A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 589 Erythrodac
The county seat of Xicheng in Fenzhou came into view.

Red flags fly high atop the city walls.

The fact that Fenzhou City is still in the hands of the Tang army is good news; otherwise, Li Yi would have no base of operations.

Military Advisor Zhang Hao rode his horse toward the city, bringing the good news that the royal army's reinforcements had arrived.

A commotion broke out on the city wall, which then turned into deafening cheers.

Ren Zhi, the Sima of Fenzhou, stroked the city wall, peeked out, and recognized Zhang Hao below the city. Zhang Hao was Li Sikong's maternal cousin, and they had met and drunk together not long ago when he passed through here on his way south.

"As expected, it is Li Sikong who has arrived."

"Reinforcements have arrived! The imperial reinforcements have arrived!"

"Go and report to Governor Xiao immediately."

Xiao Yi, the governor of Fenzhou, was scratching his head in his governor's mansion. Last time, when Jieli besieged Yanmen, although some cavalrymen reached Taiyuan, fortunately they did not appear in Fenzhou.

This time, however, when Jieli besieged Yanmen, his vanguard had already reached Jinzhou, and Fenzhou, which was only two hundred li away from Taiyuan, could not escape the attack.

When he took office as the prefect of Fenzhou in the third year of the Wude era, Fenzhou had 59,400 households and a population of 320,000. After taking office, he diverted the Wen River southward into Fenzhou, irrigating countless fertile fields on both banks, and his efforts in promoting agriculture and sericulture were considered quite successful.

Work for another year,
He might get a good evaluation and be promoted.

However, the invasion of the Turks caused countless people in Fenzhou to be displaced. The autumn harvest was just around the corner, but now the farmland had become pastures for the Turks to trample and graze their horses at will.

"Li Sikong is back? That's wonderful! Come with me to greet him."

Born into the Lanling Xiao clan, he was the cousin of Xiao Yu, the Right Minister of the court. He was good at civil administration, but not at warfare. Faced with the overwhelming Turkic cavalry, he could only defend the city.

Hurry and ride out of the city to greet them.

When the governor, who came from a prestigious family, saw Li Yi outside the city gate, his eyes reddened, and he exclaimed somewhat uncomfortably, "The Minister of Works has arrived! Fenzhou is safe!"

Several thousand Turkic light cavalrymen burned and slaughtered along the east bank of the Fen River, their arrogance boundless. I, your humble servant, am incompetent and unable to repel the enemy.

Li Yi reined in his horse and stopped beneath the walls of Fenzhou.
Returning to the place where he once fought, he was filled with emotion. In the second year of Wude, he followed Li Zhongwen north to resist the invasion of Song Jingang. However, on the way, Li Zhongwen was defeated at Queshu Valley and his entire army was wiped out, leaving only Li Yi's rear guard.

Li Yi resolutely headed north and eventually took up the mantle in Fenzhou, winning three battles to defend Haozhou, one victory after another.

Haozhou is now renamed Fenzhou.
The governor was changed from Liu Zhan to Xiao Yi.
Yet Li Yi still felt so familiar and fond of the city walls, gate towers, and barbicans.

He dismounted.
The armor clanged and clashed.

This familiar city, this familiar battlefield
He's back again.

This time, however, the opponents were the Turks.

When Liu Wuzhou was defending Haozhou, there were also Turks, but at that time the Turks were only a supporting player. In every major battle, the Turks ran faster than rabbits.

Li Yi even formed a sworn brotherhood with Tuli Khan here.

"Please, Minister Sikong, enter the city!"

Li Yi entered the city and climbed the city gate tower.
The autumn wind billowed his cloak, and his gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept across the vast plains beyond the city.
In the distance lies the winding Fen River.

"Prefect Xiao, please provide the latest enemy situation report."

The voice was icy and unquestionable.

Xiao Yi felt much more at ease with this attitude.

“Map, Ren Sima.”

Ren Zhi, the Sima of Fenzhou, a veteran of the Taiyuan rebel army and a participant in the three defenses of Haozhou, had risen from the rank of Bingcao to Sima in recent years. He immediately presented a sheepskin map and then, pointing to it, reported the military situation: "Reporting to the Minister of Works, there are approximately three thousand Turkic cavalry, mainly Sogdians and other non-Turkic peoples. Their commander is Dagan, a close attendant of the Khan of the Three Kingdoms, who is extremely arrogant. They are traveling down the Fen River, burning, killing, and looting along the way."

They must have been acting on Jieli's orders to seize artisans, able-bodied men, and women, plunder money, and seize grain.

Yilidagan is currently stationed at a manor in Liulin Ferry, thirty li southeast of Fenzhou City.

Li Yi was very familiar with the area around Fenzhou, and he could remember where Liulin Ferry was even without a map.

Willow Grove Ferry, Wild Fox Beach.

The river makes a sharp bend there; the eastern bank has wide mudflats with reeds so deep they can't reach a person, while the western side has rolling hills shaped like a pocket.

