Jinting Han people

Chapter 745 Galloping Under Zhongshan Mountain

It was around 9:00 AM. The warm and bright sunlight shone down from the sky, illuminating the mountains and waters of Jianye. The Xuanwu Lake shimmered, the grasses at the foot of Fuzhou Mountain were covered with creeping vines, the pines and cypresses on the west bank were like clouds, and the scorched trees on the east bank stood tall. Although the scenery was different, what they had in common was the endless blue banners of the Qi people. They fluttered in the wind among the mountains, like layers of clouds covering the sky.

In comparison, the thousand or so Han soldiers who abandoned ship and went ashore were so insignificant. They all carried long spears on their backs, with small red flags with cloud patterns and Chinese characters tied to the tips, but when gathered together, they looked like a clump of thorns in a low-lying area.

In the eyes of the Qi people, the Han army's surprise attack was completely incomprehensible. Because right there on the shallow beach where they landed, in front of them was the Qi army's main camp at Zhongshan, behind them was the Qi navy at Xuanwu Lake, and to their left and right were also camps that the Qi people had occupied for a long time. This was a suicide mission.

Under the watchful eyes of countless Qi people, the Han soldiers who had just landed began to take a break. They first led all the horses from the boats ashore, and then, while stuffing their mouths with dry rations to replenish their strength, they quickly gathered their water bottles, quivers, spears, swords, and longbows, and under the command of their officers, they formed ranks on the riverbank.

Liu Lang wore a black iron helmet with tiger's mouth tattooed on it and a red tassel. He was clad in bright, crimson armor and rode a fully armed, chestnut-red Liangzhou horse named Chilongji, the most prized horse in his wife Zhang Shouxin's dowry. Standing before the crowd, holding a long spear, Liu Lang's heroic bearing was like a blazing fire, inspiring admiration in all who beheld him.

He clicked his tongue as he surveyed the surrounding terrain for a moment, then turned to Dai Yuan, Huo Biao, Qiao Deng, and the others, saying, "What a magnificent place! Gentlemen, this is truly a stage for heroes to display their talents!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers immediately raised their heads to assess the enemy's forces. They saw banners fluttering in the distant mountains, and a large number of soldiers moving about on the hilltops and in their camps. Many were clad in gleaming armor, their spears pointed. It was clear to anyone with eyes that a bloody battle was likely inevitable. Thinking of this, even those present, mostly seasoned veterans, felt their breathing quicken and their hearts tighten.

Among them, Dai Yuan, as the commander-in-chief, faced the greatest pressure. His seniority in the Han army was relatively low; he was entrusted with this important task solely because of his familiarity with the terrain and his close relationship with Zhou Qi. Naturally, he found it difficult to calmly face such a formidable enemy situation. In particular, the fact that the eldest prince was also accompanying him on this mission meant that it had to succeed, not fail.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at the generals around him, only to find to his surprise that their expressions were not like that at all. Huo Biao, the Protector of the Western Qiang, was resolute and solemn; Qiao Deng, the newly appointed Commandant of Huainan, was dignified and imposing; Lu Rong, the General of Jiangzhou, was deep and silent; and Yuan Sui, the Yi of Tianmen, exuded murderous intent. They all seemed like fierce tigers waiting to be unleashed, displaying an attitude of fearlessness in battle.

But the most unique of them all was the eldest son of the emperor, Liu Lang, the Prince of Longxi. He looked relaxed and at ease, as if he were in a courtyard. Looking at the Qi people, who were as fierce as lions in a forest, he seemed to be observing the wind and listening to the waves, with a sense of eager anticipation.

This isn't hard to understand. For a young person, battle and death aren't terrifying, or even things to ponder. Like a sapling growing vigorously in spring, whether broken by a fierce wind or scorched by the blazing sun, its growth won't stagnate before it blossoms and bears fruit. The same is true for a young person. Precisely because they are young and have nothing, they desperately need to unleash their inner impulses and prove to the world that they were here. The more dangerous the difficulties before them, the more they stimulate a young person's vitality and competitiveness.

