Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 375 Battle of Gaoping
"well done."

Fan Aineng, the commander of the cavalry, stared intently at the banner covered with hoof prints.

"Liu Chong's great banner, hahaha~"

Fan Aineng stared at Lin Dao with a friendly smile, "You have made great contributions, and I have high hopes for you. How about you come and serve as my clerk?"

This kind of flag-capturing achievement cannot be achieved by simply stealing it openly, with so many eyes watching.

Then take a roundabout approach, make them your own henchmen, and you can easily claim credit.

"Thank you, General."

Faced with blatant robbery, Lin Dao readily agreed.

Today is just an appetizer; the real main course is yet to come.

As for Fan Aineng, he's just a dying idiot.

Even if Guo Rong didn't kill him, Lin Dao would still get rid of this fool.

Guo Rong's central army had caught up and immediately summoned the generals who had won the vanguard battle.

"You have done well."

Guo Rong, in his early thirties, was at the peak of his life.

His piercing gaze swept over the generals, finally settling on Liu Chong's banner.

He stepped forward and looked at the banner covered with hoof prints, a smile he could hardly contain.

"Okay, great!"

"You old scoundrel Shatuo, you've finally met your match!"

Fan Aineng quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your Majesty, the banner of the false emperor Liu Chongzhi was seized by my subordinate general Lin Dao."

He gestured to Lin Dao, who was not far away, and said, "He charged into the enemy lines alone, beheading 29 of Liu Chong's soldiers, killing the flag bearer and seizing the banner, causing Liu Chong to flee in terror."

All the generals turned their gazes toward this location.

Lin Dao bowed and said, "Your Majesty."

"well."

Looking at the imposing figure of Lin Dao, Guo Rong was very satisfied. "What a fine man!"

In wartime, a fierce and unparalleled general like Lin Dao is the dream of any commander.

If one had such fierce men under their command, sweeping across the world would not be a dream.

He sat back down in his chair, looking at Lin Dao with a hint of regret.

He was Fan Aineng's personal guard, so he was someone else's private army. Since he couldn't be given a title, he could only be rewarded.

Poaching people is certainly possible, but now that we're about to wage a major war, poaching a general who has made great contributions is something only a moron would do.

"I bestow upon you ten thousand strings of cash and a thousand bolts of silk."

Having bestowed the reward, Guo Rong looked at Fan Aineng and said, "You are hereby granted the title of Military Governor of Ningjiang and Grand Pillar of State."

He then looked at He Hui, the Commander of the Infantry, and said, "You are hereby granted the title of Military Governor of Qinghuai."

All the generals who participated in the vanguard battle were rewarded.

Then the generals held a meeting to discuss matters.

"The main force of the puppet Han army has arrived."

"It is said that its army numbers as many as 30,000."

"More than 10,000 Khitan cavalrymen also joined the battle."

"His troops have already reached Bagongyuan, south of Gaoping, and are stationed there."

After briefing the generals on the enemy's situation, Guo Rong asked, "How should we defeat the enemy in this battle?"

The generals offered their opinions, each with their own perspective.

Active offense, passive defense, waiting for reinforcements, etc.

Seeing that Fan Aineng, who had made great contributions in the first battle, remained silent, Guo Rong looked at him and asked, "Fan Qing, tell me."

"His Majesty."

Fan Aineng, who felt that his voice had become more powerful, pondered for a moment and said, “The Khitan cavalry is strong and the number of the pseudo-Han troops is not small. Our army should hold its ground and wait for reinforcements to arrive before making any further plans.”

He fought against the Khitans and also against the pseudo-Han troops.

These are tough opponents, especially their cavalry, who are extremely fierce.

It should be noted that the main force of the pseudo-Han army's cavalry was the famous Shatuo cavalry.

Having already successfully achieved military merit, Fan Aineng now only wanted to play it safe.

Upon hearing this, Guo Rong's expression remained unchanged, but he was disappointed in his heart; this was not the answer he wanted to hear.

The enemy has just suffered a defeat, so we should take advantage of the victory to pursue and defeat them.

