sjar Chapter 269 The War-Torn Mongolian Steppe
Chapter 269 The War-Torn Mongolian Steppe
Upon hearing rumors that 150,000 Jin cavalry were marching south to quell a rebellion, Li Zhen decisively ordered Qian Dazhuang's troops stationed in Dong'e to retreat immediately to Yanggu County. Based on the tacit understanding between the two armies, the north bank of the Yellow River was Li Zhen's territory, while the south bank belonged to Li Gang's rebel army.
This Jin army of 150,000 men is determined to quell the rebellion in Shandong, and Dong'e County is undoubtedly a vital passage for their northward advance. If Qian Dazhuang's troops stubbornly hold their ground, Li's army will be left isolated to face the Jin army's relentless offensive, and the situation will be extremely perilous.
Deep within Dongping Prefecture, Li Gang sat firmly in his command position. Upon learning of this sudden news, his anger erupted like a volcano, shaking the entire command center.
"Li Zhen! How dare he be so shameless as to commit such a treacherous act? He has preserved his own territory, but he has pushed us to the ground under the iron hooves of the Jin army, to face their thunderous offensive. This is tantamount to planting a deadly tumor in our ranks!"
Li Gang's words, a mixture of anger and disappointment, echoed in the empty hall, sending chills down one's spine.
Despite his anger, once he calmed down, Li Gang rationally dispatched a messenger across the flames of war to communicate with the Li family army. After all, the two armies had previously made a pact to fight side by side against the iron hooves of the Jin people.
When the messenger arrived, Li Zhen, with a warm smile, replied, "Please go back and tell General Li Gang that he can rest assured. Dong'e County is small and its walls are low, making it difficult to withstand the overwhelming force of the Jin cavalry. Rather than letting our warriors sacrifice themselves in this tiny place, why not simply cede it to the Jin? In this way, we can concentrate our superior forces and deliver a fatal blow to the enemy from a more advantageous position."
Then Li Zhen ordered his men to take the men away and treat them to good food and drink. He said to Qian Dazhuang, "Immediately write to Yue Peng and ask him to mobilize troops to defend Shenxian, Yanggu and Taiqian. This time the Jin army is coming in a fierce manner, and we must do our best to defend against them."
He pondered for a moment, then added, his voice tinged with inquiry: "How's the naval force you were in charge of building going?"
Mentioning this matter, Qian Dazhuang frowned, a bitter smile appearing on his face. He respectfully replied, "My lord, regarding ships, although I have tried my best to search, most of what I have acquired are simple small boats. The few slightly larger ones are merely flat-bottomed vessels used for cargo transport, which are precarious and difficult to salvage in the event of a storm. As for recruiting naval personnel, it is even more difficult. Although there are many brave men in the army, few are skilled swimmers, and those who can steer ships are even fewer."
Li Zhen paced back and forth in the room for a long time before saying to Qian Dazhuang, "Go to Weishan Lake and Liangshan. There are many fishermen and boatmen there. We offer them high salaries. In addition to incorporating these people into the army, we also need to properly settle their families in our territory. They are living a very hard life. I don't believe we can't get people here even with this."
After receiving the order, Qian Dazhuang went out to make arrangements. Li Zhen stood on the highest restaurant in Yanggu County, looking at the bustling people in the city, and couldn't help but feel melancholy about the outside world.
Although he possesses the ability to travel through mysterious spaces, can he truly govern this country effectively? Leaving aside the question of how easy it is to deal with the Mongols in the north, the Jurchens alone are enough to give him a headache right now.
Just as Li Zhen was feeling dejected, a troop of Jin cavalry was chasing a dozen or so Mongols across the northern Mongolian grasslands. Both sides were galloping across the cold steppe on their warhorses. The Jin soldiers behind them kept firing arrows at the pursuing Mongols, but these dozen or so Mongol men were also quite fierce. They constantly maneuvered their warhorses to dodge the arrows, and every now and then they would turn around and curse the Jin soldiers behind them.
The two sides continued running and chasing each other until they unknowingly entered a canyon.
By the time the Jin general in command realized something was wrong, it was too late. A whistling arrow shot into the sky, and the two sides of the canyon were filled with Mongol soldiers wielding bows and arrows. They unleashed a barrage of fire at the Jin cavalry below, and many Jin soldiers fell from their horses instantly.
Huge boulders were continuously pushed down the steep hillside, and the Jin soldiers who had no time to dodge were smashed into mincemeat along with their horses.
The Jin general shouted, "Everyone, run back immediately!"
Just as they turned their horses around and galloped towards the canyon entrance, a large contingent of Mongol cavalrymen clad in steel armor charged in from the canyon's perimeter. They carried long, threaded steel spears and charged resolutely towards the fleeing Jin army.
The two armies clashed, and in the blink of an eye, the Jin cavalry were plunged into a fierce battle, with warriors falling from their saddles due to injuries. In contrast, the Mongol cavalry had few wounded and stood firm like a rock in a storm.
What weighed heavily on the hearts of the Jin cavalry was that their spears were like a forest, their scimitars like the moon. Each swing and thrust, which should have been as merciless as autumn leaves swept away by the wind, often only produced the crisp sound of spearheads snapping, or the helpless clash of scimitars being deflected by the opponent's seemingly indestructible steel armor. In contrast, their own armor, though heavy, was like paper. The spears in the hands of the Mongol cavalry were like the light of dawn, easily piercing through their defenses and striking their vitals.
This battle was like an absurd nightmare, making one wonder why the weapons in their hands and the armor on their bodies seemed so fragile and vulnerable in the face of the Mongol cavalry. How could this battle possibly continue?
The Jin cavalry commander glanced at the few remaining cavalrymen beside him, and, ignoring those who had fallen and were injured, chose to continue running towards the canyon exit.
Just as they were about to emerge from their cocoons and break free from the constraints of this narrow space, a surge of dust suddenly rose from the edge of the canyon, accompanied by the deafening sound of horses' hooves, and a massive Mongol cavalry force swept in like a storm.
The Jin general was secretly amazed. He had been searching for the Mongols on the vast grasslands for many days, but their traces seemed to have vanished into the wind. It turned out that they were hiding here, waiting to strike.
This time, the Jin cavalry, filled with resolute determination, vowed to shake the heavens and earth with their flesh and blood in a final, desperate struggle. However, cruel reality, like the cold wind on the grassland, was merciless and icy, striking them down one by one. On this land that had witnessed countless heroes, they ultimately transformed into the soil that nourishes all things, becoming the eternal memory and sustenance of this grassland.
Seeing that the Jin cavalry had been completely annihilated, the leader of the Mongol army slowly raised his hand, took off his heavy steel helmet, and revealed that familiar face—it was Naza.
He surveyed his surroundings, his eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve, and then loudly commanded his soldiers: "Move swiftly! Gather all the supplies left behind by these Jurchens. With these abundant provisions, we can strengthen our forces and rebuild an incomparably valiant cavalry. As for the remains of those Jurchens, let them lie here quietly. The Eternal Heaven will, in its unique way, give them their final resting place and judgment."
After doing all this, Naza led his Mongol warriors toward their camp. During this time, the Jin army launched large-scale attacks on their camp, forcing Naza and his people to return to the grasslands that the Ongud tribe had once known.