Liu Lang then addressed the crowd: "When I read the Records of the Grand Historian, I was always amazed and filled with admiration when I read about Xiang Yu's decisive victory at Julu after crossing the river, his seven consecutive victories, and his unwavering advance. How similar is today's situation to that of Xiang Yu! Gentlemen, as men of seven feet tall, we should strive for unparalleled achievements. If we do not turn the world upside down and tarnish the land, how can the Han Dynasty be restored?! How will posterity know our names?!"

"Such a magnificent land is perfect for galloping and fighting. We are deep in enemy territory, and if we advance, we will achieve unparalleled feats; if we retreat, we will die without a burial place. Although I am a prince, I do not wish to lag behind you all. I am willing to be your vanguard. Do you dare to fight alongside me?"

Liu Lang's voice was not yet fully mature; it possessed both the deepness of an adult and the naiveté of a youth. But it was precisely this sincere naiveté that ignited the passion in the hearts of the soldiers. It should be known that the soldiers present had all served in the army for many years, some even veterans of the Shanggu Camp who had fought alongside the emperor during the Qi Wannian Rebellion; they would never allow themselves to fall behind.

Huo Biao immediately smiled at Liu Lang and said, "Please rest assured, Your Highness. Since we have been ordered to come here with Your Highness, we have never thought about the possibility of defeat."

Qiao Deng calmly replied, "Your Highness, judging from the Qi army's formation, they are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs. Why should we worry about them?"

Lu Rong's blood boiled with fervor. He brandished his lance and shouted, "Your Highness, among millions of people, to risk our lives to defeat the powerful enemy is what we all desire!"

Seeing the eldest prince and the other generals so excited, the other soldiers were naturally infected by their emotions. They followed Lu Rong, raised their spears, and shouted to Liu Lang in unison, "Kill the traitors! Kill the traitors! Kill the traitors!"

Dai Yuan, standing amidst this scene, was deeply shaken. As a native of Wu, this wasn't his first time leading troops into battle, but he had never imagined that, given such a vast disparity in troop strength, the army could maintain such high morale—it was utterly unbelievable. But then he thought, the people of Wu had indeed experienced similar moments. Wasn't it the same situation when Zhou Yu faced Cao Cao's 280,000-strong army at the Battle of Red Cliffs? And what a display of heroism Ding Feng displayed at the Battle of Dongguan, leading 3,000 men to a decisive victory against Zhuge Dan's 100,000-strong army in the snow!

With this thought in mind, Dai Yuan's fear gradually subsided, while his heroic spirit surged, bringing a smile to his face. He instructed Liu Lang, "Your Highness, please don't be too presumptuous. You are not familiar with the terrain, so you should follow my instructions."

"Alright, please show me the way, Commander Dai!"

Once everything was ready, the Han army at the rear immediately threw torches into the moored ships. Within a very short time, over sixty moored ships were ablaze. Before the fire ships at the mouth of Xuanwu Lake had completely died down, a terrifying wall of fire formed beneath Fuzhou Mountain. Flames and smoke billowed upwards, reaching the sky, igniting a surge of fighting spirit and heroism in the heavily arrayed Han cavalry. With a horn signal, Liu Lang charged ahead, heading straight for Fenglu Pavilion in the southeast corner.

This place was originally the camp of Qi general Gao Liang, but because he led his navy to support Baishibei, the camp was left empty, with only a thousand or so old and weak people left to guard it. And this place happens to be the connection between Yanque Lake and Zhongshan Mountain. Once the Han army passes through this place, it can quickly break away from the Qi camp and head towards Jianyetai City.

At this moment, the general guarding Fenglu Pavilion was Gao Shen, a general of the Qi state known as Guangwu Zhonglang. Seeing the Han army charging towards him with unstoppable momentum, he immediately tried to gather his soldiers to defend the camp gates. However, the battle had begun too quickly and caught him off guard. Furthermore, his soldiers were scattered throughout the various parts of the camp, and he could only muster about two hundred men in a short time. Although the main Qi army camp was behind him, their mobilization would also take time. Faced with this situation, Gao Shen had no choice but to grit his teeth and confront the onrushing Han army.

