L.F-Hist.Novelist The 78th octopus has been caught in the net.
The 78th octopus has been caught in the net.
The 78th octopus has been caught in the net.
A hundred miles east of Yingchoujian, a massive allied army was marching across the autumn wilderness.
The procession stretched for miles, with shouts from men and neighing from horses, and billowing dust.
The vanguard consisted of about three thousand Tibetan cavalrymen, dressed in a motley crew. Leading the way were the elite troops of Xisheluosa, who held high the faded and tattered banner of the Quessiluo royal family.
The central army was a mixed group, consisting of armed forces from various large and small tribes that had later submitted to them. Their ranks were loose and their expressions varied.
The rear guard was a well-disciplined and restrained force, with both men and horses fully armored. In particular, the more than eight hundred Iron Falcons were silent as mountains, with only the regular clanging of their armor plates as their horses' hooves rose and fell, exuding a chilling aura of power.
This is the 1,800 Xia soldiers led by Yeli Jie.
The coalition forces numbered nearly six thousand, which at first glance appeared formidable.
However, a discerning person could easily see the subtle gap between the front and rear armies.
The Tibetan army was noisy and chaotic, while the Xia army was solemn and disciplined, with each side separated by a distance, clearly distinct.
In the central command position, Xi Sheluo Sa and Ye Lijie rode side by side, the atmosphere between them somewhat subtle. Since the alliance was formed, the debate over the strategy of advance had not ceased.
"General Yeli, it will be five more days' journey to Shanzhou City."
Xi Sheluo pointed southeast, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge and desire. "The scouts report that Shanzhou's defenses are very strong, and it seems that the main force of the Song army is mostly holding the city."
In my opinion, we should join forces and march straight to the city. First, we should have our Tibetan warriors take turns challenging the defenders to exhaust them. Then, I urge General Iron Falcon to seize the opportunity and break through the city in one fell swoop! As long as we capture Qing Tang and kill Zhao Mingcheng, the Hehuang region will be ours for the taking!
Ye Lijie remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping over the distant, undulating mountains, and said calmly.
"I can understand why the leader of Xisheluosa is so eager for battle, but as the art of war says, if you have ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if you have five times their strength, attack them."
Although our forces are slightly superior to the defenders, Qinghai is a fortified city, which the Song have been fortifying for months and will not be easily taken. If we remain besiege this fortified city and prolong the conflict, Song reinforcements will arrive from all sides, potentially cutting off our supply lines, which would be perilous. It would be better to first clear the outer perimeter, cripple their wings, and then focus on the core."
"The outer perimeter?" Xi Sheluo frowned. "General, do you mean those military settlements and markets? Those places have limited resources, and their defenses are scattered. Attacking them one by one would be a waste of manpower and time. It would be better to join forces and defeat them in one fell swoop!"
"It's not just about military settlements and markets." Yeli Jie glanced at him. "The supply lines are the lifeline of the army. I've heard that the Song people transport grain and fodder from Xizhou and Hezhou to Qinghai, mostly through the Huangshui River Valley. If we can cut off their supply lines, Qinghai will fall into chaos without a fight. At that time, we might be able to force them to come out of the city for open battle, which is exactly what our Iron Falcons are good at."
Xisheluosa disagreed.
Cut off the supply lines? When will that be?
What he wanted was a swift victory, a glorious victory in capturing Qingtang, to prove his worth to the Xia people and to win back the hearts of his increasingly scattered tribesmen.
Even if we suffer heavy casualties in a head-on confrontation with the main force of the Song army under the city walls, as long as we eventually break through the city, it will all be worth it.
What's the point of raiding the supply lines? Even if you succeed, it's just spoils. How can that compare to the glory of breaking into the enemy's lair and capturing and killing the enemy chief?
As the two were exchanging witty remarks, a scout galloped up from the front, dismounted, and panted as he reported the news.
"Great Chief! General Yeli! Scouts at the front have spotted Song troops in the direction of Black Stone Beach on the Huangshui River!"
"Tell me quickly!" Xi Sheluo Sa perked up.
"It was a Song army unit, about three or four hundred cavalry, escorting dozens of large carts, slowly moving south along the Huangshui River bend."
"Judging by the weight of the vehicles, they seem to be carrying provisions and supplies. And in the procession—there also appears to be official carriages carrying officials in scarlet robes!" the scout added.
Scarlet official robe?
Xi Sheluo Sa's eyes widened suddenly, and his breathing became more rapid.
