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The city of Liyang was in imminent danger, and the devastating news of the annihilation of Li Shentong's 20,000-strong army was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head.

The atmosphere in the Tang army camp was so heavy it was suffocating. The generals all wore somber expressions, some indignant, some worried, their eyes fixed on the young Prince of Qin behind the commander's desk.

With setbacks on both the eastern and western fronts, Dou Jiande, riding the wave of his great victory, launched a fierce attack on Liyang. If this vital granary town were to fall, the gateway to Hedong would be wide open, Guanzhong would be thrown into turmoil, and the entire eastern expedition strategy would face the risk of collapse.

However, Li Shimin showed no sign of panic. He stood alone before the enormous map of mountains and rivers, his back as straight as a pine tree. Only his tightly pursed lips and the occasional sharp glance at the different markings on the map revealed the intense mental struggle he was undergoing.

After a long while, Li Shimin slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent: "Dou Jiande has won a battle and his arrogance is at its peak. Liyang City is well-fortified, and Jiang Shanhe is loyal and brave, and can still hold out for ten days. If our army rushes to its aid now, we will fall into his trap. He will surely set a trap under Liyang City, waiting for our main force to come and fight."

He walked back to his desk and pointed heavily at the border between Hebei and Hedong on the map: "Dou Jiande's main force has come out to besiege Liyang, so the hinterland of Hebei must be empty. Liu Heita has just defeated Li Shentong and is full of pride, but his troops are mostly cavalry, good at raids but bad at defending cities. In addition, they also divide their troops to plunder, so they will inevitably scatter."

His fingertip moved along a dotted line: "Our army has just suffered a defeat, and Dou Jiande is certain that I will not dare to take any more risky moves, and even more certain that I will definitely rescue Liyang. I will do the opposite!"

"Your Highness's meaning is..." A glint flashed in General Qin Qiong's eyes.

"To relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao, one must strike where the enemy is bound to defend!"

Li Shimin said decisively, "If he doesn't send reinforcements, I will march straight to Leshou! But this time, the target is not the fortified city of Leshou, but—Liu Heita!"

His gaze swept over the assembled generals, and he swiftly issued the order: "Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong, listen to my command! You two are to lead all the elite Xuanjia cavalry, and select ten thousand light cavalry skilled in riding and archery and capable of long-distance travel. Each man should be gagged, and the horses' hooves wrapped. Carry plenty of tinder and three days' worth of rations. From here..."

He pointed to a hidden mountain pass on the map: "Set off tonight, avoiding all official roads and ferries, following the deserted paths at the foot of the Taihang Mountains, traveling day and night, straight to the area around Nanluan City (east of present-day Longyao, Hebei), where Liu Heita is currently entrenched! Remember, do not engage any Xia troops along the way. Your sole objective is to find Liu Heita's main force, and then—"

Li Shimin's eyes were icy: "Hold on to him, hold him back, and beat him until he hurts! But show weakness, pretend to be outmatched, and lure him southwest towards the Zhangshui River Valley!"

"The last general takes command!"

Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong solemnly agreed, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Shi Wanbao!"

Li Shimin continued to assign troops: "You will lead 20,000 infantrymen, raise many flags, spread out scouts widely, and make a big show of yourselves, slowly making a feint towards Liyang, appearing to be advancing cautiously and taking steps to provide a rescue. Set up many camps along the way, using deception to make sure that Dou Jiande's scouts believe that our main force is firmly attracted by the battle of Liyang and is hesitant to advance."

"Yes!"

Shi Wanbao bowed and accepted the order.

"The rest of the generals, follow me and lead the remaining elite troops, lower the flags and silence the drums, and secretly move the camp to this valley upstream of the Zhang River to hide and wait for an opportunity."

Li Shimin's finger landed on a spot on the bend of the Zhang River that was suitable for an ambush: "Once Jingde and the others lure Liu Heita here, it will be time for the decisive battle!"

"Your Highness, this plan is ingenious, but extremely risky. General Yuchi and his men have traveled a thousand miles to launch this attack. What if Liu Heita discovers their plan, or Dou Jiande has another ambush..."

Some cautious generals raised concerns.

"Warfare is based on deception, and its essence lies in surprise. Liu Heita is arrogant after his recent victory, while Dou Jiande's eyes are fixed on Liyang and our feigned attack. This is a golden opportunity!"

Li Shimin's eyes burned with determination: "Moreover, if Liyang falls, our army's eastern gateway will be closed, leaving us trapped at Tongguan and unable to accomplish anything. Only by taking a risky gamble can we break this deadlock!"

Seeing that their commander-in-chief was determined and had a well-thought-out plan, the generals said no more and obeyed.

...............

Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong led their elite 10,000 cavalrymen away from the Tang army camp without a sound. They abandoned all cumbersome baggage, carrying only essential weapons, arrows, and a small amount of dry rations. Following a secret route, guided by experienced trail guides, they traversed rugged mountains and desolate valleys. They rested and concealed themselves during the day, accelerating their journey at night, minimizing their chances of being detected by the Xia army.

