You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 81 Eastward Offensive
When others fight, they boast about their large troop strength to intimidate the enemy and boost their own morale.

However, this time, Yanzhou was unable to explain the number of its troops, and even reported fewer than expected.

Even so, everyone felt that his claim of 15,000 men was exaggerated, because in theory, Chen Shao only had less than 10,000 soldiers under his command.

He also needs to send troops to guard Yanzhou City.

It would be good if he had five thousand men with him on the expedition.

The military commanders of Youzhou and Jianing naturally knew about this news.

When Pang Ge arrived with his reinforcements, Li Yaozu laughed heartily, "This is the reinforcement you were talking about!"

The group that came numbered less than two thousand cavalry, which wasn't enough to feed the troops of Youzhou.

If the Song army's cavalry were only driven by their desire to achieve merit and establish their own achievements, then their desperate fighting might be understandable.

The Tibetans, on the other hand, harbored naked hatred, the kind that is irreconcilable.

Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Han Shizhong keenly realized that the Youzhou troops had lost their chance to retreat back into the city, and he had to stop them until Chen Shao arrived with his troops.

At this moment, less than twenty miles from the battlefield, Chen Shao and a group of generals were gathered around a hastily drawn and crude map.

This map was hastily drawn by the people who had been subdued in Yanzhou, relying on their memories and familiarity with this land.

Chen Shao raised his hand and pointed, saying, "The enemy has come out in full force, which is exactly what I planned to do by feigning weakness. I heard that the Jianing Military Command has dispatched its main force to aid Yinxia and Liangzhou in their fight against the Zhong family army. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Don't pursue them too closely. Let them escape back to Youzhou, and we'll follow them in. Once they close the city gates, the losses from the siege will increase tenfold!"

Everyone craned their necks to look, then clasped their hands and said, "Your subordinates obey!"

Chen Shao then dispatched two hundred cavalrymen, scattered around as scouts, to serve as reconnaissance, guard, and cover.

The battle at the front was raging, with both sides bloodthirsty and desperate. Li Yaozu kept urging Youzhou City to send more troops.

The young general next to him, Wei Minglitong, suddenly sensed that something was amiss.

The Song army on the other side was facing Xia soldiers who outnumbered them by several times, yet they showed no fear. What was the point of them fighting like this?
Is it really about risking your life to the last man? There's no such fighting style in the world. Even the most foolish general wouldn't let his elite cavalry die in vain.

As a general with extensive battlefield experience, he suddenly tensed up, a dangerous sense of unease creeping into his heart. It was as if he sensed a chilling, murderous aura sweeping in from west to east!

Yanzhou!

Yanzhou is not an empty city; they must have reinforcements.

Wei Mingli immediately approached Li Yaozu again, "Li Shouyu, please withdraw your troops immediately!"

Li Yaozu was engrossed in the battle, feeling that although he would have to pay a heavy price, he was certain he could defeat the fierce elite Song cavalry.

They already had few cavalry, and if they could personally defeat those four or five thousand, their future would be bright.

Upon hearing that Wei Minglitong was spreading rumors and inciting unrest again, Li Yaozu was furious. "Guards! Tie up this cowardly villain! When I return to the city victorious, I will deal with him as well!"

At that moment, shouts came from afar: "Guards! Guards! There is urgent military news ahead! The main force of the Song army has appeared!"

As night fell, the vast grassland, illuminated by the starlight, was enveloped by a torrent of water surging forth from the horizon.

From their angle, the crowd seemed endless, with more than twenty riders on fast horses carrying colorful flags and torches galloping at the forefront, the riders reining in their warhorses.

As they dispersed from the middle, the rest of the crowd followed suit.

The Western Xia army in Youzhou seemed to sense a net of heaven and earth closing in on them.

Li Yaozu was so frightened that he couldn't speak.

With his arms tied behind his back and being held captive, Akina Toshimitsu shouted, "Do not retreat! Leave some men to hold off the enemy, and the rest of you retreat to avoid being taken advantage of in the chaos!"

When Li Yaozu heard him shout, he realized that if he retreated now, they might be followed and attacked.

The city walls were crowded; with so many people, how could they evacuate quickly? But which soldiers should be left behind, and who would lead them?
Those who remain are almost certainly doomed. In this vast grassland, everyone has cavalry, so there's no way to escape.

