Chapter 596

Mang Mountain, Wild Boar Valley.

The deep autumn mountain wind already carried a noticeable chill, but the atmosphere inside the allied army's main camp was as hot as a furnace.

On the drill ground, the newly reorganized troops of each unit were conducting their final pre-battle drill.

Shouts of killing, clashes of weapons, and officers' orders mingled together, filling the air with the sharp vigor of metal on metal.

Compared to the fatigue and panic when they just broke through here a month ago, the allied soldiers now have a completely renewed appearance.

Although their armor and weapons still show signs of repair, they are well maintained, gleaming with a cold light.

In their marching formation, though they still cannot reach the absolute strictness of the former Yue Family Army where movements were as obedient as limbs, they are orderly in advance and retreat, commands are followed, and they also carry the vigorous, spirited air of mountain elite troops brought by the Northward Aspiration army.

More importantly, the confusion and indignation once in the soldiers' eyes have been replaced by a calm determination infused with the fire of revenge.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere was solemn.

A large map of the He-Luo region hung in the center, marked with different colored charcoal to indicate enemy and friendly dispositions, strategic mountain passes, and river crossings.

Yue Fei stood before the map, holding a slender wooden whip in his hand.

Chen Wen, Wu Yong, Lin Chong, Zhang Xian, and Wang Gui, the core commanders, sat on either side.

"Everyone."

Yue Fei spoke, his voice calm and powerful.

"After more than a month of training, supplies and arms are roughly ready, internal troubles have temporarily cleared, and the troops' morale is usable."

"The False Song court is preoccupied with its own survival; the Jin army's main force has moved north to defend against the steppes, leaving the He-Luo region's defenses relatively empty."

"This is a heaven-sent opportunity."

The wooden whip pointed on the map, tracing north from Mang Mountain, sweeping across a shadow representing the Jin-controlled area, and finally landing on a region south of the Yellow River and north of Mount Song.

"Luoyang."

Yue Fei uttered the two words, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"The former eastern capital, the strategic lock of Zhongyuan. The Jin barbarians occupy it as a springboard for southern invasion, having long scraped the land and oppressed the people."

"The garrison here is a second-line reserve unit of the Jin army, about fifteen thousand strong, stationed in Luoyang city and nearby key points such as Yanshi, Gong County, Dengfeng, etc. The commanding general is Wanyan Baolisu, who is cautious, good at defense but not offense."

"Our newly formed army must win its first battle, and win big!"

He looked around at everyone.

"Therefore, the objective of this battle—"

"Recapture Luoyang!"

Those in the tent inhaled slightly.

"Luoyang! That was the former dynasty's eastern capital, a major stronghold of Zhongyuan!"

"If we can take it in one fell swoop, its political and military significance will be immeasurable! Enough to shake the world, making both the Jin state and the False Song fully recognize the weight of the 'Northward Aspiration-Yue' allied army!"

"How should we fight?" Zhang Xian couldn't help but ask, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Yue Fei's wooden whip wandered over several points around Luoyang.

"The enemy troops are stationed apart, intending to support each other, holding firm and waiting for reinforcements."

"My intention is to concentrate our main force and directly assault Luoyang proper!"

"If the enemy in Yanshi and Gong County comes out to aid, we will ambush and destroy them en route; if they stay holed up, we will, after taking Luoyang, send detachments to eliminate them."

"The key lies in——"

He paused, then looked toward Chen Wen.

"Quick battle, quick decision."

"We must, before the Jin northern front's main force can react or before any possible change occurs on the False Song side, seize Luoyang with thunderous force!"

Chen Wen met Yue Fei's gaze and gave a slight nod.

"The newly created 'Star Pattern Command' can serve as the courage for this battle."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

"In this battle, I and Mr. Wu Yong will hold the central command, coordinating the overall situation."

"General Yue, you, together with Zhang Xian and Wang Gui, will lead the main infantry force of seven thousand, carrying siege equipment, to launch a strong assault on Luoyang's east and north gates, exerting maximum pressure on the defenders in the shortest time possible to draw their attention and troops."

"Instructor Lin."

Chen Wen looked toward Lin Chong, whose wounds had healed and whose eyes were sharp as before.

