The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 82 The smoke rises

Jinshan, northeastern mountain pass.

Because the terrain of this mountain pass is relatively flat and the mountains on both sides are gently undulating, it is convenient for the army to pass through.

As a result, it became the focus of contention between the two armies.

Even the main camps of both sides were built in front and behind the northeastern mountain pass.

The early morning sun had just shone on the mountains, but it failed to dispel the pervasive atmosphere of solemnity.

A new day, and fierce fighting broke out again around the mountain pass.

The Northern Frontier cavalry, dressed in black leather armor, brandished their long swords and rushed towards the valley and the mountains on both sides like a surging tide.

For a moment, the flashes of swords and the shadows of knives were intertwined, and the shouts, screams, and neighing of horses were intertwined.

The intensity of the Northern Frontier Army's attack is still very fierce.

After being beaten and beaten repeatedly by Xiao Simo, those military leaders had no choice but to work obediently for the Khitans.

But the Naiman people on the other side were in a miserable situation.

Commanding General Keksuewu stood on a hill on horseback, watching the changing situation on the battlefield with an extremely solemn expression on his face.

He was not only worried about the tense situation on the battlefield, but also because he had just heard a terrible news.

Qu Chu led an army of 5,000 but was defeated by the Liao army.

Some defeated soldiers fled back to the Jinshan camp overnight and told Keksuewu the whole process of the battle.

After hearing this, he became so angry that he almost fainted.

After barely calming down, he shouted angrily to the sky, "You bastard, you've wronged me."

Despite all the precautions, he never expected that his reputation would be ruined by a brat.

Before Qu Chu led his troops to the battle, he repeatedly warned him to be careful and not to act rashly.

However, unexpectedly, the enemy only used a simple tactic to lure the enemy deep into their territory, and deliberately killed prisoners to anger the soldiers.

That loser Qu Chulu couldn't even control the situation.

And let the soldiers rush into the valley?
Kexuwu was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

Letting Qu Chu lead the troops to war has become the thing he regrets the most.

What’s even more terrifying is that Qu Chulu’s life or death is still unknown, and it is not clear whether he has escaped or not.

It would have been fine if Qu Chulu had died, but if he was captured by the Liao people, it would definitely be a heavy blow to the morale of the Naiman army.

Therefore, in order to prevent the army from becoming unstable, Kexuwu ordered that the soldiers who had escaped be temporarily detained and not allowed to contact anyone to prevent the news from spreading further.

Then, he brought his personal soldiers to the battlefield.

Personally lead the soldiers to kill the enemy.

"General, the Liao army has withdrawn."

Listening to the soldiers' report, Kexuwu nodded slightly, without any excitement on his face.

Because he knew that this was only a temporary retreat of the Liao people, and they would continue the attack after regrouping their troops.

On the other hand, the Naiman army now has only 10,000 troops left. Although they occupy an advantageous terrain, the strength of both sides will be weakened in the continuous battles.

"Can you hold it?"

Kexuwu stood on the top of the mountain, muttering to himself.

The desolate figure was facing the rising sun, but was slightly hunched, as if his spine was bent by a heavy burden.

The wind blew by whimpering, ruffling his gray hair and revealing the deep fatigue and despair on his face.

He looked with his cloudy eyes at the Naiman warriors who were fighting a bloody battle with the Liao people on the battlefield, and felt a bone-chilling chill spreading throughout his body.

He knew that he could no longer defend Jinshan.

"But even if I die, I will make the Liao people shed blood like a river in Jinshan." Ke Xuewu's eyes suddenly became sharp.

The deep voice said firmly.

He was a veteran general of the Naiman people and would never surrender to the Liao people.

Even though there was no hope of victory, he would still make every effort to deplete the Liao army's strength.

And buy time for Taiyang Khan to mobilize more troops to annihilate all the Liao people who invaded Naiman.

With the determination to die, Kexuwu issued one order after another.

At this moment, a general came rushing in from the camp and said in a very urgent tone, "General, there is news about Prince Quchuli."

When Kexuwu heard this, he turned around and said angrily, gritting his teeth, "Where is the prince?"

Quchulu was the most outstanding son of Taiyang Khan, and Kokseiwu originally had some hope for him.

However, this battle completely exposed Qu Chuli's incompetent nature.

But Kexuwu had even less good feelings towards him.

I just hope he won’t be caught by the Liao people.

But unfortunately, what you fear will come true.

"The scouts just reported that some of the soldiers who followed Prince Quchu out to battle have returned."

"They brought news that Prince Quchu has been captured by the Liao army," said the deputy general.

Upon hearing this, Kexuwu closed his eyes with a look of despair.

This is simply the worst news.

Qu Chulu should have committed suicide to apologize instead of being humiliated as a captive by the Liao people.

Once this news leaked, it would be a fatal blow to the morale of the entire Naiman army.

"Place those soldiers who escaped back in separate places and don't let the news leak out." Kexuewu said in a deep voice.

