txolops Chapter 36 Escape to the Tianshan Mountains
Chapter 36 Escape to the Tianshan Mountains
"Report!"
Genghis Khan glanced at the messenger and quickly said, "Speak!"
"Great Khan! News has come from the capital of Western Xia that after the deaths of the Emperor and Crown Prince, the capital is in chaos, and right now they are vying for the throne in the Western Xia palace!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present laughed.
Guo Liqing didn't laugh; instead, he shook his head.
Although this was within his expectations, he still couldn't understand why, when the country was on the verge of collapse, they would still fight amongst themselves.
At this point, wouldn't the most rational choice be to unite and fight the enemy together?
"Tell me the details!" Genghis Khan said.
The messenger continued, "There are currently three forces in the Western Xia capital: first, Weiming Lingfu and his army, who support the ascension of the crown prince's son, Li Shaode; second, the former crown prince, Li Deren, and his forces; and third, Li Zunchen, the Western Xia emperor's younger brother, who has the support of the Empress Dowager!"
After listening, Genghis Khan looked at Guo Liqing and asked, "Jing'er, what are you planning to do next?"
Guo Liqing pondered for a moment and said, "Continue the siege and let them fight it out for a while. However, leave them an opening on the south side!"
Why leave a gap on the south side?
Guo Liqing laughed and said, "Sun Tzu's Art of War says, 'When besieging an army, leave an opening.' Although we have surrounded the enemy, we must leave them a way out. If they have a way out, they will fight for it. If they don't, they might fight like cornered beasts. In that case, even if we win, we will suffer heavy losses due to the enemy's fierce resistance!"
"Brilliant!" Torre exclaimed. "Anda, you are truly a genius in warfare!"
Genghis Khan's eyes also showed satisfaction as he asked, "Why stay in the south?"
Guo Liqing replied, "Our army came from the north to the south, so they naturally wouldn't choose to break out in the north. The Yellow River in the east greatly increases the cost of breaking out. Only by going south, bypassing the Helan Mountains to the west, and joining up with other Western Xia forces, can they have a chance of survival."
Upon hearing this, Chi Laowen, who was standing nearby, said, "Now that Juchi and Ögedei have led their troops to capture Khara-Khoto, if the Western Xia army tries to flee west, they will also face certain death!"
"That's right!"
Tolui looked at Guo Liqing and said, "Anda, did you foresee this day all along, which is why you had Father Khan arrange for my eldest and third brothers to attack Blackwater City?"
Guo Liqing said, "We've already planned ahead, so the general strategy was naturally conceived long ago. However, the details will need to be considered when specific situations arise."
Genghis Khan exclaimed, "Excellent! Jing'er, your ability to lead troops into battle has improved rapidly in such a short time! Not only that, your martial arts are also unparalleled in the world! It seems that our Mongol Empire has not only produced a war god, but also a military genius!"
"You flatter me, Great Khan. I merely used some methods from the book; they're nothing to boast about!"
Genghis Khan smiled, unsure whether to call the boy witty and shrewd or honest and simple.
However, Guo Jing has a very strong stereotype. Even though he was being modest, people tend to think he is too honest.
Under Guo Liqing's command, the Mongol army began to mobilize.
Two days later, the infighting within the Western Xia palace began to show results, with one force attempting to break through from the Zhenwu Gate in the northeast.
However, Guo Liqing sees this breakthrough more as a test.
Subsequently, the Western Xia army attempted to break out at the East Gate.
This time, it was also a test.
Guo Liqing seemed to have seen through the Western Xia army's plan, so he moved the Mongol army to the East Gate and Zhenwu Gate, displaying a heavily fortified defensive formation.
Another day passed, and the Western Xia army continued to probe between Zhenwu Gate and the East Gate.
Then, at night, the Western Xia army suddenly turned towards Guanghuamen!
Guo Liqing smiled slightly upon receiving the battle report.
As expected, their target was Gwanghwamun!
Guanghuamen was the main gate in the southeast. Guo Liqing transferred a large number of troops to the east gate and Zhenwumen for defense, so only a small number of troops were left at Guanghuamen.
The Western Xia army successfully broke through the Mongol army's defenses in a single surprise attack.
Guo Liqing donned his armor, mounted his little red horse, and led a troop in a swift pursuit.
Accompanying him was Torre.
The pursuit was merely a bluff.
The force actually used to deal with this breakout cavalry was an ambush army that had been arranged halfway through the route.
Guo Liqing and Tuolei's cavalry pursued them for a hundred miles before a scout reported that a small group of Western Xia cavalry had fled westward.
Torre looked at Guo Liqing and asked, "Anda, should we split our forces to pursue them?"
Guo Liqing asked his scout, "How many of them are there?"
"Only a few dozen people!"
Just as Guo Liqing was pondering, another scout reported: "Marshal, another small detachment of Western Xia cavalry has set off south!"
"Another split?" Guo Liqing realized that this must be a smokescreen.
Guo Liqing asked the general next to him to bring a map so that he could see what was in the west and south directions.
After looking at the map, Guo Liqing understood.
Guo Liqing said to Torre, "You continue to pursue their main force."
"Taichig, lead thirty men and come with me!"
"yes!"
Immediately afterwards, Guo Liqing rode his little red horse and led a group of thirty people westward.
To Guo Liqing's surprise, the team ran day and night for three days, eventually escaping into the Tianshan Mountains.
Guo Liqing's squad followed behind. Taichige took out a map, looked at it, and said, "Marshal, the Tianshan Mountains are just ahead! Should we continue the pursuit?"
"The Tianshan Mountains?" Guo Liqing said in a deep voice, "They really did get here!"
"Marshal..." Taichig asked in a low voice.
They pursued the enemy for three consecutive days, and were exhausted both men and horses.
"Let's stop chasing! Let's rest first. Once you're rested, come with me into the mountains!"
As the highest mountain in the Western Regions, the Tianshan Mountains are covered with snow that never melts.
However, the Tianshan Mountains are not a place untouched by human activity.
There is a valley in the mountains on the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, and inside it is an oasis.
A river flows from the Tianshan Mountains, nourishing this land. Combined with the unique surrounding terrain, this has created a habitable place.
Guo Liqing led his cavalry into the area, where they were met with strange looks from the surrounding crowd.
The people here are of diverse backgrounds, including people from the Western Regions, people from the Western Xia, and even Han Chinese and Tibetans.
Upon seeing Guo Liqing and his group enter, an elderly man stepped forward and asked Guo Liqing, "Sir, where have you come from, and what brings you here?"
Guo Liqing dismounted, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "We have come to pursue a group of deserters from Western Xia!"
The old man looked at Guo Liqing and said, "Sir, are you wearing the uniform of the Mongol army?"
"That's right, we are the Mongol army!"
"This is Western Xia territory; we are under the protection of the Western Xia royal family!"
Guo Liqing smiled and said, "I've already destroyed Western Xia; they can't protect you anymore!"
The old man remained calm and smiled, saying, "Sir, we are still under the protection of the Heavenly Mountain Lingjiu Palace. If you try to cause trouble here, the fairies of Lingjiu Palace will not let you off!"
"A fairy?"
Guo Liqing was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up.
"That's right! Lingjiu Palace only accepts female disciples; it seems this tradition has continued!"
Suddenly, a voice like a silver bell drifted from afar.
"You audacious thief, how dare you trespass into my Huaixu Valley!"