Three days later at dawn, this weary but wolf-eyed cavalry appeared out of nowhere, like divine warriors descending from the heavens, on the outskirts of Nanluan City.

Liu Heita's main cavalry force was indeed scattered in the nearby countryside for food, and the defenses of his main camp were relatively lax. Without the slightest hesitation, the Tang cavalry charged straight into the outer perimeter of the Xia army camp like a sharp dagger!
In an instant, shouts of men and neighing of horses filled the air, and flames erupted everywhere!
The Tang cavalry, divided into several units, did not venture deep into the enemy's stronghold. Instead, they galloped haphazardly along the perimeter of the camp, unleashing a barrage of crossbow bolts and fire arrows, setting fire to tents, haystacks, and stables, creating immense chaos. The Xia army, caught completely off guard, was thrown into utter disarray.

Liu Heita awoke with a start from his sleep to the news that Tang cavalry had attacked his camp. He was both shocked and furious. He was shocked because the main force of the Tang army should be in Liyang. He was furious because the enemy dared to provoke him by venturing deep into his territory with a small force! He quickly donned his armor, mounted his horse, and gathered about five thousand cavalrymen who could be assembled quickly, and set out of the camp to pursue them.

"It's the Xuanjia Cavalry! They're led by Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong!" the scout reported.

A fierce glint flashed in Liu Heita's eyes: "Li Shimin's trusted generals? Good! If we can capture and kill these two here, it will be better than annihilating 100,000 Tang soldiers! Pursue them! They are few in number and have traveled a long way; they are already at their last gasp. Don't let a single one escape!"

The Xia cavalry roared out, pursuing the seemingly "hasty retreat" Tang army. Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong fought and retreated, their archery skills precise, occasionally turning back to shoot down the closest Xia soldiers, fueling Liu Heita's rage and intensifying the pursuit. The Tang army was clearly "outmatched," abandoning some flags and debris, and "retreating" southwest. Liu Heita, unsuspecting and determined to annihilate this audacious elite Tang force, led his cavalry in hot pursuit.

A protracted chase unfolded across Hebei. The Tang cavalry displayed exceptional endurance and mobility, maintaining a constant, albeit distant, distance from the Xia pursuers. They would counterattack at times, then accelerate away, deliberately choosing difficult paths to wear down and provoke the pursuing Xia army. Liu Heita's cavalry, though also valiant, were exhausted from the continuous pursuit, and their formation gradually stretched.

Unbeknownst to them, the Tang army cleverly guided the battlefield southwestward into the Zhangshui River Valley.

The Zhang River makes a sharp bend here, widening its channel and calming its current. Rolling hills and forests line the valley's sides. Li Shimin's elite 30,000-strong Tang army had been lying in wait for days, recuperating. Utilizing the terrain, they had established tight infantry formations and crossbow positions in the woods and behind ravines on the northern side of the valley. The southern riverbank, though more open, was secretly fortified with tripwires and traps. Li Shimin's central army was positioned on a slightly elevated hill overlooking the entire valley. In the afternoon, the anxious Tang scouts finally spotted dust rising in the distance.

"Report! General Yuchi and General Qin have arrived ten miles away, and Liu Heita is leading about four or five thousand cavalry in hot pursuit!"

Li Shimin's spirits lifted, and he abruptly stood up: "Order the entire army to prepare according to plan! Gun the crossbows, form ranks, and do not move without orders! Let General Yuchi and the others come over!"

Soon, the Tang cavalry, led by Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong, charged into the valley with lightning speed. They appeared exhausted, their banners askew, but their formation remained intact. They passed through the pre-arranged passage and quickly retreated to the designated assembly point on the north side of the valley.

Liu Heita led his troops into the valley, and seeing that the Tang army's "rout" soldiers were about to escape into the hills and forests, he was unwilling to give up and charged forward. He was unaware of the subtle terrain of the valley and the unusually quiet atmosphere, and was determined to win the battle in one fell swoop.

Just as most of the Xia army's cavalry force poured into the valley, their formation stretched out due to the pursuit, and the vanguard was about to approach the edge of the northern hills—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three earth-shattering war drumbeats suddenly erupted from behind the hills to the north! Immediately afterwards, countless Tang army banners were raised at the same time, as if a steel forest had appeared out of thin air!
"Fire arrows!"

At Li Shimin's command, thousands of Tang crossbowmen, hidden in the hills and forests, simultaneously fired their crossbows! In an instant, a deluge of crossbow bolts, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, rained down on the Xia cavalry charging ahead, like a deadly storm! At such close range, with such a dense hail of arrows, the leather armor of the Xia cavalry was like paper; countless men and horses fell, and the momentum of their charge was halted!
"Throw!"

The second order came, and the Tang infantry, who were already prepared, hurled thousands of spears and halberds, specifically targeting the Xia army's warhorses! More Xia cavalrymen screamed and fell from their horses.

"Liu Heita! Li Shimin is here! Today is your death day!"

Li Shimin appeared on the earthen slope with a thunderous voice, his royal banner waving.

