Chapter 451: Lessons Taught with One's Life on the Battlefield

This battle left the generals under Fang Chongyong very dissatisfied. The Heavenly Soldier army suffered heavy losses, and of the civilians the bandit army let go, almost half died; fewer than ten thousand made it back to the Tang forces!

Many died in the wave of cavalry slaughters led by Sun Xiaozhe.

The key is, they had a lot of spare strength at the time, and most of the army's units hadn't even engaged the enemy!

On the way back to Taiyuan, everyone held their breath but were reluctant to question Fang Chongyong's decision. After all, although there was a loss, they still managed to bring back many families of soldiers, giving the local people of Taiyuan some explanation.

The column moved slowly, and the sky gradually darkened.

"Jiedushi, why didn't the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army intervene earlier to cut down those Sun's men?"

"If those few cavalry hadn't been stirring up trouble behind us, we wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses!"

While dozing on his horse, Fang Chongyong suddenly heard He Changqi's complaint at his ear.

He thought that at the final moments of the battle, his side shouldn't have been cowardly. By then the battlefield was already chaotic, and in fact the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army cavalry's charge wouldn't have been a loss.

"No need for more words; this Jiedushi will give you an answer."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice, gesturing lightly; he was waiting for news.

In less than half an hour, scouts hurried up from the rear of the column.

The person was Tian Chengsi's brother Tian Tinglin; this time Tian Chengsi was in charge of the rear guard. Upon seeing Fang Chongyong, he hurried forward and saluted, saying, "Jiedushi, just as you suspected, Cai Xide's main force has indeed turned back to Shouyang County, and there were no scouting parties along the way."

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong's uneasy heart settled back to its place.

"He Laohu, order a camp to be set up here, then have the army's officers come to this Jiedushi; I have some deployments to arrange."

Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi.

"Understood!"

He Changqi took the order and left; soon, all the officers who had set out on this expedition—anyone still alive, including Tian Chengsi—had gathered around Fang Chongyong.

"Gentlemen, today's battle was merely a scheme of this Jiedushi to flaunt against the enemy."

The reason for controlling the scale of the fight is twofold: first, to lull Cai Xide and the bandit army into thinking we are unwilling to engage in a hard battle.

Second, to conserve your strength, giving you a chance to display your true power.

After the previous battle's groundwork, the bandit army will surely think our morale is low and we lack the strength to decide a fight, so we should return to Taiyuan to recuperate.

Therefore this time, this Jiedushi will let them know what a mighty, heroic army is not to be insulted!

The Jiedushi now asks: anyone who does not wish to avenge, step back voluntarily, and you will not be punished.

Once the main force sets out, hesitating is cowardice, and will be dealt with by military law!

Fang Chongyong drew his Swift Wind Illusion Blade, looked around at the generals and asked.

The generals simultaneously knelt on one knee, demanding battle, and shouted, "We swear to follow the Jiedushi to death!"

"Very good, the troops' morale is usable! But we don't need so many people.

Some will fight alongside this Jiedushi; each selects a hundred cavalry.

My trusted officer will lead a thousand cavalry of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, bringing the total to three thousand, and we will depart in half an hour.

Each division should select the brave, fierce, death‑defying men; this time we have grievances to settle, and grievances to repay!

General Tian Chengsi will lead infantry to hold the line, following behind to support us in case of emergency.

Fang Chongyong instructed the generals.

Upon hearing this, Tian Chengsi quickly clasped his fists and asked, "Jiedushi, the stretch between Yuci and Shouyang County is a narrow mountain road, not suitable for cavalry deployment and prone to ambush. Pursuing the bandit army with three thousand cavalry—does that seem risky?"

He raised a very crucial question.

Hearing this, some hot‑headed commanders gradually calmed down. Previously they hadn't considered the terrain, only feeling that now was an excellent moment to strike.

But after Tian Chengsi said that, they felt Fang Chongyong's plan was extremely risky.

"Gentlemen, have you ever thought why Cai Xide would abandon the civilians?"

