xymnovel Chapter 57 Dragon King Beach: Dragon Soars Against Dragon Soars
Chapter 57 Dragon King Beach: Dragon Soars Against Dragon Soars
As November arrived, the weather grew increasingly cold. The reinforcements who had traveled a long way from Jinling could no longer endure the cold at sea and disembarked at great efficiency, entering Haizhou. Just as the estate owner had predicted, after a day of rest in Haizhou, urgent reports of an emergency from the Chuzhou front arrived one after another.
Lin Xiao, the military governor of Chuzhou, urgently mobilized these troops to participate in the battle. In order to increase the chances of victory, he even transferred 3,000 of the original 7,000 garrison troops of Haizhou to form a 20,000-strong westward army to aid Chuzhou, together with the reinforcements.
With the arrival of civilian ships, the fleet, composed of naval vessels and civilian ships loaded with military equipment and provisions, finally set sail. The newly formed army of 20,000 marched overland along the riverbank, while the fleet traveled by water. On the narrow Haizhou Salt River, the autumn wind rustled, banners fluttered in the sky, spears formed a forest, and long tassels stretched like clouds—a truly awe-inspiring and imposing scene of marching.
Such a large-scale military operation quickly alarmed all parties involved.
Fangjiawei, where over 7,000 members of the Great Zhou Black Spear Dragon Cavalry had been lying in wait for several days, was a place where Commander Han Kun, like a smiling Buddha, welcomed guests from all directions. He had now signed contracts with over twenty garrison commanders and raised a militia force of over 4,000 men.
Because of the lack of proper weaponry and equipment, and the lack of formal military training, these people are not yet of use and can only be used as auxiliary soldiers.
For those in high positions, as long as they can gain benefits and win battles, they don't mind sending out blank official documents.
For many mid- to low-ranking officers in the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry, the position of commander of the Xiang Army was very tempting. Seeing those penniless guys suddenly become officers of the Great Zhou, many secretly cursed: "Commander Wang Er, Commander Liu Dabang, even Divine Fist Invincible Tie Xinjin is a commander. Damn it, our Great Zhou is giving away Xiang Army commanders like they're free money."
Han Kun walked around the military camp every day, calming the soldiers' morale, regulating their emotions, and helping them solve practical difficulties. Coincidentally, he overheard all of these complaints.
Han Kun stepped forward and kicked him: "You bastard, I told you not to talk so much. You're going to fight to the death in a couple of days. This time we're going to fight four against one. You're talking too much nonsense now. I'll chop you up when you get diarrhea."
The officer who was kicked was also born in the Year of the Monkey, and his expression changed very quickly. He said with a look of surprise, "Really? General, are you kidding me? One against four, that's a top-notch achievement when it comes to counting battle merits, right?"
Han Kun said irritably, "Yes, that's right, the best possible outcome. Even if you don't cut off a single head, as long as you survive and win, you'll get promoted two ranks. How about that, scared?"
The officer immediately beamed with joy: "How could that be? I knew the commander-in-chief wouldn't treat us unfairly. We even managed to snag such a good opportunity. What's one against four? How could I not know the commander-in-chief's military prowess? He must have a way to defeat the enemy."
Han Kun wouldn't reveal the battle plan openly, so he kicked him to the ground, making him roll around: "If you know, then shut up. No matter what brilliant strategies I have, they are still 20,000 enemy troops. We can't win without a hard-fought battle. Don't just be a smooth talker."
The officer scrambled to his feet with a thud, forcing a smile as he said, "General, you can rest assured. If we can't hold our own, we'll gladly accept military punishment."
After Han Kun left, the officer who had been told to "shut up" turned around and boasted to his men that he was going to fight 20,000 enemy troops. The news spread like wildfire.
By the afternoon of the second day, rumors had spread that the Marquis of Handu was a former monk who had connections with immortals. He had set up the Nine Heavens and Nine Earths Formation and invited heavenly soldiers and generals to assist in the battle. Soon, the 100,000 troops of the Yu Kingdom would become the merits of the Longxiang Army.
Back in the tent, Li Xuan, the commander of the Second Army of the Left Wing, and his personal guards, including Li Chang, had been waiting for a long time.
Han Kun entered with a smile and said, "Great! Judging by the time, you guys should be back soon. So, did you bring me some good news?"
Li Xuan and Li Chang both laughed. Li Xuan said, "That's right, the enemy forces in Haizhou have already started to move. Brother Chang just came from Haizhou, so let Brother Chang tell us."
Li Xuan felt that Li Chang's future was limited by always serving as his personal guard, and this was a rare opportunity, so he decisively recommended Li Chang to Commander Han Kun.