But the deputy general said with an embarrassed look: "I'm afraid it can't be concealed."

"There are about one or two thousand soldiers who escaped back this time. Once they enter the main camp, the news will definitely spread."

When Keksuewu heard this, his expression changed drastically. He suddenly opened his eyes wide, stared at the deputy general, and said, "Are you saying that there are one or two thousand soldiers returning?"

The deputy general nodded: "This is what the scouts reported."

"not good."

Kexuewu suddenly shouted: "Those are Liao people pretending to be them. Stop them quickly."

Hearing this, everyone around looked confused.

But Kexuwu had no time to explain. He wanted to mobilize troops to resist, but found that most of his troops were deployed in the front battlefield with Xiao Simo's army.

Facing the enemy coming from behind, he suddenly felt powerless.

The reason why Keksuewu concluded that they were Liao troops in disguise was based on his understanding of nomadic soldiers.

The armies of nomadic peoples are basically the product of the tribal alliance system. The soldiers have no concept of the country, only their own tribe and their own small family.

Once the battle is lost, the soldiers will scatter.

If the location is close to the main camp, the soldiers may return to the camp.

But in a situation like the current one, the first choice of the defeated Naiman soldiers must be to escape back to their own tribe.

Migrate to a safer place with your tribe and loved ones.

Therefore, if a small number of soldiers escaped back to the camp, Kexu would believe it.

But one or two thousand people came back at once, especially when the main general Qu Chulu had been captured and there was no main general to restrain him.

But Kexuwu immediately realized that there was something wrong.

It's clearly the enemy in disguise.

At the same time, Li Xiao led more than 2,000 soldiers and changed into Naiman costumes.

His clothes were covered in blood and stains, as if he had just experienced a fierce battle.

Their faces were also covered with blood and dirt, obscuring the faces of the soldiers. From a distance, it was impossible to tell whether they were Han or Naimans.

More than 2,000 cavalrymen quietly approached the Jinshan camp.

Although we met two scouts on the way, we fooled them both.

Only when the outline of the Naiman camp was visible before their eyes did the Naiman people finally strengthen the defense of the camp under the order of Keksuewu.

Moreover, it was Kexuwu who returned to the camp and personally mobilized troops to defend the camp to the death.

However, at this time, most of the Naiman troops had gone to the mountains, and Kexuwu could only mobilize a few troops.

"Has it been discovered?"

Li Xiao rode his horse towards the camp and saw from afar that chaos had begun to break out inside and the wooden gate of the camp was slowly closing.

Soldiers mounted their horses and prepared for battle.

Li Xiao knew that the identities of himself and others had been exposed.

But it doesn’t matter. He himself didn’t expect that he could sneak into the Naiman camp just by wearing a Naiman skin.

Not all Naiman generals are fools.

"Light the signal smoke." Li Xiao ordered.

Then, he looked at the more than 2,000 cavalrymen behind him and shouted loudly: "The Naiman camp is empty. It is time for us to make a contribution."

"Kill one enemy and you'll be rewarded with two sheep and be freed from slavery."

"kill!"

Following Li Xiao's order, more than 2,000 cavalrymen suddenly let out loud shouts.

They rushed towards the camp like ghosts howling.

The war horses roared, the earth was shaking, clouds of dust rose, and the terrifying cavalry surged forward like huge waves.

In the camp, every Naiman soldier unconsciously showed a look of tension and horror on his face under the pressure of this powerful momentum.

The military advantage is not on their side.

After all, when Kokseuwu realized that something was wrong, it was already too late, and there was no time to mobilize more troops to defend the camp.

They could only watch helplessly as the fence of the camp, like a fragile film, was easily pierced by the spears of Li Xiao's army.

"Kill, stop them."

Kexuwu's face was ferocious, his eyes were bloodshot, he was holding a scimitar and roaring angrily, his gray hair was disheveled, and he led his men to charge like a madman.

Li Xiao, wearing heavy armor, rushed into the camp, wielding a lance in his hand, and easily stabbed two Naiman soldiers through.

Then, he looked at Keksuewu who was protected by many Naiman soldiers.

Regardless of his age or his attire, Li Xiao could be sure that this was a big fish.

"Drive~"

Waving the lance in his hand, he led his men to charge towards Keksuewu without hesitation.

West of Jinshan, on a mountain peak.

Two Khitan soldiers were sitting on the ground, looking at the scenery boredly.

Although it’s a good thing that we don’t have to fight the Naimans, it’s really cold to stay on the top of the mountain all day.

Fortunately, their days of suffering are about to end.

"what is that?"

"Wolf smoke."

"It's the smoke of war. The smoke of war is rising."

The two soldiers looked towards the mountains in the east and could vaguely see a billowing smoke rising into the sky.

They didn't dare to neglect it and turned around and walked down the mountain: "Hurry."

"Return and report to the king."

(End of this chapter)