Chapter 66

The originally peaceful city of Jinyang suddenly came to a boil!

Drums and bugles sounded in the various military camps; many messengers with flags on their backs ran back and forth; batches of soldiers ordered to return to their units ran on the streets of Jinyang. Helmeted and armored officers scolded soldiers who moved slowly, while civil officials and clerks began to count and conscript able-bodied men from house to house.

Half an hour later, Ding Miao led hundreds of cavalrymen, each carrying strong bows and large knives, sweeping out like a whirlwind. Ding Miao's cavalry was the elite of the Jinyang army, not only brave and skilled in battle but also always ready for war, so he was ordered to lead the vanguard of the entire army and set out immediately.

Accompanying Ding Miao was Lu Yao and his subordinate cavalry. Lu Yao's cavalry were all from the remnants of the Bingzhou army, with rich experience in fighting the Xiongnu and familiarity with the geography of Bingzhou. Therefore, Liu Kun specially appointed him as Ding Miao's deputy, also serving as the vanguard of the entire army.

That evening, Ding Miao and Lu Yao led 1,500 infantrymen, lighting pine torches, and set out of the city at night.

The next morning, the main force of the Jinyang army set off.

Xing Yan, the Yamen General, led 2,000 troops as the vanguard. Zhechong General Lu Boseng led the left wing, Pian General Han Ju led the right wing, and Liu Kun, the Governor of Bingzhou and Zhenwei General, personally led the central army. Generals Pang Chun, Huang Xu, Zhang Yi, Han Shu, Pan Shu, Hao Yan, Gao Hu, and others accompanied him. All the great generals and famous generals Liu Kun had gathered since the second year of Yongkang were included.

Pian General Liu Yan was responsible for the rear guard, supplies, and conscripts, and set off last.

The total number of soldiers and conscripts was 10,000, with 2,000 conscripts. Excluding the small number of troops led by the Hu Jun General Linghu Sheng to guard Jinyang and the troops led by the Hengye General Long Jimeng to guard Shangdang, this was the maximum force the Jinyang army could mobilize.

Their enemy was the Xiongnu army personally led by the Great Chanyu Liu Yuan, with countless strong soldiers and generals, estimated to be no less than 50,000. Every soldier knew that the upcoming battle was a life-or-death struggle for the Jinyang army; though outnumbered, it was a battle that must be won!

While the main force of the Jinyang army was still preparing to set out, Ding Miao had already led his cavalry on a rapid march. As the sky grew dark and the road became hard to see, Ding Miao finally ordered the troops to dismount and rest. The soldiers first had to wipe the sweat off their horses and feed them; then they could eat some dry rations.

By then, they had already left Jinyang nearly a hundred miles. Further east was the territory of Daling County, and two miles south was Zhaoyu Qi. Zhaoyu Qi, also known as Jiu Ze, was a series of connected lakes and marshes, including Jin Ze, Dongguo Ze, Wu Ze, and Qisou, and was one of the largest lakes known since ancient times, recorded in books such as the "Rites of Zhou" and "Lüshi Chunqiu." Its waters stretched from the territory of Wu County in the south to Qi County in the north, with a length of about 400 miles.

The official road from Jinyang to Jieyou split into two routes here. One route followed the eastern shore of Zhaoyu Qi, passing through Qi County, Jingling, Zhongdu, and Wu County. This route was shorter but quickly entered mountainous areas with complex terrain, unsuitable for large armies. The other route followed the western shore of Zhaoyu Qi, passing through Daling, Pingtao, and Zishi to Wu County. This route was flatter and closer to the Luliang Mountains. The two official roads were separated by vast waters and numerous marshes and wetlands.

Ding Miao immediately dispatched his capable subordinates: Ding Yu, Ding Jin, Ding Ce, and Ding Fu, each leading elite scouts to reconnoiter the two shores. These four were brothers from the same mother, members of the Dings of Qiao, with rather peculiar names, possibly named after the two handsome young men who swept through Jiangdong. Unfortunately, these four were not handsome young men but rather tall, fierce-looking men.

These four led their troops away, while Ding Miao climbed a high place by the lake to look out. Under the faint starlight, the vast lake stretched to the horizon, with no end in sight. The yellow reeds by the lake lay in large patches, and many new shoots had already sprouted.

Someone walked up behind him, stepping on the dry reeds, making a crackling sound.

Ding Miao turned and waved his hand, "Brother Daoming, your men really have excellent horsemanship!"

Ding Miao's cavalry was the elite of the Jinyang army, having experienced countless battles. When Yu Shigong's light troops entered Shangdang, there were only a few hundred, and Ding Miao's cavalry was the only complete unit. During the Banqiao battle, the heavy cavalry that first broke the enemy's front line was mostly from Ding Miao's unit.

