The courier who reported back to Xian Yu from the rear and the short, fierce trumpet calls sounded a sudden collapse of the southern Liaodong army.
It's not even an hour until dawn!
The Liaodong army is so inept in battle that the senior officials of Wei's army inside the main fortress are speechless for a moment.
"Your Majesty," Man Chang said decisively: "With three roads, the main force advances and breaks through the southern side. The enemy has already shown signs of defeat. It is necessary to cross all the cavalry and encircle all enemy infantry and cavalry. Follow up and capture Lianxue City!"
Sima Yi interjected, "General Man is right. We cannot let the Liaodong army into Liansui City; it might bring about another change of fortune!"
Cao Rui didn't hesitate either. He stood up and said, "All right. Order the cavalry to cross the river in their own formations. Feiyin Left Army will encircle Liansui City and retain the enemy's retreating troops. Zhonglingjun Guan Qiu Jian's troops will form an array to the east of the battlefield and repel the enemy!"
At the same time as Cao Rui issued his order, the Huns' cavalry from both the south and north sides nearly simultaneously approached the battlefield where the fighting was taking place.
Cao Shuang was at the front of the cavalry, although he didn't know the details of the battlefield, but the cavalry in the northeast direction did not turn west but continued to move in a northeast direction.
Doesn't this mean moving further away from the battlefield?
Cao Shuang studied the situation for a moment, showing no hesitation at all, and immediately turned his horse around to head back. He galloped straight to the forefront of Ke Bining's army array.
"General Khan, the enemy's cavalry suddenly retreated eastward. Are you willing to follow me to pursue them?"
Hearing the word "pursue," Ke Bining naturally nodded and agreed: "What is the command of Commander Cao?"
Cao Shuang said, "I and Commander Duan's 2,000 cavalry will accelerate northward. You will be on the south side. Let's work together to encircle this group of enemy troops and drive them eastward, how about?"
"This is a good idea," Ke Bining said: "How far do you want to drive them?"
Cao Shuang deliberated for a moment: "At least fifty li! In any case, we must prevent these cavalry from returning!"
"Good!" Ke Bining did not bow; instead, he responded with a fist clasp in accordance with the etiquette of the grasslands. Then, he raised his horsewhip, which was inlaid with golden threads, and forcefully flicked a few times through the air. He let out a long shout in the Xianbei language.
Bi Yan had just led his troops to travel less than five miles when he discovered that there were Wei army cavalry pursuing them. He didn't even have time to glance at the Wei flags, and he accelerated towards the direction of Xianping even more urgently.
Cao Shuang, of course, has studied military law. The current scene of the enemy troops should be pursued relentlessly as they appear to be retreating in a near panic. Ke Bining, who has fought numerous small and large battles on the grasslands, also instinctively judged that the cavalry pursuit was necessary.
The Liaodong army's situation at the Liansui battlefield followed suit, collapsing across the entire front.
The battle situation developed rapidly. At noon, Cao Rui had just climbed to the cityhead of Liansui City when Tian Yu brought Guongsun Yan over as a prisoner.
The iron helmet on Guongsun Yan's head was nowhere to be found, and most of his hairstyle was disheveled. The white strands of hair covered half of his face.
"Your Majesty, General Guongsun Yan, the commander of Liansui, has been brought here. Please Your Majesty have a look."
Cao Rui turned his gaze from the battlefield below Liansui City. The Wei soldiers were cleaning the battlefield there. There were two places where Liaodong army troops were surrounded in the south and north of the city. The Liaodong army soldiers who were kneeling to surrender were being individually disarmed by Wei soldiers.
"Are you Guongsun Yan?" Cao Rui asked: "Who led that group of cavalry that fled?"
Guongsun Yan was kneeling on the ground with his arms held by the Tiger Guards, not lifting his head or speaking a word.
Cao Rui stared at the armor on Guongsun Yan's body, which was different from the armor of Wei's army: "I will ask you directly. What do you have to say now? If you don't speak, I might as well spare your life."
"Who led that group of cavalry? Why is there so few troops here, and where is General Pungsun Yan's main force?"
Guongsun Yan abruptly lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes paired with the wild strands of white hair, resembling a fierce ghost. He shouted fiercely, "Cao thief! You and your army have invaded our borders and will surely meet a terrible end! Liaodong is the ancestral land of the Guongsun family. Return to the Central Plains as soon as possible!"
