In the coldest season of the year, over ten days of continuous clear weather couldn’t melt the accumulated snow, but under over ten days of strong, dry northern winds, the snow covering the earth had all transformed into dry snow that didn’t easily melt. Compared to the wet snow that earlier turned into muddy water when stepped on, this provided somewhat more convenient conditions for marching and attacking, with negative impacts greatly reduced.
By this time, besides assembling nearly eighteen thousand elite troops and requisitioning over ten thousand able-bodied civilian laborers from various counties, Xu Mingzhen had also arduously transported large quantities of combat supplies from Huo, Shou and other places.
Of course, besides Xu Mingzhen personally organizing craftsmen in Gaocheng to urgently manufacture a batch of shield carts, flanking carts and other siege equipment, Military Governor Xu of Xuzhou, Han Yuanqi, also transported a batch of urgently needed excellent equipment like crossbows and scorpion catapults from Sizhou along the Huai River.
Thick snow on the ice layer also made travel difficult, but at least it was somewhat easier than post roads with accumulated snow.
Seeing Tangyi forces frequently active in Huaiyang Mountains, unable to wait for circumstances to become more mature, Xu Mingzhen impatiently advanced troops toward Yongfeng Fort.
After organizing several counterattacks and interceptions, seeing the Shouzhou forces’ intent to surround and press forward was extraordinarily resolute, on the seventh day of the first month, Tian Cheng simply and decisively abandoned Yongfeng Fort. Together with Han Donghu, Su Lie and other commanders, he led over two thousand elite troops withdrawing to the Wujin Ridge valley on the upper South Fei River (Shenjiaji) to rendezvous with Han Qian and the others.
Never mind that large numbers of elite troops had already dispersed into Huaiyang Mountains—even if all the previous seven thousand-plus elite soldiers remained at Yongfeng Fort, once completely surrounded by the numerically superior Shouzhou forces, they would have absolutely no chance of victory.
The advantage of interior line operations allowed the Shouzhou forces to subsequently continue endlessly mobilizing more troops and supplies. This wasn’t something Tangyi forces could fully counter with just some excellent siege equipment.
And in fact, the siege equipment manufactured in Xuzhou hadn’t fundamentally improved. No matter how sharp the crossbows and scorpion catapults made in Xuzhou, the Shouzhou forces could not only imitate them but also manufacture more and heavier shield carts and flanking carts to block and weaken them.
The Shouzhou forces had previously rushed to rescue Yongfeng Fort with light forces, falling into their trap and losing a portion of precious elite troops.
And Yongfeng Fort’s protective walls were thin with limited depth inside the fort. Once the Shouzhou forces set up whirlwind catapults, besides breaking out, so many troops remaining to defend the fort would absolutely have no way to survive.
Shenjiaji was located inside the valley pass where the South Fei River passed through Wujin Ridge. The terrain at the outermost part of the valley was quite treacherous. When Shouzhou forces attacked from the north, on one hand their superior numbers couldn’t deploy, and on the other hand they didn’t worry about their retreat being cut off.
Therefore, in Han Qian’s initial plan, the strategic point for blocking Shouzhou forces outside Huaiyang Mountains had always been the Wujin Ridge valley where Shenjiaji was located, not Yongfeng Fort.
Initially choosing Yongfeng Fort as the target for “coordinated multi-route strike” was to deceive Shouzhou officials, implementing a strategy of besieging a point to strike reinforcements. Only by first severely blunting the Shouzhou forces’ edge early on could they gain more time for subsequent advances into Huaiyang Mountains.
Now the intent behind Han Qian launching this surprise assault operation had been thoroughly penetrated. Even without the imperial edict transmitted from distant Weizhou by Zhu Yu, Xu Mingzhen’s heart was very clear—if he still thought about conserving troops and couldn’t annihilate or expel this Tangyi force at any cost, never mind that Chaozhou and Chuzhou would be lost, Shouzhou, Huo, Guang and other prefectures would also be directly exposed to the Tangyi forces’ spearhead, with no more peaceful days.
