The Black Qiang Finally Mobilize

"Has the White Qiang King sent no word?" Inside the Black Qiang Royal Court, Yuwen Haojie wore a grave expression, his voice low and heavy. "Nor any news of Qiao Riyan?" "None," a Black Qiang warrior replied. "It is said that Qiao Riyan departed the White Qiang Royal Court five days ago, but he has vanished without a trace ever since." Huona had returned to report at dusk, and Asuli had only mobilized his forces under cover of night, deploying none other than the White Wolf Guards. By dawn the following morning, everything had returned to normal, leaving the ordinary herdsmen none the wiser. Even if someone observant had noticed any commotion, that would have been three days after Qiao Riyan's departure. By all logic, Qiao Riyan should have traveled far away by then. "Asuli refused Qiao Riyan; otherwise, he would not have left," Yuwen Haojie remarked flatly. Before setting out, he and Qiao Riyan had already agreed on their plan. He would handle the Black Qiang while Qiao Riyan took the White Qiang. Together, they would facilitate the unification of both tribes, integrate their forces, and prepare to coordinate with the Xiongnu's southern offensive. By rights, had the White Qiang consented, Qiao Riyan would not have departed before the merger was finalized. Shi Mo sneered. "The White Qiang survive today by begging from the Han lands. They cast the glory of the Western Qiang to the wind long ago. How would they ever dare agree to merge and offend the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor? "What is more, Zhao Yu currently has three thousand soldiers of the Chengyuan Army stationed right beside the White Qiang Royal Court. Even if Asuli were lent the courage of a bear and the gall of a leopard, he wouldn't dare agree to Qiao Riyan's terms." Yuwen Haojie's gaze hardened. "Useless cowards!" Zhaixingzi said sinisterly, "The White Qiang King wouldn't dare touch Qiao Riyan, but that doesn't mean Zhao Yu wouldn't dare." Zhuixingzi chuckled slyly. "The Xiongnu want to unify the two Qiang, which Zhao Yu naturally opposes. In order to sever the White Qiang King's way of retreat, would it be surprising if he secretly sent someone to Lingwu Pass to summon reinforcements and strike?" Yuwen Haojie cast a sidelong glance at the two, a curl of disdain at the corner of his mouth. "Even if Zhao Rong took action, Qiao Riyan would not be incapable of escaping." Yuwen Haojie did not hold Zhaixingzi and Zhuixingzi in the slightest regard. Despite having a master like Old Man Xingxiu, their martial arts had failed to keep pace; worse, each had lost an arm or a leg and practically retired from the jianghu. They were useless trash as well! How keen were the senses of Xiantian experts? Moreover, Yuwen Haojie had not concealed his contempt in the least. The Twin Stars of the Xingxiu Sea flared with fury. Yet in their fury, they could only seethe internally—neither dared actually tear off the face of civility. For one, behind Yuwen Haojie stood Huyan Chi, the foremost expert beyond the Great Wall; for another, the two of them truly might not defeat Yuwen Haojie. Others might not know, but they knew all too well: ever since Zhao Zheng severed their limbs, they had spent the past decade living in seclusion. Though their internal energy had grown deeper with cultivation, their martial realm had regressed rather than progressed. Compounded by their missing limbs, their fighting prowess was actually weaker than it was ten years ago. They could only bully a weakling Xiantian like Gulanrena; against an expert like Yuwen Haojie, even joining forces gave them no guarantee of victory. Zhaixingzi snorted. "If that is so, where could Qiao Riyan have gone? He couldn't have been carried off by wolves in the dead of night, could he?" Yuwen Haojie pondered for a moment, then turned to the Black Qiang King, Yuan Dingle. "Pay no heed to his whereabouts. Since the White Qiang King has refused our goodwill, proceed according to your plan. "Sever the route between the White Qiang and Lingwu Pass, crush the White Qiang, and capture Zhao Yu!" Yuwen Haojie said coldly. "I shall send word to the Xiongnu Royal Court. The court will dispatch a detachment to assist you." Yuan Dingle rose abruptly to his feet. This was the very pledge he had been waiting for. The Black Qiang marched out. A detachment kept watch over Jinfeng Pass, a secondary force blocked the route between Lingwu Pass and the White Qiang Royal Court, while the main host