novelAbuy Chapter 39: A Surprise Attack on Yunzhou Opens a New Chapter
Chapter 39: A Surprise Attack on Yunzhou Opens a New Chapter
Compared to the Fu sisters, with whom she has absolutely no connection, her younger brother Gao Huailiang is more of a worry.
Gao Huaide noticed that his younger brother's cheeks were bruised and his hands were scraped, and he immediately flew into a rage.
"Who hit you? I'm bringing more men; we'll definitely get our revenge!"
Gao Yanei couldn't stand such rudeness. Xiao Fu wouldn't argue with a woman, but to bully her own younger brother was unacceptable!
"Brother, I fell by accident, it has nothing to do with anyone else."
Helpless, Gao Huailiang had no choice but to explain that the scars on his face were caused by accidentally falling off his horse.
"Are you crazy?! You know you can die if you fall off a horse!"
Gao Huaide was getting anxious. Two years ago, he learned to ride a horse for the first time in Shuozhou. His father guided and protected him throughout the process, and it took several months for him to become familiar with the horse's temperament before he could ride it with ease.
"You're only a few years old, why are you in such a hurry to succeed?"
Gao Huailiang smiled but did not answer, which aggravated his injury, causing him to wince in pain.
"I'll go get some medicine for you to apply."
Martial arts training inevitably involves falls and injuries. Gao Huaide turned to leave, but his younger brother grabbed him, saying, "Don't tell Mother and Sister. Just say that I accidentally hit you while practicing martial arts. You can take the blame for me, right?"
"Fine, fine, I won't say."
Taking the blame was no big deal, but then Gao Huaide thought about it again. It was impossible to hide the fact that Gao Xingzhou had given away the horses, and he found it even stranger: "Why did Father allow you to start learning to ride so early...?"
He suddenly realized that his younger brother was trying to avoid being looked down upon by the Yang family and losing face for his family.
Thinking of how his small body was probably covered in bruises, Gao Huaide felt a pang of pain in his heart and said angrily, "Father is too cruel!"
"It's not my father's business; it was my own idea."
Gao Huailiang said in a low voice, "Learning there at the Yang family's place is never as good as being taught wholeheartedly by your own family, right?"
Gao Huaide felt sorry for his younger brother: "If you really want to learn, I'll accompany you starting tomorrow."
"Thank you, brother."
As the two brothers were talking, Gao Xingzhou strolled over. When he saw the scars on his younger son's face, a strange light flashed in his eyes. He said calmly, "Liang'er, you'll be going to the Yang family soon. If there's anything you like, feel free to tell your father, and I'll buy it for you to take with you."
Can kinship be replaced by material things?
Gao Huaide curled his lip, finding his father's words rather cold.
Gao Huailiang thought for a moment and said, "I do have something I would like to ask Father to grant me."
"Speak."
"Father, could you finish telling the story? Was Grandpa's great revenge achieved? What became of Wang Yanzhang?"
Gao Huailiang was, after all, only a six-year-old child, and his mood gradually sank: "After I go to the Yang family, I don't know when I will be able to hear the ending of the story..."
Gao Xingzhou gazed at his second son's youthful face, his sharp eyes softening, and finally uttered only one word.
"it is good."
……
In the 20th year of the Tianyou reign of the Tang Dynasty, and the 3rd year of the Longde reign of the Liang Dynasty.
April 25th, Ji Si day.
Li Cunxu built an altar south of the city of Weizhou, offered sacrifices to the Supreme God of Heaven, ascended the throne as emperor, continued to use Tang as the name of the dynasty, and changed the era name to Tongguang.
An imperial edict elevated Weizhou to the Eastern Capital Xing Tang Prefecture, designated Taiyuan as the Western Capital, and Zhenzhou as the Northern Capital, governing thirteen military commands and fifty prefectures.
The fourth day of the intercalary fourth month, Dingchou day.
Li Cunshen, the military governor of Youzhou, was appointed as Grand Tutor and concurrently Chancellor, and was retained as the Commander-in-Chief of the Han and non-Han Cavalry and Infantry.
Li Siyuan, the military governor of Heng Hai Army, was appointed as the Inspector-General and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Han and Foreign Barbarians.
The struggle between Jin and Liang has lasted for almost forty years, starting from the bloody and fiery night raid on Shangyuan Post Station after the suppression of Huang Chao's rebellion.
Li Keyong and Zhu Wen, the two figures involved, were long gone, but the war not only did not subside, but intensified, ultimately ending with the destruction of the country.
