Vol 20 Chapter 12 (1/2)
Book 20 Chapter 12 – False Alarm
After having a confired their training roups 20,000 cavalry were specially trained in undercover and cae warfare
Xiang Shaolong used what he has learnt in the 21st century on this group of cavalry
In a twinkling of an eye, winter is ending and spring is approaching Xiao Pan ca Shaolong left for another ain
The ar at Wusui and walked towards the northeast straight towards Xuanshi+ City where Guan Zhongxie is at
Guan Zhongxie, Lian Jiao, Zhao Pu led their army out of the city to welcome theiving them the respect due to a superior
Xiang Shaolong asked Wu Guo, Jing Jun and the rest to set up caxie’s suspicions, he only led Teng Yi and a thousand personal guards into the city Only after they reached the Commander’s Residence did they take out Xiao Pan’s ixie to hand over his military token immediately and to return to the Capital to continue his duties
After Guan Zhongxie read the i of this, why are there no orders fro from this edict”
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be surprised and cohness is just being concerned that Lord Guan has been working so hard and stationed outside the pass for the whole year, that’s why he’s allowing General Guan to return to Xianyang for a short holiday It’s just a siuards, is there a need to trouble Lord Lu and the Dowager on this?”
At this tiave out a couards immediately took out their crossbows and took control of the situation There’s no way Guan Zhongxie will expect Xiang Shaolong to have such aicily with his hand on the sheath of Hundred Battles Blade and knows that one wrong ould mean immediate decapitation He raised his hand to stop hissenseless retaliation and his countenance changed to a pleasant smile as he said, “Great General has reprio back and see Niangrong too”
Xiang Shaolong replied with a sainst a ruler’s orders, I areat that General Guan is willing to cooperate”
He’s not worried that Guan Zhongxie will disobey, unless he wants to rebel immediately Otherwise this is the only outcome available
The next day, Xiang Shaolong, on the pretext of sending thexie and his 2,000 personal guards were escorted to Wusui and to make sure that they board the shi+p before he returns to Xuanshi+
By this ti has completed the redeployment of Guan’s arht infantry had 50,000 men and the heavy artillery forces had 80,000 th was immediately boosted
They trained for another month in Xuanshi+ before they left Xuanshi+ and travelled along the river up north towards Changzi City
They travelled slowly but steadily, et ay at a full level
When the reached the southern bank of the River Lu, the 180,000-strong arht to fall
Huan Qi hurried over on hearing the news and when they met, everyone was filled with both sadness and happiness as they told one another what happened while they were apart He left with Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi, Huan Qi, Zhou Liang, Wu Guo, Zhao Da and the rest to the Co
Huan Qi first reported the situation at Tunliu and analyzed, “Inside Tunliu, there are only about a thousand oddQiao, the rest are Pu Hu’s family warriors and local rebels ere from Zhao The situation is a little sio in the east, they are full of valor but no actual capability But the biggest proble Zhao army stationed at Lu City within the Zhao border 40 miles of Tunliu They can respond immediately if called for and not only are they a source of support for Tunliu, we also dare not attack Tunliu without reservations” When he spoke of Li Mu, his expression revealed an underlying fear
Teng Yi signed and asked, “How did you lose that battle?”
Huan Qi replied painfully, “The way Li Mu fights a battle is like perfor a real close eye on the movements within the Zhao border and planted our scouts far and wide We did not expect that just after we received the alarm, Li Mu’s cavalry has already reached our caht Li Mu ordered his hlands first and burned the camp with fire arrows The Tunliu rebel forces took the opportunity to charge out as well, drunal for attack We could not even last until dawn and were utterly defeated I led a group of 10,000 men and tried out best to fend off the pursuers, otherwise the nuher”
On hearing that, everyone felt a cold chill
Huan Qi continued agitatedly, “After Great general wang passed away, I led our very demoralized troops to attack Lu City twice but ere forced back by Li Mu His strategies are ever changing, his soldiers brave and their training excellent No wonder his fame can spread so far and wide”
Jing Jun commented, “It doesn’t matter how foreneral but no good ruler Have Xiao Qi sent anyone to check the situation over at Zhongmou?”
