Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 320 and

Lanling, Qi County.

A cavalry unit is driving away the people and grain that have been looted.

"You barbarians, the Commander-in-Chief will avenge us and tear you to pieces!"

An elderly man with gray hair suddenly roared.

The Xianbei cavalrymen were so frightened that their warhorses reared up.

But soon, a whip lashed down, leaving a bloody welt on the old man's face.

"Drag him out and execute him!" Murong Zhen didn't have that kind of temper.

A scream rang out, blood splattered, and the old man's head was severed and hung on the flagpole.

The other prisoners around dared not speak out against their anger.

The Xianbei cavalry laughed wildly, "Jin dogs, who knows how long your commander will live!"

Murong Town's cavalry was extremely arrogant. Not only did they plunder Lanling County, but they also extended their reach into Pengcheng County. Qi, Guyang, Liu, and Feng counties avoided them and suffered greatly as a result.

The situation only improved slightly when Liu Zhong's navy arrived.

However, the Xianbei people, relying on the advantage of their cavalry, could come and go freely and always managed to find loopholes.

This time, Murong Zhen personally led his troops on a surprise attack over 400 li away, plundering Guyang County in Pengcheng Prefecture. The plunder was quite fruitful, with more than 700 shi of grain, 59 carts of money and silk, and more than 1,300 able-bodied men.

Just as he was feeling triumphant, a scout suddenly reported: "General, a cavalry force from the north is heading straight for our army!"

Murong Zhen's expression shifted. "Raise an army? How many of them are there?"

"Around a thousand people!"

"Hahaha, a thousand cavalrymen dare to come and die?" The surrounding Xianbei generals laughed incessantly.

Murong Zhen glanced around and saw nearly six thousand cavalry, with another three thousand supporting them from the south. "Did you see clearly? Is it one thousand cavalry? Where are Wang Yuande's troops from Pingyang City?"

"Look carefully, within a radius of fifty miles, there are only these thousand cavalry. Wang Yuande's troops are still in Pingyang City, and the thousand Northern Army soldiers in Cheng City have not left the city either!"

The Xianbei scouts were all quite skilled.

"Since they've come to us, we shouldn't let any of them get away!" Murong Zhen had absolute confidence in cavalry warfare.

If they cannot defeat this enemy cavalry, they will be unable to transport the plundered people, money, and grain back to Donghai County.

"Let's wipe out this cavalry force and vent our anger!"

The Xianbei generals were all intrigued.

The Northern Army decisively defeated the Wei army at Fangtou. If they were to defeat the Northern Army here, it would inadvertently elevate their own status.

The cavalry had just assembled when dust began to rise from the north.

Under the spring sun, the cold light glistens, like a sharp arrow shot from the northern horizon.

However, the speed is not fast; moving forward briskly allows for maintaining power while also preserving a certain momentum.

Cavalry marching is divided into five types: slow pace, fast pace, running, swift pace, and raiding pace.

Slow marches over long distances, brisk marches over short distances, running when encountering the enemy, rapid marches to engage in battle, and surprise marches when the warhorse's hooves are flying, preparing to launch a surprise attack on the enemy.

Murong Zhen was both amused and exasperated when he saw the enemy's formation. They had actually set up a cone formation commonly used by infantry. "The enemy must be a novice!"

In cavalry engagements, the most important factors are thickness and width. Cavalry should maintain a minimum distance of twenty paces from each other, staggered by one body length, to prevent the fallen cavalry from tripping up those behind.

The opponent, however, did the opposite, advancing in a dense formation, like infantry charges...

"The horses are quite good, they're all fine steeds!" The Xianbei generals around them relaxed, laughing and commenting at each other.

The horses' hooves thundered, and the cavalry suddenly sped up.

Suddenly, more than a hundred riders rushed out from behind, all clad in iron armor and wielding long spears that gleamed silver.

The leading general, carrying a large axe, rode a red horse that was like a blazing flame, charging forward without hesitation, its murderous aura soaring to the sky, even causing the ground to tremble.

