Chapter 127: Walking into a Trap
Wen Yao smiled, put the letter aside, opened the curtain, and walked out of the tent, all the way to the wasteland outside the city. The grasslands were vast and desolate. She squinted her eyes and gazed into the distance. Suddenly, she bent down, broke off a piece of grass, put it to her lips, and blew it vigorously. The long, thin tune lingered, and after a while, a black dot suddenly appeared at the intersection of the sky and the earth in the distance, approaching her at an extremely fast speed.
A magnificent wild horse galloped towards Wen Yao, its thick mane rustling in the wind. Wen Yao reached out his hand, and the wild horse immediately slowed down, swaying towards Wen Yao, its nose humming as it sniffed the hem of her clothes.
"You'll be so greedy." Wen Yao couldn't help laughing. He took out a large piece of candy wrapped in paper from his lapel, broke off a piece and stuffed it into the horse's mouth, then patted the horse's face affectionately.
After their last farewell in the swamp, Wen Yao had cut the reins and set free this wild horse that had strayed into the military camp. Given the vastness of the grasslands, Wen Yao might never have seen this horse again if he hadn't deliberately searched for it. But by chance, a few days after the army was assembled, Wen Yao had some free time to explore the area and unexpectedly encountered the horse again.
She was also happy. She happened to have a bag of steamed cakes that Zhao Xuanxu had steamed for her that morning, so she stuffed it into the horse's mouth. The horse was unruly and loved to nibble on the hot spring flowers, clearly craving sweets. Wen Yao fed it candy, and it followed Wen Yao to the city with a cowardly clamor, showing no sign of being aggressive in front of Yelu Duhan. Wen Yao would go out of the city to feed it when she had time, and take it for a ride.
Wen Yao stroked its rough and smooth mane and said, "Good horse, I have a big show to perform tomorrow. Can you help me?"
The horse chewed the candy happily, rubbing it against her cheek and snorting.
The army had originally planned to attack the Northern Liao reinforcements' camp the following day. In reality, Zhao Xuanxu and Zhongli He had already set up camp several days earlier, in the hilly valley near Xijin City. Zhao Xuanxu was the backbone of the Lingyu Army, publicly boasting an ambitious image of "recruiting General Zhongli for rebellion." With so many eyes on him, only his presence could ensure stability.
Wen Yao also understood this principle. Despite Gao Shaoshan's repeated requests, she decisively and firmly sent Zhao Xuanxu to the camp, leaving her alone in the garrison to feed the horses. The garrison was short of troops, with only the remaining soldiers and transporters coordinating the movement of food and fodder. It was only near dawn the next day that Wen Yao led her troops to deliver food and fodder to the main camp.
The hills and mountains were bustling with activity early in the morning, with the sounds of drills and shouts incessantly. The central tent was ablaze with candlelight. Wen Yao swooped down from a height, tiptoeing, startling the surrounding defenders. They tightened their grip on their swords and spears, only to relax their guard when they saw it was Wen Yao. The heavily guarded front of the tent made way for her, allowing Wen Yao to enter.
Wen Yao stepped into the curtained tent. The generals and staff sitting there, frowning in thought, rose and saluted. Zhongli He stood at the table, reading a sheepskin blueprint spread out on it. Zhao Xuanxu sat at the head, propping his head up, his knuckles resting against his deep brows, his eyelids drooping with a look of weariness.
It was clear that the battle ahead at daybreak was a monumental one. Even Zhao Xuanxu, a man who favored loose hair and loose clothing, donned military regalia. He wore a golden crown, black hair, tightly bound cuffs, and a wide, gold-embroidered belt that accentuated his slender waistline. The subtle undulations of his shoulders and back muscles gave him a commanding and domineering air. His expression was distant, his dark eyes reflecting the candlelight, and his entire presence was obscure, revealing a profound scheming.
He is very cold and difficult to deal with, and looks like a rebel king who has risen up in rebellion because his achievements surpass those of his master.
Wen Yao could tell at a glance that he was in a daze.
She knew Zhao Xuanxu. Prince Yan's daydreaming could be due to a bad mood or perhaps a poor night's sleep. At such times, Zhao Xuanxu would be impatient for work and would become quite irritable. Looking at the submissive expressions of the people in the tent, Wen Yao knew they must be experiencing Zhao Xuanxu's temper.
Seeing Wen Yao, Zhao Xuanxu's eyebrows moved immediately, and he came back to his senses. He put down his hands, stood up, and walked two or three steps towards him. Wen Yao wanted to tell him to cheer up, but before he could say anything, he slapped the letter written by Jiang Qiaosheng on his chest.