Waiting for reinforcements may seem like a safe option, but it actually gives the enemy an opportunity to regroup.

While the generals were discussing matters, Lin Dao, who was entitled to stand in the military tent due to his status as a military officer, carefully observed the generals inside.

Which one is Zhao Da?

They all seem about the same.

"Zhao Er seems to be here too?"

"It's hard to find without someone's introduction."

Even if ancient military generals didn't wear armor, their appearance was still quite similar.

Thick neck, broad shoulders, big belly, strong hands and feet, and a booming voice.

They would get red in the face and their necks would swell up during arguments, and they might even resort to violence at the slightest disagreement.

As for Guo Rong, a newly enthroned emperor, very few generals truly took him seriously.

Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, countless emperors have died worse than dogs. Military men have long lost their reverence for imperial power; they only care about the strength in their own hands.

After a heated debate and even physical altercations, Guo Rong finally made the final decision.

"Resting and receiving rewards, we will fight a decisive battle against the false Han in three days!"

At this time, the Zhou army forces concentrated in Gaoping numbered approximately 50,000 to 60,000.

Tens of thousands of troops can arrive within three days.

In terms of numbers, they have already gained an advantage over the combined forces of the puppet Han and Khitan.

In the era of cold weapons, the more people involved in a decisive battle, the more difficult it becomes.

The goal is to organize tens of thousands of people and mobilize their courage to participate in a large-scale battle.

In particular, Zhou Jun's main force had come from afar from Bianzhou and needed to rest; three days was already a very tight schedule.

This period of time was actually a good opportunity for the pseudo-Han people to launch an attack.

Unfortunately, their vanguard suffered a recent defeat, losing thousands of soldiers and even the emperor's banner.

This has dealt a heavy blow to morale, leaving us only able to focus our efforts on boosting morale and restoring our strength, rather than engaging in combat.

As for the Khitan cavalry, they were there to lend a hand and wouldn't easily shed their warriors' lives and blood. In the tacit silence between the two sides, time continued to pass.

"Brothers."

Pointing to the piles of copper coins and silk, Lin Dao gestured to the cavalrymen, "This is my gift to you, no need to be polite."

The cavalrymen cheered loudly and patted their chests, expressing their willingness to die for Lin Dao.

He was promoted to the rank of Ya Jiang by Fan Aineng, but Fan Aineng already had his own Ya Jiang and Ya Bing.

As a newcomer, Lin Dao had no chance of joining their gang, nor did he intend to.

He found Fan Aineng and expressed his difficulties.

The commander did not hesitate and promised Lin Daoke that he could choose a commander from the army.

He also promised Lin Dao that after the war, he would allow Lin Dao to form his own squad of soldiers.

Lin Dao did not hesitate to choose the one he had chosen before.

It's not about any particular feelings, but rather that people from this city have the most direct understanding of his skills and abilities.

As for the original military commander, he had now become Lin Dao's deputy and was extremely frustrated.

'That kid climbed too fast! In such a short time, he's gone from a lowly soldier to a general! Infuriating!'

Lin Dao was eager to win people over. He gave part of the rewards Guo Rong sent to Fan Aineng and used the rest to buy off the entire capital's forces.

For the warriors of this era, even the emperor was nothing to them; they valued profit above all else.

Anyone who dares to withhold the rewards and treatment given to martial artists will truly be met with a sword drawn.

The advantage is that most martial artists have good professional ethics.

If you offer enough benefits, they'll truly work their ass off for you.

Three days was enough time for Lin Dao to win over this entire cavalry force.

Zhou Jun made preparations and, urged by Guo Rong, set off from his various camps to form ranks at Bagongyuan.

This is a large plain in the Zezhou Basin, large enough to accommodate both armies.

As dawn broke, Zhou Jun's various units, having finished breakfast, began to set out.

They waited until the sun was high in the sky before setting up the battle formation.

There were over ten thousand men and horses, and the scene seemed boundless and limitless.

