Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 944 – Capturing Baqi Alive
Once the person that read out the decree left, Hu Yihuang, who was promoted to Deputy Legion General, smiled, “Do not worry general. Although the king made me take over military matters, I’ll still listen to your instructions.”
Hu Yihuang knew himself that he did not have the ability to lead a legion. With General Lai’s ability, as long as he did well in this battle, he would regain his appointment.
Lai Hu’er waved him off, “No, you cannot do that; it is an order from the king.”
“I’m too rash!”
When Hu Yihuang saw that, he knew that he could not make the matter so outright.
After the two of them spoke, they immediately held a meeting to announce the appointment changes.
During the meeting, Hu Yihuang insisted on not sitting at the lead position. Instead, he sat alongside Lai Hu’er. Hu Yihuang had a reason, “We are both deputy Legion Generals, so naturally we sit together.”
When the other generals heard that, they naturally did not have any opposition.
Lai Hu’er was at fault for being overconfident. However, based on what the soldiers said, he did not want to leave anyone behind at the crucial moment, so he obtained all their trust and respect. Although he was removed from his post, in all their eyes, he was still their Legion General.
Who knew that Lai Hu’er would actually stand out to oppose? He solemnly said, “There can only be one voice in the military; a military order is like a mountain. Since the imperial decree made Hu Yihuang the Legion General, General Hu is the one we must listen to. If all of you still respect me, do not put me on the spot.”
Lai Hu’er was a really experienced general, and he saw through what they were all doing.
When the others heard his words, they solemnly rose up and bowed, “Yes, general!” Hu Yihuang also turned serious, and he solemnly bowed to Lai Hu’er and sat at the head seat.
With all of them in position, they started to discuss the next step.
What they did not know was that all of this was noted in secret by the military law officer, and it was written into a secret report and handed to the king.
When Ouyang Shuo saw it, he nodded his head and smiled, “At least he did not let it get to his head.” Tsing Yi, who was right next to Ouyang Shuo, looked at him, confused. She continued to deal with documents.
The huge Imperial Reading Room turned silent once more.
************
In the next week, the Battle of the Shu Lands quickened.
No one expected that the Great Xia Army would not slow down their attacks. Instead, the left and right vanguard, and the left and right defending troops, all proceeded valiantly and launched even stronger assaults than before.
Baiqi had a clear plan; the left vanguard troops had encountered a loss in Ganluo City and that affected the morale. If the entire army became too careful, it would make the morale even worse.
Rather than that, why not sacrifice something in exchange for a sweeter victory to raise the morale?
As expected from the Asura. Not only was he vicious toward his enemies, but he also showed no heart while he led the Dragon Legion Corps. For victory, he did not mind sacrificing everything. He would not even blink.
This time, Swordsman City was caught totally off guard.
Since he had already used the plan, it was impossible for Wei Yan to set up any more traps. Pretty much every battle was a head to head one, especially the left vanguard led by Lai Hu’er, who went all out.
Such relentless assaults sent chills down the spines of the defending troops. As they got near the recent pass, the troops only defended for half an hour before surrendering.
When Wei Yan got the news, he was furious. Feng Qingyang even penned an emergency letter to scold Wei Yan. The victory before could not make any of them feel proud, only respect.
Not only was the Swordsman City Army afraid, but even the cities occupied by Great Xia became really quiet. No one dared to play with their lives.
With that, the grain transport paths were really smooth, and they easily supported the frontline battles.
Baiqi’s counterattack looked simple, but it struck right at their weakness.
“As expected from a God General!”
…
9th month, 30th day, Meishan Pass.
Meishan Pass was the only pass linking the south side of the Shu Lands to Swordsman City, and it was the second biggest Pass in Jiangyang Prefecture. The biggest pass was located north of Swordsman City, and it was linked to Chengdu Prefecture.
The Zhao Yun led 150 thousand guards had arrived in Swordsman City a few days back and were camping outside the city. At the same time, the remaining 1st and 2nd legion troops of Swordsman City had retreated back to the city.
Battling till today, only 50 thousand of the original 140 thousand men from the two legions managed to return with the rest either captured or killed.
Before the final battle, Swordsman City had already lost more than half of their troops.
That morning, after paying a price of 30 thousand men, the Great Xia right and left vanguards finally gathered before Meishan Pass. The left and right defending troops would arrive soon.
At this point, apart from Swordsman City, the entire Jiangyang Prefecture was taken down by Great Xia.
The true battle was about to start. Swordsman City was naturally going to become the focal point of the entire wilderness.
…
Dali Prefecture, Yun City.
Within the City Lord’s Manor, a few mysterious people had gathered together.
A day ago, an Alliance Army made of 50 thousand territory troops, 50 thousand Dali imperial city guards, and 100 thousand Xiao Alliance players had sneakily gathered in Yun City.