"You will lead a thousand elite cavalry of the Northward Aspiration army, plus five hundred lightly armored horsemen from Yue Yun's unit, totaling fifteen hundred cavalry, carrying light crossbows and swift horses, to circle around to the southwest of Luoyang near Dragon Gate Mountain and lie in wait concealed."

"Upon my order, or if you see fire rise within the city, or hear a specific signal cannon, you will activate the power of the token and launch a surprise attack on Luoyang's relatively weak south gate!"

"Remember, when charging, activate the token for the best effect."

Lin Chong clasped his fists and replied in a deep voice: "Understood! I will not fail the trust placed in me!"

Yue Fei added: "During the siege, I will feint with the main force, creating the illusion of a strong attack, to draw as much of the defenders' attention and reserves to the east and north as possible, thus creating an opportunity for Instructor Lin's surprise."

Wu Yong then stroked his beard and said: "The terrain around Dragon Gate Mountain is complex, good for concealment, but it is still over twenty li from Luoyang's south gate for a charging approach. Instructor Lin must calculate his horses' strength and timing. At that time, I will arrange an insider to create as much chaos as possible in the southern part of the city to cooperate with breaching the gate."

The plan was settled.

The tent was filled with a solemn yet excited atmosphere of an impending great battle.

Three days later.

The darkest moment before dawn.

At the northern foothills of Mang Mountain, several silent troops, like dark currents, quietly merged into the vast night darkness, rolling northward.

The banners quietly unfurled in the morning wind.

Horse hooves were wrapped in thick cloth.

The soldiers held bits in their mouths, the horses had their bells removed.

Everything that could possibly make a sound was strictly controlled.

Only countless pairs of footsteps trod over the frozen land, emitting a soft rustling that gathered into a low, solemn marching tune.

Yue Fei donned armor, grasped his weapon, and marched in the central army.

Chen Wen and Wu Yong rode side by side slightly behind.

The mother token in Chen Wen's sleeve, and the several child tokens in his bosom used for temporary contact, conveyed a faint warmth and resonance.

He could clearly feel that the several 'momentum' representing Yue Fei, Lin Chong, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui and others, as Jun Ying set out, became active, cohesive, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

And farther off, the 'momentum' of the Jin army garrison facing Luoyang remains immersed in a relatively tranquil, even somewhat slackened 'turbidity'.

Not yet noticed, a battle sword tempered long ago is tearing through the night, rushing swiftly toward their throats.

At the same time.

On Luoyang's city wall.

Commandant Wanyan Balisu conducted his routine night watch, gazing at the pitch-black wilderness beyond the city, and tightened his fur garment.

The autumn wind was bleak; the torches on the city wall swayed in the wind, stretching his shadow alternately long and short.

"The Southern Dynasty side is in chaos, and that whatever Yue Fei actually didn't die but raised a rebel flag on Mang Shan..."

The Deputy Commander muttered to the side, his tone tinged with disbelief and schadenfreude.

"A rabble of a mob—what could they possibly achieve? They probably won't even survive this winter."

Wanyan Balisu, however, furrowed his brow.

"Do not be careless. This person Yue Fei is no ordinary foe. Mang Shan is only a few days' journey from here..."

He gazed toward the dark southern night.

There lies the direction of Mang Shan.

For some reason, tonight he continually felt uneasy, as if something terrifying were brewing and approaching in the darkness.

"Double the scouts and send them south to scout fifty li."

"Notify Yanshi and Gongxian to strengthen defenses and stand ready to support each other at any time."

"Tell the lads to cheer up!"

Seeing his stern expression, the Deputy Commander dared not delay and promptly conveyed the order.

Orders were passed down one after another.

The garrison on Luoyang's city wall lifted its spirits a little, but most remained weighed down by the fatigue and lethargy of the deep autumn night.

They did not truly believe that the rebel army, which had just escaped the encirclement and was said to be still regrouping, had the daring or capability to attack a fortified city like Luoyang.

To most soldiers, Wanyan Balisu's worry seemed merely the Commander-in-Chief being overly cautious.

The sky gradually shifted from ink-black to deep blue.

On the eastern horizon, a faint fish-belly white glimmered.

A new day was about to begin.

It was also the He Luo region where the winds and clouds began to change.