As expected, Zhao Xuanxu lowered his head to pick up the letter and glanced at it. He couldn't hold it in anymore and frowned: "Does she have to come?"
"Yeah." Wen Yao: "Now that she's fine, there's no need to restrain her. She's also familiar with arguing with Yelu Duhan, and she's very adept at it... She's only a little old, so don't bother with her all the time."
Zhao Xuanxu remained silent, clutching the paper as he stood aside. Of all the people surrounding Wen Yao, he hated Jiang Qiaosheng the most. Jiang Qiaosheng was a woman, yet she loved to cling to A Yao, and because of this, he couldn't even drive her away from Wen Yao.
Very frustrating.
Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu were speaking in a half-hearted manner, leaving the rest of the tent unaware and looking bewildered. Wen Yao walked towards Zhong Li He, lowering his eyes to look at the map spread out on the table.
These were all obtained through the exploration conducted by scouts in this area over the past few days. They are simple and rough, and many parts are not clear.
Zhongli He stood beside her, glanced at the inexplicably cold Zhao Xuanxu, then at Wen Yao, and said, "The Northern Liao reinforcements have set up fifty camps fifteen miles outside Xijin City. The camps are connected for sixty miles, with a circumference of twenty-five miles. They look like a coiled snake, connected from head to tail, and it's difficult to attack them."
Wen Yao: "If we don't attack the camp, what are we going to do now?"
"We'll take the initiative and occupy the hills and mountains. The roads here are dense and narrow. If we can lure the Northern Liao into attacking, the Northern Liao cavalry's advantage will be wiped out." Zhongli He shook his head. "Unfortunately, the Northern Liao also understand this principle. I'm afraid it will be difficult for them to take the bait."
Who said that.
Wen Yao placed the tip of his tongue against his teeth, licking it unconsciously as he spoke, "Northern Liao understands this principle, but the fool may not. Yelu Anduan is young, has a bad temper, and is not proficient in reading, writing, military tactics, or strategy. His only advantage is that he is foolish and reckless, making him easy to control, which pleases the Holy Empress of Northern Liao. He and Yelu Duhan competed for credit for the army's advance. His mother knew what kind of person her son was. She sent him here in name only, but the real decision was made by a man named Dabale."
Upon hearing these words, the people in the tent looked at each other in bewilderment. This kind of information was more than what could be gathered from hearsay in just two days in Xijin City. However, none of them, including Zhongli He, thought much of it, simply assuming that Zhao Xuanxu had planted spies near Yelu Duhan. Zhongli He pondered for a moment, then quickly agreed with Wen Yao's idea, saying, "Then divide our forces into two groups to lure this man away, and then lead a surprise attack to lure Yelu Anduan here."
Wen Yao's eyes curved, and just as he was about to speak, Zhao Xuanxu on the side suddenly spoke.
"I'll leave the vanguard troops to you." Zhao Xuanxu glanced at Wen Yao with an unclear expression and continued, "There's no need to fight a prolonged battle. Just lead them away and retreat."
Zhongli He and a group of generals nodded solemnly.
At daybreak, Zhongli He led 30,000 troops out of camp, heading for the Northern Liao garrison to provoke a confrontation. His elite cavalry, advancing at breakneck speed, bravely encountered the Northern Liao cavalry, who had discovered the situation. Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu were in command of the tent, Zhao Xuanxu in the main seat. Wen Yao sat to the side, sword in hand, not looking at Zhao Xuanxu, but simply watching the real-time battle reports flying onto his desk like snowflakes.
The battle raged on. Unbeknownst to Zhongli He, Dabale led 50,000 troops out of camp to counterattack. Zhongli He had preemptively divided his troops into two halves, spreading them out across the vast grasslands to form a pincer attack from both directions, successfully pincering Dabale. Meanwhile, Gao Shaoshan and his men raced to the Northern Liao reinforcements' camp. General Zuo, in a perfectly executed display of the savagery of a soldier shouting in front of the enemy lines, delivered a scathing performance.
Yelu Anduan was arrogant and domineering, possessing a truly violent temper! He considered the people of Tianshui mere two-legged sheep. Naturally, he was furious after being insulted by Gao Shaoshan. He ignored Dabale's instructions and immediately counted his troops to march out of camp to fight. His advisors pleaded with him, but the enraged Yelu Anduan ignored them all. He only knew that Tianshui's troops were insufficient for this battle, and he fancied himself a formidable general who could never lose.
