Chapter 70 I will lead the troops to support the general
There was dead silence in Xie Zhan's tent.
Wu Guang slapped his thigh and cursed, "Damn it! No sooner had we mobilized the troops than Ashina got the news and rushed over. If you say there aren't any traitors in this camp, I won't believe it even if you kill me!"
Fortunately, most of the people have been relocated in recent days, and now except for the soldiers, it is almost an empty city.
Beiting is the gateway and must not be lost.
"Yes, General, please give me some advice. What should we do now?"
"The disparity in military strength between the two sides is significant. While a battle is possible, if we force a fight, both sides will suffer heavy losses. It's unclear whether we can even turn the tide!"
Xie Zhan's expression was unclear: "What do you think, Military Advisor?"
"In my opinion, while we must fight, we shouldn't charge headfirst into the enemy and leave them with nothing to lose. I have a plan. If it works, we might be able to outsmart them. However, it's a bit risky. Does the General dare to use it?"
"Military Advisor, please speak."
"I've been browsing military books and have come across the Empty City Strategy. To put it simply, it means we're short on manpower, but we're leaving the city gates wide open, creating a sense of daunting power that confuses the enemy. They won't dare attack and are forced to retreat."
Xie Zhan continued, "To stall for time, we can send a general with a team of troops to attack Ashina's camp. Our spies report that Ashina has emptied out almost all of his food supplies. If they burn, he'll surely rush back to put out the fire. The enemy's morale is low, and our men can take advantage of this opportunity to pursue them. There's a chance we might even win."
Wu Guang was stunned. "This... Military Advisor, how is this risky? The city gates are wide open. If Ashina doesn't take the bait and retreats, and instead leads his troops straight in, there's no need to even attack the city gates!"
"Yes, General, this plan relies solely on gambling. It's too risky and absolutely unacceptable! Ashina must have known that Beiting had 100,000 elite soldiers transferred away and was now short of manpower, so he rushed to attack the city. No matter how stupid he is, he wouldn't fall for it!"
The military doctor sighed, "Ashina knows we have no soldiers, yet he dares to open the city gates. He will definitely think it's a trick. It's not a bad idea to retreat!"
"What the military doctor said makes sense, but we're betting on Ashina's heart. He's reckless and refuses to admit defeat. I hope the general will reconsider."
"General, General, the Tuqun spy has been caught." The commander's tent was suddenly opened and a loud voice rang out.
The generals looked back and saw that General Feng, who had spoken, was holding a trembling Tuqu people in his hands, and he had also brought two people in tied up. These two people were not strangers, one was Yang Hongquan, and the other looked a little unfamiliar, but everyone still recognized him as a Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard.
Wu Guang was stunned and looked at Xie Zhan: "General, what do you mean?"
He fully agreed to kidnap Yang Hongquan, but how could this General of the Imperial Guards appear in Beiting?
Xie Zhan narrowed his eyes and spoke directly, "Everyone here is my trusted confidant, so I will speak frankly. With a formidable enemy at hand, yet Your Majesty has mobilized 100,000 elite troops. Your intention is self-evident. Three generations of my Xie family have defended Beiting, and we believe we have done this without regret, not only before the court but also before the imperial family. However, Your Majesty's actions have truly chilled the spirit of our Dingbei Army."
General Feng, filled with righteous indignation, continued, "How dare this Yang man send a letter to Ashina? He's one of Your Majesty's closest confidants! And what about this Lieutenant General? Your Majesty has transferred 100,000 elite troops from the Dingbei Army, only to send him with 30,000 elite soldiers to lurk outside the city. What's his intention? He's clearly trying to get us and Ashina to a mutually devastating fight, and then he's letting the Lieutenant General stalk the cicada while the oriole waits behind. Your Majesty... Emperor Yonghui is trying to destroy our Dingbei Army!"
Wu Guang was so excited after hearing this that the general finally decided not to endure it any longer.
Why did the general tell everything to this guy named Feng and not to him?
Feng Ti glanced at him and thought to himself, you are such a reckless and stupid guy, how can I entrust the task to you?
