Chapter 634: Troops at Liangquan

A man-made forest fire was expanding relentlessly, turning both inside and outside Weiwu City into a sea of flames. The conflagration was terrifying, and even the Han army soldiers who had started the fire couldn't help but swallow nervously.

Flames shot into the sky, nearly painting the entire heavens red. Thick smoke billowed and churned like a ferocious beast baring its claws. Xiang Xun personally supervised at the front, his expression grave, the bright pupils of his eyes reflecting nothing but leaping tongues of fire.

"Commander, have all the fire-oil bombs been launched?" Gao Huaide walked up to Xiang Xun with a somewhat solemn expression and said seriously, "But the fire is too great to contain and is spreading in all directions. Not just Weiwu City—even the surrounding mountain ridges may not survive. The path ahead is cut off; charging through is no longer feasible!"

The all-encompassing blaze brought catastrophic disaster to the Shu army within the city, while the Han army outside was equally scorched—the fierce fire's poison could be felt even from a great distance.

"Commander, Weiwu City has fallen!" Murong Chengtai suddenly pointed ahead and reminded him.

Gazing out, amidst the raging flames, the sight of collapsing structures was clearly visible, and even the rumbling sounds could be heard.

"By the look of this, the fire won't stop—it's spreading toward us!" Gao Huaide warned Xiang Xun.

Of course, he didn't need the reminder; Xiang Xun had already noticed. The most tangible sensation was his increasingly burning face and sweat-soaked body.

"Pass the order: withdraw the troops back to camp. All units, focus on fire prevention and prepare for the unexpected! Once the fire subsides, we'll move again!" Xiang Xun gave the order decisively, saying with unusual severity, "This fire was set too big—it wounds the enemy, but we must not burn ourselves!"

"Yes!"

Following Xiang Xun's command, the Han troops before the pass nervously but orderly returned to camp. Soon, only a dozen or so broken catapults remained on the battlefield. Moments later, they were devoured by the merciless surging flames...

Within the Han camp, under tight protection, Liu Chenghsun climbed to a high vantage point and looked out. Amidst the all-encompassing flames, he could faintly hear the desperate, mournful screams of Shu soldiers being burned alive within Weiwu City.

"Fire and water are merciless—today I know this well!" Liu Chenghsun couldn't help but sigh.

This fire lasted far longer than expected, nearly a full day. Had it not been for a passing shower, it would have burned even longer. At the height of the blaze, the Han camp's soldiers were restless and uneasy.

A great fire and a rain—this caused Xiang Xun to adjust his plans and deployments, letting the soldiers rest in camp for the night before assaulting the pass again the next day.

At dawn the next day, the Han army set out. A detachment of the Longqi Army took the lead and entered Weiwu City with ease. Of course, by now Weiwu City Fort was nothing but ruins—a scorched wasteland all around, crumbling walls everywhere, and the air thick with the stench of burning.

After the reconnaissance reports were submitted, orders came from the commander's tent, and the accompanying laborers swiftly began clearing work, intending to open a road passable for troops, weapons, and supplies.

"This pass was not old, yet it held our army back for nearly three months—now it has finally been destroyed by war!" Walking with a group of senior generals to the front of the inner city wall, gazing at the earthen ramparts cracked and scorched by the great fire, Xiang Xun couldn't help but sigh: "What a pity—according to intelligence reports, the Shu army had stockpiled grain and weapons numbering in the hundreds of thousands within Weiwu City, and all of it has been reduced to ashes!"

Song Yanwo said, "The realm is not yet pacified. The separatist rebels, clinging to the southwest, used this pass to defend against the Central Plains' great army in the north. Now that this pass has fallen, Shu is destined to be unsettled—sooner or later it will be annexed by the Great Han and restored to imperial rule!"

"The Army Supervisor speaks wisely!" Xiang Xun nodded, then instructed, "Pass the order: speed up the clearing and pave the way for the army's advance!"

"Commander, after a rough inspection, there must be several thousand Shu soldiers burned to death inside and outside the pass. On the mountain paths southwest of the pass, charred corpses are piled up—a horrifying sight. One great fire has utterly broken the Shu army!" Gao Huaide, sweat beading on his forehead, hurried over and reported.

Xiang Xun nodded in acknowledgment, but had already set aside his lamentation, saying, "The Shu army that fled the pass will surely head for the prefectural city of Liangquan! General Gao, you will first lead the Longqi Army, lightly equipped and fast-moving, across the ruins and advance on Liangquan."

"As ordered!" Gao Huaide immediately accepted the command.

Xiang Xun cautioned, "The Shu army may have lost their nerve, but do not be careless. Advance cautiously. Once you arrive before the city walls, act according to circumstances—at the very least, keep the Shu army pinned in Liangquan! Wait for the main force's heavy equipment to arrive, then take the city in one battle!"

"Yes!" Gao Huaide turned and left at once, summoning his personal guards and scattering them to rally the Longqi Army.

Seeing Wang Quanbin eager to move, Xiang Xun spoke first: "General Wang, no need to rush. Once the road is cleared, you will lead your troops south to support General Gao's operations!"

