txolops Chapter 25 The War God of Western Xia
Chapter 25 The War God of Western Xia
Guo Liqing and Tuolei led their cavalry south, looting all the grain along the way.
This time, those charging ahead were all cavalrymen from Guo Liqing and Torre's main force.
Guo Liqing's troops were the same troops that Guo Jing had led since the Western Expedition, so they all still obeyed Guo Liqing's orders.
Torre also listened to Guo Liqing, so they basically implemented Guo Liqing's policy of seizing grain without harming the people.
The cavalry launched continuous raids while ensuring they got enough rest.
In less than three days, the advance troops were already able to see the Helan Mountains.
Further ahead lies the northern pass of the Helan Mountains—Keyimen.
High mountains rise on both sides of Keyi Gate, with sheer cliffs and precipices, leaving only a narrow path in the middle. The terrain is even more treacherous than that of Wulahai City.
Guo Liqing and Tuolei stood at the front of the group, looking towards the pass ahead.
Guo Liqing exclaimed, "It truly lives up to its reputation as the foremost pass of Western Xia; it is indeed magnificent."
"Anda, how do you plan to attack the city this time? Or will you launch a surprise attack?"
After thinking for a moment, Guo Liqing said, "Keyi Gate is different from Wulahai City, and Helan Mountain is not Yinshan. Wulahai City has mountains nearby for cover, so we can climb up silently. But Keyi Gate has a wide open view in front of us, so I'm afraid we can't use the same method."
Torre nodded. "You're right. It seems we have no choice but to use traditional siege methods."
Beside Guo Liqing was Lu Youjiao, the former elder of the Beggars' Sect, who was now a centurion.
Lu Youjiao said, "The one guarding Keyi Gate is Weiming Linggong, a famous general of Western Xia. He is known as the number one war god of Western Xia, and he may not be easy to deal with."
After listening, Guo Liqing raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "The number one war god? Is he a master strategist? Or is he just exceptionally strong in martial arts?"
"Why does the Marshal ask that?" Lu Youjiao looked at Guo Liqing with a puzzled expression.
Guo Liqing said, "Generally, the title of 'God of War' has two meanings: one is that the God of War is actually very skilled in combat; the other is that the God of War is not skilled in combat but is adept at military strategy and can win battles. Which one does Weiming Linggong belong to?"
Although Lu Youjiao was merely a江湖人士 (jianghu person, someone who had walked the martial arts path), he was quite knowledgeable. He said, "It is said that Lord Weiming once studied under a master of the Western Xia First-Class Hall and learned excellent martial arts. On the battlefield, Lord Weiming always took the lead and personally engaged in battle! This shows that his martial arts were not weak! However, in the wars he participated in, he won more battles than he lost. Therefore, I believe he possessed both qualities!"
"High martial arts skills? Leading from the front?" Guo Liqing said in a deep voice, pondering in his mind.
Torre asked, "Anda, I know you are highly skilled in martial arts. If you could fight Lord Weiming on the battlefield, you would surely defeat him. But I am worried that he will hold his ground and not come out!"
Guo Liqing nodded. "That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Lu Youjiao, standing nearby, asked, "Should we still use special forces for a surprise attack?"
Guo Liqing shook his head and said, "No, the view from both sides of the pass and city walls is too good. If we are discovered by the enemy, the risk is too great!"
"What should we do?"
Guo Liqing gazed at the distant city walls for a moment, then said, "Let's test this number one war god of Western Xia!"
Torre asked疑惑地问道：“How do we try it?”
Guo Liqing said, "Send a Western Xia messenger over first!"
Torre was still puzzled. "Anda, didn't you say you were going to launch a surprise attack? If they find out that Wulahai City has fallen, news of our surprise attack will reach Zhongxing Prefecture!"
Guo Liqing said, "It doesn't matter. As long as we can break through Keyi Gate, it doesn't matter whether Zhongxing Prefecture knows or not. If we waste time at Keyi Gate, Zhongxing Prefecture will find out sooner or later."
Torre nodded. "And then what happens after we send a messenger?"
