binnovel Chapter 1064: Arriving at the Foot of the Mountain and Climbing to Observe the Enemy
Chapter 1064: Arriving at the Foot of the Mountain and Climbing to Observe the Enemy
From the north of Langjuxu Mountain, a fierce wind howled in, carrying grass debris like sharp blades, slashing at everyone's faces, causing them to ache. Jia Xu held his horse's reins firmly, his gaze fixed solemnly on the rolling hills ahead, resembling the shadows of a giant beast. Behind him, the army, like a long black dragon, slowly crawled across the desolate and vast grassland. Along the way, they successively overran several Xiongnu camps, slaughtering all within. The charred remains of the burning bonfires shivered helplessly in the wind, and the air was filled with a sickening, strong, and sweet smell.
"Sir," Pang De's voice was like polished gravel, rough and filled with suppressed anxiety. He urged his horse closer to Jia Xu's side, pressing his rough fingers heavily on the map. "We've wiped out five tribes in a row, but there's still no sign of the king. I think the lord hasn't even reached Wolf Mountain yet. Perhaps he's still wandering around the southern slopes." His thick brows knitted together, and his iron fist gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles white from the pressure. "How about we split up our forces? I'll lead a group around the south side of the mountain and take a look?"
Jia Xu slowly shook his head, his gaze fixed on the words "Xiongnu Royal Court," prominently marked in cinnabar at the foot of Langjuxu Mountain on the map. His fingertips tapped the edge of the map, lost in thought. After a moment's pause, he said, "General Pang, please be patient. Look at the terrain of Langjuxu Mountain. The northern route is steep, while the southern route is more open. If the king intends to attack the royal court, he will surely choose the southern route. However, we have questioned all the captives along the way, and they all say they have never seen Han army flags. There must be something fishy going on."
Jia Xu raised his head and gazed toward the royal court. The skyline there, shrouded by the shadows of the mountains, seemed remarkably low, as if concealing countless unknown secrets. "With the king's ability, he wouldn't have delayed for so long. Unless..." Jia Xu paused, his voice unconsciously lowering. "He's already locked in a bitter battle near the royal court, or perhaps he's deliberately waiting for us to arrive so they can work together to devise a solution. Otherwise, given the king's style, he should have rejoined us long ago."
Pang De followed Jia Xu's gaze. The direction of the royal court was completely silent, save for the towering Wolf Mountain, which exuded a strange and unsettling aura. "Sir, are you saying... the king is waiting for us?"
"It's highly likely." Jia Xu slowly folded the map, his fingertips lightly brushing the corners of his beard. "The Xiongnu royal court is not so easy to deal with. It's a tough nut to crack. If Your Majesty goes deep into the enemy territory alone, you may not be able to gain an advantage. They must be waiting for our army to arrive, so that we can unite and fight a desperate battle with the royal court. Send the order to speed up the march! The royal court is not far ahead. Once we get there, we will naturally know Your Majesty's whereabouts."
Pang De nodded solemnly, turned around, and roared to the soldiers behind him, "Order each camp to speed up! We must reach Langjuxu Mountain before sunset! Anyone who disobeys orders will be executed!"
The army's advance suddenly accelerated, the thunder of hooves shattering the silence of the grassland. The clashing of armor, the grinding of weapons, and the whistling of the wind intertwined into a dull yet powerful torrent, surging toward the nearby Wolf Mountain. Jia Xu gazed at the approaching outline of the royal court, his eyes growing darker—he had a premonition that the impending battle would be far more treacherous than they had anticipated. But as long as they could successfully reunite with their lord, they were determined to overcome any obstacle, no matter how tough.
Finally, the majestic outline of Wolf Mountain came into view, almost within reach. The faint cries of battle emanating from the other side of the mountain, like the dull beat of war drums, hammered home the hearts of the men. But as the saying goes, "If you run too fast to reach the mountain, your horse will die." Although the destination seemed within reach, the army still had to march for a full day before finally reaching the foot of Wolf Mountain.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the towering peaks before them, everyone's eyes revealed a mixture of anxiety and thought. Before them lay two routes to the Xiongnu royal court. One route circumvented Wolf Mountain, but this seemingly simple detour proved no easy task for a large army. The mountain range stretched vast, and circumventing it would take at least two days.
Pang De was extremely anxious. He approached Jia Xu, his eyes filled with anxiety. "Sir, we can't delay any longer. If we take a detour, who knows what misfortune our lord will encounter."
Jia Xu frowned, his gaze shifting between the map and the mountain range. He spoke slowly, "General Pang, I understand your concerns. However, while a detour is time-consuming, it is the safest option. Large-scale military operations require thorough consideration and should not be rushed."
However, Pang De had different ideas. Pointing at Wolf Mountain, he said excitedly, "Sir, look at this Wolf Mountain. The terrain is dangerous. If we climb it and command the enemy from above, the enemy won't be well prepared, and we'll surely catch them by surprise. Furthermore, the trees on this mountain are sparse. While climbing up will be slow for cavalry, once we charge down, the force will be like thunder, perfect for a cavalry charge."
