Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 756 Breaking Through the Stronghold
The military tent was filled with Gao Liangcheng's trusted confidants, who responded with a resounding "yes" upon hearing this.

However, the news of an army appearing in the north still caused great anxiety among the soldiers of the Dali army.

Instead of mentioning that Gao Liangcheng led his troops to launch a fierce attack on the allied forces of the tribes, it is said that Gao Shunzhen led 10,000 troops and encountered the Liang army led by Guan Sheng, Shan Tinggui, Ren Sen, Fan Chenglong, Zhang Xianzhu, and Xiahou Cheng. Gao Shunzhen halted his troops and set up camp on the main road.

When Guan Sheng arrived, looking at the fortified camp of the Dali Kingdom, he said to Shan Tinggui, Ren Sen, and others, "It seems that the commander of the Dali Kingdom intends to block our southward advance to avoid being attacked from both sides. Who dares to be the vanguard and break through this fortified camp?"

[Holy Water General] Shan Tinggui spoke first: "General, watch me defeat these barbarians."

Having said that, he led his troops ahead.

Two arrow-lengths from the Dali Kingdom's military camp, Shan Tinggui deployed his troops, placing Fan Chenglong, nicknamed "Double-Tailed Fox," in command of the army, while Shan Tinggui led five hundred black-flag, black-armored infantrymen into battle.

Dan Tinggui wore a square iron hat, topped with a large black tassel. He wore a black bearskin armor with inlaid edges, a black silk robe embroidered with kingfisher feathers and flowers, and leather boots with cloud-patterned heels. He wore a belt studded with jade and lions, carried a bow and a quiver of arrows, rode a dark black horse, and wielded a black spear. He stood before the battle, swaggering and showing off his might.

In the village, Gao Shunzhen looked around and exclaimed, "Indeed, it is a major threat to the Song Kingdom."

He strictly ordered his soldiers to guard the stockade, and no matter how much Shan Tinggui insulted them, they were not allowed to leave the stockade to engage in battle.

When Guan Sheng arrived, he saw that the large camp opposite had been hastily set up; although the barricades were complete, there was no moat outside the camp walls.

With drums beating to gather the generals, Guan Sheng said, "This fellow hastily set up his stronghold. Tonight, we can use flying divine thunder to bombard it. Then, we will send our elite troops to break in. We must break through this camp tonight. We absolutely cannot let this large camp delay our southward advance."

Shan Tinggui and Ren Sen rushed forward and said, "As the commander-in-chief, how can you go and raid the camp? I am willing to lead the troops to raid the camp."

Looking at the two men below, Guan Sheng said, "In that case, you two go together. After the Flying Divine Thunder explodes, rush into the main camp and set it on fire. I will have General Xiahou Cheng provide backup."

With everything arranged, Fan Chenglong was brought in to the front lines, constantly hurling insults and challenging the enemy.

As darkness fell, the Liang army withdrew and camped three miles away.

In Gao Shunzhen's camp, watching the retreating Liang army, Gao Shunzhen said, "Generals, please be careful. If we hold on for two more days, the Prime Minister will surely defeat the tribal coalition. At that time, we will join forces and fight the Liang army again, so that the Liang army will know that we Dali men are not comparable to the tribal barbarians."

General Gao Yutang, who was in charge of the troops, said, "General, the Liang army has been fighting all the way here, and their soldiers must be exhausted. If we do not respond to their challenge today, they will become arrogant and think that we are cowardly and dare not fight. Why don't we launch a raid on their camp tonight?"

Gao Yuze also said, "That's right. If the raid on the camp succeeds, this fellow will definitely not dare to attack the camp tomorrow. In that case, our defense of the camp will be easy tomorrow. The Prime Minister will not need to worry about our defeat here."

Gao Shunzhen shook his head. "The Prime Minister has instructed us not to fight recklessly, but only to defend the camp. The Liang army has been conquering cities and towns all the way, and is certainly not a weak force. Now that we are facing off, how can we not take precautions tonight?"

"We must guard the main stronghold and not cause any unforeseen complications."

The generals, having heard this, said no more. They arranged for sentries and patrol soldiers to remain until nightfall, and then dispersed.

