The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 593 The Decisive Battle Against the Xianbei (Part Two)

After pursuing them for about five or six miles, Wei Yan saw that the time was right and shouted, "The enemy is using a trick! The rear guard has become the front guard! Retreat!"

Having said that, he turned his horse around and took the lead in "retreating." Upon hearing this, the Tang cavalry immediately appeared "panicked," their banners tilting slightly as they fled backward.

Seeing this, Murong Gui had no suspicions and was overjoyed: "The Tang general has fallen into a trap! Pursue! Don't let Wei Yan escape!"

He immediately rallied his previously scattered troops, and tens of thousands of cavalrymen converged into a mighty torrent, relentlessly pursuing Wei Yan. The Xianbei knights roared, brandishing their sabers, believing their moment to make a name for themselves had arrived.

Reaching the vicinity of the low hill, Wei Yan's "defeated army" quickly bypassed them from both sides. Just as Murong Gui's army reached the hill, a sudden gong sounded, and ambushes sprang up from behind the hill. Fifteen hundred Tang soldiers unleashed a volley of arrows, the dense barrage of arrows swarming into the Xianbei cavalry like locusts. Simultaneously, fifteen hundred Tang soldiers flanking from the left flank also launched a timely attack, fiercely assaulting Murong Gui's army's flank.

In an instant, the Xianbei army was thrown into chaos. They were pursuing with all their might when they were suddenly ambushed, attacked from all sides, and their command instantly failed.

Seeing that the ambush troops had emerged, Wei Yan laughed loudly: "My men, follow me and charge back!"

He was the first to rein in his horse, brandish his long sword, and turn back to charge into the enemy ranks. The two thousand cavalrymen who had been "retreating" turned back like tigers, their morale soaring.

The Tang army attacked from three sides, unleashing long-range arrows, spear thrusts, and saber slashes, completely encircling and dividing Murong Gui's forces. Murong Gui charged left and right, unable to mount any effective resistance, and his personal guards fell from their horses one after another.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, he had no choice but to fight his way out with a few elite guards and flee north in a sorry state. The 15,000-strong decoy force was defeated by Wei Yan in one battle, with more than half of them killed, wounded, or scattered. All the supplies and horses fell into the hands of the Tang army.

Although the Battle of Chulechuan was not as large as the subsequent major battles, it was of great significance. Wei Yan achieved a victory against overwhelming odds, not only thwarting Kebineng's carefully laid trap to lure the enemy, but also cutting off one of Kebineng's tentacles for probing the strength of the Tang army, and capturing a large number of cattle and sheep.

When news of the initial victory reached the central army, Emperor Qin Shou, upon hearing the report, clapped his hands and chuckled, "Wen Chang is indeed a fierce warrior. Ke Bineng's first move was a disaster."

He immediately ordered: "Send word to the three armies that Wei Yan has broken through the enemy's defenses and is to be rewarded! Also, inform Zhou Yu and Zhao Yun that the fox's tail has been revealed. Tighten the net according to the established strategy!"

The news of Wei Yan's vanguard's victory was like a blazing fire thrown into a still chilly wind, instantly engulfing the Tang army's central camp. Morale soared, and banners fluttered in the wind, as if celebrating this triumphant start.

However, the course of the war was never simply fixed by the gains or losses of a single place. Almost at the same time that Murong Gui's defeated army scattered and fled north, the atmosphere in the Xianbei royal tent near Baidao Pass, a strategic pass in the Yin Mountains, was as heavy as leaden clouds before a blizzard.

Kebineng, the Xianbei chieftain who had dominated the grasslands for many years, now had a face ashen with anger. The news of Murong Gui's crushing defeat and the complete failure of the plan to lure the enemy was like a resounding slap across his face.

Amidst shock and rage, the ruthlessness in his eyes intensified. The Tang army's reaction speed and Wei Yan's cunning and bravery both exceeded his initial expectations.

"It seems the main force of the Tang army is heading straight for my central army. Do they think they can defeat me in one fell swoop at Chulechuan? Not so easy!" Kebineng's voice was deep, with a hoarse quality like that of a wolf king of the grasslands.

