Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1175 Time Waits for No One
The autumn wind outside the tent was blowing harder and harder, and the howling wind could not hide the fervor in the hearts of the generals.

After looking at the map, many people were still puzzled as to why they had to wait for news from Yinzhou. Zhang Chuanying couldn't help but ask urgently.

"Brother, Black Wind Pass is easy to defend but difficult to attack. The cavalry are mostly for harassment and cannot be used for the main attack. Why wait for news from Yinzhou?"

Cavalry cannot attack, or rather, cannot be lost in the valley. Moreover, Yinzhou is an important city for the Jurchens. Although it is not large, its products are coveted by everyone.

"You're so anxious. When I arrived, Military Advisor Xiao's 20,000 iron cavalry had already marched straight towards Yinzhou City. If nothing unexpected happens, Yinzhou will definitely fall into my hands. If Huang Jitai finds out at that time, he won't be so at ease. Wouldn't that be the opportunity?"

This is the crucial step. Even if they didn't capture Yinzhou, it was still one of the Jurchens' escape routes. Cutting off one of their routes would make them anxious.

"So, does the Marquis mean he wants to fight, but also drag things out?"

Zhang Xiaolin hesitated. With hundreds of thousands of troops lingering outside the city, their daily losses were bound to be substantial.

“That’s right. We need to fight and drag it out. I’ve already arranged for the supply of provisions to be transported outside the pass. Even if it takes a while, I’m not afraid. But Huang Jitai can’t wait a day longer. We have the right timing, the right place, and the right people. The advantage is in my hands.”

Zhang Jinyu had already figured out how to fight Huang Jitai. It was a matter of responding to each move and waiting to see what the Jurchens would do. Whether they fought or not, the passive party would inevitably suffer.

Zhang Xiaolin immediately understood; it seemed the Marquis had already arranged everything.
"Your Excellency is wise. If that's the case, feigning that our main force is here, threatening the Jurchen flank on one hand, and making it appear as if we can cut off their retreat at any time on the other, is that to force Huang Jitai to turn around and fight us to the death?"

If so, relying on the city, they could inflict heavy casualties on the Jurchen soldiers, using their strengths to attack their weaknesses.

"That's right! But it's just a preliminary idea, and we'll see how things go depending on the circumstances."

Zhang Jinyu was resolute; this time, he was determined to fight the main force of the Jurchens to the death.
"Gentlemen, the objective of this battle is to inflict casualties on the main force of the Jurchens. After we gather our troops tomorrow, Huang Jitai will only have two choices: one is to retreat immediately and return to Liaonan to preserve our strength, but the various tribes in Liaonan will surely suffer heavy losses after winter sets in; the other is to abandon the siege and gather our main force to fight us in the open field, deciding the outcome in one battle. No matter which one Huang Jitai chooses, the pressure on Pingliao City will be greatly reduced! And our army has the advantage of timing and terrain, so we may well wait for the enemy to tire themselves out!"

Full of confidence, these words greatly increased the confidence of everyone in the tent, and they all spoke in unison.
"I will obey the Marquis's orders."

"Alright, tomorrow, Chuanying, after the army arrives at Pingliao City, you and Zhang Xiaolin will personally lead the cavalry to raid and kill. The key to this battle is 'momentum'! The greater the momentum, the better! We must make sure the Jurchen scouts can see it clearly!"

Zhang Jinyu looked at Zhang Chuanying with expectation and entrustment in her eyes.

"Yes, my lord, I obey."

Zhang Chuanying stood up abruptly, clasped his hands in greeting, and accepted the order.

Then, Zhang Jinyu's gaze fell upon Duan Hong. Since the army was gathering here, why not use an experienced general?
"Duan Hong, you will follow me and lead the army to press forward. You will be the vanguard cavalry, holding the line and forcing the main Jurchen force to retreat."

"The last general takes command!"

Duan Hong calmly agreed, his eyes flashing with seasoned wisdom and fighting spirit.

"Alright, in that case, everyone go back and get some rest. Tomorrow at dawn, after dinner, we will prepare the army and head north. We must be quick."

"We swear to follow you to the death, my lord! We will slaughter all the barbarians and defend our land!"

The generals inside the tent roared in unison. Although the sound was blocked by the tent cloth, it seemed to penetrate the cold autumn wind and soar straight to the sky!

at the same time,

One night, two parts
As the siege came to a close, the Jurchen Khan's tent was filled with an oppressive atmosphere. Huang Jitai remained hidden in the main seat, his face obscured by the flickering firelight.

Inside the tent, most of the banner leaders had stiff faces, and the tribal chiefs were bowing their heads and muttering to themselves. After several days of continuous attacks, only the number of corpses of their warriors was increasing, but they had not yet captured the city. Their morale was being worn down day by day.