At midnight, General Guan Yu gathered all the Flying Divine Thunders and launched them rapidly at the main camp. The thunderbolts fell with a deafening roar.

The three thousand elite imperial guards, who had already been spotted lying in wait, immediately approached the Dali Kingdom's military camp as soon as the cannon fire stopped.

They threw out ropes, pulled up the wooden fence, and shoved the barricades aside. The Dali soldiers had never witnessed the power of the [Flying Divine Thunder] before, and after just one barrage of cannon fire, they were thrown into chaos.

Shan Tinggui and Ren Sen each led 1,500 men into the enemy formation.

The two men killed anyone they saw and burned any tents they encountered. The Dali soldiers, stunned by the [Flying Divine Thunder], were already in chaos.

As the two charged, the Dali soldiers, who had not yet formed a battle formation, fled south towards Gao Liangcheng's camp, their clothes disheveled.

The Dali Kingdom's army was routed. Shan Tinggui and Ren Sen were fighting fiercely in the camp when Xiahou Cheng, who was there to provide support, also led his troops into the main camp.

The three armies charged forward, driving all the Dali soldiers out of their camp.

As Gao Shunzhen fled, she encountered Shan Tinggui, who rushed past her from the side and killed her with a single shot.

After an hour of relentless pursuit, Gao Shunzhen's camp offered no further resistance.

At dawn the next day, Guan Yu entered the camp. After tallying the spoils, he recounted the previous day's battle: Shan Tinggui killed Gao Shunzhen, and Xiahou Cheng captured Gao Yuze alive. Ren Sen presented Dong Yan'ang, He Zhigao, and Li Feipeng, noble generals from Gao Shunzhen's army. In the battle, over four thousand Dali soldiers were killed, trampled, or burned to death, and over two thousand were captured.

The rest either scattered into the deep mountains or fled back to Gaoliangcheng Village along the main road.

When Gao Liangcheng received news of Gao Shunzhen's death in battle and the fall of the stronghold, he was still fighting against the allied forces of the tribes.

As more and more defeated soldiers fled back to their camp, the soldiers of the Dali Kingdom were terrified and had no will to fight.

Gao Liangcheng withdrew his troops, and the allied forces of the barbarians also hastily withdrew.

After many days of fighting, the tribal alliance has shown signs of weakness. If it weren't for the large number of troops deployed to resist the northern forces, the tribal alliance would have been scattered today.

After persisting for two days, we finally reached a high volume and called it a day.

The allied forces of the tribes cheered with joy, but the Dali Kingdom's Gao Liangcheng's large camp was a different story. The soldiers were filled with fear and anxiety, and the generals leading the troops were also full of worries.

Inside the main tent, Gao Liangcheng shouted at Gao Yutang below the steps, "What exactly happened? Ten thousand troops were defeated in less than two days?"

Gao Yutang said, "Prime Minister, the Liang army has firearms, which are very powerful. We were bombarded by firearms at night, and the soldiers in the camp were thrown into chaos and could not be stopped. The Liang army took advantage of the chaos to raid the camp, and we suffered a great defeat. Apart from me, only General Shi Tianyi escaped back."

Upon hearing this, Gao Liangcheng's brows twitched. The other generals also looked at each other in astonishment.

Gao Zhenshou stepped forward and said, "Prime Minister, given the current situation, we must make plans as soon as possible to avoid being attacked from both sides. If we want to leave then, it will be difficult."

Upon hearing this, the generals all spoke up, urging Gao Liangcheng to abandon this large camp and head west into Yongchang Prefecture.

Gao Liangcheng hesitated for a moment before speaking: "You all quickly lead your troops, carrying only three days' rations, and leave the camp in turn. Cross the Weiyuan River and head west to Yongchang Prefecture, preserving your strength. I will personally cover the rear and prevent the barbarians from pursuing us."

"Once I cross the Weiyuan River, I will burn the ships and let the Liang Kingdom and the barbarian tribes fight over Weichu Prefecture."

The crowd responded in unison. The generals returned to their tents and immediately mobilized their troops to leave the camp.

The allied forces of the tribes did not dare to send troops to stop them.

(End of this chapter)