Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 360 Fight

It was already harvest season, but there were hardly any crops to be seen in Guangling County; instead, a foul stench filled the air.

Everywhere you look, there are piles of human heads, and naked female corpses that have been disemboweled and left on the main road for wild dogs and wolves to devour.

Along the way, there was not a single intact village; they had all been burned to ashes by the flames, and among them were many twisted and charred corpses.

Occasionally, one or two bloated corpses would float down into the river.

When Murong Chui and Murong De were still alive, they had some principles and were quite tolerant of their followers. They raised the Murong family banner on both sides of the Yellow River, and people from all directions, including the Hu and Jin people, came to join them.

Murong Chao, on the other hand, was completely different. He was almost devoid of humanity, and all his actions resembled those of a wild beast that had lost its mind.

Furthermore, this beast is naturally hostile towards China.

Instead of going to the vast Hebei region to the north, and despite the deep-seated hatred and national enmity between them and the State of Wei, they chose to attack the Jianghuai region.

In fact, since surrendering Ye City, the Northern Army has not fought against the Hu people for more than four years, and has been engaged in internal strife.

Murong Chao had fled from the Western Qiang and had no respect for the Northern Army.

As soon as Liu Daogui set foot on the land north of the Huai River, a scout came to report: "Reporting, Murong Chao, upon hearing of our army's northern expedition, has raised 30,000 able-bodied men from the country and marched south to Langya County."

“It seems he really wants to have a showdown with me in Xudong.” Liu Daogui spread out a map.

The Yan army was still besieging Chengcheng and had built a large number of camps along the Donghai and Langya lines. They also blocked the Yi River with iron chains in an attempt to stop Liu Daogui's navy.

When the Yan state took over Langya County, it seized many ships and formed a navy of four to five thousand men, stationed in Yangdu, on the upper reaches of the Yi River.

“Although Murong Chao is crazy, he’s not stupid. He seems to have been waiting for our northern expedition for a long time.” Even Liu Zun could see through the other party’s intentions.

He Wuji said, "He won the previous battles too easily, and he must have developed an ambition to conquer Jiangzuo!"

The reason Guangling is in such a terrible state is because General Liu Huaisu suffered a crushing defeat, which swelled Murong Chao's ambition.

Liu Huaisu came from the Liu clan of Pengcheng, and was a relative of Liu Daogui and Liu Yu. Since he was defeated, Murong Chao naturally felt that Liu Daogui and Liu Yu were nothing special.

However, Liu Huaisu's defeat was mainly due to insufficient troops. The Zhenglu Army Headquarters had long been emptied out and was being reorganized, but the soldiers' combat effectiveness had not yet been restored.

Murong Chao's cavalry suddenly attacked, catching them off guard and resulting in a great defeat.

Even after the defeat, Liu Huaisu managed to hold Guangling, preventing the situation from deteriorating further.

"Not to mention Murong Chao, even when Murong De was alive, he had the intention to march south to Jiangzuo." Liu Daogui still remembered that a few years ago, when Huan Xuan usurped the throne, Murong De sent someone to win him over to launch a counterattack on Jiangzuo and divide the Jin dynasty.

In other words, attacking Jiangzuo was a consistent national policy of the Southern Yan.

He Wuji said, "Murong Chao is so arrogant. We can use the strategy of 'arrogance' to defeat him. I am willing to lead my troops as the vanguard to draw his main force to the Xiapi area. Then, General, you can gather your land and naval forces to launch a fierce attack!"

The Yi River and the Si River converge in Xiapi. If the Yan army can be drawn to this place, the advantages of the Xifu Navy can be brought into play.

"can."

Since He Wuji dared to volunteer, Liu Daogui had no reason to refuse.

"The Yan barbarians have many cavalry, while our army consists entirely of infantry. We request that the general allocate some warhorses." He Wuji looked embarrassed.

Liu Zun blurted out, "So you're here to scam Ma."

Liu Daogui glanced at him sideways. What He Wuji said was true. Two legs can't outrun four legs. Without warhorses, if infantrymen went up, they would be sitting ducks.

"The warhorses in the army will remain in Hongnong, but we have plenty of mules, donkeys, and packhorses. I will allocate five thousand of them to Brother He."

"That's enough!" He Wuji didn't argue with Liu Zun, cupped his hands in greeting, and left happily.

Liu Daogui led his army to Pengcheng, aiming to stabilize his base before the major battle.

