Chapter 39: Yan Dan Travels North to Liaodong
Amidst the thunderous shouts, General Imu could only clench his fists in anger and bow his head in frustration! A tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs—now even Dahar, that useless wretch, dared to scheme against him! Seizing upon a just cause for rebellion at last, Dahar’s gaze toward Imu was filled with respect. This general was not only perceptive but a timely savior; now, Siter and the others would surely wish to devour Imu alive.
“Since the general is willing, we shall join the Northern King’s army, surround and purge the traitorous Donghu, and avenge the chieftain of the Qishan tribe. Does this please the commanders?”
Ignoring General Imu, who seemed on the verge of bursting with rage, the commanders immediately shouted their assent.
“We obey the general’s order—”
“We obey the general’s order—avenge the Qishan chieftain—”
From the commotion behind, Siter and his cohort quickly grasped the situation! Imu’s deputy, Aru, had just tried to slip away when Siter ran him through with a halberd. Dahar’s sudden betrayal not only cut off the Donghu army’s retreat but also shattered Siter’s plan to escape in the chaos.
“Well done, Dahar and General Imu! You’re both impressive! Now even the ghost of Qishan’s death is pinned on me!” Siter knew full well—the two had already colluded with the Northern army.
The other tribal leaders, realizing the truth, were thrown into panic.
“General Siter, what should we do?”
“General, the Northern army—they’re on the move!”
War drums thundered as a carriage, accompanied by four divisions of Black Tiger armored warriors, began forcing its way toward the Donghu lines.
Boom, boom, boom—
With the drums, Dahar’s troops quickly formed up, preparing to charge.
General, curse you! Even at this moment, the other tribal leaders were still trying to set him up!
“Enough! If that’s how it is, we have no choice!” Having thought it through, Siter gave up on fleeing. The Donghu now could neither fight nor retreat, and forty thousand horsemen anxiously awaited their leaders’ command.
“Each of you must decide your own fate now!”
“Warriors of the Fuyu tribe, dismount and surrender!”
Siter was the first to leap off his horse, and soon twenty thousand warriors in the center followed suit.
“Ah, surrendering might be for the best!”
Seeing Dahar and Imu surrender, the other chieftains likewise ordered their men to dismount and yield.
Seeing Siter surrender, Dahar could only sheathe his cherished sword in disappointment—it seemed the matter of his father-in-law’s death would have to wait for another day to be settled with Siter!
With the Donghu surrendering, Lin Shu accepted all who came without exception, folding Siter and the others into his command.
…
After resting for two days on the grasslands, Lin Shu ordered forty thousand infantry and over seventy thousand cavalry to split into two columns and march into the heart of Donghu territory.
The Western Army, with twenty thousand infantry and forty thousand cavalry, advanced toward the Greater Khingan Mountains, led by the Moon Goddess, Xuan Jian, and the Junior Fatekeeper. The Eastern Army, with twenty thousand infantry and over thirty thousand cavalry, was led by Lin Shu and Jing Ni, tasked with subjugating the tribes of the Northeast before capturing Yan’s Liaodong and Liaoxi regions.
Though the Northern Army had forty thousand infantry, they were not short on horses; over a hundred thousand men all rode out together.
With traitors Imu, Siter, and Dahar leading the way, the Donghu King and the great tribal chieftains had no chance to escape—they were either captured or destroyed.
After the main force under Imu was annihilated and surrendered, the Donghu were left with only eighty thousand warriors capable of fighting. As the Northern Army advanced, more tribes surrendered, and in less than ten days, the entire Donghu was utterly wiped out.
With the fall of Donghu, Lin Shu halted to reorganize the troops and began planning the construction of fortresses.
The destruction of Donghu shocked not only the Xiongnu but also left the states of Yan and Zhao in disbelief!
A foe with whom they had fought for centuries was simply gone!
…
Though Zhao shared little border with Donghu, Yan’s Liaodong and Liaoxi regions were almost encircled by Donghu. When Lin Shu’s army paused outside Yan’s Great Wall to rest, the Yan troops in northern Liaodong immediately treated the situation as if facing a formidable enemy.
At the capital city of Ji, the grand hall of the Yan Palace.
As soon as the court assembly began, the Grand General stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, Donghu has been destroyed, but the newly risen Northern Army has gathered tens of thousands at our borders. We must send more troops to guard Liaodong.”
