novelSusiti Chapter 54 Reinforcements are arriving, and orders are being issued.
Chapter 54 Reinforcements are arriving, and orders are being issued.
After a long silence, Tian Rangju looked at Tian Heng again:
"Your Highness, even if everything the Wanyan envoy said is true, the fact that the five thousand iron cavalry of the Wanyan tribe have sincerely come to surrender is indeed a timely help for our army."
However, even including these 5,000 men, our total military strength is only 25,000.
Facing an army of 300,000 Eastern Barbarians on the banks of the Onon River, and attempting the perilous tactic of attacking while the enemy is crossing... the troop ratio remains more than 1 to 12, a disparity that is still chilling. This is not because I am afraid of battle, but because military strategists must be extremely cautious.
Upon hearing this, the other generals in the hall also calmed down from their initial shock and excitement, and nodded in agreement.
Five thousand iron cavalry were certainly a force to be reckoned with, especially since they were elite troops familiar with the inner workings of the Eastern Barbarians. However, they still appeared weak and outnumbered in the face of a colossal number of three hundred thousand.
A hasty attack could lead to total defeat and even the loss of the northern border.
Upon hearing this, Tian Heng burst into loud laughter, his clear and melodious voice carrying a sense of confidence and magnanimity.
He rose from his seat, walked to Wanyan Gao who was still kneeling on one knee, and reached out his hands to help him up steadily.
"General Tian is wise and experienced in governing the country; what he says is very true! How could I not know that even if five thousand iron cavalry are elite troops, they would be unable to shake the foundation of an army of three hundred thousand?"
He turned around, his gaze sharp as he swept over the generals in the hall, his voice suddenly rising, becoming as impassioned as the clang of a drawn sword.
"The reason I dared to devise this ingenious strategy of attacking halfway across the river is not only because of the Wanyan tribe, which is a wedge embedded in the enemy's formation, but also because I have another trump card that can turn the tide of battle!"
As soon as he finished speaking, as if in response to divine will, a rapid, rain-like sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside the council hall, shattering the silence of the twilight inside the pass.
Immediately afterward, a soldier, covered in dust and with frost still clinging to his armor, rushed into the hall. Ignoring the assembled generals, he went straight to Tian Heng and knelt on one knee.
Holding aloft an urgent military report marked with three fiery feathers, his voice trembled slightly with excitement:
"Your Highness! Urgent military report from Dingzhou! General Wang Kong has gathered the available troops from You, Bing, and Shuo prefectures in Dingzhou to secure the rear."
The old general issued the order: "The Dragon Cavalry Battalion and 50,000 elite Southern troops have all broken camp and are rushing to the aid of Beique Pass day and night! The vanguard scouts have already reached within a hundred li, and the main force will arrive at the pass by noon tomorrow at the latest!"
"What?! The Dragon Cavalry?! And 50,000 elite Southern troops?!"
The Dragon Cavalry Battalion! That is the very embodiment of the Great Xia army's spirit, a true national treasure!
In the past, during the Northern Expedition, three thousand dragon cavalrymen defeated a hundred thousand allied troops from the grasslands head-on. Their reputation was enough to make all the tribes beyond the Great Wall tremble with fear!
Add to that the 50,000 equally well-equipped and well-trained Southern Army guards... This is not just a timely help, but a decisive force capable of changing the balance of the entire battlefield!
Huangfu Gong was also shaken violently. He abruptly looked up at Tian Heng, the crimson hatred in his eyes replaced by a mixture of shock, ecstasy, and awe. His voice was hoarse:
"Your Highness... the Dragon Riders... the Dragon Riders have arrived too?! This humble general... this humble general only knew there would be reinforcements, I never expected it to be..."
As a commander of the Imperial Guards, he understood better than Tian Rangju what the mobilization of the Dragon Cavalry meant.
That almost represented the emperor's determination to achieve a decisive victory here at all costs!
Tian Heng stood with his hands behind his back, meeting the burning gazes of the generals. The smile on his lips carried an air of complete composure, and his eyes gleamed like stars.
"It is absolutely true! The Eastern Barbarians broke their promise and launched a brazen invasion to the south, massacring the border people. General Li Yuan was defeated and died for his country, which shocked the court and the people, and the Emperor was furious!"
This time, you have sent me north with imperial credentials, not only granting me the authority to make decisions on my own initiative, but also entrusting me with the Dragon Cavalry and 50,000 elite Southern troops. The message is clear: I will not return to the capital until the Eastern Barbarians are defeated!
