usatvline Chapter 58 Hidden Dangers
Chapter 58 Hidden Dangers
The grasslands in the upper reaches of the Liao River are now covered in withered, yellow autumn grass, stretching to the horizon.
Only the tributaries of the Xilamulun River meander through, carving out shallow bays in the open land.
Liu Bei's central camp was set up on a high slope overlooking the river, with 9,500 cavalrymen stationed in a row, their horse posts stretching out and their banners fluttering in the wind.
The momentum of more than ten consecutive victories still lingered in the camp, but the atmosphere in the central command tent gradually sombered as the scouts from the four routes reported back.
The first to return to camp was Han Dang's scout, who knelt on one knee, slightly out of breath.
"Reporting to my lord, we have discovered traces of Xianbei cavalry thirty li to the west. They are in groups of thirty to fifty men, moving along the riverbank."
"We explored for ten miles and encountered at least seven groups of people. Judging from their banners, they were from the Suli tribe."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the scouts sent by Gongsun Zan lifted the curtain and entered the tent.
"Reporting to Your Excellency! Scouts have been spotted on the eastern grasslands, with their outposts extending all the way to the edge of the reed marshes. There are quite a few of them."
"Our men had barely gotten close when they were forced back by enemy cavalry archers. It was clear that they were blocking our western pastoral route."
Immediately afterwards, the scouts sent out by Yan Gang and Xu Rong reported back one after another.
On the pastoral route heading south to western Liaoning, the cavalry of the Suli tribe had already begun to set up checkpoints in sections.
The scouts that went out first only traveled thirty li before being forced back by a large contingent of Xianbei cavalry.
Meanwhile, in the Liaohe Bay area to the north, the banners of the long-lost main force of the Queji army finally reappeared.
At least six thousand cavalry are slowly advancing, and their camps have already been set up thirty miles away.
The tent fell silent instantly, with only the wind outside rustling the banners.
Gongsun Zan broke the silence first, leaning the double-edged halberd to his side.
"Are you all panicking?"
"They're just a bunch of scattered soldiers, loitering around in the distance."
"We have defeated more than twenty of Queji's battalions in succession. He's scared after being beaten so badly that he's just sending some men out to make a show of force. Does he really have the troops to surround us?"
"If they dare to come, my White Horse Cavalry will just kill a few more of their generals!"
Han Dang immediately chimed in, patting the newly acquired curved sword at his waist and grinning, "Brother Bo Gui is right!"
"The Xianbei have long been terrified by us. Even if Queji joins forces with Suli and Huaitou, what can they do?"
"Our nine thousand iron cavalry, each rider on two horses, move like the wind. They'd better have the teeth to stop us!"
The two were young and ambitious, and after more than ten days of winning streak, they were at the height of their arrogance.
They dismissed the Xianbei cavalry's bluff as mere posturing and paid them no heed.
Yan Gang frowned, his fingertips tracing the map on the table: "That's not right!"
"There are Xianbei scouts in all four directions: east, west, south, and north. This doesn't seem like a bluff; they're blocking our way."
"That old scoundrel Que Ji is probably up to no good."
Cheng Pu nodded and said in a deep voice, "General Yan is absolutely right; we must not be careless!"
"We advanced more than 900 li northward, and when we left Yangle, we only brought ten days' worth of provisions. We relied entirely on the enemy for food along the way."
"Once the escape route is cut off, it will be a dilemma where we have no choice but to move forward or backward."
"In my opinion, we should immediately gather our troops and retreat south quickly; otherwise, things may change!"
The tent instantly split into two factions.
Gongsun Zan and Han Dang strongly advocated continuing the northward advance and directly attacking the royal camp at Queji.
Yan Gang and Cheng Pu advocated a safe retreat to the south to avoid getting into danger.
The two sides held their own views and could not reach a consensus.
Throughout the entire process, Liu Bei remained seated in the main seat, without uttering a single word.
He lowered his eyes, his dark pupils falling on the map, scanning the traces of the Xianbei in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
This was an instinct ingrained in his bones from a lifetime of battles. Before him were only a few scattered cavalrymen, but he could already sense the overwhelming killing intent hidden deep within the grasslands.
Just as the argument inside the tent was escalating, Tian Yu, who had been standing silently beside the map, suddenly spoke up.
He stepped forward, bowed to the generals, and spoke in a clear yet heavy voice, instantly silencing the noise in the tent.
"Generals, please calm down."
Tian Yu paused for a moment, then continued, "Right now we seem to have the upper hand, but in reality we are already standing on the edge of a cliff."
"Just as Inspector Cheng said, our supplies all come from plundering the Ministry of Works."
"Now that he has made this arrangement, regardless of whether the Suli tribe or the Huai leader assist in encircling and suppressing us, he has certainly already implemented a scorched-earth policy!"
"This can be seen from the fact that you have been receiving less and less these past few days!"
"So, whether there's an ambush or not, we're in danger!"
The generals inside the tent finally panicked and all looked at Liu Bei, who was in the main seat.
Only then did Liu Bei slowly raise his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent.
"Guorang is right, and I predict that the encirclement will be completed in a day at most."
In one sentence, he shattered everyone's hopes.
Cheng Pu immediately stepped forward: "My lord! There is no time to lose! We must immediately retreat south with the entire army, and before the Xianbei's retreat is blocked, we must charge back to Liaoxi!"
"No!"
Tian Yu immediately shook his head, "The pastoral route heading south is the narrowest, with river bends and reed marshes on both sides."
"Moreover, since the banner of Suli has appeared, he must have placed his most elite troops here, and he must have calculated that we would run back."
"If we retreat south now, we'll be walking right into his trap and we'll surely die."
Gongsun Zan said urgently, "If retreating south is impossible, then let's advance north. Let's just kill Que Ji and try our best to escape!"
Xu Rong shook his head and said, "No!"
"Having already made preparations, they will surely be on high alert."
"Besides, even if we kill Que Ji, we probably still won't be able to control Su Li and Huai Tou!"
Tian Yu added, "Besides, we're not from the grasslands, and winter is just around the corner. We probably won't be able to withstand the harsh cold if we go north!"
The generals argued endlessly. Some suggested heading east, but that east was also Huaitou's main base and Changbai Mountain.
Some say that going west is possible because the west is the stronghold of Tan Shihuai.
Liu Bei pointed sharply to the southwest side of the map and said resolutely, "Southwest!"
"This is probably our only way out!"
Tian Yu understood immediately and explained, "In order to avoid the epidemic, the main force of the Suli tribe moved at least several hundred miles north, which is theoretically to our northwest."
"His flag appeared behind us, which must be to prevent us from moving south."
"Therefore, their main force must be concentrated in the south, and there must be a weak point between the south and the northwest where their main force is located!"
Tian Yu carefully examined the map and exclaimed excitedly, "The shallows of the Xilamulun River are the weakest point in the Xianbei's defenses, and also our only chance to break through!"
"Once we break through this gap, we can follow the edge of the grassland, meander around to Youbeiping, and completely escape Queji's encirclement!"
The generals inside the tent instantly surrounded the map, and upon seeing the gap that Tian Yu had pointed out, their faces showed a look of sudden realization.
All eyes were once again on Liu Bei, who admired his keen strategic vision and calm and composed demeanor.