Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 740

The army of over ten thousand men, led by Shi Wengong, the White Horse Silver Spear, and Zhang Qing, the Featherless Arrow, with six thousand cavalry in the vanguard, arrived at Dacheng County, only thirty li away from Qianning County, in just half a day.

On the city wall of Dacheng County, the cavalry force had already been spotted.

The generals guarding the city immediately informed the two commanders, Aliqi and Chu Mingyu.

These two, Aliqi, the chief of the barbarian forces, and Chu Mingyu, the deputy of the Han forces, were both under the command of Bo Jin, the chief general of Tanzhou. Along with another barbarian general, Yao'er Weikang, and a Han general, Cao Mingji, they were all brave enough to fight ten thousand men.

Upon hearing this, Chu Mingyu asked, "Are you sure you didn't see wrong? The Southern Barbarians actually have nearly ten thousand cavalry?"

General Wugushu said, "General, I am not mistaken. The cavalry was overwhelming, and the dust they raised covered at least five miles."

Aliqi laughed and said, "Even if the Southern Barbarians have 100,000 soldiers, what's so great about them! I'm just annoyed that I can't fight alongside Dongxian, and now someone dares to provoke me."

Having said that, he ordered the soldiers guarding the city to prepare themselves. Of the five thousand cavalry and infantry, only one thousand were left to guard the city. Aliqi and Chu Mingyu led four thousand soldiers out of Dacheng County and set up their formation to engage the Song army that was coming from Qingzhou in the east.

As Shi Wengong and his party arrived, Chu Mingyu, who was two or three miles away, spotted the Liang Kingdom banners hanging above the army and said to Aliqi, “General, the soldiers coming from the east are not from the Song Kingdom. Judging from the banners, they are flying the Liang Kingdom banners.”

"General, judging from the number of troops, there are at least seven or eight thousand. The enemy's situation is unclear. It would be better to withdraw the troops and return to the city to ask Dongxian Shilang for help."

Upon hearing this, Aliqi laughed and said, "General Chu, you're just a coward. Even if the men who come aren't Song soldiers, they must be accomplices of that eunuch Tong Guan. We've won battle after battle, why should we be afraid of these southern barbarians?"

As the two were talking, Shi Wengong and Zhang Qing also formed their battle formation and slowly approached.

As the black flag unfurled, a general appeared, wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown with two pheasant feathers tied inside. He wore a white silk robe lined with armor, embroidered with three phoenixes on the back. Over this, he wore chainmail iron armor, a jeweled lion belt around his waist, and eagle-claw boots with the heels removed. A gold-embroidered neck guard hung from his neck. He carried a white pear blossom spear, rode a silver-plated horse, and carried a magpie-patterned iron-framed bow and a quiver of carved feathered arrows.

The banner clearly read: "General Aliqi of the Great Liao Dynasty".

Aliqi took the lead and shouted, "You southern barbarians, have you had enough of living? You dare to invade my Great Liao territory. If you know what's good for you, surrender quickly and you might live."

Upon hearing this, Shi Wengong shouted, "You barbarian general, how dare you utter such foul language!"

He spurred his horse, spear in hand, and charged straight at Aliqi.

Aliqi also shouted and rushed forward.

The two armies shouted battle cries, and Shi Wengong and Aliqi fought fiercely in the center of the battlefield. Their horses met, and weapons were drawn. The two generals fought for no more than twenty rounds before Aliqi could no longer defeat Shi Wengong.

Upon seeing this, Chu Mingyu rushed forward, brandishing her spear and charging straight at Shi Wengong.

Upon seeing this, Sun Xin, also known as "Little Yuchi," stepped forward.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Qing stole a pebble and hid it behind Sun Xin. Before Chu Mingyu and Sun Xin could even exchange blows, Zhang Qing threw a pebble, "Strike!" It struck Chu Mingyu squarely in the left eye, sending him tumbling off his horse.

Sun Xin caught up, raised his hand and shot, knocking down Chu Mingyu who was still struggling on the ground.

Aliqi was already outmatched, and when he saw Chu Mingyu die, he tried to escape, but Shi Wengong caught up with him and thrust his spear at Aliqi, knocking him off his horse.

Zhang Qing shouted loudly, pointed his spear, and six thousand cavalrymen, armed with spears and lances, charged towards the Liao army.

With Aliqi and Chu Mingyu dead, the Liao army had already lost its composure and was scattered by the Liang cavalry.

