Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Requesting Reinforcements from the Empress Dowager?
Chapter 320: Requesting Reinforcements from the Empress Dowager?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
After Huai County was reclaimed and when most of Ming County’s towns had also been reclaimed by Qin Xiaoyao, the Liao army became even more uneasy.
At this moment, near High Pass Town, in the tent of Xiao Yuan, the Liao State’s Supreme Commander.
Xiao Yuan, who had received the latest battle report, had an indescribably ominous expression on his face.
The Liao army generals, who had been summoned for a meeting, all had tense expressions.
When they saw the Supreme Commander so enraged, they didn’t even dare to raise their heads, fearful that they would be blamed.
Xiao Tu’s mishap had already infuriated the Supreme Commander.
Now, not only was the murderer not punished, but he was also killing and exterminating their men. I low could the Supreme Commander not be angry?
Xiao Yuan was indeed furious at the moment, but he quickly placed the battle report in his hands on the army desk.
“We must break through High Pass Town,” he said in a low voice.
If they didn’t break through High Pass Town, there was a high probability that the men of the Liao State who were trapped in the Jin State would never return.
Those hateful Jin people made a gesture of seeking peace and deluded the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
As a result, he couldn’t deploy his full troop strength against High Pass Town.
However, the peace talks had been going on for almost a month, and they still hadn’t come to an agreement.
Previously, when the Great Jin State was at a disadvantage, they didn’t need to worry.
In any case, the longer they delayed, the more people and money the Liao army would be able to capture and plunder.
However, now, the situation had completely changed.
His only grandson had died on Jin soil. The Jin army also started to wipe out the Liao army within the Jin territory.
If this continued, the consequences would be too terrible to imagine.
Upon hearing this, the Liao generals, who had their heads lowered, exchanged glances with each other.
They all maintained their bowed posture, but no one spoke.
They wanted to break through High Pass Town too.
However, the Second Prince of the Jin State was different from the other useless military leaders of the Jin State. That person was famous for being brave and good at fighting.
All these years, whenever they encountered this adversary, they lost nine out of ten battles.
The only time they won was when the other side retreated of its own accord.
In this situation, it would be strange if the other side retreated.
High Pass Town was easy to defend and hard to attack by default, and the
Second Prince had a strong army of 50,000.
If they wanted to break through High Pass Town, only one word could describe this mission, namely “arduous.”
Xiao Yuan’s gaze turned to the generals.
When he saw everyone’s reaction, his expression turned grim.
“Gentlemen, don’t you have anything to say?” he immediately said.
Everyone remained silent.
Just as Xiao Yuan could not hold it in any longer and was about to blurt out in anger, someone finally spoke.
“Supreme Commander…” The one who spoke was a veteran general who had followed Xiao Yuan all this time.
“Speak,” Xiao Yuan responded when he saw him. He forced himself to suppress his anger.
The veteran general raised his head to look at Xiao Yuan, but he quickly lowered his head again.
“It’s too difficult to take down High Pass Town with our current military strength. However, if…”
“If what?” Xiao Yuan asked with displeasure.
“If His Majesty can send more troops to you, Supreme Commander…” The veteran general looked at Xiao Yuan tentatively.
When he saw Xiao Yuan looking at him, he quickly lowered his head again.
“We don’t need too many. Just 30,000 will do.
“With the bravery of our Liao soldiers, we can definitely take down High Pass Town.”
The Second Prince of the Jin State had 50,000 troops at High Pass Town, while they only had 4.0,000.
The other party also occupied a town that was easy to defend and hard to attack, not to mention the fact that the Liao army was outnumbered.
Despite the Liao army’s various provocations, the Jin army simply defended and refused to come out of the town.
Under such circumstances, it was almost impossible for them to take down High Pass Town.
If they wanted to take down High Pass Town, they could only attack by brute force and fight the other party with overwhelmingly superior troop numbers.
Weren’t there 50,000 troops at High Pass Town now? Then they would fight them with 70,000 troops.
The sons of the Liao State fought valiantly. Even if the other party had the geographical advantage, in a situation of seven against five, it was not impossible for them to win.
