Chapter 96, Chapter Seven: An Eye for an Eye
"I never imagined that we could actually mobilize tens of thousands of troops here without anyone noticing."
Inside a majestic and precipitous abandoned palace, two men stood facing the wind, with soldiers running silently and swiftly behind them. If the ignorant villagers nearby were to witness this, they would probably think it was a ghostly army marching through the air.
"It was Taizhen's skillful command." This was the first time Liu Jun had witnessed Wen Qiao leading troops, and he discovered that in addition to his refined conversation, he was also quite accomplished in military affairs, which made him even more impressed with this cousin.
Wen Qiao waved his hand and laughed, "I was just following orders, how could I be talking about command? But I have a question. I've observed that your use of troops is very different from what my uncle used to do. Could it be that you are truly a genius?"
"Besides His Majesty, who dares to call himself a divine warrior?" Liu Jun shook his head and laughed. "To be honest, brother-in-law, I have no talent for military strategy. I have only picked up the leftovers of the predecessors, read military books and history books, and been forced to go to the battlefield a few times. I have barely managed to get by until now and I only have a rudimentary understanding of military affairs."
"Oh? What military strategy?"
"Take a quick look at the Six Secret Teachings and the Three Strategies," Liu Jun said, glancing at the "New Book of Mengde." "Then there are the Records of the Grand Historian and the Records of the Three Kingdoms, nothing particularly remarkable."
Wen Qiao chuckled, "If you could read all these books, you'd already be able to lead troops."
"Since I started leading troops alone in Liangzhou, ten years have passed without me realizing it. I don't seem to have gained any clear insights. I've just gotten to where I am today in a daze." Liu Jun thought for a moment, "It's nothing more than observing the situation, the timing and terrain, spying on the enemy; luring the enemy, pretending to be big with small forces, and taking the false as real; choosing the right time, switching from defense to offense, and killing them with one blow."
"So, now is the time for our army to act?" Wen Qiao saw through it immediately. "Are you waiting for them to weaken each other?"
Liu Jun nodded, "That's right. All three sides are actually waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity that is advantageous to us and disadvantageous to the enemy. For us, it is absolutely crucial that they do not know that the Jin army has arrived in Luoyang, otherwise, this battle may not even be fought. In addition, I have also ordered people to bribe Liu Yao's subordinates. In the next few days, they will try every means to entice Liu Yao to drink..."
“As long as they start fighting, I am confident that I will not lose this battle.” Seeing the grain officer requesting an audience in the distance, concerned about the supplies, Liu Jun turned and strolled down the city walls. “And if we can successfully take back Luoyang this time, it will be a blessing from heaven.”
News soon arrived that Liu Yao and Shi Le's armies were facing off. Because he was indulging in a life of debauchery, Liu Yao could no longer even ride a tall horse and could only find a Di man's small horse to ride, while he personally guarded the Xiyang Gate.
Shi Le divided his troops into three routes: one route attacked the central army from the north of Luoyang, another route attacked the vanguard from the west of the city, and he himself attacked Liu Yao from both sides at Changhe Gate.
Liu Yao's army suffered a crushing defeat, and Liu Yao himself fled in disarray. However, his horse became stuck in a stone canal, and he thought he was about to be captured by Shi Le's army. Unexpectedly, the Jin army suddenly appeared from nowhere and launched a sneak attack on Shi Le from behind, catching the latter completely off guard.
Thus, an extremely bizarre scene unfolded: Liu Yao was at his wit's end, surrounded by enemies on all sides, while outside his small encirclement, two armies were engaged in a fierce battle that darkened the sky.
Shi Kan was overjoyed to have just trapped Liu Yao. Everyone knew that Liu Yao had nowhere to escape. It would be a great achievement to capture Liu Jun, who was a major threat. So Shi Kan made a decisive move and immediately divided his troops to search for Liu Jun's whereabouts.
"It's a pity that Mengsun (Zhang Bin) was ill and did not accompany the army, otherwise this battle would not have been so complicated."