A high-ranking official from the Song Dynasty! Could it be Zhao Mingcheng?
Even if not, they must be an important person!
There are grain carts too! This is a godsend!
"General Yeli! Did you hear that?" Xi Sheluo Sa, unable to contain his excitement, turned to Yeli Jie. "The Song army's grain transport team, along with high-ranking officials! They're right at Black Stone Beach! This place is quite a distance from Qinghai, making it difficult for the garrison to quickly come to our aid! This is a godsend! If we intercept this grain shipment and capture and kill the Song officials, it will be tantamount to cutting off Zhao Mingcheng's arm, and it will greatly boost our army's morale! The Qinghai garrison will surely be terrified upon hearing the news!"
Yeli Jie, however, was not as excited as him. He squinted and asked the scout, "Could you see the size of the guards? What was their formation? Were there any scouts or rangers? What is the terrain like nearby?"
The scout returned.
"The guard consisted of about three or four hundred riders, all light cavalry. The formation looked fairly orderly, but the carts were slow and dragged down the speed. There were not many scouts, who only patrolled one or two miles in front of and behind the column. The Black Stone Beach was a river bend, surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side. The entrance was narrow, but the inside was open."
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Xi Sheluo said urgently.
"General! What are you hesitating for? Three or four hundred guards? Our Tibetan warriors can rout them with a single charge! That terrain is the perfect place to encircle and annihilate them!"
"As long as we act quickly, the battle can be ended before the Qing Tang defenders can react! We'll get supplies and kill the enemy chieftain—a double win! This is much more worthwhile than trying to break through the Qing Tang city walls!"
Ye Lijie remained silent in thought.
He instinctively felt it was too coincidental.
An important grain transport team, escorting high-ranking officials, was discovered in this place with a unique terrain, neither too close nor too far from Qinghai.
Were the people of Song so careless?
But the situation described by the scout seems reasonable.
The Song people may indeed have had insufficient protection for their grain transport teams due to the dispersed nature of their troops.
That official in scarlet robes was probably there to inspect the military farms or to urge the collection of grain.
The terrain of Black Stone Beach is conducive to ambush, but also to rapid encirclement and annihilation.
The key point is that if it really succeeds, the results are indeed tempting, and the risks seem to be lower than those of attacking a city.
He glanced at Xishe Luosa, who was looking at him anxiously, and then thought of Renduo Baozhong's instructions to "preserve strength and let the Tibetan army take the lead." He made a decision in his mind.
"What Chief Xisheluosa said makes sense," Yelijie said slowly. "In the art of war, caution is paramount. On our way to Black Stone Beach, we must guard against the Song army luring us into an ambush. How about this, Chief, you can lead the main force of the Tibetan army as the vanguard to Black Stone Beach and intercept the Song army."
I will lead my troops behind you, ten li away, to provide backup. If all goes well, the leader will be rewarded. If there is an ambush or a trap, my Iron Falcons can provide timely support or cover the rear. In this way, our safety can be guaranteed.”
Upon hearing this, Xi Sheluo Sa felt a wave of disgust wash over him.
It sounds nice to say "support and coordination," but it's clearly just sending him to be the first to go and test the waters, while Xia Jun watches the fun and reaps the rewards!
If they win, the Xia army can say that they succeeded because of their support; if they lose or are ambushed, the Tibetan army will suffer first, while the Xia army can advance or retreat at will.
That Ye Lijie, he's really shrewd with his calculations.
His facial muscles twitched slightly as he suppressed his dissatisfaction and forced a smile.
"General, your considerations are thorough. However—while our Tibetan warriors are indeed valiant, the Song people are cunning. If there is indeed an ambush, I fear that only a swift and decisive strike from your iron cavalry can ensure complete victory. It would be better if our army advanced simultaneously and pressed our attack in one fell swoop—"
Ye Lijie waved his hand, interrupting him, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Speed is of the essence in war. If we wait for both armies to regroup and advance simultaneously, the Song army's supply trains will likely be far away. The commander is familiar with the terrain and is well-suited to be the vanguard. Our army is ten miles behind and can respond at any time. Could it be that the commander lacks confidence in his brave warriors to defeat this small Song force?"
If you truly lack confidence, Chief, just say so. We won't fight this battle, and I'll take my men back immediately.
Yeli Jie's words left Xi Sheluo Sa speechless: fight if you can, retreat if you can't.
These words carried a subtle provocation and skepticism, leaving Xisheluosa feeling choked up and his chest tight.
