Chapter 1274: Relying on the Navy Alone Won't Do Either

The setting sun hung low in the western sky, suspended halfway down the horizon. It was clear that today was fine weather. Distant clouds stretched across the sky, casting brilliant, colorful light that spilled onto the sea, dyeing the water a deep red—as profound as blood.

The Liao port of Suzhou had already been reduced to ruins. The evening sea breeze grew stronger, and as the thick smoke dispersed, a shocking scene was revealed.

Most of the enemy ships were damaged or sunk, shattered planks bobbing in the seawater, corpses floating in patches. The air was thick with an unpleasant stench of burning, which the howling sea wind could not blow away.

The Liao army's land camp had also been caught in the blast, more than half of it burned to the ground. Faced with the Han army's unreasonable tactics, all their pre-battle preparations had been rendered useless.

The Liao naval soldiers had gone through a terrible nightmare—more than half of them were burned or blown to death, destroyed along with their ships, and many drowned. Only a few hundred managed to swim back to shore.

Even those who survived were shaken and terrified, their courage shattered. Yet for them, this was not the end. The Han army, adhering to the principle of beating a drowning dog, showed no mercy and continued their attack. Moreover, Guo Tingwei had a big appetite—he wanted to swallow up the remaining Liao troops stationed near the Suzhou military port in one gulp.

Yelu Xiezhen had deployed over seventeen thousand Liao troops here, spread across the dozens of li between the military port and the prefectural city, with numerous fortresses and military stockades built between the two locations—all designed to resist and wear down the Han army.

However, with the navy burned to ashes, the Han army easily crippled one of their wings. The county town also suffered heavy bombardment from the sea, taking significant casualties and a severe blow to morale.

In tandem with this, the Han army stormed the beach, landing like a sharp dagger, cutting across the shore to sever the connection between the prefectural city and the military port.

Dusk deepened, but the sounds of battle between Suzhou City and the military port remained fierce. The Liao commander responsible for Suzhou's defense was named Yelu Hai, in the prime of his life, a battle-hardened general with rich combat experience.

Upon receiving the battle report from the south—the navy annihilated, the commander killed in action—he was momentarily flustered, but he adjusted quickly. While Suzhou City faced the relentless bombardment of the Eastern Sea Fleet, he decisively marched out, personally leading three thousand soldiers southward out of the city.

Yelu Hai knew that the Han army's warships could not come ashore. Although those fire-oil bombs and fire arrows were extremely powerful, they could not ultimately crush the city walls or pose a fatal threat. In comparison, the landed Han troops posed a far greater danger.

Of course, his objective was not to reinforce the military port's land camp, but to open a corridor to receive the routed remnants from the south. The defenses previously arranged were like tofu dregs—collapsing at a single poke. As a seasoned general, Yelu Hai knew that his only remaining bulwark against the Han army was Suzhou City itself.

However, defending a city required men. If he could bring the several thousand defeated troops from the south back into the city, it would be a tremendous boost to his defensive strength.

Yelu Xiezhen's orders to Yelu Hai were to hold Suzhou for one month. He would use the navy to draw the Han army's attention, intending to form a pincer with north and south supporting each other, with the military port holding out for at least twenty days.

Yet reality was so bleak.

However, although Yelu Hai had some courage and resourcefulness, the opponent he faced, Shi Yande, was no pushover. He was also a seasoned general with rich combat experience, having walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, especially skilled at fighting hard battles.

Whether pacifying Shu or pacifying the south in years past, he had been tempered through fire and sword. Moreover, with the navy's success spurring him on, his fighting spirit burned even higher.

His mission was originally to cut off the two Liao forces, wipe out the Liao remnants in the south, and then turn his attention to Suzhou City.

Yelu Hai's aggressive sortie put pressure on him, but it also showed him an opportunity. After dispatching a detachment to deal with the demoralized, panic-stricken enemies in the south, he decisively led his main force to meet the attack.

A meeting engagement unfolded a dozen or so li southwest of Suzhou City. The two sides clashed in a life-and-death struggle with no elaborate preparations—they fought on sight, nearly devolving into chaotic melee.

The troops Yelu Hai brought were all elite soldiers sent from Liaoyang, not a single Han soldier among them. Some were even veterans who had participated in the northern expeditions and western campaigns, and they had been drilled by Yelu Xiezhen himself, making them extremely formidable in combat.

The army Shi Yande led belonged to the second-line forces of the Hebei region. Though not as elite as the imperial army or border troops, the quality of Hebei's stout warriors was evident, their equipment was superior to the Liao army's, and with the fierce general Shi Yande leading from the front, they naturally held their own.

Such fighting was more brutal—it came down to the courage and will of the soldiers. Although the Han troops were somewhat unaccustomed to conditions ashore after many days at sea, their coordination in battle remained highly organized.

In close combat, the Great Han army maintained long-term training in squad-level coordination. However, due to years of peace, their performance in actual combat could not reach perfection.

But real combat and casualties were also the best way to improve. As the fierce battle continued, these Han soldiers quickly found their rhythm, truly bringing what they had practiced in training onto the battlefield.