The Liang Kingdom occupied the Central Plains of Henan, while the Tang Kingdom basically took Hebei under its control, comparable to Cao Cao and Yuan Shao during the Three Kingdoms period. However, Li Cunxu did not possess the overwhelming strength of Yuan Shao.
Despite losing strongholds in Hebei such as Weibo, the Liang Kingdom was still a behemoth with sixty-two prefectures, its national strength unparalleled in the world.
After decades of vying for supremacy, both sides were exhausted and it seemed time for an end to the conflict.
To change the course of the world, a catalyst is needed.
Just then, Lu Shunmi, a general who had surrendered from the Liang Kingdom, came to surrender and informed Dai Siyuan, the military governor of Yunzhou, that he had led his troops to garrison Yangcun. The city's garrison was less than a thousand strong, and the commander had lost the support of the people. They could attack and take the city.
The ministers all believed that launching a distant attack with a large army would be risky, as it would result in the loss of thousands of men if the attack failed. They argued that this plan was not feasible.
Li Cunxu summoned Li Siyuan for a secret meeting. Only a handful of people at the highest levels knew that the current situation was extremely unfavorable for the newly established Tang Dynasty.
Li Jitao, the military governor of Luzhou, rebelled and sent tribute to the Liang dynasty, shaking the foundations of Hedong. The main Liang army concentrated on the western front, about to invade the ancestral homeland of the Tang dynasty. It was precisely because of this that a gap appeared in the eastern front, where forces were weak.
"Yunzhou is currently weak and isolated, so it can certainly be taken in one fell swoop. But can Dongping really be captured?"
Dongping, located at the confluence of the Ji and Wen rivers, connects Qingzhou and Yanzhou, and is situated in the heart of the Liang Kingdom.
"Isn't Zhu Youzhen trying to annex Ze and Lu prefectures? I'll strike first and give him a taste of his own medicine."
Li Cunxu had been the Prince of Jin for fifteen years. The once spirited young man had grown a beard and entered his prime, and his title had become Emperor.
He was three years older than his opponent, but their battlefield experience was worlds apart.
As the Art of War states: A skillful strategist brings the enemy to his own ends, rather than being brought to his own ends.
Li Cunxu, a veteran of countless battles, would not be easily manipulated. If you attack Taiyuan, I will attack Yunzhou. He would rise up even more when in adversity.
Five years ago, in the Battle of Huliubei, Zhou Dewei and his son died heroically. Li Siyuan mistakenly believed that his army had been defeated and retreated across the river first, always feeling ashamed of his loss of composure.
Desiring to make amends for his past mistakes by achieving merit, he replied, "We have been at war for many years, and the people are exhausted. If we do not achieve victory through extraordinary means, how can we accomplish such a great feat? I am willing to lead this battle alone, and I will surely repay you in the end."
Therefore, a plan was devised, and Li Siyuan led his elite troops of 5,000 men directly from Deshengkou to Yunzhou.
By the time they reached Yangliucheng, the sun was setting, the sky was overcast and rainy, and the roads were dark. The soldiers all wanted to lay down their armor and rest, waiting for the weather to clear the next day before continuing their journey.
Gao Xingzhou, then serving as a military commander, suggested: "They must be unprepared; this is a golden opportunity for us to win."
Li Siyuan readily agreed and ordered the entire army to cross the river under cover of night, gagged and silent.
……
The night was quiet, filled with the croaking of frogs. The rustling footsteps of the marching soldiers and the occasional clanging of weapons did not disturb the tranquility.
Five hundred vanguard men stealthily approached the city, unnoticed by the Yunzhou garrison. The night watchman's clapper in the city continued its unhurried, lingering melody.
Two bamboo ladders gently leaned against the city wall.
Li Congke and Gao Xingzhou, with gags in their mouths, exchanged a glance and took the lead in starting the climb.
After climbing to the top of the two- or three-zhang-high city wall in a few steps, Gao Xingzhou was still listening to the sounds from the other side of the battlements when Li Congke had already flipped over.
Fortunately, this section of the city wall was unguarded. The two hid at the base of the wall, holding their breath in the darkness, waiting for the soldiers to catch up.
Seeing Li Congke trying to shrink his huge body, Gao Xingzhou couldn't help but find it amusing.
Before the soldiers could climb the city wall, a few torches shone, illuminating the figures of the Tang soldiers who were scaling the wall.
Was discovered.
The patrolling Yunzhou garrison felt a chill run down their spines, and exclamations of alarm rang out.
"Enemy attack!"
The defenders intended to call upon their comrades for support, awaken the slumbering city, and hopefully scare away the invading enemy forces.