He knew that if he persisted, he would appear cowardly and the Xia people would look down on him even more.
He needed this victory to prove himself, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.
"—General, you are right!" Xi Sheluo said through gritted teeth. "In that case, I will lead three thousand warriors from my own troops and other units as the vanguard of the main army, heading straight for Black Stone Beach. I will surely hand over the Song army's grain convoy and that corrupt official to the general! However, I hope the general will not delay and will provide timely support!"
"Of course." Yeli Jie nodded. "I wish the leader a resounding victory. Remember, if the enemy's situation changes, do not linger in battle; retreat quickly."
With the plan settled, Xi Sheluo Sa did not delay any longer. He immediately summoned his main leaders, mustered three thousand Tibetan soldiers, broke away from the main force, and sped off towards the Black Stone Beach of the Huangshui River in the southeast.
The horses' hooves pounded, raising clouds of yellow dust.
Yeli Jie then ordered the Xia army to slow down and keep about ten miles away from the vanguard, following at a leisurely pace.
He sent out more scouts to expand the reconnaissance area, especially the flanks and rear, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
His doubts hadn't completely disappeared, but he didn't want to miss any possible opportunities.
It's always safer to let the Tibetan army probe first.
Xisheluosa led his army at breakneck speed, his heart filled with both excitement and a burning desire.
He wanted to prove to the Xia people that the Tibetan warriors of Xisheluosa were not just a rabble who only knew how to wave flags and shout slogans!
This Song army grain transport team was his pledge of allegiance and also a stepping stone for him to regain his prestige.
In the afternoon, the vanguard had approached Black Stone Beach. The scouts reported again that the Song army was still in the river bend, seemingly resting in a sheltered spot, with their wagons and horses scattered and their guard lax.
"Excellent! Heaven is on our side!" Xi Sheluo Sa was overjoyed and immediately ordered, "Full force, advance from the entrance! Block their retreat! Don't let a single one escape! Especially that one in the scarlet robe, capture him alive!"
Three thousand Tibetan cavalrymen, like a pack of wolves smelling blood, whistled and brandished their swords and bows as they surged into the relatively narrow river mouth and plunged into the depths of the river bend.
The river bend was indeed wide open, with abundant water and grass. In the distance, near the woodland at the foot of the mountain, a convoy of about twenty or thirty large carts was parked, with many cavalrymen scattered around, about three or four hundred men. They seemed to be stunned by the sudden appearance of the Tibetan army and were in a state of panic.
"Kill—!" Xi Sheluo Sa took the lead, pointing his curved sword forward.
The Tibetan cavalry let out a deafening roar, spurred their horses on, and surged towards the "panicked" Song army like a flood bursting its banks.
The Song army seemed to only just realize what was happening, hastily organizing a weak defensive line. Arrows came sparsely, but they were powerless against the Tibetan army's rain of arrows and ferocious charge.
As soon as the two armies made contact, the Song army's defenses were easily torn apart. The cavalrymen cried out in "fear," abandoned some of their vehicles and supplies, turned their horses around, and "fled" into the deeper river bends and denser forests.
"Chase them! Don't let them get away! Especially that carriage!" Xi Sheluo, with his sharp eyes, spotted several riders escorting an unmarked ordinary carriage among the fleeing Song army, running desperately into the mountains. The carriage looked quite heavy.
He concluded that the official in the scarlet robe must be in the carriage!
"Great Chief! Beware of a trap!" A more cautious older subordinate rode closer and said urgently, "The Song army has fled too easily! This river bend terrain, with mountains on both sides, is not suitable for a deep pursuit! We should first seize the supplies, stabilize our position, and wait for General Yeli's army to arrive!"
"Bullshit!" Xi Sheluo was in high spirits and wouldn't listen to a word. He angrily retorted, "How could that Song official not be terrified when he sees our army? Their supplies are right here, they can't escape! That dog of an official is about to be captured. If we don't chase him now, when will we? If the Xia people come, who will get the credit? Enough talk, follow me!"
Ignoring his subordinates' advice, he spurred his horse and led his elite cavalry, numbering several hundred, in hot pursuit of the Song army's route of "escape."
Seeing that their leader had already given chase, and noticing the numerous bulging grain sacks and scattered copper coins and silks on the ground, the remaining Tibetan soldiers, their eyes reddening, followed in a chaotic frenzy. Some dismounted to seize the "spoils of war," making their ranks increasingly disorderly.