Emperor Zhaolie of the late Han Dynasty: Rising to power in Liaoxi

Chapter 109 Deploying Troops for Rescue

Chapter 109 Deploying Troops for Rescue

Liu Bei remained silent for a long time, the lamplight casting flickering shadows on his face as his gaze fell upon the map.

"If Zhongde is right, if Tanshihuai wants to establish his authority, the focus of this battle will not be the remote western Liaoning."

"This is our chance!"

Cheng Yu nodded in agreement, saying, "What my lord says is quite right, but we must also be wary of the Xianbei using Liaoxi as a breakthrough point to enter the Central Plains!"

Zhao Bao immediately agreed, saying, "That's right. Even if we were to send troops, we couldn't do so on a large scale!"

"We must preserve sufficient forces to guard the key routes into the pass!"

Zhao Bao feared that Liu Bei would act recklessly and insist on sending troops; if Liaoxi were lost, he, as the governor, might not even be able to save his entire clan.

Fortunately, Liu Bei nodded, stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to Changli.

"Changli is besieged, and Gongshamu is waiting for us. If we don't go, the Xianbei will break through Changli, and the Liaodong vassal state will become the Xianbei's horse farm."

"At that time, western Liaoning will be directly exposed to the Xianbei's military might."

"Saving Changli today is the same as protecting Liaoxi tomorrow."

He turned to face Zhao Bao and bowed deeply: "My lord, I request permission to send troops!"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Bao finally relented: "Commander Liu, I won't stop you, but there's one condition: Liaoxi Commandery must retain sufficient strength."

"Saving Changli is a noble cause, while defending Liaoxi is our duty, and we cannot abandon our duty."

"Understood, thank you, Your Excellency!"

Liu Bei straightened up and turned to the crowd: "Gao Shun!"

Gao Shun stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to lead 500 infantrymen of the Trapped Camp to garrison Yangle City."

"All defenses within the city are under your command. If there is even the slightest error, you will be held solely responsible!"

"promise!"

"Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Xu Rong, Tian Yu."

The four of them stepped forward together.

"You four will each command your own troops and be stationed at strategic passes in the four counties of Lingzhi, Feiru, Linyu, and Yangle."

"If the Xianbei invade, you shall all attack them together. If you are unsure what to do, Xu Rong's decision shall prevail."

"If the Xianbei do not come, then we must hurry up and store every single grain of the autumn harvest in the granaries for the benefit of the people."

The four men clasped their hands in a fist salute: "Yes, sir."

"Cheng Yu and Jian Yong, you two will be stationed in Yangle, in charge of coordination. If you encounter any indecisiveness, please consult Lord Zhao!"

"Here you go!"

The two bowed and accepted the order!

Finally, Liu Bei turned to Zhao Yun and Hou Cheng: "Zilong, Hou Cheng, you two will come with me, leading two thousand elite cavalry, to reinforce Changli!"

Zhao Yun stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting with Hou Cheng.

"promise."

Zhao Bao stood up and walked to Liu Bei: "Commander Liu, when shall we depart?"

"Tomorrow at ten o'clock!"

Zhao Bao nodded and didn't say anything more.

He simply reached out and pressed down hard on Liu Bei's arm.

The meeting adjourned, and everyone filed out to prepare for their respective tasks.

Early the next morning.

Liu Bei led two thousand elite cavalry out of Yangle City, their hooves breaking through the dawn, and galloped swiftly towards the northeast.

Yang Shuo, Wang Yan, Zhao Yun, and Hou Cheng each led their own troops to accompany him.

As they set off, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. After traveling less than thirty li, several riders came galloping towards them on the official road ahead.

The first rider was covered in blood and was lying on his horse, almost falling off. The rest of the riders were all injured.

Liu Bei reined in his horse, and his personal guards stepped forward to help the man off. If he could get past the outpost, he must be one of their own.

The leader was a young man, pale-faced, with cracked lips, and haphazardly tied strips of cloth around his shoulder, his robes soaked with blood.

Upon seeing Liu Bei's banner, he struggled to kneel down, his voice hoarse and almost inaudible: "Commander Liu—Changli, Changli is about to fall—"

"Who are you?" Liu Bei dismounted and took his hand on the shoulder.

