Chapter 95 The Palace...
The enemy's night attack on Shenjingbao was completely unexpected.
Following the victory in the defense of Xuanfu, Guo Yuanying immediately began to deploy a counterattack strategy. The generals at the front led their troops out of the city to pursue and defeat the retreating enemy, while the troops in the rear followed closely behind, making full preparations to attack the outposts occupied by the Tatars.
In addition to the meticulous arrangements made by Xuanfu, several nearby fortresses also launched corresponding operations. Shenjing Fort was one of them, and the main task of the army stationed there was to assist the main force of Xuanfu's army in advancing the counter-offensive front to the northwest.
The nearest target was the enemy's defensive line established at the Huai'an Garrison.
Several thousand troops were led by Shao Lang, the military commander of Yansui. Because of the ample food and supplies, Shenjingbao was a place for the army to rest temporarily and should have seemed insignificant in the face of the important task of counter-offensive.
However, what's special is that the crown prince is in this group.
Initially, it was Yan Chao who took the initiative to request it. Ren Lu and Guo Yuanying discussed it repeatedly, even having a dispute, and finally, after carefully selecting the reliable and trustworthy Shao Lang, they agreed to let her go with the army.
After the various armies broke camp and left the city, the situation became clear. Our counterattack was initially quite successful, breaking through the enemy's defenses one after another and advancing westward with unstoppable momentum. However, we overlooked the cunning of Huntaiji.
However, from a broader perspective, it was highly unusual for Huntaiji to turn around and attack Shenjingbao.
Once the Wanquan Left Guard's administrative center is taken back, it will be easy to conquer southern Huai'an. At the same time, it will form an encirclement around Shenjingbao, with Qi troops on all sides, making it impossible for Huntaiji to escape.
Huntaiji was certainly aware of this, but he still quietly led several thousand elite troops toward Shenjingbao.
If they are not extremely foolish, then they have other plans and are determined to succeed.
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When the soldiers hurriedly reported the enemy attack, everyone was caught off guard. It was past midnight, and the night was deep. The soldiers had relaxed their guard and were sound asleep when they were suddenly awakened by the sound of drums. Given the urgency of the situation, they were forced to adjust their mental state and quickly enter the battle.
Flames soared into the sky both inside and outside the city, and a fierce battle erupted instantly. The fighting was exceptionally brutal. It was clear that Huntaiji had come prepared, and the Mongol vanguard at the forefront was already rapidly digging and breaching the outer walls of the fortress.
The eighty-zhang fortress built of loess, with an additional south gate, was far inferior to the impregnable walls of Xuanfu. For the time being, the Qi army could only rely on its remaining defensive advantage to fight.
Shao Lang personally inspected the city walls and deployed troops and directed the battle in an orderly manner.
The long-neglected city walls could not hold out for long, and soldiers kept reporting that the walls were collapsing. The Qi army fought valiantly, but could only hold their ground and could not advance any further.
After all the soldiers had performed their duties, Shao Lang turned and strode back to his tent.
He lifted the curtain, glanced at the generals, and was somewhat surprised to see the crown prince in armor there as well.
He clasped his hands in greeting to Yan Chao, then got straight to the point: "The Tatars have surrounded Shenjing Fortress and are currently focusing their attacks on the west and north. Huntaiji is well-prepared and has been keeping a close watch on every nook and cranny. Our scouts are nowhere to be found, and our messengers can't get out, so we can't contact Xuanfu for the time being. Moreover, Huntaiji has brought so many troops with him. Whether or not reinforcements arrive, we must fight this battle tonight with all our might."
Everyone was aware of the tense situation and dared not slacken their efforts in the slightest, so they all firmly expressed their determination.
Shao Lang turned his gaze to Yan Chao and said directly, "I will send people to cover His Highness the Crown Prince's departure from Shenjing Fort as soon as possible."
Yan Chao remained noncommittal, glanced at the map on the table, and said in a deep voice, "The target of Huntaiji is me."
What was previously considered a 70-80% certainty is now confirmed. The only person who could make Huntaiji risk his life and fortune to rush here was the esteemed Crown Prince of the Great Qi Dynasty.
However, there was no time to investigate who the traitorous collaborator was or where he was. This was a tough battle, one that had forced neither side to back down.
Shao Lang nodded and said, "Yes. There are advantages and disadvantages to both advancing and retreating. After careful consideration, I believe it is more appropriate for Your Highness to leave the city. I will ensure Your Highness's safety."