"General, what you said makes sense. If we continue to endure this, our Dingbei Army would have already become ghosts in the underworld! Brothers, we are willing to follow your lead!"
Yang Hongquan gritted his teeth and sneered, saying bitterly, "Xie Zhan, ah Xie Zhan, you traitor, you dare to say that you have never had the intention to rebel before? Do you really want to rebel?"
"If you had more sense, you would have released this general and the Zhonglang Army immediately. I could then speak well of you to His Majesty. Even if you don't care about yourself, do you also not want the whole family of the Dingbei Marquis's Mansion?"
Wu Guang spat, "Who is that Turk? How dare this tyrant send you to deliver a letter? If all the civil and military officials and the people of the world knew about it, how could he have a good reputation? He would be infamous as a tyrant for eternity."
"You're talking nonsense." Yang Hongquan cursed, "Do you have any evidence? Just based on that letter, it's all a trap..."
With a "swish", the sharp sword pierced his heart.
Yang Hongquan spat out a mouthful of blood, in disbelief: "You... you dare..."
Xie Zhan's face was gloomy. He drew his sword and said coldly, "I don't need evidence to do anything. If you're making noise, I'll just kill you."
Yang Hongquan's eyes were as big as copper bells, and his body fell straight backwards, with his eyes open.
The General of the Central Army standing by was horrified. If his hands and feet had not been tied, he would have fallen to the ground.
Xie Zhan killed an official of the imperial court. What else could this action be except rebellion?
He trembled, his voice shaking: "Xie Zhan, you...are you doing this to the old general?"
Xie Zhan sneered, "How my father died in battle? I'm afraid the Yonghui Emperor knows best. The General of the Central Army knew exactly what he was doing, so why would he continue to make the same mistake? Go out and take a good look at the faces of the soldiers outside. Every one of them is your comrade. Do you really want to watch them fight the Turks, suffering heavy casualties, and then come out to save them? The Yonghui Emperor, for his own selfish reasons, has sent so many soldiers to their deaths in vain. How can the General of the Central Army be loyal to such a monarch?"
The General of the Central Army burst into tears, of course he knew it.
But he dared not disobey the holy order of Your Majesty.
"No matter what, you are committing treason, a heinous crime punishable by death for your entire clan!"
"It seems that the General of the Household wants to reunite with General Yang in the underground." Xie Zhan wiped the blood off the sword without blinking.
As he finished speaking, a sonorous and powerful young voice came from outside.
"General Xie overthrew the tyrant emperor and supported the imperial family. How can this be considered a rebellion? General Zhonglang is wrong."
Everyone followed Xie Zhan's gaze and saw that it was Xiao Tianchen who had left and returned with Yun Sheng.
"Zhang...Prince Zhangren?" A general's face changed and he blurted out.
Xie Zhan frowned: "Why is your highness back again?"
Xiao Tianchen straightened his back and said bluntly, "General Xie is doing something righteous, but he has to bear the stigma for it. How can I bear it? This has never been the original intention of my father, Prince Zhangren."
He glanced around at everyone and said, "I believe you have all heard of Crown Prince Zhangren's affairs before. Today, I will make it clear. I am indeed Xiao Tianchen, the orphan of Crown Prince Zhangren. The current Emperor Yonghui is nothing but a traitor who murdered his brother and seized the throne. He was the one who killed my royal grandfather. Although my second uncle had the intention of rebelling, he was instigated and exploited by him. He was deceived and made a big mistake, and then he killed him. So, who should the General of the Central Army be loyal to, the royal family or Emperor Yonghui?"
The Generals of the Central Army all understood that Xie Zhan had a legitimate reason to rebel against the Qing Dynasty and would definitely support the orphan of Crown Prince Zhangren to ascend the throne.
He smiled bitterly and said, "But my whole family is in Chang'an. If word gets back, will they still be alive?"
Xie Zhan patted his shoulder and said, "If you trust me, I will definitely protect your family. It all depends on whether the General of the Central Army still wants to be a loyal minister."
"Okay, I'll listen to you, General. I'll do whatever you want me to do."
"Are you sure that the 30,000 elite soldiers you lead will obey you?"
