Chapter 620: Great Victory at Xu Chang

Xu Chang.

Anciently called Yingchuan, the heartland of Zhongyuan.

The city walls are not especially tall, but its location is strategic, controlling the north-south official road.

At this moment, this ancient city has become the calm eye of the vortex before the storm arrives.

On the city walls, the banner of the Northward Aspiration-Yue Allied Army has already been raised.

But the defending forces are far fewer than they should be.

Most of the troops have been cleverly hidden by Yue Fei.

Hidden in the stretch of intertwined hills and woods outside the south gate.

Hidden among the seemingly ordinary streets and houses inside the north gate, which are actually filled with mechanisms and ambush troops.

Yue Fei himself did not remain in the relatively safe city.

He led a small detachment of personal guards to a high ground ten li southwest of Xu Chang, known as Crouching Tiger Hill.

The view here is excellent.

One can overlook Xu Chang city and take in all movements along the southern road at a glance.

A cold wind sweeps across the withered grass on the hilltop.

Yue Fei stands with hand on sword, gazing far to the south.

By his side are his deputy Yue Yun, and several sharpshooters and standard-bearers from the Beiwei Army.

Further away, the main cavalry force under Lin Chong has completed assembly at its designated position, horses with bits in their mouths, silently awaiting orders.

Zhang Xian's harassment operation at Sand River Shop on the southern front succeeded, burning part of Wang Jun's supplies and disrupting his northward march.

This allowed Yue Fei to concentrate his forces and create a precious opportunity to fight a brilliant annihilation battle at Xu Chang.

Intelligence shows that the vanguard of the False Song's northern expedition, about thirty thousand strong, is swiftly advancing along the official road toward Xu Chang under the urging of its commander-in-chief, Liu Guangshi.

Their ranks also include several hundred Jin cavalry.

Wang Jun seems to have learned his lesson, holding back his main force and letting Liu Guangshi—a similarly undistinguished yet eager-for-merit general—take the lead.

This both probes Yue Fei's strengths and weaknesses and wears down the enemy while preserving his own.

His calculations are precise.

But Yue Fei has no intention of following the enemy's calculations.

"They're here."

Yue Yun, sharp-eyed, whispered.

Yue Fei fixed his gaze.

At the end of the southern road, dust and smoke began to rise.

First came scattered groups of scout horsemen, spreading out cautiously as they advanced.

Then came a dense mass of infantry.

Their banners were in disarray, the ranks not tight, appearing somewhat weary and lax as they marched.

This is exactly the characteristic of Liu Guangshi's troops—numerous but not elite, arrogant commanders and lax soldiers.

More striking are the several hundred Jin cavalry on the flanks, brightly dressed and wearing fine armor.

They form a separate detachment, keeping a distance from the False Song army, their eyes full of undisguised arrogance and scrutiny.

They seem not to have come to aid in battle, but to supervise the troops—or perhaps just to watch the show.

"Pass the order."

Yue Fei's voice was calm.

"Ambush troops, hold still."

"Let the enemy vanguard enter the city."

"When more than half of the main force has passed and the rear begins to enter the city..."

A cold light flashed in his eyes.

"At my signal cannon, all sides attack together!"

"Yes!"

The signalmen quickly relayed the order via specially made small mirrors, using reflected sunlight to the predetermined observation points in all directions.

The orders spread like ripples, layer by layer.

Each unit of the allied ambush forces tensed silently.

The battlefield was like a carefully laid trap.

It lay in wait for its prey, step by step leading them into deadly ground.

Liu Guangshi rode a fine reddish-brown horse, positioned in the middle of the column.

He was not in a good mood.

Being pushed forward by Wang Jun as the sacrificial spearhead would make anyone unhappy.

But before departure, Minister Qin had sent him a secret letter promising rewards after defeating the rebels, so he had to grit his teeth and go.

"How did the scout report?" he asked his deputy commander beside him.

"Report, General: the rebel banner is indeed seen on Xu Chang's city walls, but the defenders appear few. All gates are shut, drawbridges raised, with no sign of the enemy coming out to fight."

"Hmph, it must be that Yue Fei has split his forces to guard various points, leaving Xu Chang empty." Liu Guangshi felt somewhat reassured, "Order the vanguard to speed up, seize the city gates! Main force follow, rear guard hold the formation!"

The order was given.

The already somewhat hurried troops quickened their pace a bit more.

The vanguard soon reached the south gate of Xu Chang.

Seeing the gates tightly shut, only a sparse few figures on the walls, with occasional arrows falling, their strength appeared ordinary.

The vanguard commanders of the False Song army had no doubt, immediately ordering the erection of simple siege ladders and beginning an ant-like assault on the city.

The offensive appeared lukewarm.

The defenders on the walls seemed to be struggling a bit in their resistance.

Everything was consistent with the normal reaction of a city lacking troops when faced with an overwhelming army pressing at its gates.

Liu Guangshi's central division also arrived at the foot of the city.

They began to deploy to both sides according to the plan, preparing for a full encirclement.

The rear units also slowly entered the outskirts of the battlefield.