They had already been delayed over twenty days by heavy snow and couldn’t delay further. At least they couldn’t let the battle drag past April or May. By then, Huaiyang Mountains would have abundant rainfall, stream and river water levels would surge—even without considering Tangyi naval warships arriving, they would find it very difficult to attack into the mountains from downstream.
The valley mouth where the South Fei River emerged from Wujin Ridge, including the river channel and riverbeds within, was about three li wide. The riverbeds were relatively stable and open, favorable for deploying troops. But at this time, from the steep mountain slopes on both flanks straight to the river channel, everything was densely filled with tall palisade walls.
Behind the palisade walls, every thirty to fifty paces stood a tall watchtower, mounting crossbows, scorpion catapults and other siege equipment. Plus over twenty whirlwind catapults placed directly behind the palisade walls.
The catapult frames were blocked by the palisade walls, but the long catapult arms extended high above.
Shenjiaji was originally a medium-sized village fort built along mountain slopes and valleys on the east side of the valley. Xu Mingzhen, Wen Ruilin and others, surrounded by guards and risking Tangyi forces sallying out to intercept, now climbed a low ridge to the north. Looking past the palisade walls, they could see dense masses of pitched tents and newly built structures on both sides of the valley south of the palisade walls.
These barracks were also divided into different zones by palisade wall after palisade wall.
Besides the valley directly ahead, at the relatively easy-to-climb gaps on the ridges of both flanks, they could all see defensive works constructed by Tangyi forces and soldiers’ silhouettes.
A hasty assault definitely wouldn’t work—there was simply no space for their superior forces to deploy an offensive, much less using heavy siege equipment to counter heavy siege equipment.
Xu Mingzhen first had several hundred elite troops don armor and weapons to storm Meitang Mountain—a low ridge northeast of Shenjiaji—establishing a forward position on Meitang Mountain’s west side to first contain the possibility of Tangyi forces sallying out from Shenjiaji on a large scale.
Xu Mingzhen subsequently transferred up the over ten thousand able-bodied civilian laborers requisitioned from counties in southern Shou and eastern Huo to fell trees and build larger-scale camps on the relatively open riverbeds west of Meitang Mountain. Braving the severe cold weather, they widened the passage between Yongfeng Fort and Xujiaji to transport more troops and siege equipment and manufacture whirlwind catapults and other heavy siege equipment.
This time Xu Mingzhen was determined to fight a war of attrition regardless of casualties until this Tangyi force before him was annihilated or forced to withdraw from Huaiyang Mountains unable to sustain themselves.
Besides holding their footing on Meitang Mountain’s western foothills and building camps to prepare for subsequent large-scale frontal attacks on Shenjiaji from the valley, Xu Mingzhen also continuously dispatched small elite forces to directly launch attacks from the relatively easy-to-climb gaps on both flanks of the valley.
Warfare suddenly became cruel. Just the continuous probing infiltrations and attacks launched from both flanks—in ten days Tangyi casualties accumulated to over five hundred men.
Of course, some of these casualties were from Tangyi forces attempting to sally out frontally from Shenjiaji to harass and delay the Shouzhou forces constructing camps at Meitang Mountain’s base, with both sides conducting seesaw combat in the valley.
Although Shouzhou casualties were greater, in Huaiyang Mountains’ northeastern slopes, the troops and supplies Shouzhou forces could mobilize could be said to be over ten times that of Tangyi forces.
Xu Mingzhen was clearly willing to pay a casualty cost of two to three times in exchange for this battle that Shouzhou absolutely could not afford to lose.
As long as they were human, all had the instinct to seek life and fear death.
As seesaw combat in the northern valley grew increasingly intense, enthusiasm for opening granaries to distribute grain and allocate land to mobilize bottom-level poor people and slaves in the southern strongholds hadn’t diminished much and could still proceed normally overall, but able-bodied men enlisting rapidly decreased.
Previously Han Qian had assembled five thousand cavalry and infantry soldiers in eight battalions near Shenjiaji, plus separately organized two thousand auxiliary troops in three battalions. Over four thousand of these troops had been recruited over the past twenty days, averaging over two hundred enlisting daily. But since Shouzhou forces pressed close to Wujin Ridge, those enlisting daily numbered only thirty to fifty.