The General nodded and said, "Of course. I'm confident I can convince them."
"Alright. When Ashina attacks the city later, you see the signal from inside and lead your troops out, attacking from both inside and outside. That way, our chances of victory will increase."
Xiao Tianchen bowed deeply and said, "I'll leave this matter to the General of the Central Army."
"No, no, Your Highness."
The General of the Household waved his hand, and everyone followed suit, bowing deeply and respectfully calling him "Your Highness".
Others didn't understand what was going on, but Wu Guang felt suffocated.
He couldn't understand why he supported a little brat as the emperor. What could he do?
He even wanted to be called General...
Wu Guang didn't dare to think about it any further. If the general knew, he would definitely scold him to death. He just felt sorry for the general because none of the people in the royal family were good people.
But since the general had made his choice, he would obey all the general's arrangements.
"You are all loyal and good ministers. How can you not accept my courtesy?" Xiao Tianchen bowed earnestly to Xie Zhan and said, "I was reckless before and misunderstood the general. I am sorry for the offense. The jade seal in Emperor Yonghui's hand is a fake. My father asked me to hide the real one in the village that the general attacked. Now I tell the general, please send someone to get it as soon as possible."
Xie Zhan's expression was complicated: "Your Highness trusts me so much?"
Xiao Tianchen smiled and said, "Yes. The only reason I trust you now is because my sister trusts you."
Besides, if Xie Zhan really wanted to become emperor himself, he would have killed him long ago and then found a child to use as a pretext for his rebellion. Why bother keeping him around?
Xie Zhan looked at Yun Sheng steadily. Yun Sheng's face flushed and she turned her head away. What a jerk this guy was. Why was he looking at her in front of so many people?
"General, are we going to kill this Tuque spy?" Feng Ti threw the man to the ground and shouted in a loud voice.
"No need." Xie Zhan said coldly.
"Just now, all the generals were worried that Ashina would fall for their trick. With this spy's letter stating that the 100,000 elite troops have not been transferred, Ashina will surely not dare to attack the city again. He and Emperor Yonghui are only bound by interests, and there is no trust between them. With just the slightest provocation, Ashina will surely think that Emperor Yonghui is colluding with us to set him up, and he might as well withdraw his troops."
The generals who had just refuted the military advisor's plan stopped talking. Now with the 30,000 soldiers of the General of the Central Army working together inside and outside, plus the fake letter sent to Ashina, their chances of winning were much greater than before. What else were they afraid of fighting?
Everyone said in unison: "We will do as the general says."
The Tuque spy grinned: "Bah, Xie Zhan, you little bastard, don't even think of asking me to betray the Khan."
"Damn it, why are you talking so much nonsense? You even dare to scold the general. Shut up. I'll ask you one last time, are you going to write it or not?" Wu Guang drew his sword and put it directly against his neck.
The Tuque spy asked, "If I write it, will you let me go?"
"Of course." Wu Guang sneered.
Just as the spy put down the pen, Wu Guang killed him with a knife.
Xie Zhan pulled Yun Sheng behind him and covered her eyes with his backhand.
Her skirt should always be pure white and clean, without a trace of stain.
Yun Sheng's five fingers gradually closed together. After going through so much, she was no longer afraid of such situations. However, Xie Zhan's attentiveness still made her heart ripple.
Xie Zhan instructed everyone to take up their tasks and do their work.
Wu Guang frowned and said disapprovingly, "General, you should take care of defending the city. I will lead the troops to burn Ashina's food supplies."
"The terrain is rugged and difficult to travel at night. Except for me, none of you are familiar with it."
"But...but if I put on your armor and pretend to be you, my figure and voice won't be similar. If Ashina sees through me, he might not fall for it!"
"You were standing on the city wall, far away, so you couldn't see clearly."
Xie Zhan was still hesitant to leave the task of burning the grain to Wu Guang.
The military advisor hesitated and said, "I do have a plan, but it only requires Madam Yun's cooperation. Ashina knows the relationship between the general and Madam Yun. If Madam Yun could appear on the city wall, Ashina would definitely believe it."
"No." Xie Zhan's eyes dimmed and he rejected it without hesitation.