The Dings were a prominent family in Qiao, and most of these cavalrymen were from Ding Miao's hometown, even including some within his extended family. Therefore, these soldiers were accustomed to looking down on others and walking with a swagger. In their eyes, Lu Yao's cavalrymen were just veterans who had lost countless battles in the Bingzhou army, not worth their attention.

Lu Yao's men, on the other hand, considered themselves experienced veterans who had fought the Xiongnu for years and similarly didn't take Ding Miao's cavalry seriously. The two sides glared at each other along the way, and if it weren't for the good relationship between the two commanders, there might have been trouble.

Both sides' soldiers competed in spirit, and from noon to night, they made a continuous long march. Even skilled horsemen might not all be able to endure such hardship. Several soldiers in Ding Miao's unit had stiff legs and could only dismount with the help of their comrades, gritting their teeth. In contrast, Lu Yao's men seemed unaffected. After all, northerners were skilled in archery and horsemanship, which was quite impressive.

"These are the survivors of countless battles; they must have some survival skills," Lu Yao smiled. "A few months ago, they were chased by the Xiongnu all over the mountains. Those with poor horsemanship were already dead."

As he spoke, Lu Yao handed over a helmet containing several soft, roasted cakes.

Suddenly, there was the sound of rapid hooves in the distance. Judging by the sound, about three to five riders were galloping from the south at high speed. The patrolling cavalry quickly surrounded them and brought back three Jinyang cavalrymen, all covered in blood. They had varying degrees of injuries. One of them had his left arm severed at the shoulder and an arrow in his back, clearly on the verge of death. Their horses were foaming at the mouth, likely about to collapse.

"Rulan, is that you?" Ding Miao recognized the lead rider. This man was named Rulan, the deputy of the Wu County commander Tian Hao. Everyone quickly helped them dismount and provided herbs, hot soup, and other items.

Rulan brought no good news. Wu County, under the fierce attack of the Xiongnu army, fell after only two hours, with all 500 defenders and over a thousand civilians killed. Only these three managed to break through the encirclement. Additionally, the Xiongnu had hung the head of the Zhongdu commander high as a warning, which Rulan had seen clearly. This proved that Zhongdu had also fallen! Wu County and Zhongdu were two counties north of Jieyou, and if these two counties were destroyed so easily, what would happen to Jieyou?

After Rulan and his men drank some soup, ate a little food, and received basic medical treatment, Ding Miao sent two cavalrymen to escort them back to Jinyang.

Turning back, he saw a somber atmosphere in the camp. Ding Miao didn't say much, just grabbed the half-eaten cake and continued to chew, saying, "The Xiongnu are despicable! This time, we must give them a good beating to vent our anger!"

As if not satisfied with just words, Ding Miao shouted and punched the air, left and right, and even kicked, as if the air in front of him were the Great Chanyu Liu Yuan.

Lu Yao watched Ding Miao's antics with a smile. This first-rate general under Yu Shigong, who killed without blinking in battle, seemed like a fierce beast. Yet, in front of his colleagues, he showed a childlike side. In the eyes of this young hero, there seemed to be no such thing as difficulty or danger.

Although the current situation was indeed perilous, Ding Miao's confident demeanor was enough to boost morale.

In the narrow basin of Taiyuan, both sides lacked room for maneuver and could only decide the outcome through a direct confrontation. Although the Xiongnu had a numerical advantage, the Jinyang army had the brave and skilled Yu Shigong and his subordinates! When two armies meet, the brave will win, and Yu Shigong would surely have a plan! Lu Yao clenched his fist and lightly pounded his chest, also boosting his spirit.

The next morning, as dawn broke, everyone packed up and set off.

Although Lu Yao and Ding Miao were both vanguards of the entire army, they took different routes.

Lu Yao took the eastern route, tasked with holding the mountainous area east of Zhaoyu Qi and building a defensive line north of Jieyou, so he had to cross the Fen River first. It was early spring, and large chunks of ice still floated down the Fen River. The original crossing point was abandoned, so they had to swim across. Fortunately, the snow in the upstream mountains had not yet melted, and the flood season had not arrived, so the river flow was slow and the width was not too great. The soldiers stripped naked, tied their clothes and armor on their horses, and then led their horses into the cold water.

Ding Miao watched from the riverbank until Lu Yao and his men safely crossed the river, then waved goodbye. Everyone knew that this journey was fraught with danger, and it was uncertain how many of the two groups would return to Jinyang safely, so the farewell was emotional.

******

Even in the nude, the number of favorites is still slowly increasing. It seems that although the history of the transition between the Jin and Han dynasties is obscure, there are still some readers willing to stop and take a look. I bow and thank you. If the number of favorites exceeds 800 by this afternoon, I will add an extra chapter to celebrate.

I also thank blooming for the high praise and baibird0312 for catching the bugs. I warmly welcome everyone to leave comments in the book review area or come to the reader group to give direct feedback. I like lively discussions.

Finally, thank you to Tie Shou You Qing for your support.

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