He made a decision quickly and offered no further explanation.
Sure enough, some people around raised questions: "Shenjing Fortress has been surrounded. If Your Highness goes out of the city now, you will draw all the enemy's attention to it. Wouldn't that be even more dangerous?"
Immediately someone countered: "The fortifications won't hold for long. Besides, Huntaiji has made this life-or-death gamble. Those Mongol Tartars won't retreat easily. Our army can't just hold out. If they really attack, we'll be surrounded and have nowhere to go."
"...Xuanfu City, sixty miles away from us, has tens of thousands of troops. They have already driven back the enemy, and retaking Huai'an and Wanquan will be a piece of cake. The overall situation of this battle is already decided. No matter how strong the Mongol cavalry led by Huntaiji is, they are just at the end of their rope. The troops in the fort are plentiful, their morale is high, and their weapons are sharp. Why worry about anything and lose our composure? Are we really going to push His Highness the Crown Prince out of the fort because we can't even hold a mere Shenjing Fort? You all have the responsibility to defend the country. Are you going to abandon the heir apparent? That would be a betrayal of the Emperor's grace!" A slightly younger general disagreed.
“Exactly! Escorting His Highness out of the city is extremely dangerous, and even if we win, it will give His Highness a reputation for desertion. The risks are immense and it will damage his reputation. Clearly, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages… Besides, while His Highness is in the city, we can protect him closely. But who can guarantee anything once he's out of the city…” Realizing he had misspoke, the man fell silent for a moment, then raised his voice to finish the sentence: “Who will take responsibility for this!”
The tent fell silent instantly.
Another general slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily, "Utterly pedantic! This is a battlefield, where life and death are the only things that matter. This is not the time for your flowery words and self-serving rhetoric! You say the city is safe? Right now, we are surrounded by enemy troops on all sides. The Tartars are eyeing the Crown Prince with predatory intent. If we don't fight our way out, are we just going to sit here and wait to die?"
Another veteran stroked his beard: "That makes sense. Now is not the time to discuss reputation, nor should His Highness the Crown Prince's reputation be subject to our whims. Leaving the city means we'll have to fight head-on. I'm not exaggerating, but everyone has witnessed how ferocious the Mongol cavalry can be when they're bloodthirsty. Once we leave the city, the enemy will definitely surge in one direction. If we can set up an ambush, we can achieve twice the result with half the effort, and at the same time, buy His Highness time to escape safely."
"But once the battlefield expands, the advantages of the Mongol cavalry become apparent."
"Staying in the city will buy time for reinforcements..."
"We should have gone to retake Huai'an, but now that the enemy has delivered themselves to our doorstep, how can we retreat and become cowards?"
“In my opinion, the best approach is to win hearts and minds. Send a messenger to tell the Tatars under Huntaiji that they are about to be surrounded, and that following Huntaiji in a stubborn resistance will only lead to their deaths. Only by surrendering will they have a chance to live… No matter how strong or barbaric they are, they are still human. If they find out that their loyal master has deceived them, they might even turn against him!”
"That's not necessarily true. What if it backfires?"
"If you ask me..."
...
The charcoal fire in the tent had gone out sometime ago, its remaining warmth mingling with the wisps of smoke that stung the eyes. Amidst the sounds of battle outside, the whispers inside, and the occasional flickering lamplight, time seemed to stand still for a moment.
That's enough.
As soon as Yan Chao spoke, everyone fell silent.
He then turned to look at Shao Lang and asked, "What does Lieutenant General Shao think?"
Shao Lang was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Yan Chao to agree so easily. He had been worried that she was too impetuous to leave, but now he breathed a sigh of relief. A faint glint flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant.
Shao Lang raised his hand to stop the discussion and nodded to Yan Chao, saying, "The West Gate is the most suitable. We don't know the situation in the other weak and remote areas. In comparison, the West Gate is indeed safer. At the same time, we can also create the illusion of leaving the city at other exits to confuse the enemy. When the enemy forces are dispersed, our army will have a chance to counterattack."
Once the words were spoken, there were very few opponents left.
"The Vice General's thoughts coincide with mine."
Yan Chao stood up, and as she was about to leave the tent, she caught a glimpse of the two people who had been arguing the loudest during the discussion; they were now bowing their heads, speechless. She scoffed inwardly but remained silent.
