The noise and commotion at the West Training Ground of Xijing City before the battle was deafening.
Wu Shangzhi and Guo Luo stood side by side, watching the various battalions prepare for battle.
The heavy cavalry battalion of one thousand iron cavalrymen was fully armed, all of them riding Akhal-Teke horses, their riders and horses covered in iron armor, resembling a moving steel forest under the sunlight.
This is Zhao Muyun's trump card, built with all his resources; each cavalryman costs the equivalent of fifty infantrymen.
If it weren't for Zhao Muyun's tobacco and fine salt business, he simply wouldn't be able to support this money-devouring beast.
The light cavalry battalion of 5,000 cavalrymen are lightly armored and fast horses, carrying horse bows and sabers, and are skilled in harassment and pursuit.
The Shenji Battalion's twenty field guns were slowly pulled out of the camp by mules and horses.
The cannon was dark black, exuding the metallic scent of newly cast metal.
Each cannon is equipped with ten gunners, twenty auxiliary soldiers, and ten ammunition carts.
The crossbowmen were the most orderly in formation.
Two thousand crossbowmen were divided into five teams: the first three teams carried repeating crossbows, and the last two teams carried compound bows.
Thirty ballistae have been disassembled and loaded onto trucks, each requiring two large trucks for transport.
The Mo Dao Battalion consisted of two thousand brave warriors, each tall and strong, wielding a twelve-foot-long Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword).
This knife weighs fifteen catties, has a blade length of three feet, and a handle length of nine feet. It requires the strength of a thousand catties in both arms to wield it.
Since their formation, these Mo Dao soldiers have spent their days training their arm strength and formations whenever they are not fighting.
"Guo Luo, what do you think of this battle?" Wu Shangzhi asked in a low voice.
Guo Luo squinted at the west: "The Grand Commander set an example for us in the previous battles of Longyou and Youzhou. The combined use of multiple military branches is absolutely the Tartars' nightmare!"
"This is the first time we've fought such a costly battle!"
Wu Shangzhi nodded: "However, since the Grand Commander has entrusted these elite troops to us, we should minimize casualties and fight a brilliant battle."
The two looked at each other, their eyes flashing with the same light.
Three days later, the first rays of dawn appeared.
The Western Expeditionary Army swore an oath before setting off.
Yinji, accompanied by Zhao Muyun and others, personally went to the training ground to see them off.
Yinji filled a bowl with wine and toasted Wu Shangzhi: "The safety of the western front of Guanzhong and Longyou depends on you, General."
Wu Shangzhi knelt on one knee, took the wine bowl, and drank it all in one gulp: "This humble general will surely defeat the barbarians and uphold the prestige of my Great Yin Kingdom!"
"Set off!"
Bugles sounded loudly, and battle flags fluttered in the wind.
Fourteen thousand five hundred elite troops, carrying the hopes of everyone in Xijing, set off westward.
Zhao Muyun watched the army depart until the last supply wagon disappeared into the dust before turning back to the city.
The news of the Western Expeditionary Army's departure could not be kept secret from spies from various factions.
A turbulent time has arrived.
......
Just as the Western Expeditionary Army set off, in a secluded courtyard south of Xijing City, Tang Yanhai and Shen Qian were making final arrangements.
Hundreds of burly men stood in the courtyard, all dressed in civilian clothes, but with sharp eyes and short blades at their waists.
"Gentlemen," Tang Yanhai said in a deep voice, "this infiltration into Jiannan is fraught with peril. Our mission is not to fight on the battlefield, but to act covertly."
"Assassination, bribery, spreading rumors, creating panic—in short, we must throw Jiannan into chaos and keep Yang Yan preoccupied with his own problems, leaving him no time to look north."
Shen Qian added: "According to the list, there are 27 officials and generals who are loyal to Yang Yan, and 43 others who can be won over."
"We will infiltrate in ten groups, with fifty people in each group."
He pointed to a hundred silent men standing to the side.
These were carefully selected from three thousand surrendered soldiers from Jiannan, and were familiar with the terrain and people of Jiannan.
Zhao Muyun made a promise: if they perform meritorious service, their families can be brought to Xijing; if they betray the government, all three thousand people will be implicated.
“Remember this,” Shen Qian’s gaze was like a knife, “the lives of your other comrades depend on this trip. You should weigh the consequences yourselves.”
One hundred men knelt down in unison: "We swear to serve the Grand Commander to the death!"
That night, five hundred people left the city in batches, disguised as merchants, refugees, and wandering monks, and headed south.
A war without gunfire quietly began in Jiannan.
......
On the third day after the Western Expeditionary Army set out, the news had already reached the capital of Dafeng as if it had grown wings.
The Chongzheng Hall of the Dafeng Imperial Palace.
The morning court session had ended, but Li Jingang kept a group of key officials behind.
The palace doors were tightly shut, and the guards retreated to a distance of ten feet to ensure that no one could eavesdrop.
Li Jingang sat behind the dragon desk, having read the secret report from Xijing in his hand three times.
He raised his head and glanced at the crowd below: Prime Minister Feng Liang, Minister of War Cui Mian, General of the Left Guard Ma Zongliang, General of the Right Guard Niu Desheng, and Commander of the Imperial Guard Li Hu.
"Take a look at them all." He handed the confidential report to Feng Liang.
Feng Liang took it, quickly glanced at it, his expression changed slightly, and then passed it to Cui Mian.
The secret report was passed from hand to hand, and with each person who read it, the atmosphere in the hall became more solemn.
"Zhao Muyun's main force is on a westward expedition, so the number of troops left to garrison Xijing must be small."
Li Jingang slowly spoke, “Of these, 20,000 are at Longmen Pass, and 10,000 are at Wuguan Road. In Xijing City and its surrounding areas, the total number is no more than 20,000. This is a golden opportunity!”
Li Hu was the first to step forward: "Your Majesty, I also believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Zhao Muyun and the Northern Di are locked in a fierce battle in Longyou. Regardless of who wins or loses, both sides will be severely weakened. Our army should march west now and seize Xijing in one fell swoop, thus recovering the area within the pass!"
Ma Zongliang frowned: "General Li, don't be hasty. Zhao Muyun is cunning; how could he not know the danger of Xijing being undefended?"
"He dared to launch a westward expedition with confidence, so he must have a backup plan. Don't forget, he displayed new firearms at Longmen Pass and conducted daily drills, which was clearly intended to intimidate our army."
“Deterrence?” Li Hu sneered. “If he were truly confident, why would he need to bluff? I think he just lacks sufficient troops and can only put on a show!”
Feng Liang coughed lightly: "What the two generals say makes sense. However, this old minister believes that Zhao Muyun's western expedition is true, and the emptiness of Xijing is also true."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com