Fang Chongyong asked, and seeing no one answer, the crowd fell into thought; only then did he emphasize in a very firm tone:

"The bandit army has run out of provisions; Cai Xide's unit is merely a detachment of the bandits, used to raid Taiyuan and seize an advantage."

Their advance is fierce, but they transport grain from Hebei, needing to cross Jingxing; the supply route is very rugged.

Without food they certainly cannot sustain the Hedong populace, so naturally they will dump the burden onto us.

Now Cai Xide's bandit army is in a relaxed state; they believe they have just won a victory, yet have shed tens of thousands of civilians as a massive burden, making them feel unbeatable.

How could they think we would pursue?

Under normal circumstances, how could we possibly chase them?"

Fang Chongyong asked a series of questions.

The sky grew dark, visibility worsened; the heavenly conditions are not on our side.

The road is narrow, flanked by mountains, making it unsuitable for cavalry pursuit; the terrain is not favorable.

We have just taken in the fleeing civilians, causing the troops' morale to waver; the harmony among people is lacking.

With heaven, earth, and human harmony all against the Tang army, what chance of victory do we have now?

The Hebei rebels' underestimation is normal; since Sun Xiaozhe previously fought alone on the battlefield, and Fang Chongyong never sent cavalry to confront him, one can see this Fang Jiedushi as 'cowardly', or rather very cautious.

How could such a person possibly lead elite cavalry in pursuit?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Even the generals under Fang Chongyong think it impossible to go into battle.

Conversely, does this count as a 'strike where they are unprepared'?

Everyone present fell into a dilemma of 'betting big or small'.

As Fang Chongyong once said in a past life, winning this gamble would secure the young‑model club, losing would reopen the rooftop—how exhilarating.

But this 'gamble' is not pure luck; it is the product of various power comparisons intertwined with covert and overt scheming.

It bets on strength, even more on determination, on will!

Before the battle ends, no one can claim certain victory or certain defeat.

In the history of war, many battles that seemed almost certain to win still lose, because the odds are obvious to everyone, so opponents can devise surprise tactics to turn the tables.

Conversely, many battles that look like a near‑certain death end in total victory because the odds are too low and the enemy becomes complacent.

Before a fight begins, it's like a black box—no one knows what's inside.

That is the commander's ability and responsibility.

They can use existing resources to achieve the strongest effect. One war can found a nation; another can destroy it—both are commonplace.

"Jiedushi, who will lead the vanguard in this battle!"

Seeing no one speak, He Changqi stepped forward, cupped his fist to Fang Chongyong and asked for orders.

"I also request to fight!"

"I also request to fight!"

Then a large crowd of people stepped forward.

Tian Chengsi felt contemptuous gazes around him and hurried to explain, "Jiedushi's brilliant calculation—Cai the bandit will surely be humbled."

He actually knows Cai Xide and knows that this man is cautious in the Youzhou army, a seasoned and steady figure.

Therefore he thought Fang Chongyong's plan was very risky.

But the saying still holds: without fighting you won't know who will finally win. If you could judge victory simply by comparing troop numbers and terrain, why fight at all? Everyone could sit at a table, compare each army's data, and decide the outcome.

Now the situation has reached this point; what else can Tian Chengsi say?

If they don't fight, he has no way to finish, and Fang Chongyong has no way to finish either.

After the other generals dispersed, Fang Chongyong finally took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the east.

As long as Cai Xide sets an ambush on both sides of the mountain path, this battle is lost for him; there's no way to escape.

But precisely because of that, Cai Xide and the Hebei rebels have the complacent capital.

In ordinary combat, both sides have no flaws, and victory requires sheer numbers. Only at the critical moments when attack and defense alternate do cracks appear.

Whoever can launch a surprise force has a chance to win.

That is the art of war's principle "combine the orthodox to meet, use the unexpected to win." Without a surprise force, winning relies only on the opponent being a fool.

Who truly is the fool?

Fang Chongyong gripped his horsewhip tightly, suppressing his inner fear. At the crucial moment, he could not retreat, not even show a hint of cowardice.

Chaos has arrived; only those unafraid of death deserve to truly live.

He silently encouraged himself.

