The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 423 The alarm bells for national subjugation are ringing high; the decisive battle at Wild Fox Ridge.
In the Jin army camp in Fuzhou, the cold wind swirled sand and dust, rustling as it swept past the curtains of the commander's tent.

Inside the tent, the imperial envoy stood in the center, holding the imperial edict, while the Jin army generals on both sides stood with their hands at their sides, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Duji Sizhong stood in the crowd, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

He had just returned from the defeat at Wusha Fortress, his armor still stained with dust and blood, and now he had to face a change of power.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Duji Sizhong, the commander-in-chief of the northern front, has suffered defeats and lost territory. He is hereby relieved of his post as Grand Marshal."

"Wanyan Chengyu is hereby appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Northern Front, commanding all troops on the Northern Front, and shall assume his duties immediately."

"Hu Shahu is appointed as Deputy Marshal, stationed in Xijing to safeguard the rear supply lines. So be it!"

The imperial envoy's voice echoed clearly in the tent, each word piercing Dujisi's heart like a needle.

Wanyan Chengyu stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the imperial decree: "Your subject Wanyan Chengyu thanks Your Majesty for your great favor and will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust."

Duji Sizhong clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

He is not willing!

The defeat at Wushabao was clearly a result of the Ming army's diversionary tactic. He hadn't even had a chance to demonstrate his full abilities before losing in a confused and disorganized manner, and now he has even lost his position as Grand Marshal.

A strong urge for revenge surged into his mind, but the imperial edict from Zhongdu had already been issued, so he could only accept it and nod helplessly: "Your subject, Duji Sizhong, obeys the edict."

But then he turned to look at Wanyan Chengyu, his voice tinged with excitement: "Marshal Wanyan, I have something to say."

"Although the Ming army has captured Wusha Fortress, our Great Jin is powerful. As long as we resist step by step and wait for the Ming army to get far away from their rear, we can send cavalry to cut off their retreat and drag the war into a protracted battle. This will surely force the Ming army to retreat on its own initiative..."

Upon hearing Duji Sizhong's suggestion, Wanyan Chengyu wore a perfunctory smile and nodded, saying, "Marshal Duji is absolutely right. This plan makes a lot of sense. I will consider it carefully."

But in his heart he was full of disdain. If Duji Sizhong was really that capable, how could he have been so easily outmaneuvered by the Ming army?
If we continue to resist step by step and fight a protracted war, wouldn't that give the Ming army the opportunity to defeat us one by one?
Simply stupid!
After Duji Sizhong finished speaking, Wanyan Chengyu changed the subject and softened his tone: "Marshal Duji, His Majesty also said that although you made a mistake, you also fell into the Ming army's trap and are willing to give you a chance to redeem yourself through meritorious service."

"The Imperial Envoy is about to return to Zhongdu. Why don't you go back with him and await His Majesty's further arrangements? There will always be opportunities to go to the battlefield again in the future."

Duji Sizhong was stunned; he hadn't expected Wanyan Chengyu to "drive" him away so quickly.

Seeing the unyielding look in Wanyan Chengyu's eyes, he knew there was no point in staying any longer, so he could only grit his teeth and nod: "Alright, this commander... obeys His Majesty's order."

After Duji Sizhong and the imperial envoy left, Wanyan Chengyu turned around, walked to the commander's seat, and slowly sat down.

The generals inside the tent bowed and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Marshal!"

He raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up, his gaze sweeping across the tent. Feeling the power of having 300,000 troops under his control, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

This feeling of having absolute power is simply wonderful.

He recalled Duji Sizhong's suggestion earlier, shook his head dismissively, and thought to himself, "Duji Sizhong is really foolish."

"They've already lost and don't even reflect on their defeat, yet they dare to talk about putting up a fight?"

Then, he went to the map, looked at all the generals, and said in a deep voice: "In the Battle of Wushabao, Marshal Duji's biggest mistake was the dispersal of his troops."

"The Ming army consisted entirely of cavalry, which were highly mobile and capable of attacking any military fortress on the border trench defense line in a very short time."

"Our mobility is too poor. We are scattered in various military forts and cannot support each other. We will be defeated one by one."

"Therefore, I have decided to gather all our forces together and form a single fist."

His finger landed on a mark on the map: Wild Fox Ridge.

"The terrain here is treacherous, with cliffs on both sides and only one passage in the middle, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"Moreover, this is a key passage from the southern desert to Zhongdu. After passing Yefuling, there is Juyong Pass, and after Juyong Pass is Hebei, which is Zhongdu."

"If the Ming army wanted to advance south, they had to pass through Yehuling."