He ordered his soldiers to form ranks and unleash a hail of arrows at the camp gate. A volley of arrows rained down upon the Han army, but to little avail. To the fully armed Han troops, it was like a gust of wind, failing to even pierce their armor. Meanwhile, Liu Lang, in the vanguard of the Han army, spotted Gao Shen, dressed differently and riding a large horse. Without slowing his horse, he swiftly drew his longbow, pulled out a white-feathered armor-piercing arrow, and fired it casually while still at full speed. The arrow seemed to have eyes, flashing past within a hundred paces.

Gao Shen only saw a dark shadow appear amidst the sound of horses' hooves, completely unaware of what had happened. He was about to continue directing the second wave of arrows when, just as he was about to speak, a sharp pain spread from his throat. The Qi soldiers around him stared at him with terrified eyes, as if he were a dead man. With his last strength, Gao Shen touched the arrow shaft in his throat. A sense of relief welled up within him. In his final moments before death, only one thought occupied his mind—such a fast arrow!

Such a divine arrow instantly killed the highest commander of the Qi people present, while the Han army's horses did not stop at all. Faced with the rolling iron-clad beasts in front of them, the Qi soldiers felt a sense of powerlessness and could not resist. They instinctively scattered and fled, leaving Gao Shen's body and the camp gate to the charging Han army.

This allowed the Han army to pass through the Fengluting Pass almost without any delay, and continue southward like a whirlwind.

Next to appear before Liu Lang and his party was the Qi army's Zhongshan camp. Because Zhongshan's terrain is rugged on the east, west, and north sides, with only the south side being relatively flat, and conveniently located near Yanque Lake as a water source, the Zhongshan camp stretched from south to north along the north bank of Yanque Lake. This was precisely where the Qi forces were most formidable. If the Han army wanted to advance into Taicheng from here, they would inevitably face a pincer attack from both Yanque Lake and Zhongshan.

On the way, Dai Yuan suggested to Liu Lang, "Your Highness, there is a wooden bridge between Yanque Lake and Qingxi. We can carve it through, seize the bridge, and then rush to Dongyang Gate of Licheng. What do you think?"

Liu Lang shook his head and laughed, "Commander Dai, it will take too much time for our army to seize the bridge. By then, the Qi army will be able to encircle us from the rear, and our army will probably be unable to move. Before I came, His Majesty specifically instructed that in this kind of battle, the warhorses must not stop."

"Then what does Your Highness intend to do?" Dai Yuan asked, puzzled.

Before Liu Lang could speak, Qiao Deng pointed to the flat land between Zhongshan and Yanque Lake and said decisively, "We'll go through there! The Qi people will definitely think we're going to charge south, but we can advance eastward. As long as we break through to the east of Yanque Lake, do the Qi people still have any defenses there? The east is our rear, so it must be undefended. At that time, our army can easily advance to the south of the city and occupy Taicheng."

No sooner had he spoken than Liu Lang exclaimed in approval, praising him repeatedly: "Commander Qiao and I share the same thoughts! Great minds think alike! Let's go! We'll tunnel through from the front!"

In less than a quarter of an hour, they made their decision while riding their horses.

Just as they were rushing eastward, the first wave of Qi reinforcements emerged from the Zhongshan camp and encountered Liu Lang's group head-on. This Qi army numbered about five thousand men, led by Qi's Prince Heng and General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yan. They had intended to rush to Fengluting to reinforce the city, but unexpectedly, Fengluting had fallen so quickly that they hadn't even had time to form ranks. They could only urgently dispatch their general Ran Long with several hundred cavalry to engage the Han army.

Ran Long was a renowned and valiant general in the Qi army. Four years prior, when Wang Mi led his army of refugees into Yuzhou, Ran Long was stationed at the bridge for Chen Wu, the leader of the Qi army at Pengguan. At that time, he led only thirteen men to defend the bridge, fighting against Wang Mi's forces with long spears. He repelled three waves of Wang Mi's attacks, earning Wang Mi's admiration for his talent. Wang Mi then withdrew his army and personally wrote a letter offering Ran Long high-ranking positions and generous rewards to persuade him to surrender. From then on, Ran Long repeatedly distinguished himself in Wang Mi's army, becoming a formidable warrior in the Qi army, comparable to Su Jun.

