Chapter 65: The Situation In Jin Prefecture
Nowadays, the small Wuya Village has seemingly become a massive military camp.
It has gathered nearly twenty thousand troops from the Yin Mountains, North Sea, and Jin Prefecture.
Stationed in the most core area, naturally, is Xiao Simo’s Sixth Courtyard Department army.
In the large tent, Xiao Simo sat on the folding stool, his face grave as he quietly listened to a Khitan soldier’s report.
“The Naiman people’s army has already entered the Golden Mountain, occupying numerous passes leading to the Naiman Tribe and defending the strategic points.”
“Their troop strength is probably around twenty thousand~”
“On the western side of the Golden Mountain, we have also discovered numerous Naiman people’s scouts, clashing several times with each side winning some and losing some.”
Listening to his subordinate’s report, Xiao Simo’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze fixed intently on a Golden Mountain map laid out on the table.
Although it was very crude, the several main passes leading to the Mongolian Grasslands were clearly marked on it.
However, the positions of these passes had all been marked by Xiao Simo with symbols representing the Naiman people.
After the soldier finished speaking, a Khitan general Xiao Lintta, standing beside the map, pointed at these passes occupied by the Naiman people and said: “The Naiman people are ambitious wolves, coveting our Northern Frontier for a long time.”
“They had long prepared to send troops into Jin Prefecture, but the Geluolu people were too useless, causing the Naiman people’s plan to fail.”
Another general Xiao Tula Duo nodded heavily and said in a deep voice: “Exactly.”
“Scouts of the Naiman people have already appeared in Jin Prefecture; the Naiman people are also probing our situation.”
“They probably already know quite a bit about the situation in Jin Prefecture.”
During this period, the Eastern Capital Army had remained in Wuya Village without moving, but Xiao Simo had sent out dozens of scout teams into the Altai Mountains to investigate the Naiman people’s situation.
Plan carefully before acting.
But the Naiman people had not been idle either, also sending people to scout the Eastern Capital Army’s situation.
Both sides were probing, brewing an offensive.
“Go down!”
Xiao Simo waved his hand at the scouts and said softly: “You’ve worked hard.”
“Each of you go collect ten sheep; for the brothers who died in battle, collect thirty and send them to their families after returning to the Eastern Capital.”
Scouts are inherently a very dangerous troop type, with the highest mortality rate.
Therefore, Xiao Simo definitely had to give ample rewards, triple rewards for those who died in battle.
And these surviving scouts who obtained important intelligence must also have their merits remembered, to be promoted first when opportunities arise.
Only in this way could the scouts be willing to risk their lives, truly gathering intelligence instead of muddling through.
“Thank you, Great King, for the reward.” After saluting, the scouts turned and left the tent.
Then, Xiao Simo looked at the generals on both sides and said gravely: “Share your thoughts; how should we fight this battle?”
The Naiman people had already assembled twenty thousand troops in the Golden Mountain, holding the high ground and overlooking Jin Prefecture.
Moreover, they occupied important mountain passes, possessing terrain advantages.
This battle would not be easy to fight.
“Within the Golden Mountain, the terrain is complex, the environment variable, and the Naiman people have gotten there first, already guarding the important passes. If we force an attack, we will inevitably suffer heavy losses,” Xiao Lintta said.
“Perhaps, we can find a way to lure them down the mountain and eliminate them on the Jin Prefecture Grassland.”
Xiao Simo gently shook his head: “The Naiman people are not fools.”
“Right now, our Eastern Capital Army is assembled, when Jin Prefecture’s military strength is at its most abundant; the Naiman people absolutely will not advance westward at this time.”
If it were really as Xiao Lintta planned, the situation would instead be simple; Jin Prefecture was Xiao Simo’s home turf, with the advantage on his side.
Even if the entire Jin Prefecture were beaten to ruins, he would definitely leave all the Naiman people behind.
Unfortunately, the Naiman people would not be so unwise.
At that time, when the Naiman people assembled their army in the Golden Mountain, the Geluolu people’s situation was overwhelmingly favorable.
They were just waiting for the Geluolu people to wear down the Eastern Capital Army’s edge, then the Naiman people could advance westward, joining forces with the Geluolu people to eliminate the Eastern Capital Army.
But now, the changes in Jin Prefecture’s situation far exceeded the Naiman people’s expectations.
The Geluolu rebellion was easily extinguished, and the Eastern Capital Army was unscathed.
At this time, as long as Sun Khan’s head was still clear, he absolutely would not rashly enter Jin Prefecture.
After all, the Naiman people’s troops did not have a clear advantage over the Eastern Capital Army; even if they took Jin Prefecture, it would be a pyrrhic victory, potentially allowing other enemies of the Naiman to take advantage of the weakness.
Of course, there was another way: to wear down the Naiman people.
In winter, the Golden Mountain is covered in heavy snow, extremely cold, with average temperatures about ten degrees colder than the Jin Prefecture Grassland.
The Naiman people definitely could not hold out inside the mountains.
But this method would not work for Xiao Simo either, because he also had no time.
The Royal Court was also his enemy; he could not stay in Jin Prefecture forever, giving the Royal Court an opportunity.
In short, the upcoming battle would be a huge challenge for both sides.
“Great King, Buyiru Khan can become our friend; he can help us cross the Golden Mountain,” Xiao Tula Duo brought up Buyiru Khan again.
