xymnovel Chapter 74 Allied Forces of the Barbarians and the Xia
Chapter 74 Allied Forces of the Barbarians and the Xia
Chapter 74 Allied Forces of the Barbarians and the Xia
Overjoyed at receiving a promise of reinforcements from the Western Xia, Xisheluosa returned to his stronghold without stopping.
The first thing he did upon returning to the camp was to gather the remaining trusted generals of Moxia, as well as a few tribal chiefs who had not yet left.
"Summon all the men who can still wield swords and bows, and also, bring over all the tribal chiefs who haven't gone far and are still hesitating!" Xi Sheluo's first order upon returning was extremely violent.
His so-called "please" naturally involved coercion and a display of force.
In the days that followed.
Cisherossa sent out his most capable and ruthless confidants.
Carrying small amounts of wealth obtained from the Xia Kingdom or squeezed from their last reserves, they split up and headed towards the Tibetan tribes deep in the Qilian Mountains and around Qinghai Lake, those who had not yet clearly submitted to the Song Dynasty, were still observing, or had some old grudges against the Song.
The messengers' speeches were also highly inflammatory.
"What are the Song people? They are thieves! They are devils! They use salt and tea like hooks to steal the souls of our people, making them forget the glory of their ancestors, and to serve the Han people like cattle and horses!"
"The markets they set up are traps that drain us dry! Their military settlements are meant to seize the pastures we've grazed for generations and turn the grasslands into farmland for their Han people!"
"That Zhao Mingcheng in the red robe is a calamity sent down by Buddha! He wants to destroy our gods, ruin our temples, and make us Tibetans forget to recite scriptures, only knowing how to kowtow to his Song emperor!"
"Look at those spineless cowards, the Baicao and Heishui tribes! They wag their tails like dogs around the Song people, using our cattle and sheep hides to exchange for a little charity! Their warriors even wear Song clothes and take up knives given to them by the Song people, to defend against us, the true descendants of the Tibetans! What a disgrace!"
"What the Song people want is not our cattle and sheep, but our pastures; not our furs, but our freedom! They want to turn all the Tibetans into their slaves, to make them farm, pay taxes, and fight for them generation after generation, until we forget our own language and disappear from these snow-capped mountains and grasslands!"
These words, half distorted and half exaggerated, precisely struck at the deepest fears and hatreds in the hearts of many conservative, xenophobic, or tribes that had clashed with the Song army.
The envoys opportunely demonstrated the connection between Xisheluosa and the "Western Buddhist Kingdom" (a vague honorific title used by the Tibetans for Western Xia), implying the presence of powerful external support.
They promised that as long as they joined the battle, defeated the Song people, and recovered the Hehuang region, all participating tribes would receive large tracts of grassland, slaves, and the wealth hoarded by the Song people, thus restoring the former glory of Tibet.
Those "traitorous" tribes that have now surrendered to the Song people will have their pastures, cattle, sheep, and women taken as spoils of war and shared by the warriors!
Some tribal chiefs, intimidated by Xisheluosa's fearsome reputation and rumors of Western Xia reinforcements, reluctantly agreed to send troops.
Some were blinded by the promises and fantasized about turning their lives around; others simply didn't want to see their neighbors (the tribes they joined) doing better than them, and joined with the intention of destruction and plunder.
One after another, about twenty tribes of varying sizes, under the "persuasion" of the messenger Xi Zilusa, gathered around Yingchoujian with their warriors.
These soldiers were mostly poorly equipped and undisciplined, but they were fierce and brave, and full of hostility or greed towards the Song people.
With the addition of the troops finally gathered and pieced together by Xisheluosa's main force, he had assembled about four thousand Tibetan warriors under his command.
Just as Xisheluosa was barely managing to mold this rabble into a cohesive unit and conduct minimal integration and training, the Xia Kingdom's reinforcements arrived as promised.
On this day, a thick cloud of dust rose from a secluded mountain pass dozens of miles outside the camp.
An army with impeccable discipline and a menacing aura, like a black iron torrent, slowly marched from the northwest.
At the head of the column were over eight hundred genuine elite Iron Falcons of Western Xia.
