Chapter 229: Each Clings To Their Own
The perspective shifts to Xingzhou on the north side of Yongzhou. In the nominal capital Hao Capital of Hao State, the royal banner sways like a soul-summoning banner atop the increasingly eerie palace.
In this great war under heaven, many forces who were “fellow ministers in the same hall” as Zhao Cheng actually hoped he would fail.
The original dragon descendants of Hao State were badly crippled after the Bo Yan battle and stopped jumping around, but getting along harmoniously was impossible. As Hao Army repeatedly hit walls in the Yongzhou direction, compared to Zhao Cheng’s world-famous achievements in recent years, these oppositionists exiled to the northwest also “reacted.”
In Hao Palace, Huang Tao, the guy who was hung up and beaten by Xuan Chong at Gu Shou Pass several years ago, began barking: “You Zhao Cheng madly grab war merits everywhere else in the world, yet toss us a hard bone to gnaw on, these loyal ministers of Haotian. Truly wolf’s ambition!”
With these recent days, as Zhao Cheng faced tight warfare in the south, these dragon descendants in the northwest secretly rejoiced in their hearts.
If possible, they even thought of using a rebellion to make Zhao Cheng’s efforts fail. Of course, this was just a thought.
Now Zhao Cheng’s commandery office is in Yuhuazhou, and all Hao State bureaucrats with actual power are working in Yuhuazhou! The current Hao State is no longer the dragon descendants’ Hao State. No matter how much land Zhao Cheng conquers, it does not belong to the dragon descendants or these ministers exiled to the north.
However, just as everyone prepared to lie flat and wait for Zhao Cheng’s troops to sweep under heaven and carry out the final usurpation; at the end of May, news came from Hao Capital that Grand Tutor Pu E was returning. Immediately after, in a palace coup, ten-year-old King Hao reclaimed his power.
Behind the thin gauze curtains, King Hao smugly looked at the already stabbed-to-death seal-holding official, but after getting the imperial seal, he did not see the “mission accomplished” relief in the seal-holding official’s eyes.
Little did he know, before dying, the seal-holding official silently recited: “My lord (Zhao Cheng), I have completed your task.”
…After taking power, to not lose it, he went mad…
After King Hao regained great power, he was not carefree; he had to face the current offensive from Su Ming’s great army of Zhen State in the south. The war kui of the southern army smashed the last city wall of northern Yongzhou’s Hao Army, and the next step was to enter Xingzhou.
Although Xingzhou’s territory is vast, overall it is a narrow and long passage, with no other defensible places besides one main city. Thus, King Hao decided to activate some taboo weapons.
In the palace where Prince Bo once lived, King Hao summoned his ministers. The boy emperor got straight to the point: “You all heard, Grand Tutor will return from the north soon; before leaving, Grand Tutor said she was going north to open the gate to other realms. Yet we have accomplished nothing in this world, without merit or virtue, unworthy of ascending elsewhere.”
Note: At the end of Haotian Realm, not every Zhen Dan person could board the far voyage; besides the young children and artisans and hero offspring of other races, the rest stayed at the moment of the end.
King Hao bewitched with his childish voice: “We cannot leave in human form, but our souls shall follow the dragon.”
The many ministers understood that this young Son of Heaven was making a final gamble.
In June, in Hao Capital, a previously shelved great kiln was brought out; this furnace was twenty meters high and could fire giant soldier figurines.
But why was this thing sealed? Because the cost of firing it was too great even for Hao State.
In Xingzhou, King Hao completed a sacrifice, with over ten thousand people sacrificed; nine main officials with dragon descendant blood hosted this sacrifice.
They were smeared with mud like beggars, shaped into soldier figurine states, embedded into huge pottery figurines, and slowly pushed into the great kiln; also sent in were five hundred smaller, two-man-high pottery figurines.
In the city, a flying thief watched these people covered in mud, sealed into pottery figurines and sent into the furnace, muttering: “Crazy, all crazy!”
…Flying pigeon sends message south…
On the northern battlefield, Chong Army cavalry entered the Xingzhou area occupied by Hao State. As vanguard troops, since the war started, they continuously harassed roads in northern Hao State, delaying Hao Army actions.
However, on June 4, the Chong Army cavalry unit’s sixth squadron, while scouting the latest Hao State reinforcement troops on Xingzhou’s main road, encountered attack.
While Chong Army’s cavalry was still circling and observing the dust raised by Hao Army on the main road, judging the enemy reinforcement numbers, hot glazed arrows shot from afar, embedding shiny glass arrowheads into the first three war horses.
The Chong Army cavalry regiment was shocked and ordered the troops to disperse, not to gather.
