"Giddy up... giddy up... giddy up..."
On a certain day in the third year of Emperor Yuanjia of Yan, during the fifth year of Yongping, Murong Huiying, daughter of Yan's Left Worthy King Murong Boliye, led over a hundred elite cavalrymen from the Huolie Camp to Xu Prefecture.
"Princess, why have you come here?" asked Murong Tengge, who came to greet Murong Huiying.
Murong Huiying had always accompanied her father on campaigns, so Murong Tengge found her sudden arrival at Xu Prefecture rather strange.
Could it be for Zhou Fugui? Murong Tengge wondered to himself.
But Zhou Fugui was no longer in Xu Prefecture, which made Murong Tengge somewhat troubled.
"The war is not going well. My father has ordered me to return and see if we can requisition more reinforcements," Murong Huiying replied.
"The war is not going well? What does the Princess mean...?" Murong Tengge asked in surprise.
Murong Tengge was the foremost resourceful and courageous general of the Great Yan, considered its God of War. The fact that he was now sending the Princess back to requisition reinforcements indicated that Murong Tengge's forces must be in an extremely difficult situation.
"My father is leading his army in fierce battles with the Southern Army's Zhang Huchen in the vicinity of Hefei. However, they were ambushed and outmaneuvered by Min Wuyan's forces on the left flank. Alas, Uncle Tengge, although Min Wuyan's troops are numerous, they are almost all local levies and militia. My father underestimated them, hence a small defeat," Murong Huiying replied casually.
The true situation at Hefei was that Murong Tengge's forces had suffered another major defeat, and Murong Tengge himself had nearly been captured and killed by Min Wuyan. The situation was dire, which was why Murong Tengge had sent Murong Huiying to Xu Prefecture to mobilize troops.
"Little Fengxian Min Wuyan?" Murong Tengge blurted out the name in surprise.
"Oh? Uncle also knows this person?" Murong Huiying glanced at Murong Tengge before saying, "This man is valiant and fierce, cunning and strategic. He always leads his troops from the front, and his army maintains strict discipline, committing no offense. His fighting strength is formidable, truly a formidable enemy for our Great Yan."
"Why are there so many valiant warriors in the Southern Dynasty?" Murong Tengge sighed. "Princess, the King wishes to mobilize troops for another battle, but there are no troops to be mobilized in Xu Prefecture."
"Why is that?" Murong Huiying inquired.
Xu Prefecture had over thirty thousand elite cavalry under Murong Wang and his son, plus over ten thousand troops under Murong Tengge, and more who had returned as stragglers. Thus, there should have been over a hundred thousand soldiers.
"The Southern Army's forces from Runan and Jiangxia have invaded our territory. Tengge has ordered Zhou Fugui and the armies of Albugu and Barhu, nearly ten thousand men, to proceed to Luyi to resist them. All three camps are under Zhou Fugui's command. I heard that the Southern Army has also invaded Donghai Commandery. However, the Right Worthy King's thirty thousand elite cavalry are unwilling... Alas, Princess, Tengge currently has no troops to spare," Murong Tengge sighed.
"Hmph, are they still thinking of...?" Murong Huiying suddenly recalled something and asked, "What did you say? Fugui... where did Commander Zhou's camp go?"
"Zhou Fugui led the White Tiger Camp, Albugu's forces, and Barhu's forces to Luyi to resist the enemy," Murong Tengge replied in surprise.
"Foolish, Uncle Tengge, you are truly foolish," Murong Huiying said with great urgency.
"Hmm? Princess, why do you say that?" Murong Tengge asked, a hint of displeasure in his voice.
"Commander Zhou's camp has always been at odds with Albugu and the others. Don't you know that?" Murong Huiying replied. "You placed Albugu and Barhu under his command? Disunity among commanders leads to defeat. Why didn't you go to Luyi yourself? Uncle Tengge, Zhou Fugui is likely to face grave danger. I predict they will surely be defeated."
When the armies of Runan and Jiangxia of the Xia army invaded, Murong Tengge's best course of action would have been to either have Zhou Fugui lead the troops alone to resist the enemy, or to let Albugu, Barhu, and the others go. By placing all three camps under Zhou Fugui's command, it meant the Xianbei were subordinate to the Han. How could the Xianbei like Albugu and Barhu be convinced? They would surely hinder Zhou Fugui in various ways, and it would be fortunate if they didn't seek revenge.
Murong Huiying, having followed her father on campaigns for many years, understood military leadership well.
At this moment, Murong Huiying even worried that Zhou Fugui might defect to the Xia.
"What? Princess, are you being alarmist?" Murong Tengge asked angrily, half-believing, half-doubting.
I think you're just worried, Murong Tengge thought to himself.
"Hmph!" Murong Huiying did not wish to explain further to Murong Tengge. She snorted and then ordered her subordinates, "Let's go!"
After speaking, Murong Huiying lashed her whip, urged her horse, and galloped towards Luyi, followed closely by over a hundred cavalrymen from the Huolie Camp.
"Ah? Princess, where are you going?" Murong Tengge cried out in distress.
At this moment, Murong Tengge was again hesitant, unsure whether to send troops to reinforce Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying, or to continue defending Xu Prefecture, or to first consult with Murong Wang and his son.
...