Li Chang failed to grasp Li Xuan's deeper meaning. He boldly reported, "General, the enemy forces consist of two parts. One part is reinforcements from Jinling, arriving by sea, numbering 17,000. The other part is the garrison from Haizhou, numbering 3,000. So, the total force is 20,000 troops, along with more than 200 ships of various sizes."
Han Kun keenly noticed the problem: "You mean they transferred three thousand troops from the Haizhou garrison?"
Li Chang nodded and said, "That's right. Now Haizhou only has four thousand garrison troops left. However, Haizhou is a high-lying city with deep moats. If we mobilize able-bodied men from the city and suburbs to help in the battle, the four thousand men can still hold out."
Han Kun said with a regretful expression, "Alas, we still lack troops. Otherwise, we could have used one army to delay their westward advance while the main force launched a surprise attack on Haizhou. After taking Haizhou, we could have turned around and attacked the reinforcements. We could have accomplished all the merits of conquering cities, seizing territory, beheading generals, and capturing flags all at once."
Li Chang, being honest and simple, didn't know what to say.
Han Kun then asked, "Since Haizhou is difficult to attack, we can't let the reinforcements pass. Ziyu, this is the Jianghuai water region, which I, a Hebei native, am unfamiliar with. How do you suggest we fight this battle?"
Li Xuan was naturally well-prepared. He spread out the sketches he had drawn over the past few days, scouting along the Haizhou Salt River, and pointed to one of the places, saying, "This is Longwangtan. The Salt River passes through here, and the official road is built on the riverbank, which is suitable for large-scale military operations."
The location happened to be just the right size, with a large reed bed suitable for hiding troops. I took men and horses inside to check it out. Although most of the reed bed was slippery, it was still possible to stand upright. As long as you placed some clumps of grass or something similar under your feet, a large army could stay there for a whole day without any problem.
"I believe we should set up an ambush here. With the reeds providing cover, the enemy will certainly not expect to encounter our army just three days after leaving Haizhou City."
Han Kun breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "I heard that the enemy is advancing by both land and water, with warships providing cover on the water. I don't understand how warships can provide cover, but since the Southern Army has always used this tactic, it must make sense. We are not good at naval warfare; I wonder if there is any way to contain their navy?"
Li Xuan and Li Chang laughed simultaneously. Li Xuan said, "This is all thanks to Brother Chang. He found a way to persuade the local tyrants of Haizhou to defect, and they voluntarily brought their ships to join the enemy fleet. Then, they will deliberately collide and sink ships while sailing. The Salt River is called a river, but it's actually just a canal. Once a ship sinks, the ships behind it will be blocked. So..."
Han Kun understood immediately and laughed heartily: "Not bad, not bad, you've all worked hard, especially Li Chang, you've achieved immediate success. I'll toast you, and I'll toast Ziyu too. By the way, is that nouveau riche reliable?"
As Han Kun spoke, he took out wine utensils from the table and poured wine for Li Xuan and Li Chang.
Li Xuan stepped forward and said softly, "The year the late emperor campaigned against the two towns of Zhaoyi in Hezhong, that local tyrant acted as an intermediary, arranging for His Majesty and Wang Pingzhang to meet with us brothers. He didn't know the Emperor's identity before, but now Brother Chang has told him, blocking his escape route, and promising him wealth and honor, so he has no choice but to comply. This time, Brother Chang has also brought back the tyrant's eldest son and grandson."
Upon hearing this, Li Chang quickly added, "That local tyrant's surname is Tian. He's a powerful and influential figure who lives a life of luxury in Haizhou. He not only personally sailed his boat into the Haizhou fleet, but also promised that if we could annihilate the Yu Kingdom's reinforcements, he would have a way to force Haizhou to open its gates."
Han Kun's joy was palpable; "Such a thing? Hahaha, of the three towns along the Huai River in Yu State, Haizhou is the smallest and has the lowest status. But our Black Spear Dragon Cavalry Army is only a small force of six thousand men. To achieve such a great feat, to break a large gap in Yu State's Huai River defense line, is truly excellent. Alright, come, let's drink three cups!"
Li Xuan and Li Chang were naturally delighted with their superior's generosity, and after three cups of wine, Han Kun put away the wine vessels and said to Li Xuan and Li Chang, "Come on, take me to Dragon King Beach. The outcome of this battle—a weaker force defeating a stronger one, fewer troops winning—would depend entirely on the terrain. I need to see it for myself to be at ease."
Li Xuan and Li Chang replied solemnly, "Yes, Your Majesty, we obey your command."
Soon, a cavalry unit of a hundred men quietly left Fangjiawei and sped off towards Haizhou.
