Tiger Guards

Chapter 510 Inspires the Entire Army

"The enemy will be defeated after the snow stops."

In the forward central army camp, Xu Huang squinted at the open camp gate.

Every now and then, scout teams would come to cover the retreat of the wounded. After a short rest, drinking water and eating to replenish the ranks of the new members, these scouts would set off again in groups, disappearing into the wind and snow.

Pei Xiu didn't hear Xu Huang's mutterings clearly, so she turned her head to look at Xu Huang, looking inquisitive.

Noticing Pei Xiu's expression, Xu Huang coughed twice, spat a mouthful of phlegm into the snow, and said, "Commander, most of the Xianbei tribes have arrived with the Grand Marshal. Due to the snowstorm, obtaining fuel is very inconvenient."

Pei Xiu nodded slowly and asked, "Fushi City has a lot of savings, which should be able to alleviate the Xianbei's predicament."

"With the snow and wind hindering our progress, and our scouts and light cavalry harassing us, how many of the millions of bundles of straw in Fushi City can be transported out?"

Xu Huang continued, "Neither side has strong fortifications. If they encounter a large cavalry charge, they will be at a disadvantage and their morale will be difficult to recover. Therefore, the moment the snow stops will be the time for the two armies to fight a decisive battle."

"The governor's words are reasonable."

Pei Xiu nodded and then said, "Then I will order the left and right flanks to prepare for battle. Once the Grand Marshal's order is received, we will launch a joint attack on the enemy camp in the northeast."

Xu Huang hesitated, but seeing Pei Xiu's sincere and earnest expression, he nodded and said, "Alright, I will send an envoy to inquire with the Grand Marshal."

Seeing that Xu Huang dared not give orders on his own, Pei Xiu didn't say much either, since there was no need to waste time asking questions back and forth.

Before the messenger could depart, Guan Shang was escorted into the camp by dozens of riders. Guan Shang dismounted and raised the command arrow in his right hand: "The Grand Marshal orders the entire army to prepare for battle. If necessary, all supplies may be abandoned, leaving only chariots and cavalry. Commander Xu, receive the order!"

"The general will obey the order."

Xu Huang cupped his hands, stepped forward, and accepted the command token with both hands. After reading the more detailed contents on the token, he handed it to Pei Xiu: "Guardian General."

Pei Xiu took the book and read it, then said to Guan Shang, "Please reply to the Grand Marshal that the vanguard of the army is ready to be dispatched at any time."

"Yes."

Guan Shang responded, and after watching Pei Xiu show the command arrow to the surrounding officers, he bowed and took his leave, leading his escort cavalry away.

Almost the chieftain also issued a similar order. When the order reached Fushi City, the vanguard general, Uyghur Dou, could only summon all the leaders, big and small, to mobilize for war.

The leader did not bring 30,000 men, but more than 30,000 cavalry, plus spare horses, totaling more than 50,000.

The city of Fushi, where the county seat is located, can accommodate more than 30,000 people, but it really cannot hold more than 50,000 warhorses.

Even if it could accommodate the Xianbei and Qiang troops gathered in the city, it would definitely be surrounded by the Han army.

Once the Han army has completed its encirclement outside the city, they will surely fight with all their might to surround and kill the troops inside.

If Kui Tou's Xianbei royal army is defeated, the people in Fushi City will not fare well either.

Therefore, the Uyghur leader and the various Qiang leaders, who had been conserving their strength, now knew that it was time to fight to the death.

As Xu Huang analyzed, Zhao Ji could not wait for the Xianbei to launch an offensive tonight. Both sides had highly mobile forces, and the side that moved around would obviously have the advantage.

If both sides have strong fortifications, they can naturally wait for a better opportunity.

Until the situation deteriorates to the point where war is unavoidable; or until the advantage accumulates to the point where war is necessary to make this final push.

In Zhao Ji's makeshift camp, inside the newly erected circular tent, all the officers and above were gathered together. It was crowded, yet unusually quiet. The only sounds were the crackling of burning pine wood and the howling wind.

Once the various wargame pieces were arranged on the map, Zhao Ji looked at Li Ying, who immediately stood up. Left Supervisor Han Shu, Right Supervisor Gao Yanglong, and five other department supervisors followed suit.

Zhao Ji held a five-colored wooden block in his hand: "In this battle, the daredevils will be the vanguard. The Black Flag Team will charge ahead with me for a while, then gather at the foot of the mountain on the east side of the road, where they will engage the approaching Xianbei. Following them will be the White Team, Yellow Team, Red Team, and Green Team. After the five daredevils break through and engage in battle, they will gather on the right flank at the foot of the mountain and then advance towards the Xianbei camp at the cost of their lives. If we can break through, we will pursue the fleeing Xianbei soldiers all the way to the Yulin Pass."

"Those who die in this battle will have their families pardoned and registered as households; the number of heads captured will be doubled; if there are any wounded or disabled, the shogunate will also make proper arrangements so that they can rely on the rest of their lives."