"Does the Marshal mean... abandon the border trench defense line?" A general frowned, somewhat surprised.

"That's right!"

Wanyan Chengyu nodded: "The Ming army has already breached Wusha Fort and entered the border trench defense line, which is now practically useless."

"Staying in defense of each fortified position will only waste our manpower."

"Pass down the order to withdraw the troops from Changzhou, Huanzhou, and Wuyue Camp. All forces should be concentrated at Yehuling and defend it to the death."

"No, Marshal!"

A general rushed forward and said urgently, "The Wuyue Camp has a large stockpile of military rations, and Huanzhou has our military horse pastures. If we abandon them, what will happen to our food and horse supplies?"

"The provisions can be transported from Xijing, and the warhorses will be temporarily drawn from various armies." Wanyan Chengyu waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"The most important thing right now is to concentrate our forces. If we can't even hold Wild Fox Ridge, then having more food and warhorses will be useless."

Other generals wanted to persuade him further, but Wanyan Chengyu forcefully stopped them.

Thus, the 600-mile-long border defense line, which the Jin Dynasty had built over decades and consumed countless manpower and resources, was completely abandoned by Wanyan Chengyu after just one battle, the Battle of Wushabao.

Before the order could be relayed, a personal guard rushed into the tent, his face pale: "Marshal, something terrible has happened."

"Wuyue Camp... Wuyue Camp has fallen. General Wanyan Lie has been killed in battle. The Ming army has occupied Wuyue Camp."

The tent fell into a deathly silence, the generals' faces filled with surprise and fear.

After a long while, someone murmured, "Even Wusha Fortress has fallen, and Wuyue Camp... it's indeed difficult to hold out..."

The atmosphere was extremely tense. Wanyan Chengyu's expression also turned serious, but he quickly regained his composure.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the assembled generals, and said in a deep voice, "You have all seen it."

"The events at Wuyue Camp prove that my decision was correct."

“Continuing to garrison the various military forts will only allow the Ming army to defeat them one by one. Only by withdrawing all troops and concentrating them at Yehuling, forming a single force, can we contend with the Ming army.”

The generals looked at each other, then bowed and said, "The Marshal is wise; we will obey your orders."

Wanyan Chengyu nodded in satisfaction, his finger landing heavily on the marker at Yehuling, the battlefield where he would fight the Ming army.

He wanted to achieve a brilliant victory here and severely thwart the Ming army's offensive.

Let this place become the graveyard of the Ming army.

Soon, the generals left their command tents and hurried back to their own camps. While arranging for their men to prepare for battle, they also sent messengers on horseback to order the soldiers stationed at the various military forts to withdraw immediately and assemble at Yehuling.

Wanyan Chengyu's order to "concentrate forces for a decisive battle at Yehuling" was like a boulder that struck everyone's heart. Some agreed, some had doubts, but no one dared to disobey.

Khitan general Shi Mo Anming walked at the back of the column, his face as solemn as the sky outside the tent.

He was tall and wore a gray cloth armor in the style of the Jin Dynasty, but the edges of the armor were embroidered with cloud patterns unique to the Khitan people.

This was a thought he held as a Khitan, and also a silent resistance against the rule of the Jin Dynasty.

Back in his tent, Shi Mo Anming waved away the irrelevant soldiers, leaving only two trusted men. The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense.

"General, has Wanyan Chengyu gone mad? He actually wants to abandon the entire Jiehao." A trusted aide couldn't help but ask, his tone full of disbelief.

"It's one thing to lose the Wuyue Camp, but Huanzhou is the most important military horse farm of the Jin Kingdom, with no less than 100,000 warhorses raised there. Are we just going to hand it over to the Ming army like this?"

Shi Mo Anming sat at his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "He's not crazy, he's stupid."

"The defeat at Wusha Fort has proven that the Ming army is highly mobile and has strong combat power, but he just can't see the key to the problem. Instead, he thinks that dispersing troops is a mistake."

"Didn't he consider that if we abandoned Huanzhou, we wouldn't even have enough warhorses to supply us? Even if we managed to gather at Yefuling, what would we use to fight the Ming cavalry?"

These words plunged the tent into silence.

Shi Mo Anming looked at his two trusted confidants and slowly said, "However, even if the Jin people did something stupid that led to the annihilation of their entire army, what does that have to do with us Khitans?"

"When the Jin dynasty destroyed the Liao dynasty, we Khitans became subjects, settled on the northwestern border as 'Jiu soldiers,' farming and fighting, guarding this miserable defensive line. But what did we get in return?"