"What attitude is this when you come before me?" Cao Rui shook his head, and there was not even an angry expression on his face: "Chancellor, what's going on? Why do all people who criticize me call me 'Cao Thief'? Was it the same during the reign of Emperor Wu as well?"
Sima Yi awkwardly glanced at Guongsun Yan, and in a low voice said: "During the reign of Emperor Wu, the subject's position was low, and could not follow the monarch as I do today. Therefore, the subject does not know." "That's fine," Cao Rui waved his hand: "Guongsun Yan, my good intention of asking you was met with abuse. I intended to spare your life to see what would happen next, but there's no room for you anymore."
After saying this, Cao Rui gestured to Tian Yu: "This man has a desire for death, but we cannot let him die like this. Later on, have him executed along with the Guongsun clan."
"Yes, Your Highness," Tian Yu skillfully took a handkerchief from his pocket and covered Guongsun Yan's mouth, together with the Tiger Guards, pulling him out.
The city wall was quiet.
Cao Rui asked, "How are the movements of the cavalry divisions?"
Man Chang said respectfully, "The Feiyin Left Army, Sun Department of the Governor's Office, Cao Xuan and Duan Mo's Five Cavalry Camps departments, as well as the Xianbei Ke Bining department, are pursuing the Bi Yan department. The Xianbei Bubudigen and other departments, as well as the Hu lungou and other departments of the Xiongnu are assisting in supervising the surrender of enemy infantry."
"The rest of the officers, such as Wen Qin, Dai Ling, Jiang Wei, Huan Fan, and Guo Qiu Jian, are waiting for orders below the city wall."
Sima Yi spoke respectfully from the side: "Your Majesty, this place is about 110 miles from Xianping. The enemy's situation is unclear, and it's not appropriate to pursue them too far. They should be ordered to return to Liansui before nightfall."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "What do you think, the three of you?"
Man Chang said, "Your Majesty, Chancellor Sima's words are appropriate, and I agree."
Xu Zhu and Pei Qian were also in agreement.
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Alright, we will rest here at Liansui for one day today, and advance eastward tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will arrange this immediately," Man Chang bowed and replied.
After preparing for over ten days, they broke through the Liansui defense line in just one morning. However, Cao Rui did not feel particularly satisfied.
One-third of the main force was crossing the Lian River to transport supplies, one-third was sorting out prisoners and cleaning up the battlefield, and one-third was chasing the fleeing Bi Yan department.
After dinner, as night fell, Man Chang and Sima Yi came together in a hurry, leading a person from outside.
"Bo Ming?" Cao Rui looked surprised at Cuan Xiang, who should have been with Liu Ye on the northern route, and stood up to ask, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Liu Ye's army?"
Cuan Xiang bowed and made a salute, took a deep breath, and then bowed again: "Your Majesty, General Pungsun Yuan led the main force eastward to Goguryeo, intending to hide in the mountains of Goguryeo!"
"General Liu learned of this news in the city of Xuantu, in Goguryeo. He hastily dispatched the envoy to inform Your Majesty. Xianping is empty. Strike General Pungsun Yuan quickly!"
"Is this true?" Cao Rui's eyes shone brightly as he stared intently at Cuan Xiang.
"It's true and accurate!" Cuan Xiang said with a heaving chest: "General Liu abandoned Xuan Tou County and is following General Pungsun Yuan to pursue. Now, the army should be near Xianping."
Near Xianping? Isn't that where the Bi Yan department fleeing today is likely to encounter them?
Cao Rui was uncertain for a moment, and he walked a few steps with his hands behind his back in the hall before turning back to Sima Yi, "Chancellor, at noon you suggested that I withdraw the light cavalry. Do you have any plans now?"
Sima Yi bit his teeth and said, "Please allow Your Majesty a moment to consider this."
"Good!" Cao Rui nodded.
Sima Yi took a few deep breaths and then said with a bow, "Guongsun Yuan first abandoned the Liansui City, and then he abandoned Xianping and fled eastward, ignoring his realm only to seek escape. Although this man is still alive now, he is actually no different from the dead."
"Even Guongsun Yuan is like this, how much can the soldiers under him, Bi Yan, have in combat? I think we should dispatch all our mounted troops to ride at night and reach Xianping City before dawn. The enemy army will certainly lose heart and retreat!" (This chapter concludes)
