1056 The Joy Of Not Knowing The Resul (1/2)

Hua Ying and the officers were silenced. They knew the general was right. The Northern Battlefront Army was indeed facing great difficulties. But the Tang Empire was also sieged by various parties. Furthermore, both the Southern Battlefront Army and the Northeast Battlefront Army were engaged in important battles and could not come to help.

Guhe was a very tiny spot throughout Tang's vast territory that located two thousands away from Chang'an. But currently it was the last defense line outside the capital. Therefore Xu Chi had decided to defend it to the very last. Even the General's Mansion had to be relocated to the north.

No one said a word in a long while. There was only silence and falling snowflakes in the valley. The temperature as well as the atmosphere was frozen. Although they echoed Xu Chi's judgment, they were also aware that to give up their previous plan and stay to defend Guhe would only lead to further serious casualties. Moreover, would they really be able to win?

They knew it better than the soldiers that the imperial court had tried their best. From the imperial family to ordinary people, everyone had been living on lowest expenses so as to provide the Northern Battlefront Army with constant and abundant supplies. That was why they could still have fresh pork after such a severe winter, not to mention sufficient armor and weapons.

However, the terrain around Guhe meant that if the Northern Battlefront Army had to stop the Golden Tribe Royal Court at that point, they must defeat over ten thousands of elite cavalrymen from the grasslands a field battle, which was exactly the least desirable for the Northern Battlefront Army at the moment!

The Northern Battlefront Army used to be unbeatable in the north and never worried about getting in or out of the grassland. Even the most ordinary soldiers in the army were very good at riding and shooting. How could they ever be worried about field battles? But now they were trying their best to avoid confronting the enemies in the fields. Because there was a fatal disadvantage: they were lacking warhorses.

Hua Ying broke the silence and came to kneel down in front of Xu Chi. He stated calmly and resolutely, ”We'll die defending the country.”

Xu Chi stared at the grey hair on his temples and and the weather-worn face, and felt loaded with sensations. But instead of showing his sensations, he commanded, ”No. You will defend the country even if you are dead.”

Hua Ying replied with no hesitation, ”As you said.”

Xu Chi lifted him up and stared at him for a long while. He could no longer hide his emotions and said, ”You've done great these years.”

Hua Ying smiled and said nothing further.

Ever since the war was launched against the Golden Tribe Royal Court, he had been fighting in the very front of Tang's northern territory. He took the most important role as well as the heaviest burden. Although he was in charge of the only cavalrymen left in the Northern Battlefront Army, the situation was still very unfavorable. If it was not because of his high attainments in martial arts and the Tang army's intensive defense, he would have been killed several times by the assassins from the grassland. But Hua Ying never complained. When Xu Chi proposed to relocate him to the North Battalion for a break, he refused resolutely.

Everyone in the Northern Battlefront Army understood why. Even the nobles in the imperial palace and those in the Military Ministry back in Chang'an were aware of the reason. Hua Ying's family name was Hua, the same as Hua Shanyue. They were both from the Hua family.

Hua Shanyue helped Li Yu in the rebellion and died upon their failure. The military officers who followed him had defected from Gushan Commandery and returned secretly to Chang'an. Ning Que sent them all to the North Battalion to make up and win their honor back. But most of them had died throughout the years. Because of this, formerly celebrated Hua family declined immediately. Nowadays Hua Ying was the only one who still held an important position in the military. Therefore Hua Ying served desperately. He wanted to sacrifice himself in order to prove that the Hua family was indefectible, always vigorous and glorious.

Xu Chi said, ”Don't risk your life. It's better to be alive.”

Hua Ying did not answer directly. Instead he said, ”We will win.”

...

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It was the end of spring in the sixth year of Zhengshi of the Tang Empire, and the three thousand four hundred and fifty-fifth year of Dazhi of the West-Hill.

The vanguard of Tang's Northern Battlefront Army confronted the cavalrymen of the Golden Tribe Royal Court a hundred and seventy miles to the south of Wei, and fought for over ten days with ups and downs on both sides. Then all of the principal force of the Northern Battlefront Army came to the north and stationed at Guhe.

The two most powerful military forces fought for another dozen days, again with ups and downs on both sides. But Guhe was still under the protection of the Northern Battlefront Army and the cavalry of Golden Tribe could not push even one step further to the south.

Then they took a short break during the stalemate. But both sides knew that they could no longer hang on for dozens of days or even years. Their stalemate could only last at most for two days before the battle would be relaunched.

In order to keep the cavalry of the Golden Tribe to the north of Guhe, the Northern Battlefront Army had paid great prices because they were in lack of warhorses. Even the most experienced and skillful soldiers at riding and shooting could only hold their Podaos and stay on the sides, instead of participating in the real fight.

The most powerful cavalrymen of the Northern Battlefront Army could only serve as infantrymen because of the lack of warhorses. Everyone knew it was a waste. But who could change the situation now?