Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 189 One General's Success Is Built on the Bones of a Hundreds of Dead
After the Han soldiers charged out, the situation became somewhat out of control, at least beyond what Yuchi Pusa had anticipated.

After this battle, Yuchi Pusa tallied up the casualties and found that his side had suffered even greater losses than the last time.

The devastating results forced him to temporarily cease hostilities.

Two defeats made Yuchi Pusa worry that the Jingzhou troops under his command were unstable.

The Northern Wei Dynasty implemented a policy of dispersing various tribes in the Longdong region, accelerating Sinicization, allowing Han and non-Han peoples to live together, and incorporating them into military households or agricultural households.

The Jingzhou region has numerous tributaries and branching roads, with river valleys and plateaus intertwined, creating a complex terrain. The Northern Wei dynasty could only control the area along the river, settling most of these military and agricultural households in the county towns along the river.

The Jingzhou soldiers under Yuchi Bodhisattva's command made up a significant portion of the force. However, compared to the garrison troops who originated from Gaoping Town, these locals were not trusted by Yuchi Bodhisattva.

Many of them originally supported the Northern Wei. After the government troops left, they surrendered, but only because Wanqi Chounu controlled Anding and occupied Jingzhou.

These military households lived in the county town along the river. They were worried that the war would spread to their hometowns, and seeing that the situation was hopeless, they certainly wouldn't continue to be cannon fodder.

However, if another powerful force enters Jingzhou, with the backing of the Northern Wei court, it's hard to guarantee they won't surrender again.

Fighting in one's own hometown and fighting in someone else's hometown are two completely different things.

Yuchi Pusa's inability to capture the main camp at Qianshuiyuan has already revealed his weakness. If he were to attack again and fail, then the morale of his army would be completely lost.

But stopping doesn't mean everything is fine.

The reason why Yuchi Bodhisattva brought 20,000 troops was because he received news that Gao Ang had led 1,500 cavalry to Bin.

Once Li Shuang recaptures Binzhou, there will be no point in Yuchi Bodhisattva staying there.

At that point, morale will still plummet. Whether those Jingzhou soldiers who sense the tide turning against them will become opportunists is hard to say!
"This is really a difficult situation!"

Looking at the map, Yuchi Bodhisattva felt caught in a dilemma.

Just then, a report came from outside the tent. Li Shuang's army had made a new move. Scouts discovered that the main force on Qianshui Plain had split up and established a branch camp on a high ground below Qianshui Plain.

Yuchi Bodhisattva had the scouts mark the location of Li Shuang's branch camp on the map.

Everyone immediately understood the other party's intentions.

"They want to control the roads, block our supply lines, and trap us here."

Yuchi Bodhisattva asked the scout.

Who is leading the troops on the other side?

"General Xue Guyan leads five thousand soldiers."

While Yuchi Bodhisattva was deep in thought, the generals in the tent were already urging him to fight.

Not only the generals of Gaoping Town, but also the generals who surrendered in Jingzhou were trying to persuade Yuchi Bodhisattva.

If Li Shuang wins, these local generals from Jingzhou who have surrendered to Wanqi Chounu worry that their fate will be grim. It's simple: Li Shuang dealt with rebels in the same way in Huazhou and Yongzhou—dispersing their troops, distributing land, and ultimately, being able to go to Luoyang was already considered a good outcome.

After being persuaded by his generals, Yuchi Bodhisattva had no choice but to agree.

As everyone departed, Yuchi Bodhisattva, however, was seething with anger and cursed under his breath.

"Damn it, Li Shuang is a real killer who doesn't shed blood!"

Even though he knew this was bait thrown by Li Shuang, he had no choice but to take the bait!
If they don't take the bait, people's hearts will fall apart.

……

Peng Le, with a thousand soldiers, awaited news from Xue Guyan.

Several days after Yuchi Pusa attacked Xue Guyan's camp, Peng Le arrived at the battlefield on time.

Peng Le knew that Yuchi Bodhisattva had already made preparations, as evidenced by his swift troop deployment to block reinforcements.

But Peng Le didn't take it to heart.

These thousand soldiers were all outstanding fighters in recent days, and they were specially selected and gathered together.

Like a sharp knife, it can be used to stab out at any time.

They were all young people, and Peng Le was very familiar with their current state. When Peng Le first went to the battlefield, the soldiers following behind him were the same, full of eagerness to make a name for themselves.

The battlefield is treacherous. How many of those who followed Peng Le back then are still alive today?

Peng Le couldn't remember exactly what he was saying, but as a veteran, he left the soldiers who were now following him with the only words of advice that the old man could give.

"Survive!"

Then he led his troops to charge forward.

The two sides met on the plain.

Peng Le led only infantry, and he himself was clad in armor and wielded a long sword. Even without the support of a warhorse, Peng Le still resembled a god of war.

The opponent's formation was broken up by Peng Lechong.

This sharp knife plunged straight into the ranks of Hu soldiers who came to block its advance.

Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Yuchi Pusa sent additional reinforcements to block the attack. However, after his troops were dispatched, Xue Guyan, who had been guarding the stronghold, saw the situation and led his troops out to attack.

Xue Guyan's bravery is not as great as Peng Le's, but it is not far off.

He was also armored, carrying a long sword, and took the lead. He went out of the camp gate and immediately cut down two people.

The saying goes, "A bad soldier is bad for one person, but a bad general makes a bad army." The reverse is also true.

"Soldiers, today is the day to achieve great merit!"

Xue Guyan's roar resounded.

Seeing their commander so brave, the soldiers in the stronghold were also excited and roared.

After several days of perseverance, today is the time to press on with all our might.

Looking at the two groups of soldiers on the left and right sides of the army formation, Yuchi Pusa felt a headache coming on because of their frenzied energy.

"Where is Xiao Baoyin?"

At this critical moment, Yuchi Bodhisattva thought of this person. It wasn't because they had a good relationship, nor because Xiao Baoyin had given him some good ideas that eased their tensions, but because Wanqi Chounu had instructed him to protect this person before he left.

Now that the time has come, Yuchi Bodhisattva thought of his mission.

"Seeing the situation was bad, he ran away!"

"Ran?"

While feeling contempt, Yuchi Bodhisattva also felt fortunate.

"Bring me the knife!"

As Xue Guyan drew closer, Yuchi Pusa took the knife, touched the Buddhist beads hanging on his chest, and whispered:
"May Buddha protect us, we will win this battle!"

After exchanging greetings, Yuchi Bodhisattva did not hesitate any longer. He led his elite troops to the battlefield and headed straight for Xue Guyan.

……

Li Shuang led five hundred cavalrymen to the battlefield, ready to deliver the final blow.

However, by the time he arrived, the battlefield was already nearing its end.

It wasn't that he arrived too late, but rather that Yuchi Pusa overestimated his martial prowess. While leading his troops to stabilize the battle line, he was killed by Xue Guyan in the midst of the battle.

In the midst of the army, Xue Guyan used his spear to pierce the head of Yuchi Pusa, and hung it, along with his helmet, high on the banner.

"The Bodhisattva Yuchi is dead! Why don't you surrender now!"

At this point in the battle, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Xue Guyan looked at the scattered soldiers around him, touched the Buddhist prayer beads he was wearing, and said:
May Buddha protect us!

……

(End of this chapter)