Chapter 280: Ten Thousand Horses Gallop, Camps Burn in Flames

Night raid tactics were not unfamiliar to any of them.

In the past few years, they had all taken part in them firsthand.

Now, whenever the White Lotus rebels spotted Li Mu's troops, they immediately tightened camp security.

It wasn't that night raid tactics had lost their effectiveness—only that executing them had become far harder.

Now that they had reached the north and faced the Northern Barbarians, whom they had never fought before, the situation had changed again.

Since the invasion began, not a single Great Dayu army had dared to launch a night raid.

Even if the enemy was somewhat wary, their vigilance would still be low.

Long-distance marching was also extremely draining on physical strength.

The fact that the Northern Barbarian cavalry did not immediately attack, but instead chose to rest outside Jinan, also indirectly proved the point.

"General Li, what is the probability of success for tonight's night raid?"

Marquis Marquis Wuyang asked with concern.

Compared to these unfamiliar commanders below, he still trusted Li Mu's judgment more.

"My Lord, there is at least a sixty percent chance of success."

The cavalry's advantage over infantry lies primarily on open plains.

At night, the situation is different—the pitch-black environment confines the battlefield to the camp itself.

Even if the enemy reacts in time, they cannot leverage their cavalry's mobility.

In such a specific battlefield, elite infantry can hold their own against immobilized cavalry.

The goal of the night raid is not to kill many enemy soldiers, but to target their horses."

Li Mu replied calmly.

Unlike previous enemies, the Northern Barbarian cavalry were unquestionably top-tier elite forces in this era.

If they failed to destroy the horses first, the initiative in this war would remain entirely in the enemy's hands.

In fact, the enemy's strength was not limited to cavalry—their infantry was equally formidable.

Especially in the use of firearms, they surpassed many imperial troops.

The irony was that most of these firearms had been seized from Great Dayu soldiers, with only a small fraction acquired through smuggling.

So far, the Northern Barbarians could only perform basic repairs on firearms, and their gunpowder production was pathetically low.

Theoretically, if Great Dayu simply blocked all supplies from reaching them, the Northern Barbarians would collapse within three years.

But these were only theoretical possibilities—given the corruption of Great Dayu's bureaucracy, nothing was unsellable if the price was right.

The interest groups formed by officials and merchants cared only about how much they could profit, not the fate of the court.

If one day Great Dayu truly fell, they would indeed feel sorrow.

But not over the shattering of the nation—only over the loss of their own income streams.

Those who survived in the bureaucracy were no fools.

Everyone knew that after a change of imperial power, they, as former ministers, could never hope to retain their current privileges.

They still chose to act as parasites not because they were stupid, but to maximize their gains.

Many officials believed that even if they didn't reach out, others would.

Since Great Dayu was destined to be hollowed out anyway, it was better to benefit themselves than others.

As for what came after, if they didn't think about it, it didn't exist.

Besides, even if Great Dayu collapsed, it wouldn't vanish overnight—perhaps they'd never live to see it.

Perhaps in their youth, each had grand ambitions to change all this, but after years in the bureaucracy, they all eventually became indistinguishable from the rot.

Even Li Mu himself only sought to preserve his own interests.

To turn the tide would mean standing against the entire bureaucratic establishment.

Great Dayu's social contradictions were not merely about official corruption—they were fundamentally the result of the ruling class rapidly expanding in size.

At the founding of the dynasty, the imperial clan numbered fewer than a hundred, and the combined merit nobles and imperial relatives totaled only a few tens of thousands.

Now, this group had grown to millions.

Great Dayu could certainly afford to support just these people.

The real problem was the ever-expanding bureaucratic and gentry class.

This group's numbers were several times larger than those of the imperial clan and relatives.

Worse still, the size of these interest groups kept growing, doubling every few decades.

To many officials, if they could not continue expanding their family's wealth, their descendants would fall into obscurity within a few generations.

But land and wealth did not fall from the sky.

Under limited productivity, everyone was engaged in zero-sum competition.

Whether through bureaucratic infighting or collusion with merchants in smuggling, all of it was for profit.

Some actions were out in the open, but most were hidden—everyone tacitly understood, and no one spoke of it.

"A sixty percent chance of success is worth the risk."

"But we cannot count on the garrison inside the city—they won't dare sally out unless the situation becomes crystal clear."

"This battle must be won by us alone."

Marquis Marquis Wuyang mused.

Compared to military strategy, he understood his colleagues far better.

Hoping the officials in Jinan would act in the greater interest and launch a timely counterattack was as futile as wishing for a meteor to fall from the sky and carry the enemy away.

"My Lord, it's actually better without their help."

"If those bastards come out and cause chaos, and the Northern Barbarians seize Jinan in the confusion, we'll be in deep trouble."

Li Mu smiled.

It wasn't that he looked down on his colleagues—it was that this victory must be claimed solely by the Relief Army.