"Gongsha—Gongsha Kui, my father was Gongsha Mu, the Commandant of the Liaodong Dependent State."

The boy raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed: "The Xianbei have been besieging the city for three days. More than half of the defending troops have been killed or wounded. My father went up the city wall to supervise the battle, but was hit by a stray arrow and is now seriously injured."

"The city defenses—the city defenses are on the verge of collapse."

"I am acting on my father's orders to break through the siege and seek reinforcements. If Liaoxi does not come to my aid, Changli will be in grave danger—"

He couldn't continue. The boy lowered his head, his shoulders trembling violently, but he clenched his teeth tightly.

How many Xianbei soldiers were there?

"Approximately ten thousand cavalry!"

Liu Bei helped him up and handed him over to his personal guards for support, his gaze sweeping over the few riders in front of him.

After a three-day siege, the city still had enough strength to allow a young boy to break out and seek reinforcements. This meant either the boy was incredibly brave, or the Xianbei were not in a hurry to attack!

As far as he knew, Gongsha Mu had five sons, known as Gongsha Wulong, but none of them possessed such martial prowess.

Gongshamu was critically wounded and on the verge of collapse. The city's defenses were on the verge of crumbling, yet the city remained unconquered. The Xianbei were waiting for this!

Are we waiting for reinforcements from western Liaoning?

Based on Liu Bei's experience, he could naturally see that the Xianbei were trying to besiege the enemy's stronghold and attack their reinforcements!

"Yang Shuo!"

Liu Bei's voice deepened: "Send out scouts to explore the area twenty li ahead. Pay special attention to any valleys, passes, or dense forests."

"Yes, sir!" Yang Shuo turned his horse around, and more than ten scouts spread out like a fan, the sound of hooves gradually fading into the distance.

The group continued forward, but at a slower pace.

Liu Bei did not have Zhao Yun accompany him, but instead called the young Gongsha Kui to his side and inquired in detail about the Xianbei military situation outside Changli City.

Gongsha Kui said that the Xianbei cavalry besieging the city numbered no less than 10,000, and were flying the banner of Huaitou in the east.

Huaitou was a high-ranking official in the eastern Xianbei region. Suli, Huaitou, and Queji were all prominent figures in the east, each commanding tens of thousands of archers.

Last year, Liu Bei launched a three-pronged attack on the Xianbei. He nearly wiped out the Queji tribe and severely wounded the Mijia tribe, but Huaitou was not seriously injured.

Gongsha Kui then recounted how, during the siege of Huaitou, he had shouted from below the city walls, "Liu Xuande killed two of my Xianbei chieftains, and today his allies will pay for his life."

Liu Bei curled his lip. This was a low-level attempt at provocation and sowing discord. This Huai Tou didn't seem to be very smart.

Hou Cheng and Zhao Yun behind them exchanged a glance.

Well, they really came for our lord.

Upon entering Changli County, the terrain gradually changes from plains to undulating terrain.

After traveling several dozen miles, a scout galloped back from the front, the sound of his horse's hooves as rapid as the beating of drums.

"My lord! Something unusual has been detected ahead!"

"Just now on the north slope, I saw a flock of birds startled and circling without landing. I fear there may be an ambush."

At almost the same time, another scout rushed back from the west via a shortcut, bringing back the same news.

Numerous hoof prints and fresh horse manure were found in the forests on both sides of the road ahead.

Liu Bei summoned Gongsha Kui and asked him where they were ahead.

Gong Sha Kui said weakly, "It is still forty miles from here to Changli City. There is a pass ahead called Qing Shi Gorge."

"Two low, rocky hills sandwich an official road, which at its narrowest point can only accommodate five or six riders abreast. It is the only way to Changli."

Yang Shuo's face darkened: "As expected, it's a strategy of besieging the point and attacking the reinforcements. This pass is an excellent place to set up an ambush."

Liu Bei gazed ahead, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, the corners of the mouth were only slightly upturned, but there was an unfathomable certainty in the eyes.

He turned his horse around and said to Hou Cheng, "Order the entire army to dismount two miles outside the pass and prepare a meal."

Hou Cheng was taken aback. "My lord, what is this?"

No need to ask any more questions!

97

Afterwards, Liu Bei summoned Zhao Yun and whispered something to him before the army continued its march.