But just withdraw like this? The sixth cavalry squadron captain was unwilling. As vanguard cavalry, simply losing troops would be recorded; but scouting sufficiently important intel meant casualties not recorded.
Moreover, the military law department would calculate risk based on casualties; “risk” as important weight to judge intel value.
This regulation ensured Chong Army scouts actively scouted enemy situations even after encountering strong enemies.
The cavalry squadron captain split into three squads, using horse tails to drag twigs for raising dust, while he handed command to the deputy captain, took five elites himself, and tried to flank the battlefield.
Finally, the squadron captain spotted from high ground these heavily armored, stiff-stepped troops. Fully eight hundred or so, with over a hundred stone lions following behind.
However, as he watched these peculiar troops, he seemed to hear flapping wings in the sky. These were agate crow people, soldier type brought by Haotian dragon descendants from beyond the sky.
Sensing these agate crow people circling to signal the rear, he quickly drew bow and shot an arrow hitting the crow person’s wing.
This crow person immediately plummeted and glided toward the distance, but then he heard whistling in the sky, ranks of glazed arrows falling, he dodged quickly but still got pierced in the shoulder blade by a bow and arrow.
After the arrow entered flesh, it visibly shattered into numerous dust particles, making the wound burning hot.
This glazed arrow’s damage is “burn,” fragmented glass shards entering skin cause hot sores.
He quickly dug out a chunk of flesh with a small knife to prevent shard spread, then applied medicine from herb restoration liquid raw materials, wound closed rapidly. This non-commissioned officer led the squad back gritting teeth.
…Reaction…
In southern Yongzhou, northern front commander Su Ming received flying pigeon message from the “undercover network” in the north, and two intel reports from scouts; unclear on this new Hao State troop’s numbers, he ordered all offensives to temporarily fully contract!
Military chief Su Ming signed and endorsed this strategic adjustment!
The reason he did this was the “undercover network” message too shocking: Hao Capital held large-scale live sacrifice, forged a “figurine army,” straight out of madness.
Su Ming’s junior schoolmates, also officer academy graduates as non-commissioned officers, analyzed: Based on scouts’ encounter with this “figurine army,” figurine army range at least three hundred paces out, other data unknown!
Lacking more accurate intel, staff department’s tactical analysis very grim, believing encounter war with such “Hao State last guard” without absolute troop and firepower advantage, casualties could be very heavy.
Staff suggested: Temporarily withdraw, confirm more situations before engaging. But Su Ming’s expression serious.
He raised his head looking at the many non-commissioned officers: “Great war has begun! All under heaven watching. Lord issued offensive order, giving us great hope. If we hesitate at slight setback, how to report to lord? How to face the people?!”
Su Ming: “Order first cavalry regiment continue scouting! Must probe enemy range, numbers, weaknesses as much as possible! Don’t fear casualties, each fallen guarantees two merits at least, intel merits calculated separately by wartime role.”
Staff non-commissioned officers, after getting Su Ming’s order, restarted strategic planning; at this time Su Ming stood alone.
In army under Xuan Chong’s lead, all campaigns must be reviewed; troops with overly heavy casualties, after review, if good method confirmed to reduce casualties, then query their mistakes.
If inspecting commanders and staff had sufficient campaign mobilization time yet still chose to charge blindly; then military law department holds senior officers accountable: “Why not timely find enemy weaknesses?!”
In Xuan Chong’s modern military system, there are strict constraints on military generals.
In Yongzhou, in a military camp large enough for eight thousand people. Su Ming slept less than two shichen continuously for three days. After first cavalry regiment lost over a hundred, reported series of more detailed info.
Su Ming: “Other infantry regiments stop offensive, order Cai’s armored troops advance quickly, wait for cannon and war chariot troops to arrive, we now block here.”
Su Ming pointed to frontline area, this newly occupied northern Yongzhou city, Chong Army troops here only seven hundred.
Su Ming allocated one thousand elites for rapid support, simultaneously conveying order: “Frontline general Cai Baijing must hold fifteen days. After fifteen days main combat troops arrive.”
…Tough nut…
King Hao now in army, compared to spirited him days ago after reclaiming power, now boy’s head has white hair, even wrinkles on face, like a dwarf. This is the cost of using taboo method.
For Hao State people, gaining extra aid through “sacrifice” is commonplace.
Even before Haotian Realm’s end, Zhen Dan massively sacrificed residents’ lifespan to drive yin soldiers on battlefield. Yin soldiers fighting from netherworld called pioneer soul army.
King Hao also fixed gaze on the point Su Ming gazed at.