Jia Xu remained silent for a moment, his gaze following Pang De's direction, mentally weighing the pros and cons. He knew Pang De had a point. A surprise attack might yield unexpected results, but the risks were not to be underestimated. The mountainous terrain was complex, and an ambush would put the army in dire straits.
"General Pang, although this plan is brilliant, it is too risky. The situation on the mountain is unclear. If the enemy is well prepared, we will be put on the defensive." Jia Xu said slowly, trying to persuade Pang De.
But Pang De's eyes revealed determination: "Sir, time is running out. We can't wait any longer. The lord may be in a difficult battle and urgently needs our support. If we can use this surprise attack, we may be able to turn the tide of the battle in one fell swoop."
Jia Xu gazed at Pang De's face, etched with determination, then slowly shifted his gaze to the soldiers behind him, now slumped on the ground, exhausted from their long march. Watching their staggering forms, listening to their intermittent panting, Jia Xu pondered. The soldiers had been incredibly tired on this journey. Without a moment's rest, they would be exhausted before the battle even began, let alone prepared for the tough battles to come.
Finally, he took a deep breath and said slowly, "General Pang, whether we choose to take a detour or climb directly, the soldiers need a good night's rest. After all, the key to marching and fighting is 'know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.' Now is a perfect opportunity to climb up Wolf Mountain and take a peek from above to understand the current situation."
Pang De opened his mouth slightly, about to say something, but his eyes swept over the exhausted soldiers, and he swallowed the words back. He couldn't bear to see them continue their hasty march; after all, everyone was exhausted. So he nodded and said, "In that case, I'll go to the top of the mountain to take a look."
Jia Xu thought for a moment and continued, "We should also call Hu Chi'er and take the prisoners with us. They have been operating in this area for a long time and are familiar with the terrain and enemy situation. They may be able to provide us with some useful information."
Pang De responded and turned to make arrangements. A moment later, Hu Chi Er arrived with several dejected captives. Hu Chi Er was a guide in the army who was familiar with the surrounding terrain. He was clever and knew the area well.
"Hu Chi'er, this mission is extremely important. You take these captives with me to climb the mountain. On the way, ask them carefully about the situation in Langjuxu Mountain and the Xiongnu royal court." Pang De ordered seriously.
Hu Chier bowed and accepted the order: "Don't worry, General, I will ask for the details."
After that, Pang De, Hu Chi'er, and several personal guards who were escorting the captives headed towards Wolf Mountain. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, stretching their shadows out.
The men didn't dare to rest for a moment, struggling to climb the mountaintop. The path was rugged and rocky, and every step forward required immense effort. Hu Chi'er and his personal guards, escorting the captives, followed Pang De with difficulty.
They struggled forward on the steep mountain path, their sweat soaking their clothes, which were quickly dried by the mountain breeze, leaving behind patches of white sweat stains. After two hours of arduous climbing, they finally reached the top of the mountain, panting.
By this time, the moon had quietly climbed to the zenith, casting a cool, clear light that enveloped the earth in a silvery white. Everyone collapsed to the ground, exhausted, gasping for breath, their chests heaving violently like bellows.
After a long while, Pang De finally came to his senses. He felt as if all the strength in his body had been drained, but the military situation was urgent. He gritted his teeth, forced himself to stand up with a slightly trembling body, moved to stand in a row with Hu Chier and others, and looked down the mountain.
The first thing that caught his eye was a continuous row of tents, vaguely giving the appearance of a town. Several merchants nearby, eager to claim credit for Pang De's achievements, pointed downwards and said, "General, that's Ordo City." Pang De's expression was solemn, and he nodded slowly, thinking to himself, "As expected of the Xiongnu royal court, Ordo City is indeed quite large."
His gaze continued to wander, glancing towards the southwest of the royal court. Sure enough, he saw another large camp there. The tents were built in a style very characteristic of the Western Liang Dynasty. As a long-serving general, Pang De recognized it immediately. He knew it must be the tent of his lord, Ma Chao. Seeing it, he felt a sense of relief, yet also a subtle worry for his lord's safety.
However, when he cast his gaze eastward toward Ordo City, he was puzzled. There was also a barracks east of the city, but the style of the barracks didn't resemble the usual Western Liang army's style of camping. It was a chaotic mess, with the tents arranged in a disorganized pattern, unlike those of a regular army. Pang De was momentarily unsure of which faction this was.
He observed carefully for a long time, not missing any details, but it was still difficult to judge. In desperation, everyone had to stop and Pang De sighed secretly. It seemed that he could only go back and report the situation to Mr. Jia Xu before making a final decision.
"Let's go back," Pang De whispered, his voice filled with fatigue and solemnity. Everyone nodded silently, turned around and carefully walked down the mountain along the way they had come. The moonlight cast a long shadow over them, making their figures seem particularly lonely in the silent night. The news they brought back would have a crucial impact on the upcoming battle.