Chapter 1336: The Counterattack Begins at Wild Fox Ridge

The Wild Fox Ridge defense line was not a single pass that could hold off ten thousand foes with one man at the gate, but rather a defensive system centered on the ridge-mouth fortress, supplemented by the Great Wall and various mountain fortifications and stockades.

Although the positions were interlinked with roads allowing mutual support, when Liu Tinghan's more than twenty thousand defenders spread out, the forces were somewhat dispersed. Excluding the cavalry, the Han army actually deployed on the Wild Fox Ridge line numbered only a little over thirteen thousand men.

Therefore, if Yelu Xian had been able to steel his resolve back then, press forward without hesitation, press the advantage in victory, concentrate superior forces, and strike at a single point, the outcome would still have been uncertain. In hindsight, any result was possible, any situation could have occurred.

But by now, with troops gradually replenished, with elite soldiers transferred west and stationed in the rear, there was no longer any need to consider what might have been.

On the contrary, here at Wild Fox Ridge, a counteroffensive had likewise been brewing to near completion, awaiting only the moment of launch — and the operations here at Wild Fox Ridge were coordinated with those at Shanyang.

As the Han army from Wende County, under the command of Chief General Li Hanqiong, set out in full array and arrived at the Wild Fox Ridge line one after another, the Han army's counterattack had reached the point where the arrow was nocked to the string and could not but be loosed.

Backed against the Yan Mountains and facing the plateau beyond the northern frontier, Wild Fox Ridge in late autumn and early winter appeared somewhat desolate — vast mountains and boundless wilderness all exuded a thick sense of bleakness, with only the multi-colored banners of the Great Han flying among the passes and fortifications adding a touch of brightness.

Behind the ridge-mouth fortress, within the limited space, a camp had risen from the ground — tightly arranged, with crude facilities. The twenty-five thousand Han army officers and men accompanying the imperial carriage were being led into quarters by the camp's officers. It was only a temporary camp; the officers and men with the emperor had barely more than a night's rest before they would be thrown into the attack against the Liao army outside Wild Fox Ridge.

The arrival of the imperial carriage also made the already oppressive atmosphere among the Han troops in the fortifications even heavier. The military fort was built according to the terrain, simply furnished, yet visibly sturdy.

Before the gate, led by Liu Tinghan, the officers of the ridge-mouth fortress stood in respectful formation to welcome the sage presence. The Han soldiers responsible for escort duty were fully equipped, and sentries were even deployed along the mountain ridges, standing solemnly in the cold wind, unmoving as bedrock, displaying their most spirited bearing to the Emperor.

"All rise!" Looking at Liu Tinghan and the other officers prostrating in a row, Emperor Liu simply waved his hand, his tone somewhat flat, his attitude appearing less than warm.

In the current era of Emperor Liu's rule, the military no longer practiced the old saying "armor on the body, cannot perform full rites." Imperial authority was supreme, overriding everything. When the Emperor arrived, whether one wore armor or not, one bowed as one should, one knelt as one must.

And these officers and men prostrating humbly at the Emperor's feet profoundly revealed a truth: the age of arrogant soldiers flaunting their might and fierce generals running rampant was thoroughly over.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Accompanied by the clatter of armor plates, Liu Tinghan and the others rose. Perhaps the Emperor Liu's imposing presence was too overwhelming, their movements were even more reverent.

"Take me to see the fort!" Emperor Liu gave the officers and the pass a brief once-over, then instructed.

"Yes! This way, Your Majesty!" Liu Tinghan hurriedly stepped aside to guide.

Along the way, Emperor Liu said nothing, silently observing the fortifications — which placed even greater pressure on Liu Tinghan. Since his defeat and return, he had been here overseeing the Wild Fox Ridge defense arrangements without opportunity to face the Emperor.

And Emperor Liu's obviously cold attitude made his heart even more uneasy. By the time he finished walking the fort's not-very-long main road, a thin sheen of cold sweat had already appeared on Liu Tinghan's forehead.

It was not until they climbed the northern gate tower of the fort, where Emperor Liu stood facing the wind, gazing into the distance, that Liu Tinghan could finally hold back no longer. In a low voice he said: "In the Battle of Tianling, I was insufficiently vigilant, caught off guard by the enemy, causing great losses to the army and casualties among the troops. I have not yet had the chance to face Your Majesty and beg forgiveness..."

"What is past need not be dwelled upon!" Emperor Liu finally spoke again: "Just win me another battle and wipe away the previous shame!"

"Your Majesty is magnanimous; your servant is moved to tears and can only vow to fight to the death!" Liu Tinghan's expression grew ever more solemn.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu turned sideways, one hand resting on the crenellation of the tower wall, looking at Liu Tinghan, and with the other hand pointing at his beard tousled in the wind: "How long has it been since you trimmed your whiskers? All messy — you are the commander of a great army; you must mind your appearance. I observe the soldiers' bearing — neat and imposing — so you, the chief commander, should all the more keep your spirits up!"

Hearing that Emperor Liu asked nothing of military matters, mentioned nothing of the enemy, but instead concerned himself with his appearance, Liu Tinghan was briefly taken aback, yet the tension in his heart did indeed dissipate considerably. Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze, he answered solemnly: "Your Majesty, until the Liao army is broken, your servant will not trim his whiskers!"

"Good!" Seeing his resolute expression, a hint of a smile finally broke through Emperor Liu's cold countenance. He said: "The reason I have come, besides bringing you follow-up troops, is to be here to watch you break the Liao!"