Hearing this, Xiao Simo nodded silently and asked gravely.
“Has there been any word from the envoy sent to the Northern Naiman?”
Xiao Tula Duo shook his head and said: “Not yet; by the timeline, they may have just arrived at the Northern Naiman.”
Xiao Simo said: “Send someone over; tell them that all the conditions proposed by Buyiru Khan can be agreed to.”
“Have the Northern Naiman’s army come south as soon as possible.”
“Yes!”
A few days ago, Xiao Yanyan had specifically told Xiao Simo that Buyiru Khan might not be trustworthy and to guard against him.
However, Xiao Simo knew what he was doing; he did not even fully trust his own generals, let alone believe a Naiman person.
As for the conditions promised to Buyiru Khan for sending troops?
After defeating the Naiman people, let him go demand them from the Royal Court!
Xiao Simo was agreeing on behalf of the Royal Court.
If there was a chance, Xiao Simo even wanted to wipe out the Northern Naiman in one go.
“By the way, where has the Great Desert Army reached? Why haven’t we seen them yet?” Xiao Simo thought of another important matter.
The fifteen thousand troops from the Yin Mountains and North Sea had already assembled, but there was still no sign of the Great Desert Army.
At that time, the order Xiao Simo gave to the Great Desert Governor was to lead five thousand cavalry to arrive in Jin Prefecture before the twelfth of July.
Now the time was almost up.
“This, no news yet.” Xiao Lintta shook his head helplessly.
“I’ll send someone right away to urge them.”
Hearing this, Xiao Simo snorted lightly: “Tell Zhao Guya Chi that they must arrive at Wuya Village before the twelfth.”
“Yes~”
“Great King!”
At this moment, the voice of a personal guard suddenly rang out from outside the tent.
“Jin Prefecture Chiliarch Li Xiao requests an audience with the Great King.”
Li Xiao?
Xiao Simo did not know what he was here for at this time, but Xiao Simo happened to have something that needed Li Xiao to handle.
So he nodded and said: “Let him in.”
Soon, Li Xiao handed his cavalry saber at his waist to Er Hu and followed the personal guard inside.
“Lord.”
“What is it?” Xiao Simo sat on the folding stool, looked at Li Xiao, and asked in a deep voice.
But Li Xiao’s gaze flashed over the map beside him.
He recognized at a glance that it was a Golden Mountain map.
“The Naiman people’s troop deployments?” Li Xiao thought to himself.
In this life, Li Xiao not only had better physical fitness, but also stronger memory.
Just one glance, and the map’s image appeared in his mind.
The markings showed that the Naiman people had occupied various passes in the Golden Mountain.
Seeing Xiao Simo’s unpleasant expression, Li Xiao guessed he was worrying about how to fight this battle.
“Golden Mountain passes~” Li Xiao murmured inwardly, but noticed that one mountain peak at the northernmost part of Jin Prefecture had no Naiman marking.
Perhaps there were no Naiman people there, or perhaps Xiao Simo’s scouts had not gone there.
These thoughts flashed through Li Xiao’s mind, and he immediately composed himself, saying to Xiao Simo.
“Lord, this general just received word from family that my grandfather is seriously ill.”
“This general begs the lord to grant a few days to go home and visit my grandfather.”
Li Xiao stated the excuse he had made up on the road.
He wanted to handle some personal matters, but now the Khitan people were in charge.
As Xiao Simo’s personally appointed chiliarch, Li Xiao definitely could not leave the camp without orders before a major battle.
So, he could only bring out the old master.
Hearing that Li Xiao wanted to go home to visit the sick, Xiao Simo’s expression seemed to worsen somewhat.
In a flat voice, he said: “Chiliarch Li, do you know that our army’s great battle with the Naiman people is imminent, and we may advance eastward at any time?”
“Are you really going to visit the sick, or are you trying to desert on the eve of battle?”
Xiao Simo’s accusation was quite serious.
Li Xiao had thought Xiao Simo would readily grant his leave, but unexpectedly, this guy’s attitude was off.
Li Xiao recalled that these days he had been very obedient and had not done anything wrong.
“Please forgive me, lord; this general absolutely has no intention of retreating before battle. It is truly because my grandfather is seriously ill, and this general is anxious beyond measure.”
Li Xiao was just about to say some words from the memorial to the throne, but Xiao Simo had no interest in hearing them.
He directly interrupted: “Enough. Since you are so worried about your grandfather, I grant you five days to go home and visit him.”
“Conveniently, this king has a task for you.”
“Twenty thousand troops consuming grain and fodder in Jin Prefecture, with heavy consumption.”
“Go cooperate with General Xiao Lintta; within ten days, requisition ten thousand dan of grain and ten thousand sheep to serve as military provisions.”
“Any problems?”
Xiao Simo’s voice carried dignity as his eyes stared straight at Li Xiao.
This battle was unknown how long it would last; if the Eastern Capital Army could not quickly break through the Naiman people’s Golden Mountain defense line, then Xiao Simo would have to consider the grain issue.
Although after breaking through the Moman Tribe and Qibi Tribe, the Eastern Capital Army had seized large amounts of grain and cattle and sheep, enough to last a long time.
But Xiao Simo also had to prepare for the long term; storing more grain was definitely not wrong.
Hearing this, Li Xiao cursed inwardly.
He knew this turtle son was up to no good.
This job would not be easy to do.
