Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 284 Attack

If Liu Daogui wins, Huan Xuan's Northern Expedition will be a success.

Even if they lost, Huan Xuan would take the blame himself; he would never lose, and he could even use the excuse of a failed northern expedition to lead his army into Pengcheng...

Such a brilliant strategy almost made Liu Daogui clap his hands in praise.

Internal power struggles are far more brutal than external wars. When fighting against the Hu people, if you are not strong enough, you can lie low, defend, or choose not to fight. But in internal power struggles, others are constantly scheming against you, leaving you with no way out.

However, Huan Xuan overlooked one thing.

His reluctance to launch the Northern Expedition was, in effect, a way of relinquishing the moral high ground to Liu Daogui. Participating in this battle would bring immense benefits, while not participating would cause immense losses.

If they win, Liu Daogui's image as a leader of the Northern Expedition will be firmly established in the hearts of the people.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

Although the previous battles with the Yan army were brilliant, very few people knew about them.

This time, Huan Xuan took the initiative to create a stir, and almost everyone in the court and the public knew about it.

It becomes clear who is truly committed to the Northern Expedition and conquering China.

Liu Daogui's army entered Yingyin, and Qin general Yao Liancheng led 10,000 troops to garrison Fenqiu, facing Yingyin across the Ying River.

Yao Shuode's army used the Ru River as a base to build numerous fortified strongholds and fortifications.

A frontal assault would result in too many casualties, and victory was not guaranteed.

Mao Dezhu's cavalry did not gain much advantage, as the Qin army's defense was impenetrable.

Liu Daogui led scouts to investigate the camp. The camp on the opposite bank was well-organized and had almost no loopholes.

The Yao family emerged from Guanzhong. Since the Battle of Feishui, the Qin army had been fighting for more than a decade. The Qiang people were tenacious and had fought against the Later Han for more than a hundred years. At this time, the Qin state was at the peak of its national power and its morale was high.

It's difficult to gain any advantage through a direct attack.

Liu Zun and Gao Xun launched three fierce attacks, but all were repelled by the enemy.

"It seems the only option is to bring in the navy." Gao Xun was hit by an arrow; although it was only a superficial wound, it greatly affected morale.

He was known as a master archer, but instead of hitting the enemy, he was wounded by their arrows.

The Qin army's armor and weapons were no less superior than those of the Jin army.

Xiangcheng County was part of the territory of the State of Han during the Warring States period, and it was famous throughout the world for its powerful crossbows.

In the past two years, the Qin army has produced a large number of bows and crossbows. Every time they cross the river to launch a fierce attack, the enemy's arrows cover the sky and are almost everywhere.

Liu Daogui said, "Even if the navy comes, it will be useless. The enemy's bows and crossbows are sharp, and they occupy the terrain. The mudflats on the opposite bank prevent us from making full use of our armored soldiers' advantages."

Liu Zun interjected, "Why don't we just go around it?"

Gao Xun shook his head. "He controls all the cities and fortresses upstream and downstream."

Liu Zun slapped his thigh and said, "Why don't we take a longer route and not fight them here?"

A word to awaken the dreamer.

Fighting the Qin army in Xiangcheng County was too difficult. Yao Shuode was determined to defend the city and refused to engage in open battle. In those days, even with sufficient food and supplies, it would take three to five months to take down a city or fortified village.

On the contrary, Wancheng, located behind Xiangcheng County, was far from both the northern battlefield and Xiangyang, so it was not heavily defended.

Avoiding the strong and attacking the weak is the essence of military strategy.

Liu Daogui stared at the map. Just in time, the Ying River and Ru River flowed south, leading to Runan. The branch of the Ru River, the Bi River, went directly into the southeast of Wancheng.

The advantage of a navy lies not in naval warfare, but in its ability to quickly maneuver.

Historically, Sima Yi captured Meng Da in a short time. He set out from Wancheng, passed through the water network of Nanyang, entered the Han River, and conquered the city in just twenty-four days!

Nanyang is a basin, which causes water systems from all directions to converge on it.

