Chapter 400: Si Wushuang's Counterattack

Jiang Jinshi was indeed not afraid of the Xiliang army gathering forces to attack Chang'an; the troops he brought, combined with the remaining troops under Luo Feng, amounted to more than 110,000.

And now, aside from the troops needed to defend the city, how many troops can Xiliang still mobilize?

If the Xiliang army truly gathers to attack Chang'an, he only needs to hold Chang'an; his soldiers will immediately counterattack the cities occupied by Xiliang.

Especially the Luoyang and Jiangnan that Wei Wenlie has just seized, the people there are fence‑post grass and will not at all impede the Ming Army.

And if Xiliang fails to take Chang'an, then the whole Zhongyuan and even the south will have no foothold for them; Wei Wenlie would have to retreat back to the former Xiliang, and all their efforts would be in vain!

Si Wushuang sees the stakes very clearly, so gathering troops to attack Jingcheng is absolutely unacceptable!

Wei Wenlie listened, remained silent for a long while, and only stared at the map, his eyes still holding resentment.

This is Chang'an! Just one step short—how could he be satisfied?!

But Si Wushuang's words are not without reason, and his anger gradually subsides.

He knows that a forced assault on Chang'an carries too great a risk. Seizing the surrounding strategic points, though a reluctant move, may grant a larger initiative in the future.

Fortunately, not all news is bad; Tongguan finally could not hold, and a few days ago it surrendered to Xiliang, which also makes Xiliang less passive.

"What about Tongguan?" Wei Wenlie suddenly asked, "Murong Ke and the defeated troops have retreated to Tongguan, and that old brute Gao Chong…"

"Tongguan is of utmost importance and must be firmly held in our hands."

Si Wushuang said: "You may order General Murong to tighten the organization of Tongguan's defenses and purge the unstable elements inside the pass. For surrendered generals like Gao Chong, you may temporarily show leniency to soothe them, but you must send capable men to secretly monitor and divide them."

Tongguan is the gateway for our army's eastward advance and also the key to defending against Beijiang's westward push; it must not be lost.

As for the Bald‑headed General… you may order him to return to Luoyang to recuperate.

Wei Wenlie slowly sat back on the throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, and after a while said, "We will follow the Military Advisor's plan. Send orders to Murong Ke to strictly hold Tongguan, organize the troops, and await the chance to harass Beijiang's supply routes!"

Additionally, redeploy 20,000 elite cavalry from Nanyang and Luoyang to seize Shangluo and threaten Lantian!

Then order the forces stationed in Longxi to send 10,000 cavalry southward toward Hanzhong as a feint to contain the enemy!

He looked at the still‑pale Cui Yan and said, "Communications with Guanzhong and Bashu must not cease! Tell those Scholar‑Gentry that Beijiang's Jiang Jinshi wants their fields, their books, their privileges!"

Only Xiliang can preserve their wealth and honor! Whoever can offer land, cities, or strategies to aid me, I will not hesitate to grant them a marquisate!

"Yes! Your Majesty is wise!" The others, seeing Wei Wenlie regain his composure and set the plan, all breathed a sigh of relief and answered in unison.

With Xiliang King Wei Wenlie adopting Si Wushuang's "exchange land for timing, use disturbance instead of direct attack" strategy, Xiliang launched actions again.

Unlike the previous decision to concentrate forces for a fierce assault on Chang'an, this time Xiliang's moves are more covert and swift, targeting the strategic strongholds around Chang'an.

The commander on the Wuguan Road is the Xiliang Qianghu Helian Bobo, leading 20,000 elite cavalry, lowering flags and drums, marching day and night, exiting Wuguan and racing east along the rugged Shangyu Ancient Road.

His goal is clear! Seize Shangluo to threaten Lantian, and block the southeastern gateway from Guanzhong to Nanyang and Jingxiang!

Along the way, small local militias or Beijiang outposts, before this long‑planned Xiliang iron cavalry, almost collapse at the slightest touch.

Within a few days, Helian Bobo's vanguard had reached the foot of Shangluo city.

