Chapter 136: Crushing Defeat Of The Royal Court
Li Xiao’s White Armored Cavalry was like a sharp spear, thrusting straight into the core of the Pishi Army.
Their charge was unstoppable, Khitan Warriors along the way fell one after another, blood staining the grassland on the Yili Riverbank.
Da He Chu Luo Duo gripped the iron hammer in his hand tightly, a flash of ferocity in his eyes.
He knew that if he did not kill Li Xiao today, the Pishi Army’s morale would completely collapse.
“Li Xiao, you scoundrel.”
“Today, you will undoubtedly die.”
Da He Chu Luo Duo roared in anger, his ferocious face twisting as he spurred his horse forward to meet him.
He and Li Xiao were not just opposed in stance; they also had irreconcilable personal grievances.
Although he had already broken off his engagement with Xiao Yanyan, it was mostly considering political influences.
In itself, Xiao Yanyan still matched Da He Chu Luo Duo’s intentions very well, and he had long regarded her as his forbidden possession.
Unfortunately, not long ago, he learned the news that Xiao Yanyan had become engaged again.
The object of the engagement was none other than Jin Prefecture Deputy Governor Li Xiao.
Therefore, at this moment, it was not only Li Xiao who wanted to kill this guy to vent for Xiao Yanyan.
Da He Chu Luo Duo also wanted to kill Li Xiao just as much, to wash away his own humiliation.
As long as Li Xiao died, Xiao Yanyan would become a ‘woman without a master’.
After defeating the Eastern Capital and Xiao Simo died, Xiao Yanyan at that time would be at his mercy.
Thinking of Xiao Yanyan’s stunning beauty and fiery figure, Da He Chu Luo Duo could no longer suppress the heat in his heart.
In the blink of an eye, Li Xiao had led the White Armored Army charging forward like a gale, his figure appearing exceptionally upright against the white armor.
He thrust his horse spear forward, like a nimble flood dragon, bringing a whooshing wind sound, straight toward Da He Chu Luo Duo’s throat.
Roaring furiously: “Da He, you scoundrel, go die.”
Da He Chu Luo Duo was no ordinary person either; he reacted swiftly, his thick arm swinging the iron hammer high to block.
With a “clang” of a massive sound, sparks flew, the metallic clash echoing across the battlefield, shaking the eardrums of the surrounding soldiers painfully.
Feeling the terrifying power transmitted through his arms, Da He Chu Luo Duo was suddenly horrified.
“How is that possible?”
He had thought Li Xiao was just a young Han general who achieved some victories through luck and tricks, but he never expected the other’s martial arts to be so exquisite.
It must be known that Li Xiao seemed not even twenty years old yet, right?
Yet his physique was robust, his strength astonishingly great, not inferior to Da He Chu Luo Duo at all.
And at that moment, a thunderous shouting of killing suddenly came from the distance.
Da He Chu Luo Duo’s personal guards shouted in panic: “Great General, the Northern Sea Army has arrived.”
Da He Chu Luo Duo’s heart sank, a flash of panic in his eyes as he turned to look, only to see the Northern Sea Army surging like a tide from the right wing, the dark North Sea battle flags flapping loudly in the wind.
“Damn it, how did they come so fast?” Da He Chu Luo Duo roared angrily in his heart.
His heart was even more furious at the Jin Prefecture Army under Li Xiao’s command, their tenacity far exceeding his expectations.
Especially those soldiers in white armor, whose combat strength was not inferior at all compared to the Pishi Army elites.
As a result, the Pishi Army was now under attack from three sides, on the verge of desperation.
Seeing the Northern Sea Army arrive, Li Xiao laughed coldly: “Da He Chu Luo Duo, today is your death day!”
He then spurred his horse forward again, leading men to charge toward Da He Chu Luo Duo.
This time, Da He Chu Luo Duo no longer had his previous composure; even the force of his iron hammer seemed much lighter.
Li Xiao seized this momentary opportunity, flicking his horse spear fiercely to send Da He Chu Luo Duo’s iron hammer flying.
Before Da He Chu Luo Duo could react, the tip of Li Xiao’s spear was already stabbing toward his chest like a venomous dragon.
