Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 247 Canhebei

South of Yinshan Mountain, north of the Yellow River.

This land has been fertile and abundant with water since ancient times. During the Warring States period, the State of Zhao adopted the "Hu-style clothing and cavalry archery" policy, greatly increasing its national strength. It swept across the Daibei region and north of the Yellow River, drove out the Linhu and Loufan tribes, and established the Yunzhong Commandery.
They built a walled city south of Yinshan Mountain and garrisoned it with a large army; this was Jiuyuan City.

After the Qin dynasty was destroyed, the world was in chaos, and the Xiongnu took advantage of the situation to invade, and Jiuyuan fell into the hands of the barbarians.

In the second year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanshuo era, Wei Qing's Han army decisively defeated the Xiongnu, capturing thousands of heads and taking more than a million horses, cattle, and sheep. They recovered thousands of miles of fertile land in Henan, renamed Jiuyuan as Wuyuan Commandery, which had sixteen counties under it, and relocated 725,000 poor people from Guandong. They also developed the Wuyuan and Shuofang commanderies.

During the Five Barbarian Invasions, China declined, and Wuyuan fell into the hands of the barbarians, becoming a granary for the State of Wei.

Now the flames of war have reignited, and Murong Bao's 80,000-strong army is arrayed east of the Yellow River, with camps stretching for twenty miles, iron horses covering the ground, and a murderous aura filling the sky.

Tuoba Gui, intimidated by their momentum, dared not confront them directly and led his troops to retreat to Hexi.

More than 30,000 households of the Wuyuan tribe surrendered to Murong Bao.

The Yan army had achieved a resounding victory, but the scouts and messengers they had sent out never returned with any news.

Tuoba Gui dared not engage in a direct confrontation, so he dispatched a large number of cavalry to cut off the route from Jiuyuan to Zhongshan, causing the Yan army to lose contact with Zhongshan.

One or two days wouldn't be a big deal, but after nearly two months without news from Zhongshan, the soldiers inevitably felt anxious, and the army's food supplies began to run out.

With 80,000 infantry and cavalry, most of whom were cavalry, the daily consumption of grain and fodder was 10,000 to 20,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) for both men and horses!

Although the Yan army brought cattle and sheep with them, and Jiuyuan was rich in water and grass and could be self-sufficient, it was now autumn and the vegetation was withered. The livestock and warhorses had to rely on the rear for food supplies.

If it weren't for the more than 30,000 tents of cattle, sheep, and provisions that surrendered from Wuyuan, the Yan army would have already been running out of food.

Even worse, the weather suddenly turned cold after October. It was bearable during the day, but at night, water would freeze instantly.

An ordinary army would have collapsed long ago, but the Xianbei people are resistant to the cold and have high morale, so they have persevered until now.

Last month, Murong Bao took the initiative to cross the river to fight, but was suddenly caught in a strong wind, which blew dozens of warships to the south bank of the Yellow River and anchored them. All three hundred elite soldiers on board were captured by the Wei army.

However, Tuoba Gui released them all and said many kind words, making Murong Bao think that Tuoba Gui was terrified.

"Still no news from Zhongshan?" Murong Bao was wrapped in a thick mink fur cloak with a high collar, and the howling cold wind outside the tent had little effect on him.

Murong Lin exhaled a puff of white breath and rubbed his hands together. "Yesterday I sent out three scout teams, and they were all ambushed and killed by the Wei traitors."

Murong De asked, "Could something major have happened in Zhongshan?"

One sentence revealed the inner demons of the three.

In the past two years, Murong Chui's health has been deteriorating. Before the expedition, he was seriously ill and bedridden. Anything could happen in Zhongshan.

The three of them were well aware of the Murong family's old traditions.

Murong Chui's sons all led their own armies and held real power.

"No matter what major events occur in the court, as long as we are of one mind, there will be no major problems." Murong Bao, who commands 80,000 elite troops, is not worried at all about what might happen in Zhongshan.

He served as the crown prince for five or six years and had many confidants in Zhongshan.

Murong Lin quickly pledged his loyalty, "With me here, you can rest assured, brother. Anyone who dares to have any improper thoughts, I will be the first to punish them!"

Murong De glanced at him sideways, his words carrying a veiled insult, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

When Murong Chui fled to Former Yan, Murong Lin ran back halfway and reported his father to Murong Wei, staying in Former Yan. Later, Murong Ling fell for Wang Meng's golden knife trap and fled to Former Yan, intending to launch a surprise attack on Longcheng. Murong Lin reported him again, leading to his elder brother Murong Ling's defeat and death...

Only Murong Bao could believe the promises made by such a person.

"Ahem, does Uncle have any objections?" Murong Bao and Murong Lin stared at Murong De at the same time.

Murong De was no pushover either. He followed Murong Chui in battles across the north and south, achieving numerous military exploits. His prestige in the Yan state was second only to Murong Chui, and he had the most retainers of any member of the royal family besides Murong Chui.