"Yilidagan certainly knows how to choose a location."
That was a perfect ambush spot, a natural trap. He walked right into it, practically choosing his own grave.

Li Yi tapped his finger lightly on the map.

"Three thousand barbarian foes who have gathered grain are just the right amount to use as a sacrifice for the flag!"

The generals were invigorated, their eyes fixed intently on Liulin Ferry on the map.

Cheng Yaojin stepped forward first.
"Master, a mere three thousand barbarian foes, let me, Old Cheng, take charge. Thirty li, it won't take long, perfect for a night raid."

Yuchi Gong was a step too late, but he quickly followed up with a shout, "Let me go! Give me a thousand cavalry, and I'll bring back Yilida's head for Sikong!"

Li Yi smiled.
"You don't need to fight. Since you all want to go, then go together."

"Cheng Yaojin".

"Your subordinate is here." Old Cheng strode forward, his armor clattering.

"I order you to lead 3,000 infantrymen from Fenzhou to launch a night raid on the Yilidagan camp at Liulin Ferry. Your mission is to feign defeat, lure the enemy out of the manor camp, and then into Yehutan. Remember to act convincingly and don't get carried away."

"This subordinate obeys the order." Although Cheng Yaojin was somewhat disappointed that he had been given the task of luring the enemy, he still readily agreed.

"Yuchi Gong".

"Your subordinate is here," Old Hei replied in a booming voice.

"You will lead eight hundred cavalrymen to lie in ambush behind the earthen mound at Yehutan. Once Lao Cheng lures the enemy in, you will lead your troops out to attack and scatter them."

"Shoot down Yilida's head and cut off his flag!"

"promise!"

Yuchi Gong was already excited, and his two fists, each the size of a sand bowl, collided, making a loud banging sound.

"Brother Wang, don't forget me! This battle cannot be fought without me!" the young Prince of Huaiyang hurriedly called out.

I will never forget you.
The Prince of Huaiyang led eight hundred light cavalry, lying in ambush in the reeds on the east side. Waiting for the enemy to become disoriented, he launched a full-scale attack, flanking and encircling them from the rear, sealing off their escape route and ensuring not a single horseman could escape.

We must annihilate these three thousand scumbags!

"Order!"

Li Daoying responded loudly to the order, his eyes burning with a desire for victory.

"Ren Zhi, Guo Jiechou, and Zhang Hao, each of you will lead five hundred infantrymen to guard the outer perimeter and provide scout cover. If the enemy is routed, you will set up a net to intercept them from the outside."

"promise!"

Li Yi's gaze swept over the generals.
"Gentlemen, this is the first battle of our Hedong Campaign's counterattack. We are only allowed to win, not lose. Not only must we win, but we must win beautifully and decisively."

We must let Jieli know,

My Great Tang Dynasty is not without men.
Hedong belongs to the Tang Dynasty, not some pasture they can come and go as they please!

"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"

The generals roared in unison, "May the Tang Dynasty be victorious!" Their killing intent soared to the sky, and their fighting spirit burned brightly.

Facing three thousand miscellaneous Hu tribesmen raiding the grasslands, Li Yi still mobilized more than six thousand infantry and cavalry, twice the number of the enemy, and even devised a set of combo tactics, showing that he did not underestimate the enemy.

Governor Xiao hurriedly set up a fire and cooked a meal, making a special treat for the soldiers on the expedition.

As Old Cheng sipped his mutton soup and ate his steamed buns, he said to his personal guards, "A mere few thousand Su Te and other miscellaneous barbarians, Wu Yi, this is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

Actually, if you give me, Old Cheng, a thousand cavalry, I, Old Cheng, can wipe out these rabble of barbarians all by myself.”

The Mid-Autumn Festival had just passed, but the lingering heat of late summer was still intense. After a hearty meal, the more than six thousand soldiers rested and waited until nightfall before setting out. By then, the temperature had dropped, and it was much cooler.

The cover of night is still their best disguise.

Li Yi stood atop the city wall, watching them depart. Men gagged, horses hoofs tethered, the army marched forward in silence.

This night raid and ambush,
Li Yi did not accompany them.

He is the head coach; he can simply stay in Fenzhou and oversee things.

Thirty miles at night,
The Tang army advanced cautiously.

Around midnight, they arrived near Liulin Ferry on the east bank of the Fen River.

Cheng Yaojin ordered his three thousand infantrymen to rest.

After resting, they began to don their armor.

A scout troop returned, reporting that "the wolf cubs' camp is poorly defended."

Cheng Yaojin was not surprised to hear the result. Their southward advance had been unstoppable, and they had encountered almost no decent resistance, so they were naturally prone to underestimating their enemy and becoming arrogant.

"Proceed according to plan," Cheng Yaojin instructed.

