Chapter 486: The Defeat of a

Huangfu Hui wanted to fight, and for Guo Rong, it was like a pillow arriving just as drowsiness set in. As long as he was willing to come out, there was no further need to scout Lai'an City. Guo Rong returned to camp and summoned several Commanders to discuss battle plans.

"Governor, what did Huangfu Hui's letter say, to make you so pleased?" Zhao Yanjin, who had been standing nearby, asked curiously.

"He's not convinced about losing yesterday's battle!" Guo Rong, usually stern and solemn, now wore a smile at the corners of his mouth. "His letter says that yesterday our army's surprise attack, striking while his forces were still on the march and before their formation was complete, was less than honorable. He invites me to meet him north of Lai'an City, where both sides will array their formations, lay out our blades openly, and fight a proper, upright battle!"

"This Huangfu Hui has no shame!" Zhao Yanjin sneered at once. "The Tang army has more men, ours fewer. In battle, one should naturally seek the best method—find their weaknesses, strike their soft spots. On the battlefield, victory is what matters. Who needs honor and uprightness!"

"Yanjin speaks truly!" Guo Rong said. "I see this Huangfu Hui—outwardly pedantic, but inwardly full of schemes!"

"What does the Governor mean by that?" Zhao Yanjin asked.

Instead of answering directly, Guo Rong looked toward An Shouzhong, who was frowning in deep thought, and asked him: "Xinchen, I see something weighing on your mind. What are your thoughts?"

As the son of a military family, trained by his father An Shenqi, and possessed of no small natural talent, An Shouzhong had always formed his own judgments on military matters. Meeting Guo Rong's gaze, An Shouzhong said: "This officer was thinking—Huangfu Hui rose from the ranks, fighting his way up from a common soldier. His talents and virtues may not be of the highest order, but he shouldn't be this pedantic! Knowing full well our army is smaller, he demands we array our formations and attack head-on—where is the righteousness in that?"

Guo Rong nodded and said: "That's why I say there's some cunning in Huangfu Hui's heart. Guessing his mind—yesterday's defeat at our hands certainly galls and angers him. But this challenge is likely because he takes me for young and hot-blooded. If I accept and array my formation, he still holds several times our numbers, fears nothing from our army, and might even defeat me, then press north toward Sizhou. If I refuse, then he both salvages the shame of yesterday's defeat and steadies his army's morale!

Though our numbers are few, the Longqi Army has been drilled for a long time, every man elite, daring and fearless. We've just won a victory, morale is high, and we have the added advantage of iron cavalry. Barring accidents, Huangfu Hui has already figured out how to counter our Han cavalry's charge..."

Hearing Guo Rong's explanation, the assembled officers understood. Zhao Yanjin asked: "Since the Governor has resolved to accept the challenge, this officer is willing to follow!"

"You're not afraid of the Tang army's numbers?" Guo Rong asked. "In a set-piece battle, we may not be their match!"

"If we could defeat him once, we can defeat him twice—what is there to fear?" Zhao Yanjin said with soaring boldness, then added: "And at worst, if we can't win, can't we retreat? How could the Tang army hold us back!"

Seeing the fighting spirit in all his officers, Guo Rong's expression turned stern, and he gave the order: "Transmit to all camps—ready the troops, rest, eat. This afternoon, follow me to break Huangfu Hui!"

"Yes!"

"I had thought Lai'an City could not be taken quickly. Since Huangfu Hui has delivered the opportunity to us, why not accept it with a smile? He wants an upright battle—I'll grant it to him!" Guo Rong's tone carried strong confidence, which also put his subordinate officers more at ease.

On Huangfu Hui's side, receiving Guo Rong's reply brought a mix of surprise, joy, and sighing. He even grabbed the messenger to ask about Guo Rong's reaction. When he learned that Guo Rong had laughed heartily and agreed without a moment's hesitation, his own fighting spirit rose, and he directly ordered the entire army to prepare their weapons and march out of the city to array for battle.

It was already mid-first month. The spring air symbolizing vitality had begun to spread across the land of Huainan, with touches of green dotting the countryside. The spring breeze was still cold, and as white catkins drifted, on the banks of the Lai'an waters, the Han and Tang armies had already arrayed their formations—a great battle seemed about to erupt at any moment.

On the Tang side, the formation was set, blades bared, with chevaux-de-frise and great shields in place, crossbows strung. In the center of the formation, Huangfu Hui sat astride a yellow-maned horse beneath the great banner, one hand holding the reins, the other stroking his beard, gazing across at the Han army, which had likewise formed its ranks.

A hint of confidence gleamed in his eyes as he said to those around him: "The Han army's formation is strict, and their soldiers are indeed well-trained. But that Guo Rong is still too young—a small victory and he grows arrogant and self-assured, actually letting our army array its formation!"

Having spoken, he looked toward the left flank, at the Han cavalry slowly trotting along the side, and frowned slightly. He ordered: "Transmit to the left wing—be on strict guard against a Han cavalry raid!"

"Yes!"

He surveyed the field, felt his preparations were complete, and seeing the sun gradually shifting westward—with the Han army nearly standing facing the sun—his confidence grew further. He directly sent a man out from the formation to the front of the Han army, inviting Guo Rong to attack.

About a li away, in the Han army's formation, Guo Rong wore a plain, unadorned suit of black armor, and beneath his helmet was a face as calm as still water. Having received the Tang soldier's message, Zhao Yanjin couldn't help saying to Guo Rong: "This Huangfu Hui is truly contemptible! With a host of troops and armored formations, he takes a defensive stance and expects our army to attack!"