Liu Daogui traveled south, which happened to be downstream.

"Gao Xun, listen to my command! I will take three thousand volunteer soldiers and two thousand from Qingzhou to guard Yingyin. We will make a big show of force to mislead Yao Shuode. The rest of the elite troops, prepare yourselves, put on armor similar to that of the Qin army, and all of you will board the ship with me tonight!"

Liu Daogui made a decisive decision.

If you have an idea, just do it.

There's no point in wasting time here in Xiangcheng. Yao Shuode is a tough nut to crack. He has more troops than us, yet he's holding firm and not coming out, giving us no chance at all.

Liu Daogui had no choice but to find another way.

"Yes, sir!" Although the generals did not know Liu Daogui's intentions, they all habitually obeyed military orders.

That evening, Li Damu arrived with his naval warships.

Liu Daogui led his elite troops onto the ship.

In recent years, he has become more independent and has grown a lot. He prepared straw and food on the ship. After the soldiers finished eating the salted fish soup, they fell asleep on the straw.

The Qin army had a small number of cavalry, but no navy.

In the darkness, no one knew that Liu Daogui had already led 5,000 elite troops south.

After a day and a night, they entered Runan and changed to a small boat in Xiping. The journey was smooth sailing and they encountered no obstacles.

Part of the Qin army was concentrated at Yique to deal with Xin Gongjing and Xiahou Zongzhi, another part was concentrated at Yingyin to resist Gao Xun, and yet another part was concentrated at Xinye to guard against Huan Xuan's army stationed in Wuchang.

Although some troops were stationed around Wancheng, they were all second-rate and were just bluffing.

Liu Daogui crossed the Tongbai Mountains unnoticed and entered Tang County. By the time the Qin army realized Liu Daogui's intentions, it was too late.

Geographically, Yingchuan, Runan, and Nanyang are all located west of the Huai River.

The soldiers had already rested and were ready to go on their way to Wancheng.

Upon reaching Wancheng, Liu Daogui specifically allowed his soldiers two hours to rest and recuperate, donning their armor before setting off at nightfall. They traveled at a leisurely pace until they arrived in Wancheng at dawn, before daybreak.

The city wall was dark and empty, with only a few torches burning weakly.

However, this city was truly fortified, complete with a moat, barbican, antlers, and trenches. An inner city was also built to the east to protect the continuous farmland on both sides of the Yu River.

In the fields, the wheat waves reached knee-high, growing vigorously, and it would be ready for harvest in two more months.

The Qiang and Di people migrated to Guanzhong during the transition from the Han to the Wei dynasties, and it has been two hundred years since then. Their customs, clothing, language, and even surnames are no different from those of the Han people, and they are also proficient in the farming and warfare methods of the Han dynasty.

Forty years ago, when Fu Hong and Yao Xiang started their uprising, a large number of scholars and common people followed them.

"Attack the city!" Liu Daogui grabbed a shield, preparing to go in himself.

"I am willing to be the vanguard!" Xiao Chengzhi was the first to step forward, followed by dozens of Xiao family members, each with a rope wrapped around their body.

Since joining the military government, he has truly risked his life, always leading from the front in every battle, completely unlike a scion of a noble family.

"Kid, are you sure you can handle this?" Liu Zun asked, his face full of doubt.

In fact, they had no idea about the strength or combat capability of the troops in the city.

This battle was a calculated attack on an unprepared enemy, a well-prepared assault. The opportunity was only once; if the attack failed, Liu Daogui would either be trapped under the city's fortified walls or have to retreat.

Xiao Chengzhi was taking on considerable risks.

"My troops are all brave warriors from Lanling, capable of traversing mountains and rivers as if they were flat ground. This city is heavily defended. If we alert the garrison inside, it will be more difficult to breach the city. I will lead my elite troops up the ropes. Once we control the city gate, we can easily take over the city!"

Seeing that he had come prepared, Liu Daogui agreed, "I entrust this battle to you!"