Both rider and horse were clad in heavy armor. The knight's face was expressionless, with only the occasional cold glint beneath his visor and the white breath exhaled by his mount revealing the traces of a long journey and his restrained ferocity.
The iron hooves pounded on the frozen ground, producing a dull, uniform rumble.
Following them were a thousand foot soldiers.
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Although Bu Bazi was an infantryman, he was swift in action, had a disciplined formation, carried a powerful bow and crossbow on his back, wore a sword at his waist, and had sharp eyes. He was also a veteran of many battles.
At the front of the procession, beneath a large banner, a Western Xia general sat astride a magnificent horse from the Hexi region.
This man was about thirty years old, with a thin face, high cheekbones, and a pair of narrow eyes that were slightly squinted, yet his gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, with undisguised arrogance and scrutiny in his glances.
He was not fully armored, but wore only a well-made leather armor, covered by a black cloak, with a uniquely shaped scimitar hanging at his waist.
It was Yeli Jie, a trusted and beloved general under Rendo Yasutada, known for his bravery and arrogance.
Xisherossa had already received the news and led his main leaders to wait at the crossroads.
Seeing the Xia army's formidable military might, especially the heavy sense of oppression brought by the eight hundred iron hawks, Xi Sheluo Sa felt both pleased and apprehensive.
The good news is that with such strong reinforcements, the chances of victory have greatly increased; the bad news is that the Xia army is so elite that it will probably be even more difficult to deal with.
"General Yeli! You must be tired from your journey!" Xi Sheluo stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and put on a warm smile.
Yeli Jie seemed to have just noticed them. He slowly reined in his horse, glanced down at Xi Sheluo Sa and the group of Tibetan leaders behind him, whose attire was messy and whose formation was loose, and then bowed slightly in return.
"Chief of Xisheluosa, I have been waiting for you. By order of the Great Commander, I, Yelijie, have led my troops to assist you."
"Thank you for your trouble, General! Thank you for your trouble, Commander!" Xi Sheluo said hurriedly. "General and the warriors of Xia have traveled a long way and have had a long journey. I have already ordered people to prepare wine and meat to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey!"
"No need," Yeli Jie refused directly, his tone crisp. "The military situation is urgent, there's no need for formalities. My troops need to set up camp immediately. Chief, please take me to see your men first and discuss military matters."
Xi Sheluo Sa was rebuffed and displeased, but dared not show it, and could only say...
"The general is right, please come with me."
The two armies joined forces and set up a joint camp in a larger valley outside Yingchoujian.
The Xia army camp was isolated in a corner, heavily guarded, and clearly separated from the Tubo army camp.
After settling in, Yeli Jie, accompanied by several lieutenants, went to Xisheluosa's large tent to "discuss matters."
Inside the tent, a dozen or so key leaders sat on Xisheluosa's side, while Yelijie only brought two people. The charcoal fire blazed brightly, but the atmosphere was somewhat tense.
"General Yeli," Xisheluosa spoke first, pointing to a rough map.
According to reports from scouts, the main force of the Song army is still in the Qingtang, Zongge, and Miaochuan line, while its newly formed Unity Battalion is on patrol in a dispersed manner.
Our army, now united, numbers nearly six thousand, and morale is high. In my opinion, we should take advantage of the Song people's unpreparedness and launch a swift and decisive attack on Qinghai! Once we capture Qinghai and kill Zhao Mingcheng, the Song forces in the Hehuang region will be leaderless and inevitably collapse! At that time—
'
"Chief of Xisheluosa," Yeli Jie interrupted him, his voice still calm but carrying an undeniable air, "I have my own plans on how to use the troops. Before discussing the specific strategies, there are some things that need to be said beforehand."
He raised his eyelids and glanced at the Tibetan leaders in the tent.
"Our Great Xia, at your request, has sent elite troops to assist you in suppressing the Tibetan bandits who have repeatedly invaded our territory, and to help you restore the Hehuang region."