Li Congke and Gao Xingzhou would never retreat, especially since they already knew the true state of the city. Now that they had been discovered, their only option was to launch a full-scale attack instead of a sneak attack.
The two drew their weapons and charged forward.
Li Congke was tall and strong, and wielded a mountain-splitting axe. The axe blade was thin and sharp, while the back of the axe was thick and heavy, as square as a brick. When he swung it, it whistled through the air, and his moves were wide and sweeping, extremely rugged and heroic.
He stood proudly atop the city wall, majestic and awe-inspiring like a heavenly king, wielding a large axe in his hand, its power enveloping and covering an area of about ten feet in radius.
Where the crescent-shaped, cold light flashed, weapons broke, limbs were severed, and blood splattered.
The axe is used to cut things down, and all who see it are filled with fear and trembling, hence it is also called "Qi" or "Ju". It also has another name, "Tie Gao Mi".
Wherever the iron axe went, everything turned into minced meat and shredded meat.
Gao Xingzhou and Li Congke had been partners for over ten years, facing each other side-by-side countless times, their teamwork impeccable. He protected Li Congke from behind, occasionally extending his spear to fill in the gaps in Li Congke's attacks.
A patrol of ten soldiers was almost instantly killed.
Li Congke strode forward to catch up, while the remaining one or two people, in their panic, jumped off the city wall, uttering two short screams before quickly falling silent again.
More and more friendly troops climbed onto the city wall. Before they could all gather, Li Congke waved his hand and ran towards the city gate.
The half of the Liang soldiers stationed there, having heard the strange activity on the city wall, were already on alert. They moved the chevaux-de-frise to block the passage and raised their crossbows.
It seems that we won't be able to take the city gate without paying a price.
Li Congke took the lead, charging forward with a shield in hand, followed by his soldiers.
The vanguard was composed of brave warriors selected from five thousand elite troops. They were not unaware of the power of crossbows, but at this moment there was no turning back. In the chaos of battle, who would be hit was entirely up to fate.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Several sharp arrows pierced the air, followed by the muffled thuds of arrows piercing flesh, and several Tang soldiers immediately fell.
Before they could reload after firing a volley, the defenders dropped their crossbows, picked up their spears, drew their swords, and prepared for close combat.
Li Congke threw over the shield, which was studded with several arrows, and swung his great axe to clear away the thicket of spears.
Several severed spearheads fell to the ground.
The defending soldiers engaged them with swords drawn, but Li Congke raised the chevaux-de-frise with one hand and smashed it down hard.
The heavy barricades knocked over several people, their thick, sharp spikes piercing their bodies, eliciting cries of agony.
The next moment, the leading garrison officer was cleaved in two by Li Congke's axe, helmet and head split apart, like a watermelon split open.
Several soldiers hiding deep inside the city gate huddled together, seemingly contemplating surrender but undecided. They instinctively held their spears high, as if gripping their weapons would make them feel safer.
It was this hesitation that cost them their lives.
The Tang army swarmed forward, hacking and slashing, slaughtering the entire enemy like chopping vegetables. They then dragged the corpses aside, determined not to block the path into the city.
Overcoming all resistance, Li Congke lifted the door bolt and leaned against the side. Two soldiers worked together to push open the heavy city gate—the first step of the night raid was successfully completed.
While the main force was still several miles away waiting for news, Li Congke ordered someone to go and inform the commander-in-chief.
He took a few deep breaths and sought Gao Xingzhou's opinion: "We've taken the city gate, what's the next step?"
The conservative strategy was simply to hold the city gates and wait for Li Siyuan's army to arrive. However, this would give the city's defenders time to prepare, making the subsequent battle much more complicated and unpredictable.
"We should take advantage of the chaos to advance."
"Just what I wanted!"
The two were of one mind and reached a consensus without needing to say much.
With one or two hours left until dawn, a detachment was left to guard the city gates and guide the main force. Li Congke led the vanguard, with Gao Xingzhou bringing up the rear, leading several hundred soldiers in a swift attack on the main city! (Note 1)
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Place Name Comparison
Weizhou: Northeast of Daming County, Handan City, Hebei Province
Zhenzhou: present-day Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Yangcun: 15 li southwest of Puyang City, Henan Province
Dongping: Southwest of present-day Dongping County, Tai'an City, Shandong Province
Desheng: present-day Puyang City, Henan Province
Yangliu: Yangliu Town, northeast of Dong'e County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province
Yunzhou: present-day Dongping County, Tai'an City, Shandong Province