He was already being extremely patient by letting Yun Sheng continue to stay in the dangerous place. How could he still use her as a living target to confuse the other party?
If Ashina sent someone to shoot arrows, where would Yun Sheng hide? It was too dangerous.
The military advisor shook his head, knowing that the general would not agree.
Yun Sheng struggled out of Xie Zhan's arms and said firmly, "You don't have to listen to the general. I am willing to cooperate with General Wu."
She had just understood the empty city plan. Since the chances of winning were quite high, why would she not dare?
Otherwise, if the Tuque people attacked, she would have nowhere to hide.
Xie Zhan's fingers trembled as she stroked Yun Sheng's hair. Suddenly, she gritted her teeth and said, "I truly regret forcing you to come to Beiting."
Look, she is getting bolder now!
Yun Sheng muttered to himself and looked at Xie Zhan: "I did blame you before, but I never regretted it. General, go and burn your food and supplies. Take good care of them. I will defend the city."
Since she can help, why should she shirk her responsibility?
"Okay." Xie Zhan nodded. Yun Sheng thought he had agreed, but unexpectedly, he was knocked unconscious the next moment.
Wu Guang was stunned. Xie Zhan picked up Yun Sheng and told him, "Hurry up and prepare for the defense of the city. Once I have Madam Yun settled, we will set out immediately."
Xie Zhan carried Yun Sheng into his tent, kissed her gently on the forehead before leaving, and finally walked away without looking back.
He ordered a small group of people to quietly go out through the back door and take a small path.
The Tuque army in front of the city gate finally began to clamor.
"Xie Zhan, what's wrong? Without troops, you don't dare to come out and confront me? Are you going to be a coward?"
"Open the city gates."
The heavy city gate slowly opened, and "Xie Zhan" climbed onto the city wall, looking down at the dark Turkic army in the distance.
"Khan, how are you?"
"Great Khan, look, the city gate is open!"
"What are we waiting for? Charge in and beat him to a pulp!"
"Hey, the women in the Central Plains are all very young. Khan, this opportunity is fleeting, I hope you can make the decision!"
Ashina frowned and shouted, "You treacherous villain, what are you up to?"
Xie Zhan's expression was calm, and he smiled faintly: "Just now, didn't the Khan ask me to confront you? Now that the city gates are open, does the Khan dare not enter?"
Wu Guang usually ate and lived with Xie Zhan. If he worked hard, he could learn a thing or two from his words and deeds, which would be enough to scare people who were not close to him. Ashina never had any doubts.
Tuque Military Advisor said anxiously, "Great Khan, Xie Zhan's behavior is clearly strange and unusual. You must not let him provoke you into acting rashly!"
Ashina said angrily, "Alright, do you even need me to tell you this? Is this Khan that stupid?"
But he still had doubts: "Didn't Emperor Yonghui say that he had transferred Xie Zhan's 100,000 elite troops? How dare that little Xie Zhan open the city gates now?"
"My Lord, I'm afraid there's an ambush. It would be bad if we were caught in a trap. Considering how much Xie Zhan values Beiting, how could he dare to do this? I'm afraid he's deliberately trying to lure us into the city!" The military advisor advised earnestly.
The Tuque were badly wounded, and he had never approved of this expedition, but the Khan insisted on doing it, so he had to persuade him no matter what.
Some generals were dissatisfied with the military advisor and mocked him, saying, "Even if he has another ambush, he doesn't have that many soldiers. We can just charge in and fight. What's there to be afraid of? The military advisor is being too cautious."
Ashina was still hesitating when the spy's letter was suddenly handed to him.
There was only a simple sentence on the paper.
[Great Khan, I'm afraid the Emperor Yonghui's troop deployment is fake. Please withdraw your troops immediately!]
Ashina was filled with fear and spat in anger, "How dare that old Yonghui Emperor deceive me? This cunning man from the Central Plains is probably thinking of taking advantage of the situation!"
"Great Khan, even spies could betray us. Besides, we only have a note, and we haven't even seen the person. We don't even know if our people are still alive. How can you trust them so easily?"