"Yes, sir!" Xiao Chengzhi, carrying a ring-pommel sword in one hand and a rope and grappling hook in the other, led forty or fifty of his men forward.

The moon is bright and the stars are few; in the wheat field, one can hear a chorus of frogs.

Xiao Chengzhi's figure gradually disappeared into the night.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, there was still no movement in the city.

Half an hour later, Wancheng was still quiet, like a giant beast lurking in the night.

"Could it be that we've messed up?" Liu Zun was impatient and restless.

"Are you stupid? If we had failed, there would have been movement on the city walls by now. The fact that there's nothing here means things are going well. Just wait patiently."

For some reason, Liu Daogui had great confidence in Xiao Chengzhi.

He is only sixteen or seventeen years old this year, and he has the unique vigor of a young man.

His maternal uncle, Xiao Yuanzhi, spoke highly of him, calling him a "thousand-mile horse of the Xiao family."

An hour later, dawn was approaching and the night was receding. Liu Daogui was sweating bullets. If the city's garrison woke up, it would be a tough battle.

At this moment, several scouts approached and reported, "Report... There is a force of two thousand infantry and cavalry heading towards Wancheng from the north, carrying the banner with the character 'Liu' on it!"

"Liu? There were people with the surname Liu in the Qin state?" Liu Zun's eyes widened.

"Of course, the Xiongnu Tiefu tribe also has the surname Liu, and they are descendants of the Xiongnu kings."

Liu Yuan, a descendant of Modu Chanyu, established the Han Kingdom, claiming to be a descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang), and even invited Liu Shan, the last emperor of Shu Han, to be enshrined in the ancestral temple...

"Damn it, do these barbarians even deserve the surname Liu? Give me a thousand men, and I'll see which thief is it!" Liu Zun cursed.

“The enemy is in the open while we are in the dark. We should wait in comfort and wait for them to tire themselves out. Let’s go!” Liu Daogui nodded.

Liu Zun waved his hand and led several hundred armored soldiers northward.

Liu Daogui gazed at Wancheng.

An hour has passed, and there is still no movement in the city. Although Xiao Chengzhi is young, he is prudent and should not cause any trouble.

The enemy's reinforcements have arrived; we can't wait any longer.

The city's garrison is almost awake.

"All troops, listen to my command! Follow me to attack the city!" Liu Daogui immediately gave the order.

"kill!"

The soldiers had been lying in wait all night, their eyes bloodshot.

The murderous aura was intense.

But at that moment, the large banner with the character "Qin" on the city wall fell, and the barbican gate was opened.

Liu Daogui was overjoyed. "I knew Xiao Chengzhi wouldn't betray me! Enter the city!"

Shen Qingzhi led his personal guards into the city first.

After taking over the city's defenses, Liu Daogui led his army into the city.

Xiao Chengzhi was covered in blood, carrying two severed heads in his hands, with a Qin general with a beard and hair like halberds beside him. "The garrison commander Lian Manwei has been killed by my subordinates, and the four thousand garrison soldiers in the city are willing to surrender to the governor after being persuaded by General Huyan!"

The Qin general suddenly knelt down, excitedly cupping his hands and saying, "This humble general, Huyan Ting, has long admired the Commander-in-Chief's name and is willing to lead his troops to surrender!"

Huyan was a prominent clan among the Xiongnu. Liu Yuan's first empress was from the Huyan clan, and they settled in the Sizhou and Yuzhou areas. When Liu Yao fought a major battle with Shi Le, Huyan Mo, the former general of the Zhao state, led the armies of Jing and Sizhou to meet Shi Hu at Mianchi. He was killed by Shi Hu in battle.

The Huyan clan declined from then on, but the Xiongnu people took root in the two provinces of Sijing.

This person must have surrendered to Yao Xing when his army attacked, following the trend of the times.

In any case, it's a good thing that he's willing to submit to me, at least I took Wancheng without bloodshed.

One cannot hit a smiling face; if someone genuinely wants to surrender with their troops, Liu Daogui cannot refuse them entry…

(End of this chapter)