Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 739

Once the current situation of the ten prefectures of Liao and Song was understood, Zhao Zhen immediately ordered the army to break camp and set off.

[White Horse Silver Spear] Shi Wengong and [Featherless Arrow] Zhang Qing served as the vanguard and deputy vanguard, leading 6,000 cavalrymen. Led by Duan Pengju, they carried the banner of Tong Guan and crossed Cangzhou, Qingzhou, and Baoding Army, heading straight for Mozhou, which was occupied by the Liao Kingdom, to cut off the Liao army's return route.

Zhao Zhen divided his troops into two groups.

One group, led by [Blood Monk] Guanghui, included [Precious Light Tathagata] Deng Yuanjue, [Life-Taking Ghost] Wang Feibao, [Nameless] Han Bolong, [Iron Fan] Gao Ang, and others, with more than 10,000 troops, closely following Shi Wengong and Zhang Qing as backup.

The remaining troops marched from Cangzhou straight to Hejian Prefecture.

The army's departure was not accomplished in a single day.

Zhao Zhen ordered Lu Zhishen (the Flower Monk), Wu Song (the Tiger-Taming Grand Duke), Shi Yong (General Stone), and Yan Liu (Tiger Claw) to lead their troops in a thunder chariot straight to Shucheng, where a battle was taking place.

【Shenjuzi】Ma Ling, along with his apprentice 【Yu Chi】Xu Jin, went ahead to 【Hejian City】where Tong Guan was stationed.

Ma Ling and Xu Jin rushed to Hejian City. Finding the city gates tightly shut and the city walls heavily guarded, Ma Ling instructed Xu Jin to unfurl the Liang Kingdom flag he carried with him.

Upon seeing this, Fengmei on the city wall ordered his men to lower the basket and pull Ma Ling and Xu Jin up to the top of the wall.

Feng Mei asked, "Where are the Liang soldiers?"

Ma Ling asked, "Who are you?"

"Feng Mei, the Imperial General [Flying Dragon General], is currently the Vanguard Commander of the Privy Council."

“The commanders of the intelligence camp under the Liang King, Ma Ling, the Divine Steed, and Xu Jin, the Jade Dragon, have come to pay their respects to Privy Councilor Tong on the orders of the Liang King.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Mei immediately ordered his deputy to guard the city, while he personally led Ma Ling and the other man to the government office to pay their respects to Tong Guan.

Before they could even exchange greetings, Tong Guan, just like Feng Mei, asked, "Where are the Liang soldiers?"

"King Liang is leading an army of 100,000, divided into two routes. One route will advance directly to Mozhou, intending to cut off the retreat of the Liao army attacking Hejian Prefecture. The other route will be personally led by the King to rescue Hejian Prefecture. They should arrive within five days at the latest."

Tong Guan nodded and said, "That's good."

"Prime Minister, His Majesty has asked me to inquire why, contrary to what was initially agreed upon, the border area has been chosen to be Cangzhou?"

Tong Guan said, "I never expected that the Liao soldiers would be so skilled in battle. Before the New Year, we lost Mozhou and Xiongzhou. After the weather warmed up, the seven fortresses of Xin'an were also captured one after another, and General Xin Xingzhong died in battle. Now, how dare we still hope to annex Liao territory? It would be good enough if we could just retreat."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ma Ling shouted, "Oh no!"

"Prime Minister, the route to attack Mozhou is about to pass through Xin'an Army. I must return immediately to report this."

Tong Guan said, "Alright, go back quickly and tell my son-in-law to lead troops to meet us. We'll pack our valuables and provisions, and take the people with us to migrate to Liang."

Upon hearing this, Ma Ling quickly stopped him, saying, "This is not advisable, Grand Chancellor. King Liang intends to attack the Liao Kingdom. We haven't even engaged in battle yet, so he certainly won't want to retreat. Besides, if we retreat now, the Liao Kingdom has many cavalry troops. Not only will we be pursued, but we might even lead the Liao army into Liang Kingdom. King Liang will definitely not agree to that."

“Even if we retreat to Liang, there’s no need to back down. The Grand Chancellor will order all prefectures and counties to change their flags to the Liang flag and acknowledge the Liang King as their ruler. After a month, the two worlds will separate on their own. This place will naturally be incorporated into Liang.” Tong Guan listened and laughed, “General Ma is right. The Liao cavalry is numerous; if they are pursued in the open, they will surely be defeated. Defending the city is the better strategy.”

