Chapter 411

First Volume, Chapter 411: Consecutive Victories

Facing the sudden arrival of the Chariot and Cavalry Army, the Sanggan Army hastily engaged, and the siege warfare immediately turned into an open field battle.

The first wave of the Chariot and Cavalry forces consisted entirely of cavalry, clad in heavy armor, charging straight into the Sanggan Army and forcibly tearing open a breach.

Facing the charge of several thousand heavily armored cavalry, the Sanggan Army suffered heavy losses in the very first clash.

But under the command of the Di Commander, the chaotic army forcibly stabilized and began fighting in chaotic close quarters with the Chariot and Cavalry cavalry.

Cavalry charge is a grave mistake; once it loses momentum, it falls into the predicament of being surrounded from all sides.

Although the Sanggan Army's main siege force consisted primarily of infantry, all were equipped with long weapons and were not at a disadvantage in direct, face-to-face combat.

Meanwhile, the Sanggan cavalry began flanking from both wings, preparing to completely annihilate the Chariot and Cavalry cavalry.

But just as the Chariot and Cavalry cavalry found themselves surrounded on all sides, reinforcements arrived: first, cavalry archers unleashed a barrage of arrows, followed by continuous ranged attacks from bow infantry, while foot soldiers clad in step armor advanced with long weapons against the Sanggan cavalry. The battle became extremely fierce.

As the Di Commander's face grew grim, he continuously issued orders.

The strategist beside him kept urging: "General! The tide has turned—withdraw now!"

The Di Commander gritted his teeth: "Nonsense! We still hold the advantage; in open field battle, these mere Liang troops mean nothing."

The strategist could not help wailing: "From scale alone, the Chariot and Cavalry Army numbers twenty to thirty thousand—neither one nor two days will suffice to decide victory. Our strategic objective is to attack Beixi County! If you waste all our strength here, how will we ever have the power to siege a city later?"

"The Chariot and Cavalry Army should never have been deployed for open battle. Clearly, the situation has shifted. If we don't withdraw now, and the Piaoqi and Border Army arrive, our entire force will be encircled and annihilated!"

The Commander-in-Chief was unwilling to retreat so easily—he had suffered consecutive defeats since arriving at the front, and returning to Wang Du would mean certain accountability.

But…

The strategist was right—the situation had changed. If the Chariot and Cavalry Army had already committed, who could guarantee the Piaoqi and Border Army wouldn't intervene? Even the most elite Sanggan Army could not withstand a three-pronged encirclement by the three Northern Border armies.

Despite overwhelming reluctance, the Commander-in-Chief could only reluctantly concede: "Beat the drums—retreat!"

The Sanggan Army withdrew in stages: infantry and supply trains moved first, while cavalry held the rear guard. Only after the infantry had reached safety did the Sanggan cavalry, having been entangled with the Chariot and Cavalry forces, break through the encirclement and withdraw from the battlefield.

In this battle, the Sanggan Army left two thousand corpses outside the Beixi County Gate, and the troops already inside the Wengcheng fared worse—all sixteen hundred were killed within the Wengcheng.

As the Sanggan Army withdrew, every soldier of the Chariot and Cavalry force pounded their chests in jubilation.

"Is this what they call one of the main Di forces? Pathetic!"

"Hahaha! Didn't the Sanggan Army boast itself as the Di's mighty army? Is this all they've got?"

"The Chariot and Cavalry Army is mighty!"

Amid the cheers of the officers, the Chariot and Cavalry General slowly emerged from the city gate, escorted by Tianji Camp Guards.

Several officers hurried forward to greet him.

"General, are you unharmed?"

"General, we've come to escort you back to camp."

Seeing the officers' ecstatic faces, clearly relieved and vindicated by this great victory,

the Chariot and Cavalry General remained grim, utterly unable to rejoice.

To win at the cost of sacrificing his own troops for the sake of Beixi County's safety—even if victorious—is merely to make allies grieve and enemies rejoice; Qin Feng must be laughing in his sleep.

But no one is to blame—only himself, for underestimating Qin Feng Xiao'er's treachery!

Since the moment he arrived on the Northern Border, this man has laid a grand chessboard!

Meanwhile, at the Piaoqi Grand Camp, all troops were already assembled and ready to march.

But a messenger rushed back: "General, the Sanggan Army has retreated!"

Hearing this, the Piaoqi Grand General's face twisted strangely, and he couldn't help cursing inwardly.

"Qin Feng Xiao'er, so treacherous!"

"This battle was meant to end with Beixi County's fall, and my alliance with the Chariot and Cavalry Army repelling the Sanggan Army. Instead…"

"Qin Feng seized Pingnan County without a single drop of blood, and used the Chariot and Cavalry Army's strength to drive off the Sanggan Army—everything has gone awry."

The Piaoqi Grand General sighed and waved his hand: "Disband where you stand."

The Border Army Stronghold.

The Former General stood atop the City Gate Tower, arms behind his back, listening to the messenger's report, his gaze growing heavier.

"Qin Feng's response to this dead end is flawless."

"This proves Qin Feng saw the entire situation from the start—hence his precise countermeasures."

"So young, yet possessing such strategic vision—truly a formidable youth. When the National War ends and the Emperor settles accounts, the man sent to the Northern Border to reclaim military authority will surely be Qin Feng—we must prepare early."

The Deputy General beside him asked cautiously: "General… are you suggesting rebellion?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a sharp crack echoed.

The Former General swung backhand, knocking the Deputy General's helmet clean off, eyes blazing: "Don't you dare speak such treason! Court-martial awaits!"

The Deputy General startled, immediately dropping to one knee: "Your servant is guilty!"

The Former General's gaze turned icy.

Rebellion? Where could he possibly rebel to?

The Central Plains Imperial Party commands over a hundred thousand troops; the Imperial Capital Garrison alone has fifty to sixty thousand elite soldiers. To strike toward the Central Plains, one must first capture Beixi County—but under current conditions, how could Beixi County possibly be taken? Qin Feng is in Jingdu; as long as Beixi County holds for ten or twenty days, he can maneuver in the capital and summon armies to encircle us.

Though the Emperor fears Beixi County most, he depends on it most of all.

If we abandon direct assault on the Central Plains and instead defect to the Di, what reward awaits a rebel general?

Rebellion leads only to death, no matter the path.

Holding the city, obeying orders but ignoring imperial summons, maximizing our own interests—that is the only true path.

But how long this state can last remains unknown—for… Qin Feng's Beixi County is far too close to the border.

…

Li Zhang stood atop the City Gate Tower, watching the retreating Chariot and Cavalry Army, then turned to glance toward the Di direction, and shouted down to the troops: "Prepare the troops—strict curfew enforced within the city this month, in preparation for a Sanggan Army counterattack."

Lin Quqi beside him frowned in confusion: "The Sanggan Army just suffered a crushing defeat—could they possibly return?"

Li Zhang's gaze was utterly resolute: "Yes! And not too late. In this war, the Di have come to realize the importance of Beixi County; without capturing Beixi County, attacking Shedynasty is pure fantasy. The Di will never allow us to continue developing."

Meanwhile, on the Official Road of the Di, three hundred li from the Front Line.

A caravan of a dozen or so men was slowly advancing toward the Front Line.

Upon the messenger's Military Intelligence Report, the caravan halted slowly; the curtain was lifted, and Chen Si stepped out.

Though he had lost one arm, Chen Si, clad in Armor, still radiated extraordinary valor.