Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
"Try to think what King Rizhu will do."
This remark of the Second Consort's had been echoing through Liman's ears this whole time, leaving him heavily perturbed. "I'll go to the front and take a look. You stay here and don't do anything reckless. Be prepared for a fight. Just in case."
Suspicion gleamed in the eyes of the four companions sent by Duodun. Then one of them said, "There's nothing to look at. Do you not believe the scouts' report, or do you not believe… His Highness's judgement?"
Duodun didn't trust Liman, and this had also spread to his companions. The four people felt that they were more like supervisors than the Commander-in-chief's helpers.
Liman pointed the horsewhip in front of him, where the air was filled with dust and sand. "The visibility's poor. It doesn't hurt to be prudent."
"Liman, you don't believe in the Second Consort's speculation, do you?" A companion vigilantly watched this Commander-in-chief as he continued to say, "This is a test of our loyalty. His Highness has made it very clear. Don't be a fence sitter."
Suppressing his anger, Liman coldly replied, "This has nothing to do with loyalty. His Highness put me in command of over 40,000 troops, and I have to be responsible for all of them."
"But you first have to be responsible for His Highness," another companion said in an even colder tone. "There are over 100,000 men in the Naihang Tribe. Can you convince them all just by yourself?"
"Liman, I know that you're eager to regain His Highness's favor. However, you shouldn't vie with us for credit in this way. You're the Commander-in-chief, so you should be the last one to take risks. Otherwise, what's the point of His Highness sending us here?"
The four people no longer tried to hide their suspicions, but Liman calmed down in this hostile environment. "I hope that I'm wrong. How about this? I'll divide the 40,000 cavalrymen into four contingents, and each of you can take one. The four contingents shall depart one by one, and I'll go with the first one."
Right in front of Liman, Duodun's four companions started consulting with each other in a low voice, speculating about his true intentions. In the end, one of them said, "Fine. But you have to go with the last contingent. Anyone can do the scouting work, and it doesn't necessarily have to be you."
"You're the Commander-in-chief, so of course you should stay in the rear," another one said in support of the first speaker.
After watching these four people for quite a while, Liman nodded. "Fine. The four contingents shouldn't stay too close to each other either. If anything unusual — "
"You're not the only one who knows how to lead an army and fight," a companion said disdainfully. He immediately selected a 10,000-men army to be the first contingent and departed.
The 10,000 cavalrymen were in a formation that stretched towards the two wings, like a fragile giant fis.h.i.+ng net moving towards hundreds of thousands of wriggling fish. Liman wanted to remind him, but controlled his urges in the end.
The second 10,000-men army departed without Liman's order, and they were only an arrow's range away from the first contingent. If they rode a little faster, the two contingents would actually join up.
Liman still remained silent. When the third companion also intended to order the army to depart in a hurry, Liman grabbed his arm. "Wait. It's been a long time since the last time a scout came back and reported to us."
"So what? The scouts must have seen the armies, so they probably think that it's no longer necessary to send messages back to us." The companion shook off Liman's hand forcefully.
"Scouts are in no place to make such a decision."
"Then they must have encountered the first two contingents and reported the messages to them."
Liman was still worried as he said, "There's no harm in waiting a little longer."
"If we wait a little longer, then they will take all of the credit." The third companion gave an order to the Captain regardless of Liman and the third contingent started advancing forward in a snake-like formation.
This third 10,000-men army was still within their sights, but the fourth companion urged, "Let's go. You see? Everything's still fine. Zhesu's just an uneducated peasant. What kind of plots can he possibly come up with?"
Enduring the companion's offensive words at his father, Liman recalled the Second Consort's warning once again. Zhesu was indeed more brave than wise, and he was not good at conspiracies. However, he was unfallibly loyal to the old King Rizhu and regarded every remark he had ever said as an inviolable order.
King Rizhu had been the only Norland lord who bore a surname of an outsider. What had he done during the fierce fight for the throne? At that time, Liman himself was serving in King Rizhu's armies and he had seen, with his own eyes, that King Rizhu had sat on the fence the whole time, profiting from all sides. It was not until King Rizhu had died that Liman had finally learned that the one designated by King Rizhu to be Khan was actually the twelve-year-old Shulitu.
"If Luoluo's army attacks the Naihang Tribe and they're really willing to surrender, then the 30,000 men ahead will be enough. If there's a trap, then I hope to save these 10,000 plus cavalrymen for His Highness." Liman ultimately decided to have the fourth contingent stay behind.
The companion became exasperated. It was already unlucky enough for him to lead the last contingent. If he stayed here, then it was very likely that not only would he miss the opportunity to make a contribution, but that he would also be punished. "What are you talking about, Liman? Do you really think that His Highness designated you to be Commander-in-chief because he trusts you? He did it because you're from the Naihang Tribe, and because you're Zhesu's son. What's your true purpose behind delaying the army from going to the front? To persuade them into surrendering?"
"You forgot that it was me who wanted to lead the way, and that it was you who originally refused to let me," Liman replied calmly, becoming more and more certain that something had gone wrong.
The companion blushed. "This tactic is called 'letting the enemy off in order to catch him later.' Yes, I know what kind of trick you're trying to play. You deliberately…"
Liman turned and faced the last contingent's Captain and said, "I'm still the Commander-in-chief of the Left Corps."
"Yes," the Captain answered respectfully. He merely intended to fulfill his obligation and wanted no part in the infighting between the cliques around the prince. "You're still the Commander-in-chief."
"Make my order known to everyone — all units prepare to fight. Send more scouts to the front line for reconnaissance."
"Yes." The Captain had some soldiers spread the order.
