Battle Royale of the Sinners

Linyu County, a northern county between Beiping and Xiangping Commandery became a strategic point as Xu Huang and his 60,000 soldiers occupied it as their supply base.

From this point, they required another 25 days to reach Gongsun Du's headquarter to the east.

However, Xu Huang was a cautious general. He decided to dispatch Zhang Bao and 5,000 light cavalries to scout the surroundings for one day before the entire army would continue marching.

His action delayed their traveling schedule. From the initial plan of 25 days, Jia Xu estimated that they might reach Xiangping in 40 days instead.

Still, none of the troops worried about the delayed schedule. As long as they could return home alive, they did not mind the overtime job.

May 1st, 190 A.D.

This marked the 30th day after their journey. They were 20 days away from Xiangping City.

Also, this was the day that the light cavalry battalion found an ambush party hiding within the Dahei Mountain, 200km west of Xiangping.

The 5,000 light horsemen engaged against the mysterious battalion right away. The enemy was also a battalion of light cavalry, but they had the superior number of over 10,000 soldiers.

Zhang Bao had been training and studying for decades, so he was not a military ignorant. He used the standard horse archer tactic against the ambushing troops.

Coincidentally, the unknown enemies also utilized a horse archer tactic.

Both sides exchanged projectiles as they ran around in a circle. Zhang Bao Army managed to release more arrows than the other hand, but the result betrayed their expectation.

Zhang Bao Army suffered a thousand of casualties from the fight, while he could only kill less than a thousand enemy soldiers.

During the engagement, Zhang Bao finally caught a glimpse of the enemy's uniforms from a distance. They did not wear a standard Imperial armor or any sewed lamellar armor. Instead, they were wearing hard leather armor with silk clothing.

These people were not from the Han Dynasty. They were the barbarians from the north!

Without hesitation, Zhang Bao ordered a full-retreat and sent a messenger team back to the main army, informing them about their discovery.

The piece of news got to Jia Xu and Xu Huang the next day.

Without waiting for Jia Xu's analysis, Xu Huang gave his order, "Tell Zhang Bao to return."

Looking Xu Huang's decisiveness and quick reaction, Jia Xu kept quiet. Despite his relaxed look, Jia Xu's brain did not stop simulating and calculating multiple stratagems for this army.

.

May 3rd.

Zhang Bao and 4,000 survivors of the battle reunited with the main army. He returned with a further report.

Inside the temporary commanding tent, Zhang Bao described what he found.

"The enemies are either the Xiongnu or Xianbei judging from their uniforms. The number was about 8,000 to 10,000 soldiers when we fought, but I think there should be more hiding somewhere."

Jia Xu placed the Liaodong region map on a table and pointed at a location, "Did you find them around here?"

Looking at Jia Xu's finger's target, Zhang Bao nodded, "Yes. They're hiding in that mountain."

"Ah, general Xu. I have an idea what the enemies are trying to do."

Xu Huang cupped his fist and bowed to Jia Xu. As he was young enough to be Jia Xu's son and he was a humble person, he did not dare to disrespect this senior.

"Please clarify us, senior Jia."

Jia Xu nodded in approval. He liked Xu Huang more now.

At first, he thought that Xu Huang was an egotistic brat who did not care about other's opinion. It seemed that he misunderstood this young general.

Judging from Xu Huang's past behavior, reaction, and his attitude toward others, Jia Xu concluded that Xu Huang minded his manner, but he was independent and decisive enough when it was necessary.

This was a respectable trait of a great general.

'This brat has potential. His cautiousness is similar to Zhang Tong, but his decisiveness is on a higher level. Also, he's not as lusty as Tong.'

Jia Xu picked a handful of tokens and placed them onto the map. He put an ally token on their current position and one on Linyu County.

He also arranged an enemy token at Mount Dahei, which Zhang Bao had encountered the barbarians. The last piece of the symbols was on Xiangping, which represented Gongsun Du.

Finished with the arrangement, Jia Xu explained his insight.

"Since we have encountered a barbarian faction here, I believe Xiangping might have fallen to the Xiongnu or Xianbei, or they might ally themselves with these people. We might as well assume that we are fighting the Xiongnu instead of Gongsun Du."

Jia Xu turned his attention to Linyu County, "If we look at their troop placement, their true goal should be the supply depot that we have constructed in Linyu County. If I were the enemy, I would have allowed the massive army to pass through this location to Xiangping. Then I would attack Linyu County, which was the pivot point of our supply base. With our supplies cut off, we will be isolated within the enemy's territory with the enemies on the front and the back."

To make his point clear, he moved the barbarian token on Dahei Mountain to Linyu County and flickered the supply depot token away. Then, he shifted the position of their army to Xiangping.

With the demonstration of the tokens, Xu Huang, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang understood what kind of ploys they were facing.

Jia Xu probed Xu Huang's intelligence, "What will be your move, general?"