Although Emperor Liu had always worried that after years of peace, the soldiers might grow lax, with their horses put out to pasture, the imperial army forged in the empire's early vigor was not so easily corrupted. The army built through more than twenty years of warfare remained formidable—officers had the will to fight, and soldiers had the ability to die for their cause.

On the battlefield, the clash of fewer than ten thousand men did not look particularly grand, but the killing cries were loud enough, the fighting fierce enough, and the front line continuously devoured the lives of soldiers on both sides.

After more than an hour of combat, the Liao army, disadvantaged in numbers, was already faltering. Yelu Hai stood seven chi tall, powerfully built, somewhat conspicuous among the Liao troops. He too fought on the front line, a shield in one hand and a saber in the other.

He had already gone through three sabers, and twenty-one Han soldiers had fallen to his blade. Nearly every swing of his weapon drew blood or shattered armor from the Han soldiers facing him.

Yet relying on personal valor to sustain the Liao army could not ultimately turn the tide. Fighting on the front line, he could clearly sense the changes in the Han army—their fighting spirit was high, and their squad coordination was improving.

A veteran's instincts were sharp. Sensing that the situation was hopeless, he conceived the thought of retreat. Personally covering the rear, he led his men back toward Suzhou City. At the same time, he cursed the southern army in his heart, cursed the unreliability of the Han—for most of the southern troops were Han.

He had been fighting for so long, yet the southern army seemed to show little reaction. The landed Han troops were not numerous. If he could catch them in a pincer, break this Han force, and then retreat back to the city to hold fast, he would surely restore morale and increase his capital for continued defense.

However, the course of battle did not follow his wishes.

Shi Yande kept his eyes fixed on Yelu Hai. This Liao general's ferocity was somewhat unexpected, but he did not indulge in personal duels. Instead, he remained within the formation, directing the battle.

The moment the Liao army showed signs of retreat, Shi Yande, ever keen to seize opportunities, immediately led his men to latch on, refusing to let them go. The absence of any threat from the southern enemy further emboldened him to fight with full abandon.

Quality showed itself—the Liao army's retreat northward did not become a rout. Yelu Hai covered the rear, fighting while withdrawing, retracing their path back. Under Shi Yande's command, the Han army clung on relentlessly. By the time the Liao troops retreated to the outskirts of the city, the last glimmer of light in the sky had quietly vanished.

The world plunged into darkness, but light did not disappear. Fires broke out within Suzhou City, the city tower was burning, and the massive warships of the naval fleet spread out arrogantly on the sea, still launching fire-oil bombs at the walls.

Though the flames did not reach the heavens, they shone like a bright lamp, illuminating both sides locked in battle. Shi Yande had committed all his forces to the pursuit and entanglement, but he had yet to break the enemy. Aside from the Liao army's resilience, it was Yelu Hai's leading from the front and sheer ferocity that held them together.

Targeting this man, Shi Yande even resorted to sneaky arrows, personally loosing five sharp shafts. However, the results were poor—one was blocked by a shield, one struck armor, one was dodged, and the remaining two flew wide.

As they neared Suzhou City, the Han army's pursuit under Shi Yande's command slackened—firstly because the soldiers were exhausted from the fierce fighting, and secondly out of concern that reinforcements might sally from the city.

The night was not murky, but rather clear. From a li away, gazing at the Liao troops retreating into the city and the gates gradually closing, Shi Yande could not help but spit. His chipped steel saber was thrust into the earth beneath his feet in frustration.

He was drenched in sweat, the stench of blood and perspiration intermingling on his body. His armor, covering him entirely, had faithfully protected its master, but it was covered in saber marks and arrow dents. In the final fierce clash, he too had personally led the charge.

"They still got away!" Shi Yande said with unwillingness.

Of course, he was just venting. After this engagement, it was clear that with only his few thousand men, he could not seize the opportunity to storm the city and take Suzhou in one fell swoop for a great achievement. Still, the results of this battle were worth affirming—the Liao troops who sallied out must have suffered over fifty percent casualties.

"Taking cities and forts still depends on us brothers fighting!" Gazing at the naval fleet on the distant sea that had already wrapped up its work, Shi Yande cursed: "So much ammunition wasted, and this city still stands unmoved. Did they really think these could break the city?"

"General, what should we do now?" A deputy general asked Shi Yande.

Without a moment's hesitation, Shi Yande directly ordered: "Gather the troops, fall back south, set up camp, tally our losses, and tend to the wounded. Also capture prisoners—no, no prisoners..."

"General, killing prisoners violates military law." The Great Han's military discipline was deeply ingrained in people's hearts. Seeing Shi Yande getting carried away, the deputy general hesitantly reminded him.

"Han and Liao are mortal enemies. Why show courtesy to the Liao army? These Hu barbarians are formidable fighters—surely elite troops. Can we expect them to surrender?" Shi Yande said flatly: "Notify the navy to bring supplies and medicine ashore, and send troops to assist, lest the Liao army counterattacks!"

As he spoke, Shi Yande's gaze turned southward, his eyes blazing with killing intent. First, clean up the remnants in the south, then break Suzhou City!