Chapter 439: All Experienced Hands

Facing the aggressive Fang Chongyong, Tian Chengsi was surprised but not at all panicked.

He led the generals of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army into the Datong Army camp, and only after dismissing the bystanders did he look at Fang Chongyong with a bitter smile and explain:

"Oh, Jiedushi, you truly overestimate me.

I have only just taken over the Datong Army for a dozen or so days. The officers do not know the soldiers, and the soldiers do not know the officers — this is not knowing oneself.

The Uyghurs have come from afar, their fighting spirit at its peak. How many men they have, how much provisions, how many days they can sustain, and how heavy their casualties from assaulting the city will be.

On all of this, I am completely in the dark — this is not knowing the enemy.

Not knowing oneself and not knowing the enemy, rushing into battle would mean certain defeat.

Moreover, the Datong Army at full strength numbers no more than eight thousand, and they are not all stationed in one place. If we march north into Yunzhou to lift the siege, success would be one thing.

But if we fail, I fear Shuozhou would also be lost.

Once Shuozhou is lost, the Uyghurs could march south to take Taiyuan. I cannot bear the responsibility for that!"

Tian Chengsi hastily clasped his fists and bowed to Fang Chongyong in apology.

After hearing his explanation, the generals behind Fang Chongyong all looked at one another. It had to be said — Tian Chengsi's reasoning made sense.

If he did not rescue Yunzhou, at most he would lose half of Yunzhou.

The Jingbian Army garrison and Wuzhou City within Yunzhou territory were still safe for the time being.

But if Tian Chengsi went to rescue Yunzhou and ended in a crushing defeat, what would happen if the Uyghurs pulled off a 'rolling back the bead curtain' counterattack?

Everyone present was a veteran of many battles, not reckless greenhorns fearless as newborn calves; they could not help but nod slightly.

Tian Chengsi was the Inspector of Shuozhou and the Military Commissioner of the Datong Army. Holding Shuozhou was his proper duty; rescuing Yunzhou was not.

Fang Chongyong let out a long sigh and said, "Yunzhou is the gateway to Taiyuan, and it connects Shuofang and Hebei. It absolutely must not be lost."

He already understood Tian Chengsi's predicament — the other man was not deliberately trying to undermine him.

In fact, Fang Chongyong had only gradually come to grasp the situation of the Shuofang Army over the past month or two.

And this was merely grasping the state of the forces, not controlling these armies, let alone commanding them with ease.

Tian Chengsi had been parachuted into the Datong Army for such a short time that he probably had not even memorized all the officers under his command — how could he wield this army with facility?

"Jiedushi, actually, the Uyghurs entering Yunzhou — this matter is serious if you say it is, but if you call it small, it is not even worth mentioning.

An isolated army penetrating deep, its retreat cut off — lose just once, and the entire army becomes a startled bird.

As long as Yunzhong City does not fall, dragging things out a bit does no harm."

Tian Chengsi suddenly lowered his voice and said.

His idea was a good one, but Fang Chongyong did not see it that way.

Because what Tian Chengsi spoke of was the normal situation, not including contingencies like the Hebei border army colluding with the Uyghurs.

If it were the latter, the Uyghurs' retreat route was right there — one could even say they could advance and withdraw at will!

"Can your troops set an ambush?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Tian Chengsi and asked.

"This... yes, we can!"

Tian Chengsi thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said. Fang Chongyong had come all the way here; for him to say he could not even set an ambush would be far too embarrassing!

Compared to a frontal assault, when fighting an ambush, the army was easier to control and easier to command. This was a proposal he could not refuse.

"Jiedushi, could it be..."

Tian Chengsi thought of something and hurriedly walked over to the map hanging on the wooden frame.

He saw a location he had circled on the map.

"It seems Military Commissioner Tian is a man who pays attention."

Fang Chongyong also noticed the circle on the map and said with a smile and a nod.

The circled place was called Huanghuadui, a critical area on the border between Shuozhou and Yunzhou. It was famous for the yellow flowers blanketing the hillsides in spring and the nearby ridges resembling a spine.

Decades ago, the famed Tang general Heichi Changzhi had thoroughly trounced the Turks here.