On the twenty-second of the first month, with the riverbed camp at Meitang Mountain’s base nearly complete, over twenty thousand Shouzhou main force troops all moved in from the perimeter. The frontal attack on Shenjiaji’s defensive fortifications finally launched.
Cumbersome shield carts, siege rams, and flanking carts were pushed out from behind camps surrounded by soldiers, forming up at closer distances to Shenjiaji’s fortifications. Teams of civilian laborers were driven forward. Under cover of mobile shelters, braving stone projectiles hurled from behind Tangyi palisade walls, they excavated trenches in the frozen ground. Separately manufactured whirlwind catapult components were transported to forward positions for assembly, bombarding the opposite palisade walls.
Mobile shelters, simply put, were thick wooden house frames placed on wheels and pushed to forward positions.
Soldiers could hide within to avoid arrow fire and scattered stone projectile bombardment. Civilian laborers could also directly hide under mobile shelters while constructing works.
Of course, stone projectiles weighing over a hundred jin, bombarded from four to five hundred paces away by heavy whirlwind catapults, would scatter mobile shelters with a single strike.
However, in early confrontations, both sides concentrated forces as much as possible to bombard each other’s whirlwind catapults to gain greater advantage on the battlefield.
Tangyi forces placed whirlwind catapults behind palisade walls with wall protection and concealment, undoubtedly holding greater advantage. But when Shouzhou forces fought a war of attrition regardless of casualties, particularly when completely treating requisitioned able-bodied civilian laborers as expendables pushed to forward positions, the entire war became exceptionally cruel and bloody for Tangyi forces…
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In past years, by late first month in Jinling City, the weather would already warm considerably. But last night northern winds howled all night. At dawn, looking at the gloomy firmament, there seemed to be signs of more snow coming.
Several snowfalls had already fallen around New Year. In the early spring season of late first month, the river ice surprisingly showed no signs of melting. The cold made people wish they could wear all their household’s clothing. Now seeing the sky again looking like snow would fall—truly hellish.
After attending the grand wedding where both newlyweds were absent, Old Master Han Wenhuan ultimately didn’t remain in Liyang but returned to Jinling City with Han Daoming, Han Daochang and other Han family descendants.
Han Qian led Tangyi elite forces to directly infiltrate deep into Huaiyang Mountains, intending to seize this rare opportunity to fundamentally reverse the confrontation situation in Huaixi.
At this time, what the Han family most needed to do in Jinling, or rather could do, first was to use all influence to urge Jingxiang, Huaidong, and Li Zhigao personally stationed at Shuzhou with the Left Dragon Sparrow Army to launch counteroffensives against Liang forces and Shouzhou forces on their respective defense lines.
Only this way could they tie down more enemy forces, effectively relieve pressure borne by Tangyi forces, and ultimately succeed in establishing footing in Huaiyang Mountains’ interior.
The second was to guard against people in court secretly pulling the rug out from under them.
Since Yang Yuanpu’s enthronement, besides the enthronement ceremony and two empress investiture ceremonies, Han Wenhuan had never attended court or participated in court discussions. This time returning to Jinling from Liyang, for over a month, regardless of how weak his body, he had Han Daoming support him to attend every court discussion large or small convened by Emperor Yanyou and the Empress Dowager.
Even though Han Wenhuan had no proper official position—considered retired at home recuperating—after his enfeoffment as marquis he was additionally granted the Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince title. Simultaneously, he was also grandfather of Marquis of Qianyang and Campaign Headquarters Commander-General Han Qian, father of Vice Minister of Revenue and Vice Administrator Counselor Han Daoming. If he insisted on supporting his aged frame to attend court discussions to contribute his final drop of heart’s blood to Great Chu’s state, whether Emperor Yanyou, the Empress Dowager, or Political Affairs Hall ministers including Shen Yang could not openly obstruct him.