Tong Zheng Calendar year 5 mid-June, a small county called Ao Guang City; Chong Army’s seven hundred here and just integrated one thousand troops encountered northern Hao’s dying counterattack final ripple.
Hiding in trenches, Chong State soldiers, originally Hao State soldiers captured by Chong State; however these surrendered-to-Hao-State soldiers now had stunned expressions. They saw at one thousand paces out, five huge “energy-gathering pottery figurines” pulling huge energy bowstrings.
These bowstrings looked like glowing solid objects, but actually electromagnetic energy lines; normal material bowstrings rebound speed limit hundred meters per second, limiting arrow speed.
While this electromagnetic energy line rebound speed could reach five times sound speed, i.e., tank armor-piercing bullet power.
So no city wall could endure such offense, and here no city wall, only trench gullies.
Although batches of light arrows stuck in gullies, Chong Army riflemen still relied on pre-left embrasures on trench front earth walls for counterattack.
Hao Army’s pottery figurine troops not in frontline melee, leading charge were laborer troops strong-conscripted by Hao Army.
Hao Army commander also improving, making laborers trench-against-trench.
During arrow rain and bullet shooting on trenches, as trenches dug intersecting inside, pits saw bullet shooting and cold weapon slashing combat.
However this seemed meat grinder, but actually after trenches connected, Hao Army laborers driven by leather whips often symbolically resisted then fully surrendered hugging heads, no fighting will. Chong Army not planning to capture them, gave steamed buns, let them stab Hao Army diehards, then let them flee back. And in trenches threw flag signals, let rear rifle brothers fire into sky, don’t hit them.
Two days later, King Hao very embarrassed facing increasingly stalemated battle. Everyone like coaxing child, bringing good news to tell him.
Frontline generals emphasized repelled east side Wu Family Army (Cai Baijing troops) multiple attacks. West side emphasized killed over thousand Chong Army. As for “corpses”? Of course buried in trenches.
Now in Hao Army, those managing laborer troops not dragon descendants, they all people Zhao Cheng after gathering under heaven scholars, after assessment deemed not very useful.
And these people for status, became Zhao Cheng oppositionists, supported King Hao; however they had little ability, and past didn’t need ability.
King Hao could no longer endure, took iron mace, smashed a general’s skull. This short King Hao burst such power, quite eerie, made generals who were coaxing child tremble in hearts.
King Hao issued death order: “Must take this position within four shichen!”
Five shichen later, stone lions carrying massive fire oil penetrated Chong Army defense; though this lion disintegrated in flames after penetrating, subsequent Hao Army jade braves with knives surged up. While Chong Army jumped out trenches for melee.
Both sides fighting on flat ground, as Chong Army gained upper hand, rear pottery figurine archers indiscriminate shooting. Sent stone lions trampling two armies’ still-living flesh to crash city walls.
Chong Army general Cai Baijing ordered behind collapsed county city walls, rebuild low wall, dispatch military and civilians to defend these low walls.
Hao Army’s royal troops seemed “shocked by scene of masses sent into pottery furnace earlier.” Thus also burst ferocity. Dragon horses and crow people burst into Chong Army hastily repairing second defense line.
Chong Army military and civilians in trenches holding spears and short knives dead-fought these Hao State air mobile forces, corpses soon filled trenches, Cai Baijing forced to withdraw again, strengthen barriers behind this defense line.
In Ao Guang City, a newly surrendered guide joining Chong Army persuaded: “Sir, losses too great, we can’t hold, better withdraw first, come another day—”
Before that “war” finished, Cai Baijing immediately slashed him dead.
Cai Baijing to other conscripted local new soldiers: “Your families settled, now share glory with state, dare speak surrender executed immediately.”
Cai Baijing fifth batch member of Xuan Chong officer academy, his father surrendered general from Xia Prefecture surrender five years ago, tracing earlier loyalty object, old Cai originally (Emperor Shu’s son) Prince Bo faction.
As surrendered general faction, ten years ago family settled in Lelang City, but not monitored. Allowed to live in officers’ compound, quite deep background. But Cai Baijing as child playing with other compound children, heard a sentence or two: his family actually no great merit!
Meaning Cai family though arranged officer cadre treatment, but in eyes merely northern local snake. Just Chong Army needed to connect local forces, needed example, itself no merit.
And this no merit made Cai Baijing feel pain of in circle yet not in circle. Like Xianglin Sao allowed to work but excluded from ancestor worship hall.
So now Cai Baijing must hold, complete military task to become Chong State core; but if withdraw, never touch center this life. Even if can’t hold, as long as die in battle, his younger brother and nephews after entering officer academy will be key trained.
Even if here death battle city, he must dig trench by trench, bury himself and enemy corpses in this position.