"My loyalty to the Crown Prince is as clear as day and night; how could I dare to object? If there is any upheaval in Zhongshan, I am willing to be the vanguard, fight my way back to Hebei, and annihilate the rebels!"

Murong De also made a solemn vow.

Murong Bao was very satisfied. He held Murong Lin in one hand and Murong De in the other, saying, "Both of you are pillars of the nation. With your assistance, I can destroy that Tuoba brat in no time, and the world will be at peace in a day or two!"

"I'm willing to do the hard work of dogs and horses!"

Murong Lin and Murong De spoke in unison, but they glanced at each other sideways, their eyes carrying a faint sharpness.

In the Northern Kingdom, strength reigns supreme. Although Murong Bao is the crown prince, he has few followers and has always been weak, so he certainly cannot hold onto the throne. The most powerful people in the Yan Kingdom are Murong Lin and Murong De, whom he calls his "backbones"...

The three were staring at each other, each with their own ulterior motives, when suddenly the sound of war drums rose outside the tent, and shouts shook the earth.

The three hurriedly left the tent, only to see the iron cavalry of Hexi standing tall, their long spears like a forest, their military might no less impressive than that of the Yan army.

More than fifty scouts dressed in Yan army armor were forced to stand on the banks of the Yellow River and shouted towards the east bank: "His Majesty has passed away, why don't you return home soon!"

The sound wasn't actually loud, but it was like a sharp arrow piercing the heart of the Yan army.

Previously, various rumors had been circulating in the army, such as Murong Chui's death or Murong Nong, Murong Long, Murong Shao and others raising troops in rebellion.

Whoever first occupies the capital, Zhongshan, and controls the court will become the new emperor of Yan...

"If your father is dead, why don't you return sooner!"

A loud shout reverberated across both sides of the strait.

Warhorses neighed, and a rider charged out, black armor on a red horse, a bright red cloak fluttering, like a blazing flame burning on the west bank. He then stopped on the riverbank, looking down at the Wei army on the west bank.

Compared to this person, his appearance was somewhat similar to Murong Bao's, but he lacked Murong Bao's heroic spirit and vigorous energy.

"Tuoba Gui!" Murong Lin's eyes flashed with cold light.

Tuoba Gui laughed loudly: "If we don't go back now, and someone else gets there first, you will all be homeless dogs."

"Insolence!" Murong Bao roared in anger.

Just as he was about to order his soldiers to attack, he noticed that the expressions of the officers and soldiers around him were all different.

Morale plummeted, and tens of thousands stood shivering in the cold wind.

Tuoba Gui left behind a burst of arrogant laughter and led his army away like a gust of wind.

The Yan soldiers all looked at Murong Bao. The people who had just shouted were scouts and messengers sent out by the Yan army, and they had no choice but to believe what they said.

Murong Bao forced out two words through gritted teeth, "Retreat!"

The soldiers were all eager to return to their homeland. Tuoba Gui had been avoiding battle. If this dragged on any longer, not to mention whether there was any change in Zhongshan, once the heavy snow fell in Wuyuan, the Yan army would not be able to leave even if they wanted to.

This battle was already very difficult. The Yan state occupied Hebei and Liaodong, but the Wei state occupied southern Mohe and Henan, and its strength was not weak.

Moreover, if Tuoba Gui cannot win, he can retreat to the south of the Gobi Desert.

It was virtually impossible to destroy the Wei Kingdom in a single battle.

Murong De said, "If our army retreats, that brat Tuoba will pursue us relentlessly. What will we do then?"

Murong Lin laughed and said, "The Yellow River hasn't frozen yet. We just need to burn the battlefield. Tuoba kids are all cavalry. Do you think they can fly over?"

Murong Bao agreed, so he did not send out scouts, burned the warships, and retreated overnight.

As the fire raged, the Yan army on the west bank arrived like a pack of wolves. Tuoba Gui looked at the mighty Yellow River and felt somewhat helpless.

The surrounding ferry crossings were almost entirely controlled by the Yan army, so to cross the river, one had to travel hundreds of miles to the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

By then, the Yan army would have already retreated.

"The members of the Yan royal family each hold military power and are stationed in various regions. Murong Chui's days are numbered, and Murong Bao is weak and incompetent. They will surely turn against each other, and within three years, the Yan kingdom will be in great chaos!"

Wang Jian, the chief of the Central Region, followed behind Tuoba Gui.

This man was the grand-nephew of Empress Pingwen, the mother of Tuoba Shiyijian. He was also a powerful chieftain of the Xianbei people, but he was resourceful and followed Tuoba Gui in conquering various countries and defeating more than twenty tribes.

"Do I not know what kind of people the Murong family are? However, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not fall down. The Yan state is powerful. I wonder when it will be able to take over the Central Plains!"

The firelight on the opposite bank was reflected in Tuoba Gui's eyes.

When Niu Chuan raised an army at the age of fifteen, he was ambitious and not satisfied with following in the footsteps of his ancestors, stopping only in the northern deserts.

Over the years, he fought in the north and south, and in his early twenties, he annexed the tribes north and south of Yinshan, commanding more than 100,000 mounted and archer soldiers, and his power was awe-inspiring.