Not only could they not refuse, they had to grant him a seat at court discussions, enjoying treatment equal to Prince Shou Yang Zhitang and Chief Minister Shen Yang—only then would Emperor Yanyou and the Empress Dowager properly treat a meritorious important minister.
Han Wenhuan didn’t speak much when attending court discussions, but as long as he was present, relying on seniority to intimidate was also an invisible deterrent.
At least Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Zhang Chao, Du Chongtao, Zhou Bingwu and others wouldn’t think about having any fierce disputes in court with an old man nearing eighty who looked like he might excitedly drop dead at any moment yet had the entire Han family plus Xuzhou and Tangyi supporting him behind.
Han Wenhuan representing the Han family and Han Daoming representing the Han family standing in court—the subtle influence on people’s hearts was completely different.
Besides this, Han Wenhuan also ran to Prince Shou’s mansion every few days to drink tea with Yang Zhitang.
Yang Zhitang was currently the most important figure among the imperial clan, but by seniority was merely a distant cousin of Emperor Yanyou and Prince Xin. He might not need excessive courtesy before Han Daoming, but before Han Wenhuan could only regard himself as a junior.
Han Wenhuan’s actions at least guaranteed that over the past month-plus in Jinling City, no decrees obviously unfavorable to Tangyi or restraining Tangyi were issued. He also ensured the alliance between Prince Shou’s mansion and Tangyi showed no cracks at this critical juncture. Although the Huaidong and Huaixi Imperial Guards against Liang forces in Zhongli and Sizhou and against Shouzhou forces west of Chao Lake didn’t launch more aggressive offensives, they also didn’t deliberately contract troops at this critical juncture.
However, now at the end of the first month with weather still frigid, it truly caused worry.
Rising early, Han Wenhuan stood in the courtyard looking up. Seeing Han Chengmeng walking in from behind, he said: “In past years at this time, even if ice on streams and rivers hadn’t melted, it would thin considerably—every household would grab naughty children’s ears warning them not to run onto river ice. This year, spring might truly arrive ten days to half a month later than usual…”
To ensure the Huaidong side wouldn’t maliciously contract forces from defense lines at this critical juncture, these two shipments of funds and grain to Huaidong were both personally overseen by Han Chengmeng.
He had just returned from Yangzhou yesterday. Hearing his grandfather’s lament, he also knew what he worried about.
According to past years’ conditions, even if river ice hadn’t completely melted now, as long as it thinned somewhat, it would allow Tangyi naval warships to break through river ice and directly enter upstream waterways west and north of Chao Lake. The situation would become favorable for Tangyi.
Although before the summer-autumn rainy season arrived, upstream waterways of streams like Longtan River had very shallow water levels making it difficult for Tangyi naval warships to directly establish contact with Tangyi forces entering Huaiyang Mountains’ interior, Tangyi infantry-naval coordinated combat capability was extremely strong. Even just entering the lower reaches of these rivers to conduct pincer attacks along riverbanks could force Shouzhou forces to commit more troops to blockade and cut off these waterways.
This would tremendously relieve pressure borne by surprise attack forces in Huaiyang Mountains.
This was also a factor considered when initially formulating the operational plan.
However, this year’s early spring temperatures were far colder than past years—meaning unexpected factors had appeared.
With Han Qian leading isolated troops deep into enemy territory for combat, what he most feared was unexpected factors appearing.
Currently, Xu Mingzhen had not only assembled over thirty thousand elite troops in Gaocheng territory, but also ordered Wen Bo to abandon defensive forts outside Chuzhou City, having him assemble more troops to transfer toward Chuzhou’s western flank.
Xu Mingzhen issuing such orders clearly intended to further use Chaozhou City as core, strengthening defensive blockade of regions east of Huaiyang Mountains, then enabling him to use superior forces on Huaiyang Mountains’ northern face to exhaust the Tangyi surprise attack forces.
“Fortunately court ministers still recognize the big picture. The Huaidong side also hasn’t dragged its feet,” Han Chengmeng said with emotion.
“How would they recognize the big picture? They merely dare not imagine the defeated situation after Han Qian suffers military defeat in Huaiyang Mountains,” Han Wenhuan said, stroking his snow-white long beard.
