Chapter 724
Gongsun Kang appointed such a foolish man as his general; how could he not be defeated?
Following Xiao He's gaze, Wei Yan immediately spotted Xu Kuan, whose expression was grave, and his heart was filled with doubt:
"This humble general has seen it."
After speaking, he turned to look at Xiao He, a hint of confusion in his eyes, and asked with his hands clasped:
"Grand Marshal, how do you intend to deal with this man?"
Xiao He chuckled softly and said slowly:
"Wen Chang is skilled in archery, and his archery skills are superb. This is known throughout the army, so there is no need for me, the Grand Marshal, to say more."
He paused, then turned his gaze back to Xu Kuan, and said in a deep voice:
"This man is quite courageous and has excellent command skills. If we keep him alive, he will become a major threat to our army. Could we shoot him dead with an arrow and dampen the morale of the Liao army?"
A sharp glint flashed in Wei Yan's eyes, and a confident expression appeared on his face. He immediately bowed and accepted the order:
"This humble general obeys the order and will certainly not fail in his mission, taking his head and presenting it before the Grand Marshal!"
Before he finished speaking, Wei Yan turned around, grabbed the bow and arrow beside him, and aimed at Xu Kuan, who was directing the charge below the city.
With a slight pressure from my fingertips, I steady the bowstring and hold my breath in concentration.
A moment later.
Wei Yan released his right hand, and the arrow shot through the air with a whistling sound, like a shooting star, aiming straight for Xu Kuan's vitals.
It was so fast that it arrived in the blink of an eye.
Xu Kuan, who was directing his soldiers to charge, suddenly heard a sharp whistling sound.
Years of battlefield experience made him instinctively alert. Without thinking, he instinctively turned his face to the side and slightly shifted his body.
At the critical moment.
The arrow grazed his cheek, the force of the whirlwind stinging his face. The tip narrowly missed him, embedding itself in the ground a short distance behind him.
Xu Kuan's heart sank. Before he could even utter a cry of alarm, he clenched his fists and turned sharply to look towards the city wall.
On the city tower of the Han army, huge stones were already lined up, and soldiers held pottery jars in their hands. The bright oil in the jars reflected the sunlight, clearly indicating that they were prepared and waiting for the Liao army to walk into their trap.
Without thinking twice, he rushed to Gongsun Yuan's side and shouted:
"Your Highness, the Han army has made preparations in advance, with flying stones and oil readily available. They clearly anticipated our surprise attack. Given the current situation, a direct assault will surely result in defeat. It would be better to withdraw the troops immediately and make further plans!"
Gongsun Yuan was already blinded by rage.
He shoved Xu Kuan's arm away, his tone sharp:
"Enough with the talk. Our soldiers are all brave and fierce. What is there to fear from the mere Han army?"
"Pass down the order: continue the siege! We will not rest until the enemy city is breached!"
With the military order given, the vanguard Liao army dared not disobey and arrived at the city wall in a short while.
The ladder-climbing team, which was already fully prepared, immediately worked together to lift the ladder and shouted as they erected it.
Then, the ladders were pressed tightly against the city wall, and the soldiers, armed with weapons, scrambled to climb, hoping to be the first to reach the top of the city wall and break through the Han army's defenses.
Almost the instant the siege ladders were erected, the Han army launched a counterattack.
On the city wall, the Han soldiers shouted in unison, and huge stones were pushed down with all their might, crashing to the ground with a thud, sending fragments flying everywhere.
Jars of oil were poured out, igniting the moment they hit the ground. Flames shot into the air and spread down the city wall, burning the Liao army's attack route into a mess.
Furthermore, Han soldiers bent down and worked together to overturn the already erected siege ladders. The Liao soldiers on the ladders had no time to react and fell down, some dead and some wounded.
Despite being in grave danger, the Liao soldiers were not afraid of death and charged forward one after another, braving the attacks of flying stones and raging fire.
After a fierce battle, several siege ladders were finally managed to be erected on the city wall, becoming the Liao army's only breakthrough.
Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, not a single Liao soldier managed to reach the summit.
The Han army's defenses were tight, with stones raining down incessantly and oil burning.
Those Liao soldiers who had just climbed to the top of the ladder were either cut down by the Han army, hit by rolling boulders, or engulfed by flames.
One by one, the siege ladders were overturned by the Han army, and corpses piled up in layers beneath the city walls.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and the acrid smell of burning kerosene, making it hard to breathe.
Seeing the brutality of the battle, Xu Kuan finally could no longer tolerate it.
If things continue like this, the Liao army will be completely annihilated, with no other way out.
Without a second thought, he took advantage of Gongsun Yuan's unpreparedness, quietly circled behind him, and struck him hard on the back of the neck with the hilt of his sword.
Gongsun Yuan's body went limp, and he immediately fainted, collapsing into Xu Kuan's arms.