Meanwhile, the Jurchen Khan Huang Jitai sat motionless in the main seat covered with a carpet, his face grim, the air seemingly frozen.

now,

Fucha Zhen, the banner chief of Zhenglan Banner, who had already returned, also looked rather grim. Ever since the Wuya Yu tribe returned, Huyan Han had led a large army to press forward. However, the 50,000 light cavalry of the Wuya tribe were well-prepared and retreated directly without even taking the main camp. In the following days, they continued to harass the perimeter, making it impossible to defend against them.

Considering the heavy casualties suffered by the Han Eight Banners during the four-day siege, yet Pingliao City remained as solid as a mountain with no hope of breaching it, time was running out.

suddenly,

Footsteps sounded outside the tent, followed by a hurried shout.

"Report, Great Khan, Commander Borcha reports! After the reinforcements from Pingyang City marched south, their movements were unclear during the day, and their main force disappeared at night!"

The messenger's hoarse voice boomed at the tent entrance, like an ice pick, instantly piercing the numb, oppressive atmosphere inside.

Everyone's faces had turned deathly pale, each one turned towards the tent entrance, a sudden flash of surprise and deep fear in the depths of their pupils. The reinforcements from Pingyang City... had vanished? These five words were sharper than any sword, piercing straight into their most vulnerable spot. After all, the movement of the reinforcements had been discovered yesterday, and the scouts had followed closely, yet in just one day, things had changed.

Huang Jitai sat upright on the golden throne covered with tiger skin, his back straight and his body motionless, but his face finally moved, and his eyes became even more profound.

Staring at the map in front of him, Pingyang City was only a few hundred miles away from Pingliao City, and they would be there within two days. But why were they heading south? Could it be that Marquis Luoyun had returned?

After a long silence, someone finally couldn't help it.

"Sweat!"

With a loud shout, Huyan Hanxiang, the leader of the Plain Red Banner, took a step forward, his face contorted with blood and gore, making him appear even more ferocious.
"Even if the reinforcements from Pingyang City have disappeared, their destination should also be this place. After four days of siege, our Han Eight Banners soldiers have suffered heavy casualties, but Zhang Wenyuan of Pingliao City has suffered the same fate. As long as it is an isolated city, it can be taken."

Leaving aside Huyan Han's confidence, everyone else scoffed at this point. Fucha Zhen sneered, his sarcasm obvious.

"A lonely city? What kind of lonely city is this? According to Huyan Han, the banner chief, you are allowed to attack others but others are not allowed to attack you. What kind of logic is that? Moreover, since the garrison of Pingyang City has already set off, it means one thing: whether Marquis Luoyun has returned."

His voice suddenly changed, and he looked towards the Khan's position, cupping his fists in greeting.
"Great Khan, now is not the time to besiege the city. We must be careful. After Marquis Luoyun returns, he will bring reinforcements here. I think we should deploy 50,000 Han Eight Banner infantrymen to guard the main camp, and our Eight Banner warriors should retreat eastward to prepare for any eventuality."

"What, Fucha Zhen, you want to recall the Eight Banners warriors and 50,000 infantrymen? Absolutely not."

Huyan Han immediately rebuked him. He wouldn't say anything if the Eight Banners warriors were recalled, but the siege of the city so far had been mainly carried out by Han Chinese from the Eight Banners. If 50,000 infantrymen were recalled now, the attacking army would lack sufficient strength and all their efforts would be in vain.

“Fucha Zhen, even if Marquis Luoyun returns with his troops, with the Eight Banners warriors watching, how dare he make a move so easily? Moreover, the Han Eight Banners have suffered heavy losses these past few days. Rather than letting them shiver in the cold night, waiting for the Han army to hide somewhere, it would be better to hold on and wait until the city is breached tomorrow. The grain, wealth, women, and slaves in the city would be enough to reward the three armies! If you are going to cower in fear, you might as well go back.”

Huyan Han, furious, abruptly turned to Huang Jitai, knelt on one knee, and his armor plates rustled. At that very moment, Guarjia, the banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, almost simultaneously...
"Then let's withdraw. Since we can't win by fighting, we might as well take advantage of Marquis Luoyun's return to the border to discuss the trade policy again. It would be a win-win situation."

Although the voice was not loud, the matter of peace talks was like ice water thrown into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar. It clearly caught everyone in the tent off guard. The war had been so fierce, how could peace talks possibly be successful now?

Several tribal leaders, known for their fierceness, were ignited by Guarjia's sarcastic words. In particular, several of Huyan Hanxiang's staunch supporters were like those who had been injected with strong liquor. Their eyes flashed with ferocity, and they suddenly stood up, their hands on the hilts of their swords. Nari Song, his eyes filled with anger, questioned them.

