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◎Great victory in the river valley, capturing the King of Donghu alive◎
After Qingyang announced the withdrawal of troops, she, along with Prince Yong, Hou Wanzhong, Chen Sheng, and Meng Ji, led 130,000 troops in the front, while Jizhou General Guo Yanqing led 50,000 troops to cover the rear.
King Yelu Chong of Donghu assigned 60,000 troops to one of his generals, asking him to wait for an opportunity to attack Guo Yanqing's rear guard. He then led the 60,000 troops around to the side of the main force of Qi, determined to capture the princess of Qi as his trophy.
In just half a month, Yelu Chong launched two more attacks, one at night and one on a rainy day. Especially during the second rainy attack, the Hu people were accustomed to the wind and rain on the grassland and thought that the Qi soldiers would definitely not be able to withstand it this time. However, Guo Yanqing and Meng Ji had anticipated this sneak attack and prepared for the battle in advance. They successfully repelled the Donghu troops twice.
After just two battles, Yelu Chong lost thousands of cavalrymen, and the main force of Qi lost nearly 10,000.
On September 18th, just as the main force was only two days' march from the river valley, during a midday break, a roar suddenly erupted from the princess's tent. "Retreat, retreat, retreat! That's all you know! The Donghu were previously difficult to defeat because the grasslands were so vast. We could barely find them for three to five months. Now they've presented themselves. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We should continue to fight!"
Someone recognized the voice as that of Prince Yong, whose rage was still growing.
"Don't try to reason with me, and don't even bother showing off your military prowess in front of me. You weren't even born when I became famous on the battlefield!"
"Well, if you want to withdraw, I won't stop you. I'll lead the troops to fight the Donghu, and you don't have to interfere. We uncles and nephews should each take care of our own business! And you, those of you who want to make a name for yourself, go out and gather your troops and follow me. Those of you who are afraid of death can continue to hide like turtles behind the Great Wall. What do you mean by border general? I think the border army has been in turmoil because of generals like you!"
At this time, the voice of Chen Sheng, the general of Jinzhou, could be heard: "Your Highness, there is no need to goad me. I, Chen Sheng, have guarded the border for over twenty years. I will never rashly follow you just because of a few provocations. However, I also believe that we should fight. Princess, please forgive me for withdrawing the troops. I find it difficult to obey your command!"
After another round of chaotic arguments, Prince Yong and Chen Sheng came out with their four deputy generals and went to count their troops separately.
Hou Wanzhong and Meng Ji chased out to persuade them, but Prince Yong and Chen Sheng were determined to turn back and attack Yelu Chong's troops, and would not listen to anyone's advice.
Half an hour later, Prince Yong and Chen Sheng took away 80,000 soldiers, of whom more than 40,000 were soldiers from Beijing who were willing to obey Prince Yong's orders, and more than 30,000 were soldiers from Jinzhou under Chen Sheng's command. The main force was left with only more than 40,000 soldiers and several thousand wounded soldiers.
After separating from the main force, Prince Yong and Chen Sheng led their troops directly in the direction where Yelu Chong's cavalry left after the last battle.
Yelu Chong, sitting in the tent, heard the news from his sentinels and laughed so hard he fell backward on his wolfskin mat! What a joke! Qi's army had both infantry and cavalry, and they could only march along predetermined routes, while his 50,000-plus cavalry could roam freely across the grasslands. If the King of Yong went in that direction, even if he consumed all his food and fodder, he would never be able to find him.
After laughing enough, Yelu Chong sat up straight again, picked up the dagger he used to cut meat, stabbed a piece of meat into his mouth, and told the sentry: "Continue to explore."
After the sentries left, Yelu Chong said to his attendants, "If Prince Yong and Chen Sheng really leave, the Princess of Qi will only have 40,000 soldiers left. We must be ready for another night attack at any time!"
His younger brother, Right Xian Wang Yelu Xu, was more cautious and suspicious. "I'm afraid there's a trick going on. After all, she's the Qi Emperor's favorite princess. How dare Prince Yong and Chen Sheng openly disobey her orders?"
Yelu Chong scoffed, "A battlefield is a place for men to duel. The Emperor of Qi dotes on his daughter, and the soldiers won't truly listen to a princess. They only trust their fists, especially that Prince Yong. I heard he even dares to contradict the Emperor, just like the Wise Prince Zuo often opposes me. He certainly won't let his niece manipulate him."
Yelu Xu thought of Chen Sheng, who had followed Prince Yong, and Meng Ji and Hou Wanzhong, who had stayed with the Princess of Qi. He didn't know Hou Wanzhong well, but Meng Ji had served as a general in Liaozhou for many years. He was also the most cautious of the three generals, focusing on defense and rarely sending troops into the grasslands like Guo Yanqing had done.