The battle situation back then was actually somewhat similar to today's!

"Beneath Yunzhong City, the Uyghurs gather in crowds, clustered together assaulting the city with no formation to speak of, and it is not convenient for troops to deploy in formation.

If my troops thrust here, coordinating with Li Liangchen's forces inside the city, we can strike from both inside and out and crush the Uyghurs!

But the Uyghurs are certainly no fools; they would never send troops only to besiege Yunzhong City.

They will surely dispatch cavalry patrols to the west and south of Yunzhong City, and once they spot enemies approaching, they will concentrate their forces to intercept!

If our army sends a detachment charging north, feigning a rescue of Yunzhong City, the Uyghur main force will inevitably dispatch their main body to pursue, separating us from the defenders in Yunzhong City.

At that point, we pretend to be outmatched and retreat toward the south.

If the Uyghurs pursue, we set an ambush at Huanghuadui.

If the Uyghurs do not pursue, we head north again to harass them, tying down their attention. We make them unable to focus on assaulting the city, forcing them to pursue southward once more.

With this back-and-forth pulling, there will come a time when the Uyghurs cannot stand it, so they will certainly pursue to the end.

General Tian, have the Datong Army mobilize no fewer than five thousand troops and conceal them along the ridge at Huanghuadui. Best if every man has a warhorse.

When you see the Uyghur cavalry pursue to this point, wait for my signal of fireworks and charge out.

Victory is certain in a single battle!"

Fang Chongyong traced the plan on the map with his hand.

The plan was not complex, but it was clever, and the generals all nodded continuously after hearing it.

Aside from the relatively high demands on the bait unit's tactical skill and morale, everything else minimized risk to the greatest extent.

No matter how you looked at it, it was far more brilliant than foolishly charging straight at Yunzhong City with troops.

And the Datong Army clearly did not possess the tactical level needed to serve as bait, so Fang Chongyong's plan was self-evident.

The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army would lure the enemy, and the Datong Army would set the ambush.

"Jiedushi, give me five hundred elite cavalry. I'll lure the enemy—I know this well enough, and I can play the part convincingly!

If the entire Yinqiang Xiaojie Army goes, I fear it won't be easy to disengage after clashing with the enemy, and it might spook the prey."

Che Guangqian stepped forward and requested to fight.

Three thousand cavalry was already no small force. If they frightened the Uighurs into retreating several li to wait for your attack—

then would you attack or retreat?

It must be said that Che Guangqian's front-line reconnaissance experience from campaigning in the Western Regions was extremely rich. These considerations would be very difficult for anyone who wasn't a front-line scout to think through thoroughly.

"Five hundred men—is that enough? Isn't that a bit too few?"

Fang Chongyong asked in puzzlement.

Che Guangqian patted his chest and guaranteed:

"Jiedushi, I've scouted so many times that I know exactly what the opponent is thinking.

When they see several hundred cavalry, anyone with some strength wants to go up and swallow them. But if several thousand cavalry actually show up, they might not dare to pursue.

It's just like sitting down at a gambling table—who would bet their entire fortune on the very first hand?

All we want is for the Uighurs to withdraw.

If we truly want to fight a decisive battle, the Shuofang Army still has plenty of troops that can be assembled. No need to bite off more than we can chew in one go."

Che Guangqian expressed his view, which was similar to Fang Chongyong's, yet had one key difference.

Anti-aircraft guns are for air defense, not for shooting down planes. Understanding the difference between the two is a required lesson for any commander.

Likewise, Fang Chongyong's goal in this battle was to lift the siege of Yunzhong City and rebuild the Hedong defense line.

Lifting the siege came first. Annihilating the Uighur cavalry was merely the means used to achieve that end.

Lifting the siege was the objective; destroying the enemy was the method. One must not confuse the two.

As long as they could fight a satisfying annihilation battle at Huanghua Dui, then carry the momentum of a great victory to Yunzhong City to lift the siege—

having already lost one engagement, and unable to resupply in Yunzhou, the Uighurs could not possibly have the audacity to recklessly enter a strategic decisive battle with Fang Chongyong!

If forced into a decisive battle, they would lose more often than win, and might even lose everything in one go.

The Uighurs weren't stupid as pigs, either.