“Guarjia, you want to negotiate peace, but the fighting has come to this point. Not only have all the tribes lost so many warriors, but we haven’t even seen any profit. If we negotiate peace now, how can we guarantee our interests? Or do you think that brat Luo Yunhou can compensate us for the losses of the past few days? It’s a joke.”

"Yes, Great Khan, the Han dogs are at their last gasp!"

"Fight to the death! Only by fighting to the death can we survive!"

"Great Khan! Give the order! We are willing to fight to the death with the leader of the Plain Red Banner!"

Inside the Khan's tent, many tribal leaders and commanders surprisingly echoed his sentiments. It wasn't that they had the morale to fight, but rather that they were caught in a dilemma. The losses were so great that without reinforcements, the tribes' survival during the winter was uncertain.

However, not everyone thought the same way. The leaders of those smaller tribes, who had suffered greater losses, still had fear and hesitation on their faces. If they continued to fight, they feared that they too would be swallowed up by those people.

"Ahem, Fucha Zhen, what do you think about the peace negotiations?"

The heated argument inside the tent did not cause Huang Jitai to show the slightest emotion; his tone remained calm, and the previously loud shouts immediately ceased.

Fucha Zhen, the banner chief of the Plain Blue Banner, stood up unhurriedly, respectfully clasped his hands in greeting, and then sighed.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Huyan Han's words are not without reason. It is common knowledge that the siege failed and that Marquis Luoyun is known for his vindictiveness. Now that he has led his army here, he must be up to no good."

He paused, still pondering in his mind, thinking that even if it was to negotiate peace, he would have to have a showdown with Marquis Luo Yun first. Only by making him realize that peace talks were the way out could he set a price. Otherwise, if Marquis Luo Yun made exorbitant demands, how could they possibly reach an agreement?

This explanation left the pro-war faction inside the tent somewhat bewildered, looking at Fucha Zhen with suspicion, wondering what he was up to.

"Great Khan, the Huyan Banner Chief is commendable for his loyalty and bravery, but after four days of bloody fighting, the warriors of the various Jurchen tribes have been unable to break through the city. Those who have been lost, whether from the Han Eight Banners or the Khan's elite troops, are all my Jurchen sons and daughters. Countless others have been seriously wounded. The vanguard of the Han Plain Yellow Banner and Bordered White Banner has been almost completely decimated! More than thirty shield wagons have been destroyed, and the siege ladders have all been reduced to charred wood! If we were to attack the city again, we would have no strength left. Therefore, it would be better to withdraw our fists and prepare for a field battle with Marquis Luoyun. If we can win, we can take the opportunity to negotiate peace and trade."

Fucha Zhen's voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear. Every word was carefully considered by everyone in the tent. If it were a field battle, the Jurchen tribes would not be afraid of Marquis Luoyun. Therefore, there was great potential for peace talks.

“What you say makes sense. In open battle, our Jurchen warriors are not afraid of anyone. But what if Marquis Luoyun does not agree to peace talks? The movements of the Pingyang reinforcements are unclear. Their main force disappeared at night, which means that Marquis Luoyun has already reached the border. Fucha Zhen, have you thought of these things?”

Just as everyone in the tent was hesitating, Duomin, the banner chief of the Plain Yellow Banner, asked the crucial question: the Han people could afford to wait, but the Han people could not; the consumption of food and supplies for people and horses could not last long.

"Yes, Fucha Zhen, everyone says that Marquis Luoyun is a brilliant strategist. The fact that he was able to mobilize his troops ahead of time when he returned to the pass shows that Marquis Luoyun did not give up control of the area after entering the pass. According to the intelligence from our scouts, 150,000 new soldiers from Pingyang City have come out in full force, along with 50,000 veterans. These men are not to be underestimated."

Although they are called a new army, once they put on their armor, who can say they are not elite?

With the two banner chiefs questioning him, Fucha Zhen gave a wry smile and clasped his hands in greeting.
"My two princes, I am not confident about the peace talks, but there is one thing: as long as we let Marquis Luoyun know that cooperation benefits both sides and division harms both sides, we can reach an agreement. I heard that Marquis Luoyun is short of silver in the pass. We have Yinzhou City in our hands. If it really doesn't work out, we can give him 10% of the profits every year. Everyone says that the Han people value profit, and Marquis Luoyun is no exception. It all comes down to the word 'negotiation'."

Both sides benefit from doing business together. Who can say that the business won't last? Hearing this explanation, the two banner leaders nodded slightly. Indeed, he was well-versed in Han culture. Fucha Zhen was a man worthy of being chosen by his father, the Han.

"Fucha Zhen! You!"