Just as the bulk of Liu Guangshi's main force had entered the relatively open area south of Xuchang, though flanked by hills and woods.

The rear troops had just stepped onto the edge.

At that moment, most of the False Song soldiers' attention was drawn to the siege ahead.

Boom!

A deep, thunderous signal cannon suddenly exploded from the direction of Wo Hu Gang!

The sound carried extremely far and crystal‑clear across the empty winter plain!

Immediately afterward.

Shouts of killing shook the heavens!

As if the earth split and mountains collapsed!

Xuchang's tightly shut south gate burst open with a roar!

It was not the defenders fleeing.

But rather, elite allied infantry lying in ambush inside the gate, led by a brave commander, surged out like a bursting flood!

They slammed straight into the rear of the False Song vanguard that was assaulting the city!

At the same time.

In the hilly thickets on both sides of the official road, countless banners rose!

Arrows and crossbow bolts rained down, drenching the unsuspecting False Song central forces!

Moreover, large bodies of allied infantry brandishing spears and swords leapt from their hiding places, like two iron pincers, ruthlessly clamping onto the enemy ranks on the road!

"An ambush!"

"We've been tricked!"

Terrified cries instantly exploded within the False Song army.

The vanguard was thrown into chaos by a single charge of the fresh troops pouring from the gate, their already strained assault formation collapsing at once.

The central forces, exposed to crossfire from the hills on both sides, suffered heavy casualties, their ranks split in half, unable to support each other.

The rear troops, having just entered the battlefield and still shaken, saw their own comrades ahead falling like grass before a scythe, while banners of ambush troops fluttered on both flanks, causing them to hesitate and even begin to retreat backward.

Liu Guangshi felt his liver and gallbladder torn apart.

Where had he ever seen such a battle?

In the past, suppressing bandits had always meant relying on strength to bully the weak; when had he ever been so outmaneuvered and driven into a desperate situation?

"Hold fast! Hold fast for me!"

He bellowed hoarsely, but his voice was drowned in the chaos and screams.

His personal guards fought desperately to shield him, hoping to break out toward the rear.

But the rear route had already been cut off by a small contingent of allied cavalry that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Those several hundred Jin cavalry, however, reacted swiftly.

Seeing the situation turn bad, they simply ignored the fate of the False Song troops.

Under the shout of a commander, they quickly formed a tight wedge formation, attempting to rely on their fine armor and bravery to force a bloody path northward to escape.

Their choice was smart.

To the north lay Yanshi, which was under Jin control.

As long as they broke out, they could survive.

However.

They had barely charged out less than a hundred paces.

Ahead, in a grove of dead trees, thunderous hoofbeats sounded!

Lin Chong led the charge, heading the allied forces' main cavalry that had been conserving its strength, like a tiger leaping from its cage, crashing straight into them!

"Kill!"

No nonsense.

Only the cold iron hooves and gleaming blades.

The Jin soldiers were brave, but they were vastly outnumbered.

Moreover, shaken by the ambush, they faced the allied cavalry that had rested and waited, its spirit like a rainbow, and they managed to hold out for less than a quarter of an hour.

The wedge formation was then scattered.

That commander was unhorsed by Lin Chong's spear thrust.

The remaining Jin soldiers gave a cry and scattered in flight.

Yet most of them were picked off one by one by the allied skirmishers riding in pursuit.

The backbone of the False Song army collapsed completely.

Liu Guangshi, amid the melee, was struck in the shoulder blade by a stray arrow and cried out as he fell from his horse.

His personal guards desperately dragged him back, then swept up with the fleeing troops, he fled southward at breakneck speed.

The army collapsed like a toppled mountain.

On the wilderness south of Xu Chang City, discarded flags, armor, and supplies littered the ground.

Translation: On the southern outskirts of Xu Chang City, the fields were littered with abandoned flags, armor, and baggage.

Note: "On the wilderness south of Xu Chang City" refers to the fields on the southern outskirts of Xu Chang City.

And countless pseudo-Song troops fled, wailing in defeat.

Translation: And countless fleeing, wailing False Song defeated soldiers.

Better: "And countless fleeing, wailing defeated soldiers of the False Song."

Following the predetermined plan, the various units of the allied forces split up, pursued, and drove the enemy back.

Following the predetermined plan, the various units of the allied forces divided, pursued, and drove them back.

Following the predetermined plan, the various units of the allied forces split up, gave chase, and drove the enemy back.

Following the predetermined plan, the various units of the allied forces split, pursued, and drove the enemy back.

Following the predetermined plan, the various units of the allied forces split up, pursued, and drove the enemy back.

Expanding their gains.

Translation: They expanded their gains.

Yet they did not blindly press deeper.

Translation: Yet they did not blindly press deeper.

Yue Fei remained stationed on Wo Hu Gang, calmly observing the entire battlefield.

Translation: Yue Fei remained stationed on Crouching Tiger Hill, calmly observing the entire battlefield.

Only after confirming that the enemy forces had completely collapsed and could no longer retaliate.

Translation: Until he confirmed the enemy army had completely collapsed, with no strength left to counterattack.