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Huntaiji quickly received news that the Prince of Qi intended to escape through the south gate. He immediately put on his felt hat, grabbed his scimitar, leaped onto his horse, and led several dozen personal guards to gallop towards the south gate.
Before they even reached the south gate, a scout suddenly came to report that Prince Qi was planning to escape through the west gate.
His expression immediately changed, and he turned his horse around and rode back. Sure enough, the "Prince of Qi" appeared in five or six places in a row.
Huntaiji glanced at the vast darkness behind him, gritted his teeth, and said, "Not a single one of them shall be let go! Not a single person shall be released from Shenjing Fortress! I refuse to believe that we cannot capture her!"
After careful consideration, he adjusted his strategy and increased the number of troops deployed to the east and south.
In the places where "Prince Qi" appeared, the Mongol soldiers, in their struggle for fame and glory, had gone from being united in fighting the enemy to deluding themselves into wanting to take everything for themselves, and in some places, infighting had even broken out.
Moreover, by capturing this person as a hostage, not only will he be safe and secure in the present, but countless riches and honors await him.
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After rushing out of the west gate, Yan Chao and her group continued westward. Although the enemy troops chasing them were few in number, they dared not relax their vigilance. She first sent people to the Wanquan Left Guard headquarters and Xuanfu to report the news, while she herself moved forward at the fastest speed.
Closely following him were Wang Zhuo and his personal guards. Nearly half of the entourage were brought from the capital and could be considered elite.
Marching on a winter night is fraught with difficulties, but fortunately the wind has stopped and the snow has ceased in the last two days, and the moon has come out at night, so we can barely see the road ahead by its light.
"Your Highness, the Tartars have caught up. I will lead men to cover their retreat. You go first!" Wang Zhuocai said to Yan Chao immediately upon receiving the news.
“Khuntaiji will soon realize that we ran from the west gate, and more and more enemy troops will catch up with us. We didn’t leave the city to escape, so there’s no use in you covering our retreat,” she said, her eyes sharp as she looked ahead. “We will split into two groups. I will go north, and you will continue west. This will buy us time and make it easier to use the terrain to our advantage.”
"But this means you'll have far fewer people around you..."
“If I were worried about this, I wouldn’t have chosen to leave the city.”
Wang Zhuo's mind suddenly sharpened, and he suddenly understood what she meant, but he was still somewhat hesitant.
Yan Chao frowned slightly, turned his head and glanced at him: "What are you hesitating for! Huntaiji wouldn't dare to hurt me easily."
"Yes." Wang Zhuo accepted the order.
The messenger immediately gave orders to the rear troops, and the formation was quickly adjusted. Yan Chao waved his hand and shouted, leading several hundred men to break away from the ranks and rush into the vast night.
The enemy quickly realized the situation ahead and split into two groups to relentlessly pursue them.
News has come from Shenjingbao that the Qi army has used a trick to break out of the city. They only hope that the Qi crown prince will be captured quickly so that they can use this as leverage to turn the tide of battle.
However, the Mongol soldiers pursuing north soon discovered that this small group of Qi troops had split into several groups, each heading in a different direction.
The leader of the troops cursed inwardly: This is the kind of trick they use to leave the city. They split their troops into two groups just now, and now they're doing it again. They're just making a fool of us because they think the Taiji won't kill them!
Although their forces are dispersed and weak, they do pose a significant challenge to the Qi army in the current situation. After all, their goal is not to annihilate the entire Qi army; even if they capture the Qi crown prince, they need to preserve their strength as a precaution.
His personal guards were already getting restless and asked him, "Should we continue the pursuit?" Their words already betrayed their wavering and doubt.
The leader gritted his teeth, raised his whip high, and commanded, "Split up and pursue! Be careful not to accidentally kill Prince Qi!"
He was inexplicably convinced that the Qi crown prince was in the army he was chasing. In fact, the cavalrymen in other areas who were also pursuing the Qi army thought the same thing.
The Mongol soldiers were also divided into small groups and rushed off in different directions.
Mongolian warhorses are renowned for their endurance; however, having just fought a battle from Xuanfu to Shenjingbao, their energy was depleted, and the difference in endurance between the two sides' horses had narrowed. Thus, after pursuing for several miles, they still hadn't caught up with the Qi army.
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Taking advantage of the terrain, Yan Chao lured the enemy troops into the mountains three or four miles away. Once inside the mountains, the Mongol cavalry lost their advantage. In addition, the darkness made it difficult to see the road, and they were caught in ambushes, whether by rocks, arrows, or sneak attacks, making them impossible to defend against.
