Chapter 796: North Liang's Four Battles (4)

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Daoist masters soar through the sky and burrow into the earth, capable of slaying enemies from a thousand miles away. Buddhist Bodhisattvas, with lowered brows and fierce gazes, can shake Mount Kunlun with a mere raised hand. And who dares say that scholars lack spirit? In a fit of rage, they can make even the Emperor show a countenance of distress.Stepping over rivers, walking across lakes, and treading to the rhythm of songs, I wield a sword that makes immortals kneel. Raising a blade, drawing a sword, and lifting a cup of wine, three hundred thousand iron cavalry conquer the heavens.

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Author: Fenghuo Xizhuhou [Read Full Text]Update Time: 2015-05-22 22:57:18 Word Count: 3662

Under the cover of night, a convoy quietly entered Liangzhou City. It passed unimpeded through the city gates, which were strictly guarded under the night curfew. Qingliang Mountain immediately opened its ceremonial gate, and the Northern Liang Prince's Residence welcomed the guests with a level of grandeur typically reserved for emperors and high-ranking officials.

The three carriages carried different groups. The white-robed monk, his family of three, and the young monk Nanbei, a total of four, rode in the first carriage. Mr. Bai Yu, the White Lotus Master from Longhu Mountain, rode in the second with the master-disciple duo of Han Gui and Qingxin from Qingling Temple on Wudang Mountain. The last carriage carried Chang Sui, Xu Huang, and others from Shangyin Academy.

From Qingliang Mountain, Xu Weixiong led a large group out to welcome these distinguished guests. Behind Song Dongming, the Deputy Military Commissioner of Northern Liang, stood a group of curious advisors and aides. Song Dongming's current residence, built halfway up the mountain, was renowned as the "Dragon Gate of Northern Liang." Meanwhile, the Wutong Courtyard where Xu Fengnian resided was called the "Phoenix Pavilion," clearly indicating Song Dongming's preeminent status in Northern Liang officialdom.

Only Li Dongxi and the young monk Nanbei were returning to a familiar place. Li Dongxi, sharp-eyed, immediately spotted Song Yu, the chief steward of the Prince's Residence, and scurried over to greet him warmly. Song Yu, who had served as a steward for the Xu family for most of his life, was genuinely delighted to see the young girl. This stern old man, privately referred to by Liangzhou officials as the "cold-faced Yama," remarkably managed a smile, which seemed a bit stiff, likely due to his unfamiliarity with such expressions. Nevertheless, the old man still chuckled and promised to personally accompany Miss Li to the cosmetics shops the next day, which thrilled the young girl. Lu Chengyan and Wang Chudong did not appear, as it would have been improper for them, as prospective princesses, to welcome guests publicly.

After greeting the white-robed monk and Mr. Bailian, Xu Weixiong approached Chang Sui and the others. Chang Sui raised his empty wine gourd, shook it, and laughed, "Green Ant Wine, just enough for a pot a day. Junior Sister, your family has vast resources, so this shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Xu Weixiong nodded and said, "Drinking is fine, but Senior Brother, remember not to go drinking by Tingchao Lake in the middle of the night. If you fall in, you'll be feeding the fish."

Jin Baoshi, with red eyes, called out "Senior Sister" with a slight choke in her voice.

Xu Weixiong chuckled softly, "It's only been a few years, and you've grown into a young lady. Would you like your Senior Sister to play matchmaker for you? The men here in Northern Liang, though rough fellows accustomed to the harsh winds and sands of the desert, and not as learned as the scholars of the Central Plains, you'll find after getting to know them that they are more capable of shouldering burdens than even the most eloquent literati. Especially the men from the border regions—they ride the best horses, carry the finest blades, drink the strongest liquor, and slay the Northern Mang barbarians. I'm sure they'll be to your taste, junior sister."

Jin Baoshi clasped Xu Weixiong's hand to her chest and, as if playfully teasing, laughed, "Senior Sister, you haven't even married yet, so why should I be in a hurry!"

Xu Weixiong then turned to greet Xu Huang, Sima Can, and Liu Duanmao individually, with no unnecessary words, simply addressing them as "Senior Brother" or "Junior Brother."

The white-robed monk stood beside his wife, watching Bai Yu and Song Dongming converse as if they were old friends. One was a Daoist master highly regarded by the late emperor, and the other was a scholar who had once aspired to a top position in the imperial court. These two, among the few truly learned individuals in the entire Liyang Dynasty, were enjoying their conversation immensely. However, Li Dangxin, recalling the secret discussion about the Zhao Gou leader on Wudang Mountain, felt a weariness in his heart. He sighed softly, no longer paying attention to Bai Yu and Song Dongming's conversation, and instead, upon entering the Prince's Residence, he began to survey the surrounding scenery. In earlier years, there was a saying throughout the Liyang court and countryside: "A million households suffer, but one family prospers." This referred to the Xu family, who ruled as kings from their mountain stronghold and controlled Tingchao Lake, amassing wealth comparable to an entire nation by exploiting the people of Northern Liang.

