The Minister of War, Yu Jie, received news of the battle situation at Nankou Pass later than Jingtai Emperor due to the distance.
A ’Fire-Eye Crow’ flew through the air and landed at Xuanfu City’s General’s Mansion, almost simultaneously arriving with a purple-gold arrow talisman.
This arrow talisman was also sent by Zuo Daoxing, informing Yu Jie about the destruction of the five Yunzhong warships.
The arrow talisman was sent much earlier than the ’fire eye golden crow’, but due to the talisman’s slower speed, it arrived later.
These swift feathered creatures were used by Zuo Daoxing to convey crucial ssages.
For instance, the fall of Nankou City - this could allow Yu Jie and the Emperor to know as soon as possible and prepare swiftly.
At this ti, all the Youji Generals and above in Xuanfu were gathered in the General’s Mansion, discussing whether they should assist the Capital City or how to rescue it.
As the ’Fire-Eye Crow’ and the purple-gold arrow talisman both landed in front of Yu Jie on the desk, everyone quieted down and looked towards the Minister of War at the head of the table.
The first thing Yu Jie looked at was the arrow talisman, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.
As long as these five Yunzhong warships were destroyed, even if Nankou Pass fell, they could turn the tide of the battle.
When Yu Jie opened the ssage tube tied to the ’Fire-Eye Crow’, he imdiately raised his eyebrows.
He considered himself as soone with great strategy, able to remain calm even if the mountains and rivers collapsed before his eyes. But at this mont, he couldn’t help showing joy on his face.
"Great Marshal!" From the seat below, a deputy commander stood up, "Is there good news from the south?"
The ancient title of Minister of War was ’Great Marshal’, which was a respectful title for Yu Jie.
This deputy commander’s eyes showed a little hesitation and anticipation, "Can we see the talisman?"
His words were highly offensive, but without seeing the talisman, he couldn’t rest easy.
Hiding bad news and tricking soldiers into death, there have been more than one or two instances of this.
Without going back to ancient tis, just look at the battle of Tumu Fort. Even though the battle of Mao’er Village had already been lost, Wang Zhen suppressed the news. Many people were still foolishly rushing to their deaths under the Mongolian Iron Cavalry, leading to the death of over 700,000 soldiers in one battle.
"Half a mont ago, Marquis of Jingan Li Xuan defeated the Mongwu’s army of 70,000 Iron Cavalry and 20,000 defectors at Nankou Pass, and sank all five Yunzhong warships."
As Yu Jie spoke, he handed the talisman in his hand to the General Commander Wei Yong of ’Wan-Quan Dusi’, "What’s remarkable is that among the 27,000 n under Marquis Jingan, only 3,000 were frontier soldiers, the rest were either from the army of Weisuo or the local militia."
At the sa ti, he glanced coldly at the deputy commander, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
Yu Jie already felt extre disgust towards the arrogance and ignorance of these northern generals.
If it weren’t for the imminent war, he would definitely have this man arrested.
At this point, the entire hall was buzzing.
"Did Nankou Pass hold out?"
"How is that possible? If Juyong Pass has already fallen, and Nankou Pass has less than ten ters high walls, could it still hold out? To my knowledge, there are indeed only 3,000 frontier soldiers stationed there."
"It feels incredible, there were 70,000 iron cavalry. They were the most elite cavalry of Walachi and Datan tribes, and there were also 10,000 Qiexue soldiers. The Mongwu tribe has also invested at least three heavenly level warriors in this route."
"It’s hard to believe how they knocked down those Yunzhong warships flying at an altitude of 18,000 feet with a range of 180 to 190 li. What thod did they use?"
"Jingan marquis? That boy from the Chengyi family? The one who was made a marquis because he resolved a water disaster in the south? He still hasn’t been fully grown. Can he be an opponent to the Mongwu’s iron cavalry? Not to ntion he only has an undisciplined mob of less than 30,000 n!"
"Hey! I know Marquis Jingan. He’s a young tiger capable of surpassing his father. He is the future pillar of our southern Zhili general’s gate."
"It must be true, look at the complexion of the General Commander."
Everyone got up one after another, looking at the talisman in the hand of Wei Yong, the General Commander of ’Wan-Quan Dusi’, waiting for the ssage to be circulated.
Just at this ti, a thousand-man-commander of Xiuyiwei rushed in and knelt in front of Minister of War Yu Jie’s desk, "Great Marshal, the Mongwu tribe has made a move. Just now, 50,000 troops of Walachi and Qiexue are withdrawing from Lijialiang."
Yu Jie looked towards the north and thought that the Mongwu State Preceptor’s move was fast.
Lijialiang is located in the east of Xuanfu town, less than 60 li from Chang’an. It can threaten Xuanfu Zongbing Zhu Guoneng’s flank while also keeping an eye on Baoan State and Huailai.
However, at the sa ti, these 50,000 Walachi and Qiexue soldiers had beco the protruding part of Watsa’s army, putting themselves into a three-sided encirclent situation by the Jin army.
Yu Jie’s gaze was icy as he looked into the distance, thinking: So the Mongolian Taishi plans to retreat to the prairie just like that? It’s not that easy!
"Where is the Dudu Tongzhi of Jingying?"