All the previous weaknesses turned into advantages after the appearance of this iron cavalry.

Only when the cavalry is concentrated can their impact be maximized.

The Yan army was caught off guard by the fierce momentum of the Northern Army cavalry.

They came out to plunder, so naturally they wouldn't bring heavy cavalry. The soldiers had already assembled, and it was too late to retreat at this point. The key issue was that the soldiers couldn't adjust their mindset.

What was initially thought to be a fat sheep coming to its death suddenly turned into a fierce tiger.

Whether in infantry or cavalry combat, momentum is paramount.

Although the Northern Army only numbered a little over a thousand, it possessed an aura of dominance that looked down upon the world!

Every resounding victory adds another point to this domineering aura!
Fortunately, Murong Zhen was also a veteran general, and he made a decisive decision: "Charge forward! Anyone who retreats even one step will be executed!"

The Yan army looked around, but ultimately more than two thousand cavalry charged forward.

The array is scattered and too flimsy...

Jibei Camp.

Liu Daogui had just received a message from Wancheng.

A tiger is a tiger.

The uprising of a thousand men not only succeeded, but also resulted in the deaths of a host of generals, including Huan Xiu, Diao Hong, Wu Fuzhi, Zhu Xiuzhi, and Liu Tong.

However, the situation remains far from optimistic.

Zhuge Changmin and Liu Fan's uprising in Liyang failed, while Liu Yi, Meng Chang, He Wuji, and Liu Huaisu successfully raised an army in Guangling and Jingkou, but soon faced encirclement and suppression by Huangfu Fu's army. The most crucial mutiny in Jiankang was somehow discovered by Huan Xuan, who arrested and killed Liu Mai and Xin Huxing, and the generals of the Northern Army were once again purged.

Huan Xuan had the opportunity to make arrangements at his leisure, drawing out two elite forces led by Fu Hong and Feng Gai, and joining forces with the Western General Diao Kui to launch a three-pronged attack on Liu Yu.

“Raising troops now is far too hasty. Our army is currently engaged in battle with Murong De and cannot spare any troops,” Gao Xun sighed several times.

Liu Daogui also fell silent for a moment. It seemed that when they were discussing raising an army, they hadn't considered him at all.

If we can delay for another year and wear down Murong De, our chances of winning the uprising will be much greater.

After Liu Zun led a thousand elite troops south, he did not join up with Wang Yuande. With the cooperation of the people of Lanling, he launched a surprise attack on Murong Town. He used iron cavalry against iron cavalry and defeated the Yan army in Qi County, killing more than 1,300 and capturing 900.

Fortunately, the Murong cavalry outnumbered the main force and, seeing the situation was dire, turned tail and fled, thus avoiding the danger of total annihilation.

This battle demonstrated the strength and morale of the Northern Army.

Zhuge Yunzhi, a native of Langya, rallied more than 700 villagers to raise an army, killed more than 1,000 Southern Yan military officers, occupied Fei County, and submitted to the Zhenwei Army.

Zhang Shiqi, a native of Dongguan, raised an army of over a thousand and intercepted the Yan state's grain supply route...

Even Qingzhou, north of Mount Tai, was shaken, and more than two thousand households have fled here in recent days.

Liu Daogui felt that as long as he persisted, even if he couldn't destroy Murong De, he could still tear a piece of flesh off him.

But thinking about it any longer is useless; what's done is done.

It's impossible for Liu Daogui to stay out of it.

Huangfu Fu's army marched towards Jingkou, where his mother, Xiao Wenshou, and her relatives from the Liu clan were all in the city.

If they stand idly by and watch Huan Xuan annihilate the Northern Army, they will be cutting off Liu Daogui's foundation. His next step will inevitably be to lead his troops north...

At this moment, Meng Gan came to report: "Commander... Tong Houzhi sent a secret letter, saying that as soon as our army marches south, he will raise troops from within and without to kill Huan Shisheng and launch a counterattack on Jiankang!"