“If only we could persuade Marquis of Xinjin Li Zhigao and Zhou Shu to send troops from Shuzhou and Suizhou,” Han Chengmeng said.
“It’s not that simple. Unless we agree to their conditions…” Han Daoming walked in from outside the courtyard at this moment, picking up his son Han Chengmeng’s thread and speaking.
“What conditions did they propose?” Hearing his father say this, Han Chengmeng naturally realized Wanhong Tower had likely passed a message to his father. He asked urgently.
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…
“Although Tangyi forces fight extremely tenaciously in defensive battles at Wujin Ridge valley, after Shouzhou forces launched large-scale frontal attacks from the valley, in just twelve to thirteen days accumulated casualties have already exceeded two thousand. If calculated from when they infiltrated north from the Fucha Mountains line, Tangyi cumulative casualties won’t be lower than three thousand five to six hundred—even though Han Qian mobilized lowly people to enlist in Huaiyang Mountains, compared to Tangyi surprise attack forces deployed from Chuzhou and Fucha Mountains, these casualties are already not low. Although Shouzhou casualties are more grievous, the Shouzhou forces mobilize numerous troops in interior lines, taking turns entering battle, and can promptly withdraw wounded and sick soldiers to the rear, so front-line soldiers’ morale hasn’t been much affected. Currently over thirty thousand troops assembled at Wujin Ridge’s northern foothills grow stronger with each battle. In my view, if such severe cold weather persists another ten days to half month, no matter how elite Tangyi forces are, no matter how strong their tenacity, after accumulating another two to three thousand casualties, they couldn’t possibly continue supporting themselves…”
Below Cishou Palace’s great hall, candlelight flickered and swayed. Who knew from which gap in the hall a breeze snuck through. Since Yao Xishui and her people had infiltrators from Weaving Bureau continually transmitting latest intelligence gathered while lurking in Huaiyang Mountains’ northeastern foothills, she now was very pessimistic about the ultimate outcome of Han Qian leading Tangyi elite forces in infiltrating surprise attack into Huaiyang Mountains.
Of course, this time she rarely gloated over others’ misfortunes.
“Today’s cold snap after spring is truly cold. Going outside still freezes hands and feet. Palace ponds are frozen solid, much less streams and rivers north of the Yangtze,” Spring Thirteenth Lady said with delicate brows slightly furrowed. “Marquis of Qianyang Han Qian should have misjudged this year’s weather changes. If this cursed weather could warm as scheduled like past years, not only could Tangyi naval forces leverage advantages west of Chao Lake to attract enemy forces, but after South Fei River ice thawed, even before rainy season arrived when water势 potential wouldn’t be great, it would still tremendously suppress Shouzhou forces’ attacks launched from downstream…”
“You worry about heaven and earth here. Could it be that Han Qian suffering losses in Huaiyang Mountains this time, even having the most elite portion of Tangyi forces annihilated by Xu Mingzhen, isn’t precisely what you all anticipate?” Wang Chan’er reclined lazily on the magnificent phoenix couch, beautiful eyes glancing sideways at Lu Qingxia, Yao Xishui and others sitting opposite, asking languidly.
“You also know we bear the hatred of family destruction and national extinction. We’re not trying to make things difficult for you or oppose His Majesty, nor do we want harm to Great Chu. In fact, we more than anyone don’t want to see Great Chu’s state destroyed at Liang forces’ hands.”
Lu Qingxia looked over neither pleased nor annoyed, speaking.