Soon, advisors serving at "Dragon Gate" gathered around Li Dangxin as if in a queue. Likely due to prior instructions from the Deputy Military Commissioner, these Northern Liang officials, who had long admired the white-robed monk, did not dare to engage in idle chatter. Instead, they respectfully introduced themselves and their family names, perhaps adding one or two complimentary remarks. The white-robed monk acknowledged each of them with a smile and a nod, treating it as a return greeting, and none of the officials felt that the abbot of Liangchan Temple was putting on airs. Everyone knew that when the white-robed monk returned to Tai'an City after traveling thousands of miles westward, he merely greeted the emperor, who personally led his horse, with clasped hands, without even dismounting! These officials, who had successfully passed through the Northern Liang Dragon Gate, were seasoned figures in officialdom and would not neglect Han Gui, the rising Grand Daoist Master of Wudang Mountain. They sincerely sought his advice on Daoist health preservation techniques. Putting aside other matters, Han Gui, who was highly likely to become the next Wudang sect leader, was no longer an obscure figure. In the future, he would be a "Feather-robed Minister" on par with a Minister of the Six Boards. Who would dare to slight him?

Apart from the white-robed monk and his wife, who were led by Chief Steward Song Yu to a residence for their stay, Li Dongxi and the young monk Nanbei left the main group early and began exploring familiar paths. Along the way, whenever she saw a maid, Li Dongxi could accurately recall their names and address them as "older sister." The clever maids of Qingliang Mountain, of course, remembered the young girl vividly. As someone the Crown Prince had doted on like a younger sister, and with her pleasant disposition, it was difficult not to like her. Bai Yu, Chang Sui, and their entourage followed Xu Weixiong and Song Dongming to the unique official residence located halfway up the mountain. Though called the Deputy Military Commissioner's residence, it was actually a series of connected, low-lying courtyards where the Deputy Military Commissioner and over thirty auxiliary officials handled government affairs, lodging, and daily life. The Dragon Gate civil officials, akin to the palace attendants of the Liyang imperial court, tactfully dispersed, returning to their respective homes to continue processing the accumulated affairs from the prefectural offices of Northern Liang's three states.

In the room, everyone took their seats. These included Xu Weixiong, who was in a wheelchair; Song Dongming, a second-rank frontier official whom the Liyang court grudgingly acknowledged; Bai Yu and Chang Sui, who had temporarily entered Qingliang Mountain as top-tier guests of the Prince's Residence; Xu Huang, the military strategist soon to be stationed at the Huaiyang Pass Protectorate; Sima Can, a strategist who already held the official position of Prefect of Tieyou County in Lingzhou; Liu Duanmao, who was about to join the Lingzhou Prefectural Office as Xu Beizhi's advisor; and Jin Baoshi, who wished to enter the Wutong Courtyard.

Xu Weixiong stated directly, "Indeed, as Mr. Bailian predicted, the western front's battle situation is extremely unfavorable for our Northern Liang. The Prince has personally gone to Liuzhou. According to the latest intelligence received during the day, all cavalry forces stationed within Liangzhou have received orders and are beginning to deploy urgently. However, apart from two contingents of 6,000 cavalry already in western Liangzhou, who only need to wait in place without long marches, the forces currently following the Prince and his 800 White Horse Guards include Luo Hongcai's 1,000 Horned Eagle Cavalry from near Wudang Mountain at the time, and two other commandants who passed through later, totaling 2,300 cavalry. The fastest of the remaining Liangzhou cavalry will arrive at the border between Liangzhou and Liuzhou at least a day after the Prince, and the slowest will take four days. This is assuming they push their warhorses to their absolute limits. Fortunately, the Tianjing Horse Farm, second only to Qianli Horse Farm in Northern Liang's scale, is not far from where the Prince is gathered. It can supply 600 top-grade warhorses and 4,000 secondary-grade warhorses. This is perhaps our only good news."

Xu Weixiong paused, her expression grim, and said, "To be frank, Chang Sui has already effortlessly captured Jibei and Hengshui cities with 50,000 cavalry. This most elite cavalry force, which had been confronting the Liyang and Lianglao armies, is now heading directly for the eastern gate of Youzhou, aiming to cooperate with Yang Yuanzan's main army inside Hulu Pass and decisively devastate half of Youzhou."

Xu Huang slowly asked, "Even if Grand General Yan Wenluan's Youzhou infantry sends a contingent north to support Xiaguang City, with Youzhou itself having 30,000 cavalry, it shouldn't be difficult to simultaneously defend the last line of defense at Hulu Pass and the eastern border, should it?"