In less than half an hour, the cavalry prepared for counterattack had assembled, all selected elite soldiers. Especially the Hedong army's units, high‑spirited, all wanted to redeem themselves tonight and erase past shame.

Seeing the usable morale, Fang Chongyong felt a bit reassured.

He brandished his Swift‑Wind Phantom Blade toward the eastern road and roared, "The chance to avenge the Hedong people has come! Everyone, follow this Jiedushi to crush the enemy! We will not return until Cai the bandit is defeated!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The officers and close guards beside him shouted in unison, stirring everyone's blood.

……

"Damn it! You damned Cai Xide, I'll never be done with you!"

Sun Xiaozhe, who was on horseback, flipped off his horse, wildly kicking a tree by the road, venting his inner discontent.

His shouts echoed far through the valley.

Although they had captured a fair amount, it was treated as if they broke military law. Cai Xide ordered him to take his troops to rear‑guard duty, then seized almost all their warhorses, forcing them to set up defenses in a place called Ya Ming Valley.

He called it, under the pretense, "What use are horses for an ambush?"

Anyone with eyes can see that Cai Xide is using his position to set up Sun Xiaozhe.

Why so? Because Cai Xide wants Sun Xiaozhe to rear‑guard and defend a crucial valley, yet gives them insufficient resources.

This situation is colloquially called "shoe‑pulling."

If one truly wants to defend, building caltrops, preparing rolling logs and stones all require manpower. That's not something the over‑one‑thousand men under Sun Xiaozhe can accomplish.

In fact, under these circumstances, there's no need to ambush in a valley where not even birds defecate; no one thinks the Tang army will pursue, Cai Xide included.

Plainly put, Cai Xide is using the rules to manipulate people, knowing full well the Tang army could never chase, yet pretends to have "tight defense."

He wants Sun Xiaozhe, who disobeys his orders, and his subordinates to suffer in Ya Ming Valley—standing in the wind‑choke of the valley all night, then truly contemplate under Cai's command who the real boss is!

Even if Shi Siming asked, Cai Xide could brush it off with a single "It's a military matter."

"I let you, my adopted son, earn merit, and you blame me?"

Cai Xide knows Shi Siming is not easy to handle, but he's not made of mud either. This kind of "ambiguous" order, Shi Siming can't claim is wrong!

After all, based on Sun Xiaozhe's performance in this battle, a beheading for "disorderly troops" would be a sufficient warning.

Sun Xiaozhe secretly curses Cai Xide for being unfair, while the latter accuses him of disobeying orders and being overly aggressive!

Now Sun Xiaozhe, the "Inspector General," and his commander Cai Xide are increasingly at odds, their relationship like water and fire; conflict is only a matter of time.

"General Sun, the wind is strong here; let's find a big rock to shelter from it. Then light a fire and roast some lamb leg to satisfy our cravings.

And pour some fine wine to quench our thirst."

The close guards gathered near him and whispered, "As for Cai Xide's 'rear‑guard defense,' what defense? Not even a dog would set one up!"

Everyone in Sun Xiaozhe's unit, from top to bottom, knows this is Cai Xide deliberately picking a fight. Any soldier will trust their direct officers and not take the "nominal" orders seriously.

The Tang army cowers like dogs; a formation of over ten thousand watches their thousand‑plus cavalry swing swords back and forth, daring not to release a single fart.

"Just light the bonfire; if we could find a woman to tend it, even better."

Sun Xiaozhe suppressed his anger, quelled the fire within, and pretended to be indifferent as he said,

"Heh, when he meets his godfather Shi Simming, he'll definitely tell Cai Xide this dog is a mess!"

Make this bastard choke on what he can't swallow!

Before long, over a thousand men had set up military tents on one side of the valley, built campfires, and taken out the dry rations they carried to simply prepare them before digging in.

It had to be said that Sun Xiaozhe was not a decent person and had an even worse temper, but he treated the soldiers under him rather well, often fighting for sufficient military rations for his men. Among the various units in the army, there was no such thing as yielding to others.

Because of this, they usually ate quite well and could gorge on meat from time to time.

Sun Xiaozhe set aside the vexation in his heart and sat around the campfire with his personal guards, telling bawdy jokes.

