Border standoff, tensions rise
The army marched swiftly for over a month, finally arriving at the important border town of Yanmen Pass. From afar, Yanmen Pass appeared as an impregnable barrier, its walls towering into the clouds and its battlements forming a jagged, continuous line. But now, banners fluttered in the wind atop the pass, soldiers stood ready in battle formation, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the air.
The commander of the Zhenbei Army had already led his generals to greet him at the pass. Upon seeing Shen Qingci's banner, the generals hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects: "We, your humble servants, respectfully welcome the Marshal!"
Shen Qingci dismounted, helped up the leading general, and said in a deep voice, "Generals, you have worked hard. The military situation is urgent, so let's set aside the formalities for now and come with me into the pass to discuss matters."
Upon entering the central command tent, Shen Qingci went straight to the point: "Where is the Xiongnu army currently stationed? How many troops do they have?"
The commander of the Zhenbei Army bowed and replied, "Reporting to the Marshal, the Xiongnu army of 100,000 has set up camp at Heifengpo, 30 li outside the pass. They are divided into five divisions, each commanded by one of the five confidants of the new Chanyu. Their formation is well-organized, and their weapons are more sophisticated than in previous years. Recently, they have been frequently sending small groups of cavalry to provoke us in front of the pass, as if they intend to attack the city at any time."
"Oh?" Shen Qingci frowned slightly, walked to the tent wall with the military intelligence map hanging on it, and pointed his finger at the location of Black Wind Slope. "Black Wind Slope is an open area, easy to attack but difficult to defend. The Xiongnu have set up camp here, obviously because they are confident in their strength and want to fight our army head-on."
He turned to his deputy general Zhao Wu: "General Zhao, you once went deep into the enemy camp to spy out their forces. Do you know the fighting strength of the various Xiongnu tribes?"
Zhao Wu stepped forward and said loudly, “Reporting to the Marshal, the left wing of the Xiongnu is the most ferocious, and its commander is the younger brother of the new Chanyu. He is extremely brave but has an impatient temperament. The right wing is skilled in horse archery and is highly mobile. The central wing is the main force of the central army and has the strongest troops. It is personally commanded by the new Chanyu. The other two wing are responsible for transporting supplies and guarding the flanks.”
Shen Qingci nodded, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent: "Although the Xiongnu are coming with great force, the commanders of each tribe have different personalities, and their coordination may not be perfect. If our army confronts them head-on, we fear we will suffer heavy casualties. Does anyone have a good plan?"
The generals inside the tent began to discuss the matter. Some advocated holding the city and depleting the Xiongnu's supplies, while others advocated taking the initiative to launch an attack and catch them off guard.
Shen Qingci listened quietly, and only spoke slowly after everyone had finished talking: "Holding out is not a long-term solution. The Xiongnu alliance has just been formed and their morale is high. Holding out for too long will only gradually diminish our army's fighting spirit. On the other hand, taking the initiative to attack is too risky. Our army has been on a long march and has not yet rested. It is not advisable to engage in a decisive battle rashly."
He paused, his fingertip tracing an arc on the military intelligence map: "In my opinion, we should use the strategy of 'luring the enemy deep into our territory and attacking them from both sides.' There is a long and narrow valley on the west side of Black Wind Slope called 'Soul-Severing Valley.' The roads inside the valley are narrow, and there are cliffs on both sides, making it an excellent place to set up an ambush."
"What does the Marshal mean?" A hint of understanding flashed in Zhao Wu's eyes.
“Exactly.” Shen Qingci’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. “You will lead three thousand light cavalry out of the pass early tomorrow morning, deliberately feigning weakness to lure the Xiongnu left wing into pursuit. The left wing’s commander is impatient and will inevitably underestimate the enemy and advance recklessly. Once they enter the Broken Soul Valley, we will ambush them from all sides, cut off their retreat, and annihilate them in one fell swoop.”
He looked at another general: "General Li, you will lead 5,000 infantrymen to the sides of Broken Soul Valley tonight to ambush them. Prepare plenty of rolling stones, logs, and fire arrows. Once the Xiongnu enter the valley, launch an attack immediately."
"Your subordinate obeys!" the two replied in unison.
Shen Qingci then deployed additional troops: "The remaining units should hold Yanmen Pass and strengthen the city's defenses. At the same time, scouts should be dispatched to closely monitor the movements of the other four Xiongnu units. If any unusual activity is detected, it should be reported immediately. I will personally lead the central army to guard the pass and be ready to provide support at any time."
The generals accepted the orders one after another, secretly admiring Shen Qingci's strategy.
After the meeting, Shen Qingci climbed the Yanmen Pass tower alone. Beyond the pass, smoke from the Xiongnu camp could be faintly seen in the direction of Heifengpo, and the wind carried the desolate scent of the grasslands. He gripped the jade pendant at his waist, feeling its warm touch on his fingertips, and a surge of longing for his family welled up within him.
"Yunqing, Nianqing, wait for me." He murmured softly, his gaze once again fixed on the distant Xiongnu camp, his eyes filled with determination. "In this battle, we will make sure the Xiongnu never dare to covet the territory of my Great Jing again!"
The wind howled atop the gate tower, whipping his armor and stirring the conviction in his heart. A decisive battle that would determine the fate of the border was about to begin in the Valley of Broken Souls.
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