"Commander Xiang!" After another round of military arrangements, Liu Chenghsun came looking for him.

Liu Chenghsun's noble, immaculate royal robes formed a stark contrast with the devastation and filth all around. Seeing this, Xiang Xun went to greet him, putting on a concerned air: "Your Highness, this place has not yet been cleaned up, and safety is uncertain. How could Your Highness's noble personage come here? If anything were to happen, we subordinates could not bear the responsibility!"

"It's fine! I am not so delicate as that!" Liu Chenghsun said with a light smile.

Looking at Xiang Xun, Liu Chenghsun said with a gentle expression, "I came here on His Majesty's orders to reward and comfort the troops. Now that my mission is complete, it's time for me to take my leave and return to Chang'an. At present, with the offensive and defensive operations resuming and military intelligence urgent, with the army pressing forward on its victory, I shall not linger here to trouble the Commander and distract your attention from caring for me!"

"I take my leave now!" Liu Chenghsun clasped his hands in salute.

"Your Highness is so wise and virtuous—I am deeply impressed!" Toward Liu Chenghsun's conduct and attitude, a hint of approval appeared in Xiang Xun's eyes.

"Murong Chengtai, you will lead men to escort His Highness to Sanguan Pass!" Xiang Xun instructed Murong Chengtai.

Liu Chenghsun waved his hand again, declining: "I have my own guards for escort. Chengtai is the Commander's personal general—keep him for your headquarters!"

With that, he turned and left first, escorted by several guards.

Toward Liu Chenghsun's conduct, Xiang Xun showed no further reaction, merely dispatching two hundred soldiers as escort. Afterward, he turned his attention back to the war.

The fall of Weiwu City was only the beginning. What mattered more was pursuing the fleeing enemy, sweeping them away like autumn wind over fallen leaves, and completely crushing the remaining Shu main force.

Fengzhou's prefectural seat was not far from Weiwu City—just over thirty li to the southwest. Liangquan City, which had taken in a large number of defeated troops, was now in a state of panic. Including the original garrison, it still had over thirty thousand troops, but most were demoralized and broken in spirit.

Li Tinggui, Gao Yandao, and the newly arrived army supervisor Zhao Chongtao and other Shu generals, after fleeing back to Liangquan, did manage to take some action. Through that night, they swiftly reorganized the troops, calmed the soldiers' morale, and arranged defenses. Though the shattered morale and crushed spirits could hardly be restored in such a short time, they barely managed to restore order.

"The Han army's methods are too vicious—one great fire has broken our bones and tendons!" Gao Yandao, patrolling the city defenses together with Zhao Chongtao, lamented, "It seems the Han army had planned this long ago, only waiting for the autumn skies. Alas, we were foolish and failed to detect their treacherous scheme!"

Zhao Chongtao's mood also seemed somewhat low, and he said with a sneer, "Our Chancellor Wang in Chengdu is still dreaming of clever stratagems and surprise troops to cut off the Han army's retreat..."

The defeat report from Tangcang had basically arrived together. That Shu army under Han Jixun had not been completely annihilated—some scattered survivors had fortunately made it back to Liangquan.

"After this battle, the Han army's momentum is strong while ours is crushed. I fear Liangquan may not hold either..." Zhao Chongtao said with furrowed brows, "We should advise the Expeditionary Commander that Liangquan is not worth relying on—we should preserve our strength and fall back to Qingni Ridge and Guzhen!"

"The Army Supervisor has keen insight!" Gao Yandao, being a man who understood warfare, knew Zhao Chongtao's reasoning and nodded: "Others have proposed this before, but the Expeditionary Commander has too many concerns!"

"At this point, what concerns are there to have? How would Chengdu know of Fengzhou's peril?" Zhao Chongtao said with some agitation, "The realm's elite troops are mostly gathered here. If we lose the army, never mind Liangquan—the Han army will drive straight in, all four prefectures of Qinfeng will fall, and even Xingyuan Prefecture will be threatened!"

"I am willing to accompany the Army Supervisor in petitioning the Expeditionary Commander!" Gao Yandao said.

"Good!"

However, just as the two were deliberating, they heard the watchmen on the city tower cry out in alarm: The Han army is here!

Gao and Zhao hurriedly climbed the city wall and peered outside. To the east of the city, at the far edge of sight, military banners fluttered and figures swarmed. They exchanged a glance, both wearing grave expressions that conveyed the same thought: The Han army came fast—it won't be easy to slip away now!

On Gao Huaide's side, having led his troops to approach the eastern wall of Liangquan and briefly surveyed the defenses, he could hardly hide his disappointment. Originally he had considered that if the Shu army's morale was shattered and their defenses lax, even without heavy siege equipment, he would attempt to take the city in one stroke.

However, the city walls were clearly prepared. He would not sacrifice his soldiers' lives for personal glory against the situation. He sent men to seize the roads and passes outside the city while forming ranks and establishing a camp in a defensive posture, awaiting the arrival of the main force.