Xu Huang watched the map in a daze for a few minutes, pondering and calculating his moves. Afterward, he looked at everyone.

"We'll march back for ten days, and we'll fortify our encampment."

Everyone, including Jia Xu, was surprised.

"Are we retreating?"

"Do not misunderstand me. We're not retreating. We are moving back to fortify a new outpost, and we'll report this to our lord in the clan chat."

Xu Huang's army policy was different from Jia Xu had predicted. At first, he thought that this general would have ordered them to chase the hiding forces to get rid of the threat, which would not be effective against these barbarians.

Betraying his expectation, Xu Huang chose to step back and picked the steady approach.

Jia Xu grinned as he liked this general.

'Not bad. I was planning to tell them to force-march and capture Xiangping before they can take Linyu County. Eh, this works too.'

Jia Xu looked at the map and calculated the distance. If they backtracked for ten days, they would be ten days away from Linyu County. Once their soldiers fortified that location, the threat of getting the supply base cut off would not be significant anymore.

If the Xianbei followed through with their plan, Xu Huang would return the favor by trapping the barbarian's strike force within their territory. Beiping garrison forces could also surround these raiders while Xu Huang spread the net to catch them.

Xu Huang countered the barbarian's plan with just one move!

'Still, we won't be able to attack Xiangping this way.'

Though the threat was gone, they were still far from the objective.

Before Jia Xu could voice his questions, Zhang Liang asked Xu Huang first.

"General, if we fall back to fortify, how will we attack Xiangping?"

Xu Huang still gazed at the map, but his expression remained indifferent.

"We don't need to attack it now."

"What!?"

"War is not always a game of speed, but it's a game of efficiency and execution process. We may advance slowly, but when it is the time for us to strike, we will be swift and efficient. In this battle we will be facing, it will be a mind game of patience. The only who lose the patience first will be the loser."

Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang frowned as they could not understand this general's meaning. However, Jia Xu grinned.

'I take my compliment back. You're a nasty bastard, Xu Huang. I like it though.'

.

May 11th, 190.

Xu Huang did as he said, retreating for ten days. His army fortified their encampment, digging trenches and constructing barricades and walls.

Kebineng stalked Xu Huang Army from afar with his 20,000 riders. However, he did not dare to attack an army of 59,000 soldiers head-on.

He frowned as everything did not go along with his initial plan. Kebineng schemed to cut Xu Huang's supply line by ambushing the logistic troops or attacking Linyu County. Unfortunately, he did not have a chance to do so.

Kebineng could still bypass this fortification to attack Linyu County, but they might be flanked if they could not capture the county fast enough.

This became a dilemma that Kebineng was facing. He could not decide if he should cancel his plan or go through with it.

Thinking for a while, Kebineng ordered his men to withdraw.

"We'll go back to Xiangping. Our plan failed."

.

The report about Xu Huang's decision was reported to Tong via the clan chat.

Tong: "How long do you think you can take Xiangping?"

Xu Huang: "Your majesty, I can't say. This will be a prolonged-war since Xianbei or Xiongnu has gotten involved."

Tong: "Good. I won't pressure you. Take as long as you need to accomplish your goal."

Xu Huang: "Thank you, your majesty."

Xun Yu was by Tong's side when he gave the approval of Xu Huang's campaign policy. Curious, he asked Tong for a clarification.

"Will that be alright, your majesty? Aren't you in a hurry of pacifying the north?"

Tong nodded, "Yes, I want to unite the north ASAP."

"Then, why did you give him permission for a long campaign for just one commandery?"

A wry smile appeared on Tong's face, "Have you read about the history of the Zhou Dynasty and Li Mu?"

"Li Mu, the great general of Zhou? Of course, I knew about this history. This great general had many noteworthy achievements!"

"But Li Mu was destroyed by his own emperor."

"... Yes."

"Great generals can only shine when they can work without the oppression and restrain from the back-end politicians or their liege. I can only put my faith in Xu Huang in this case."

Xun Yu's eyes gleamed from hearing Tong's words. He hinted that Xu Huang was one of the great generals in Tong's point of view, and this emperor had faith in this person.

This displayed Tong's quality of an ideal emperor. He had patience, he had faith in his subordinates!

Xun Yu bowed, "I was shortsighted. My wisdom is incomparable to your majesty. I'm ashamed."

Tong laughed, "If you're ashamed, arrange an army of reserve troops to Beiping and Linyu County. Send Tian Yu there with his private guards and have him defend Linyu County. Also …"

Tong turned to his bodyguard, Zhao Yun.

"Zilong, you go to Beiping. I don't need protection now, but the people at the north are being threatened by the barbarians. Show them what you can do and redeem your past mistakes!"

Zhao Yun widened his eyes before he knelt to Tong.

"I'll use my life for Beiping people!"

"Just remember that passion. Save the people and come back alive. That's an order."