As their strength grew, so did their ambition.

"Your Majesty is chosen by Heaven and will surely achieve great things," Wang Jian flattered.

Tuoba Gui pointed to the opposite bank, "If you truly have a destiny bestowed upon you, then you should help me cross the river and pursue Murong Bao!"

Wang Jian chuckled twice, "Your Majesty, please calm down..."

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly felt a stinging pain on his face from the wind, and heard a pattering sound all around him—the sound of snowflakes in the cold wind hitting his armor.

It's snowing at this time of year...

"It's frozen! The Yellow River is freezing!" a team of scouts shouted from the riverbank.

Tuoba Gui was taken aback and hurriedly led his men to investigate.

Sure enough, a thin layer of ice had formed on the Yellow River, reflecting the firelight on the east bank.

"My Tuoba family has been cultivating our strength for generations, living in seclusion in the north of the Dai River. Our virtue is evident, and we have no shame before Heaven. If Heaven has a spirit, it should help us defeat the Yan army and conquer the land of Hebei!"

Tuoba Gui looked up at the sky and prayed.

The soldiers around him looked at him with increasing awe, for the tribes of the grasslands all worshipped the heavens.

Since the start of his rebellion, Tuoba Gui had repeatedly defeated strong enemies with the weak, and was considered a god in the eyes of his soldiers.

The wind grew stronger and stronger, blowing all night long. Although it did not snow, it was unusually cold. By dusk the next day, the Yellow River had frozen over.

Tuoba Gui selected 20,000 elite cavalry, crossed the Yellow River, and followed behind the Yan army.

On the fourth day, just as they were about to enter the territory of Yanmen County, a scout rushed in to report, "Your Majesty, the Yan army generals Mu Yusong, Zhi Yun, Bai Zhong, and others attempted to coerce Murong Lin into rebellion, but Murong Bao discovered this and executed the rebellious generals!"

Wang Jian laughed loudly, "Murong Chui's sons are all dogs and pigs. They're fighting amongst themselves even with a knife to their throats."

Knowing yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated. In recent years, the Wei state's rulers and ministers have been keeping a close eye on the Yan state, sending envoys to Zhongshan many times to investigate the Yan state's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the fate of Murong Chui.

As a result, Tuoba Gui had a thorough understanding of the Yan state.

Since the standoff began, the severing of the connection between Wuyuan and Zhongshan and the disruption of their morale have all been aimed at the prestigious Murong family.

"What lies ahead?" Tuoba Gui asked, pointing to the mountains and rivers ahead.

The scout reported: "This is Canhe Weir!"

The north wind was like a knife. In the twilight, Canhebei was like a sheepskin crumpled by the wind, spread out between the folds of the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain. The mountain ridges on both sides interlocked like canine teeth, squeezing the valley into a dangerous, throat-like pass.

A small river meanders through it.

This type of terrain is what military strategists refer to as "hanging" terrain.

If the enemy is unprepared, you can attack and win; if the enemy is prepared, you will not win and will find it difficult to retreat, which is disadvantageous.

In other words, if the Yan army were unprepared, they would surely lose this battle.

The Yan army hadn't even sent out many scouts along the way, and assumed that the Yan army was blocked west of the Yellow River. They had no idea that Tuoba Gui was personally leading 20,000 elite cavalry behind them.

Moreover, Tuoba Gui was not alone. To the south, he had 50,000 cavalry led by Tuoba Qian, the Duke of Chenliu, and 100,000 herdsmen led by Tuoba Yi, the Duke of Dongping, to the north. In the rear, there were also 70,000 troops led by Tuoba Zun, the Duke of Lueyang, as backup.

Qin ruler Yao Xing also dispatched General Yang Fosong, who was in charge of the east, with 20,000 troops to support the state of Wei.

The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Murong Chui was victorious in every battle, sweeping across Guandong and successively destroying Zhai Wei and Xi Yan, which aroused the fear of major powers.

Unbeknownst to them, the Yan army found itself in a predicament of being surrounded on all sides.

"What is that?" the Wei soldiers exclaimed in surprise. To the north, a huge black dragon swept southward, instantly darkening the sky and engulfing the entire Canhebei.

The flood also engulfed the Yan army in the embankment, immediately throwing them into chaos. Shouts and curses from men and the neighing of warhorses filled the air.

The Yan army was already short of supplies, and to make matters worse, they encountered a sandstorm.

Most of the Yan soldiers were soldiers from various ethnic groups in Hebei. They had lived in Hebei for three or four generations and were no longer accustomed to the climate beyond the Great Wall. They had never seen such a large sandstorm before, and their hearts were filled with panic.

Tuoba Gui's pupils widened suddenly. "Order the entire army to launch a surprise attack!"

Wuwuwu——

A mournful bugle call sounded, the earth trembled, and 20,000 elite cavalry swooped down. Before the battle even began, the Yan army was thrown into chaos, not even knowing where the enemy had come from.

Murong Bao was the first to abandon the battle and flee...

(End of this chapter)