Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 406 Fierce

Shen Tianzi made his move, and Mao Dezhu in the central route and Zhu Lingshi in the northern route followed suit, attacking Tongguan one way and crossing the Yellow River the other, advancing towards Hedong.

Tongguan has always been a natural barrier that cannot be breached. Yao Qin's main force was concentrated in Hedong County, north of the Yellow River.

General Yao Qia, General An Luan, Protector Yao Moli, and Prefect Tang Xiaofang of Hedong led the army to set up defenses along the river, with a fort every twenty li and a stronghold every fifty li from Maojin Ferry to Fengling Ferry, and they were on high alert.

Once one area was attacked, other infantry and cavalry units immediately rushed to its aid.

Although Zhu Lingshi and Zhu Chaoshi once captured Maojin, they were eventually driven back by the Qin army.

During the military council, Zhu Lingshi suggested to Mao Dezhu: "Puban has always been the gateway to Guanzhong. The Qin army has been preparing for many years and has now adopted a scorched-earth policy. Attacking Puban from Hedong would be a long and arduous journey, and we are afraid that it will be difficult to succeed. Moreover, even if we break through Puban, our army will suffer heavy casualties and it will be difficult to attack Chang'an."

Puban was a fortress, but there were many more fortresses in Guanzhong.

Chang'an was a renowned fortified city. The Yao Qin and Di Qin dynasties fought for many years in Guanzhong, and Chang'an was reinforced layer by layer.

Moreover, there are more than a dozen inner cities around Chang'an. If we attack them one by one, even if all 30,000 Tiger Guards are exhausted, we may not be able to advance to the gates of Chang'an.

Everyone knows that Yao Qin was just a skeleton in a tomb, but there was a solid and thick tomb outside the skeleton. If the tomb could not be broken, there was no need to talk about destroying Qin.

"Could it be that we are going to launch a fierce attack on Tongguan?" Mao Dezhu's gaze fell on the location of Tongguan on the map.

Tongguan Pass is nestled between the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

However, there were records of it being breached. In the third year of Yongjia (309), Zhao Ran, a general under Sima Mo who was defending Guanzhong, surrendered Puban to Liu Cong. Liu Cong then sent Zhao Ran and others to attack Sima Mo in Chang'an. They fought at Tongguan, where Sima Mo was defeated and Tongguan was breached. Zhao Ran then marched straight into Weinan.

With the elite Tiger Guard Army, Mao Dezhu was 60% confident of breaking through Tongguan Pass.

But the problem is that beyond Tongguan Pass, there are still more than 100,000 infantry and cavalry under Yao Xing.

By then, the Tiger Guard Army will be exhausted, and Yao Xing will be waiting in comfort. The Tiger Guard Army that has entered Guanzhong will likely be wiped out.

"Why are you all only thinking about attacking fortified cities and strongholds?" Liu Zhong, the naval commander, stood with his hands behind his back.

Zhu Chaoshi asked, "What does General Liu mean?"

Liu Zhong pointed to the winding Yellow River on the map: "Tongguan and Puban are connected by the Yellow River. Why not use the navy to bypass the Yellow River and reach Dali, an important town on the west bank of the Yellow River!"

Dali is located at the confluence of the Huang, Luo, and Wei rivers, and faces Puban and Tongguan across the border.

If Qin had a navy, this strategy would be impossible. The Yellow River would be turbulent, and if Qin's warships upstream swooped down, the navy downstream would be in danger of being completely annihilated.

But the brilliance lies in the fact that the Qin state had no navy, only some old grain transport boats, no warships or large warships.

If we can launch a surprise attack on Dali, Puban will become an isolated city on the east bank of the Yellow River!
Upon hearing this, all the generals' eyes lit up.

A skilled warrior doesn't need to achieve great feats. Liu Zhong has remained quiet and unassuming over the years, without any major military achievements, yet he has already grown into a seasoned general.

Born into the Liu clan of Pengcheng, he was one of Liu Daogui's founding followers and fought alongside Liu Daogui for many years, which destined him to be a man of extraordinary military strategy.

"No, General Yao Shao of the Yao Qin dynasty has amassed a large army in Dali. It will be difficult for us to attack this place in a short time. Instead, we should sail up the Wei River, enter the Wei River directly from the Yellow River, and advance straight in to attack Chang'an!"