Xu Kuan helped Gongsun Yuan up, then drew his sword and shouted sternly at the chaotic army:
"Withdraw! Withdraw immediately!"
Upon hearing this order, the Liao soldiers felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They dared not linger in battle and scattered in all directions, hoping to escape this hell on earth and save their lives.
The once formidable attacking army was instantly routed.
On the city tower.
Seeing the Liao army retreat and flee in disarray, Xiao He smiled and raised his hand to signal a halt to the attack.
He leaned on the railing of the city tower, gazing into the distance at the Liao army, who had suffered heavy losses and were now in disarray, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance. He couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"It seems that the so-called elite Liao army is nothing special!"
Loud laughter echoed across the city walls.
...
With defeat inevitable, Xu Kuan had no time to lament. He carried the unconscious Gongsun Yuan on his back and, under the cover of several guards, desperately fled backwards.
Along the way, the screams of battle still echoed in my ears, and the images of soldiers dying tragically kept flashing before my eyes.
The two men and one horse galloped for about ten miles before Xu Kuan stopped, confirming that the Han army was not pursuing them.
He set Gongsun Yuan down and gave a stern order to the guards following behind him:
"Everyone, rest on the spot, be vigilant about your surroundings, and do not let your guard down."
After calming himself down a bit, Xu Kuan immediately assessed the battle situation and asked:
Has anyone seen Xun Shi and the other two generals? Where are they now?
After he finished speaking, there was complete silence all around, and no one responded.
Xu Kuan's unease grew stronger, and just as he was about to press for more information, a weak but clear voice came from the side:
"General Xu, your humble servant is here."
Xu Kuan turned his head and saw Xun Shi leaning on a broken knife, struggling to walk out of the bushes beside him.
At this moment, Xun Shi was covered in blood and dust, looking utterly disheveled. An arrow was still stuck in his left shoulder, and blood was constantly seeping from the wound, indicating that he had been seriously injured.
"General Xun!"
Xu Kuan strode forward, supporting the swaying Xun Shi, his gaze falling on his wounds:
"How did you get so badly injured? Where are the other two generals? Why didn't they break through with you?"
Xun Shi leaned against Xu Kuan's chest, tears welling in his eyes, his voice choked with emotion:
"Reporting to the general, during the siege, the enemy's offensive was too fierce. To cover our army's breakout, my two brothers personally covered the rear, and in the end... in the end, they were killed by the enemy general..."
Upon hearing Xun Shi's reply, Xu Kuan was struck dumb, his body stiffening. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.
In a short while, Xu Kuan slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the grief in his eyes had been forcibly suppressed.
He slowly released Xun Shi and gave a stern order to the guards beside him:
"Someone, immediately take a headcount of the entire army, compile a detailed report of casualties, and submit it to me in detail."
After giving the order, he helped Gongsun Yuan up and gently placed him under a large tree. His gaze fell on Gongsun Yuan's unconscious face, his expression complex and unreadable.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passes in the blink of an eye. The guards responsible for counting the number of people rushed over and reported the casualty statistics to Xu Kuan.
When Xu Kuan heard the words "two generals lost and more than 10,000 soldiers killed in action," he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
Seeing this, his bodyguard rushed forward to support him.
"General! General, wake up!"
Xu Kuan was stunned for a moment before he slowly came to his senses.
He gritted his teeth, his anger finding no outlet, and could only stand up abruptly, slamming his fist into the tree beside him, leaving his fist a bloody mess.
After venting his anger, Xu Kuan felt completely exhausted. He slowly turned around and looked at the unconscious Gongsun Yuan again, his eyes filled with disappointment and frustration.
A feeling of wanting to do something but being unable to do it welled up in my heart.
If Gongsun Yuan had listened to his advice today, and had not been blinded by anger and given reckless orders, the Liao army would not have ended up in such a state.
Even if we were to lose in the end, we would never suffer such heavy losses, never lose two generals and ten thousand soldiers!
Xu Kuan knew that things had come to this point and there was no use in regretting it.
He gently shook his head and began to calmly consider his options for retreat.
Now the Liao army has suffered heavy casualties, lost its generals, and lost the initiative in the attack. The only option is to preserve the remaining troops.
After thinking for a moment.
Xu Kuan slowly straightened his body, his expression gradually hardening, and gave the order in a deep voice:
"The entire army set up camp on the spot, reinforced the fortifications, treated the wounded, and maintained strict vigilance around the surrounding area to guard against a surprise attack by the Han army."
Before long, the main tent was set up.
Xu Kuan carefully placed the still unconscious Gongsun Kang on a soft couch inside the tent, and instructed his personal guards to stand guard outside the tent and take good care of him, not allowing any mishaps.
After settling Gongsun Kang in, Xu Kuan dared not slacken his efforts and immediately summoned the remaining soldiers to begin organizing the defense.
He personally took command, ordering men to dig trenches and set up abatis, and also assigned troops to patrol and guard the area around the camp.