Outside Helu Gate, a strangely-looking Hu man gripped a horsewhip. It was none other than Shi Le, who was now a powerful figure in the north. Even though the entire city of Luoyang was in chaos and filled with the sounds of battle, he remained calm and composed.
"I heard that Liu Jun, that greenhorn, has also come in person. I beg Your Majesty to grant me permission to go and meet him, and teach him a lesson about respect for elders and juniors." A burly man beside Shi Le said with a mocking smile, his eyes filled with malice.
Behind him were more than ten men, the earliest and most valiant generals who followed Shi Le and had made great military achievements. They were known to the world as the Eighteen Riders of Yan.
"We should still be careful. I have experienced Liu Jun's prowess firsthand a few years ago. We must not underestimate him," another slightly more refined general said.
Shi Le smiled and said, "Kui'an is right, but Zhi Xiong is also quite good."
His smile vanished, and his expression turned grim. "He always believed that Liu Kun died at my hands, and besides avenging Liu Yao's national humiliation, he also wanted to avenge my father's death. A desperate army is bound to win, and this time things are unlikely to end well. My point is, do your best, but don't get bogged down in the battle."
Zhi Xiong was somewhat surprised, "I didn't expect the King to be so wary of this boy."
Shi Le turned his horse around. "Liu Jun is most skilled at spying on the enemy. He probably already knows I'm at Helu Gate..."
Why not just wait patiently for the rabbit to run into the tree stump?
"A rabbit?" Shi Le smiled sarcastically. "That's a young tiger emerging from the forest, a dragon steed soaring through the clouds."
He spurred his horse, declaring, "No matter how many tricks he has up his sleeve, I will remain steadfast and capture Liu Yao first."
Meanwhile, Shi Kan searched aimlessly like a headless fly. After half a day, he encountered several small groups of troops, but he could not find Liu Jun's central army anywhere.
"Report! His Majesty has personally led a large army to reinforce us, intending to capture Liu Yao alive. However, Liu Jun suddenly attacked from the west of the city, and a battle has already broken out!"
Shi Kan felt a chill run down his spine, realizing he was in trouble. Shi Le had repeatedly warned him not to leave without permission, but he had been greedy for merit and acted rashly...
Not daring to think any further, they hurriedly returned to reinforce their troops, only to run into Ji Dan, whose forces were second only to Liu Jun's, on the way.
Before Shi Le even reached the west of the city, he only glanced at it from afar and sighed softly, "Shi Kan has made a mistake! Today, we can neither gain Luoyang City nor Liu Yao."
Having said that, he rallied his spirits and said to Kui'an, "Order the drums to be beaten to boost morale. Pass down the order: whoever can kill either Liu Yao or Liu Jun today will be directly ennobled. If they can capture them alive, they will become one of the Three Dukes of our Great Zhao!"
Before the words were even finished, the battle cries shook the heavens, and the iron cavalry of Yan and Zhao charged forward like madmen, fearless of death.
Shi Le felt somewhat relieved, but seeing that the Jin army was responding with ease, their crescent formation remained perfectly intact, and his cavalry's repeated charges were repeatedly repelled, he couldn't help but become anxious.
"Your Majesty, look!"
The enemy's banner was raised high, enough for people several miles away to see clearly.
It's not unusual for two armies to face each other, but what's astonishing is that a bloody human head is hanging on the banner.
The man had clearly not been killed for long, and his face was still clearly recognizable—it was Shi Hu, who had been captured for over a year!
Shi Hu was Shi Le's most trusted nephew and followed him for many years. Many soldiers had seen his face. Now, seeing this cruel and ruthless killer with his head separated from his body, they were terrified. Some of the bolder ones even secretly escaped in the chaos.
Shi Le remained silent, suddenly recalling some past events—when Liu Kun sent an envoy to pay a visit, he saw his then extremely thin nephew standing behind his mother, appearing obedient, but anyone could see the ambitious gleam in his fierce and sinister eyes…
Shi Le met his eyes, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.
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