Mao Dezhu's ideas were bolder.

With only 30,000 troops at his disposal, and the Qin army deploying nearly 150,000 along the three banks of the Yellow River, if the Tiger Guard Army were to be caught in a pincer movement, they would be surrounded by enemies on all sides and be embroiled in a protracted stalemate.

Moreover, their logistical supplies could be cut off by the Qin cavalry at any time.

Liu Zhong said admiringly, "General Mao is truly courageous. The only advantage the Qin army has is the natural barrier. If we sail up the Wei River and drive straight in, reaching Chang'an, the Qin army's morale will be shaken. We only need to annihilate the main force of the Qin army on the plains, and the Qin state will be doomed!"

The 30,000 Tiger Guard troops must have suffered considerable casualties attacking the strategically important cities of Puban, Tongguan, and Dali.

However, if they bypassed these natural barriers and fought the Qin army in the Guanzhong Plain, the Tiger Guard Army would have at least an 80% chance of winning.

The Tiger Guard Army was originally composed of elite troops from the Northern and Western Prefectures, and also included some elite troops from the Southern Yan.

The Southern Yan dynasty originated from the Later Yan dynasty, and the elite troops under Murong Chui were also in the Tiger Guard Army.

Therefore, the Tiger Guard Army now consists of almost all the most elite troops in Guandong, and all the generals feel that victory is within their grasp.

All the generals present were among the bravest men in the land.

"If we march into Guanzhong, Yao Xing will surely die!"

"The General is still eagerly awaiting our arrival at the platform; how can we not risk our lives?"

The generals quickly reached a consensus.

Mao Dezhu made a decisive decision: "With 30,000 against 160,000, the advantage is in our hands. There is no time to lose. Order all troops to board the ships immediately, cross the river into the Wei River, and head straight for Chang'an!"

"kill!"

The murderous aura emanating from the generals gathered together and spread throughout the entire army in an instant.

A faint but palpable killing intent permeated the entire camp.

Although the Tiger Guard soldiers did not know what they were to do, they knew that a great battle was about to begin.

After several drumbeats, troops from all units boarded the ships, abandoning even their camps and carrying only twenty days' worth of rations.

A long dragon of more than 500 warships and fighting vessels cleaved through the waves of the river, and the sound of drums resounded on both banks, much to the surprise of the Qin army on the north bank.

But they could only be surprised and could do nothing as groups of cavalry followed behind.

The Jin army had complete control over the waters, and the Qin army was helpless.

The army encountered almost no resistance as it sailed upstream from Hongnong County, and then turned into the Wei River channel in Dali County...

Meanwhile, at Wuguan Pass and Qingni Pass.

Fifty to sixty thousand Qin troops were at the foot of the pass.

Yao Xing could not possibly allow a detachment of less than a thousand men to reach the gates of Chang'an; otherwise, it wouldn't just be the morale of the Qin army plummeting, but the morale of the entire Qin state crumbling. Yao Xing's plan was quite simple: first, eliminate this detachment of less than a thousand men to boost the morale of the entire army.

"The Jin rebels number only eight hundred or so. My men, try your best to capture them alive. I want to cut them into a thousand pieces and feed them to the dogs!" Yao Xing didn't think much of this Jin army at all.

It was treated as a side dish at the banquet.

Even if they occupy Qingni Pass, a lone army can't change anything.

General Yangwei Peng Hao laughed loudly: "Hahaha, the Jin dogs dare to rush straight to Chang'an with less than a thousand men. They have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. After we take this pass, I will definitely taste their guts!"

"This humble general must also have a taste!"

Other generals also became interested.

Eating meat was not a taboo in Guanzhong. Back when Yao Xing fought against Fu Deng, the Di and Qin armies had long been cut off from food supplies. The soldiers fought for food by feeding on the dead, and they were always full after each meal. As a result, they were incredibly strong and healthy, and they repeatedly defeated the Yao and Qin armies.

After the disastrous defeat at Chaibi, the state of Yao Qin suffered a setback. Instead of recuperating, Yao Xing intensified his military campaigns in the Hexi Corridor, further weakening the state.

This northern expedition by the Jin army only compounded the woes of the Yao Qin dynasty.