The companion found that n.o.body would come to his support and that just he himself was unable to counterbalance Liman's authority. Feeling humiliated and annoyed, he got on his horse and rode forward, planning to go to the front by himself. However, he soon returned, and as he pa.s.sed by Liman, he resentfully said, "I'm going back to meet with His Highness right now. Enjoy your power while you're still the Commander-in-chief, because soon, you won't be."
Liman nodded, but didn't say anything. He believed that, as the Commander-in-chief, he was empowered to adjust Prince Duodun's order accordingly.
The first few batch of scouts soon came back, but they didn't have any special news. The one who had been the farthest had even heard the yelling from the battleground, and it seemed that the Naihang Tribe was having an intense battle with Luoluo's army.
A herald came from the rear and rode directly to Liman's horse, gravely reporting, "Here's an order from His Highness — Commander-in-chief Liman shall lead the army and advance immediately without any delay."
The Captain looked at the young Commander-in-chief sympathetically.
Liman couldn't disobey the order. "Let's move."
The Captain pa.s.sed the order. Controlling the speed of his horse, Liman progressed as slowly as he could, followed by the rest of the contingent, which was proceeding at the same pace.
After waiting for a while, the herald shook his head and returned to the camp of the Left Corps.
Duodun issued a second order to urge Liman on, and this time he sent five heralds, including the fourth companion who had earlier been forced to leave by Liman. There was a palpable tension in the air, but Duodun didn't dismiss Liman from his post of Commander-in-chief. Instead, ge issued an ultimatum to Liman.
"His Highness ordered you to pick up speed and join up with the other three contingents immediately. There shall be no contingents. Disobedience at any extent will be deemed a capital offence." The companion failed to conceal his complacency as he read out the orders, his voice sounding somewhat tinny.
While Liman was trying to think of an approach to handle this situation, another batch of scouts returned from the front and brought good news. "The Naihang Tribe has surrendered, and we're now taking prisoners."
After slapping his thighs heavily, Duodun's companion looked at Liman coldly.
Liman exhaled deeply. "I'm glad I was wrong. Report this to His Highness."
A scout hurriedly rode towards the rear. After exchanging a glance with each other, the fourth companion and other heralds raced to turn their horses and they all galloped towards the encampment of the Left Corps.
Everybody wanted to be the first one to deliver the good news. This was the most economical way of rendering meritorious service.
Liman ordered the army to speed up. He didn't feel ashamed, and he would still choose to be prudent if Duodun still allowed him to serve in the future.
Another batch of scouts returned and there were three of them, this time, all of whom were rejoicing. And the news they brought back was still "The Naihang Tribe has surrendered".
Liman ordered them to ride side by side with him so that he could ask them about some more details. "How many of them surrendered?"
"About a thousand."
"Just a thousand?" Liman was startled.
"These are the ones who fled relatively early. There must be more behind them," the scout surmised.
"We captured a couple of officers and they're on their way here. You'll see them soon, General," another scout said.
Liman ordered the army to slow down once again. He could sense that the troops were somewhat displeased — they believed their Commander-in-chief was being overcautious.
A small group of people rode towards them from the front. The two in the middle didn't wear helmets, and neither did they have any weapons on them. Apparently, they were those officers that the scout had previously mentioned.
The centurion who had been leading the group bowed to Liman, who was on horseback. "General, these two are senior centurions of the Naihang Tribe's army. I have orders to escort them back to His Highness."
Watching the two prisoners, Liman suddenly s.h.i.+vered and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his skin. He blurted out, "You're not from the Naihang Tribe!"
Having served in the King Rizhu's army for many years with his father Zhesu, he knew all the centurions, not to mention the senior centurions, and these two were definitely not of the Naihang Tribe.
The two prisoners nodded repeatedly in a urgent manner. "We keep telling them we're not, but they just won't listen."
"Which tribe are you from?"
"Miesi. We're from the Miesi Tribe."
Liman's heart sank. The Miesi Tribe was just a small tribe affiliated to some lord, and it had nothing to do with the King Rizhu. "Why did you come here to surrender?"
"Actually, we came here to watch the battle after we receivedthe news. People were saying that we might have a new Khan after this battle. We didn't expect that — "
"We didn't expect that Luoluo's army would suddenly launch an attack on all the tribes who had come here to spectate the battle." The other prisoner beat him to it. "We were blindsided and retreated all the way here, and then we surrendered. We're not members of the Naihang Tribe, really. And we're not moles sent by Luoluo either. But n.o.body asked, and n.o.body is listening to us."
"Where is the Naihang Tribe?" Liman's voice was quivering.
"We didn't see them. They seemed to… seemed to have moved to the north."
Suddenly it dawned on Liman that the Naihang Tribe was still planning on adopting the tactic of "Sitting it out and reaping the spoils later." Zhesu believed that Luoluo was a better alternative so he had made way for the armies in the east.
Duodun had once sent 5,000 cavalrymen to the north under Shulitu's banner. Now, it seemed that they had either been wiped out or had surrendered to the Naihang Tribe, which was why they had never received any news frp, them.
The centurion who had been leading the team still didn't understand the severity of the current situation, and he confusedly asked, "Didn't the Naihang Tribe fight Luoluo's army?"
"Order the armies in the front to retreat right away!" Liman yelled. "Ready yourselves for battle! Ready yourselves for battle!" Then he said to the centurion who was scared, confused and uneasy, "Send a message to His Highness — Luoluo's army is coming. He and the Second Consort must retreat to the Middle Corps as soon as possible."
The centurion suddenly understood what was happening and his face instantly went deathly pale. Swinging his whip at the horse frantically, he madly galloped towards the rear.
The Captain frantically ordered the troops to prepare themselves for a battle. Staring emptily into the air filled with sand and dust, Liman felt that the wind was too strong today.
The rumbling sounds of horse hooves mingled with the shrill yells that came from afar.