Then he gave the order.

Translation: Only then did he give the order.

"Sound the recall."

Translation: "Sound the recall."

"Withdraw the troops."

Translation: "Withdraw the troops."

"Clear the battlefield and reinforce the city defenses."

Translation: "Clear the battlefield, reinforce the city defenses."

"Yes!"

Translation: "Yes!"

The clear sound of the bronze bell rang out.

Translation: The clear sound of the bronze bell rang out.

The pursuing allied units, like a tide, withdrew in an orderly manner back to Xu Chang City and its surrounding preset positions.

Translation: The pursuing units of the allied forces, like a tide, withdrew in an orderly manner back to Xu Chang City and its preset surrounding positions.

Leaving only a mess across the ground and, on the distant horizon, the scattered, disheveled figures fleeing south.

Translation: Leaving only a mess across the ground, and on the distant horizon, the scattered, disheveled figures fleeing south.

A meticulously planned ambush battle.

Translation: A meticulously planned ambush battle.

From the sounding of the signal cannon to the battle essentially ending.

Translation: From the sounding of the signal cannon to the battle essentially ending.

It lasted just over an hour.

Translation: It took little more than an hour.

The vanguard of the pseudo-Song northern expedition, thirty thousand strong, together with several hundred Jin cavalry, was almost entirely annihilated.

Translation: The False Song's northern expedition vanguard of thirty thousand, together with several hundred Jin cavalry, was almost entirely annihilated.

Countless were slain on the battlefield and captured.

Translation: Countless were slain on the battlefield and captured.

The seized grain, fodder, and military equipment piled up like mountains.

Translation: The seized grain, fodder, and arms piled up like mountains.

More importantly, this battle completely broke the pseudo-Song court's spirit for advancing north to Luoyang.

Translation: More importantly, this battle completely shattered the False Song Imperial Court's spirit for advancing north to Luoyang.

Upon hearing the news, Wang Jun was terrified; he immediately withdrew his camp thirty li, dug deep moats and built high ramparts, and dared not mention the idea of advancing north in three days.

Translation: Upon hearing the news, Wang Jun was terrified; he immediately withdrew his camp thirty li, dug deep moats and built high ramparts, and no longer dared mention the idea of "marching north in three days."

The news spread to Lin'an, shocking the court and populace.

Translation: The news transmitted back to Lin'an, shocking the court and populace.

The pro-peace faction's arrogance was momentarily choked.

Translation: The pro-peace faction's arrogance was momentarily choked.

Qin Hui was frantic and overwhelmed.

Translation: Qin Hui was beside himself with worry.

However.

Translation: However.

Standing on Wo Hu Gang, Yue Fei's face showed little joy.

Translation: Yue Fei, standing on Crouching Tiger Hill, showed little joy on his face.

He withdrew his gaze toward the south.

Translation: He withdrew his gaze toward the south.

He slowly turned his gaze northward.

Translation: He slowly turned his gaze northward.

Toward the direction of the Yellow River.

Translation: Toward the direction of the Yellow River.

Yue Yun followed his father's gaze.

Translation: Yue Yun followed his father's gaze.

He saw only, far away on the horizon.

Translation: He saw, on the far horizon,

There seemed to be a line of deeper, more ominous dust slowly moving.

Translation: a faint line of deeper, more ominous dust moving slowly.

Quite different from the dust raised by the fleeing pseudo-Song army.

Translation: It was utterly different from the dust raised by the defeated False Song army.

That dust lingered, not dispersing.

Translation: That dust clung together, not dispersing.

It carried a silent, icy sense of oppression.

Translation: It carried a silent, icy pressure.

"That is..." Yue Yun's heart tightened.

Translation: "That is..." Yue Yun's heart tightened.

Yue Fei did not speak.

Translation: Yue Fei did not speak.

Only his grip on the sword tightened, his knuckles whitening slightly.

Translation: Only his hand gripping the sword whitened slightly at the knuckles.

He knew what it was.

Translation: He knew what it was.

The Yuan cavalry.

Translation: "Yuan" cavalry.

They had not taken part in the battle of Xu Chang.

Translation: They had not taken part in the Battle of Xu Chang.

They were merely like a patient wolf pack, watching from afar.

Translation: They were merely like a patient wolf pack, watching from afar.

Waiting...

Translation: Waiting…

For the most opportune moment to strike.

Translation: For the optimal moment to strike.

The cheers of the great victory at Xu Chang faintly came from within the city.

Translation: The cheers of the great victory at Xu Chang faintly came from within the city.

But in Yue Fei's heart, that string.

Translation: But in Yue Fei's heart, that string

Yet was drawn tighter.

Translation: had been drawn even tighter.

The southern paper tiger had its claws and fangs temporarily broken.

Translation: The paper tiger to the south had its claws and fangs temporarily broken.

But the northern evil flood dragon...

Translation: But the evil flood dragon to the north…

Had already revealed its icy, ferocious spine.

Translation: had already revealed its icy, ferocious spine.

The true test.

Translation: The true test.

Perhaps, it has only just begun.