novelSusiti Chapter 91 Battle Arrangements, A New Beginning
Chapter 91 Battle Arrangements, A New Beginning
With Helan Cangfeng captured alive and the commander's banner falling, the last organized resistance in the Dongyi camp was extinguished like a candle flickering in the wind.
Deprived of command and hope, the Dongyi soldiers either threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender, or wandered aimlessly through the smoke and fire like lost cattle and sheep. Many more fled for their lives in the north, in a direction where there seemed to be no Xia army flags.
The deafening shouts of battle were gradually replaced by sporadic clashes of weapons, the cries of the wounded, the crackling of flames, and the cheers of the victors.
Tian Heng stood atop the "Snow-Treading Flying Dragon," his black armor gleaming eerily in the firelight and the deepening twilight.
His gaze swept calmly across the battlefield, soaked in blood, littered with corpses, and still engulfed in smoke. His face showed little elation after a great victory, only a solemnity of peace and composure as if he had a firm grasp of the situation.
"Issue the orders to all units," his voice was clear and steady, reaching the ears of every general around him.
"First, Huangfu Gong's troops, in coordination with a part of Zhaowu Guard, shall immediately take control of all key roads, warehouses, and stables of the main camp, extinguish fires in critical locations, and strictly prohibit looting during the chaos. Anyone who disobeys this order shall be executed."
Second, Chief Wanyan, I request that you lead your tribe and the people who have submitted to you to assist in gathering and guarding the surrendered soldiers of the Eastern Yi, settling them separately according to their tribes, providing them with drinking water, and giving simple medical treatment to the seriously wounded.
Third, General Qin Lin's Imperial Guards and General Yuchi's Dragon Cavalry Battalion shall cease pursuit, set up defenses and guards at strategic locations around the main camp, clear out any remaining enemy forces on the perimeter of the battlefield, and prevent the fleeing troops from regrouping or enemy reinforcements from arriving suddenly.
Fourth, the military commanders and medical officers shall immediately tally the casualties of each battalion, do their utmost to treat our wounded, and register the preliminary findings of the battle merits.
5. The central army sets up its tent and raises the royal banner and the commander's banner bearing the character "Xia".
Commands were issued in an orderly manner, like precise gears starting to turn, quickly switching this massive machine of victory from a frenzied offensive mode to an orderly mode of control and cleanup.
With flags waving and bugles being passed, the chaotic battlefield began to recover a brutal post-crisis order at a visible pace.
Huangfu Gong accepted the order and left, his silver-armored figure disappearing into the still-burning camp to begin suppression and purging.
Wanyan Aguda was extremely vigilant, regarding this as the first major test after his surrender. He personally led Jin Wuzhu and others, shouting loudly in the Dongyi language, directing his subordinates to gather and guard groups of pale-faced and disoriented Dongyi surrendered soldiers in different areas. Although the action was swift, he tried to avoid unnecessary brutality.
Although Qin Lin was seriously injured, he was invigorated upon learning of the great victory and the capture of the enemy chieftain. With the support of his personal guards, he managed to sit and command the remaining Imperial Guards, who were also suffering heavy casualties but were in high spirits, as well as the Dragon Cavalry scouts who were rushing back and forth, to build a well-balanced perimeter.
Despite his injuries, Yuchi Wei mounted his horse and led the remaining cavalry of the Dragon Cavalry Battalion to patrol the outer perimeter, acting like the most vigilant alpha wolf, dispersing small groups of routed soldiers who were trying to regroup or plunder.
Soon, a relatively clean open space was cleared out in front of the ruins of the former Dongyi commander's tent.
The royal flag, with its black background and embroidered golden dragons, along with the enormous banner bearing the character "Xia" (夏), were raised high, fluttering in the evening breeze, proclaiming the change of sovereignty over this land.
Inside the makeshift command tent, torches blazed brightly.
Tian Heng stepped into the tent, unloaded the Nine Dragon Cangming Spear, and had his personal guards carefully take it and put it away.
He took off his helmet, revealing a slightly tired but increasingly profound face.
Huangfu Gong, Wanyan Aguda, and Qin Lin, Yuchi Wei, and other key generals who had barely managed to get there, gradually gathered in the tent.
Everyone's armor was stained with blood, their faces a mixture of gunpowder smoke, exhaustion, and the exhilaration of victory.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
Tian Heng's gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally landing on Helan Cangfeng, who was still bound and being escorted into the tent by two Zhaowu Guards. At this moment, he was limp as mud.
"In this battle, thanks to the bravery of our soldiers, the blessing of Heaven upon Great Xia, the unexpected victory of General Huangfu's troops, and the profound understanding of righteousness by Chief Wanyan, we finally achieved a complete victory. With the winds of Helan Cangfeng here, the 300,000-strong army of the Eastern Barbarians has been annihilated, and Youzhou has been liberated."
Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent felt a surge of heroic spirit.
Huangfu Gong thought of his elder brother, his tiger-like eyes reddening slightly. He clasped his hands tightly in a fist salute to Tian Heng, everything unspoken.
Wanyan Aguda secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had made the right gamble, and quickly bowed:
"It is all thanks to Your Highness's strategic planning and the overwhelming power of the Emperor; we have only done our utmost."
Tian Heng nodded slightly, refraining from further empty talk, and instead inquired about specific matters:
"What is the initial situation regarding casualties, kills, and prisoners of war in each unit?"