The deputy general disagreed. He had been coveting the land and women of the Central Plains for a long time and dreamed of attacking Beiting.
Ashina calmed down his anger and suddenly felt that it was reasonable.
The military advisor's eyes darkened, and he was about to spit out words: "Great Khan, this letter may not be false! Emperor Yonghui is the emperor of the Central Plains after all. How could he be so stupid as to actually let us attack? I'm afraid he wants to use Xie Zhan to get rid of us, and then get rid of Xie Zhan as soon as possible, so that he can reap the benefits!"
Ashina thought about it for a moment and felt that it made sense.
He felt like his head was about to explode, all because of the cunningness of the Central Plains people, who kept him guessing all the time!
For a while, the army came to a standstill.
Wu Guang on the city wall thought he could guess what Ashina was thinking, and his heart was in his throat.
"General." A woman's voice suddenly came from behind.
Wu Guang turned around and was stunned. It was Madam Yun who was knocked unconscious by his own general.
Seeing Yun Sheng winking at her, he quickly came to his senses and pretended to talk to her.
The military advisor raised his hand and squinted his eyes, saying, "Great Khan, look at that woman on the city wall. Is she Xie Zhan's beloved concubine from when we first went to Chang'an?"
Ashina looked again and again, and after getting a rough idea of what he was doing, he slapped his thigh and said, "Isn't it? I heard he dotes on that woman like crazy, and now he's even brought her to the battlefield. Does he even have the energy to flirt with his favorite concubine?"
"Yes, Khan. This move by the enemy may be to make us relax our vigilance, waiting for us to attack the city in one fell swoop!"
Ashina gritted his teeth, kicked his horse's belly, and said reluctantly, "Withdraw."
The deputy general was unwilling, but he had no other choice.
Yun Sheng and Wu Guang looked at him and both breathed a sigh of relief. Although Yun Sheng looked calm, his hands and feet were actually weak.
She had just woken up and was in a daze for a moment. She really wanted to scold Xie Zhan.
The Tuqu army retreated a few miles when suddenly thousands of arrows were fired from the hilltops on both sides, catching Ashina off guard. Feng Ti and Wu Guang also led troops in pursuit inside the city gate.
The army immediately fell into chaos. The military advisor retreated backwards. When he saw Wu Guang's face, he said anxiously, "Khan, we've been tricked! That man just now wasn't Xie Zhan. We've all been fooled!"
The deputy general cursed: "It's the military advisor who deliberately stopped us!"
Ashina almost fell off his horse and angrily asked, "Where did Xie Zhan go?"
"Food, our food!"
Ashina hurriedly whipped his whip and hurried back, his eyes bloodshot: "Thank you, Zhan."
He ordered his army not to fight any longer and to retreat immediately. The Dingbei Army also did not want to pursue and sounded the retreat.
Yun Sheng's heart tightened, and he asked the military advisor, "After Ashina returns, the general should have led his men to retreat, right?"
The military advisor thought: "If you calculate the time carefully, it should be possible, but..."
"Just what?"
"I'm afraid the general might run into Ashina on his way back," the military advisor sighed. "The general only took a thousand elite soldiers with him when he left. If we run into him, there's no chance of victory!"
This is indeed something they overlooked.
Yun Sheng pressed the issue, "Since Ashina has withdrawn his troops, why doesn't the military advisor ask General Feng or General Wu to lead his troops to support the general?"
"The general has ordered them to defend Beiting to the death. Military orders are as heavy as a mountain, Madam Yun! Wait a little longer. The general has his own plans."
Yun Sheng waited patiently for more than a quarter of an hour. Her eyelids kept twitching and her heart was in turmoil.
"In that case, I will lead the troops to support the general." She jumped on the horse.
The General of the Household followed up, "Since the General has pointed out a clear path for me, I am willing to follow Madam Yun's lead. I will now go and assemble the troops."
"Thank you." Yun Sheng nodded.
It’s getting late, we can’t delay any longer.
When the military advisor saw Yun Sheng’s flying skirt, he stood there in a daze for a while.
He suddenly understood why the general fell head over heels for Miss Yun. This girl was very tenacious!
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The author has something to say: See you tomorrow night!
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