Da He Chu Luo Duo barely twisted aside to avoid the vital spot, but was swept by the horse spear, falling entirely from horseback and crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
“Great General~”
The Pishi Army soldiers cried out in alarm and rushed forward quickly, splitting off a team to desperately block Li Xiao, while another team swiftly helped Da He Chu Luo Duo onto a horse.
“Go, retreat quickly~”
Da He Chu Luo Duo’s face was deathly pale, breathing heavily, issuing the order in a trembling voice.
Li Xiao’s horse spear was not just for slashing and thrusting.
Behind the spear blade, there was a cylindrical section with spikes, which when swung was like an elongated mace.
The iron armor could not resist such a blunt weapon’s strike, directly making Da He Chu Luo Duo spit blood.
“Chase them, eliminate the Pishi Army, let not a single one escape.”
Li Xiao roared loudly, instantly piercing two Pishi Army soldiers blocking him straight through.
The Jin Prefecture Army’s White Armored Cavalry pressed toward the routed Pishi Army like an avalanche, followed closely by the six chiliarch armies.
The Northern Sea Army’s dark cavalry flanked from the right wing, pincer-attacking with the Jin Prefecture Army.
The Seven Rivers Army soldiers also began their counterattack.
The three-route armies were like three sharp blades, thoroughly dividing and surrounding the Royal Court Army.
The Royal Court Army was in complete chaos at this moment, soldiers seeing their own commander knocked off his horse, then looking in terror at the enemy armies surging from all directions, fear growing wildly in their hearts like weeds, long devoid of the courage to resist.
On the battlefield, shouts of killing, screams, and weapon clashes intertwined, blood staining every inch of land on the Yili Riverbank.
At least more than half of the Eagle Unit Pishi Army remained forever on this riverbank.
The other troops, carrying the heavily wounded Da He Chu Luo Duo, fled toward the rear.
Moreover, having to mind the heavily wounded Da He Chu Luo Duo, their speed was not fast at all.
Pursued and killed all the way by the Left Route Army under Li Xiao, they left behind large numbers of Pishi Army corpses along the way.
At this time, the sun had risen high, the scorching sunlight pouring unobstructed onto this brutal battlefield, exposing all the cruel scenes without reserve.
Although the killing on the battlefield had stopped, the pungent bloody smell grew even thicker, permeating the air and making people nauseous.
The river water not far away, originally clear to the bottom, was now dyed a eerie dark red by blood, flowing slowly as if recounting the cruelty of this war.
The river surface was floating with densely packed corpses, some from the Royal Court Army, others from Seven Rivers Army officers and soldiers who unfortunately sacrificed in the battle.
As for the Jin Prefecture Army and Northern Sea Army, their losses were negligible.
Li Xiao had also experienced the benefits of being a commander, able to drive other forces to fight and serve as cannon fodder for him.
Halting his horse on a high slope, Li Xiao overlooked the entire battlefield.
His white armor was again dyed red with blood, the tip of his horse spear still dripping blood.
Beside him was North Sea Governor Jiu Meng’an He, the two discussing in low voices the next battle plan.
Soon, Li Dashan rode up, joy of victory on his face: “Marshal, in this battle we beheaded 1,800 heads, captured over 1,000 enemy soldiers, and seized countless war horses and weapons!”
The Eagle Unit Pishi Army had 3,000 men, plus the 500 Royal Court Army originally stationed on the south bank.
By this calculation, only five or six hundred Pishi Army soldiers escaped.
Undoubtedly, for the Eastern Capital Army, this was a great victory.
Directly nearly annihilating one of the Pishi Army’s six units, the Eagle Unit.
Li Xiao was quite satisfied with this result.
“Pass the order: the entire army rests for one hour.” Li Xiao said in a deep voice.
“Understood~”
Li Dashan acknowledged and left.
Jiu Meng’an He and Li Xiao continued their previous topic.
He wanted to advance west along the Ili River to support Xiao Simo’s central army and break through Zhen Wuchi’s main force head-on.
But Li Xiao had other ideas.
“Problems we can think of, Zhen Wuchi can think of too.”