As for how to fight this battle, it was still to be decided.
Out of the few of them, there was Little Mutuo, Dali General leading the guards, and Xiao Nianying, the leader of Xiao Alliance. The last person was the most special; he was the Handan City General Wang Meng.
Wang Meng represented the Yanhuang Alliance to come over to Yun City, and he was in charge of commanding this battle.
As a local snake, Yun City Lord Little Mutuo introduced, “Setting out from here, if we go north, we can attack Dongchuan Prefecture; if we go east, we can strike Kunming Prefecture; if we go south, we can attack Tengyue Prefecture, which should we choose?”
Little Mutuo turned his eyes to face Wang Meng.
Wang Meng was as his name suggested; he was a top grade brute who was all rounded. No one here had any objections to him leading this battle.
“Dongchuan Prefecture.”
Wang Meng did not even hesitate, and he directly gave his answer.
Little Mutuo smiled, “Can you explain to us why?”
Wang Meng did not act arrogant, and he smiled as he explained, “Tengyue Prefecture is so secluded and attacking it is useless. Kunming Prefecture has Consonance City, which has a teleportation formation. So we can only attack Dongchuan Prefecture.”
When Little Mutuo and the others heard that, they nodded in agreement.
“Then what’s our purpose in attacking Dongchuan Prefecture?”
Little Mutuo did not believe that Wang Meng was attacking Dongchuan Prefecture just because of a process of elimination.
Wang Meng said, “Baiqi is in Dongchuan Prefecture. We want to capture him alive!”
“What a good idea!” Little Mutuo smiled.
Baiqi’s name had spread far and wide through the wilderness and capturing him alive would be a huge glory.
Wang Meng continued, “Of course, that’s just a secondary goal. Taking down Dongchuan Prefecture would mean cutting off the connection between Great Xia and the Shu Lands. Then the 300 thousand troops there would have no backup and would be pincered in by us.”
Little Mutuo was amazed, “So vicious!”
At this point, the true goal of the Yanhuang Alliance was finally revealed.
Just as Wang Meng had said, they wanted to wipe out the Tiger Legion Corps in this battle, removing one arm of the Great Xia Army. If the managed to do so, it would leave the huge Great Xia territory shorthanded.
Little Mutuo was sure that the Yanhuang Alliance would make the surrounding enemies attack Great Xia at that time.
When that time arrived, Great Xia would really be eaten by wolves.
Thinking about it, he could not help feel some excitement in his heart.
Little Mutuo, who was part of the Yunnan City-State, did not have any good impression toward Great Xia and Ouyang Shuo. He hated them to the core.
If they could really crush Great Xia, Little Mutuo would be the first to take the lead.
‘Paipai~~’
Little Mutuo could not help but clap, and he smiled, “General Wang is truly smart, I agree.”
“I agree!”
The few of them could not help but feel excited. After all, they were all enemies of the Great Xia.
When Wang Meng saw that, he smiled, “Okay then that’s settled!”
With the meeting ended, the 200 thousand troops travelled at night toward the border with Dongchuan Prefecture.
…
Dongchuan Prefecture, Yongren City.
To Great Xia, Yongren City was a special place. During the Battle of Yunnan, the Guards Legion Corps led by Huo Qubing had suffered their first defeat here.
As it was located at the border and further north was Steel City, Baiqi set the command center here for this invasion of the Shu Lands.
Apart from the command center, the logistical core was also here. Large amounts of grain and resources were transported from Yunnan Province to Yongren City and subsequently into the Shu Lands.
Night, a quiet mansion west of the city.
Just as Wang Meng and the others were having their secret meaning, Baiqi, who was being plotted against, was here meeting the newly appointed 4th Legion General of the Guards Legion Corps.
“Wuwei General, how are your troops?”
Baiqi sat on the lead chair; his face was really solemn.
This was Baiqi. When he was in the military, he showed no emotions.
During this period of time, the Great Xia’s four provinces were busy with the disarmament of the garrison legions, so there were often many such soldiers on the roads.
There was a stark contrast between the tense frontlines and the leisurely backlines.
Using this chaotic scene as a cover, the 70 thousand elites that were chosen from the three legion corps mixed with the garrison forces and gathered toward Dongchuan Prefecture.
Seeing Baiqi ask, Er’Lai cupped his fists, “Commander, my forces have gathered in Dongchuan Prefecture. To not raise suspicion, they are scattered around the cities. Please advise me on what I should do next.”
Baiqi nodded his head in satisfaction, “Good. Ask your troops to quietly gather in Yongren City. Hide in the woods outside of the city. Remember, they must be unnoticed.”
Er’Lai was stunned and wanted to ask for the reason. However, thinking back to the king’s words to listen to Baiqi, he gave a clean military bow, “Yes commander!”
Baiqi nodded in satisfaction once more.