Hu Yanhanxiang's eyes were bloodshot. He watched helplessly as the siege was about to fall through. Even Hao Ge and Duo Min had agreed, so what was the point of his opposition?

Behind them, another commander, his eyes red, cursed.

"Has the Fucha Banner Chief been scared out of his wits by those Han dogs? Coward! He fears the enemy like a tiger!"

"shut up!"

Huang Jitai, who had been silent all along, suddenly let out a low shout. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure, like an invisible boulder crashing down, instantly silencing everyone in the tent. His deep gaze, like a cold pool or an ancient well, swept over the two sides who were on the verge of fighting, and finally lingered on Fucha Zhen's face for a moment, a trace of undetectable complexity flashing in his eyes.

"Fucha Zhen, what are your plans for tomorrow? If I'm not mistaken, Marquis Luoyun has already secretly deployed his troops to use Pingliao City as bait to advance from the south and then encircle us from the west with Wuyayu's 50,000 light cavalry. In this way, we will be attacked from both sides and be in imminent danger. Therefore, Fucha Zhen, it is possible to force a peace through fighting. Of course, if we can capture Pingliao City, it will be beneficial to our Khan's camp."

This tactic was used by the Yuezhi people in the northern Hanhai region; at crucial moments, they would suddenly reveal their sharp blades and pierce through.

Huang Jitai's words immediately turned the faces of everyone in the tent pale. How could they not know such a simple fighting method? Yet they had suffered losses more than once. Now that Marquis Luoyun had replicated this method, the morale of their warriors had been greatly depleted.

Fucha Zhen stood there stunned. Seeing that the Khan's intention was to agree, he felt the pressure instead.
"Great Khan, the city is in danger of falling, reinforcements have already moved, and we are about to be attacked from both sides! Hesitation will only lead to chaos! Please give the order immediately, Great Khan!"

He spoke extremely quickly, each word like a hammer blow:
"First, the army must retreat in an orderly manner tonight, break away from Pingliao City, and set up camp on open high ground inside and outside the Black Mountain Pass, with its back to the mountain, deep ditches and high walls, and have the infantry take turns guarding it to defend against the enemy in the city."

"Second, the cavalry must regroup! All the elite Eight Banners cavalry must immediately withdraw from the west flank, prepare for battle, and conserve their strength to serve as the main force of the entire army. No matter where the main Han army comes from, our iron cavalry will still have the strength to fight!"

"third,"

Fucha Zhen took a deep breath and stared intently at Huang Jitai.
"Tomorrow, we will send out scouts to search for the main force of Marquis Luoyun. If they are not found, we will send someone to Pingliao City to negotiate, mainly to stabilize the garrison. If we find any trace of Marquis Luoyun, I will volunteer to explain the advantages and disadvantages, the danger of mutual destruction, and offer him gold, silver, salt, iron, and trade benefits. If Marquis Luoyun agrees, it will give our Jurchens a chance to breathe!"

Inside the sweat-soaked tent, you could hear a pin drop.

The only sounds were the crackling of the brazier and heavy breathing. Fucha Zhen's three suggestions were deafening. Even Huang Jitai narrowed his eyes. Retreating meant admitting defeat and giving up the "wealth" that was within his grasp. Negotiation meant bowing down to the Han people and showing weakness. But at this point, hesitation was unacceptable.

"Huyan Han, what do you think?"

What seemed like a question was actually a veiled attack on the heart. Fucha Zhen’s three plans were all true. No one was a fool. If Pingliao City could have been captured, it wouldn’t have taken until today. Therefore, even the people who had just shouted the loudest were now sitting there with their heads down. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Huyan Han knelt on one knee and said with his head down.

"Your Majesty, it is not that I am stupid or do not know what is good for me. Now that Marquis Luoyun has returned, he will certainly not give up easily. Pingliao City has been defending itself for so long and is already at its last gasp. If we give up, all our previous efforts will be in vain. However, Fucha Zhen's plan is the safest. Therefore, I am unwilling to give up."

Overcome with emotion, tears welled up in her eyes and she could no longer hold them back.
“You’re right, he’s unwilling, but it’s an undeniable fact that Marquis Luoyun has arrived. Therefore, Fucha Zhen’s words are the safest bet. However, Marquis Luoyun can’t fly, and it’s still unknown when he will arrive. So, Huyan Han will continue to lead 100,000 Han Eight Banner soldiers to attack the main city from the east and north. The rest of you will retreat to the Black Mountain Camp. Na Risong, you will lead 20,000 Jurchen elite cavalry to keep watch on the west side. If you discover any trace of Marquis Luoyun’s army, retreat immediately.”

"Yes, Great Khan, we obey your command."

Morale seemed to have returned, but the autumn wind outside the tent was blowing much more fiercely.

(End of this chapter)