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Two days later, the western corps of the Yu Kingdom, which had been reinforcing Chu Prefecture from Haizhou, continued its march at a pace of thirty li per day. Amidst the billowing dust, countless elite troops appeared and disappeared, like divine warriors descending from the heavens, unstoppable in their momentum. Looking at the endless column of soldiers behind him, the commander of this legion, Wang Tiedang, the Deputy Military Governor of the Zhenhai Army of the Yu Kingdom and the Commander-in-Chief of the Fuhai Longxiang Army, was brimming with confidence.
The Zhenhai Army Military Governor's headquarters was located in Runzhou, controlling the strategic location of Jingkou. Historically, it was a military governorship directly under the imperial court. Therefore, this military governorship did not have a governor-general, but rather four deputy governors-general.
Wang Tiedang came from a poor background and was a veteran general who had fought alongside Emperor Li Jing. Emperor Li Jing certainly treated his veterans who had followed him into power exceptionally well, providing them with official positions, wealth, titles, and luxurious mansions. Therefore, veterans like Wang Tiedang were extremely loyal to Li Jing.
Li Jing trusted these veteran generals very much and specially entrusted them with the 17,000-strong Fuhai Longxiang Army to garrison in Jiangyin, a key river defense location.
The Fuhai Longxiang Army was an infantry force established by the Yu Kingdom to counter the powerful Yue Kingdom's navy, capable of carrying out naval assault missions. With the situation in Jiangbei suddenly becoming tense, only they could quickly reinforce Haizhou by sea.
If it were any other infantry, they would be seasick and unable to fight for more than ten days after arriving in Haizhou. Because of their uniqueness, the selection and training of the Fuhai Longxiang Army are very particular, and their supplies are always plentiful.
Because they were always with the navy and received generous food allowances, the Fu Hailongxiang Army even grew tired of eating seafood and river delicacies. Every time they finished eating, the soldiers, who came from farming families, would condemn themselves for being so wicked as to complain about the taste of fish and shrimp, while still feeling uncomfortable all over, they would force themselves to eat every last bit of the fish and shrimp caught by the navy.
Perhaps due to their abundant consumption of fish and shrimp, the Fuhai Longxiang Army possessed exceptional night-fighting capabilities, making them the only, and possibly the only, legion of 17,000 men in the entire Yu Kingdom without night blindness. The soldiers of the Fuhai Longxiang Army considered this advantage a blessing from the Dragon King, though they couldn't understand why eating the Dragon King's subjects would bring such a blessing.
Wang Tiedang, commanding a powerful army, was naturally full of vigor. His troops carried a heavy responsibility on this northward march. Far from being intimidated, the old general was wholeheartedly determined to achieve merit and repay his benevolent lord, Li Jing, for his kindness. After observing for a while, he summoned his guide and asked, "How much longer until we enter Haizhou territory?"
The guide said, "General, judging from the army's speed over the past two days, we still have about three days' journey ahead."
Wang Tiedang sighed inwardly. He was naturally very dissatisfied with the army's slow progress. However, the journey from Haizhou to Haizhou via the Yanhe River was upstream, and Haizhou had mobilized all available laborers to take turns pulling the boats so that the fleet could keep up with the infantry.
If they were to get rid of these fleets, the Fuhai Longxiang Army wouldn't have many horses. Who would be responsible for transporting so much money, food, and logistical supplies? Haizhou? Haizhou is close to the front lines, a poor and remote place. The entire city combined couldn't even muster two hundred horse/donkey/ox carts.
Wang Tiedang pointed ahead and asked, "Where is our campsite for tonight?"
A general from Haizhou beside him said, "Dragon King Beach is five li ahead. The area there is quite large, enough to accommodate ten thousand troops. The mudflats in front of and behind Dragon King Beach can also accommodate other soldiers and porters. It is the most suitable place for our army to camp within twenty li. By the way, General, there are countless reeds around Dragon King Beach. At this time of year, the reeds are dry, making it the perfect time to collect them for firewood."
Well, the water and fuel supplies are plentiful, and the location is quite good for leading an army in the field. It's a pity the mudflats aren't large enough; his army has to be divided into three parts: front, middle, and rear. Given the terrain, Wang Tiedang has no other choice.
He nodded and said, "Dragon King Beach? Dragon King Beach is good. Our Fuhai Longxiang Army is blessed by the Dragon King, and spending the night at Dragon King Beach will surely bring us his protection. This is an extremely auspicious omen. Remember to remind me that tonight I will offer sacrifices to the Dragon King at Dragon King Beach to pray for the army's success."
The general from Haizhou clasped his hands and said, "This humble servant understands."