arrived west of the White Qiang Royal Court and pitched camp. *** "After waiting so long, they have finally mobilized." Inside the White Qiang Royal Court, Wang Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He asked first, "Are all preparations in place?" Zhao Shan reported, "The tunnels have been dug, and the night watch has been arranged. We deliberately left an opening behind your tent. If they dare come, they will certainly leave something behind. "During active warfare, vigilance is at its peak. In truth, they might not dare infiltrate, but being extra prepared never hurts." Wang Yu sighed. Having almost developed a lingering dread because of Aishake, he continued, "How many troops have the Black Qiang brought?" Zhao Shan resumed, "A three-thousand-man cavalry unit is monitoring Jinfeng Pass, another five thousand cavalry are positioned between the White Qiang Royal Court and Lingwu Pass, and the Black Qiang King personally leads fifteen thousand cavalry encamped thirty li to the west." "Twenty-three thousand cavalry." Wang Yu bared his teeth. "Has the Black Qiang King hauled out every last warrior he has?" "According to earlier estimates, the Black Qiang's total military strength should be around fifteen to eighteen thousand horsemen," Zhao He reported. "For the Black Qiang King to field over twenty thousand at once, he likely dragged out many of the old and weak as well." "How many troops do the White Qiang have?" Wang Yu asked. "Fewer than ten thousand horsemen," Zhao Shan said. "However, the White Qiang King began mobilizing early. Counting the White Wolf Guards, they have gathered twelve thousand cavalry, enough to barely contest the Black Qiang's main force." "Don't forget our three thousand Chengyuan Army soldiers," Wang Yu said. "Still, avoid battle whenever possible. As long as we pin down the Black Qiang cavalry, victory is ours." Zhao He nodded. "Lady Gulanrena has already gone to see the White Qiang King." Inside the White Qiang Royal Court, the leaders were already locked in heated argument. Some suggested launching an attack while the Black Qiang had yet to establish a firm foothold; some urged defending the court with all their might while awaiting reinforcements from the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor; others proposed holding peace talks with the Black Qiang and conceding concessions. For the most part, those proposing the first option were youths, while those backing the latter two were elders. "For the sake of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor, His Majesty rejected the Xiongnu's goodwill. Now that the Black Qiang have taken the field, who knows whether the Xiongnu will lend a hand? We are already weaker than the Black Qiang—how can we hold them off?" An old man fumed, "Since that's the case, why not let that Prince of Zhenxi go and hold them off himself!" "Chahu, your family has profited plenty from trade with the Central Plains. Now that trouble strikes, you want to renege on your obligations?" another gray-haired elder said. Chahu glared furiously. "Trading with the Central Plains brings money, but making enemies of the Xiongnu and Black Qiang gets us killed!" Another middle-aged man spoke up. "Everyone, do not panic just yet. It is not as though we lack the strength to fight." Chahu retorted, "Facing only the Black Qiang would be one thing, but behind the Black Qiang stands the Xiongnu!" Asuli glanced at Chahu. "We discussed this last time. The Xiongnu will not waste time and strength on us. As long as we hold out for a while, the Xiongnu will naturally withdraw." Chahu muttered, "My fear is that we won't last that while." The gray-haired elder glanced sideways at Chahu. "The Prince of Zhenxi is right here at our court. If he isn't anxious, what are you in such a frenzy about?" "He could at any time—" Chahu tried to argue. "Five thousand cavalry are already blocking the way between our court and Lingwu Pass! If he is in no danger, neither are we! How can you not even grasp that simple logic?" The elder scolded angrily, "Since our strategy of allying with the Central Plains and resisting the Black Qiang has already been settled, stop stirring up trouble at the eleventh hour!" At that, Chahu fell silent. Their debate then shifted back to whether they should launch a raid while the Black Qiang were still settling in, or entrench themselves in the royal court to await reinforcements from the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor. "Wait for