Only by defeating the enemy alone could the battle report be written according to his wishes.

He had falsified casualty reports countless times; one more wouldn't bother him.

The Relief Army suffering heavy losses to defeat the Northern Barbarian cavalry fit everyone's expectations.

The enemy's severed heads needed to be pickled and preserved for the Ministry of War to verify battlefield achievements, while their own men deserved burial with dignity.

Even if the Ministry of War suspected something was amiss, they might not dig up the graves to verify.

After the battle, the army would enter a period of rest—should an incident occur in Qufu, the blame would never reach him.

…

At midnight, the patrolling soldiers yawned in twos and threes.

"The Company Commander is too strict—can't even let us sleep this late at night."

"We have to patrol every single day, yet we never see a single ghost."

"I say, we'd be better off raiding a few villages."

"Then we could sleep on a warm kang, hugging…"

The young man grumbled.

"Alata, stop talking nonsense."

"If it weren't for your big mouth getting us into trouble, we'd all be sleeping soundly in our tents instead of being dragged out at three in the morning!"

Wuliqi scolded immediately.

Wherever there are people, there is conflict.

Alata couldn't keep his mouth shut and accidentally offended his superior, dragging down his entire squad.

If not for the fact that they had grown up together and had strong bonds, Alata would have been beaten long ago.

Though he scolded him aloud, deep down Wuliqi agreed.

The patrols were completely unnecessary—the Great Dayu soldiers were cowards who always fled at the sight of them.

Since crossing the Great Wall and rampaging through, they had encountered no serious resistance.

In his view, the Great Dayu army knew nothing but defending city walls.

"You two, stop bickering—there's movement outside!"

The slightly older squad leader spoke sharply.

But though his tone was stern, he made no move to investigate.

From past experience, anything moving at this hour was likely just wild animals.

If they'd seen them during the day, they could have hunted them for better rations—but at night, forget it.

Leaving the camp in pitch darkness was never a good idea.

Night blindness wasn't just a problem among Great Dayu soldiers—it affected them too.

When fighting, they feasted on meat and fish, but once back in Liaodong, these low-ranking soldiers were back to eating bran and gruel.

Going hungry was normal.

No matter how much loot they seized, the high-ups took the lion's share; they only got scraps.

Prices in Liaodong were high; if they didn't cut corners, a bad harvest year would be disastrous.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…"

Crossbow bolts pierced through their hearts; Alata gasped his last breath:

"Enemy attack!"

The annihilation of one squad marked the beginning of the night raid.

On the arrow tower, the Northern Barbarian soldiers who noticed something amiss immediately rang the bells and drums.

But by now, the Royalist army had already stormed into the camp.

"Don't get bogged down here—first, release the enemy's warhorses!"

Qin Qin Tianrui gave the order decisively.

This opportunity was one he had snatched away from his fellow officers.

Whether he could restore his ancestors' glory depended on this battle.

If he could crush the enemy army, he would become a rising general of Great Dayu.

With the aristocratic faction backing him behind the scenes, after accumulating enough merit, he might even inherit the title of Marquis of Xingguo.

Similar cases had occurred many times in the Great Dayu dynasty.

When all direct male heirs were wiped out, and distant collateral branches had gone beyond the fifth degree of kinship, they lost the right to inherit the title.

To demonstrate the Emperor's boundless grace, the Emperor would select a worthy young man from the distant collateral line to inherit the title.

Even if the Emperor forgot, the aristocratic faction, for their own interests, would find ways to push it forward.

Accidents like these—no one knew when they might happen.

Helping others was helping oneself.

If, generations later, their own family faced such a situation, they could simply follow the precedent.

If lucky, the family estate would remain in the hands of their own descendants.

But this was clearly not what the civil officials wanted to see, so they naturally opposed it fiercely.

Unless the Emperor forcefully pushed it through, the only chance for a collateral branch to inherit the title was if a young man from that line earned great merit.

Even so, this was far easier than starting from scratch to earn military merit and a noble title.

With such great benefits, competition could not possibly be small.

Affected by the great explosion in the capital, there were not just one or two aristocratic youths who had suffered similar losses and sought to revive their families.

To secure such an opportunity, aside from personal excellence, it was mostly about connections.

But such an opportunity would come only once.

There were far too many aristocratic youths needing cultivation; the powerful aristocrats had to prioritize their own kin.

Perhaps this was not the only path to reviving the family, but it was the easiest shortcut.

To ensure absolute success, Qin Qin Tianrui staked everything he had.

The men beside him were all drawn from his clan—every one of them his own kin.

……

"What's happening outside?"

Er Dun demanded angrily.

In his dream, he had just been enfeoffed as a prince and appointed chancellor, ascending to the peak of life—until the cries of battle jolted him awake, filling him with rage.

"Myriad Commander, the enemy has attacked our camp.