"After we break through the pass, the prisoners are at your disposal!" Yao Xing waved his hand dismissively.

But at that moment, the city gate of Qingni Pass suddenly opened.

The Jin army left the city one after another. Although many of them were wounded, their eyes looked down at them as if they were looking at a flock of lambs to the slaughter.

"This... Could the Jin traitor have gone mad?" Peng Hao asked incredulously.

The other generals were also stunned.

Only Yao Xing understood the look in the eyes of these Jin soldiers. They were not crazy, nor were they there to surrender; they were there to fight!
If the eight or nine hundred men had held out at Qingni Pass, they might have been able to hold out for five or six days. But they chose to leave the pass and fight. Yao Xing felt a chill in his heart and inexplicably thought of Liu Yu's battles of Suanshan, Xiangcheng, and Fuzhoushan.

Liu Yu's opponents were either bandits or elite troops of the Western Army. He always won against stronger opponents with a mere few thousand soldiers, defeating tens or even hundreds of thousands of enemy troops.

His younger brother, Liu Daogui, was no ordinary man either. He had been entangled with the Southern Yan and Northern Wei for many years and had never been defeated.

However, upon closer inspection of the flags on the opposite side, only the flag with the character "Shen" was visible, which relieved me.

Liu Yu and Liu Daogui are not here.

At that moment, a loud shout came from the other side: "We have ventured here alone, precisely for today's battle. Our glory and achievements are just around the corner!"

"Kill, kill, kill——"

Birds from the surrounding mountains and forests darted into the sky, and a strange wind swept by, causing the grass and trees to rustle.

The 50,000 to 60,000 troops fell silent at the shouts of the Jin army, their momentum completely suppressed.

Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Yao Xing immediately shouted, "Sixty thousand against eight hundred, the advantage is on our side, attack!"

"kill--"

The Qin army raised their bows and spears, pointing them at the Jin army on the hillside.

But the Jin army was faster, swooping down like tigers pouncing on their prey.

The iron armor reflected a dazzling light under the blazing sun, and the crossbows in their hands were faster than the Qin army's bows and arrows, and from their elevated position, they had a greater range.

In a single encounter, the first fifty-odd armored soldiers of the Qin army fell to the ground.

Although only fifty-odd armored soldiers fell, a small breach was torn open.

Two valiant generals from the Northern Army charged ahead, crashing into the enemy ranks. One wielded a sword and shield, the other a long-handled axe, their blades gleaming coldly. With sweeping, powerful strikes, the surrounding Qin soldiers fell like wheat.

The Jin army swarmed in from behind, like tigers among sheep.

Although the Qin army had a large number of troops, it was unable to deploy its forces in front of Qingni Pass, which was surrounded by mountains on three sides.

"I'll go!" Peng Hao, confident in his bravery, immediately led his personal guards and charged forward.

Yao Xing also looked on with anticipation.

Anyone who dares to use "hao" (oyster) in the Guanzhong region must be a brave general. Peng Hao came from a Qiang tribe in Longyou and was the bravest in the army. The Qin people compared him to Zhang Hao, a fierce general of the Former Qin Dynasty, and called him a match for ten thousand men.

The Qin army made way for Peng Hao, who spurred his horse and charged toward Shen Tianzi.

Unexpectedly, Shen Tianzi not only did not retreat, but instead charged forward with his shield. Just as the man and the horse were about to collide, Shen Tianzi suddenly lowered his body and shrank under his shield. While dodging Peng Hao's long spear, he swung his long sword and severed the horse's leg.

Call——

The warhorse let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground.

Shen Linzi, who was bringing up the rear, caught up and chopped off Peng Hao's head with an axe.

The two brothers worked together seamlessly.

In an instant, the battlefield fell silent, and countless eyes were fixed on the Shen brothers.

However, unlike the Qin army, which now showed signs of fear, the Northern Army's eyes were filled with growing fervor.

"Where is Yao Xing? Come and face your death!" Shen Tianzi raised his sword to the sky, arrogant and overbearing.

No one in the Qin army dared to move.

Shen Tianzi laughed wildly, "The Qiang bandits are all rats, who have stolen our land and rivers. Today, they shall return the spoils with interest! Kill them!"

A man carrying a sword and shield charged into the Qin army's ranks...

(End of this chapter)