reinforcements, of course." Gulanrena pushed aside the door curtain and entered. "The Prince of Zhenxi came to oversee matters in the White Qiang specifically for this moment. We need do nothing except defend the royal court and wait quietly for the manor to break the enemy." Asuli rose abruptly to his feet, asking in pleasant surprise, "His Highness has a plan?" Gulanrena was left utterly speechless. Qiao Riyan had come on behalf of the Xiongnu to propose unifying the two Qiang factions. Once Asuli rejected it, Qiao Riyan had feigned departure, only to lay a trap aiming to kill Wang Yu and capture Atuke and Ardai. It was glaringly obvious that they were bent on targeting the White Qiang! If the White Qiang would not agree to unite willingly, they would be annexed by force! After slaying Qiao Riyan, anyone with half a brain knew that the other Xiongnu envoy would certainly urge the Black Qiang to take up arms. If Wang Yu had no plan, he would surely have returned to Lingwu Pass long ago—or at the very least urged Asuli to strike camp and migrate the royal court further south to form a mutually supporting horn with Lingwu Pass. How could he possibly remain here as if he had nothing to do? Besides, even if one looked down on Wang Yu, one shouldn't assume Yan Xiangxue couldn't see through it either. Yet here everyone was, foolishly waiting for the Black Qiang to attack before trying to devise a plan? Still, Asuli being like this had its merits: at least he listened to counsel and lacked wild ambitions. Having not waged war for decades, he had allowed the White Qiang nomads' livelihoods to steadily improve. In short, every gain came with a loss; where under heaven could one find absolute perfection? Therefore, Gulanrena nodded. "His Highness has a plan, and my master knows of it as well. She sent me specifically to put your minds at ease. Pay no heed to the Black Qiang's provocations, and take care not to fall into their traps. Just firmly defend the royal court, and when they attack, beat them back." Chahu asked, "What is this plan?" Gulanrena glanced at him, saying coolly, "Warfare is a matter of vital importance to the state, the province of life and death, the path to survival or ruin. How can it be blared for the whole world to hear?" Chahu argued, "We aren't outsiders!" Gulanrena shook her head. "If you are not outsiders, all the more reason you need not know. Do you not even trust my master?" Once those words were uttered, Chahu could ask no further. Yan Xiangxue had sheltered the White Qiang for nearly fifty years, revered like a living deity in the hearts of the White Qiang people. Chahu dared not question her. Thus, the plan was settled. Ignoring the five thousand cavalry blocking the route between the White Qiang Royal Court and Lingwu Pass, Asuli mustered ten thousand White Qiang horsemen to keep their eyes fixed solely on the Black Qiang King's main force of fifteen thousand. If the enemy does not move, we do not move. *** The scouts at Lingwu Pass received the intelligence as well. "Five thousand Black Qiang cavalry are blocking the road—all elite troops—severing communication between Lingwu Pass and the White Qiang Royal Court," a Lingwu Pass scout reported. "We are currently unable to scout the situation over at the White Qiang Royal Court." Lu Yunzhou, General of the Chengyuan Army, remarked, "The Black Qiang have fewer than eighteen thousand deployable troops. Three thousand were assigned to Jinfeng Pass, and five thousand to Lingwu Pass. That should leave the Black Qiang King with no more than ten thousand cavalry, roughly equal to the White Qiang's mounted force." Li Yunxiu asked, "If the Black Qiang King calls upon the elderly and weak, how many troops could he muster?" Lu Yunzhou furrowed his brow. "If he completely disregards the defense of their homeland, he could probably scrape together another eight to ten thousand. Any more would disrupt the spring and summer herding." Li Yunxiu nodded. "Then let us calculate based on twenty thousand." "In that case, the White Qiang will find it grueling to hold out." Lu Yunzhou stood and requested orders. "This general is willing to lead troops into battle to force the Black Qiang King to peel off more of his main force here, easing the pressure on His Highness." Zhao Defang, Commandant of the Iron Eagle Cavalry, stood as well. "The Chengyuan Army consists mostly of infantry; well-suited for garrisoning fortresses, but lacking in open-field battles. Let me go instead."