Chapter 969: First Volume, Chapter 969: The Battle of Zhuozhou Flares Like Lightning

First Volume, Chapter 969: The Battle of Zhuozhou Flares Like Lightning

How could the Liang Emperor not wish to assert his authority? But due to Qin Feng's complicated ties, he had no choice but to consider more practical matters; now that Chen Zheng had caused a uproar in the Imperial Court, he had gained such a massive political advantage— for the Liang Emperor, it was as if fortune had fallen from the heavens while he sat at home.

Once the Three Great Generals of the Northern Border return to Beijing to submit their imperial reports, no one in Heaven will dare question the Liang Emperor's authority, and the Li Imperial Clan can continue to firmly hold onto the throne.

The possibility of the Liang Emperor and Qin Feng coming to blows will be reduced to its absolute minimum.

The Liang Emperor's hatred toward Chen Zheng vanished instantly; overjoyed, he hurriedly issued a Royal Edict to reward Chen Zheng, but realizing Chen Zheng had already been appointed as Shaobao, there was nothing left to bestow— after much deliberation, he simply granted ten thousand liang of White Silver.

Though elated, the Liang Emperor knew well that although Liu Hongyan had promised the Three Great Generals would return to Beijing for their imperial reports, the earliest they could arrive would be next spring, after the Winter War had settled. Even if the Three Great Generals returned, the Liang Emperor could no longer move against them— otherwise, it would be a direct betrayal of Qin Feng's sincerity.

Merely securing this once-in-a-millennium political advantage was already like fortune falling from the heavens to the Liang Emperor; he naturally would not make any unnecessary moves.

With this promise in hand, the Liang Emperor could finally allow the Qin Family to freely prepare for next spring's campaign against the Powerful Clans of the Nan Jing.

At the same moment, the great battle of Zhuozhou was about to ignite.

The Vanguard Light Cavalry had reached the borders of Daqi County and, ten li beyond, began forming a tactical encirclement.

Five thousand light cavalry were divided into three layers: the outermost ring at twenty li, guarded by three thousand men; the second ring at fifteen li; and the third ring at ten li— tightly surrounding Daqi County.

According to reconnaissance reports, Daqi County's garrison troops numbered eight thousand, and its city defense was extremely strong.

The Vanguard Light Cavalry's mission was to besiege Daqi County, sever all internal-external communications, cut off water and grain— all other tasks were handed over to the Main Force.

As the encirclement tightened, Daqi County was completely cut off from the outside world.

The nearest stronghold to Daqi County was Changqi Town, housing eight hundred defenders, forming a pincer position with Daqi County, and the first to learn of its siege.

The commander of Changqi Town understood the situation perfectly: five thousand enemy light cavalry were no force to be trifled with— with only his handful of men, any rash advance toward Daqi County would lead to total annihilation by the enemy's superior cavalry.

Thus, Changqi Town immediately dispatched messengers to contact surrounding strongholds and towns, mobilizing troops to rescue Daqi County.

Unfortunately, the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade's marching speed was simply too fast.

On the third day after the Vanguard Light Cavalry severed Daqi County's external links, the Main Force arrived at the city gates; the Daqi County defenders, who had planned to launch an offensive ambush, instantly abandoned all thoughts of initiative and focused entirely on defense.

Upon arrival, the Main Force did not immediately attack, but instead assembled the military equipment carried with them on-site.

Due to the forced march, their supply train carried little— ultimately, only two catapults were constructed.

The Main Force's Commander then ordered small-scale, frequent assaults: two hundred men protected the catapults, positioned one arrow's distance from the city wall, launching relentless barrages— massive rocks arced through the air, striking the City Wall with pinpoint accuracy.

After hurling stones nonstop for a full day and night, the catapults were dismantled, their "fatigued" swing arms and ropes replaced, reassembled, and the projectiles switched from massive rocks to excrement and urine— after all, over ten thousand troops camped here produced vast quantities of waste daily; in the freezing cold, these wastes froze into large balls, which were simply launched into Daqi County.

While the catapults worked, small units advanced under the cover of Great Shields, slipping within arrow range to launch concentrated ranged attacks— every arrow fired was a Rocket.

Whether these Rockets could ignite buildings or inflict major damage was not among the Main Force commander's concerns.

In short, the combined tactics of ambush and fire attack would not necessarily capture the City, but they would shatter enemy morale.

All these tactics had been learned from Qin Feng— after all, when Qin Feng attacked the Xiongyingling Outpost, every tactical arrangement had become mandatory study for all army commanders.

As the Main Force launched small-scale, repeated assaults on Daqi County, nearby cities and strongholds gradually received word and began mobilizing troops.

After emergency redeployment, a force of three thousand soldiers was finally assembled four days later.

But this three-thousand-man army's target was not Daqi County— it was the Eastern Front, for by then, the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade had already executed a Yuan Hui maneuver and was closing in; if they failed to halt the Expeditionary Brigade, its merger with the Main Force would create an unprecedented force— at that point, not only would rescuing Daqi County be impossible, but every stronghold might be crushed outright.

The three thousand men ambushed at night in a mountain pass; based on reconnaissance reports and commanders' tactical simulations, this pass was the Expeditionary Brigade's inevitable route.

Relying on the terrain, even with a vast numerical disadvantage, the commanders still believed they could match the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade.

But at dawn the next day, as the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade appeared in sight, a devastating scene unfolded.

The advancing Beixi Expeditionary Brigade was not a dense mass of troops, but dozens of small units, each numbering only a hundred men— countless in number, attacking the pass from all directions.

The soldiers who had been resting in ambush suddenly realized their position and deployment had been exposed— their ambush had backfired, and now they were the ones encircled.

In an instant, the ambush became a surprise encounter; overwhelmed by dozens of small units, the Northern Di soldiers on the pass quickly collapsed, and the remaining two thousand could only retreat to the MountainTop, holding their ground from above.

Yet the small units did not press the attack— they immediately withdrew, leaving only two thousand troops to besiege the pass, while the rest continued forward; by that afternoon, the Expeditionary Brigade's Main Force finally appeared in view— but the Northern Di soldiers were already cornered on the MountainTop, helplessly watching the Expeditionary Brigade march past below.

After the Main Force departed, the remaining two thousand troops continued to besiege the pass.

As Expeditionary Brigade soldiers, they wore not only armor but thick winter garments, and every hundred men had a dedicated Zhongying for logistics.

Each Zhongying consisted of eight men, tasked solely with driving carts to transport grain, materials, and military equipment.

These two thousand Expeditionary Brigade soldiers were supported by a full twenty Zhongying— their own supplies, combined with provisions seized along the way, were more than ample, and they quickly erected Ying Zhang below the mountain.