“It’s the Jurchens’ discrimination, the withholding of our rations, and the endless forced labor. Our people have had enough of the Jurchens’ bullying. Now, our chance has come.”

The two trusted confidants exchanged a glance, a sudden realization flashing in their eyes—the general had turned to rebellion.

"Does the general mean... to surrender to the Ming?"

Another trusted aide lowered his voice, his tone a mixture of excitement and hesitation, "But can the Ming army really defeat the Jin? What if..."

"Nothing unexpected."

Shi Mo Anming interrupted him, his tone firm: "You have all seen how fierce the Ming army's attack on Wushabao and Wuyueying has been."

"Wanyan Chengyu is incompetent and foolish. He even gave up a strategic location like Huanzhou. It's like cutting off his own arm. I even suspect that he is a spy sent by the Ming Dynasty. He is more like an internal traitor than us Khitans."

"The Jin Kingdom is on its last legs. If we continue to follow them down this path, we will only face certain death."

He stood up, walked to the edge of the tent, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked in the direction of the Ming army's attack, a hint of longing flashing in his eyes.

"I heard that the Empress of the Ming Dynasty was also a Khitan, a descendant of Yelü Dashi who fled to the Western Regions."

"Moreover, there are many Khitan generals in the Ming army. We Khitans are an important force in the Ming Dynasty, not the 'foreigners' in the eyes of the Jin Dynasty."

"As true Khitans, if we surrender to the Ming Dynasty with merits, we will surely be given important positions. It's much better than suffering in the Jin Dynasty."

The two trusted confidants were intrigued and quickly asked, "General, what should we do? Should we just lead our men and surrender to the Ming army?"

"No."

Shi Mo Anming shook his head, his tone steady: "Having people is useless. The Ming Dynasty values ​​military merit. If you want to get promoted and make money, you have to bring merit with you."

"Otherwise, even if they surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, they could only become ordinary generals and would never amount to anything."

He returned to his desk, took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, and unfolded it to reveal a map of the Jin army's troop deployment that he had drawn privately.

Having been stationed on the front line for many years, he had long since learned the strength, supplies, and deployment of each military fortress.

However, with Wanyan Chengyu withdrawing his army, all of this was useless.

But it doesn't matter, he still has a topographical map of Wild Fox Ridge.

Shi Mo'an pointed to Yehu Ridge on the map and said to his confidant, "You two set off immediately and secretly go to Wusha Fort to contact the Ming army and give this troop deployment map to the Ming Emperor. Tell the Ming army all of Wanyan Chengyu's plans, the location of each military fort, and the number of garrison troops."

"Remember, you must emphasize that I, Shi Mo Anming, am willing to act as an inside agent to help the Ming Dynasty take Yefuling, and even Juyongguan in the future."

"General, you are wise." The two trusted men said in unison, taking the map and carefully putting it in their pockets.

Shi Mo Anming looked at them, his eyes sharpening: "This matter is of utmost importance, and we must not let even the slightest word of it leak out."

"If we succeed, we will not only be able to get rid of the Jin Dynasty's bullying, but also have a bright future in the Ming Dynasty."

His words were full of ambition, and he even began to fantasize about what kind of reward the Ming emperor would give him if he could help the Ming Dynasty take Zhongdu and overthrow the Jin Dynasty.
Inside the marshal's mansion in Datong Prefecture, Xijing, Deputy Marshal Hu Shahu, dressed in a dark red brocade robe, leaned back in a chair covered with fox fur, embracing a beautiful woman and groping her, his face full of smug satisfaction.

He had only recently been transferred from the south to Xijing, where he had previously been stationed on the Song-Jin border and had distinguished himself in battle.

Six years ago, during the Song army's Kai Xi Northern Expedition, it was he who led the army to conquer Huaiyin and Chuzhou, defeating the Song army so badly that even Wanyan Yongji looked at him with new respect.

After the sudden death of the late emperor, he sought refuge with Wanyan Yongji, whom no one trusted. His official position rose higher and higher, and now he is in charge of the western capital, serving as the deputy marshal and guarding the western gateway of the Jin Kingdom.

"Although the Ming army is formidable, they are ultimately of nomadic origin and know nothing about military strategy and tactics."

Hu Shahu laughed at his deputy general, his tone full of disdain: "Back in the day, the Song army was well-equipped, but wasn't it still utterly defeated by me?"

"To deal with the Ming army now, we only need to use the same tactics we used against the Song Dynasty: defend the city and cut off the supply lines. We are guaranteed to drive the Ming army back to their homeland just like we did against the Song Dynasty."