Guo Liqing looked at Tolui and laughed, "Take a thousand cavalrymen and go to the city gate to challenge them, let them know your identity as the fourth prince of Mongolia!"
Torre seemed to understand Guo Liqing's plan, and he laughed, "You want to use me as bait?"
Guo Liqing patted Torre on the shoulder and said, "When the time comes, stand back a bit, don't get into the range of the arrows. Order your men to attack, then pretend to run away and see if they chase after you."
At this point, both Torre and Lu Youjiao understood Guo Liqing's meaning: he wanted to lure Weiming Linggong out.
Lu Youjiao was still a little worried and said, "What if Lord Weiming doesn't come out?"
Guo Liqing said with a serious expression, "If he doesn't come out, we'll have no choice but to risk a direct assault!"
At present, Guo Liqing has no better options and can only take it one step at a time.
On the battlefield, it is actually very difficult to have a comprehensive understanding of the overall situation, to strategize effectively, and to win battles from afar.
In most cases, one can only wait for an opportunity to act and adapt flexibly.
The Mongol cavalry remained hidden in the distance, sending only a Western Xia messenger over.
The messenger was just a corpse; all that remained on him was a bloodstained piece of silk with the words "Mongol attack" written on it.
The messenger's horse remembered the route and galloped towards the outside of the city wall at Keyi Gate.
The soldiers guarding the city spotted the messenger and immediately went out of the city to fetch him.
Although the messenger was dead, the soldier still skillfully pulled the silk from the messenger's bosom and received the message.
Soon, the news reached Weiming Linggong, the garrison commander of Keyi Gate.
When Weiming Linggong saw this news, he was shocked because there was no warning at all, and he did not understand why the Mongols would attack.
The Western Xia and the Mongols had previously held peace talks and reached an agreement, so why did the Mongols suddenly launch an attack?
The silk scroll only contained the four characters "Mongol attack," but the direction from which the messenger came indicated that the Mongol army must have come from Wulahai City.
The messenger is dead, so it is very likely that Wulahai City has fallen and the Mongol army has entered the Hetao region.
However, a large army marching cannot compare to a single person riding alone.
It seems the Mongol army is already on its way!
After careful consideration, Lord Weiming first sent someone to deliver the message to the capital, and then began preparations for defending the city.
But just after sending the message to the capital, the soldiers guarding the city reported: The Mongol cavalry are coming!
Wei Mingling was taken aback. So fast?
He hurried up to the city wall, expecting to see a massive Mongol army, but it turned out to be just a few hundred cavalrymen.
The cavalrymen lingered outside the firing range, not daring to approach.
After all, how can cavalry attack a city?
Wei Minglinggong was initially under immense pressure, but upon seeing this scene, he smiled.
It's likely that the Mongols only sent a cavalry unit to pursue the messenger. After all, there were so many military towns along the way from Wulahai City that it would take a while to fight them, and they wouldn't reach Keyimen so quickly.
Seeing that there were only a few hundred cavalrymen below, Weiming Linggong said to the soldiers beside him, "Gather a thousand cavalrymen! Follow me out of the city!"
"General, could this be a trap?" the adjutant beside him asked in a low voice.
Wei Mingling hesitated for only a moment before saying, "Maintain a position within range of the arrows, and be prepared to retreat and provide cover at any time!"
"yes!"
The area in front of Keyi Gate is open and spacious, and one can see for miles around at a glance.
Looking around, Lord Weiming saw no enemies within ten miles. Even if there were enemies ten miles away, he could retreat at any time.
Lord Weiming rode a black warhorse, carrying a large cleaver, and charged out at the forefront.
"Why did you Mongol barbarians launch a surprise attack on our Great Xia?"
Torre, standing in the center of the group, called out loudly, "Who goes there?"
Weiming Linggong shouted, "Listen up, you Tartars! I, your grandfather, am Weiming Linggong. Today I will cut off the heads of all of you Tartars and show Temujin what happens when you offend our Great Xia!"
Torre roared, "How dare you! How dare you call my father Khan's name!"
"Father Khan? You are Temujin's son?" Weiming Linggong laughed, "Perfect!"