Right now!
Longyou Road, Liangzhou City.
In July, the Hexi Corridor is hot during the day, with sand and gravel blowing in your face, but at night it is bitterly cold.
The walls of Liangzhou are mottled, with many signs of repair—the wounds left by the Northern Di's invasion last year.
On the city wall, Zhang Zan, the military governor of Longyou, stood with his hand on his sword, gazing at the billowing dust rising from the northern horizon.
He was about forty years old, with a square face, thick, furrowed brows, and his armor covered in dust.
"They're here."
Beside him, a captain spoke in a deep voice.
The main force of the Northern Di on the eastern route, 30,000 iron cavalry personally led by the Right Wise King Wuhan, had reached within 30 li.
Banners fluttered like a forest, and the sound of horses' hooves thundered like rumbling thunder. Even from such a distance, the tremors of the earth could be felt on the city walls.
"The scouts report that Wuhan has divided his forces, sending 5,000 to besiege Guazhou and 8,000 to attack Suzhou, while he himself is leading the main force straight to Liangzhou."
The captain continued, "Guazhou has closed its city gates and is holding out for the death, but the city's food reserves are only enough for half a month. Suzhou is in a slightly better situation, but it won't last more than twenty days either."
Zhang Zan clenched his fist: "Where are the Grand Commander's reinforcements?"
"Yesterday, a messenger reported that General Wu's western expeditionary force has passed Qin Prefecture and will reach Liang Prefecture in five days at the earliest." The captain paused, "but... there are only 15,000 men."
“15,000 against 30,000…” Zhang Zan smiled bitterly, “Even if you add my 8,000 garrison troops from Liangzhou, it’s still only 23,000. The Northern Barbarians are all cavalry, they come and go like the wind, we can’t gain an advantage in open field battles.”
“But General Wu has brought new firearms.” A glimmer of hope flashed in the captain’s eyes. “It is said that those cannons can fire three hundred paces away, and the shells explode on impact. If we can use them well, we might be able to achieve a surprise victory.”
Zhang Zan nodded: "For now, we can only hold our ground and wait for reinforcements. Order: close all four gates tightly, and prepare enough rolling logs, stones, hot oil, and molten gold."
"Bowmen were placed on the wall, and each person was equipped with a hundred arrows. The able-bodied men among the people were organized into labor teams to be responsible for carrying and treating patients."
"yes!"
Once the order was given, the eight thousand garrison troops took their positions, and three thousand laborers shuttled up and down the city walls, continuously transporting supplies to the city.
Instead of returning to the military governor's residence, Zhang Zan set up a temporary military tent in the city tower.
He unfolded the map, his gaze falling on "Heartbreak Valley," located thirty miles north of the city.
He knew this valley all too well.
Many years ago, he led three thousand cavalrymen to ambush a two-thousand-strong raiding force of the Northern Barbarians here, annihilating the enemy.
The valley has a treacherous terrain, with an entrance as narrow as a throat, a wide middle section, and an exit that is just a narrow strip of sky.
If we can lure the enemy deep into our territory...
"Report!" A guard rushed in. "The vanguard of the Northern Barbarians has reached ten miles away and is setting up camp!"
Zhang Zan got up, climbed to the highest point of the city tower, and looked out into the distance.
On the horizon, a dark mass of cavalry surged in like a tide, stopping five miles north of Liangzhou City to set up camp.
Tents sprang up like mushrooms after rain, and wisps of smoke rose from their chimneys. A rough estimate puts the number at least at 20,000 riders.
"Wuhan has a methodical approach to warfare," the deputy general commented. "He doesn't rush to attack the city, but first sets up camp and fortifications, surrounding us without attacking. This is his way of starving us out."
“He’s waiting.” Zhang Zan narrowed his eyes. “Waiting for Guazhou and Suzhou to fall, then we can combine our forces from three directions and launch a full-scale attack on Liangzhou. Or… wait for my reinforcements to arrive and have a decisive battle in the open field.”
"Then we..."
"Hold your ground," Zhang Zan said firmly. "We will not engage in battle until General Wu arrives."
......
The Northern Barbarian camp, the central golden tent.
The Right Wise King Wuhan sat on a tiger-skin chair, playing with a scimitar inlaid with jewels.
He was in his early thirties, with hawk-like eyes, a hooked nose, a full beard, wearing a mink cloak, and a gold knife at his waist, exuding a fierce and imposing air.
Standing in the tent were more than ten commanders of a thousand and ten thousand cavalry, as well as the leaders of the two subordinate tribes, the King of Xiutu and the King of Loufan.
"How is the defense of Liangzhou?" Wuhan asked.
A scout centurion knelt down and reported: "The city wall is 35 feet high, with a barbican and a rampart. The garrison is about 8,000 men, fully equipped with bows and crossbows."
"But there won't be much grain stored in the city. After being looted last year, farming only resumed this spring."
Wuhan nodded: "I have heard of Zhang Zan. He ambushed a troop of my Northern Di army in Broken Heart Valley before. He is a ruthless character."
King Xiutu said in a gruff voice, "Who cares how ruthless they are? With our 30,000 iron cavalry, even a single spit from each of them could flood Liangzhou City! Your Highness, let's attack the city tomorrow!"
"What's the rush?" Wuhan sneered. "Liangzhou is a tough nut to crack; a direct assault will result in heavy casualties."
"Once we capture Guazhou and Suzhou, we can combine our forces from three directions and besiege them from all sides. Let's see how many days they can hold out."
King Loufan hesitated: "But the scouts have reported that Zhao Muyun has sent reinforcements westward, led by that Wu Shangzhi, who brought new firearms..."
He was defeated by Zhao Muyun and has been traumatized by the experience.
However, his stepfather, Han Yanshou, who had been kind to him, died at the hands of Zhao Muyun in Youzhou, and the tribe suffered heavy losses in the past two years.
Timur and King Zhelan serve as cautionary tales for him.
Therefore, they were extra careful this time when they followed Wuhan south.
"firearm?"
Wuhan scoffed, "Southerners only know how to use these strange and ingenious tricks. The Battle of Youzhou was due to the incompetence of the Left Wise King, who fell into an ambush. In open battle, a single charge of my iron cavalry would render all firearms useless!"
Although Wuliangha, who had suffered at Zhao Muyun's hands before, repeatedly warned Wuhan to be careful, he didn't take it to heart.
"Zhao Muyun's reinforcements number at most 20,000, and most of them are infantry. We should wait in comfort and engage him in a decisive battle outside Liangzhou City. Once we annihilate the reinforcements, Liangzhou will fall without a fight."
"Your Highness is wise!" the generals exclaimed in unison.
Wuhan smiled and said, "Order: intensify the offensive in Guazhou and Suzhou. The cities must be captured within five days. Also, send scouts eastward to scout the movements of Zhao Muyun's reinforcements and report back immediately."
"yes!"
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