He stood up abruptly, his massive body casting a shadow inside the tent.

"Send the order! Assemble the main forces of all units and advance towards Baidao Pass! I want Qin Shou to know that the natural barrier of Yinshan is the graveyard I chose for him!"

Baidao Pass is a natural passage connecting north and south in the middle section of the Yinshan Mountains. Although the mountains on both sides are not extremely high, they are extremely steep, with jagged rocks that are difficult to climb. The passage itself is relatively narrow, with the narrowest point only allowing a few horsemen to ride abreast, truly a place where "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand." Kebineng knew that his cavalry might not have the advantage in a direct confrontation with the Tang army in open terrain, but holding this natural barrier would be enough to greatly offset the Tang army's numerical and equipment advantages.

He swiftly mobilized his most elite troops, utilizing the mountain terrain to hastily construct fortifications, dig pitfalls, and set up defensive barriers, making the southern entrance of Baidao Pass as impregnable as an iron fortress. Countless archers were positioned in concealed locations on the mountainside, awaiting the Tang army's attack.

The Tang army's vanguard scouts quickly reported the movements of the main Xianbei force and the defenses of Baidao Pass to the central army.

Qin Shou was not surprised when he heard the report. He just smiled and said, "Kebineng has chosen a good place. It's a pity that even the strongest tortoise shell has to be broken to get the meat."

He knew that this battle was crucial to the outcome of the entire Northern Expedition. If they could quickly break through Baidao Pass, they could advance straight into the southern grasslands. Otherwise, they might be bogged down in the fortified terrain, missing their chance and even putting pressure on the other two armies.

"Your Majesty, I request to be the vanguard and break through the enemy's defenses!" Although the old general Huang Zhong's hair and beard were already white, his voice was as loud as a bell, and his fighting spirit was no less than that of a man in his prime.

"The general will go where he wishes!"

Xu Huang, Zhang He, and other fierce generals also stepped forward to request battle, and the atmosphere in the tent was filled with fighting spirit.

Qin Shou's gaze swept over the generals, and he said in a deep voice, "Good! Since Kebineng has set up his formation, I will go and meet him! Huang Zhong, Xu Huang, Zhang He, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" the three generals roared in response.

"I hereby appoint the three of you as the vanguard, to take turns attacking, probing the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, and searching for any openings! I will personally go to the front lines to beat the drums and cheer on all the generals!"

"According to the order!"

The main force of the Tang army quickly advanced to the south of Baidao Pass. Looking out, the pass was covered with banners, and the figures of Xianbei soldiers appeared and disappeared among the rocks, a chilling atmosphere pervading the air. A great battle was imminent.

The initial attack was a brutal and bloody probing.

Huang Zhong led his troops in the initial assault. The Tang infantry, in tight formation and shields held high, advanced slowly towards the pass like a moving city wall. However, just an arrow's throw into the narrow passage, a dense whistling sound echoed from the cliffs on either side!
Boo hoo hoo-!
Countless arrows rained down like locusts, interspersed with powerful crossbows and rolling logs and stones.

The Tang army's shield formation was instantly dented and shattered, with screams echoing throughout. Huang Zhong brandished his long sword, deflecting several arrows, and roared, ordering his troops to advance faster. However, the narrow terrain severely restricted the deployment of their forces, and every step forward came at a heavy cost.

A fierce attack left hundreds of Tang soldiers dead, but failed to truly shake the Xianbei's defenses.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Huang led his troops to take over the attack. He attempted to approach using a more flexible skirmish formation and the terrain for cover, but the Xianbei, positioned on higher ground, had a wide field of vision, and any movement could not escape their notice.

The arrow rain remained accurate and deadly. The Xianbei cavalry even launched occasional small counter-attacks from within the pass, taking advantage of moments when the Tang army's formation was broken by the terrain to bite off enemy soldiers before quickly retreating. Xu Huang's forces also made little progress, suffering heavy losses of elite troops.

(End of this chapter)