With a combined force of 100,000, the army truly stretched as far as the eye could see into the sea.

Lin Dao, positioned on the right flank of Zhou's army, gazed at the battlefield and murmured to himself.

“In the past, I always stood on the observation platform to direct the battle. This perspective is quite novel.”

Surrounded by the army, Lin Dao could only see his own cavalry and some friendly forces.

We can't see what's happening on the battlefields further away.

It's no wonder that the larger the scale of a battlefield in the era of cold weapons, the more chaotic it became.

Many times the main force collapsed, but the battle in the distance continued, due to poor communication and battlefield observation capabilities.

Lin Dao, who was leading the horse, didn't say anything and quietly closed his eyes to rest.

The pseudo-Han people surrendered to the Khitan, and they themselves originated from the Shatuo tribe. Their cavalry was actually quite strong.

During the vanguard battle, the main cavalry force was resting after a fierce battle and couldn't keep up, resulting in the vanguard being ambushed by the Zhou army.

Unable to swallow this insult, Liu Chong, upon seeing the banners of his enemies Fan Aineng and He Hui, immediately dispatched his hastily arrived cavalry to charge.

Zhang Yuanhui, the commander of the puppet Han cavalry and infantry, personally led the Shatuo cavalry to charge into the enemy lines.

The enraged Shatuo cavalry launched a fierce attack on the right flank of the Zhou army, with light cavalry flanking and heavy cavalry charging into the enemy lines.

As early as Li Keyong's time, the reputation of the Shatuo cavalry resounded throughout the north and south, and Huang Chao's army was defeated by them.

Faced with the fierce attack of the Shatuo cavalry, Fan Aineng, He Hui, and others were unable to withstand the attack and abandoned the infantry on the right flank to flee.

Let's go!

When the military commander of the capital saw Lin Dao rein in his horse and slow down, he hurriedly shouted, "Are you waiting to die?"

Lin Dao ignored him and turned his horse around to look back at the collapsing right flank.

The Shatuo cavalry were constantly attacking and dividing the less mobile infantry, and many Zhou infantrymen had already surrendered.

To increase his military strength, Guo Rong recruited all the mountain bandits and outlaws into his army.

These people were adept at bullying the common people, so it was only natural that they surrendered to the onslaught of the Shatuo cavalry.

"Can't go."

Lin Dao loudly called out to everyone, "The Emperor is watching."

"If they flee now, they will surely be punished after the war!"

This is not an exaggeration; he is telling the truth.

The historical records clearly state that, in his anger, Guo Rong beheaded Fan Aineng, He Hui, and dozens of other military officers after the battle.

If nothing unexpected happens, Lin Dao, this lieutenant, will also be among those to be beheaded.

"This is the Commander's order!"

The garrison commander roared angrily, "If you want to die, stay here, brothers!"

The next moment, he suddenly felt the scenery in front of him swirling, and his gaze finally settled on the blue sky and white clouds.

Lin Dao sheathed his straight sword, glanced at the head lying on the ground with its eyes wide open, and then his gaze swept over the cavalrymen of Bendu.

"Brothers, those who flee now must be killed."

"I am determined to survive even in the face of death, and I vow to kill the enemy chieftain Liu Chong."

"Are you willing to follow me?"

The cavalrymen looked hesitant.

They also understood military law and knew that even if someone was punished, it would be the officers who would suffer.

Ordinary cavalrymen were simply following orders and would not lose their lives.

But if they were to follow Lin Dao in a counterattack, and even go to kill the enemy commander, it would be more than just a matter of life and death; it would be a one-way trip.

Lin Dao narrowed his eyes. "If this battle is successful, the rewards and wealth after the battle will be shared with everyone!"

Wealth is a powerful motivator, and the cavalrymen immediately showed delight.

Lin Dao didn't say much and spurred his horse forward.

Looking back, he saw that only about thirty riders had followed him.

He subtly withdrew his gaze.

If any of these cannon fodder survive, he certainly won't be stingy with his wealth.

As for those who didn't come along~
"You all have to die!"

(End of this chapter)