Xiao Yuan was silent.
He gazed down at the generals who were whispering and expressing their agreement, and his brows were tightly furrowed.
How could he not know that the Great Liao State would have to pay a huge price to break through High Pass Town?
However, if High Pass Town wasn’t broken, the Great Liao State’s losses would be even greater.
Furthermore, regarding the request for reinforcements from the rear, he had already written an appeal and had it sent back to the capital.
However, the decree to send more troops did not come.
Now, the capital was still waiting for the Great Jin State to take the initiative to make peace. They were not willing to deploy more troops.
If the reinforcements did not come, Xiao Yuan would not dare to act rashly. Otherwise, they would be sending their troops to their deaths at High Pass Town.
He could only watch helplessly as the situation developed in an unfavorable direction, but there was nothing he could do.
“Supreme Commander…” At this moment, the veteran general suddenly spoke again.
Xiao Yuan raised his head and looked at the veteran general.
“Supreme Commander, why don’t you write a letter to the Empress Dowager, stating clearly the pros and cons, and ask for reinforcements as soon as possible?” the veteran general suggested.
As soon as he said this, all the generals responded in the affirmative in low voices.
The Empress Dowager had a lot of authority in the court and had even presided over court affairs on behalf of the Emperor.
Although the reins of power had already been returned to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager’s authority still existed.
If she spoke, the Emperor would not disobey.
Their Supreme Commander was the Empress Dowager’s father, so the matter of sending more troops rightfully shouldn’t be so complicated.
Xiao Yuan frowned again.
It was not that he had not thought about going directly to the Empress Dowager and bypassing the Emperor.
However, before the Empress Dowager returned the reins of power to the Emperor, she had taken special pains to talk to him.
She told the Xiao family to restrain themselves and only be loyal to the Emperor in the future. He must not bypass the Emperor to carry out his duties.
Now, the Emperor had been in power for more than half a year.
Although he didn’t do anything great, he didn’t do anything wrong either. Step by step, he was growing into a qualified Emperor of the Great Liao State.
The Xiao family had always been well-behaved because of the Empress Dowager’s instructions. That was why they had not attracted the Emperor’s suspicion because of their outstanding achievements.
However, if he contacted the Empress Dowager this time and asked the Empress Dowager to ask the Emperor to send troops, he would definitely offend the Emperor.
This move was extremely disadvantageous to the Empress Dowager and the Xiao family.
Xiao Yuan’s face turned glum, and he was unable to make up his mind for a long time.
After a long while, when the generals had quieted down again, he finally gestured with his hand.
“All of you may leave,” he said.
“Yes, Sir!” The generals bowed and left the tent.
A hint of hesitation flashed across the veteran general’s face, but he also bowed along with the others.
After that, he left.
After the generals left, Xiao Yuan sat in front of the desk for a long time.
In the end, he still picked up his brush and wrote a new appeal.
At the same time, in a big tent of the Jin army’s campsite at High Pass Town.
The Second Prince held the latest battle report from Ming County with a smile. ‘”The ‘Great Jin State’s God of Massacre’ certainly lives up to her reputation.
What a brilliant battle result!”
When the generals in front of him saw this, their faces were also filled with joy.
Many of them had personally come into contact with Teacher Qin, whom His Highness regarded highly.
They all said that she was a rare genius, and was valiant without equal. She was a rare talented general.
Today, Teacher Qin had used her own strength to clear her name.
The current battle situation between the Jin and Liao States had changed subtly.
As long as they continued to defend High Pass Town, the tables would be turned quickly.
These Jin troops had suffered under the Liao State’s oppression for so many years, and if they could defeat the Liao State this time, they would finally be able to hold their heads high.
“Your Highness, congratulations on obtaining such a talent!” a general said as he cupped his hands at the Second Prince.
“Congratulations, Your Highness!” The rest of the people followed suit.
The Second Prince smiled and gestured his hand at the crowd. He couldn’t stop smiling.
“With Teacher Qin around, Ming County is free from worries,” he said.
As he spoke, he looked at the map hanging on the wall..