Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2470 Openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass

"Report! General Wanyan has been defeated, losing more than 15,000 soldiers. Pingcheng has been captured and then lost again!" The news of Wanyan Xieye's defeat was immediately relayed to Han Xin.

As the commander-in-chief of the campaign against the barbarians, Han Xin also had to be able to keep track of the movements and progress of each army at all times.

The generals of the Dongyi army were indeed not incompetent. When Wang Yanqiu took the initiative to split into several groups and abandon the camp, they did not actually pursue him.

Instead, with his last bit of strength, he cooperated with Wang Changluo in Pingcheng to retake the city from Wanyan Xieye.

In fact, if Wang Yanqiu hadn't noticed the movements of the Iron Forest Army and sent Xing Tian with troops to provide support, even Wanyan Xie would have almost died in the chaos of battle.

"Bring me the battle report!" Han Xin said, his brows furrowing slightly.

Since the campaign against the barbarians, although there have been some minor obstacles that have delayed things, the Han army has generally maintained an invincible momentum.

Now, Wanyan Xieye's defeat can be considered the first major defeat after the campaign against the barbarians. For Han Xin, the commander-in-chief, this is not a minor setback, but it will be a stain on his record.

As the commander-in-chief, if his subordinates win a battle, he can share in the credit for his leadership. Similarly, if his subordinates lose a battle, he must also share in the responsibility for managing the situation.

"Wang Changluo does indeed have some ability!" After reviewing the battle report and understanding the cause and effect, Han Xin revealed a hint of interest and a cold smile.

However, there was more dissatisfaction with Wanyan Xieye, who had fallen for someone else's scheme so easily.

Moreover, in Han Xin's view, even if Wanyan Xieye had fallen into the enemy's trap, he might still have had a chance to turn the tide. At least, he wouldn't have lost on both fronts like he has now, and could be said to have lost everything.

Anyone with even a little ability should have been able to save at least one of the cities, including Pingcheng and the main camp outside the city.

This is why they kept a close watch on the enemy, making it difficult for the enemy's main forces on the opposite bank to be mobilized on a large scale without their knowledge.

Otherwise, if the enemy's main force were to cross the river and drown them, and Wanyan Xie were to suffer a defeat, the loss would not only be 15,000 men, but could very well be almost entirely wiped out.

In Han Xin's view, Wanyan Xieye, who had made such a big tactical mistake, was no longer suitable to lead an army on his own.

"Mingyue, this place is now in your hands. Three days from now, take the city according to plan!"

"I will lead the troops to meet with Wang Changluo," Han Xin said to Huli Guang beside him.

"Brother Chongyan, rest assured, this place will not be lost!" Hulü Guang nodded.

Han Xin had laid the groundwork for them, and now it was time to reap the rewards. It was practically handing the credit to Hulü Guang by allowing him to lead the battle at this point.

Hulü Guang naturally wouldn't refuse such a good opportunity. Within the entire Han Dynasty, he was considered a high-ranking general, with considerable achievements in both seniority and merit.

However, compared to Han Xin, Yue Fei, and Li Jing, he was still a level below them. He naturally accepted any credit offered to him.

Furthermore, after such a defeat, Wanyan Xieye was indeed unsuitable to lead an army again. The Han Dynasty did not forbid defeats, but the risk of such a massive tactical error leading to the annihilation of the entire army was not permitted.

The next day, Han Xin led his generals Hou Yi, Huang Feihu, and Huang Tianhua, with 20,000 troops, toward Pingcheng.

Han Xin did not deliberately hide his whereabouts. In addition, at this time, scouts and spies from both sides were using all means to observe the other's movements.

Almost that same day, a messenger carried news of Han Xin's movement toward Pingcheng to Yelü Abaoji.

"Send a message to Changluo: if he cannot defend it, tell him to prioritize his own survival!" Yelü Abaoji instructed the messenger from the secret service.

Yelü Abaoji's two chief strategists, who were also his left and right prime ministers, included Yelü Helu, who at this time had already traveled north to Beiping with Yelü Deguang.

As one of the key figures who helped Nurhaci achieve his current level of success, Xuan Ye was not easy to deal with. He had already lost the initiative on the Beiping Road and was also severely lacking in troops. Naturally, Yelü Abaoji had to equip Yelü Deguang with two capable civil and military assistants.

Therefore, Yelü Helu and Tie Lei Babao were sent to accompany him north, one a civil official and the other a military commander, to assist him.

Yelü Abaoji did not need him to retake the lost territories; he only needed to maintain the situation, prevent Xuan Ye's Eight Banners cavalry from entering Zhongping Road, and at the same time, maintain a passage connecting to the plateau so as not to completely sever ties with it.

With Yelü Helu absent, Yelü Abaoji only had Wang Changluo left, who was capable enough to share the burden with him.

Moreover, no force can afford to lose a talent like Wang Changluo. A small city, no matter how important, can be lost, but it is essential to ensure that Wang Changluo can be brought back.

However, Yelü Abaoji, who was worried about Wang Changluo's situation, obviously did not expect that Han Xin's real target was not Wang Changluo.

This time, Han Xin successfully used a feint to deceive Yelü Abaoji, while secretly advancing through Chencang.

He led 20,000 troops, pretending to advance towards Pingcheng, but in reality, halfway there, he secretly broke away from the main force with Huang Feihu, Huang Tianhua, and 3,000 troops, and then quickly advanced towards Heima Ferry.

With Pingcheng already recaptured by Wang Changluo, and the three cities of the third line of defense still in the hands of the Dongyi, no one in the Dongyi would have imagined that Han Xin would cross the river at this time.

After all, even if all three cities were still there, or even if one were still in the hands of the Dongyi, the Han army would be insecure if they rashly crossed the river. The city still in the hands of the Dongyi would become their biggest hidden danger.

However, Han Xin's greatest strength lay in this kind of surprise, doing the impossible when others least expected it.

It was precisely because Han Xin was often able to do the impossible unexpectedly that he was able to strike with unerring accuracy.

In particular, Heima Ferry has a rapid current and is definitely not a good place to cross the river.

Among the several places in Lushui where one can cross the river, Heima Ferry is relatively the weakest in terms of defense.

On a dark and windy night, Han Xin personally led his troops, along with the Huang family and three thousand soldiers, in a surprise night raid on Heima Ferry.