After all, the Tang army had no shortage of troops in the surrounding prefectures and counties—they simply hadn't assembled yet. The Uighurs had merely seized the initiative for now; whether they could win in the end was still very much up in the air.

Che Guangqian's strategy was extremely sound.

Small scale, whittle down the Uighurs' morale, prioritize stability, and attend to lifting the siege at the same time.

"That's excellent. But be careful—if you can't win, run. Don't show off bravery.

Take my commander's banner with you. That should surely hook some fish!"

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and patted Che Guangqian on the shoulder.

Tian Chengsi looked thoughtfully at the generals around Fang Chongyong. He suddenly realized that this Fang Jiedushi truly had an abundance of talent under his command.

In such a short time, a practical and feasible battle plan had been produced—and it seemed highly viable!

Fang Jiedushi was truly full of stratagems and decisive!

Tian Chengsi raised his estimation of Fang Chongyong once more. This young man who had become the Hetao Pacification Commissioner at such a young age and concurrently held the Jiedushi post of two commands was indeed not where he was just by having a good father.

At least, not entirely.

An expert sees the craft. The greatest advantage of Fang Chongyong's plan was that it didn't need to rely on long-distance supply convoys. They could use Shuozhou as a base to constantly harass the Uighurs.

Truly formidable!

This was what elite soldiers and strong generals looked like! Superior skill breeds boldness!

No wonder they dared to mutiny at Xiangji Temple!

Tian Chengsi sighed endlessly in his heart—when would he ever have such an elite army under his own command, where one man was worth a hundred!

"Military Commissioner Tian, my troops are ready. Are you?"

Seeing Tian Chengsi looking utterly at ease, Fang Chongyong frowned slightly and asked.

"Reporting to Jiedushi, I am ready. I will now muster five thousand troops and proceed to Huanghua Dui to set an ambush."

Tian Chengsi clasped his fists in salute to Fang Chongyong and said.

"Mm, then let's set out."

Fang Chongyong nodded, his expression solemn.

He had a bad feeling in his heart.

Huangfu Weiming had colluded with the Uighurs so boldly. If someone reported it, Brother Ji could absolutely make him pay a price he couldn't bear.

Conversely, since Huangfu Weiming had already let the Uighurs pass through his territory, he clearly had no intention of playing dumb—after all, this sort of thing couldn't be glossed over.

So, was it possible that the other side had already decided to "stop pretending"?

All signs indicated that this possibility was extremely high.

"Right, Military Commissioner Tian."

Fang Chongyong suddenly called out to Tian Chengsi, who was already about to walk out of the military tent.

"What else does Jiedushi command?"

Tian Chengsi asked with a respectful expression, clasping his fists.

"In your judgment, when will Huangfu Weiming rebel?"

Fang Chongyong asked point-blank.

Hearing this, Tian Chengsi looked astonished. He glanced at the generals around Fang Chongyong and found that they all looked as if they hadn't heard a thing—clearly, they had already heard rumors about Huangfu Weiming's intention to rebel.

"Jiedushi, this... is it convenient to speak of this?"

Tian Chengsi swallowed and asked.

"Huangfu Weiming has already let the Uighurs into Hebei—what wouldn't he dare? And what can't you say?

"Do you expect me, this Jiedushi, to tell the Sage that you were recommended to Hedong by Huangfu Weiming and intend to serve as his inside man?"

Fang Chongyong warned Tian Chengsi with a veiled threat, telling him not to play dumb!

"This... if it's fast, perhaps they have already rebelled at this very moment.

Even if it's slower, it would still be a matter of this year or next.

In short, I believe Huangfu Weiming acts decisively, with both courage and strategy; he is not one who drags his feet."

Tian Chengsi said in a deep voice.

At this, all the generals around Fang Chongyong revealed expressions of astonishment. Clearly, they too had not expected the crisis to be so close that it was already burning their eyebrows!

"Military Commissioner Tian's loyalty and valor are commendable; though you come from Hebei, you have always remained loyal to the court.

After we repel the Uyghurs this time, I, this Jiedushi, will petition the court for merit on Military Commissioner Tian's behalf."

