Chapter Twenty-Four: The Battle of the Stable Servants

Yuyang Commandery was one of the most populous regions in Youzhou, and every time the Wuhuan raiders came for plunder, it was their inevitable destination.

Jiu Xi County, lying at the northernmost tip of Yuyang, served as the shield against the Wuhuan incursion. Should the Wuhuan ever break through the walls of Jiu Xi, the Han armies would have no means left to halt their iron cavalry.

Just five li outside the city of Jiu Xi, a military camp stood, brimming with Wuhuan horsemen.

“Brother, we’ve been attacking for five days straight and still haven’t breached the city. What are we going to do? This time, Uncle Quli Ju finally entrusted us with the task of taking Yuyang Commandery—we can’t let him down.” The speaker was a short, sly-looking Wuhuan.

“Quli Yan, don’t worry. The warriors of the Wuhuan are invincible. The Han forces have suffered heavy losses these past days. After all, our people are born heroes on horseback—sieges aren’t our strong suit. But if we keep at it, the city will fall eventually.” The other man, tall and handsome, was equally Wuhuan.

These two were none other than the commanders of this Wuhuan force, Quli Tu and Quli Yan—both nephews of Quli Ju. Judging by their looks, it would be hard to believe they were brothers. Their command was owed entirely to their uncle’s influence; in truth, both were nothing more than brainless scions.

“When did these Han become so formidable? They’ve killed so many of our Wuhuan brothers! If I catch them, I’ll twist off their heads myself,” Quli Yan growled.

“What’s there to fear? Let’s rest tonight and attack again tomorrow. We must take that wretched county, slaughter everyone inside, and seize all their grain and treasure,” Quli Tu said, his face twisted in rage.

“Right. Tomorrow we’ll take it for sure.” With that, the two of them returned to their tents for the night.

Meanwhile, inside the county yamen of Jiu Xi, Gao Shun and Tian Chou sat together in the main hall.

“Zi Tai, how heavy are our losses?” Gao Shun asked, his face drawn with worry.

“Alas, Brother Gao, in five days we’ve lost fifteen hundred infantry from the three battalions, with two hundred gravely wounded. The number of lightly wounded is beyond count,” Tian Chou replied with a sigh.

“Damn it! Have those Wuhuan gone mad? They’ve stormed the walls nonstop for five days, all of them fighting as if their lives meant nothing. Were it not for my elite Assault Battalion, this little city would have fallen already!” Gao Shun slammed his fist on the table in anger.

“Indeed. Jiu Xi was but a small county to begin with, its walls built only of packed earth and stone. These past days the Wuhuan have battered them full of holes—by tomorrow, they’ll likely collapse,” Tian Chou said helplessly.

“Jiu Xi is the gateway to Yuyang. Even if it costs me my life, I’ll hold it. I won’t let a single Wuhuan set foot in the region,” Gao Shun declared, leaping to his feet, his face resolute.

“Exactly, Brother Gao. Even if we’re ground to dust, we must hold Jiu Xi. Otherwise, how could we ever face our lord after he entrusted us with such responsibility?” Tian Chou echoed, his tone equally unwavering.

“Hahaha, before you two get ground to dust, you’d best see if I’ll allow it!” A burst of laughter rang out from the doorway.

Gao Shun and Tian Chou turned at the sound. Wasn’t it Liu Yao and Tian Feng approaching?

“Greetings, my lord!” The two of them saluted Liu Yao, their faces alight with excitement.

“Rise. Why is it that the moment I arrive, I hear talk of dying for the cause? That’s hardly auspicious,” Liu Yao teased.

Both Gao Shun and Tian Chou blushed, stammering for words. Seeing this, Liu Yao let the matter drop.

“My lord, what brings you and Yuanhao here? Has the Wuhuan near Ji County been dealt with?” Gao Shun inquired.

“That’s right. Two days ago, we wiped out the Wuhuan cavalry there. I then led five thousand horsemen here at top speed. To avoid alerting the Wuhuan, I had Yide and Hansheng station the cavalry five li outside Jiu Xi, while Yuanhao and I entered the city ahead to assess the situation. But from what I see, things here aren’t going well,” Liu Yao said, displeasure in his voice.

“This is all my fault, my lord. Please punish me,” Gao Shun said, dropping to his knees. After all, he was in command.

“My lord, it’s not Brother Gao’s fault—the Wuhuan have simply been too fanatical,” Tian Chou quickly defended him.

Liu Yao frowned. “Zi Tai, tell me what happened.”

“My lord, for some reason the Wuhuan have gone mad. They’re cavalrymen, yet they’ve been throwing themselves at the walls as if their lives meant nothing. Each one fights with reckless abandon, and our losses have been heavy. Even the walls are about to give way,” Tian Chou explained.

“Strange. The Wuhuan came to plunder—this makes no sense,” Liu Yao said, deeply puzzled.

“My lord, I do have a theory.” This time, Tian Feng spoke up.

“Oh? Yuanhao, let’s hear it.”

“My lord, there’s only one explanation for the Wuhuan’s actions—their commanders know nothing of military strategy,” Tian Feng declared.

“That’s impossible. Why would the Wuhuan entrust their army to an incompetent commander? Do they think their forces are inexhaustible?” Liu Yao was incredulous.

“My lord,” Gao Shun interjected, “I remember now—when both sides announced themselves before the battle, the enemy commanders claimed to be nephews of Quli Ju, King of the Wuhuan, and spoke with great arrogance.”

“So they really are a pair of useless scions,” Liu Yao realized, and all the previous oddities made perfect sense.

“My lord, I have a strategy I’d like to propose,” said Tian Feng.

“Oh?” Liu Yao looked at him in delight. “Yuanhao, do tell.”

“My lord, since the Wuhuan commander is impulsive and ignorant of strategy, he’ll almost certainly attack again tomorrow as before. Since our walls can’t hold much longer, perhaps instead of defending, we should deliberately let them in,” Tian Feng said unhurriedly.

“So you mean to set traps inside the city, luring them into our net?” Liu Yao grasped the idea at once.

“Precisely,” Tian Feng nodded.

“Good, Yuanhao. Since this is your plan, I’ll leave the orders to you,” Liu Yao said offhandedly.

“Understood.” Tian Feng bowed deeply, grateful for the trust his lord had placed in him.

“Tian Chou, gather all the townsfolk immediately and move them somewhere safe—whatever happens, they must not come to harm.”

“Yes, my lord. Most of the people fled when the Wuhuan first arrived; only a few remain, and I’ll make sure they’re settled safely.”

“As for you, Gao Shun, prepare all available combustibles, demolish the houses near the gates and the walls, and lay traps everywhere.”

“At once, my lord.”

With that, the two men hurried out to make preparations.

“My lord, please send orders to Generals Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong to lie in ambush nearby. Should any Wuhuan escape, they’ll be there to cut them down,” Tian Feng advised cautiously.

“Very well, I understand.” Liu Yao wrote a letter and dispatched a skilled soldier to deliver it secretly to Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong.

The night passed quickly. As dawn broke and the sun began to rise, bathing the earth in crimson light, it was as if the heavens themselves were foretelling a day of bloodshed.