1060 The Dawn Over Here Is Quie (1/2)
The utter defeat of the Royal Court's main forces caused many tribes to stop following his footsteps. Scattered away on the field, they would inevitably be made captives by the Tang army cavalry. Some unlucky ones may even be taken away by horse thieves.
This terrified him.
This moment, he was made king over all of humanity. The next, he was shot through his cheeks by an arrow on the path to his coronation. Blood flowed everywhere grotesquely — no one could accept this truth easily — his confidence and might were crushed and shattered into particles that cannot be shattered any further.
This terrified him.
To him, the most terrifying of all was when he saw ten thousands of wild horses galloping from the rosy clouds of dawn afar. Witnessing the miraculous things that transpired before him, he just realized that all his triumph, his dream of galloping on the Central Plains, were all in fact a trick — a trick of the Academy, and a trick of that person.
Several years ago, there was a peace talk between the Divine Halls of West-Hill and the Tang. The Golden Tribe was the biggest beneficiary from that negotiation. The annexation of Xiangwan Plains and the coercion to hand over their troops were like a leash around Tang's neck, no matter how one looked at it. But now, it was apparent that the Tang had intentionally showed their weakness to bait the Royal Court into this risky campaign down south.
”Ning Que, Ning Que, Ning Que…” He silently repeated the name, again and again, each call seeped deep into his bones.
He did not understand. The Academy's scheme was quite risky. If there were any miscalculations, the plain cavalry could just rush south and take over the Central Plains, so why did the Academy go with it anyway?
Other than ending the bloodline of the Golden Tribe, what else was worth such a risk for the Tang? When did the Academy turn so cold blooded? What type of deep vengeance did that Mr. Thirteen had with himself?
After contemplating silently for a long time, Chanyu's emotions gradually calmed down.
He had the talent and ambitions. He was defeated by the Tang beyond Guhe, and he had even seen the actual scenery of the Abyss's destruction. But as an extraordinary great man, how could he accept this willingly?
Regaining his composure, he decided to go for another adventure.
The Tang had set up a trap, and waited patiently for three years, taking a risk to complete an impossible feat. Since they could do it, why couldn't he risk it too, why wouldn't he succeed?
He believed that Tengri has not abandoned him yet.
Not long after, the most respected elders of the tribe, A Da, General Lebu, and the high priest, representing the national master, all came into his room. They stared at Chanyu's silent back while he looked at the sand table.
Chanyu pointed at an inconspicuous city on the sand table and said calmly, ”I know the Tang and the people of the tribe have thought that this war is over and that the battle on the other day was the decisive one. But I do not think so. This dusty city is underneath our feet, it is also the final battleground that I have chosen.”
No one understood what he meant. The Royal Court was far from a match of the Tang. Even if they wanted a decisive battle, how would the Tang allow them the chance? In other words, did the Royal Court even deserve this battle?
”The Tang… or should I say the Academy's aim is to exterminate our tribe. They want to kill every single one of us. Our goal now is to escape their pursuit and return to our homeland.”
”We have no supplies.”
”We have some stored in Qicheng Village, I have sent Su Yong to move them here.”
”Those won't be enough.”
”Not enough for a hundred thousand, but if we take thirty thousand troops, it would suffice.”
”The Tang will be behind our backs all the time.”
”That is why we need a victory, a decisive victory that could cause chaos among the Tang. Only then can we preserve the final flame of our tribe.”
Chanyu looked at the empty plains on the sand table, and the seven distant strongholds. After a moment of silence he said, ”If Xu Chi wants to kill us all, his troops can only push north in a line, their formation will be thin. If ten thousand Duoer Cavalry broke through their centerline, and rushed straight to the North Battalion, or even further south… don't you think the Tang would be shaken? How would the academy react?”
”The Tang's main forces can battle from dawn to midnight, Xu Chi would never make a mistake like this,” General Lebu replied.
