White Horse, Silver Spear, Grand Commandant Gao

Chapter 130 Ambush During a Shift in Formation Before the Enemy

When Shi Jingtang received the message from Yelü Deguang that the Khitan reinforcements had arrived, it was like a long-awaited rain for a parched man.

Previously, the garrison in Taiyuan had suffered repeated blows, leaving them with fewer than 5,000 troops and insufficient provisions for five days. If the Khitan army had arrived ten or fifteen days later, the city's inhabitants would have had to slaughter horses for food and eat grass roots and tree bark. (Note 1)

With insufficient troops and supplies, Taiyuan's ability to resist has been greatly weakened. It may not be able to hold out until then. If the government army launches an attack, it is very likely to fall in one battle.

Zhang Jingda's encirclement strategy was just a hair's breadth away from success. To say that Shi Jingtang was in a desperate situation is not an exaggeration at all.

Therefore, the Khitan army's arrival was perfectly timed.

Yelü Deguang first sent someone to ask, "Is it possible for me to defeat the enemy today?"

With reinforcements arriving, Shi Jingtang was unwilling to risk his life in a rash battle. He sent a messenger to Yelü Deguang, saying, "The Southern army is very strong and should not be underestimated. Please wait until tomorrow; it is not too late to discuss the battle."

Before the envoy arrived, scouts reported that the government troops had started the battle, and Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing had already led their cavalry to charge the Khitan army formation.

With no way to retreat, Shi Jingtang hurriedly dispatched Liu Zhiyuan to send troops to assist, while Zhang Yanqi, who remained at his camp, led his army to engage in fierce fighting.

Neither side showed much fighting spirit; they remained locked in a stalemate, exchanging only minor skirmishes, with most of their attention focused on the main battlefield at Hubei Pass. Both sides knew that the outcome of the entire battle depended on the result of the decisive battle between the main government forces and the Khitan reinforcements.

If the government troops win, the morale of the defending troops will collapse immediately, and the city will fall within ten days.

With the Khitan army victorious, Shi Jingtang escaped a desperate situation, and the subsequent circumstances became unpredictable.

Ren Yanhao, a clerk in Taiyuan, was skilled in divination and matters of fate. He met with Liu Zhiyuan and spoke of the fate of the Tang and Jin dynasties.

"The fate of the Tang Dynasty was already sealed. Li Cunxu, Li Siyuan, and Li Congke, the three generations, forcibly extended its life by twenty-nine years, but it was only thirty years. Next year, there will surely be a change of dynasty."

Liu Zhiyuan's black pupils twitched, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.

……

After half a day of fierce fighting, Yelü Deguang, the Khitan commander north of the Fen River, was also restless and paced back and forth in his tent.

"These Southern soldiers are so difficult to deal with. We've tried to provoke them by feigning weakness many times, but they just won't come after us. Our ambush is completely useless. It's infuriating."

His close advisors quickly reassured him, saying that the war could not be resolved in a day and that His Majesty need not be anxious.

Yelü Deguang stomped hard on the tiger-skin rug under his feet, making up his mind.

"Try again. If the Southern army still doesn't rush, then contact the ambush troops to retreat, join forces with Shi Lang, and make other plans."

For this attack, the Khitan army dispatched 3,000 light cavalry, who charged straight in without armor.

"With this weakened army attacking the enemy lines, the northern barbarians have exhausted their tricks."

Deputy Commander-in-Chief Yang Guangyuan suggested, "This bandit can be defeated in one strike; why not take advantage of the situation and pursue him?"

Zhang Jingda insisted on the established tactics: "What if it's a trap to lure us in? Besides, we have an agreement with Gao Xingzhou that the formation cannot be moved."

"Commander, you and I both know that when the Khitan army goes to war, soldiers are selected in three classes. The best horsemen and archers are given full armor and placed at the rear of the formation; the next best are given half armor and placed in the middle; and the worst are given no armor and placed at the front."

Most of the generals had fought against the Khitan in the north and were familiar with the military system described by Yang Guangyuan, so they all nodded in agreement.

"As dusk approached, the Northern barbarians, having fought fiercely all day, still could not gain the upper hand. Knowing that victory was impossible, they still sent unarmored light cavalry to attack, undoubtedly to cover the retreat of their main force. The time for a pre-arranged counterattack had arrived."

Yang Guangyuan earnestly advised, "The northern barbarians have come from afar. If our army cannot defeat them in one fell swoop today and allows them to rest for one night, it will be even more difficult to win tomorrow."

This was indeed true, and Zhang Jingda asked, "In your opinion, how should we deal with this?"

"With cavalry attacking the enemy in front and infantry defending the rear, the northern barbarians will only dare to invade in small groups. No matter how long the battle goes on, they can only maintain a stalemate. We must change our formation to defeat the enemy."

Zhang Jingda knew that changing tactics in the face of the enemy would involve great risks, and he was still pondering the matter. Yang Guangyuan raised his crippled arm, pointed to the front of the battle, and proposed a workaround.

"The infantry need not move; the cavalry can simply reposition."

He confidently offered his opinion: "Once we repel the enemy's next offensive, we might as well order Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing to lead the cavalry in pursuit. If we manage to disrupt the Northern barbarians' formation, we can urge our main force to seize the opportunity and launch a surprise attack, thus securing a decisive victory!"

Zhang Jingda deliberated repeatedly, with the thoughts of seeking stability and seeking victory rising and falling.

With the cavalry holding them back, the Khitan army was unable to launch a full-scale attack, which also tied their own hands, allowing them to only repel the enemy time and time again, making it difficult to expand their gains.