Suddenly, a firelight blazed from the shadows, and the Qi army swarmed in from all directions, engaging in a fierce and chaotic battle.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the Tatar leader did not dare to pursue them any further and led his remaining troops away.
The sounds of fighting in the mountains gradually subsided. Yan Chao stood on a high slope, looking around with a deep gaze. Suddenly, a cavalryman galloped up from afar, reporting that the battle on Wang Zhuo's side had also ended, although a few enemy soldiers had escaped back.
"Send the order to assemble the troops. Now is not the time to seize weapons. Everyone must be on high alert and not let their guard down!" she ordered in a deep voice.
The army had just left the mountains and forests and taken only a few steps when they suddenly saw a few barely visible lights flashing in the distance to the east. Yan Chao turned his gaze and saw a dense mass of cavalry.
The group of men charged towards them with lightning speed, their scimitars flashing coldly in the moonlight. A few sharp whistles pierced the silence, and countless torches were lit, illuminating half the sky and turning the area as bright as day.
"Release the arrows!"
Yan Chao's heart sank, and he waved his hand to give the order.
Some enemy soldiers fell in front, but their troops quickly replaced them, launching a fierce and relentless attack. The sounds of clashing weapons and the fighting filled the night sky.
Yan Chao guessed almost the instant he saw the enemy army that Huntaiji knew the direction they had fled, but he had no idea how they had caught up in such a short time, nor did he have time to care.
She gripped the reins tightly, whipped the horse harder, and charged into battle. She focused intently on the enemy's weak points, striving for a swift and decisive strike.
The sounds around me were chaotic and jarring. I could vaguely hear someone shouting from not far away: "That person riding a red horse and wearing a red robe over there is the Crown Prince of Qi!"
Yan Chao swung her sword and killed the enemy soldier in front of her, but just as she raised her head, she saw a burly Mongol cavalryman galloping towards her from a few feet away, with his bow already drawn and arrow aimed in her direction.
The arrow flew past her side, and she barely dodged it. Turning around, she swiftly drew her bow and shot an arrow at the man's horse.
The horse, struck by an arrow, neighed in pain, reared up on its hind legs, and stopped, threatening to throw its rider off at any moment. Unexpectedly, the rider suddenly pulled on the reins, and rode the frightened horse straight towards her.
The horse went mad, and so did the man.
Yan Chao couldn't dodge any longer. The moment she was hit, she lost her balance and forced herself to let go of the whip and reins. Her cloak came undone, and she rolled to the ground, her internal organs aching from the impact.
She gritted her teeth, leaned on her saber to stand up, and slightly bowed in a defensive posture.
The man, wielding a curved blade, lunged at her. Yan Chao blocked with her own blade, immediately sensing that the opponent wasn't using his full strength. However, she was already struggling to defend herself and could only nimbly dodge when necessary.
After several rounds of fighting, Yan Chao realized that her opponent's attacks were never aimed at vital points, and she quickly identified her opponent. Forced to retreat continuously, she dared not relax her guard nor surrender.
The man muttered something in Mongolian and said fiercely to her, "If you don't surrender, I'll kill you!"
Yan Chao seized the opportunity to attack him, coldly retorting, "Even if Huntaiji kills me, you won't survive. Singh is still waiting for the Khan to announce your death!"
Khuntaiji's face darkened. The Khan had forced him to withdraw his troops and then ordered his warriors to rescue Singh. If Singh was rescued, his own life or death seemed to be less important.
Life and death, the throne, power—the key all lies with this young prince before us.
He dodged the attack, roared "You can't escape!" and attacked her even more fiercely. He could use his strong physique to wear down her stamina.
The two armies were engaged in fierce combat nearby, leaving them no time to attend to this particular situation. No one could intervene in their fight.
Yan Chao was covered in sweat, and the cold wind seeped in. His hand holding the knife felt unusually heavy, and he trembled occasionally, almost causing him to lose his grip.
The Khuntaiji suffered some minor injuries, but they did not affect his fighting ability. Perhaps because the battle had been dragging on for too long, he became somewhat impatient, gripped his curved sword tightly with both hands, and slashed at Yan Chao haphazardly.
Yan Chao couldn't block it and stumbled, the knife in her right hand falling to the ground. Although she was wearing armor, Huntaiji's astonishing arm strength still made her right arm numb and cold.
