The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 592 The Decisive Battle Against the Xianbei (Part 1)

"When Venus traverses the sky, the world is transformed, and the people are replaced by a new king."

Just as the somber atmosphere of the Jingguan (a mound of stones) in Hexi had not completely dissipated into the desert sands, the unusual phenomenon of Venus (the sun) traversing the sky in broad daylight once again stirred the nerves of the entire world.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported that this was an omen of the elimination of the old and the establishment of the new, and the change of sovereignty. Qin Shou, who was well-versed in the principles of heaven and man, received the congratulations of his ministers at Weiyang Palace, and in accordance with the will of heaven and the times, issued an edict to change the era name to "Shengwu".

The two characters "Saintly Martial" carry immense weight, signifying not only the emperor's formidable military prowess but also his ambition to cleanse the world and reshape order as a martial saint. Before the solemnity and grandeur of the reign-changing ceremony had fully settled, an urgent report from the north pierced Chang'an's warm spring like an icicle.

Kebineng, the Xianbei chieftain, was a ruthless warlord who, after experiencing turmoil following the death of Tanshihuai, gradually integrated the various Xianbei tribes in the east through his cunning and courage. He was unwilling to be bound by his former homeland in the south of the Gobi Desert, and seemed to have not learned enough lessons from the tragedy of the complete annihilation of the Xianbei tribe in the west of the Gobi Desert. Or rather, he was confident that he could avoid repeating the same mistake.

This guy keeps trying despite repeated defeats, never giving up!
Taking advantage of the slight relief from the white plague on the grasslands, when the cattle, sheep, and horses were plump and strong, he mobilized over 200,000 archers under his command, and allied with the remnants of the Wuhuan and some of the remaining Xiongnu tribes, forming a force of 400,000 iron cavalry, which surged southward. Their iron hooves pounded the passes, and beacon fires lit up the sky in the border regions of Yunzhong, Daijun, and Shanggu, as urgent dispatches flew to Chang'an like snowflakes.

When the news reached him, Emperor Qin Shou was furious, but a cold glint of "as expected" flashed in his eyes.

“Kebineng…it seems the Jingguan in Hexi is not tall enough, not conspicuous enough!” Qin Shou’s voice echoed in Xuanzheng Hall, with a more profound and resolute composure than when he dealt with the Qiang rebellion in Weiyang Palace and swore an oath to Hexi.

"Since he seeks death, I will grant his wish! This time, I will not only wipe him out completely, but also seal the wolf's lair and eradicate this great scourge!"

The empire's war machine roared into action once more with even greater efficiency than during the Hexi Campaign. From the end of the first year of the Shengwu era to the beginning of the second, the entire Tang Dynasty operated like a sophisticated and efficient machine, running at full speed in preparation for the upcoming Northern Expedition.

Food and supplies were transported northward from the prosperous Guandong and Jianghuai regions; finely crafted armor and sharp weapons were produced in government workshops across the country; and countless elite soldiers from the garrison and border armies, eager to make a name for themselves, were ordered to assemble at designated locations.

In the spring of the second year of the Shengwu era, as the grass grew and the orioles sang, 500,000 elite Tang troops were already arrayed in the northern border. Banners fluttered, swords and spears gleamed in the sun, and the chilling atmosphere made even the spring breeze of the north feel like it was carrying a rusty cold. This expedition was even more formidable than the campaign against Hexi, bringing together almost all of the Tang Dynasty's most renowned generals.
The central army, personally led by Emperor Qin Shou, was commanded by the veteran general Huang Zhong as the vanguard commander, with Wei Yan as the vanguard, and other seasoned generals such as Xu Huang, Zhang He, and Gao Lan leading their respective armies. They marched straight out of Yanmen Pass in Bingzhou, with their target being the location of Kebineng's royal court.
The eastern army, led by Zhou Yu, known for his steady military tactics and skill in managing soldiers, with Zhang Liao and Ding Feng as his deputies, and supported by the local elites of Youzhou, set out from Youzhou to sweep away the Xianbei and Wuhuan allied forces in Liaoxi and Youbeiping, protect the flanks, and wait for an opportunity to advance westward to encircle them.

The western army, led by cavalry commander Zhao Yun and with Pang De as his deputy, launched an attack from Yunzhong and Wuyuan. Utilizing its superior mobility, it conducted a long-distance raid to cut off Kebineng's escape route to the west or north, and formed a pincer movement with the central army.