Led by their generals, the Liang army pursued the fleeing Liao troops relentlessly. Taking advantage of the situation, Sun Xin, nicknamed "Little Yuchi," seized the city gate, scattered the Liao army, and the main force captured Dacheng County.

General Shi Bao of the Southern Frontier, along with Gong Wang, the Flower-Necked Tiger, and Ding Desun, the Arrow-Struck Tiger, led a thousand cavalrymen. They had long since bypassed the city and ambushed the Liao army north of Dacheng County. The defeated Liao soldiers who fled north to Wen'an County were intercepted by Shi Bao and his men, either killed or captured; not a single one escaped.

As planned, Shi Wengong led five men—General Nanli Shi Bao, Little Yuchi Sun Xin, Peach Blossom Boy Su Yi, Flower Arm Jin Zhuang, and Jade Dragon Xu Jin—to command five thousand cavalrymen and head straight for Renqiu in Mozhou.

Zhang Qing, the "Featherless Arrow," along with Su Ding, the "Double Swords," Gong Wang, the "Flower-Necked Tiger," Ding Desun, the "Arrow-Struck Tiger," and Wang Lin, joined forces with Wang Bing's troops who arrived shortly afterward. They marched north towards Wen'an County and the fortresses of Taohua, Anning, Liujiawo, Diaoyu, Mojinkou, Aweng, Yantou, Liyang, Xiwo, and Lujiao.

First, let's talk about Zhang Qing's group, which consisted of two thousand cavalrymen. After receiving Wang Bing's report, they immediately set off.

It turns out that Bazhou, deep within the Song Dynasty, was guarded by two strategic passes. The first was Yijin Pass, located between Wen'an County and Dacheng County, with steep mountains on both sides and only one post road in the middle.

Beyond the pass lies the county seat of Wen'an County, flanked by treacherous mountains on both sides. These two points are the two gateways to Bazhou, guarded by Kangli Ding'an, the uncle of the Liao emperor.

Because Tong Guan's army was pressing in, Kangli Ding'an asked Tanzhou Bojin Xianggong to send troops to help. Bojin Xianggong assigned Aliqi and Chu Mingyu to lead troops to help defend Dacheng County.

In case of any unforeseen circumstances, the emperor's brother-in-law, Kangli Ding'an, in Wen'an County can be notified.

Wang Bing learned of these circumstances and informed Shi Wengong and others.

Zhang Qing led his troops to Yijin Pass, with Su Ding ("Double Swords"), Gong Wang ("Flower-Necked Tiger"), and Ding Desun ("Arrow-Struck Tiger") leading five hundred soldiers, disguised as a defeated Liao army returning from a campaign.

Zhang Qing led his troops in hot pursuit.

By the time they arrived at the pass, it was already late.

At Yijin Pass, Gong Wang, nicknamed "Flower-Necked Tiger," shouted: "General Aliqi has been defeated, and General Chu is injured. Quickly open the gate!"

The guard at Yijin Pass was Vice Minister Jin Fu. Hearing the commotion below the pass, he hurriedly climbed the city wall to investigate.

In the distance, under the torchlight, a Liang soldier disguised as Chu Mingyu, wearing Chu Mingyu's armor and with his head wrapped in a white cloth, was seen. Minister Jin Fu had to confirm his identity.

Suddenly, a fire dragon appeared in the distance.

[Shot by an Arrow] Ding Desun shouted, "The Song army is here! Open the gate quickly!"

Jin Fu, a civil official, was at a loss when he saw the pursuing troops behind him and quickly ordered the gate to be opened.

Liang soldiers, disguised as defeated Liao soldiers, swarmed in. Gong Wang, nicknamed "Flower-Necked Tiger," entered the city and saw Minister Jin Fu descending from the city gate. Gong Wang secretly took out a flying spear and killed Minister Jin Fu with a single shot.

The army shouted and attacked in unison, scattering the defenders of Guanzhong.

The Liao army under Guangzhong had little defense to begin with. Of the two thousand defenders, most were captured, and the remaining three to five hundred men opened the north gate of Yijin Pass and fled to Wen'an County behind the pass.

After Zhang Qing entered the pass, he left Su Ding, the "Twin Swordsman," with 500 soldiers to guard the pass, while he personally led the rest of his troops out of the pass to pursue the fleeing Liao soldiers.

Taking advantage of the opportunity when Wen'an County allowed people to enter the city, they seized Wen'an County in one fell swoop.

(End of this chapter)