“After he learns the news of our army successfully crossing the river upstream, he absolutely will not stay in place, waiting to be attacked from front and back.”
Jiu Meng’an He nodded lightly, agreeing with Li Xiao, then asked.
“What ideas do you have?”
Li Xiao looked at a sheepskin map spread on the ground before him.
This was a Royal Court map specially made by Xiao Simo, marking all the mountains, rivers, and roads on the south bank of the Ili River.
Even the places where the Royal Court often grazed were marked clearly.
It was precisely for generals like Li Xiao, unfamiliar with the Royal Court, to study.
So, to attack the Royal Court, one really could not do without the guidance of a ‘Khitan traitor’ like Xiao Simo.
Hit every target accurately.
“This is the Saksu Highlands; the most convenient and fastest route from the Ili River to the Royal Court passes through here.”
Li Xiao held his horsewhip, pointing heavily at the Saksu Highlands position, said in a deep voice.
“Therefore, I plan to send a small force to feint an attack on the Royal Court main force from the flank, forcing them to withdraw from the Ili River Basin and shift toward the Royal Court.”
“At the same time, send someone to inform Lord Xiao of our plan, asking him to lead the central army main force to closely pursue the Royal Court main force from behind.”
“Rendezvous with our army at the Saksu Highlands and thoroughly encircle and eliminate this Royal Court main force.”
Hearing this, Jiu Meng’an He nodded lightly.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he said: “Governor Li is indeed the one valued by both the Great King and the Princess.”
“The first time we met, I could tell Governor Li was no ordinary man.”
“Now, I admire Governor Li’s wisdom even more.”
“If this plan succeeds, breaking the Royal Court is just around the corner.”
Hearing Jiu Meng’an He’s praise, Li Xiao chuckled and waved his hands repeatedly: “Governor Jiu Meng’an flatters me; Li Xiao dares not claim such credit.”
“It’s all for our Northern Frontier cause~ I, Li Xiao, dare not take credit.”
One hour later, the Left Route Army finished cleaning the entire battlefield.
Besides the Pishi Army’s weapons and war horses, the greatest gain was the iron armor from the corpses, about 1,200 sets.
The Pishi Army was the Royal Court elites, with an armor rate of forty percent.
It must be known that even at the peak of the Mongol legions, the armor rate was only sixty percent.
So, the Pishi Army’s armor rate was already very high.
Although the Pishi Army soldiers mainly wore breastplates and other iron armor protecting vital areas, unable to form armored cavalry.
But having this iron armor would significantly boost the Left Route Army’s strength.
Thus, Li Xiao distributed 200 sets of the 1,200 iron armors to the Seven Rivers Army, 400 to the Northern Sea Army, and kept 600 for the Jin Prefecture Army.
The other money, weapons, war horses, clothing, etc., were temporarily stored, to be uniformly distributed after the battle based on military merit.
……
The army under Zhen Wuchi was the main force of the Royal Court Army.
They stubbornly held the south bank of the Ili River, repeatedly repelling Xiao Simo’s central army offensives.
However, with the arrival of one piece of news, Zhen Wuchi’s mood suddenly worsened.
“What?”
“The rebels crossed the river upstream?”
On the riverbank, Zhen Wuchi personally commanded the front line.
His beard was gray, his face full of wrinkles and age spots, looking at a glance like an ordinary old herdsman.
But at this moment, his gaze was fierce, his expression grave.
Vividly like an old lion not yet dead, roaring in anger enough to make the grassland tremble.
“How is that possible? It’s only been half a day; why couldn’t they hold?”
“And where is Da He Chu Luo Duo?” Zhen Wuchi said angrily.
“Great General of Eagle’s Might is seriously injured and has returned to the rear camp to rest,” his personal guard replied.
“What about the troops under him? The Eagle Unit Pishi Army? How many remain?”
“Seems~ seems less than five hundred returned.”
Hearing this number, Zhen Wuchi’s beard flew up in rage as he bellowed: “Bastard.”
“Simply a stupid pig.”
“So many Pishi Army brothers lost because of him, and he has the face to come back?”
“I gave orders before the battle: if the situation is truly untenable, withdraw at any time, prioritizing preservation of strength.”