Huan Qi’s spirit was lifted as he took out a rolled up e of the heavy snow to order my men to scout on the ene at all Zhongmou is the Zhao’s inally belonged to the Weis It only landed in Zhao hands four years ago, so that they have another vital point outside out Chang City, that’s why it’s very heavily regarded”
After everyone had soroups of Zhao army permanently stationed outside the city, about 10,000 men or so at the north and south to cover each other Their initial use should be to deal with the Weis Inside the city there are about 20,000it and for a city of Zhao, such nu happens, the soldiers inside the city can come out to provide reinforcements That’s why in the many attempts by the Weis to attack the Zhaos, they have been unable to take over Zhongmou, this important city”
Xiang Shaolong said, “That’s e must surprise them in this battle and take them unawares Otherwise this batter will be a certain defeat”
Huan Qi said, “The Zhaos have built a hundred odd beacon stations on higher grounds outside the city and there are sentries there day and night If a huge arht It’s very difficult to go under their radar”
Jing Jun tapped his chest and assured thele one of those beacons will be able to sound any alarm”
Xiang Shaolong said, “Tonight, our 40,000 strong elite cavalry will be split into 4 tea Jun will lead 10,000 as vanguards to clear the beacons The other 140,000 men will stay here for three more days before they are split up into two teazi and the other towards Zhongmou The day that Li Mu returns to the capital will be the tioing to be a drawn out battle, you must not take the risk to attack the city otherwise Li Mu will advance even though heand a replay of the battle that night will happen Then this loss will be totally not worth it”
Huan Qi was taken aback as he replied, “No wonder both the previous Great Generals were so full of praise for Great General Xiang before their deaths I have not thought of this point at all and when you ht of it made me break out into a cold sweat immediately”
Wu Guo said with a s one another As they left the tent, Xiang Shaolong said to Huan Qi, “After you take over Tunliu, i up defenses We will pretend to be defeated by Chang City, situated on the border separating Zhao and Wei before suddenly retreating so that the Zhaos will find it difficult to pursue us”
Huan Qi was high spirited and totally impressed as he nodded his head
That night, once it’s dark, Zhou Liang released Eagle King AfterJun’s tea of the Wu family’s elite warriors set off first and in a short while, the four tea slowly on horseback
By theof the third day, the arht to fall
Zhongh and thick city walls It’s indeed a tough and ihold for the military The trees outside the city were cut down so it’s really not easy to approach without being seen
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi observed the area for a long tiood ideas at all
All of the so they survived on dried rations
By dusk, there was a sudden strong wind and rain started pouring
Xiang Shaolong and the rest exclai them as they set off immediately
Wu Guo and Zhou Liang each led an army to attack the Zhao camp outside the city
Jing Jun led a thousand We fahters, crossed the moat and climbed over the walls into the city
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi’spoint nearest to the city to get ready for the city gates to open so that they can charge in
The rain was getting heavier with the occasional thunder and lightning Visibility was low and the thunders also covered the sounds of the horses hooves totally
Jing Jun’s thousand-strong elite troops tied up their warhorses outside the city and tookup the walls
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi aiting with palpitating hearts because if the ene Jun’s team will survive
The lanterns on top of the city walls were dimmed by the heavy rain
Just as they were nervously waiting, the city gates facing the west opened and the drawbridge was lowered
Xiang and Teng were ecstatic as they gave the order and the whole ar hooves of 20,000 warhorses shattered the sweet drea is too late by now
Wu Guo and Zhou Liang’s armies launched a simultaneous attack on the two Zhao army camps outside the city
Battle cries and screams shook the earth inside and outside the city
Although the thunderstorm has stopped, the battle has become even fiercer
The ar their doors tight and half of the city guards re their posts as they hid in residential houses to preserve their lives The rest opened up the city gates and ran for their lives
They’ve totally lost their will to retaliate
By dawn, this do’s hands
For the next 10 days, Zhao Da, leadingwith thee machinery, supplies and food They also established the supply route from Xuanshi+ City to here
Xiang Shaolong gave strict orders not to harass the civilians and to treat the surrendered soldiers with courtesy, using the approach of assuring the civilians
Teng Yi set up base ca up defenses and cut off the official roads that connect between Zhao and Wei,for a massive attack on the Zhao Capital, Handan
A ht off on both attenpts
The Weis were on the alert Their forces were on strict patrol along the border but as the Qin army has control of a sturdy city, the Weis only kept a close monitor
No one dares to harbor any disparaging thoughts towards this fa
On this day, Wu Ji caht with hi to the reports from their spies in Handan, Guo Kai is indeed petrified and trying to persuade the Zhao King and Dowager to summon Li Mu back to protect the palace in the capital
But after the King of Zhao gave the orders, Li Mu actually rejected them
Xiang and Teng were secretly in awe, knowing that Li Mu has seen through their ploy
After some discussion, the two of them decided to launch a massive attack at Fanwu
Once all arrange army ten days later and traveled up to Fanwu via the official roads They set up camp and formations outside the city walls of the Zhaos and launched attacks on the city walls day and night The Zhaos came out of the city to attack the camp a few times but each time the Qin army was able to find out about the attacks first and defeat them utterly
After attacking for 18 days, they finally broke down a section of the city wall but they were fought off by the enemy Both sides suffered heavy casualties
But Xiang Shaolong and the rest know that their mission is acco of Zhao won’t suuard Fanwu The truth is, with their current numbers, they do not have the capability to attack Handan at all
The Zhaos only took one day to repair the wall
Xiang Shaolong retreated his soldiers and did not attack so as to let their warriors have a chance to catch their breath The dead were cremated on the spot while the injured soldiers were sent back to Zhongmou