Not only did he not listen, the more others tried to persuade him, the more he got angry. His counselors, even after talking till they were dry-mouthed, could not shake his mind. In desperation, he turned to Yelu Duhan, who was sitting beside him drinking tea, and said, "Master Xianyinsi, do you have anything to say?"
Yelu Duhan had suddenly subsided in recent days, no longer clashing with Yelu Anduan. Others saw this as a heavy blow to him after failing to win the first battle, and he was afraid to go against Yelu Anduan's wishes again.
Yelu Duhan's long eyelashes twitched slightly, and one of his thick eyebrows rose. He put down the cup gently, looked up at Yelu Duhan, and said, "Dabale's meaning is the Queen's meaning. Yelu Anduan, be a good son and listen to your mother. Don't go. Stay in the tent and wait for Dabale to come back."
These words were filled with sarcasm and ridicule. They didn't sound like persuasion at all, and instead only added fuel to the fire. Yelu Anduan kicked the table away, then hurriedly left with his guards and led his troops down to engage Gao Shaoshan.
The Northern Liao cavalry's reputation for bravery and prowess was well-deserved. Their heavy cavalry charged across the vast grasslands, unstoppable. Gao Shaoshan's limited force quickly wore down their opponent, struggling to hold their ground. They fought and retreated, rapidly heading towards the Tianshui camp. This scene gave Yelu Anduan immense confidence. His blood boiled, his armor stained with blood, and his eyes were blinded by the blood. He completely disregarded Dabale's warnings, raised his blade, and ordered the pursuit to continue, pursuing the enemy all the way to the Tianshui camp.
Yelu Anduan's young face was filled with anger and blood. He brandished his sword and roared, "Kill them all! Kill all the Tianshui people inside! Use their heads to make wine and offer it to the White Horse and Green Ox!"
The dense cavalry began to charge. The hills on the grassland were gentle and not rugged. But mountains are mountains, and the roads between them are narrow. The Northern Liao cavalry were numerous, and under Yelu Anduan's command, they rushed up the mountain, and the road immediately became extremely crowded.
Suddenly, there was a noise in the silent forest, followed by the sound of countless arrows.
The Northern Liao soldiers were all heavily armored, so the arrows couldn't hurt them. However, the arrows weren't aimed at them, but at their horses, which were already clumsy in climbing the mountain path. A hail of arrows sent men and horses tumbling and screaming in agony, turning the situation that had originally favored the Northern Liao into chaos.
At some point, a dense mass of Tianshui soldiers emerged from the road, wielding large shields and spears, charging down upon the Northern Liao army. The mountain path was too narrow, and with their own troops behind them, the Northern Liao soldiers at the forefront were caught in a dilemma, unable to escape. They were strangled by the Tianshui soldiers' spears. The Tianshui soldiers charged with volleys, but in just a few breaths, the tide of battle was turned.
Now Yelu Anduan's boiling blood cooled down.
He looked at the Tianshui camp, which was so close yet he could not approach it easily. His face gradually became gloomy and he finally realized that something was wrong.
I was fooled!
With his personal guards firmly protecting him, Yelu Anduan turned his horse and raised his arms, shouting, "Retreat! Retreat! Retreat immediately to flat ground!"
Under his command, the Northern Liao army, which had successfully reached the trap, began to retreat in a panic. Almost as soon as they left the mountain, countless Tianshui troops rushed down from the mountain, attacking the Northern Liao army like a flood, with several tall and strong horses bearing the brunt of the attack.
Yelu Anduan seemed to sense something and looked up, recognizing the rider on the far right as Gao Shaoshan, the one who had just cursed him. A sharp flash of sword flashed by Gao Shaoshan's side, and a black robe flashed past. Zhao Xuanxu leaped down the mountain road, his hawk-like eyes instantly fixed on Yelu Anduan, his brows dark and cold.
He disliked everyone with the surname Yelu.
Without a moment's hesitation, Zhao Xuanxu raised his longbow, tensed his shoulder muscles, and shot an arrow through the air, piercing through the thousands of figures! The pure black feathers were packed with tremendous force, and as fast as lightning, it reached Yelu Anduan in an instant.
Yelu Duhan held his breath, his pupils shrinking sharply. With a thud, the long arrow pierced Yelu Anduan's right shoulder, sending him flying and falling off his horse, nearly being trampled to death by the horse's hooves.
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