"At that time, I will be a minister who restores the Jin Dynasty, and I will enjoy endless wealth and honor."

The lieutenant quickly echoed, "The Marshal is wise. With you here, Xijing is as solid as a rock, and the Ming army will never dare to invade."

Hu Shahu was overjoyed and was about to express his lofty aspirations when a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the mansion.

A bodyguard stumbled in: "Marshal, something terrible has happened! The garrison at Junzijin has sent an urgent report that the Ming army... the Ming army has already crossed the Yellow River."

"They're all wearing blue flags and blue armor; they look like the 7th Division of the Ming Army."

"What?" Hu Shahu suddenly stood up from his seat.

He strode up to his personal guard, grabbed the man by the collar, and said fiercely, "Say it again, the Ming army crossed the Yellow River? Are the garrison at Junzijin just sitting around doing nothing? Why didn't they stop them?"

The guards were trembling with fear and hurriedly explained, "The defenders...the defenders did their best, but the Ming army came too fast and there were too many of them. The defenders simply couldn't hold them off."

"They also said they had sent people to Jingzhou to ask for help, but... but the Jingzhou army hasn't made a move!"

"Where is the Jingzhou Army?"

Hu Shahu roared, "Jingzhou is closest to Junzijin, why aren't they coming to our aid? Are they just going to watch the Ming army cross the river?"

"No, Marshal."

The deputy general beside him seemed to realize something and quickly said, "General Wanyan Chengyu has already ordered all the garrison troops in Jiehao to gather at Yehuling to prepare for a decisive battle with the main force of the Ming army, including the Jingzhou army."

"There are only a small number of garrison troops left in Jingzhou now, and I'm afraid they can't spare any men to support Junzijin."

Upon hearing this, Hu Shahu turned ashen with anger and kicked over the table next to him.

"Wanyan Chengyu is an idiot."

"Has he gone mad? He needs troops at Yefuling, but not at Xijing? Jingzhou is the barrier of the Yellow River. If he transfers the main force away, who will stop the Ming army when they come?"

The deputy general cautiously said, "Perhaps, perhaps Commander Duji believes that the 20,000 troops stationed in Xijing are sufficient to defend against Ming troops from other directions."

"So, so..."

Hu Shahu angrily retorted, "So what? Who does he think he is?"

"What a stupid pig! He withdrew the Jingzhou army without even saying hello to me. He simply doesn't respect me at all."

"They're even trying to kill my Xijing!"

He stood there, his chest heaving violently. His earlier smugness had vanished, replaced by a deep sense of panic.

According to previous intelligence, the Ming army's 7th Division had been stationed in Lingzhou, which is the Hetao region. Their target when they crossed the Yellow River this time could not be a small place, but rather Datong Prefecture, the capital of the Western Capital.

"The Ming army is planning a pincer attack."

Hu Shahu muttered to himself, cold sweat beading on his forehead; "The Ming army on the northern front is holding back at the border trench, while the Seventh Division on the western front is crossing the Yellow River eastward, aiming for Datong, to join forces with the main force in southern Mongolia and form an encirclement."

He dared not delay any longer and immediately ordered his deputy: "Quickly, convey my order that all the garrison troops in Datong Prefecture assemble immediately, strengthen the city's defenses, and transport all the grain and fodder outside the city into the city."

"In addition, send a messenger on horseback to Zhongdu to request reinforcements. Tell His Majesty that the Ming army's Seventh Division has crossed the Yellow River and Xijing is in imminent danger. Request that troops be sent to support it immediately."

The lieutenant dared not delay and immediately accepted the order and left.

Inside the Marshal's Mansion, Hu Shahu walked to the map, his finger hovering between Junzijin and Datong Prefecture, his expression grave.

He originally thought that with his own abilities and the defenses of Xijing, he would be able to hold the western front. However, Wanyan Chengyu's transfer order rendered the western front defenses virtually non-existent.

"If things truly become impossible, I, the commander, will have no choice but to preserve my own life..."

Five days of anxious waiting made the air in Datong Prefecture seem to freeze.

In the days that followed, the soldiers on the city wall took turns on duty day and night, their eyes bloodshot, staring intently at the distant horizon, fearing that the Ming army might appear at any moment.

On the fifth day, just past noon, a sudden, urgent bugle call pierced the sky, its sharp, piercing sound instantly breaking the deathly silence of Datong Prefecture.

"The Ming army is coming! The Ming army is coming!" the sentry on the city wall roared, pointing to the open field to the northwest.

The garrison rushed to the battlements and looked in the direction he pointed. They were instantly shocked by the sight before them and gasped in horror.