”A general whose defenses are the best in the world will not make a mistake like this. Just like before… I would not make the mistake of pouring all my forces into the fray at once.”
Chanyu shook his head and said, ”I did not see the trap set up by the Academy, and Xu Chi could only follow the Academy's instructions. Since the Academy wants all of us dead, he could only execute accordingly.”
The room fell silent, everyone was doubtful. Chanyu's decision wasn't just a risky move, but a crazy bet — no, not even a bet — it was more like turning back to face the abyss of desperation and letting out a furious, helpless cry. Even if Xu Chi really pulled his formation too thinly, even if the Duoer Cavalry truly had penetrated to the south, they wouldn't be able to turn the tables.
A Da's eyes lit up. He completely understood Chanyu's intentions. Chanyu wasn't hoping to win. He just wanted to get away with twenty thousand elite cavalry. He will lose the war, but the Tang's wish will not be gratified. When they have rested up, and secured the south with Taoism, they might try to conquer the entire human realm again.
Lebu was quiet for a moment before nominating himself, ”I'll go.”
No one argued with him because this was neither an opportunity for honour, nor a sacrifice for the Royal Court, but a decision born from the hard, cold consideration of reality. Neither A Da nor the priests had the capability to command a large army.
The high priest proposed, ”The national master will follow us, and escort Chanyu back to the plains.”
A Da did not say anything because he knew the role he has to play. When the Duoer Cavalry would be able to break through the Tang's defenses, and when they start to kill and pillage around the North Battalion at the moment when everyone least expected, the Tang army will pursue the Royal Court where Chanyu was in with their quickest pace. The quickest pace demands the shortest route, and the shortest route is a straight line, which seemed to be a teaching of the Academy.
The Royal Court will return north through the City of Wei, so the Tangs shall pursue them there.
His task was to guard the only street in the City of Wei.
A Da bowed to Chanyu and turned away. He walked to the street, and pushed the door of an old store. He sat down at a table beside, and he never left.
The rest quickly left the room, and began to prepare the escape and the mission to the south.
After the national master knew of Chanyu's plans, he naturally had to make appropriate arrangements.
His room was empty again, Chanyu turned toward the window, and looked at the moon that hung in the night sky. From its warm and gentle radiance, he felt like he gained a certain power.
After the massacre of Wei, many houses became uninhabitable. The people of the plains were more accustomed to tents pitched outside of the city, anyway. His stay tonight was at a rather secluded small courtyard.
He did not know whom this courtyard belonged to, or who belonged to this City of Wei. So, he did not understand why did that person wanted to kill him. If he knew Tengri had lived here for many years, too, he might have had more different ideas.
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The battle that happened on the plains beyond Guhe, was the most epic and the most terrible cavalry war in a thousand years, after the Tang defeated the Wild people.
The Golden Tribe Royal Court Cavalry that participated in this war outnumbered the Tang. Besides, over the years, the Tang Cavalry was lacking in training in terms of riding. Theoretically, the Royal Court should have an advantage. However, the Tang army was the final victor, especially before the two hidden Northern Battlefront army brigades appeared, the vanguard battalion had forcibly stopped the Royal Court Cavalry that came like a rushing tide. That was because the Tang army had something the Royal Court lacked.
It was valiant. The Tang army was valiant, even the horses they rode on were valiant. In the spring winds, on the plains, the Tang soldiers brandished their Pudaos, quietly killing one enemy after another. The horses stepped on the wild flowers and grass as they galloped with abandon. They imitated their riders, terribly bullying the grassland horses of the Royal Court.
The Battle of Guhe was destined to be painted on the epic and beautiful painting known as history. In hindsight, this could not be considered as the most important battle in the realm of man, but it was definitely one of the most important battles.
After obtaining victory, even if the Golden Tribe Royal Court could fight again, they could not threaten the foundations of the Tang any further. To be straight to the point, from that day onward, if even the Royal Court had given everything they had, they could have never destroyed the Tang.