As King Hao anxiously watched melee in county city, expecting next moment his great army take city; Cai Baijing behind embrasure watched people under pottery figurine cluster guarded procession in enemy position.
After third failure, position Hao Army left over four hundred corpses. Hao Army projected multiple surrender letters into county city.
In barrier, under non-commissioned officers’ gaze, dust-covered Cai Baijing suddenly ha ha laughed, after laughing said: “Hao State’s worms are anxious.”
…Front and rear…
Rear, Su Ming mobilizing troops. Six war kui hurrying forward, but halfway bridges suddenly destroyed, must temporary repair bridges.
Xuan Chong for this rode peacock to frontline secretly meet Su Ming; dust-covered Su Ming now arranging subordinates repairing bridges. Subsequent great army on riverside transporting supplies, or inspecting vehicles and horses.
As for other side of river, heavy weapons group obviously impatient, used “rubber-coated canvas” make huge airbags tied on war kui, let war kui cross river first.
Su Ming parched watched war kui cross river, now two days no sleep; hearing Xuan Chong came, expression slightly stunned, face ashen. His scheduling problem caused Xuan Chong personally come, afterward even if fight well, record stain.
Su Ming guiltily entered tent, Xuan Chong not angry, detailedly listened bridge destruction situation and next emergency plan.
Su Ming on sand table marked next river-crossing bridges and passes, said personally send cavalry guard each bridge, ensure not destroyed by any side.
Xuan Chong nodded, stood up, opened a box.
Xuan Chong: “This entire Yongzhou civil mobilization seal, and now military administration documents for Yongzhou.”
Su Ming dazed. Perhaps days of toil made him slow: “He made such big mistake, yet still granted heavy responsibility!”
Su Ming: “Commander, I!”
Xuan Chong glared: “You want to quit on me now?”
Su Ming: “I don’t.”
Xuan Chong: “I have other things to do. As for you, when I first used you, thought one day let you stand alone, was I wrong? Now your situation bit messy, but as main general, most important not mess up over small mistake. Now Cai Baijing’s situation?”
Su Ming: “War kui support troops though delayed, assault troops entered Ao Guang City. Arrows resupplied, and war chariot troops on return assault withdrew two hundred wounded brothers.”
Xuan Chong nodded: “Then it’s fine.”
Su Ming gritted teeth, not thinking this “passed”; while all routes advancing, as first to engage frontline, no opening victory, instead beaten embarrassed by Hao State small court seen as spent force? He could imagine other routes’ colleagues laughing teeth off.
Xuan Chong: “About local bridges destroyed, your view.”
Su Ming: “Yongzhou area has Hao State buried undercover network, waiting to cause trouble for our great army.”
Xuan Chong: “How you plan to do?”
Su Ming: “Strengthen personnel screening in newly occupied cities.”
Xuan Chong stared: “At this time all occupied cities no side issues, everything prioritize finishing northern battle first. Those dark stakes won’t dare stir short term, you now do things, suppress their activity, not upend occupied areas to pull stakes. Also tell you, your encounter reminded me, other war zones also have stakes. Good summarize this, submit a report, no one laugh you.”
Su Ming slightly stunned: “Yes.”
Xuan Chong nodded at nearby box, “Not taking orders?”
Su Ming gritted teeth: “My lord, your minister willing to accept command.”
Xuan Chong: “Also, no matter what messy voices in Chong Land, wartime principle no changing generals! Don’t see demons everywhere. At ease fight your battle.”
Xuan Chong knew: Zhao Cheng sure launch batch public opinion offensive, pressure Su Ming.
Su Ming family from water, originally northern army faction, and that faction had batch frustrated people, these frustrated mixed with conservative noble families, can’t see Su Ming succeed, sure make trouble.
Xuan Chong: “I specially came not suspect you, but help you steady hearts. Make subordinates firm believe you my man.”
Su Ming slightly startled, nodded. —Xuan Chong not polite, now Yongzhou prefect temporarily soft-confined, all only listen to him Su Ming.
After handing seal, Xuan Chong revealed bottom line: “Yongzhou north can be scorched earth, boldly conscript, no worry damage too great; after this battle, guarantee Yongzhou get over fifty thousand slaves in this national war. Oxen seeds also priority for Yongzhou pick. As for uncooperative locals, flatten them.”
Su Ming understood, besides stabilizing cities, other areas can turn upside down. Now truly granted sole great power.
Su Ming now calm: “My lord, no need such fanfare; opposite already spent force, we no need play so many trump cards, I guarantee repel enemy.”
Xuan Chong seeing Su Ming regained confidence, attention back to main strategic objective, nodded. Xuan Chong: “Go handle affairs.”