Li Yaozu's gaze fell on Wei Minglitong, a man who was not one of his trusted confidants.

Moreover, if he goes back alive this time and speaks carelessly, he might expose the mistakes in his command.
Wei Minglitong understood immediately upon seeing his gaze. He sneered and shook off the soldier who was holding him.

Give me a gun!

Someone threw a long spear over, which Weiming Litong caught and leaped onto his warhorse.

Filled with grief and indignation, he transformed into a fighting spirit, thinking that after so many generations of receiving the country's grace, he would fight to the death for his country today.
Li Yaozu quickly gave the order, and as the drums beat, the command flags moved through the army, and the Western Xia army was soon divided into two parts.

The rear army then turned and retreated towards Youzhou.

The newly arrived Yanzhou soldiers rushed onto the battlefield from all directions. They were extremely patient and did not rush into battle. Especially the knights on the two flanks, who were originally so poor that they could not afford clothes, were now dressed neatly, their battle robes torn off to reveal their chilling armor. They were fully equipped with lances and longswords, and their pouches and quivers were adjusted to the most convenient position for drawing them.

Horse archery, driving, tail following
This sheep-herding tactic completely treated the Western Xia army as prey.

Hidden in the middle of it all, Toshimitsu Akina fell into a deep despair. He felt that even if he risked his life to cover their retreat, those people might not be able to safely return to the city.

Li Yaozu was an incompetent fool; how could he possibly gather and control his troops during a time of utter defeat?

Once they seize the road, even without the Song army's pursuit, the trampling of each other will plunge this army into utter ruin.

Wei Mingli sighed inwardly. This carelessness might have cost Youzhou its life. If the Song people attacked from both sides, Yinxia would be put on the defensive.

He gripped his spear tightly, slowly spurred his horse forward, his personal guards following closely behind. They charged forward, killing many Song soldiers. Suddenly, a figure gradually appeared in the distance, becoming clearer and clearer.

The newcomer carried a long spear, its tassel stained crimson with blood, which had soaked both man and horse. Several arrows were still embedded in the seams of their armor plates. Yet, his face was flushed with excitement, showing no sign of fatigue, as if he had just begun a fierce battle and hadn't just come across as having just survived a brutal fight!

Wei Mingli recognized the man as the vanguard general of the Song army who had slaughtered many enemies at the start of the battle. He considered himself a fierce general and thought that dying at the hands of such a hero would be a good ending.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wei Minglitong brandished his spear and charged towards Han Shizhong.

By now, Han Shizhong is like a ghost; the Western Xia soldiers run away whenever they see him.

Seeing how brave this man was, Han Shizhong shook the white waxwood spear in his hand, and the tassel of the spear fluttered, like a blood-red sphere.

At this moment, every spear tassel seemed to bloom and stand upright!

In the midst of their fierce battle, Han Shizhong suddenly switched his spear to his left hand, spurred his horse forward, and grabbed the belt around Han Shizhong's waist.

With his right foot, he pulled on the stirrup of Weiming Litong's warhorse and immediately dragged him off.

Wei Mingli tried to resist by waving his arms and legs, but Han Shizhong squeezed him tightly under his ribs, and he couldn't make a sound.

"Tied!"
-
Seeing the soldiers blocking the way ahead, even though the city gate was right in front of them, they couldn't advance at all.

Li Yaozong's expression was uncertain, and the people around him offered all sorts of suggestions.

In the darkness, everywhere you looked, there were Yanzhou soldiers roaring and fighting, their energy as boundless as a herd of wild bulls.

Li Yaozong gritted his teeth and indeed gave up entering the city, choosing instead to lead his troops eastward to join the main force of the Jianing Army.

"All troops, advance eastward!"

Those around couldn't help but spit and despise him. This statement was utterly shameless. The enemy was all in the west, so why were you attacking in the east?

If you're running for your life, then say you're running for your life!

As everyone could see, under the cover of night, the Yanzhou soldiers seemed endless, their numbers completely unknown.

With morale so low, even a miracle couldn't save them.

Now, Youzhou City was completely wide open, and the vanguard cavalry of Yanzhou charged and slashed without stopping, their hooves thundering and shaking the earth.

(End of this chapter)