Xu Weixiong gave a bitter laugh, "Originally, yes, that was the plan. But we have two whimsical decision-makers, and at their insistence, not only did 30,000 Youzhou cavalry move north from Hezhou to outside Hulu Pass, but even 10,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and two heavy cavalry units also left their respective garrisons and rushed to outside Hulu Pass. So now, not only is the situation at Hutu City in Liangzhou critical, but the rear areas of the two major military strongholds, Huaiyang Pass and Liuyameng, are essentially empty. Furthermore, with Liangzhou's cavalry now rushing to Liuzhou to reinforce, if Hutu City falls, our Liangzhou will be in an unimaginably dire situation. The two cavalry deputy commanders, He Zhonghu and Zhou Kang, stationed at the Liangzhou frontier, along with infantry deputy commander Gu Dazhu, clearly do not have enough troops to manage the situation should Hutu City fall. Therefore, another infantry deputy commander, Chen Yunchui, has already led 30,000 elite infantry to Liangzhou."

Xu Huang's expression subtly changed as he quickly weighed the gains and losses in his mind.

Chang Sui's wine gourd was already full of Green Ant Wine, and he was drinking by himself, completely lost in his enjoyment.

Song Dongming sat upright and serious, while Bai Yu squinted, lost in thought.

Xu Weixiong said gravely, "Now we can only hope that Liuzhou doesn't fall, and that Huaiyang Pass isn't lost either. Only then can our Northern Liang successfully wage an unprecedented encirclement and annihilation battle inside Hulu Pass. Otherwise, even if we achieve a great victory at Hulu Pass, to say nothing of Huaiyang Pass falling, even a one-for-one exchange of forces between Northern Liang's Liuzhou and Northern Mang's Hulu Pass would be something we cannot afford. Northern Liang is, after all, fighting a nation with the strength of just one region. Northern Mang can afford the attrition; we cannot."

Xu Huang said softly, "In that case, whether the Prince's Liangzhou reinforcements can change the situation in Liuzhou is crucial. Whether Commander Chu can hold Hutu City and the first line of Northern Liang's frontier, formed by Huaiyang Pass and Liuyameng military towns, is crucial. And whether Commander Yuan, along with the Youzhou cavalry, can block and annihilate the more than 200,000 strong army inside Hulu Pass, is crucial."

Xu Huang repeated "crucial" three times.

This meant that for Northern Liang to win this astonishing gamble, every link in the chain must not have any major flaws, or the entire endeavor would result in complete defeat.

Chang Sui wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and asked with a smile, "Then I'll just ask about the battlefield Northern Liang is most confident in: Hulu Pass. With Yuan Zuozong's Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, those two heavy cavalry units that have been rarely seen for twenty years, and Tian Heng Yuluandao's Youzhou cavalry, what are the chances of trapping Yang Yuanzan, that old turtle, in a jar?"

Xu Weixiong smiled, extending one hand.

Chang Sui rubbed his chin and said regretfully, "Only fifty percent? That's dicey. I'll have to start thinking about an escape route for myself. Otherwise, I might hear the hoofbeats of the Northern Mang barbarians before this chair under my backside at Qingliang Mountain even gets warm."

Xu Weixiong slowly turned her palm over.

Bai Yu's lips curled into a smile.

Chang Sui glared and said, "Senior Sister Xu, are you playing games with me?!"

Xu Weixiong smiled faintly, "Although the troops blocking Hulu Pass are not numerous, they represent almost half of my father's lifelong accumulated assets. If we can't win with this, where would Northern Liang find the confidence to confront Northern Mang's million-strong army?"

Chang Sui suddenly laughed, "Otherwise, how about I go to Xiaguang City in Youzhou right now, and you let me command a heavy cavalry unit, junior sister?"

Xu Weixiong sneered, "If you can quit drinking, I'll agree."

Chang Sui said sullenly, "Then forget it."

Xu Huang suddenly frowned and said, "I heard that Northern Mang has also spared no effort in creating two royal tent heavy cavalry units, named after the Yelü and Murong surnames."

Xu Weixiong said softly, "It's unrelated to Hulu Pass. According to the border intelligence we just received, one of those units has already rushed to the Liuzhou border. This is the real reason why Liu Gui dares to risk the complete annihilation of 30,000 Dragon Elephant Cavalry."

The entire room fell silent.

Bai Yu, who had remained silent, shook his head gently with a bitter smile.

Jin Baoshi was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "So, even if the cavalry reinforcements from Liangzhou can reach the battlefield in time, will it still be useful?"

Xu Weixiong said helplessly, "If you ask me, it's just doing what we can and leaving the rest to fate."

The people in the room fell silent once more.

For some reason, Xu Weixiong smiled cheerfully, showing no sign of discouragement. "However, if it were a certain someone, he definitely wouldn't think this way. He'd only say, 'Losing is better than surrendering. Is it possible? Let's fight first and see!'"

Hutu City in Liangzhou, inside Hulu Pass, outside Qingcang City in Liuzhou, and the Youdong border.

Northern Liang is fighting on all four fronts.