Gao Xun's eyes lit up. "This is a great opportunity! Whoever captures Jiankang first will be the one to achieve the greatest merit!"

Liu Daogui said, "Of course I know this is a good opportunity, but our army is currently locked in a stalemate with Murong De. If we suddenly move south, he will surely follow us closely, and we will be attacked from both sides."

Gao Xun said, "Last time he sent someone to discuss withdrawing his troops, why not grant his request? As long as he hands over Beihai County, the two sides will cease hostilities."

"Times have changed. Back then, he was the one asking for my help; now we are the ones asking for his help. Business is not done the same way now."

The sudden uprising of the Northern Army disrupted Liu Daogui's plans.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the halberd bearer outside the door announced, "General, the envoy from the Yan Kingdom has arrived!"

Liu Daogui and Gao Xun were taken aback; it was truly a case of someone delivering a pillow just when you're about to doze off.

However, Murong De is also in a very difficult situation. Liu Zun defeated Murong Zhen with only 1,000 cavalry, which greatly shocked the Yan Kingdom. The three counties of Xudong have basically become fish on the chopping block.

The messenger entered; it was the same scholar as before, but he wasn't as assertive. "My lord wishes to return the three counties of Xudong and establish an alliance between our two families. What does the Commander-in-Chief think?"

Murong Zhen lost to Liu Zun, and the three counties of Xudong could no longer be defended.

Murong De could only do a favor.

However, Liu Daogui did not nod immediately, and casually asked an unrelated question, "I remember your master is sixty-eight years old this year, right?"

"The governor has a good memory. My lord is exactly sixty-eight this year."

This kind of thing can't be hidden.

Murong De has followed Murong Chui in battles since the Jie Zhao era, experiencing many ups and downs, and can be considered a prominent figure of his time.

Liu Daogui laughed and said, "I have a life-sustaining soup. You can take it back and let your lord take care of his health. We can fight again another day."

The envoy was taken aback, realizing the sarcasm in the words.

But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. You dare not openly refute him. You said with barbs, "I will definitely report to my lord what the governor intends. Now that the two sides have stopped fighting, the soldiers and people of Yan can rest and recuperate. Governor, you have many things to do and will soon be going on a long expedition. You must take good care of your health and not overwork yourself."

"How dare you!" Gao Xun shouted.

Liu Daogui, however, sensed something amiss. "How did you know I was about to launch a long and arduous expedition?"

With Jibei under blockade and a major battle raging in the south, Liu Zhong's navy had blockaded the Huai and Si rivers. Normally, news from Murong De wouldn't arrive so quickly.

Liu Daogui only received the news today, but Murong De had already sent an envoy ahead of time, receiving the news even earlier than he did, and even deducing that he would have to launch a long and arduous expedition...

It's unsettling to think about it more closely.

Since Murong De knew that Liu Daogui was eager to withdraw and head south, and that dragging things out would clearly be in his favor, why would he still send an envoy to cede territory and sue for peace?
Either there was a spy within their own ranks, or... someone in Jiangdong colluded with them, and someone contacted Murong De immediately after the mutiny to achieve some goal!

The messenger trembled. "I spoke rashly for a moment, please forgive me, Governor."

Liu Daogui didn't ask, "What's your name?"

"My name is Feng Cheng, Vice Minister of the Secretariat."

He rose to prominence during the Yongjia Rebellion of the Bohai Feng clan, joined the Former Yan, and was highly valued, becoming a key minister of Murong Huang.

"So it's the Feng family of Bohai. Since the two families have ceased hostilities, please ask your lord to withdraw his troops first." Liu Daogui pretended not to care much.

Feng Cheng said, "That's natural. To show my respect, my lord will withdraw from Licheng tomorrow. I hope the governor will keep the agreement."

Gao Xun asked, "When will the three prefectures of Xudong be handed over?"

"What will happen in a month? As the governor knows, our army suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of Qi County and needs to recuperate for some time."

"Then we shall do as you say!"

Liu Daogui nodded in agreement, showing some eagerness for the troops to cease fighting.

(End of this chapter)