Wang Tiedang thought for a moment, then said to the officer beside him:
"Although Chuzhou is the war zone, at our current pace it will take us three days to enter. But anything can happen on the battlefield. Who knows if Zhou's army will appear east of Chuzhou? Better safe than sorry. Pass down the order: camp at Longwangtan tonight. Tomorrow morning, the entire army will begin marching in armor. We can only travel thirty li a day anyway, so let the brothers work hard and not give the enemy any opportunity. The court has been raising soldiers for a thousand days, but they are only here for one. You are here to be soldiers, not to be pampered young masters."
The generals clasped their hands in unison and said, "We will obey your orders!"
After years of fighting, Wang Tiedang was no longer the reckless young man he once was. He had won and lost, and with age and increased responsibility, he no longer cared about saving face. When on the battlefield, no amount of caution was excessive; anything could happen.
"Father, we've arrived."
"We've arrived so quickly? Sigh, when you're poor, you crave wealth; when you're rich, you crave status. It's a never-ending river, and we're not in control of our own destiny. I hope my wishes come true. Success or failure hinges on this. Let's get started."
"Why does Father think so much? In this world, how can one be considered a great man without fighting for something? I'm off."
The owner of the farm looked at his son, who was determined to be a great man, and saw his son's decisive and efficient movements. He opened his mouth, wanting to warn him that being a great man was not easy, but it was too late. His son had already reached the bow of the boat and was signaling to the stern of the boat in front of him.
The changes in the river vessels were first noticed by the boatmen pulling the boats.
"Hey, isn't something wrong with those two boats?"
"No, let go! There's an underwater current, and the Dragon King has sneezed."
"Quick, the boat is about to collide! Get ready to rescue people! The Dragon King is not satisfied with the offerings!"
Bang! On the Salt River, two civilian boats suddenly collided. The captain of the boat that was hit panicked and tried to change course. But going upstream, no matter how hard the oarsmen tried or how much the rowers strained, the power was always limited. Not only did they fail to avoid the collision, but because the bow of the boat veered sideways, the two boats collided with a loud crash.
The civilian boats sailing on the river were not sturdy, and were immediately torn open by the violent collision. The sailors panicked and jumped into the water, swimming ashore against the icy cold.
The boatmen on the bank shouted, "Help!" and jumped down the riverbank to pull the person out of the water.
Fortunately, the Salt River wasn't wide, and those who were good swimmers could reach the shore in no time. The boatmen seemed quite familiar with waterborne accidents; they immediately stripped the people of their clothes and dried them with cloths they carried. Then, others carried loads of clothes up for them to change into. Clearly, these people made their living on the water and were very experienced in rescuing those who had fallen into the water; their movements were fluid and efficient.
The farm owner changed his clothes, dried his hair, and looked at his beloved boat tilting in the water. Overwhelmed with grief, he burst into tears, crying out, "My boat, my boat! Without this boat, how will we survive!"
As he cried, the owner of the estate was genuinely moved. This ship had cost a fortune, and he had sacrificed it for his family's future and to change their social standing. He had even sent his eldest son and grandson as hostages. If it succeeded, all would be well, but if it failed... it would really hurt!
The landowner wept, and his sailors and son wept along with him, and their weeping was genuine. Anyone who had ever spent a night in the icy, frigid river in November would have a deeply unforgettable experience.
In those times when typhoid fever was deadly, even heroes couldn't withstand the chill. The fact that he was able to receive timely help from the people on shore and quickly dry off and change his clothes was absolutely due to the strong social understanding and tacit agreement that had been established among boat people for hundreds of years, which saved his life.
While weeping, Master Tian negotiated his gratitude with the leader of the boatmen. He couldn't forget the life-saving favor; Old Tian was a respected figure in Haizhou, and he valued loyalty and brotherhood above all else. Upon seeing that they had rescued the righteous Master Tian, the leader and the boatmen were overjoyed, thinking they could have a prosperous year ahead.
The collision happened right under Wang Tiedang's nose. The old general snorted coldly and summoned the Haizhou general, saying, "How could a mere canal cause a boat collision?"
The generals of Haizhou were used to this. As long as you were in the transport business, whether by land or water, there was bound to be an accident every year. He said, "General, please calm down. Every river has its Dragon King, and the Salt River is no exception. Every year, the Dragon King sneezes and the boats capsize. He probably thinks the tribute is not generous enough."
Wang Tiedang sneered, "What a greedy Dragon King! Fine, tonight's offerings will certainly satisfy him. Send down the order: the entire army must march at full speed to Dragon King Beach for the night. The navy will stay behind to assist in salvaging the ships. I don't care what methods they use, the fleet must catch up with the main force tomorrow."