"Go respond to Huangfu Hui—tell him I will launch the attack shortly!" Guo Rong said in a flat tone, then ordered: "Transmit the command! Have the soldiers of every camp rest in rotation, await orders, and move only when the moment comes! Without my command, any who act rashly will be executed!"

Hearing the order, Zhao Yanjin was about to counsel against it, but upon hearing the latter command, his face lit up with joy and he quickly answered: "Yes!"

"Huangfu Hui's formation is arranged rather impressively. If we charged it head-on, casualties would be heavy—I won't do that!" Guo Rong said calmly. "If he wants me to attack, let him wait!"

With Guo Rong controlling the battlefield situation, aided by generals like Zhao Yanjin and An Shouzhong, the Han army of fewer than four thousand infantry and cavalry remained composed throughout, and in overall bearing, they did not fall behind the Tang army.

Huangfu Hui waited on his side for the Han army to attack. A quarter-hour passed, then two, then half a shichen—still no sign of movement. Realizing something was wrong, Huangfu Hui's expression lost its ease, and he frowned in thought. Just then, from the Han formation, war drums thundered and banners waved. Seeing this, Huangfu Hui was delighted and immediately ordered the entire army to be on alert, ready for battle.

However, a quarter-hour later, the Han side lowered its banners and silenced its drums. If Huangfu Hui still couldn't see Guo Rong's intent at this point, he would truly be a fool. He couldn't help cursing: "This Guo Rong, so cunning!"

"Governor, the Han army is trying to drain our strength and morale!"

"Do you think I don't know that!" Huangfu Hui replied, his tone heavy. His expression was grim, his mood growing heavier, but Huangfu Hui had no immediate response—he was hesitating.

Another two quarters of an hour passed. The Han cavalry under An Shouzhong had withdrawn far back, and even dismounted to rest right in view of the Tang army. As a result, the Tang formation began to loosen. Soldiers who had stood for a long time grew restless, and a restless, volatile air gradually bred and spread.

Huangfu Hui sensed it immediately. Steeling himself, he sent a man to demand: "You neither fight nor retreat—what is the meaning of this?"

Guo Rong had someone reply: "Our formation is set. We respectfully await Governor Huangfu's attack!"

Huangfu Hui found this extremely uncomfortable. His subordinate junior officers suggested attacking, but Huangfu Hui still hesitated, saying: "If we had attacked at the very start of forming our line, we might have had a chance of victory. But now, after facing off with the Han army for over a shichen, our soldiers are weary and morale has fallen. If we launch a rash attack, we may fall into the Han army's trap and be exploited. Moreover, if we attack, our formation will likely scatter—how then would we deal with the Han cavalry's charge!"

"Without the advantage of cavalry, fighting the northern army in the open field is too passive—we're at their mercy!" Huangfu Hui lamented, then immediately ordered: "Transmit to the three armies—maintain formation, rest in rotation. If that Guo Rong wants to outlast me, I'll outlast him. Let's see whose patience runs out first!"

On the Han side, the soldiers had already completed one round of rotating rest—those who needed to eat ate, those who needed to drink drank. On horseback, Guo Rong's backside had long since grown sore from sitting, but he paid it no mind, his eyes fixed tightly on the Tang army, a piece of wheat cake in his hand, chewing slowly and deliberately.

"Governor, the Tang formation is already showing signs of instability!" Zhao Yanjin said, pointing across the field.

"Not enough yet! Have the soldiers hold their patience a while longer!" Guo Rong said the same thing again.

Just as the Tang army began to rest in place, the Han formation once more erupted with drums and horns, waving banners and shouting war cries, startling the Tang army into rapid alertness. Half a shichen later, silence fell again.

And so, after the two sides had faced off for nearly two shichen, it was still Huangfu Hui, this "paragon of famous generals," who failed to keep his composure. He sent a man to tell Guo Rong that it was getting late and they would fight again on the morrow. Then he personally led the rearguard, adopting a defensive posture, and slowly withdrew, intending to return to Lai'an City.

The moment the Tang army began to move, Guo Rong had the entire army prepare. When the Tang army truly began retreating, Guo Rong gave the order with a single command—the whole army attacked, driving straight at Huangfu Hui's center. Guo Rong instructed Zhao Yanjin: "The Tang army's morale is broken, their strength spent, their formation scattered—this is the moment to break the enemy. The soldiers must not begrudge casualties—attack with everything!"

Fewer than three thousand Longqi troops, under the command of Guo Rong and Zhao Yanjin, finally launched their initiative attack on the Tang army, while the iron cavalry under An Shouzhong struck from the flank, hitting the enemy's middle. Though the Tang army had greater numbers, they were at a disadvantage—and especially Huangfu Hui, commanding the rearguard, who proved utterly unable to hold against the Han army's pursuit and was captured alive in the midst of the fray. With the commander bound and the great banner toppled, the Tang army that had marched out collapsed in total rout. Under Guo Rong's leadership, the Han army entered Lai'an City with ease.

The battle of Lai'an yielded great spoils, and the Han army once again won a victory over the Tang with fewer against more. More importantly, with Huangfu Hui's defeat, the Southern Tang's strategy of retaking the prefectures and towns along the Huai River would fall completely flat. And with one defeat after another, the Southern Tang's position against the Han would look grim indeed, while the Northern Han's strategic situation in Huainan grew ever clearer.