Liu Heita was shocked and realized that he had fallen into a trap to lure the enemy deep into his territory! He saw arrows raining down in front of him and ambush flags waving on the hills on both sides. Although he could not see the enemy behind him, the valley was narrow and it would be difficult for the cavalry to turn around.

"Don't panic! Follow me and charge out! Head south, cross the river!"

Liu Heita, being a seasoned general, remained calm in the face of danger. Judging from the seemingly open riverbank to the south, he thought there might be a chance of survival and immediately ordered a turn.

However, as the Xia cavalry frantically turned and charged towards the riverbank, the pre-laid tripwires sprang up, causing the leading horses to neigh and fall, tripping up many of the cavalry behind them. Hidden pitfalls beneath the seemingly flat riverbank also swallowed many men and horses. The Xia cavalry's momentum faltered again, plunging them into even greater chaos.

Just then, Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong's troops, who had just taken a short rest, along with a light cavalry force that Li Shimin had previously ambushed on the south side of the valley, attacked simultaneously from the flank and rear! Like two iron pincers, they clamped down hard on the chaotic Xia army.

Meanwhile, behind the hills to the north, the Tang army's heavy infantry phalanx, which had been resting and recuperating for a long time, led by generals such as Wan Baoshan, moved like a mobile city wall, advancing with orderly and heavy steps towards the center of the valley. Long halberds were like a forest, and swords and shields were like a mountain.

Liu Heita's troops were truly trapped in a desperate situation. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, facing unfavorable terrain, their morale was on the verge of collapse. Although the Xia army cavalry were valiant, in such dire circumstances, they fought individually and were unable to reverse the defeat. Liu Heita charged left and right, but his personal guards dwindled with each battle, and he himself was struck by several arrows, bleeding profusely.

"Protect the general and help him break through the encirclement!"

The surviving Xia generals desperately protected Liu Heita, charging towards a seemingly weak point in the riverbank. They abandoned most of their flags, supplies, and even the wounded, carving a bloody path with their own bodies. Liu Heita, with only a hundred or so remaining cavalrymen fighting their way through, barely managed to break through the Tang light cavalry's blockade and waded across the Zhang River in a sorry state, fleeing south. Of his more than four thousand elite cavalrymen, most were annihilated in the Zhang River valley, the rest scattered and routed.

...............

News of the great victory at Zhangshui reached the walls of Liyang even faster than the defeated troops of Liu Heita. When Dou Jiande saw Liu Heita, covered in blood and almost unconscious, being carried into the main tent, and heard that his main cavalry force had been nearly wiped out, even the usually composed King of Xia couldn't help but feel dizzy and slumped into his command chair.

"Li Shimin...Li Shimin dares to do this!"

Dou Jiande was both shocked and furious. He never expected that Li Shimin, facing the perilous situation of Liyang and the recent defeat of Li Shentong, would not only fail to rush to the rescue but would instead use himself as bait, embarking on this risky tactic, making a long-distance raid, and ambushing and severely damaging Liu Heita, his most elite henchman! This was not only a military defeat but also a complete negation of his strategic judgment.

"Your Majesty, although General Liu was defeated, the Tang army must have fought with all its might, suffering considerable casualties. Liyang will fall soon, so perhaps..."

Some generals were unwilling to give up and suggested continuing the fierce attack.

"Confused!"

Dou Jiande interrupted sharply, having quickly regained his composure and analyzed the situation: "Since Li Shimin was able to divide his forces to ambush and decisively defeat Heita, where is his main force? Although our army is numerous under the walls of Liyang, it is exhausted from prolonged fighting. If Li Shimin were to lead his victorious army to attack from both inside and outside the city, what could we do? Not to mention... Li Shimin's purpose in this battle is to intimidate us and also to lure us back! Leshou is vulnerable; if a detachment of the Tang army were to strike directly at our core..."

Leshou was his capital, a banner in the hearts of the people and soldiers of Hebei, and its loss was absolutely unacceptable. Liu Heita's disastrous defeat not only decimated his elite troops but also exposed the heartland of Hebei to the Tang army's might. Continuing to besiege the fortified city would be far more risky than rewarding.

"Send the order!"

Dou Jiande stood up abruptly and decisively ordered: "Cao Dan's troops will cover the rear and retreat slowly, burning any siege equipment that cannot be taken along the way. The rest of the army will immediately break camp and follow me back to Hebei to consolidate our position! Also, send out more scouts to closely monitor Li Shimin's movements and any Tang troops that may be heading north!"

With the Xia king's order issued, the Xia army, which had besieged Liyang for nearly a month and whose momentum had been immense, began to withdraw like the receding tide. Despite his reluctance, and despite the fact that the walls of Liyang were already crumbling, Dou Jiande knew that if he didn't retreat now, he might not be able to leave. He had to go back to clean up the mess, pacify Hebei, and prepare for what might be an even more intense attack from Li Shimin.

On the city wall, the wounded Jiang Shanhe and his defending soldiers watched the Xia army retreat like a receding tide, almost unable to believe their eyes. A mixture of elation at escaping death and utter exhaustion overwhelmed them; many collapsed to the ground, weeping with joy. Liyang had been held. (End of Chapter)