The military clerk and the adjutant in charge of statistics hurriedly stepped forward to report. Although the figures were not yet completely accurate, the general outline was already clear:
The 110,000-strong vanguard of the Dongyi army that crossed the river was almost completely wiped out. Of the nearly 200,000 troops left to guard the main camp, more than 70% were killed, wounded, or deserted. It is estimated that as many as 40,000 to 50,000 were captured. Countless supplies and provisions were burned and seized, and weapons and flags were piled up like mountains.
On the Great Xia side, the Imperial Guards also suffered heavy casualties, especially those who held the ferry crossing. More than 10,000 were killed and countless others were wounded. The Dragon Cavalry Battalion lost nearly 10% of its strength, and Huangfu Palace's elite troops also lost nearly 30%.
It was a fierce yet glorious victory.
Upon hearing the casualty figures for their own side, the atmosphere inside the tent became slightly heavy.
Tian Heng was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice: "The fallen soldiers must be properly buried, registered, and generously compensated after the war. A monument should be erected in their memory. The wounded should be treated with all our might, and the necessary medicines should be supplied with priority."
He looked at Qin Lin and Yuchi Wei, "General Qin, General Yuchi, please take good care of yourselves. Military affairs will be temporarily handled by the deputy general."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness!" Qin Lin and Yuchi Wei said gratefully.
"As for the surrendered soldiers,"
Tian Heng's gaze shifted to Wanyan Aguda and the dense mass of prisoners outside the tent.
"Keep a close watch on them and prevent any disturbances. Once the situation stabilizes, we will then conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action. The die-hard members of the Helan clan who are putting up a last stand should be treated differently from the ordinary soldiers who have been coerced into following them. Chief Wanyan, you must put a lot of thought into this matter."
"Your Majesty, I obey! I will handle this properly and live up to your trust!" Wanyan Aguda quickly replied.
At this moment, Tian Heng seemed to remember something and asked:
"Where is Li Jianyuan, the squad leader who captured Helan Cangfeng, now?"
The commander of the personal guards reported, "Your Highness, Squad Leader Li is waiting outside the tent, along with his men."
"Bring him in."
Soon, Li Jianyuan was brought into the tent. He had already washed the blood off his face and changed into a relatively clean uniform, but the wounds on his body and his exhaustion were hard to hide.
He had clearly never experienced anything like this before; the tent was filled with generals and princes who were usually unreachable. He was so nervous that his palms were sweating, but he tried his best to straighten his back and kneel on one knee.
"Your humble servant Li Jianyuan greets Your Highness and all generals!"
Li Jianyuan
武力：100（105），统帅：93（97），智力：88（96），政治：80（98）
Tian Heng looked at him and said gently:
"Li Jianyuan, rise and reply. You have performed a great service today, not only avenging Wang Zhong, but also making a great contribution to our Great Xia."
According to military law, capturing the enemy chieftain alive is the greatest merit. I hereby promote you to the rank of Zhaoxin Duwei, a sixth-rank official of the Zhaowu Guard, and reward you with one hundred taels of gold and fifty bolts of silk.
Once the war is completely over, I will personally report to the court and bestow further rewards. Your soldiers will all be rewarded according to their merit in capturing important enemy chieftains.
He rose from a regular squad leader to a fifth-rank captain, and the Zhaowu Guard was Tian Heng's personal guard. Although the Zhaowu Guard was currently understaffed, it would definitely be expanded in the future. This was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate!
Although the generals in the tent felt that this achievement was indeed great, such a promotion was also exceptional, which shows that Tian Heng attached great importance to this matter and was not bound by convention in promoting talents.
Upon hearing this, Li Jianyuan's mind went blank for a moment, and he could hardly believe his ears. A surge of immense joy and gratitude welled up within him, and he knelt down again, his voice choked with emotion:
"Thank you... thank you for your grace, Your Highness! This humble servant... this humble servant will repay Your Highness with my life!"
"Alright, you may go now and get some rest. Assist the Sima official in verifying your achievements."
Tian Heng waved his hand and said to his guards, "Take Helan Cangfeng down there and interrogate him thoroughly. Make sure you can get him to talk and find out the details of the Eastern Yi's internal affairs and the full plan for this invasion of the south."
Helan Cangfeng was dragged away like a dead dog. This former marshal seemed to have no strength left to even beg for mercy.
The generals discussed some details of the aftermath until night fell.
Tian Heng ordered everyone to disperse and rest, leaving only the necessary sentries and patrols.
Stepping out of the command tent, a chilly night wind swept over me, carrying a heavy smell of blood and burnt flesh, but it also dispelled some of my weariness.
On the open field, countless campfires were lit, as the Great Xia army set up camp and rested.
Further away, from the guarded prisoner area came low sobs and occasional shouts. The Onon River flowed silently in the darkness, as if washing away the day's horrors.
A major battle that determined the fate of northern Xinjiang has finally come to an end.
But Tian Heng knew that the end of a war was often just the beginning of a more complicated situation.
The tasks of appeasing surrendered soldiers, treating the wounded, comforting the dead, repairing border defenses, consolidating the spoils of war, deterring the remnants of the Eastern Yi tribes, and even integrating with the Wanyan tribe... were just beginning.
He looked up at the night sky, where the Milky Way was just beginning to appear, deep and boundless.
Tomorrow will be a new beginning. And after this battle, the northern border of Great Xia can at least enjoy several years, or even ten years, of relative peace.
This is the meaning behind the soldiers' bloody battle.