If the cavalry were ordered to pursue relentlessly, they would inflict heavy casualties on the enemy, but they would also abandon the cover for the infantry.

A battle between two armies is like gambling; only by placing a heavy bet can one win big, while losing can lead to utter ruin. For an uncertain outcome, the stakes are the lives of many soldiers, and this is precisely where the commander's decision-making becomes incredibly difficult.

After careful consideration, Zhang Jingda concluded that if they could not defeat the Khitan army, Shi Jingtang would gain external support, and Taiyuan City would not be able to fall in the short term.

"Good! Order Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing to move their troops. Once the Northern barbarians have retreated, send troops in pursuit and seize the Khitan army's main camp at Hubei Pass!"

Zhang Jingda made his decision, but still had some concerns, so he added, "Yang Guangyuan and An Yanqi, you two command the left and right flanks of the infantry. Make sure you hold the line!"

"Don't worry, coach."

Yang Guangyuan agreed, and he and An Yanqi went off to deploy their troops.

……

At the front lines, Gao Xingzhou, his battle robes stained with blood, his armor covered in dust and blood.

The characteristic of cavalry warfare lies in the constant and rapid movement of positions. Military orders often cannot keep up with the changes, so the general must set an example by himself and call on his subordinates to follow suit. Therefore, he must take the lead.

All the cavalry generals who became famous throughout the world, such as Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Lü Bu, the Flying General of Jiuyuan, and Gao Aocao, the peerless master of the horse spear, were all exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts.

At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong, who commanded the Xuanjia cavalry, needed Yuchi Jingde to accompany and protect him with a spear so that he could shoot freely and break through the enemy lines.

Gao Xingzhou personally led his troops and fought the Khitan army for half a day, killing quite a few enemies.

He and Fu Yanqing divided their respective 5,000 cavalry into two groups, taking turns to conserve their strength and horses. Even so, they were still far inferior to the Khitan army in terms of manpower and horse reserves. After fighting for most of the day, both men and horses were exhausted.

Upon receiving Zhang Jingda's military order, Gao Xingzhou hesitated for a moment.

Given the current situation, if we can hold out until sunset, we can at least remain undefeated. However, if we want to gain more advantages, we will have to take certain risks.

Was the enemy using a trap? Gao Xingzhou had also considered this question. However, the battlefield is ever-changing, and until the mystery is revealed, no one can guarantee that their judgment is correct.

If I and Fu Yanqing were to pursue the enemy, would the infantry formation be able to hold its ground?

You've persevered for so long, it seems there aren't any problems.

Gao Xingzhou was even less able to speak to Zhang Jingda about the possibility that the main force might not be able to withstand the Khitan attack once the cavalry was no longer available to hold them off.

Looking at the exhausted cavalrymen and the heavily panting warhorses, he finally obeyed the military order.

"Send word: the next time the enemy retreats, pursue them with all your might!"

……

Three thousand light cavalry swept past the government troops' formation, nocked their arrows, and unleashed a volley of arrows.

The counterattack came like a shadow, even faster than expected.

A denser rain of arrows fell upon them instantly. Their bodies, lacking armor, were as fragile as paper, and one after another they fell from their horses, collapsing and fleeing almost instantly.

The Khitan army fled along the Fen River, and Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing joined forces, urging their cavalry to catch up.

"Advance along the south bank, and do not pursue them across the river!"

Gao Xingzhou issued a strict order.

"Let the northern barbarians who escape across the river go as they please."

Unfortunately, he could only control his own cavalry, not others who were eager to win.

"Let's go, we can't let the cavalry get all the credit."

Yang Guangyuan commanded over ten thousand infantrymen on the left flank and was about to join the pursuit.

A sensible subordinate advised, "If our infantry is not in formation, we will be unable to withstand a cavalry charge. We urge the Deputy Commander to reconsider."

"What do you know? If the infantry simply holds their ground and doesn't venture out, how can a mere ten thousand cavalry secure victory?"

Yang Guangyuan shouted at his subordinates, "The Northern barbarians have exhausted their tricks; obey my orders immediately!"

He seemed to have forgotten why he had lost an arm in the first place.

Why did Yang Guangyuan move?

Zhang Jingda was very dissatisfied to see his own army advancing from the left flank, but he could not allow one of his troops to break through. He ordered his main force to advance as well, maintaining the horizontal formation.

An Shenqi's right flank infantry also moved forward, crossing the palisade and temporarily losing their formation.

"Your Majesty, the Southern army has moved its formation."

A scout known as "Lanzi Ma" (meaning "lanzi horse") discovered the military situation and urgently reported it to Yelü Deguang.

The Khitan military strategy consisted of three armies: the Imperial Guard, the Vanguard, and the Scouts. The Scouts patrolled in a cross-regional manner, scouting areas extending over a hundred miles, hence their other name, the Distant Scouts.

The moment the government troops moved, the enemy's formation was spotted by the cavalry, who galloped back to the main tent to report.

"Haha, the Southern soldiers finally couldn't hold back anymore."

Yelü Deguang was overjoyed and couldn't help but issue instructions repeatedly in Khitan.

"Order the enemy Lugu to wait for the southern troops to catch up with them across the river, then ambush them all and cut them in two." (Note 2)

"Order Zhao Siwen to hold back the Southern Army cavalry and prevent them from going to their aid."

"Furthermore, order my mighty general Gao Mohan to have his men mount their best warhorses and slaughter every last Southern infantryman!"