But rest assured, these few Yu soldiers are no threat.

The guards should handle them."

The personal guard's reply eased Er Dun's expression slightly.

He had seen far too many of the Yu soldiers inside the pass—what a sorry lot they were.

Often, just a few Tatar cavalrymen could chase after thousands of Yu troops.

Along the way, he had already gathered tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers.

According to past experience, these men, once given minimal training, would become competent cannon fodder.

If it weren't for the urgency of time, he would have brought a horde of such cannon fodder to storm Jinan Prefecture.

"Hmm."

"Order the men to capture a few prisoners and find out who the enemy commander is tonight.

Someone with this kind of boldness surely isn't an unknown.

Wasting such talent by clinging to the decaying Great Dayu is a crime.

The Great Khan is desperate for talent—should the chance arise, capture him alive if possible."

Er Dun mused.

The Tatars had a limited population; reaching this point depended entirely on absorbing talented individuals from all ethnic groups.

Especially capable generals were highly sought after.

"Yes, Commander!"

……

Before the order could be sent out, chaos in the camp had already spread.

The deafening cries of battle and the crackling explosions made Er Dun realize the situation was dire.

As he stepped out of the command tent, he was stunned by what he saw.

A group of warhorses, their tails tied to strings of exploding firecrackers, were charging straight toward him.

Terrified, the horses no longer recognized friend from foe—they bolted in any direction they chose.

Many Tatars who had just woken from sleep and were preparing to fight had no idea what was happening before they were knocked flying by their own horses.

If it were enemies, Er Dun would have led his men to charge without hesitation.

He was a Myriad Commander who had fought countless battles, crawling out of piles of corpses.

But now he faced a herd of warhorses—his own warhorses.

Killing them meant losing his own wealth.

Letting them run wild would plunge the camp into even greater chaos.

"Quickly, control the horses!"

In panic, Er Dun instinctively gave the order.

Some brave Tatar soldiers risked grabbing the reins, trying to calm the horses—only to be dragged away instantly.

They couldn't stop them. Not at all.

No matter how valiant the soldier, facing a stampeding herd of panicked horses was futile.

"Myriad Commander, get out of the way!"

Realizing the situation was out of control, his loyal personal guard captain immediately ordered men to drag Er Dun clear of the trampling hooves.

But by now, the camp had become a sea of fire.

The runaway horses overturned one tent after another.

Many firepots were overturned, turning the camp into a living hell.

Countless Tatar soldiers had escaped the hooves—only to perish in this unexpected blaze.

"Evacuate the camp immediately!"

With the last of his composure, Er Dun ordered the abandonment of the camp.

There was no fighting the fire—under the southeast wind, it was devouring the entire camp.

Such a fire could not be extinguished by manpower alone.

……

The chaos outside the city quickly drew the attention of the defenders.

The news climbed up the chain of command to the Provincial Governor's office; Jia Jia Xiaochen, dragged from sleep, wore a face as dark as storm clouds.

"Your Excellency, good news!"

"Outside the city, the enemy camp is filled with cries of battle—and now it's engulfed in towering flames.

It must be the forces of Marquis Marquis Wuyang launching a surprise raid on the enemy camp.

If we now send troops to support them, we can surely destroy the enemy…"

Before the young officer could finish, Jia Jia Xiaochen cut him off:

"Didn't I issue orders that under no circumstances, regardless of what happens outside, are we to launch any unauthorized attack?

Are you treating my orders as wind in your ears?

What if this is a trap set by the enemy?

Don't forget—Marquis Marquis Wuyang never notified us of any raid tonight!"

He wanted military glory, yes—but he knew exactly what kind of troops he had inside the city.

If Marquis Marquis Wuyang truly had launched a night raid, then riding along to claim some credit would be fine.

But he feared the enemy had deliberately set a trap, luring them out of the city to seize Jinan.

He trusted none of his officers' judgment.

If these men could truly fight, they wouldn't be trembling in fear at the mere news of an enemy approach.

Even the simple task of stabilizing morale required him, the Provincial Governor, to show up in person.

"Your Excellency, this can't be an enemy trick.

Marquis Marquis Wuyang's forces aren't far from Jinan City.

If something happens here, they'll surely get word.

With no camp to protect them, ten thousand Royalist troops charging in at night—ten thousand Northern Barbarians won't stand a chance!"

The young officer hurriedly explained.

"Shut up!"

"When did it become your place to question my decision?"

"Guards! Give him thirty strokes of the cane!"

Jia Jia Xiaochen angrily ordered.

No matter how the situation changes, the Provincial Governor's authority must not be challenged.

Even if objections are to be raised, they should come from the Provincial Administration Commissioner or the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner—not from a mere military officer giving orders.

If this trend is not swiftly crushed, the principle of civil authority over the military will become a joke, and commanding the troops will grow impossible henceforth.

……

(End of Chapter)