“Why didn’t he listen?”
The old man was advanced in age, but his temper was extremely fiery.
Three thousand Eagle Unit elites, plus six hundred Royal Court soldiers by the river, and now fewer than five hundred returned.
Nearly a total annihilation.
If not for the Da He Family’s powerful influence and Da He Chu Luo Duo’s favor from Jie’er Khan.
Otherwise, Zhen Wuchi would have already beheaded Da He Chu Luo Duo by now.
“Who is the commander of the upstream rebel army?”
After fiercely cursing Da He Chu Luo Duo thoroughly and venting a bit, Zhen Wuchi then considered the current situation.
“The Left Route Army Commander of the rebels is named Li Xiao, Jin Prefecture Deputy Governor, and also Chu State Prince Consort.”
“Deeply trusted by Xiao the thief.”
One of Zhen Wuchi’s generals said in a deep voice.
In such dynastic civil wars, many families and forces bet on both sides.
So, internal matters of the Eastern Capital Army were not secrets to the Royal Court.
Zhen Wuchi had heard of Li Xiao’s name before, thinking him just a figurehead who rose through connections.
Moreover, so young, he did not believe Li Xiao had much ability.
But now it was different.
Among the Eastern Capital’s three-route armies, only Li Xiao’s Left Route Army was the first to break through the Ili River defense line, proving Li Xiao had extraordinary qualities.
“Li Xiao!” Zhen Wuchi said the name heavily.
Then, his gaze turned to the generals under him, his aged voice saying: “All of you, remember this.”
“This Li Xiao is not only Xiao Simo’s brother-in-law, but also a great enemy of our army.”
“When we eliminate Xiao the thief later, we must capture this Li Xiao in one fell swoop; otherwise, in the future, he will become a major confidant threat to our Royal Court.”
Hearing Zhen Wuchi’s words, all the generals nodded solemnly.
“Understood!”
At this moment, Li Xiao’s reputation spread even wider in the Royal Court, and the Royal Court’s emphasis on Li Xiao rose another level.
He had vaguely become the second most important target in the Eastern Capital Army, after Xiao Simo.
Soon after, Zhen Wuchi received a scout report that a cavalry force was coming from upstream, targeting the Royal Court Army’s flank.
Thus, Zhen Wuchi immediately deployed, abandoning the Ili River defense line and fully retreating toward the Royal Court.
Relying on the second defense line, the Little Wusun Mountains, to engage the rebels.
Not long after, Xiao Simo’s central army main force landed on the south bank.
Although the Ili River water still floated many Eastern Capital soldiers’ corpses at this time.
But after all, most were Naiman People and Geluolu People; Xiao Simo’s direct personal troops had very few casualties.
So, after landing on the south bank, Xiao Simo was in a great mood.
He directly shouted: “Where is Li Xiao?”
“Where is my Northern Frontier’s great meritorious official? Have him come see me.”
At this moment, his face was full of smiles, extremely pleased.
When he had appointed Li Xiao as Left Route Army Commander before, though no one openly opposed, there must have been private gossip.
Thinking Li Xiao was just a pretty boy who rose through nepotism.
But after this battle, Xiao Simo wanted to let those guys see if his decision was wrong.
Li Xiao was not only a pretty boy, but a capable, meritorious pretty boy.
At this moment, Xiao Simo was even more convinced that appointing Li Xiao as Left Route Army Commander was the right decision.
However, what Xiao Simo did not expect was that Li Xiao was no longer on the south bank of the Ili River.
He had simply sent 2,000 Seven Rivers cavalry to pretend to be a 10,000-strong army, feinting an attack on the Royal Court Army’s flank.
But he did not see Li Xiao’s main force at all.
“Where has Li Xiao gone?” Xiao Simo asked in a deep voice.
At this time, a White Armored Soldier specially sent by Li Xiao to deliver the letter said: “Reporting to the Great King, the Marshal has already led the army south; this is the letter he gave you.”
Li Xiao’s plan was top secret; only he and Jiu Meng’an He knew in the Left Route Army.