Thinking about it this way, the choices made by the several main generals are indeed in line with their temperaments.
"But even if the Princess of Qi only has 40,000 soldiers left, with Meng Ji here..."
Yelu Chong threw a sheep bone with most of the meat still on it at his brother. "They only have 40,000 soldiers, and we have over 50,000 cavalry. If you don't dare to fight like this, are you still a warrior on the grassland?"
Yelu Xu lowered his head and stopped refutation of his elder brother, but he always felt uneasy in his heart.
On the morning of September 19th, it was learned that King Yong's 80,000 troops were more than a hundred miles away from the main force of Qi and were still heading northeast. Even if they heard the news that they had attacked the main force of Qi, it would be too late to rescue them. Yelu Chong, who had already circled to the west of the Qi army, immediately led his troops to the south to pursue them.
At dusk on September 20th, Yelu Chong heard another big joke from the sentry. The main force of Qi State camped in the river valley ahead, but did not set up the tents on the flat river bank. Instead, they all camped on the hill on one side.
Yelu Chong smiled at his brother and said, "It's obvious that this is the idea of that Qi princess who doesn't know how to fight. She thought that if they set up camp on the mountain, our horses wouldn't be able to charge up. But she forgot that our warriors on the grassland have legs and can charge up and kill them even if they dismount! They should have set up camp honestly on the flat ground. At least they have a way to retreat, hahahaha..."
Yelu Xu felt as if his elder brother had been bewitched by the Princess of Qi, constantly laughing, even though his family hadn't gained much advantage on the battlefield in the past month. Out of caution, he warned, "The Princess of Qi doesn't understand the art of war, but don't Meng Ji and Hou Wanzhong understand it either? I'm afraid there's a trick going on..."
Yelu Chong: "Swindle, swindle, swindle! You knew it was a trick. I've already said she's a princess and a military supervisor sent by the Emperor of Qi. Prince Yong is her uncle, so he dares to disobey her. Do Meng Ji and Hou Wanzhong dare?"
Yelu continued: "Meng Ji is King Jing's father-in-law, he..."
Yelu Chong: "What a jerk! King Jing himself is a coward. He always hides among his guards with the princess. The Emperor of Qi is truly pathetic. He is a man of character, but his sons are each worse than the last."
From afar, he saw two figures in silk and leather armor, one male and one female, surrounded by the Qi army. The female was the princess, and the male must be the Jing prince. Yelu Chong would not look upon such a Qi prince who had arrived on the battlefield but was too afraid to fight.
"Stop talking nonsense and let the army rest and prepare for tonight's night attack!"
.
This side of the valley.
As the sky grew darker, Meng Ji and Hou Wanzhong asked to see the princess again, and begged her to take two thousand personal soldiers and travel overnight to a logistics camp ahead to meet up with the troops there. If they fought successfully, they would be able to catch up with the princess tomorrow.
Qingyang laughed and said, "Could it be that both generals think our army has no chance of winning tonight?"
Hou Wanzhong said anxiously, "This is a brilliant plan, Princess. We have an 80% chance of winning, but the two armies are in close combat, and it's night time. Princess, you are a precious lady, so you shouldn't put yourself in danger!"
Qingyang: "If I wasn't sure of victory, I wouldn't have made this plan. Now that I've made this plan, I won't abandon my soldiers to seek safety. Generals, just prepare for battle and don't worry about me."
Fan Huaizhong, who was guarding the princess, patted his chest and said, "Generals, rest assured. I'm here to protect Your Highness!"
The seventeen-year-old princess was calm and composed, and the nineteen-year-old guard was confident and arrogant. They were both equally young and fearless.
Meng Ji and Hou Wanzhong looked at each other and left side by side.
Qingyang took Fan Huaizhong and Jie Yu out of the tent.
A red sun was about to set behind the hill opposite, and the sunset dyed the fish-scale clouds on the horizon red.
Qingyang's tent is located on the top of the hill on this side. Behind it are layers of undulating hill barriers. At its feet are rows of tents being built. More than 40,000 soldiers will fight against Yelu Chong's more than 50,000 Hu soldiers with their flesh and blood tonight.
Fighting with a small force against a larger one is indeed dangerous, but only in this way can Yelu Chong give up their best cavalry raid, and only in this way can this Northern Expedition win an unexpected victory, and let the tens of thousands of soldiers who have died in battle exchange for a longer-term peace for the people on the border.
Qingyang believed in his own tactics, in the deployment of the two great generals Meng Ji and Hou Wanzhong, in the two thousand personal soldiers including Fan Huaizhong, and even more in the more than 40,000 soldiers who left their homes to fight for the Great Qi.
