xymnovel Chapter 569 The Northern Border Changes, A Letter from the Imperial Guard
Chapter 569 The Northern Border Changes, A Letter from the Imperial Guard
Just as Su Ye, leading the three commanders Xue Rengui, Tie Shiwen, and Lian Po, brought their army to the gates of Mingheng County, the capital of Hengzhou, their morale soaring and ready to launch the final assault, the group was rushing along a dusty path leading to the front lines.
Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting a cold, gleaming light on the armor of the Cangzhou army.
Holding the battle report, Su Ye frowned, a hint of worry in his eyes. This worry did not come from the capital of Hengzhou in front of him, but from an urgent letter from afar.
"My lord, an urgent report from General Wei Qing!"
A scout in light armor galloped from afar, his voice slightly panting, clearly having been on the move without stopping.
He presented a sealed letter with both hands. The envelope was prominently printed with the words "Wei Qing, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards," and the handwriting was vigorous and powerful, revealing Wei Qing's unique fortitude.
Su Ye took the letter, quickly opened it, and skimmed through its contents.
As he read on, his expression grew increasingly serious, and the worry between his brows deepened.
In the letter, Wei Qing described in detail the tense situation at Longming Pass in the north: the Night Fiend Army at Longming Pass in the north had begun to lose patience and was no longer satisfied with small-scale probing, and had begun to accelerate its offensive.
Moreover, they launched a full-scale offensive, splitting their forces into two routes: one heading straight for the Daqian army, and the other heading straight for Xujing County in the northernmost part of Hengzhou, which was the place where Wei Qing's Yulin Army was stationed.
Although Wei Qing was not at a disadvantage, he only had tens of thousands of troops under his command, and not many cavalry.
On the flat terrain of the northern battlefield, they faced tens of thousands of elite Nightshade cavalry.
It is an extraordinary feat that Wei Qing has managed to hold out until now with tens of thousands of infantry against an equal number of cavalry.
However, as time goes by, Wei Qing is clearly nearing his breaking point.
"The Night Fury are in such a hurry."
Su Ye muttered to himself, lost in thought.
He handed the letter to Guo Jia and Xun You, who were standing nearby. After reading it, the two strategists also looked solemn and exchanged a knowing glance.
"My lord, the Night Fiend Army's actions clearly indicate that they have learned of our Cangzhou Army's offensive within Hengzhou. In addition to their desire to quickly defeat the Daqian Army outside Minglong Pass, they also intend to disperse our forces and alleviate the pressure on the Hengzhou capital."
"But if we divide our forces to rescue them, the battle for Hengzhou's capital may change."
Guo Jia spoke first, his voice somewhat playful, befitting a strategist well-versed in human nature.
He was not surprised by the Night Fury's actions.
In a time of great contention, when the enemy is strong, we are weak, especially given that our own power is currently being hindered.
Weakening the enemy is also a way to strengthen oneself.
"Although General Wei Qing did not have many troops, he was able to resist the Nightshade Army's cavalry with tens of thousands of infantry until now, which shows his talent as a commander."
"However, this situation is unsustainable in the long run, and we must make a decision as soon as possible."
Xun You put down the envelope, pressed his temples, and then added...
Upon hearing this, Su Ye remained silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
The battle for Hengzhou's capital was crucial to whether the Cangzhou army could completely conquer Hengzhou and lay the foundation for unification.
The Imperial Guards currently stationed in Xujing County in northern Hengzhou are a crucial northern barrier for the Cangzhou Army. If they fall, the tens of thousands of cavalry from Minglong Pass will bypass the pass and march south into Hengzhou in a massive attack, with unimaginable consequences.
"Pass down the order: General Xue Rengui shall command the three armies and immediately prepare for a general offensive against the capital of Hengzhou. There shall be no mistakes."
"At the same time, I order the Luo Net to strengthen intelligence gathering and make sure to understand the specific movements and troop deployments of the Nightshade Army."
Su Ye finally made up his mind. After thinking it over, he decided that he should take over Hengzhou's capital as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications.
"As for Wei Qing..."
Su Ye paused slightly, his gaze fixed on the edge of Mingheng County, the capital of Hengzhou. The banners of the Cangzhou army fluttered in the wind, as if they too were anticipating the final battle.
Su Ye's gaze pierced through the flames and smoke before him, and he had already made up his mind.
"Rengui, you stay here to oversee the overall situation and prepare for the final assault on Hengzhou's capital."
"With your wisdom and courage, I have peace of mind."
Su Ye's calm voice interrupted the whispers and busy activity around him.
"Rest assured, my lord, Xue Li will not fail in his mission and will surely capture the capital of Hengzhou in one fell swoop, laying the foundation for victory for our Cangzhou army!"
Upon hearing this, Xue Rengui's body trembled, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
It seems I won't be part of the northward campaign to defend against the Nightshade army.
"Shiwen, General Lian Po, you two should immediately lead 30,000 cavalry, plus 20,000 infantry, for a total of 50,000 troops, northward to support Wei Qing."
"The situation at Wei Qing's place is critical; you all need to speed up your march."
Su Ye nodded slightly to Xue Rengui, then turned to look at Tie Shiwen and Lian Po.
Now that the situation in Hengzhou is settled, Xue Rengui can remain to oversee the overall situation.
Therefore, Su Ye planned to send Tie Shiwen, who was also proficient in cavalry warfare, and Lian Po, who was also an outstanding commander and extremely good at defense, to lead most of the cavalry of the Cangzhou army northward.
Tie Shiwen and Lian Po exchanged a glance, both seeing a strong fighting spirit in each other's eyes.
"Rest assured, my lord, we will do our utmost to assist General Wei Qing!"
Tie Shiwen's voice was deep and powerful, full of fighting spirit.
"My lord, with me here, I will ensure the safety of the northern part of Cangzhou. At the same time, I will cooperate with Shiwen's cavalry to teach the Nightshade Army an unforgettable lesson."
Lian Po, however, was much calmer. He said in a deep voice.
"In addition, send orders to the White Horse Cavalry that have been patrolling Hengzhou, instructing them to move north and be ready to support the battle in the north at any time."
"The mobility and combat effectiveness of the White Horse Cavalry will be a sharp sword for us on the northern battlefield."
Su Ye nodded in satisfaction, and then issued another order.
As Su Ye issued his orders, the Cangzhou army quickly sprang into action.
Upon assuming the position of Commander-in-Chief, Xue Rengui began preparing for the general offensive.
Tie Shiwen and Lian Po did not delay and immediately led an army of 50,000 northwards.
On the march, Tie Shiwen and Lian Po constantly discussed tactics and strategies.
This battle was not only about the life and death of Wei Qing's Imperial Guards, but also about the northern gateway for the Cangzhou Army.
Therefore, they must go all out and cannot afford to fail.
"Shiwen, the northern part of Hengzhou is flat, so the role of infantry is limited."
"Therefore, your cavalry must play their maximum role and catch the Night Sha army off guard."
Lian Po said in a deep voice, "There's nothing we can do. No matter how capable his infantry are."
However, its effectiveness was ultimately limited in the northern battlefields, which were extremely suitable for cavalry.
"I understand, General Lian Po, but your defensive experience is equally important. We must ensure that while we are attacking, the Night Sha army does not find any openings."
"Only by combining offense and defense can one remain invincible."
Tie Shiwen nodded; his cavalry would definitely be the main force this time.
The two discussed tactics as they marched.