Having experienced the disastrous defeat during the day, he knew that the Han army was powerful and that if he did not take precautions, the remaining Liao army would be annihilated if the Han army pursued them.
Xu Kuan was unaware that Xiao He had no intention of pursuing them at all within Huyang City at that moment.
The Liao army had already suffered heavy losses in the daytime battle, was in complete disarray, and had long since lost its threat.
Xiao He was busy calming the soldiers and civilians in the city and taking stock of the battle results. He had no intention of expending any troops to pursue a remnant of the army.
At this time, the main tent of the Han army in Huyang City was brightly lit.
Xiao He and Zhang Liao sat around the table, chatting and laughing, their faces showing the ease of a great victory.
Only Zhang Liao sat upright at the table, his expression slightly solemn, with a hint of worry between his brows.
Everyone knew that the Liao army's surprise attack was hasty and reckless. Gongsun Kang's forces were already inferior to the Han army, yet he rashly attacked the city, rushing to achieve victory before the army was fully assembled, ultimately resulting in a disastrous defeat and retreat.
In this battle, the Han army defeated the Liao army's vanguard with almost no effort.
But Zhang Liao was filled with frustration.
He was eager to make a name for himself in battle, but who would have thought that the Liao army would suffer such a swift and devastating defeat?
He didn't even have the chance to lead his troops into battle and kill the enemy with his own hands. He had no opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, and he felt very frustrated.
Seeing Zhang Liao's gloomy expression, Ma Su spoke first with a smile:
"As you all know, if the Liao army hadn't been sensible and retreated hastily today, they would have been completely wiped out by now."
Wei Yan immediately echoed, nodding and saying:
“What Military Advisor Ma said is absolutely right. The Liao army is so reckless and its commander is so incompetent. Gongsun Kang’s forces were already limited, and after this battle, they have been severely weakened.”
Xiao He's smile gradually faded, his brows furrowed slightly as he pondered the scene on the battlefield during the day, and asked:
"The commander of the Liao army today is so reckless and incompetent, and acts without any method. He doesn't seem like a general who has been through many battles."
"Do you know who that Liao army commander is? How could someone who can become an army commander be so foolish as to not even understand the most basic principles of warfare?"
As soon as Xiao He finished speaking, Guan Xing spoke first:
"Grand Marshal, in my humble opinion, that man is probably not a seasoned general who has been through many battles. He is most likely the son of some noble family or prince of Liao who wants to use the war to gain promotion and titles."
Everyone agreed with Guan Xing's words.
Everyone knows that nowadays, many nobles and royalty, in order to ensure the future of their offspring, often use their power to send them to the military for training.
Even without any military merit or talent, one can still obtain an official position.
If this was the case in the Han Dynasty, it must have been the same in the Liao Dynasty.
Fei Yi nodded slowly and added:
"General Guan is right. Although Huyang City is strategically located and easy to defend, the Liao army is coming to our aid and will be facing the elite of our Han army. In such a critical battle, the commander of the reinforcements must be a person of great prestige, courage and wisdom, so as to stabilize the morale of the army."
"But today's Liao army commander acted rashly and was extremely foolish. He is by no means a qualified commander. He must have been close to Gongsun Kang and was eager to prove himself in order to get the position of commander."
Deng Ai, who had been listening silently to the discussions, finally spoke up:
"Based on what you all have said, I dare to speculate that the Liao army commander today should be Gongsun Kang's son, Gongsun Yuan."
"Oh? Why is Shizai so certain?"
Xiao pressed for an answer.
Ma Su was the first to agree with Deng Ai's prediction, nodding and saying:
"Shi Zai's speculation is highly likely."
“If an ordinary nobleman’s son were to make such a fatal mistake in such a crucial battle, rashly sending out troops and causing a disastrous defeat, the commander-in-chief would surely behead him on the spot to uphold military law.”
"But today we can see clearly that when the Liao general realized the battle was going badly, he did not kill him, but knocked him unconscious and took him with him when he retreated."
"It is conceivable that the person's identity is extraordinary. Apart from Gongsun Kang's son, Gongsun Yuan, probably no one else has received such treatment."
Following Deng Ai's conclusion, Wei Yan further analyzed:
“What Military Advisor Ma said is absolutely right. Only Gongsun Kang’s biological son would make that general so wary. Even if he made a serious mistake, he would not dare to deal with him on his own. He could only knock him unconscious and take him away to avoid offending Gongsun Kang.”
"It is evident that Shi Zai's speculation is mostly true."
Xiao He slowly raised his hand, touched his chin, and fell into deep thought.
He had never met Gongsun Yuan before, nor had he ever heard of any talent Gongsun Yuan possessed. What he saw today was only a glimpse of the Liao army commander from afar, and he was unable to see his face clearly.
Therefore, based on the clues at hand, everyone could only draw conclusions based on the most probable possibilities, and could not be 100% certain that the person was Gongsun Yuan. (End of this chapter)