He whirled around and slammed his palm heavily on the heavy sandalwood table, making a loud "bang" that shook the candlelight and caused the map to tremble. His voice was resolute and echoed in every corner of the hall.
"Listen, gentlemen! Our army now boasts eight thousand Imperial Guards as our sharpest arrows! Fifty thousand Southern Army Imperial Guards as our main shield! Three thousand Dragon Cavalry as our hammer to break through enemy lines! Furthermore, we have five thousand Wanyan tribe cavalrymen who are well-versed in the inside story and can serve as our inside agents!"
His finger, sharp as a sword, traced a circle on the map at the Onon River crossing, as if he could already see the battlefield unfolding:
"When the Eastern Yi army was halfway across the river, their formation stretched out and they could not defend both ends, our main force pressed down from the high ground on the front, locking down their vanguard, while General Huangfu led his iron cavalry to cut off their retreat."
Meanwhile, the 5,000 elite troops of the Wanyan tribe launched a sudden attack from within the enemy ranks, storming the central command tent and killing or capturing Helan Cangfeng!
If the commander-in-chief is lost, the 300,000-strong allied army will be nothing but a disorganized mess, and the leaders of each unit will surely have ulterior motives and rush to flee for their lives!
At that time, our army will surround them from all sides, and strike them while they are down. How could we not rout this 300,000-strong Eastern Barbarian army on the banks of the Onon River, causing their blood to flow like rivers and for ten years they would not dare to look south?!
"Brilliant! Your Highness's calculations are brilliant! Truly a divine strategy!" Tian Rangju had no more doubts at this moment.
"With such strong reinforcements and internal support, we can launch a surprise attack while the enemy is crossing the river, launching a pincer movement. Even if the Eastern Barbarian coalition has 300,000 troops, they are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs, mere objects to be displayed! Our army will surely win this battle!"
Huangfu Gong's blood was also boiling. He took a deep breath, and although his gaze towards Wanyan Gao still held a sharp scrutiny, the intense, murderous intent had largely subsided, replaced by a cold warning:
"Envoy Wanyan! If your tribe truly keeps its promise and helps our army to defeat the Eastern Yi, you will be a meritorious official of our Great Xia. The court will surely reward you handsomely, and your tribe will also have a place to settle down in the northern frontier!"
However, if you harbor any illusions and act in a vacillating manner... I, Huangfu Gong, hereby swear that even if I pursue you to the ends of the earth, I will slaughter every single man in your Wanyan tribe who can wield a sword!
Faced with this menacing warning, Wanyan Gao did not flinch. Instead, he straightened his back, slammed his right fist heavily against his left breastplate, producing a dull thud, his vow resounding with unwavering conviction:
"General Huangfu! Your Highness Prince Qin! Wanyan Gao swears by the spirits of his ancestors and the Eternal Heaven of the grasslands! The Wanyan tribe's loyalty is as firm as a rock!"
If this journey is undertaken with ulterior motives, and great things are jeopardized, may I, Wanyan Gao, be pierced by a thousand arrows, and may my soul be eternally tormented by sandstorms after death! May my entire Wanyan clan be enslaved, and my women forced into prostitution, never to be reincarnated!
Seeing that the army's morale was high and their fighting spirit was ignited, Tian Heng said no more.
He strode back to the head of the table, his expression suddenly turning stern and imposing. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over every face in the hall, and he commanded in a deep voice:
"All generals, listen to my command!"
"Tian Rangju!" He looked at the veteran first.
"Your subordinate is here!" Tian Rangju stepped forward, his armor clattering.
"I hereby appoint you to take overall command of the defense of Beique Pass! Lead 7,000 regular troops and properly reorganize the 5,000 defeated soldiers. Immediately begin to strengthen the city's defenses and prepare more rolling logs, stones, and oil-soaked arrows!"
They spread flags all over the city walls, sent out soldiers to patrol during the day, beat drums and sound horns, and lit bonfires everywhere at night, creating a thick cloud of smoke!
"You must make the Eastern Yi scouts believe that our army is holed up inside the pass and dares not engage in battle, so that they can cross the river with peace of mind! This pass is the foundation of our army; it must not be lost. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"
"Your humble servant obeys! I will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust!" Tian Rangju clasped his hands and bowed.
"Wait a minute," Tian Heng called out to him again, adding.
"Dispatch more capable scouts, divided into three shifts, to keep a close watch on the Dongyi army's every move, day and night, especially their river-crossing order, the positions of each unit, and the location of Helan Cangfeng's central army! Report every two hours, without fail!"
"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand!"