As Zhao Ji spoke, he arranged the five-colored wooden blocks in order outside the camp and demonstrated the movement trajectories of each team in turn. The eight leaders of the daredevil soldiers watched attentively. Li Ying asked, "Grand Marshal, the battle situation is unpredictable. What should we do if the enemy numbers over ten thousand?"

"The central army will form a ring of vehicles to block the Xianbei's attack. The order of attack for each unit will remain unchanged. Even if there are changes, I will only move two or three units at a time. Remember, after the five units assemble on the eastern front, they can advance northward along the foot of the mountain."

After Zhao Ji finished speaking, he looked at the other seven people, who all nodded and cupped their hands in greeting to him: "We accept your orders."

Zhao Ji then looked at the remaining commanders and captains of the Tiger Step Army in the central army: "Each battalion and each unit shall advance eight li north in a horizontal formation and set up positions along the road. The soldiers shall immediately tie long bamboo poles into deer antlers and place them on the west side to delay the harassment of the allied forces of the various Hu tribes in the city."

Wei Xing raised his hand and asked, "Grand Marshal, the central army of seven thousand men is arranged in a large horizontal formation along the straight road. Even though there are deer antlers on the west side, at least three thousand men are needed to stop the enemy troops in the city. In that case, the front line will inevitably be weak. If the enemy troops in the city break through the deer antlers, it will inevitably disrupt the order of the front and rear formations."

"It's out of the way."

Zhao Ji pointed to Xu Huang's army and said, "I believe in Xu Gongming's army. They will abandon their camp and come straight to our aid. Even if they cannot participate in the pincer attack on the Xianbei camp, they can still cut off the various Hu tribes in the city and protect our western flank."

Upon hearing this, Wei Xing looked at the map with a heavy expression. Although he was still somewhat uneasy, he could only nod in agreement.

Then Zhao Ji looked at Xiutu Dada, who had arrived yesterday, and Liu Qubei, who had only arrived today: "The Yicong knights have lost their fighting spirit and need not participate in the attack on the Xianbei camp. After the snow stops, they will split into two groups and head west to engage the Qiang tribes attacking the vanguard. They can hold them off and fight until dawn."

Xiutu Dada was somewhat ashamed. Although the entire army had been routed when they split up to plunder earlier, the Xianbei army was marching south. Let alone him, no other famous Xiongnu king would have performed better.

Liu Qubei was in a much better state. In any case, all the miscellaneous Qiang tribes that could be easily plundered had already been looted, and the army's losses were within a controllable range. He did not think that he had suffered a defeat.

After the destruction caused by the Xiongnu's loyal followers, the Xianbei people who moved south could only rely on large Qiang strongholds to obtain fodder, and were no longer able to send troops out in all directions to obtain supplies.

For example, even if the small Qiang tribes near Fushi City survived and were preserved, their stockpiled fodder, fuel, or animal herds would be destroyed or looted.

Therefore, when the Kui Tou army arrived, they were unable to obtain various supplies from the nearby Qiang people.

Since the Xiongnu righteous army had already achieved its planned objectives, its ability to quickly withdraw and regroup after encountering a large Xianbei force marching south was itself a victory.

With a winning mentality, Liu Qubei accepted Zhao Ji's scrutiny with composure.

After observing their condition, Zhao Ji asked again, "King Sheyan will lead the vanguard, and King Youxian will follow. I need you to fight until dawn. Is that possible?"

Xiutu Dada cupped his hands in greeting: "This humble king will certainly lead his troops in a desperate battle."

Liu Qubei cupped his hands in greeting: "If it's just a matter of fighting until dawn, it's not difficult."

There are three camps to the west. If he occupies one of them, he can hold off the Qiang tribes for a night.

In any case, the Grand Marshal had already taken great care of the Xiongnu's morale, so it was indeed a bit difficult for the Xiongnu to face the Xianbei.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji looked around the tent and asked, "Does anyone have any further questions?"

No one spoke, and they all looked at each other, finally all looking at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji drew his sword and placed it on the open ground in front of the central army: "This is the worst-case scenario. If the Xianbei also launch a full-scale attack after the snow stops, I will lead my daredevils here to blunt their morale. After their vanguard is demoralized, my three vanguard troops will engage the mixed Hu tribes in the city, and then the seven thousand men in the central army will follow me to charge straight north and destroy the main camp of the Kui Tou!"

The sword in his hand moved forward gently, as if piercing the head's belly.

Zhao Ji looked around at everyone and said with a smile, "Whoever beheads the chieftain will be richly rewarded. However, I don't think any of you can be faster than me. If anyone can behead this chieftain before me, I will give him a county as his fief!"

"Dry!"

Wei Xing uttered a single word, his eyes wide as he asked, "Grand Marshal, can I choose my fief?"

“Apart from Pingyang County, any other county or town is acceptable.”

Zhao Ji sheathed his sword, his expression smug: "Go back and inform all the officials and soldiers that even the army doctor who wins the battle will be granted the title of county marquis and a fief of three thousand households!"

(End of this chapter)