At Yu Jie’s call, a military minister dressed as a second-rank military official stood imdiately, "Subordinate Wang Tao is here!"
Yu Jie, with a burning gaze, looked at the man: "You go back to your post at once, take your troop and the Iron Halberd Camp, the Yunqi Camp, the Sanqian Camp, and other seventy thousand step riders to the north, to Ningyuan Fortress. Our vanguard is closing in on Zhangjiakou.
"I don’t need you to fight a protracted battle with the Mongols, but you absolutely cannot let them retreat from the Great Wall comfortably!"
At this point, all the generals in the hall wore serious expressions, waiting for Yu Jie’s orders.
Everyone knew that the decisive battle against the Mongols was upon them.
But contrary to their previous assumptions, this battle was not a forced march south, but a chase to the north!
※※※※
A little earlier, in the Mongwu Khan’s tent on the north bank of the Yang River, a wisp of fresh blood suddenly trickled out from the corner of Yexian’s mouth.
He stared at the similarly haggard Guoshi Abas next to him like a wolf and said: "Guoshi, are you sure? Is the information from the Longxiang Dharma King, Zongkabba, true? Has the Jingtai Emperor really suffered a huge defeat, and Ashitiemuer is dead in Li Xuan, the Marquis of Jingan’s hands?"
If his Thunder-Winged Peng was still in its pri, he would not need the aid of Abas. His spirit pet could make a round trip to Juyong Pass in just a mont.
But now, the Thunder-Winged Peng is still in its juvenile form since its rebirth from his body, and it is temporarily not ready for heavy use.
"It’s true," sighed Abas. "Although Zongkabba’s words may seem to shirk responsibility, the general process is as he said, Ashitiemuer has already been defeated in front of Nankou Pass."
"Ah, this young fellow ruined my grand plan!" At this point, Yexian could no longer suppress his emotions. He gave a long howl, shaking the cases, chairs, tents, and so on around him into dust. The fearful guards covered their ears in pain, while the Yang River roared into a ten-foot high wave.
The two eldest sons of Yexian, Boronahale and Ashitiemuer, both died at Li Xuan’s hands.
However, if it were only this, it would not be enough to make him lose control like this.
Yexian had twelve children under his knees. Boronahale and Ashitiemuer were powerful, but they were not the most outstanding among them.
However, the Battle of Nankou not only shattered his ambition to rule North Zhili but also pushed the current ngwus to the brink of extinction.
Yexian howled for twenty breaths, his face gradually calming down.
But in his eyes, a cold fla was still burning: "Zhang Guanlan, one day, this Khan will have him cut into ten thousand pieces."
According to the words of the "Longxiang Dharma King" Zongkabba, Ashitiemuer’s 70,000 n could have withdrawn from Nankou unscathed. But it was the Heavenly Master Qianyuan, who provoked Ashitiemuer to stake all his forces.
It was only after the stalemate had been broken, that Zhang Guanlan was severely injured and fled in a panic, which led to Ashitiemuer’s complete defeat. Tens of thousands of iron riders didn’t even get the chance to retake their position, and Ashitiemuer himself died at the hands of Marquis Jing’an.
Therefore, at this mont, Yexian’s hatred for Zhang Guanlan surpassed that for Li Xuan.
Li Xuan was indeed the sworn enemy who had killed his two sons. But, in a war, both sides fight for their masters, and the outco of their life and death depends on their abilities. This is nothing to talk about.
However, this Zhang Guanlan, who was cruel but lacked courage, had no determination, and valued his own life more than the big picture. Yexian regretted entrusting him with such a heavy responsibility.
"Taishi!" sighed the Mongolian Guoshi Abas. "Now that the Central Plains have begun to recover, our ngwu suffered heavy losses in this war. If the Taishi wants to achieve his great cause, he still needs the help of Master Zhang and the person behind him." And...
He looked worriedly at Xuanfu and the direction of the south bank of the Yang River: "The urgent task now is how to retreat from the Great Wall. Yu Jie is a vicious tiger. He will bite off our biggest piece of at."
Just then, the entire south bank of the Yang River began to stir. All military castles and military posts were full of clamor, and the aura of weapons and armor soared into the sky.
Yexian’s face darkened at this ssage, looking in the direction of the south. After a slight struggle in his eyes, he said coldly: "Tell Batubulin to lead his 30,000 families into Ningyuan Fortress. Tell him, he must hold out for at least 12 shichens. If during this period he dares to take a single step back, this khan will surely exterminate his entire family!"
The Mongolian Guoshi Abas was taken aback, and then thought that the Mongwu Taishi, the Khan of Vala, was as ruthless as ever.
The man was adopting the tactic of sacrificing a part to salvage the whole. He was using the 30,000 families of the left wing of the Datan departnt as a sacrifice to give the Mongwu army a chance to retreat from the Great Wall.
But, as a result, the relationship between the Datan departnt and the Vala departnt would be more divided in the future.
Abas had reservations about this, but after a mont of hesitation, he eventually sighed and did not object.
Yexian had always forced the Datan tribes to obey him by displaying the might of his unbeatable prairie army, and using them to manipulate the Mongwu Khan.
At this point, could they let Yexian sacrifice his own tribe and give the Datan people an opportunity to escape?
Reviews
All reviews (0)