The Khuntaiji pounced on her, slammed her to the ground, and quickly twisted her right arm in the opposite direction. He heard a muffled groan escape from the person beneath him, who was now powerless to resist.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After restraining her for a moment, he heard no sound. Fearing something might happen to her, he looked down but couldn't see her face, so he turned her over so that she could see her face up close by the light of the distant fire.
"Tsk, so young, handsome, and fair-skinned, you're really not the kind of person who can fight. How could the Emperor of Great Qi have the heart to send you to this place to be tortured! You're supposed to be the Crown Prince, yet you look far less strong and brave than the warriors of my great grasslands..."
“No matter how brave they are, they are still barbarians. These people from beyond the borders do not know etiquette!” Yan Chao’s voice was slightly weak.
She opened her eyes slightly and saw that the moon in the sky had been buried in dark clouds, its light hazy and obscured.
Upon hearing this, Huntaiji scoffed, "Your so-called land of enlightenment is also a place of constant open and covert struggles, it's hardly any better. The men of my great grasslands are upright and honorable, conquering their opponents with force, while you only know how to resort to underhanded tricks and schemes to kill with borrowed knives. As for those ancient texts... once our Mongol warriors conquer the capital, they will all be ours!"
He had barely finished speaking when he caught a glimpse of a rope sticking out from her waist and thought it would be perfect for tying someone up. So he restrained her with one hand and reached for the rope with the other.
Just as he got the rope, a flash of silver light appeared before his eyes.
Huntaiji knew he was in trouble, but it was too late to dodge. The dagger stabbed towards his face, piercing his right eye.
Huntaiji cried out in pain, instinctively releasing the person in his arms. He covered his bleeding eye with one hand and reached for the curved sword beside him with the other.
Panting, Yan Chao lunged back, but his right hand was cut by the knife that Yan Chao was slashing wildly in the air, and blood gushed out immediately.
Ignoring the bleeding, she gripped the dagger tightly in her left hand and stabbed wildly at Huntaiji's face and neck. Her mind was in turmoil, her ears were ringing, and she didn't know how many times she stabbed him until she saw a bloody mess before she finally let go.
Warm blood splattered all over her face.
Her right arm was so painful that she felt dizzy. Blood from her right hand congealed in her palm, sticking to her entire hand. The smell of blood filled her nostrils, and her undergarments were almost completely soaked.
She leaned against a corpse, utterly exhausted.
When Wang Zhuo found Yan Chao, she was sitting motionless on the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief and called out to her urgently, "Your Highness."
He reached out to help her, but upon seeing her right hand covered in blood, he was shocked and could only apply some simple medicine and bandage. However, when he learned that her right arm was also injured, he was powerless to help.
Yan Chao pursed his lips and remained silent, but his left hand couldn't help but clench into his palm. Composing himself, he forced a question: "How is Shao Lang doing?"
Wang Zhuo replied, "The men we sent out happened to encounter a cavalry force from Xuanfu. Reinforcements have now arrived at Shenjingbao. General Shao is out of danger, and the commander-in-chief will soon receive the news from here."
Yan Chao nodded.
After the bandages were finished, Wang Zhuo helped her stand up. She turned around and glanced at the enormous creature, then ordered, "Cut off the head of the Huntaiji and take it back."
"yes."
When news of Huntaiji's death spread, most of the already exhausted Mongol cavalrymen were immediately disheartened. Some surrendered on the spot, while others lost their morale. The few who still resisted were no longer able to withstand the attack.
The fighting gradually came to an end, and the troops withdrew and returned to the city.
Yan Chao rode a horse with his guards, and the clouds parted and the moon shone brightly on the way.
Looking into the distance, the pitch-black night enveloped the world, and even the moonlight could not dispel the surrounding gloom. She could not see the horizon clearly; only a few undulating mountain arcs and a few solitary tree shadows flashed before her eyes.
The pain in her right arm hadn't subsided when she suddenly felt so cold that her whole body went numb.
In the cold wind, Yan Chao closed his eyes and whispered, "Chongming."
The imperial horse guard, with his sharp ears, heard what she said, but was somewhat puzzled. He tightened the reins, gave a loud shout, slowed down, and turned slightly to ask her, "Your Highness, what did you say?"
Yan Chao smiled slightly: "My courtesy name is Chongming."
Author's Note: My heart aches for Chaochao.
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