With Xiao Chengzhi and Tan Zhi in charge, Pengcheng repelled several raids by the Yan army, and it didn't suffer as much as Guangling.

When Liu Daogui returned, the morale of the city was greatly boosted, and everywhere people were shouting "revenge!" Before Liu Daogui could give any orders, the powerful families of Liu, Tan, Xu, Zhao, and others formed a volunteer army of four thousand men.

With 40% of them wearing armor and 600 cavalry, it seems they've pulled out all the stops.

Liu Xuanzhi, Liu Cui, Tan Zhi, Xu Kuizhi, and Dao Yanzhi were all dressed in armor and armed with weapons. There was also his cousin Zhao Bofu, the eldest son of Zhao Lun, who was fond of riding and archery from a young age and was brave and fierce.

"Nephew greets Uncle!" Xu Kuizhi bowed respectfully.

Liu Daogui then remembered that he had married his niece, Liu Xingdi.

Upon closer inspection, these people were either relatives, clansmen, or neighbors.

"Ah Kui, no need for formalities. With your help, we will surely defeat Southern Yan in this battle." Liu Daogui looked him up and down. To be chosen by his elder brother Liu Yu, he must be exceptionally brave and talented, and of good birth. He was the son of Xu Qinzhi, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, the grandson of Xu Ning, the Left General, and the nephew of Xu Xianzhi.

"We are determined to fight the White Barbarians to the death!" The voices of the crowd were filled with deep hatred.

Murong Chao has incurred the wrath of the masses this time; the Central Plains has not encountered such a brutal person for many years.

They had somewhat forgotten the brutality of the Hu people, but Murong Chao's actions have awakened them.

Liu Daogui now commands nearly 40,000 troops, all of whom are elite soldiers.

However, this great battle was of utmost importance, concerning the fate of the Jin dynasty and the Southern Yan state, as well as the future of Liu Daogui and Liu Yu.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit, so Liu Daogui dared not be careless and ordered the various military commanderies of Yan, Yu, and Xu to gather their troops and come to participate in the great battle.

The decline of the Jin dynasty does not mean that Liu Daogui has declined. In recent years, he has made remarkable achievements in managing Yanzhou, Beiyuzhou, and Beixuzhou. He has sufficient food and supplies, excellent military equipment, and his troops are in high spirits.

During the year or so that Murong Chao was stationed in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, he led tens of thousands of elite troops in a fierce attack, but he only managed to capture Jibei County. He successfully blocked the Yan army in the other counties.

Now that Liu Daogui has returned, his demeanor has changed dramatically.

Not only did the soldiers of the garrison bring their own food, fodder, and weapons to participate in the battle, but even the slaves carried broken knives and tattered swords and rushed to Pengcheng.

In just half a month, they gathered 13,000 people.

Liu Daogui was very satisfied with the efficiency of the Zhechong Prefecture.

Far removed from the infighting among aristocratic families, Yanzhou enjoyed a clean and efficient administration and developed more rapidly.

"Report! General He has tried to lure Murong Chao several times, but he has not fallen for the trap and is holding his position firmly in his camp." Meng Ganqian came to report.

"It seems this mad dog isn't stupid after all," Liu Daogui said calmly.

Liu Zun looked at him with disdain, "He Wuji is all talk and no action, but when it comes to the real test, he's not much of a use."

"We can't entirely blame him; Murong Chao is no ordinary person either."

These days, anyone who manages to make it big is no ordinary person.

Murong Chao, as an outsider, was quite capable to seize power in Southern Yan in such a short time.

Such a battle for national destiny cannot be won through intrigue and trickery; ultimately, it must be fought in a fair and square head-on confrontation.

Schemes usually involve risks, while overwhelming strength is the only unsolvable open strategy.

Ten days later, another 8,000 troops arrived from various counties, bringing Liu Daogui's total force to 60,000.

However, Murong Chao also led 30,000 troops from the country to come, with a total force of around 60,000.

"It seems he really wants to fight me head-on. Fine, let him see the strength of the Northern Prefecture and the Western Prefecture!" Liu Daogui slapped his thigh.

Liu Zun shouldered his broadsword and said, "Does Murong Chao have the strength to fight me, the Northern Army?"

Strength and weakness are not just about military strength.

Liu Daogui was accurate in every aspect, including distance, morale, national strength, and public sentiment.

Sometimes, to deal with a rabid dog, you really have to bite it, otherwise it will become even more aggressive and bite indiscriminately...

(End of this chapter)