Chapter 113: Facing the Enemy (Sixth Update)

Fengren Duobaozhong wanted to delay matters, but Li Changqi had no such intention. All he could think about was getting back as quickly as possible. He truly could not stand remaining in this godforsaken place any longer. There was not a single woman to be found, while the men all around him reeked of sweat. Thus, he kept urging Fengren Duobaozhong to launch the attack without delay.

Unfortunately, Fengren Duobaozhong ignored him completely.

Furious, Li Changqi said, “Great General, as far as I know, the Jin army has sent repeated messages demanding that we swiftly annihilate the Song forces at Huangtiandang, then join forces with them to attack Shunchang. Yet you continue to delay. Be careful not to provoke the Jin army.”

Fengren Duobaozhong cast Li Changqi a puzzled glance. “Young Prince, we are the army of Western Xia, not servants of Jin. Why should we obey the Jin people’s orders?”

Those words left Li Changqi speechless. He said angrily, “It had better unfold exactly as you say, General. If anything goes wrong and the Song army escapes from the city, be warned—I will make an accusation against you before His Majesty.”

With that, Li Changqi flicked his sleeves and departed once more. This was already the second clash between him and Fengren Duobaozhong.

Fengren Qimaili said to his father, “Father, the Young Prince must already bear a grudge against us. I fear that once we return to the capital, he will make things difficult for us.”

Fengren Duobaozhong was a veteran commander of Western Xia who had survived countless battles. He had seen every kind of situation imaginable. Hearing his son’s concern, he merely waved it aside.

“He is nothing more than an ignorant young fool. Compared with the Old Prince, he falls far short. We shall proceed according to plan and let the Song and Jin armies fight one another first. Then we can reap the benefits.”

Fengren Duobaozhong’s strategy was sound, but human plans could never match the workings of fate. He had no idea that Western Xia was already in complete turmoil.

Yang Weiguo had led five thousand Featherwing soldiers deep into Western Xia and begun cutting a bloody path through the kingdom. Since they were operating far behind enemy lines, they followed a scorched-earth policy wherever they went, leaving no potential threat behind them. The tribe they had just destroyed was already the fifth.

“General, there is another tribe thirty miles away, with a population of roughly ten thousand,” a scout reported upon his return.

Yang Weiguo nodded. “So far, we have only dealt with small tribes. This time, we shall wipe out a large one. Only then will the Western Xia court truly take notice of us. Order the entire army to rest. Tonight, we raid the Mohe tribe.”

The five thousand Featherwing soldiers under Yang Weiguo rested during the day and emerged under cover of darkness to slaughter entire settlements. In Western Xia, they had earned themselves a formidable name: the Ghost Army.

Night fell. At Yang Weiguo’s command, the five thousand soldiers descended from the mountain and headed toward the Mohe tribe.

By then, the night was deep. Only a few scattered lamps still glimmered within the Mohe settlement. The five thousand soldiers moved silently into the tribe, like five thousand ghosts.

“Help! Someone save me! They’re killing people!”

No one knew who had shouted, but the cry shattered the stillness of the night. Lamps began lighting up in every household. Yet the sudden illumination brought the tribespeople no hope; instead, it made things easier for the Featherwing soldiers.

It was nothing less than a massacre. Perhaps the Featherwing soldiers had felt some reluctance during their first assault on a settlement, but not now. War was cruel by nature: either you died, or your enemy did.

If they showed mercy to the people of Western Xia here, the civilians in the cities conquered by the Song army would still be slaughtered elsewhere.

The battle continued for an hour before finally ending. After ordering the army to replenish its provisions, Yang Weiguo set the large Western Xia settlement ablaze.

This was a major tribe of nearly ten thousand people. The fire burned for an entire day before it finally went out. The place was already quite close to the Western Xia capital, Xingqing Prefecture, and the billowing smoke sent the court into a state of alarm. Officials were dispatched to investigate, only to discover that an entire army had somehow infiltrated Western Xia without anyone noticing.

“Your Majesty, I believe the enemy force that annihilated the Mohe tribe without leaving a trace must number at least ten thousand. With an army of this size appearing near Xingqing Prefecture, we cannot afford to let down our guard,” Western Xia Chancellor Li Zhengqi said to Li Shungan.

Li Shungan frowned. “An army like this has appeared within our borders, and yet none of you noticed anything. I truly wonder what use you people are.”

The ministers below fell silent in terror at Li Shungan’s anger.

“Your Majesty, this army is simply too vicious,” said Imperial Censor Yelu Maili indignantly. “According to our scouts, wherever the enemy has passed, not a single survivor has been left behind. They have not even spared infants still in their swaddling clothes. Their atrocities are truly beyond comprehension.”

“I want to know only one thing,” Li Shungan said, staring at the assembled ministers. “Where exactly is this army? Did they descend from the heavens? After killing everyone, did they sprout wings and fly away?”

“Your Majesty, the enemy is exceedingly cunning. After each massacre, they conceal every trace of their retreat. We have no idea where the army is now,” Li Zhengqi replied.

The matter seemed to have reached a dead end—a knot that could not be untied.

“So you are telling me that we do not even know who they are or what they look like?” Li Shungan said with a mirthless laugh.

“Your Majesty, travelers who have been journeying by night say that the men were dressed entirely in black and made not the slightest sound as they walked. They were like ghosts emerging from hell,” Li Zhengqi answered.

“Absurd!” Li Shungan slammed his hand against the table. “These are nothing but wild rumors meant to frighten the people. If anyone dares spread such nonsense again, I will have his head cut off.”

Li Zhengqi hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, blocking the people’s mouths is more difficult than stopping a river. In my humble opinion, we should dispatch a great army to destroy this force. Only then can we fully dispel the people’s fear.”

“Dispatch an army? Then tell me where the enemy is. Even if we send troops, where are they supposed to strike?” Li Shungan countered.

Li Zhengqi said, “Your Majesty, I have studied the enemy’s route. Their destination should be Xingqing Prefecture. Between the Mohe tribe and Xingqing Prefecture lies Da’an City, which they must pass through. Why not station a large army there and wait for them in comfort while they grow weary on the march? We can intercept them beneath the walls of Da’an City.”

Only then did much of Li Shungan’s anger begin to fade. He nodded.

“Very well. We shall do as you suggest. Issue the imperial edict: appoint Yeli Wangzong commander-in-chief and Crown Prince Li Qingdao deputy commander. Let them lead thirty thousand troops and station them at Da’an City to intercept the invading enemy.”

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