The remaining Imperial Court troops defending the city, together with a few Beijiang officials stationed there, were terrified by the sudden arrival of the Xiliang army; after a brief resistance they opened the gates and surrendered.

Helian Bobo swiftly divided his forces to control the dangerous passes around Shangluo, and established forward camps at Liuling, Yaoguan and other locations southeast of Lantian. His roaming cavalry once approached within twenty li of Lantian city, clashing fiercely with the Ming Army's forward outpost.

From Longxi toward Hanzhong, ten thousand cavalry descended south from the Dasi Pass, feigning a massive offensive into Hanzhong.

They did not forcefully assault the strategic Yangping Pass; instead they split into several detachments, roaming the northern rim of the Hanzhong basin, raiding villages, burning supplies, and spreading rumors that "Xiliang's hundred‑thousand troops will soon descend south."

Although they failed to truly enter the heart of Hanzhong, they succeeded in causing great anxiety for Beijiang.

Jiang Jinshi had to pull some troops from his limited forces to reinforce the northern defense line of Hanzhong, and strictly ordered Wang Hou to intensify reconnaissance of the enemy's strength, guarding against a genuine breakthrough.

Next is the direction from Tongguan to the Luo River! Murong Ke, while consolidating the defeated troops at Tongguan and reorganizing defenses, is also unwilling to remain idle.

He dispatched several elite squads, some disguised as merchants and refugees, others moving under night cover, to infiltrate eastward along the Luo River valley, attacking Beijiang's supply convoys and patrols, destroying bridges, and even attempting to contact the local strongmen along the Luo River who have not yet fallen fully under Beijiang's control.

Although these actions are small in scale, they severely disrupt Beijiang's efficiency in transferring supplies from Hedong to Chang'an, drawing away some of Beijiang's defensive troops.

Then Si Wushuang and Cui Yan joined forces, using the Cui Family's extensive network and Xiliang's secret envoys to extend their reach into various parts of Guanzhong, especially areas where Beijiang's new policies have not yet penetrated.

Gold and silver bribes, promises of official posts, hints of marital alliances… countless methods emerge.

Some indecisive local officials and strongmen, faced with Xiliang's temptations and Beijiang's strong yet "damaging" reality to their interests, begin to secretly contact Xiliang.

They may maintain ambiguous neutrality, or outwardly comply while covertly subverting, delaying Beijiang's policies, or even secretly supplying Xiliang with intelligence and provisions.

When Jiang Jinshi learned of this information, he knew it was time for Huang Yan to take action.

The family genealogy names him; he is serious!!

"Lord, Xiliang's Helian Bobo unit has taken Shangluo; its roaming cavalry roams southeast of Lantian. General Zhang's vanguard has clashed with them several times, with casualties on both sides. With Shangluo fallen, our southeastern gateway is open, and pressure on Lantian has surged," Luo Feng said, pointing at the map with a grave expression.

"Longxi's feigned southward movement has caused an emergency in Hanzhong; it is said that strongmen within the region are secretly communicating with Xiliang," Wang Hou added.

"At Tongguan, small enemy forces under Murong Ke continuously infiltrate the Luo River valley, attacking our supply routes and destroying our bridges. Though not a major disaster, it is a constant nuisance, heavily drawing our defensive troops," reported the officer in charge of logistics and route security.

"Additionally, according to secret reports, in Guanzhong's counties of Fengyi, Fufeng, and Xinping, some former Imperial Court officials and local strongmen have frequent contact with Xiliang's Cui Family envoys, hindering our new policies, and public order incidents are on the rise," Wang Hou said calmly, continuing his briefing.

After suffering a heavy setback beneath Chang'an, Xiliang did not retreat; instead it broke into smaller units, attacked on all fronts, rapidly seized surrounding strategic points with elite cavalry, and used political means to win over and divide local forces.

They aim to compress Beijiang's living space in Guanzhong, slow its consolidation, create sustained tension and attrition, and forge favorable conditions for the decisive battle to come.