Wang Chan’er smiled disdainfully, saying: “Using these words to comfort me now is useless. Better think about how to respond after Tangyi surprise attack forces are annihilated by Xu Mingzhen…”
“Marquis of Qianyang acting rashly this time—suffering setbacks may be unavoidable. But his elite forces were accustomed to mountain combat when in Xuzhou. Escorting him back to Tangyi shouldn’t be a major problem. Even so, Tangyi forces will suffer severe damage this time,” Lu Qingxia said. “Regardless of how court ministers previously suspected Marquis of Qianyang, at this time they dare not imagine the situation of Marquis of Qianyang suffering military defeat and death. Therefore, the Empress Dowager now sends Zhigao to Suizhou as Commander-General of All Military Affairs in Ying, Sui, Deng, Xiang and Jun prefectures, commanding the Left Martial Guard Army and five prefectures’ forces to exit the three northern Jing passes and strike into western Huozhou to tie down Shouzhou main forces for Marquis of Qianyang. I believe court ministers won’t oppose…”
After Emperor Tianyou’s later period, he deliberately limited commanding generals’ military authority. Besides granting Defense Commissioner, Campaign Headquarters Commander-General and other powers to control local authority, he no longer established the Military Governor position with even greater local control.
This was also a precedent Emperor Yanyou had inherited from the previous emperor since his enthronement.
Even if Lu Qingxia secretly reached a defense zone exchange deal with the Zheng clan, it still couldn’t easily enable Li Zhigao to fully control military and civil affairs of the five northern Xiang prefectures with a Military Governor’s authority.
However, currently having Li Zhigao lead forces from the gap between Tongbai Mountains and Huaiyang Mountains to strike into western Huozhou, tying down more Shouzhou forces for Tangyi forces trapped in Huaiyang Mountains—although timing seemed somewhat too late, for them it was an excellent opportunity for Li Zhigao to directly control local military authority of the five northern Xiang prefectures as Commander-General of All Military Affairs.
“This Empress Dowager’s words carry little weight. Even if strongly recommending Marquis of Xinjin, His Majesty and court ministers won’t listen to this Empress Dowager,” Wang Chan’er said languidly.
Court ministers weren’t fools. Han Qian in Huaiyang Mountains might not last half a month. Issuing an edict now appointing Li Zhigao as Commander-General of All Military Affairs for the five northern Xiang prefectures—it would take at least a month before possibly assembling prefectural forces from the five northern Xiang prefectures to Yingshan County and Lishan County, then exiting Jiuli Pass, Pingjing Pass, and Wusheng Pass to strike into western Huozhou. When would that be?
If merely transferring the Left Martial Guard Army to first strike into western Huozhou, having Commander-General Zhou Shu lead them would suffice. Why would Li Zhigao need to be Commander-General of All Military Affairs for the five northern Xiang prefectures?
Logically speaking, with Li Zhigao in Shuzhou leading the Left Dragon Sparrow Army to directly depart from the Lujiang defense line striking toward western Chao Lake region would more effectively tie down Shouzhou forces for Tangyi.
Of course, Wang Chan’er could also guess that Lu Qingxia might have used this as a condition for sending troops, secretly negotiating a deal with the Han family. But why should she Wang Chan’er wade into these muddy waters?
Could it be she truly was an obedient puppet manipulated in all matters by them?
“After Empress Li was demoted to Mingyang Palace, the palace halls were damp and moldy. Many red rashes appeared on her skin. Worried about infecting the Second Prince, the Empress Dowager previously specially ordered the Second Prince handed over to newly entered palace Noble Consort Zhao for care,” Lu Qingxia said. “Truthfully, for an infant just learning to babble, not yet able to walk—features grown properly—even if suddenly one or two more birthmarks appeared on his body, after Empress Li’s demotion with her mind confused and disordered, she likely couldn’t distinguish, right?”
“What do you mean by these words?” Wang Chan’er suddenly stood straight, beautiful eyes like cold knives staring at Lu Qingxia demanding.
“I’m saying the Second Prince cared for by Noble Consort Zhao—for some reason a red mole the size of an incense head grew on his left inner thigh. I think Empress Li likely wouldn’t care about this matter,” Lu Qingxia said.
“Bring the Second Prince here for this Empress Dowager to personally raise. Everything else this Empress Dowager can agree to,” Wang Chan’er said, her hand pressing the phoenix couch armrest trembling slightly as she stared into Lu Qingxia’s eyes.
“That also requires the Empress Dowager issuing an edict before we can obey,” Lu Qingxia said, bowing slightly.