It was completely dark.
Qingyang was lying on the bed wearing armor, Fuliu and Jinsulu were guarding her, while Fan Huaizhong and Jie Yu were hiding in the outer tent with sixteen personal soldiers.
Qingyang urged Fuliu and Jinsu to lie down, sleep if they could, but lying down was more comfortable than sitting. She closed her eyes to rest, thinking of her uncle Wang and Guo Yanqing, where Zhang Su and her second brother were, her father and mother in the palace, and listening to the sounds outside. It was impossible not to be nervous, but she could reach out and touch the sword beside the bed.
This was the sword her father gave her as a reward when she first started practicing swordsmanship. She had practiced for so many years and had never seen blood.
Her bow and quiver were placed on the cabinet beside the bed. Qingyang would not overestimate her own abilities and fight with the ferocious Hu people, but her archery skills had been ranked A-level for three consecutive years.
Around midnight, a slight earthquake was heard in the north of the valley, caused by tens of thousands of war horses running together.
Qingyang woke up instantly, put on his quiver and sword, grabbed the bow and went out.
The arrows of the two armies were fired almost at the same time, but Yelu Chong's archers were all aiming at the tents on the mountain, while the archers on the mountain and the archers who were ambushed near the river bank covered with a layer of grass shot at the same time.
Yelu Chong had long expected that Qi would be prepared, but he believed more in the combat effectiveness of his more than 50,000 warriors. In the face of absolute strength, no matter how well prepared, it would be useless!
"Get off your horse and follow me up!"
Swinging his sword to cut off the flying arrows, Yelu Chong was the first to lead his troops to rush up the mountain!
Although some Hu soldiers died one after another from the arrows, more Hu soldiers rushed through the arrow formation and met the Qi infantry.
When the arrow array stopped, the two sides began to engage in close combat with their main forces. However, the soldiers of Qi occupied the high ground, and the rain of arrows in front also eliminated the military advantage of Donghu.
Qingyang saw the Qi soldiers, their backs turned to her, constantly dying at the hands of the Hu people. She also saw the faces of the Hu people, their eyes wide open, illuminated by the dim moonlight. She had seen the corpses strewn across the fields after the battle in Wuwei before, and she had dreamed of those corpses time and again. Tonight, she was clearly standing on the grasslands of northern Jizhou, yet it was as if she had returned to Wuwei in the northwest, and time had turned back to the night before the soldiers of both armies fell.
The battlefield is probably always the same, it is she who changes.
The personal soldiers guarding her stood still as a mountain. Qingyang drew her arrow and aimed at Yelu Chong, the Donghu King who was getting closer and closer to her.
Yelu Chong was killing while searching for the Princess of Qi. Finally, when he faced Meng Ji, he saw the woman holding a bow and arrow and aiming at him.
Yelu Chong laughed, not believing that she could hit him.
Qingyang held the bow for a long time, because Yelu Chong and Meng Ji switched offense and defense too quickly, and there were so many soldiers from both countries around them that Qingyang might hit one of his own people if he wasn't careful.
His arms were sore from lifting them up, and at some point, Qingyang finally let go.
The sharp arrow flew past Yelu Chong's arm and hit a small Hu soldier behind him.
Yelu Chong subconsciously turned his head to look, and was about to laugh at the Qi princess's archery skills when he suddenly felt a pain in his left waist. It turned out that he had blocked Meng Ji's attack when he was distracted, but failed to block the spear of another Qi soldier.
At this moment, a burst of dense horse hoofbeats and a thunderous roar that even Yelu Chong could distinguish came from outside the valley: "Yelu Xiaochong is still alive? Your grandfather has returned to kill him!"
Yelu Chong tightly grasped the spear tip that was still trying to stab him, and looked at the Princess of Qi on the mountain again, only to see that she had lowered the bow in her hand. Although her eyes, colder than the bright moon in the sky, were looking at him, it seemed as if she was just looking at an ordinary enemy, not the extremely noble King of Donghu.
Yelu Chong was unwilling to give up. He pulled out the gun from his body with one hand, roared, and rushed up again. He wanted to kill her, kill her!
What Qingyang saw was that Meng Ji knocked down Yelu Chong's sword in just a few moves and captured the King of Donghu alive.
After Yelu Chong was captured, the Hu people immediately fell into chaos. In addition, the 5,000 cavalry reinforcements led by Prince Yong boosted the morale of the Qi army. After a melee and pursuit, at dawn, only a few hundred of Yelu Chong's more than 50,000 cavalrymen managed to escape, and almost the entire army was wiped out!
【Author’s words】
Here they come, 100 little red envelopes, one update today!
ps: I am too late, I am guilty, [burst into tears]
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