were more ruthless than the Turks when they were in Dunhuang. They would often ride deep into Turkic territory, sometimes hundreds of miles in, plundering sheep and horses while burning and killing various Turkic tribes at will.
These two came and went like the wind, moving with unparalleled dominance.
The Turkic people naturally wanted to kill these two, but when they were outnumbered, they couldn't win; when they had enough people, they couldn't catch up. They could only let them slaughter and entertain themselves. Over the years, just hearing the names of the Dunhuang duo would send shivers down their spines.
Fortunately, later on, the Dunhuang Guardian passed away, and Shiwansui was reassigned elsewhere. However, Shiwansui's military achievements and reputation continued to spread, becoming increasingly fearsome with each retelling.
At this moment, the front lines had already begun small-scale probing skirmishes. The Sui Army's infantry formations were quite tight, with chariots, cavalry, and infantry intermingling in coordination. Surrounding the formation were deer antlers and thorns set up as defenses, with cavalry kept in reserve at the back.
On the Turkic side, things were somewhat rudimentary. They had more cavalry but lacked sufficient spears and armor for their infantry; their formations were not as tight as those of the Sui Army.
Moreover, after Shiwansui deliberately rode out to challenge them, their morale began to wane; his reputation was simply too intimidating—any Turk with ears had heard of him.
Shiwansui was now very angry. Han Wang Yang Liang did not listen to him and only wanted to use a conservative approach. Last year’s battle against the Turkic saw Yang Su's iron cavalry decisively defeat over a hundred thousand Turkic cavalry head-on; this showed that a defensive strategy was not a winning method.
He believed that leading his cavalry into battle was superior to Yang Su's approach. Besides, he also had elite Turkic cavalry from Qimin Khan under his command. He wouldn't pick up any accolades that fell from the sky; no wonder he couldn't become the crown prince.
If it weren't for the emperor's secret edict ordering him to obey Han Wang's commands, he would have already sidelined Han Wang and engaged in a thrilling cavalry battle against the Turkic forces.
Bujia Khan had already begun to consider retreat. He could not afford to lose, so he thought about temporarily withdrawing his troops and attacking from another location, hoping to secure a slight victory to solidify his position.
With a strong battle formation and Shiwansui leading the charge, this was not an easy opponent to face. If he lost, the Turkic forces he had painstakingly unified would immediately fall apart.
Bujia Khan's thoughts were optimistic; he believed that the battle had not yet reached a critical point. By sacrificing a few troops, he thought he could retreat calmly, assuming that the Sui Army would not dare to pursue him. Thus, he ordered a withdrawal.
However, he forgot that the Turkic soldiers were already filled with fear. Upon hearing the order to retreat, the entire corps fell into chaos, leaving the Sui Army, which had just arranged its chariots, bewildered.
Hadn't they just exchanged blows? The combined casualties were only in the hundreds; how could they start fleeing now?
When the news reached Han Wang Yang Liang, he thought it was a ploy by the Turkic forces to lure them out of their strong formation for a counterattack. Therefore, he ordered his troops to hold their ground and not move lightly.
Meanwhile, Shiwansui recognized that such a level of defeat could not be feigned. Even if it were an act, given the discipline of the Turkic army, they could not quickly regroup and turn back to face the Sui Army.
As long as he led the cavalry in a fierce charge, regardless of whether it was real or staged, the Turkic forces would be utterly defeated.
Disregarding Yang Liang's orders, Shiwansui used his prestige in the military to compel the front lines to abandon their cumbersome formation and begin pursuing the Turkic forces.
Ignoring the small remnants of troops, Shiwansui focused solely on that banner of sweat and pursued relentlessly. Once he caught up, he charged straight in with thunderous momentum and cold light flashing from his spear. He led the charge alone, striking left and right without encountering any resistance.
The morale of the Sui Army's cavalry soared as they cut down thousands of enemies in one breath, advancing several hundred miles north into enemy territory before returning satisfied.
…………
On Li Jian Cheng's side, Yang Su had just achieved a great victory last year and was eager to showcase his abilities before the crown prince. There was no way he would employ conservative tactics; instead, he continued with his strict methods.
At the front of his formation, he executed nearly a hundred soldiers who violated military discipline during their march as a warning. Then, two hundred vanguard troops took turns engaging in combat; those who died were one thing, but those who dared to hesitate were executed on the spot.
Once the soldiers were sufficiently provoked, they began engaging in direct combat. He cared little for his own casualties, especially since those leading the vanguard included Turkic defectors brought by Changsun Sheng; there would be no mercy shown.
After two days of waiting, the Turkic forces were beginning to feel the strain, yet they managed to hold on, hoping for a breakthrough from Khan's side.
Yang Guang was not like Yang Liang; he had entrusted all military authority to Yang Su and remained safely within the Central Army Tent, occasionally listening for news from the front lines. Although he felt anxious, he did not pressure his generals.
Li Jian Cheng could only stay by Yang Guang's side. Fortunately, there was a sand table in the Central Army Tent where every movement of both armies was reported. The staff officers remaining there would explain the battle situation to the prince and discuss the pros and cons of Duke of Yue's strategies, providing a rare opportunity for learning.
Before Yang Su could make any significant moves, Changsun Sheng, who had been absent for some time, returned first. Soon after, the Turkic military began to suffer from illness and death after drinking contaminated water.
Changsun Sheng's informants were spreading rumors within the Turkic military about "Heavenly Rain and Evil Water," causing panic among troops that were already on the brink of collapse. This led to a rout.
Thanks to Changsun Sheng's efforts, Yang Guang ordered him to command the troops in pursuit. They successfully killed over a thousand Turkic soldiers and captured more than a hundred prisoners along with countless horses.
However, Yang Su found himself in an awkward position. While he had contributed to this victory, it was not decisive enough for someone of his status; it felt more like a failure.
Having suppressed He Ruobi alongside Li Jian Cheng, Yang Su did not intentionally undermine him but instead allowed Yang Xuangan and Li Jian Cheng to pursue the remnants of the Turkic forces to earn some merit. Yang Guang had no objections.
Li Jian Cheng led the Guardians in pursuit. The Turkic cavalry could not be caught, but the infantry would not be able to run far in a short time. Choosing a direction, they quickly caught up and shot down two soldiers as easily as hunting rabbits before pulling back their bows and halting their horses.
The Guardians excitedly rushed forward to collect their heads. Without chariots or formations, the infantry were no different from straw against cavalry.
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