While gorging on meat, they also brought out the cloudy wine they had hoarded to drink. This wine had been plundered from wealthy households in Yuci County, usually kept in wine skins because they couldn't bear to drink it—Cai Xide ran a strict army and never allowed drinking either.

Now that they finally had the chance, they had to go all out!

The more they drank, the warmer they felt; the campfire burned ever brighter; the leg of mutton tasted ever more fragrant the more they gnawed on it!

If they could find a pretty woman to have a go at later, this life would be so beautiful that even immortals wouldn't trade for it!

Everyone was secretly thinking this in their hearts.

"Eh? Did any of you hear hoofbeats?"

Sun Xiaozhe suddenly felt he might be hearing things—the wind was actually carrying a sound like galloping warhorses.

Like thunder!

"General Sun, where would hoofbeats come from? General Cai won't send anyone to deliver military orders.

Don't worry, keep drinking. I'll go get more wine."

A personal guard said drunkenly.

"No, no, I really did hear hoofbeats."

Sun Xiaozhe snapped sober in an instant and stood up to look around.

He saw that on the west side of the valley, a large number of dark figures were moving, heading toward them.

The hoofbeats were already getting closer and closer!

"Not good! There's a large cavalry force! Quick, quick, quick! Get up!"

Sun Xiaozhe was so frightened he couldn't even speak clearly! He was so frantic he waved his arms and stamped his feet!

He himself was a cavalry commander and was very familiar with the sound of hoofbeats. He just didn't like using his brain normally, but his tactical skills for commanding small cavalry units in combat were still very solid.

Otherwise, Shi Siming wouldn't have placed Sun Xiaozhe in Cai Xide's ranks either.

Sun Xiaozhe shouted loudly, hollering as though both agitated and frantic. Yet tonight his subordinate troops were almost all drinking and eating meat, having a grand old time, completely unaware that danger was upon them!

Even with Sun Xiaozhe shouting there, they only thought their general was cursing Cai Xide out again and didn't take it seriously at all.

Thwip!

The sound of an arrow piercing flesh exploded beside his ear!

Sun Xiaozhe saw the personal guard next to him fall with an arrow in his neck. Tang cavalry skilled in mounted archery had already appeared in view, seeming to need only the span of a single breath to sweep past them!

"Run!"

Someone under Sun Xiaozhe's command shouted! The crude camp instantly fell into chaos!

Under these circumstances, resistance was utterly meaningless, and impossible to mount. Most couldn't even find their weapons, let alone have any will to fight.

Never mind something as life-and-death as fighting a battle—in Fang Chongyong's previous life, if a bunch of people were drinking and eating meat and getting carried away, then suddenly in an instant the scene switched and they were told to play basketball in an arena, could they beat professional players who had already warmed up and practiced?

Even touching the ball would be impressive!

Seeing the situation was dire, Sun Xiaozhe had no intention of commanding any resistance. He stumbled toward the tree where his horse was tethered and shakily untied the reins.

He had just mounted his horse and was charging down from a small hillside when the horse—whether it stepped into a hidden pit in the ground or tripped on a large stone—suddenly went down on its front knees, sending Sun Xiaozhe flying far!

This adopted son of Shi Siming face-planted straight into the dirt, so dazed he couldn't tell north from south.

By the time he staggered to his feet, a horizontal saber was already pressed against his neck.

"Jiedushi, I think I've caught a big fish! Look at this uniform! It's even embroidered!"

He Changqi shouted to Fang Chongyong in the distance.

Tang military uniforms, viewed from afar, made officers and soldiers look largely the same. But at the belt, inner lining, cuff edges, and other parts, there were very conspicuous differences, and the fabric would also differ.

"Find a few men to escort him back to Taiyuan. This is just the appetizer—the main course is still ahead. Don't waste time."

Fang Chongyong stepped forward and looked at Sun Xiaozhe, only feeling that this man was a bit ugly, and nothing else was particularly notable.

He impatiently waved He Changqi off, then gazed toward the road to the east.

In the darkness, everything was unknown, fortune and misfortune impossible to predict.

(End of this chapter)