"Duke Su, the barbarian tribes are underestimating us and unprepared. Our three thousand brothers can simply charge in and wipe them out. Why bother with this troublesome feigned defeat, luring them to Wild Fox Beach and giving Yuchi and his men credit?"

"That's right, we should earn the credit ourselves."

A group of officers and soldiers were also bold, all wanting to claim all the military merits of the three thousand mixed-race soldiers for themselves.

Cheng Yaojin patted his belly and said, "We'll fight however the Commander-in-Chief arranges. Do you intend to disobey orders on the battlefield?"

Although he felt he could wipe out these barbarian tribes, he still respected Li Yi.

Everything is ready.
Cheng Yaojin brandished his spear and led three thousand infantrymen straight to the manor.

The manors occupied by the Turks were small, not fortified villages, without high walls or deep moats.

There were no arrow towers or watchtowers either.

Yilidagan lived in the manor with his five hundred loyal followers, where a lot of looted money was piled up.

More miscellaneous troops and soldiers camped around the village.

Tents were pitched haphazardly, piled up here and there, and everywhere were the strong men, young women, cattle, sheep, mules, horses, pigs, grain, cloth, and other things they had looted.

They go out to plunder during the day and return here at night.

After dark, they barbecued meat, drank alcohol, and played with women.

They raged on until very late before finally falling into a deep sleep. They would probably have to loot here for a few more days before transporting the spoils to the outskirts of Taiyuan City, and then come out to loot again.

midnight.

Silent night,

It was suddenly disrupted by an attack from the Tang army.

Cheng Yaojin commanded three thousand Tang soldiers to launch a three-sided attack.

They quietly crept into the vicinity of the Turkic camp.

Then they stormed in, shouting and setting fires.

In particular, the Shenji Battalion soldiers that Li Yi sent to Lao Cheng's army ignited the Shenji Thunder, and some of them even shot Shenji Arrows with bows.

The moment the divine mine was thrown into the Turkic tent and exploded with a deafening roar.

The legend of the Eternal Heaven sending down thunder and fire rain, which circulated among the Turks, came to mind for all of them.

Old Cheng has fought for many years and has a wealth of experience in raiding enemy camps.

However, the success of this raid still surprised him somewhat; those mixed barbarian tribes actually withstood the charge of their three thousand infantrymen.

They quickly began to flee in all directions.

What happened to the plan to feign defeat after the failed raid, lure the enemy to Wild Fox Beach for an ambush?

Inside the manor surrounded by rammed earth walls, Dagan Yili, with a full beard, suddenly sat up and shoved away the two women beside him.

Listen attentively.

Thunder rolls from the sky.

"Someone is coming."

The captain of the personal guards rushed in.

"What's going on outside?"

"It's terrible, Dagan, the enemy has raided our camp!" The captain was pale and stammered, "Thunder and fire rain, the Eternal Heaven has descended in anger."

Yilida grabbed his clothes and started putting them on, saying, "Help me put on my armor."

The armor wasn't finished yet.
Another guard rushed in from outside.

"Dagan, the troops outside have already collapsed. Please retreat immediately."

The voice has not fallen,

Several loud explosions rang out in succession, originating inside the manor, followed by a burst of flames.

A house suddenly burst into flames.

Yilida's face turned deathly pale, and his hands began to tremble. The hands of the guards who helped him put on his armor also trembled uncontrollably.
I just can't seem to put on that armor properly.

Yi Li kicked them away, "Go!"

The three thousand miscellaneous barbarians scattered, instinctively scrambling to escape through the gap created by Cheng Yaojin.
At this point, there was no time to worry about the horses, the people, money, livestock, or even to put on armor.

Once they had seized a horse, they rushed out immediately.
It seemed as if rushing into that boundless darkness would allow them to escape.

Cheng Yaojin stopped his horse on the high slope, holding his spear, and squinted at the Turkic camp in front of him, which was ablaze everywhere, revealing the ugly side of the mixed barbarians.

"Plans can't keep up with changes."

A captain asked, "Lord Su, what do we do now? Should we feign defeat again?"

Old Cheng was speechless. "How can we feign defeat now? The barbarians have all collapsed. We need to change our battle plan and drive them to Wild Fox Beach."

Plans changed.

Cheng Yaojin's three thousand infantrymen actually began to drive away three thousand mixed barbarian cavalry.

This is practically a mouse chasing a cat.

The Shenji Battalion soldiers were still excitedly throwing explosive packs and firing gunpowder arrows, aiming at wherever there were many people, with excellent results.

The bombing caused the Turks to wail and scream in terror, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.

We didn't lose many people, but many were trampled to death while running around in fear.

Cheng Yaojin's troops drove them away while simultaneously hacking and slashing at them.

They quickly beheaded over five hundred people, seized thousands of horses and camels, and rescued several thousand abducted people.

"Duke Su, the mixed barbarians have all been driven to Wild Fox Beach."

“Very good, now it’s up to Yuchi Laohei and the Prince of Huaiyang.”

(End of this chapter)