King Xi of Yan had already learned most of this yesterday, but the ministers and generals were still unaware.
“General Lejian, there are a hundred thousand men stationed along the Great Wall in Liaodong and Liaoxi. Do you really think cavalry can breach our fortresses?” scoffed Ju Xin, the king’s favorite. Donghu often massed troops before, but never managed to break through the Great Wall’s defenses.
King Xi nodded in secret; he, too, thought the general was overreacting.
“Your Majesty, reports say the Northern Army has already conquered tribes for thousands of miles to the north. Now, only the Xiongnu and the Yuezhi of western Qin remain in the steppe!”
“A month ago, the Northern Army had sixty thousand men, while Donghu had two hundred thousand cavalry. Yet within a month, Donghu was defeated and surrendered. This Northern Army is certainly no ordinary force!”
“Reports from Liaodong say thousands of Northern Army soldiers are equipped with swords, armor, bows, and crossbows—their gear is even superior to ours…”
General Lejian gave a detailed account, convinced that this Northern Army was nothing like the old Donghu horsemen!
Hearing this, King Xi and his ministers no longer dared treat the matter lightly.
“Lejian, how many more troops are needed for Liaodong?”
With such a mighty new force rising, King Xi dared not leave it unchecked. Yan had three million people and three hundred thousand troops, but needed to guard against Zhao and Qi as well, leaving little in reserve.
“Your Majesty, at least one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand troops are needed to secure northern Liaodong!”
Lejian hoped for at least a hundred thousand to be sent north, but the capital could not be left undefended.
Seeing the king hesitate, Lejian grew anxious.
Fortunately, an old minister could bear it no longer!
“Your Majesty, if the Northern Army could sweep half the steppe and is now massing near our border, if they intend to move south, they could deploy at least two or three hundred thousand men!”
“Moreover, the Liaodong-Liaoxi line stretches over a thousand miles—a hundred thousand troops would scarcely suffice! To be safe, we must send reinforcements—preferably another hundred thousand!”
Counselor Ju Wu bowed gravely, having already seen the crisis brewing along the northern front.
A hundred thousand! That was impossible!
“Marshal Wuyangjing, you are to assemble fifty thousand troops and take command in Liaodong to repel the nomads!”
“Prince Dan, you shall accompany the army as well!”
One hundred and fifty thousand troops—half of Yan’s army—King Xi was uneasy letting anyone else take sole command.
“We obey, Your Majesty.”
Marshal Wuyangjing accepted at once, unsurprised that the prince would serve as military overseer.
The young Prince Yan Dan bowed calmly, showing no sign of excitement.
Lord Yanchun, thinking of Liaodong’s bitter cold, quietly swallowed his words. The last thing he wanted was for Yan Dan to gain a chance at military power! Nor did he wish to go himself, so he said no more.
With the king’s decision to send troops, Lejian felt relieved, though disappointed not to go himself.
No one else objected, but a middle-aged nobleman stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, merely defending is too costly. Why not let the prince first probe their strength, then negotiate and persuade the nomads to withdraw? That way, our army won’t be wasted in the north.”
Lord Yanchun secretly rejoiced—he could not allow Yan Dan an easy time!
King Xi nodded with satisfaction; best to negotiate a withdrawal.
“Very well, Yan Dan, you shall serve as envoy to the Northern Army. Stabilize these barbarians—offer them some wealth or supplies if needed!”
Ju Wu frowned; though this was the king and Lord Yanchun’s decision, he could say no more.
“We obey, Your Majesty!”
Prince Dan’s expression remained calm, but inwardly he was far from confident.
With other matters settled, the court adjourned early.
As the crowd dispersed, Prince Dan quickly joined his tutor, the wise Ju Wu.
Once in the carriage, Yan Dan spoke anxiously, “Master, I have no idea what to do in Liaodong!”
“Your Highness, do not worry. Once there, first investigate, then make your plans. Negotiation may not be easy—if you are not confident, do not go in person!”
“If the Northern Army intends to march, things could change within a month!”
Having said this, Ju Wu sank into thought, knowing that Lord Yanchun had set a trap for Yan Dan—troubles would be many in the days to come.
“Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will uncover the true strength of the Northern Army!”
Yan Dan understood as well: any force capable of conquering half the steppe was now Yan’s greatest enemy.
Three days later, the fifty thousand-strong Yan army mustered and began their march north to Liaodong.