To avoid leaking the news and letting Zhen Wuchi prepare at the Saksu Highlands, Li Xiao wrote the letter himself, not letting a third person know.
Xiao Simo checked the sealing wax seal on it, confirmed it intact, and then opened the letter.
At first glance, he shook his head speechlessly and muttered.
“This Li Xiao, everything about him is good, just this handwriting.”
“Written like dog scratches.”
Li Xiao writing letters definitely used a brush, which happened to be his weak point.
Not to mention writing in unfamiliar traditional Chinese characters.
So, it was really hard to look at.
But after understanding the content inside, Xiao Simo smiled.
“Hahaha~”
“Li Xiao this bastard is truly a genius at warfare.”
For the plan in the letter—rendezvousing at Saksu Highlands to pincer the Royal Court main force—Xiao Simo agreed greatly.
He believed this plan had considerable feasibility.
And even if it failed, it would not be too bad.
For the Eastern Capital Army, there was almost no risk.
Thus, Xiao Simo immediately ordered: after the entire army crosses the river, rest for half an hour.
Each unit reorganize the scattered formations from the river crossing, reform ranks, then follow behind the Royal Court Army.
As for the Right Route Army’s Xiao Tula Duo unit~
Xiao Simo was not worried either.
After all, when Zhen Wuchi’s main force retreated, they must have notified the downstream Royal Court Army in advance.
The downstream Royal Court Army, not wanting to be surrounded like dumplings, would not dare not withdraw.
By now, the Right Route Army had probably crossed the river too.
Xiao Simo sent someone to pass orders for the Right Route Army to rendezvous with him.
For an entire day, Xiao Simo’s army closely tailed Zhen Wuchi’s Royal Court main force.
As they neared the Saksu Highlands, the terrain gradually became rugged, undulating hills like silent giants quietly watching the two armies’ every move.
Zhen Wuchi rode a tall black war horse, his brows furrowing deeper, forming a deep “river” character.
His eyes revealed doubt and unease, frequently looking back at Xiao Simo’s army shadowing them.
“What exactly does this Xiao Simo mean?”
Zhen Wuchi muttered to himself, his voice carrying annoyance.
“Always tailing behind our army, yet never actively attacking, not even night raids.”
He pondered inwardly; Xiao Simo’s behavior was too strange, completely unlike his usual combat style.
Poor Zhen Wuchi went to great lengths to guard against night raids.
He personally inspected the camp, arranged soldiers to strengthen alerts, set multiple sentries, and had soldiers take turns resting to maintain stamina.
Even he himself did not sleep all night, his eyes bloodshot, staring tightly at Xiao Simo’s camp, ready for possible attacks at any moment.
But in the end, he waited for nothing; the night passed with only occasional horse neighs, nothing happening.
By now, it was almost noon.
With worries in his heart, Zhen Wuchi felt no sleepiness at all.
But ordinary soldiers could not endure.
Many soldiers who participated in last night’s ambush were now extremely sleepy.
They could only march while dozing on horseback.
But at that moment, on the hill directly ahead, an army slowly appeared.
It was the White Armored Army.
Followed by countless Jin Prefecture Army, Northern Sea Army, and Seven Rivers Army soldiers in leather armor.
The leading general was precisely Li Xiao.
He rode a sleek black war horse, eyes cold and sharp like a blade in the cold night; seeing the Royal Court Army appear and learning Xiao Simo’s main force was right behind, he nodded slightly.
In his heart, he knew victory was in sight this battle.
Immediately, he fiercely swung his horse spear and shouted loudly: “Kill!”
His voice like a great bell, resounding across the entire battlefield.
In an instant, the White Armored Army charged down the hillside like arrows from a string, the sound of hooves like rolling thunder, shaking the earth.
The golden sun and moon battle flag flapped fiercely in the wind, like the flag of the god of death dancing.
Every soldier’s face was filled with killing intent and resolve, spears in hand flashing cold light, thrusting straight toward the panicked Royal Court Army.
Following the White Armored Army, the Jin Prefecture Army, Northern Sea Army, and Seven Rivers Army were not to be outdone; they waved their spears, emitting beast-like roars from their throats, the roars converging into a powerful wave surging toward the Royal Court Army.