Fang Chongyong said with a smile, but no matter how you looked at it, the smile was deeply meaningful, making Tian Chengsi's hair stand on end.

"Please rest assured, Jiedushi. My family has all come to Hedong; I would certainly not go so far as to side with Huangfu Weiming."

Tian Chengsi said awkwardly. His fence-sitting little scheme had been punctured with a single remark, and he felt embarrassed and somewhat sheepish.

He knew very well in his heart that matters in Hebei were about to be laid bare.

Fang Chongyong, as the Grand Envoy for Hetao Pacification, carried great weight in his words. Once a memorial was sent to Chang'an, Huangfu Weiming would have to act even if he didn't want to!

"Depart in one hour."

Fang Chongyong said nothing more, dropped this single line, turned around, and walked out of the camp tent.

……

Huanghua Dui was a stretch of rolling hills. Its absolute elevation was not high, nor was it rugged, but the terrain was unusually twisted, the hills rising and falling with no pattern at all, like a 3D graph displayed in certain mathematical software.

This place was very suitable for hiding troops; the twisted curves of the hills could naturally block people's line of sight.

It was now deep winter and heavy snow had already fallen. Huanghua Dui had no yellow flowers, no green grass—everything was a vast expanse of white.

This hill was the sole protrusion in the midst of a small plain, and also the boundary point between Shuozhou and Yunzhou, as well as a necessary passage.

It was a burial ground for bones "since ancient times."

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, during the time of King Wuling of Zhao, there was already a mention of climbing Mount Huanghua. Mount Huanghua was what is now called Huanghua Dui, named for being covered in yellow flowers.

During the Northern Wei, this place was called Huanggua Dui. The King of Dai, Tuoba Yilu, once built New Pingcheng here and sent his eldest son, Tuoba Liuxiu, to garrison it with troops.

Later, Tuoba Liuxiu rebelled. Tuoba Yilu led troops to attack New Pingcheng, was defeated, and was killed by Tuoba Liuxiu.

Tuoba Yilu's nephew, Tuoba Pugen, learned of the news and dispatched troops, destroying Tuoba Liuxiu's army in turn.

During the reign of Emperor Daowu, Tuoba Gui, a new city was again built at Huanggua Dui. In the early Xiaochang era of the Northern Wei, Hulü Jin led troops out of Huanggua Dui from Yunzhou and was defeated by Du Luozhou's rebel army.

When the Northern Qi was newly founded, Gao Yang led troops north from Jinyang and garrisoned Huanggua Dui with two thousand elite Xianbei soldiers, only to be surrounded by over ten thousand Rouran cavalry.

Under an extreme disparity in forces, Gao Yang exploited the advantageous terrain of Huanggua Dui, achieved victory through surprise, and shattered the Rouran army, capturing the Rouran chieftain Anluochen's wife and over thirty thousand people.

It was during the Tang dynasty that Huanggua Dui was renamed Huanghua Dui.

The ruins of the old city from the Northern Wei were still clearly visible.

At this very moment, over two thousand elite soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, along with five thousand cavalry and mounted infantry of the Datong Army, lay in ambush near the ruins of Rizhong City, built by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei.

Once they spotted Uyghur cavalry passing ahead, they would charge directly and slaughter their way through.

Although this city had long been abandoned, it once guarded a vital transportation route. It was a key node on the indispensable road from Shuozhou to Yunzhong.

"Jiedushi, what if Che Guangqian can't lure the Uyghurs? He only brought so few men."

Behind a massive boulder, He Changqi handed Fang Chongyong a wineskin filled with warm sheep's milk and asked in a lowered voice.

"That shouldn't happen. I've already given him the commander's banner. When the Uyghurs see my Jiedushi banner, wouldn't they want to give chase?"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, clearly not believing the Uyghurs would remain indifferent.

Just then, Tian Chengsi walked up with a solemn expression, clasped his fists toward Fang Chongyong, and reported:

"Jiedushi, a large number of horses is heading this way."

In truth, he didn't even need to say it; the snow on the nearby branches was constantly shaking down onto the ground.

It seemed like quite a lot of people were coming!

Fang Chongyong and the others were all veterans of many battles; one glance at the situation told them things had exceeded their original expectations.

(End of this chapter)