The three armies, like three sharp arrows poised to be released, were aimed at the heart of the grassland.

Kebineng was no incompetent ruler. He knew the Tang army was too powerful to be confronted head-on, so he adopted a strategy of luring the enemy deep into his territory, utilizing the mobility of his cavalry, and waiting for an opportunity to annihilate one of their forces. He deliberately abandoned some peripheral pastures, concentrating his main force in the heartland of southern Gobi Desert, where the grasslands were lush and conducive to the army's assembly and maneuverability. He hoped to use the vast grasslands to wear down the Tang army's morale and supplies. However, Emperor Qin Shou of Tang and his advisors and generals had already thoroughly studied grassland warfare. The army's expedition was not a blind advance, but a step-by-step, methodical advance, relying on strong logistics and a tight military formation. Qin Shou also adopted the strategy of Jia Xu, an advisor accompanying the army, to widely dispatch scouts and divide and win over the small tribes that had grudges against Kebineng, making it difficult for him to fully control the battlefield information.

With banners fluttering and hooves thundering, the vanguard Wei Yan led five thousand elite cavalry, like a scorching dagger, cutting into the lush grasslands of the Chule River Plain.

This land, lush with water and grass, and with its winding rivers, was once a paradise for the Xianbei people to graze their livestock. Now, however, it is filled with an invisible killing intent. The 15,000 cavalry "bait" led by Murong Gui, a general under Kebineng, had been waiting here for some time. They patrolled casually, feigning laxity, their camps dotting the grassland, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, seemingly without any vigilance. They were waiting for the Tang army to advance recklessly, then they would feign retreat and lure them into the death trap set by Kebineng's main force.

However, who was Wei Yan? Though proud and arrogant, he was not without strategy. Moreover, His Majesty and the central government had already clearly warned him to be wary of the Xianbei's scheme to lure the enemy. Instead of rushing headlong into the seemingly scattered camp, he deployed a large number of scouts to climb high and carefully examine every detail of Murong Gui's forces.

"General, the enemy forces appear scattered, but their scouts and cavalry are deployed in a very orderly manner, supporting each other. The distance between each unit is carefully maintained, and their retreat routes are unobstructed. Moreover, look at their warhorses; although they are resting, their saddles are still on, and their horseshoes are brand new, clearly indicating that they are ready to fight at any moment." The lieutenant pointed into the distance and reported in a low voice.

Wei Yan squinted, stroked his stiff beard, and sneered, "Kebineng wanted to learn from Sun Bin's strategy of reducing the number of cooking fires, but he tried to draw a tiger and ended up with a dog! He wanted to lure me in, but he was unwilling to invest enough. He dares to show off such a paltry trick in front of me!"

His mind raced, and he made a decision in an instant. "Since you're trying to seduce me, I'll play along. I'll knock your teeth out first, deflate your arrogance, and then see how your master reacts!"
"Give the order! The entire army will be divided into three groups. I will personally lead two thousand elite cavalry to charge straight at the central command tent, feigning a fierce attack after falling into a trap. You will lead one thousand five hundred cavalry to flank from the left and cut off their communication with the northwest. Another one thousand five hundred cavalry, under the command of Colonel Wang, will lie in ambush behind the low hills in the southeast, well-prepared with bows and crossbows. When I feign defeat and retreat, Murong Gui will surely lead his army in pursuit. You will then suddenly strike out and cut off his flank!"

"General, His Majesty has ordered us to proceed cautiously and steadily..." The deputy general hesitated slightly.

A glint of light flashed in Wei Yan's eyes: "His Majesty desires victory! Defeating the enemy's vanguard will stabilize our morale! Execute the orders!"

"promise!"

As the war drums sounded, Wei Yan led the charge, and his two thousand iron cavalry, like arrows released from a bow, swept up a cloud of grass and charged straight at Murong Gui's central army. The Tang cavalry were well-equipped, with both men and horses clad in light armor, and their charge was as swift as thunder.

Murong Gui was secretly pleased to see that the Tang army had indeed fallen for the trap and launched a fierce attack. According to the pre-arranged plan, he put up a brief resistance and then ordered his troops to retreat under cover of each other, attempting to lure Wei Yan's troops into a deeper encirclement.

As soon as the two armies clashed, the Xianbei cavalry fought and retreated, their arrows falling sparsely, their will to resist seemingly not resolute. Wei Yan's soldiers fought bravely, killing hundreds, their offensive becoming even more "fierce".

(End of this chapter)