"Elder Aunt, searching like this is like finding a needle in a haystack. When will we find Commander Zhou's camp? Perhaps we should return," said Su Heba, a flag general of the Huolie Camp, to Murong Huiying. "Elder Aunt, it is not that your subordinates are timid, but that we are concerned for your safety."
Murong Huiying and the over a hundred elite cavalrymen of the Huolie Camp had been galloping westward in search of Zhou Fugui's ten thousand troops. After several days of searching, Zhou Fugui's ten thousand troops seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.
Furthermore, the further west Murong Huiying went, the more Xia soldiers she encountered. If not for Murong Huiying and her small contingent being a small target, they might have already been surrounded by the Xia army.
Murong Huiying gave no comment and pointed to a desolate village with her whip, saying, "Let's rest there first."
Night was falling, and there were faint wisps of smoke from a desolate village. Murong Huiying and the over a hundred Yan cavalrymen cautiously approached the village.
"Impressive, impressive!"
Murong Huiying and her men quietly infiltrated the desolate village and, near a dilapidated house, heard voices inside. Murong Huiying signaled her subordinates to surround the house.
"Brother Lin, quickly tell us what happened."
"We, over thirty thousand troops, attacked these mere less than ten thousand barbarians, but after losing five or six thousand men, we still haven't broken through them."
"Alas, the fighting strength of these Xianbei barbarians cannot be underestimated."
"Indeed, they are extremely formidable."
"Wrong, wrong, you are all wrong."
"Brother He, where are we wrong?"
"The barbarians indeed had nearly ten thousand troops. However, thousands fled before any engagement, leaving only about three thousand. And I heard these three thousand are not Xianbei barbarians, but Han soldiers among the barbarians."
"Han soldiers among the barbarians? Then they are Han rebels. Are Han rebels this strong?"
"Whether they are strong or not, I don't know. But our army has been unable to break through for a long time, and the generals are continuously deploying troops."
"Enter! Leave two alive!" Murong Huiying, who had been listening outside, could no longer bear it and waved her hand to give the order.
With that, over a hundred warriors of the Huolie Camp kicked open the door, swords in hand, and stormed in. Screams and sounds of combat erupted.
...
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"The barbarian chieftain is in the valley, kill our way in!"
Murong Tengge was right. Concern indeed made one reckless. After learning the general direction of Zhou Fugui and his White Tiger Camp, Murong Huiying led her men to search for them without hesitation. As a result, she did not find Zhou Fugui but ran into the Xia army.
Murong Huiying and over a hundred elite cavalrymen of the Yan army charged northeast towards Luyi, attempting to break through the encirclement using their cavalry's speed. However, Murong Huiying and her men were too few in number. After fighting through the night, they were surrounded by the Xia army in an unnamed valley near Luyi.
The unnamed valley was a dead end, with only one entrance and no exit. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with cliffs soaring into the clouds. It was also extremely wet and slippery, making it impossible for birds to fly over or monkeys to climb.
Murong Huiying and over a hundred warriors of the Huolie Camp had engaged in fierce battle with the Xia army for a night, losing more than half their strength, leaving only forty to fifty men. Fortunately, the valley entrance was narrow, located on a hillside, and the warriors of the Huolie Camp were all brave and skilled fighters, which allowed them to hold on until dawn.
However, as dawn approached, it was not good news for Murong Huiying and her men. This was because at night, the Xia army did not know the true strength of Murong Huiying's forces, and thus dared not attack with full force. By daylight, everything would be exposed under the sun.
The time just before dawn is called "fúxiǎo," also known as "límíng." Límíng is the beginning of the day. At dawn, the sun rises in the east, and all things awaken, appearing full of vitality. However, the dawn in this unnamed valley presented a scene of immense carnage. The valley entrance was piled high with dismembered corpses, both Xia and Yan soldiers, almost filling the entire entrance. There were broken limbs, arrows, broken weapons, and countless horse carcasses lying haphazardly, emitting a foul stench.
Warhorses were the second life of the warriors of the Huolie Camp. The death of their steeds indicated their determination to fight to the death and that the situation had reached a critical juncture.
"Charge in! Capture the barbarian chieftain alive! A great reward awaits!"
Below the slope at the valley entrance, the Xia general, with the aid of the morning light, had clearly seen the situation of Murong Huiying and her men. Although they were still fighting valiantly, their numbers were extremely small. Thus, he raised his saber and loudly ordered the Xia soldiers to attack the valley once more.
The desperate resistance of the Yan army made it clear that there must be one or more important figures in the valley, perhaps even the commander of the White Tiger Camp, Zhou Fugui, whom the Xia army detested.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Capture the barbarian chieftain alive! Capture the barbarian chieftain alive!"
Hundreds of Xia soldiers had completely surrounded the valley entrance. First, a volley of arrows rained down, followed by them brandishing various weapons, shouting to bolster their courage, and advancing in large strides towards the valley entrance.
"Elder Aunt... perhaps..." Su Heba, the flag general of the Huolie Camp, covered in wounds and too exhausted to stand, choked back his tears and looked at Murong Huiying with grief.
The Huolie Camp had run out of arrows. The remaining dozens of men were all wounded. The Huolie Camp could no longer resist the Xia army's attack.
"Since the Huolie Camp was established, there has never been anyone who surrendered to the enemy!" Murong Huiying said calmly.