Although Ran Long knew that the newcomers were not to be underestimated, he was still arrogant and contemptuous, so he took the lead and shouted at them, "I am Ran Long, the mighty warrior of the Han Dynasty! Who are you? Do you dare to fight me for a hundred rounds?! I, Ran Long, never kill nameless thieves!"

Hearing the challenge from the Han army, Qiao Deng, who had been waiting impatiently, said to Liu Lang, "Your Highness, please continue forward, I will be there soon!" He then broke away from the formation, brandishing his long spear and spurring his black horse, engaging Ran Long in a fierce battle like a dragon.

Ran Long was caught off guard when a rider suddenly appeared and charged at him. The rider, wielding a long spear, moved with the speed and agility of a dragon emerging from the water, aiming straight for Ran Long's throat. Ran Long quickly parried, and their weapons clashed. With a snap, the spear shaft in Ran Long's hand was instantly broken by Qiao Deng. Fortunately, Ran Long used the force of the impact to lean back, dissipating the force and thus avoiding the fatal thrust.

But Qiao Deng had already seized the initiative, and he wasn't about to give Ran Long a chance to catch his breath. He spurred his horse around Ran Long, while simultaneously brandishing his spear with one hand, constantly jerking the shaft and tip, thrusting and parrying with effortless ease. Ran Long could only parry; he had no chance to retaliate. Qiao Deng deliberately created an opening, allowing Ran Long to rise and counterattack. Ran Long knew it was a trap, but he couldn't tolerate only defending. He forcefully seized the opportunity, throwing his broken spear violently at his opponent, hoping to buy himself a chance to readjust.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Deng had anticipated his tactics and also chose to abandon his spear. The two spears collided in the air with a bang. In the instant before they hit the ground, Ran Long tried to draw his sword to fight again, but Qiao Deng already had his sword in hand. In a flash, he drew his sword, and a beam of light shot out, piercing Ran Long's wide-open abdomen. The blade instantly pierced through his armor. Then, Qiao Deng immediately withdrew his sword and left, leaving Ran Long clutching his wound as he retreated from the battlefield.

While Qiao Deng and Ran Long were engaged in battle, the Han army clashed with the oncoming Qi army. The Han cavalry barely stopped, weaving through the horses with their spears at the ready. Some fell in the charge, but Liu Lang had no time to calculate the losses; he only remembered to keep charging forward. Time had completely lost its meaning here; it felt like a very short time had passed, as if it were the blink of an eye, before they collided with the Qi infantry behind them.

Before these infantry units could even properly form ranks, Liu Lang and hundreds of cavalry trampled directly onto them. The sounds of crushed Qi men's sternums, leg bones, arm bones, and even skulls echoed from beneath them. Simultaneously, the Han cavalry firmly parried the blades of their spears, which, like scythes, mercilessly slashed across the necks and cheeks of the Qi men, some breaking off directly into their sternums. For a moment, screams of agony filled the air, and blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

In such a cruel scene, Liu Lang felt as if he were a gust of wind, forgetting his confusion, forgetting life and death, and even forgetting himself. It was as if infinite freedom was waiting for him, and a kind voice was calling to him. He had to move forward and break through all obstacles without stopping, so that he could break out of his cocoon and become a butterfly, ascending to heaven.

Two quarters of an hour later, Wang Mi still stood atop Zhongshan Mountain, overlooking the battlefield. But his earlier composure was gone. Faced with the horrific state of his soldiers below, disbelief filled the eyes of the Qi commander. His lips parted several times, but he remained silent. He truly couldn't comprehend how fierce and valiant this Han army could be. In such a short time, they had breached four enemy lines in succession, directly cutting through the foot of Zhongshan Mountain. (End of Chapter)