However, war is a matter of great importance to the nation. Our men are all elite warriors of the Great Xia, battle-hardened and cannot be easily defeated. In this battle, your unit is familiar with the terrain, knows the enemy's situation well, and is fighting to reclaim our lost territory. Therefore, you should bravely lead the charge and be the vanguard of the entire army.”
Xi Sheluo Sa's heart sank, and the smile on his face stiffened.
"The general is quite right, and our troops will certainly do our utmost to advance. However, the Song army is no weak force either, especially that Unity Battalion—"
"Therefore, your troops need to show even greater determination!" Yeli Jie interrupted again, his tone becoming more forceful. "Only if your vanguard fights with their lives on the line, entangles the main Song army, and blunts their momentum, can our Iron Falcons seize the opportunity to launch a flanking attack and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop! This is the only correct course of action. If the vanguard hesitates or collapses at the first strike, then even with the immense strength of our Iron Cavalry, we will be powerless and may even be surrounded. At that time, not only will we be unable to help you, but we fear that even the men of our Great Xia will perish here. What do you think, Chief?"
This sounds noble, but in reality, it's about using the Tibetan army as cannon fodder to wear down the Song army, while the Xia army can pick up the pieces and preserve its strength.
Several Tibetan leaders inside the tent already showed expressions of resentment.
A surge of anger welled up in Xi Sheluosa's chest, and his fingers clenched white under the table.
How could he not know Ye Lijie's scheme?
This is to use him as bait to fill the Song people's swords!
But can he turn against him? No.
Without the 1,800 elite troops of the Xia Kingdom, especially the 800 Iron Falcons, he wouldn't have dared to imagine conquering Qing Tang.
If he turns against them, all his previous efforts will be in vain. Xia Jun might immediately turn around and leave, or even turn around and eliminate him first. At that time, he won't even be qualified to be cannon fodder.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the humiliation and anger, and forced a smile that looked worse than crying.
"General—you are well-versed in military strategy, and your words are absolutely correct. Our troops—will naturally serve as the vanguard of the army, fighting to the death to create an opportunity for your iron cavalry to defeat the enemy!"
"Good!" Yeli Jie finally showed a very faint smile. "The leader is very wise and righteous, Yeli admires him. In that case, we will discuss the specific strategy for advancing later. As for the command of your troops—" He paused deliberately.
Xi Sheluo Sa felt a tightness in his heart.
"Naturally, the leader will take the lead. You are most familiar with the situation of your unit, and my unit will obey the leader's orders and cooperate in the operation," Yeli Jie said casually.
But everyone understands that the premise of "obeying orders and cooperating in actions" is that the Tibetan army must act as the "vanguard" as he requires.
Xi Sheluo Sa felt his throat go dry, as if he had swallowed a fly, but he had to swallow it down and pretend to enjoy it.
"Thank you for your trust, General."
The meeting ended in an extremely delicate and frustrating atmosphere.
Yeli Jie and his lieutenant strode away, returning to their heavily guarded camp.
Only Xisherossa and his leaders remained in the tent, in a deathly silence.
After a long while, a hot-tempered leader suddenly slammed his fist on the ground and growled.
"Great Chief! The Xia people are going too far! They're clearly sending us to our deaths!"
"Exactly! They're hiding in the back, reaping the benefits. Our men are all dead, and they've taken over the Hehuang region!"
Xi Sheluo slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his facial muscles contorted, and he uttered words through clenched teeth.
"Shut up, all of you! What's the point of saying all this now?!"
He surveyed the crowd, his gaze as fierce as that of a wounded lone wolf.
"We have no way out! Retreat means death, infighting means death too! We have no choice but to charge forward and fight our way out! We will use the lives of our Tibetan warriors to exchange for the lives of the Song people, to exchange for Qing Tang City! As long as we win, everything will be possible! We can settle accounts with the Xia people after we restore our kingdom! If you are afraid of death, you can get out now and see if the Song people will let you go!"
The crowd was intimidated by his ferocious expression and dared not speak again.
With wolves and tigers conspiring together and each harboring their own ulterior motives, a coalition of barbarians and Xia people was thus formed.
Its spearhead is aimed directly at Shanzhou City, which is striving to recover its vitality under the winter sun.
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