"[Hejian City] has high walls and many soldiers; it shouldn't be difficult to stop the Liao army. Do as you said, change the flags, and defend the city. General Ma, go back and report to King Liang. I will wait for King Liang in [Hejian City]."

Ma Ling and Xu Jin immediately left the city, and then split into two groups. Ma Ling returned along the original route to report to Zhao Zhen, while Xu Jin took a detour to Shi Wengong's group to report the news of the Xin'an Army.

Tong Guan also arranged for messengers and a cavalry force of more than ten men to go to various places to deliver orders and change the flags.

Nothing happened to Ma Ling along the way.

Upon hearing Ma Ling's words, Zhao Zhen dared not delay. He ordered six men—Wang Tianba ("Sai Cunxiao"), Tang Bin ("Bashan Lishi"), Nie Gong ("Pishan Lishi"), Yang Tengjiao ("Jiaomian Bao"), Wen Zhongrong ("Hanshan Lishi"), and Cui Ye ("Yishan Lishi")—to lead the Tiger Warrior Cavalry, break away from the main force, and ride warhorses with mules carrying armor, to head ahead of the main force to Hejian City. This was to reassure Tong Guan and boost morale.

As for Xu Jin, after leaving the city, he began to perform magic and rushed westward, intending to intercept Shi Wengong and his party in Qingzhou.

Shi Wengong's 6,000 cavalry arrived at Qingzhou [Qianning County] at Shenpai time on the second day.

Upon receiving Tong Guan's military order brought by Xu Jin, Wang Bing, the general defending the city, dispatched cavalry from within the city to intercept Shi Wengong outside the city.

Xu Jin hurriedly left the city and went to the army camp to pay his respects to Shi Wengong and others, and told them about the fall of the Baoding Army.

Upon hearing this, Shi Wengong addressed his generals, saying, "The King has ordered us to capture Mozhou. How can we stand still? I intend to continue the campaign. What do you all think?"

Zhang Qing spoke first, saying, "We are here to make our mark and achieve great things. I agree that we should continue to send troops. However, since Baoding Army has fallen, it would be better to divide our forces into two groups: one to continue our attack on Mozhou, and the other to attack Baoding Army."

General Shi Bao of Nanli spoke up: "Commander Xu, you have met the garrison commander of Qianning. Do you know how many troops are in Qianning County and who the garrison commander is?"

Xu Jin said, "The garrison commander is Wang Bing, who is very courageous. When I entered Qianning County, I saw that the soldiers and civilians on the city walls were all actively defending the area, so he must be a capable man."

Upon hearing this, Shi Bao nodded and said, "Our entire force consists of cavalry, which is adequate for battle but not for attacking cities. We should request that the garrison from Qianning accompany us."

Shi Wengong nodded, "I just don't know how many troops are in the county. Commander Xu, go to the county again and tell them that I've invited Wang Bing to the camp to discuss military affairs. Let's see if he dares to come."

Xu Jin obeyed the order and immediately went to the city to see Wang Bing.

Upon hearing that the vanguard of the Liang Kingdom outside the city wanted to see him, Wang Bing also donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led a capital of personal guards out of the city to meet Shi Wengong.

After exchanging greetings, Shi Wengong went straight to the point and asked, "General Wang, how many troops are there in the city? Are they willing to follow us in attacking Bazhou?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Bing laughed heartily and said, "I have long heard of the bravery of the Liang Kingdom's soldiers. If it weren't for the Prime Minister's order to guard Qingzhou, I would have already been unable to resist storming into Bazhou. We originally intended to surrender to the Liang Kingdom, but now I should also obey General Shi's military orders. I am willing to lead five thousand imperial guards from the city to storm into Bazhou."

Upon hearing this, Shi Wengong laughed loudly: "Good. Once we reunite with the Prince of Liang, I will definitely recommend General Wang for credit."

After discussing it, Wang Bing told Shi Wengong everything he knew.

The army entered the camp in Qianning County and rested for the night. The next day, six thousand cavalrymen led the way, followed by five thousand infantrymen, and the army headed straight for Dacheng County.

(End of this chapter)