At the edge of the wilderness, a blue wave was surging toward Datong Prefecture.

That was the army of the Seventh Division of the Ming Dynasty. Tens of thousands of soldiers were dressed in uniform blue cloth armor, like a blue ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Countless blue sun and moon battle flags fluttered in the ranks, as if they wanted to encompass the entire world within them.

The wind howled, sand and dust filled the sky, and the neighing of warhorses, the clanging of armor, and the sound of footsteps mingled together to form a muffled rumble that made the city walls beneath their feet tremble slightly.

"Boom boom boom~"

"This...this is the army of the Ming Dynasty?" A young garrison soldier gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles turning white, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

He had been stationed in Datong Prefecture since he joined the army. The area had not experienced war for decades, and he thought he could live a peaceful life. However, he did not expect to face such a terrifying situation right away.

The veteran beside him had a grave expression, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times: "I heard that the brothers in Wusha Fort were almost completely wiped out by an army like this..."

"The Ming army's cannons could blast holes in the city walls, and their crossbows could penetrate three layers of armor."

"But...but isn't the Seventh Town newly built? How can it be so powerful?" someone asked in a low voice.

"So what if it's newly built?"

The veteran gave a wry smile: "The Ming army's soldiers are all trained in real combat, and with their superior equipment, even in Xinzhen, they are far superior to us who haven't fought in years."

The atmosphere on the city wall instantly became oppressive, and many soldiers' legs trembled slightly, their eyes filled with fear.

"What's the panic!"

A furious shout broke the silence. Hu Shahu, clad in heavy armor, hurriedly walked up the city wall, followed by several lieutenants.

He strode to the battlements, looked at the Ming army formation outside the city, his face so gloomy it could drip water, but he still tried to remain calm and shouted.

"They're just some barbarians from the northern frontier. Back then, I defeated hundreds of thousands of Song troops. What are these Ming soldiers compared to them?"

"Datong Prefecture has tall and sturdy city walls and ample food supplies. As long as we hold the city, we will be able to wipe them out once reinforcements arrive."

"Anyone who dares to retreat in the face of battle will be executed without mercy."

His words had little effect on encouraging the soldiers; they simply kept their heads down, gripped their weapons tightly, and the fear in their eyes remained undiminished.

Outside the city, beneath the Sun and Moon battle banner, Bali'ala, the commander of the Seventh Garrison of the Ming Dynasty, reined in his warhorse and brought it to a steady stop at the front of the column.

He wore blue cloth armor, with a curved sword inlaid with a tiger's head hanging at his waist. His face was resolute, his eyes were sharp as an eagle, and he exuded a fierce aura.

Holding the telescope, Bali'ala gazed at the towering city walls of Datong Prefecture in the distance, a surge of indescribable pride welling up within him.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "His Majesty entrusted the Seventh Garrison to me in the hope that I could make meritorious contributions and prove that the Seventh Garrison is no less than any other garrison."

"Today is our time to prove ourselves."

The guards quickly echoed, "The commander is brilliant. With the capture of Datong Prefecture, the Seventh Division will surely become famous throughout the world."

Bali Ala nodded, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers under his command, and his voice suddenly rose: "Pass on my order, the army shall immediately surround Datong Prefecture, and not a single person shall be allowed to escape."

"Understood!" the soldiers responded in unison, their voices booming.

At the same time, thousands of cavalrymen scattered and galloped towards the villages and towns surrounding Datong Prefecture.

Head straight to the local landowners' estates, arrest those landowners who usually oppressed the people, confiscate their land and property, and most importantly, use all of the landowners' grain to replenish the army's supplies.

The villagers, hiding in their houses, watched this scene with a mixture of fear and excitement. They had had enough of the landlords' exploitation, and now that the Ming army had arrived, perhaps they could finally live a better life.

Meanwhile, another group of Ming soldiers began cutting down trees in the surrounding area to build enough siege equipment.

Five days later, the Shenji Battalion arrived.

Each carriage carried a heavy, black cannon, and each carriage required six oxen and horses to pull it.

The cannons were all aimed at the tall city wall, their dark muzzles seemingly capable of swallowing everything, sending chills down the spines of the Jin soldiers on the wall.

Hu Shahu stood on the city wall, looking at the heavy cannons, and his heart sank.

His worst fears came true. The Ming army not only had elite infantry and cavalry, but also such formidable artillery.

Meanwhile, Bali'ala, riding on his warhorse, looked at the panicked Jin army on the city wall and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

A cold, stern voice shouted, "Fire!!!"

(End of this chapter)