"Your Majesty, please watch and see!" At this, Liu Tinghan immediately pledged: "From your servant on down, every officer and man harbors the resolve to wash away shame, intent on breaking the Liao!"

"How are the preparations? Are there any problems that need resolving?" Emperor Liu nodded, affirming his attitude, and asked.

At this mention, Liu Tinghan's expression visibly brightened with excitement. Pointing north, he said: "The Liao army numbers about thirty thousand, the bulk stationed at Swallow Town twenty li away, with small detachments scattered abroad raiding and plundering. I have been keeping watch on them; there has been no unusual movement.

Your servant plans to strike out in two columns — one from the ridge mouth, one from Peach Mountain — cavalry going first, infantry following behind, to encircle the Liao army! Barring accidents, the battle can be settled in a single day.

Afterward, we turn west, race to reinforce Shanyang, and surround and destroy the Liao Emperor! At present, the troops are ready, awaiting only the order to strike. However, the situation at Yunzhong is not yet clear; if we launch prematurely, unforeseen developments may arise!"

"What developments are you afraid of? Afraid of startling the Liao army and letting them flee early?" Emperor Liu asked.

"Exactly! If we could first receive word from Kang Yanze's army and then act accordingly, it would be more prudent!" Liu Tinghan was clearly hesitant.

Seeing this, Emperor Liu instead grew more resolute. He said: "Clear intelligence might come within a day or two, but in that day or two, how do you grasp the changes in the battle situation? Since you cannot grasp them, why insist on perfect completeness?

The military situation changes with every instant. Since everything is prepared, there is no need for hesitation! Striking early is better than striking late! The overall counteroffensive plan has long been decided. As for Yunzhong, I trust the Marquis of Jiuyuan and the others to adapt as circumstances require!"

"Yes!" Emperor Liu's words made Liu Tinghan completely set down the burden in his heart. Clearly, that previous defeat had still left a considerable impact on him.

"Directly summon the participating commanders and assign the tasks!" Emperor Liu instructed.

"Yes!"

Soon, drums sounded within the ridge-mouth fortress. Several dozen mid-to-senior ranking officers gathered, and without any delay, Liu Tinghan skillfully assigned the combat missions.

After the meeting dispersed, the commanders who had received their orders filed out one by one. Emperor Liu kept Liu Tinghan behind and said with grave seriousness: "Since the northern expedition began, you have clashed with that Han Kuangmei in Monan several times without a decisive result. This time, there should be an outcome! I want that man's head!"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty! I will present the enemy chieftain's head!" Liu Tinghan said without the slightest hesitation, his face resolute.

The enemy commander outside Wild Fox Ridge was still Han Kuangmei, the Liao Southwest Pacification Commissioner — a Han minister who served Liao with utter devotion. And at this moment, Liu Tinghan's chest surged with a tide of anger — the fury of vengeance, the resolve to break the enemy!

The Han-Liao Battle of Wild Fox Ridge occurred on the first day of the tenth month of the eighth year of Kaibao. The Han army had approximately sixty thousand infantry and cavalry; the Liao army had fewer than thirty thousand. The battle erupted at the small town of Swallow Town, twenty li beyond Wild Fox Ridge.

The Han army was led by the two generals Liu Tinghan and Li Hanqiong — Liu Tinghan emerging from the Wild Fox Ridge pass fortress, Li Hanqiong from Peach Mountain Fort — to encircle and annihilate the Liao army. The Han army's advance was like a thunderbolt; although the Liao army reacted in time, in the end their response was hasty.

A distance of twenty li across open plains was truly not long. In the emergency, the Liao commander Han Kuangmei dispatched cavalry to intercept and block the Han cavalry, buying time to concentrate his troops for defense.

But before Han Kuangmei's army could extricate itself from its haste, the Han cavalry had already broken through the obstruction and arrived at the walls of Swallow Town. Thereafter, naturally and inevitably, the two armies clashed fiercely beneath Swallow Town.

The Han cavalry were fewer, but united in purpose, charging boldly forward without any concern for what lay behind. The Liao army, though more numerous, appeared inferior by comparison — the fighting strength under Han Kuangmei could hardly be called formidable, for the elite troops and fierce generals had naturally followed Emperor Yelu Xian.

Thus, Han Kuangmei's army was tightly entangled by the attacking Han cavalry, and as Han reinforcements drew near in succession, the Liao army quickly collapsed. It was Han Kuangmei who took the initiative to order a retreat; when a retreat is ordered in the midst of battle, it easily transforms into a rout.

Han Kuangmei had no choice. He knew that if he did not withdraw, once the main Han force arrived, it would likely mean total annihilation. Weighing the two harms and choosing the lesser, this decision was not difficult to make.

The Han army's encirclement plan ultimately could not be perfectly realized, because they failed to annihilate the entire Liao army at Swallow Town. But in terms of results, it was still good — the Han army won completely, the Liao army lost completely, and the spoils of victory came largely from the pursuit.

Especially the enemy commander Han Kuangmei — Chief Inspector Tian Renlang of the Longjie Army led his troops with no other objective than to fix on Han Kuangmei's command banner, relentlessly and unyieldingly pursuing. They caught up with him at Yuanyang Lake, sixty li northwest of Swallow Town, fought a fierce battle, and cut down Han Kuangmei on the field.

And with Han Kuangmei's death in battle, the Battle of Swallow Town thoroughly sealed the Han army's victory.