Chapter 4, The Unmatched Flying Army
Yinping County
The rank of a military marquis does not hold decision-making power within the Han army. Liu Lin, Ma Cheng, and others have historically acted upon orders issued by higher-ranking generals or commanders, gathering their respective troops to carry out those commands.
The route from Wudu to Yinping is rugged and difficult to traverse. In the face of the layered defenses of the Shu army, the Wei army is making slow and arduous progress. Although Deng Zhong was the first to ascend and successfully breached four of the Shu army's barriers, they are still only ten miles away from Qiangchuan Pass.
Let these indecisive Qiang and Di people refrain from taking rash actions. If Yang Feilong harbors ulterior motives, Zhao Guang can immediately unite with the discontented Qiang chieftains and then order Ma Cheng to lead elite cavalry to launch a surprise attack on Yang Feilong's stronghold
The speed of the falling stone was not fast, but after a prolonged battle, Deng Zhong's legs felt heavy, and his arms ached to the point where he could barely lift them. Fortunately, the soldiers beside him rushed up and saved Deng Zhong's life.
"Does the Qiang King have any objections to the marked positions on the sand table?" Zhao Guang laughed heartily, as Yang Feilong's reaction was within his expectations. This new Qiang King had limited loyalty to Shu Han, and with the imminent downfall of Shu Han, if Yang Feilong were to defect to Wei, Zhao Guang and the others would have no place to stand in Yinping.
The detestable southern barbarians! The soldiers of the vassal, whose brains were splattered from being struck, died before his eyes. Deng Zhong was filled with rage, and he hurled his spear, accurately piercing the body of the disabled commander of the Shu army before him
What Yang Feilong fears the most now is that the rivals eyeing the position of the Qiang King will take advantage of the situation at Baima Zhai. It is important to note that Yang is not the only one in this matter, as there are many others besides Yang Feilong and *Tu* *Shu* Sunzi.
Liu Lin and Ma Chengmu looked astonished. Since the division of troops from the main force, Zhao Guang's series of actions had made them feel a significant difference. A doomed rear guard, under Zhao Guang's command, not only successfully evaded the pursuit of the Wei army but also achieved three times the enemy kill rate. This was something even the great general Jiang Wei could not accomplish
This was established by Cao Cao. After Zhuge Liang's northern expedition captured Wudu and Yinping, Yinping became part of Shu Han. The Baima Qiang were the main tribe in the Yinping area, and their leader Yang Qianwan, along with the Di king A Gui, responded to Han Sui and Ma Chao's efforts to carve out territory in Longyou. Among the ten routes attacking Cao, Yang Qianwan was also part of the Xiliang troops.
Yang Feilong is the grandson of Yang Qianwan. His father passed away early, and just at the time of the fierce battles between Wei and Shu, the old Qiang king Yang Qianwan also died due to illness
Cheng Zuo, Bo Ji, Gong Ting, and Bai Ma Wang, after our army retreated to Yinping, the Wei army led by Deng Ai occupied Konghan Road, establishing communication with the central Wei forces under Zhuge Xu. Both Baishui Pass and Yinping Bridge have been seized by the Wei army, making it impossible for our forces to follow the retreat route of the General towards Jiange. Zhao Guang pointed to the terrain model of the Yinping area piled up in front of him, explaining the latest battlefield situation to the generals.
The Shu army was led by General Lang, the nephew of King Niu Lang. Years of warfare had left him with numerous scars, the most severe of which was on his right leg. In the bloody battle of Didao, he picked up a life from the pile of corpses, but he forever lost the freedom to walk
The mountains are connected, and the passes are linked.
Zhao Guang convened generals Chen Shou, Ma Cheng, Liu Lin, and others, along with the newly appointed leader of the Baima Qiang, Yang Feilong, to discuss the direction of the next phase of military operations
Separated from the main force of the Shu army led by Jiang Wei, Zhao Guang's isolated troops resembled a kite with its string cut, lacking supplies and reinforcements. To the east, west, and north, they were surrounded by the troops of Wei, while the only direction left, the south, was filled with vast and rugged mountains. The narrow mountain paths rendered both cavalry and supply wagons unable to pass.
The sand table before him instilled an inexplicable fear of Zhao Guang. The fact that Zhao Guang's Shu army had retreated to Yinping was quite unexpected for him. It is important to note that the Wei army outnumbered the Shu army by three to four times. In Yang Feilong's view, it would be remarkable for Zhao Guang to escape unscathed; merely surviving would be an extraordinary achievement.
Deter the White Horse Qiang
Kill
Kong Handao Kou
The pain inflicted by battle wounds torments this once valiant Qiang warrior to the point of despair. The road through Shu is arduous; for these remnants of soldiers, it is better to stay behind and face a swift end than to fall behind during the retreat.
Conflicts among the Qiang people have existed since ancient times
The banner of the Wei army is drawing closer
At present, the only person Zhao Guang can discuss matters with is Chen Shou. If Liu Lin and Ma Cheng do not grow up any further, then no matter how capable Zhao Guang is, he will not have the ability to transform the Shu army in a short period of time
Cao Wei possessed the core territory of the Central Plains, and its strong production recovery capability allowed the Wei army's weapons to be sharper and their armor more advanced. In contrast, the Shu Han, with only a remote province, exhibited a significant disparity in strength.
Zhao Guang retreated to Yinping, not only to avoid the central Wei army led by Zhuge Xu, but also to rely on Ma Cheng's influence among the Baima Qiang to provide the weary Shu army with a chance to catch their breath
Yang Feilong has a long and narrow face, deep-set eyes, and a prominent nose with raised nostrils, embodying the typical features of a Qiang person. Beside him, Ma Cheng, with his yellow hair, although inheriting the bloodline of the Qiang ethnic group from Ma Chao, displays more of the Han characteristics of broad and simple features, with fine eyebrows and bright eyes.
Who can rival the heroes of the world
Assembly Hall
Certainly, this is under the circumstance of having achieved victory. If the Wei army were to suffer defeat, the Bailong River would be their final refuge, much like the Qiang barbarian soldiers being cast into the river.
Upon his initial ascension to the position of the White Horse Qiang King, Yang Feilong's status was still not firmly established. At just under thirty years of age, and lacking sufficient depth of character, he lay tensely over the sand table, fixated on the marked location of the White Horse Qiang stronghold.
In the 17th year of the Yanxi era (254 AD), General Zhang Yi of the Anti-Pirate Army led the Wudang Flying Army to fight fiercely against the Wei army. The Qiang warriors charged bravely at the front, while the rear guard held their ground, resulting in countless casualties. From this point on, the organized Wudang Flying Army vanished from historical records
At the crossing, the bodies of the fallen Wei soldiers are being carried to the banks of the Bailong River. If fortunate, they will be gathered for cremation, and their ashes will be placed in ceramic urns, properly registered by the accompanying clerks, to be returned to their birthplace once the fighting ceases
A mere band of barbarian soldiers has held back the Wei army for two hours. It has been nearly seven days since the main force of Jiang Wei has been cut off from reinforcements. The strategic intention of the Wei army to encircle the Shu army from the west and the center is no longer feasible. In desperation, he can only request that Deng Ai send forward the subsequent troops to provide support.
The crossbow of Lang Tong's squad has long been shattered, and the badge in the old soldier's hand is no longer intact, yet their gaze remains so piercing that it sends chills down one's spine
After Zhang Yi's death, Liu Shan conferred the title of Marquis of Xixiang upon his eldest son Zhang Ying, while his second son Zhang Huxiong inherited the title. Following the loss of their leader, the remnants of the Flying Army were integrated into Zhao Guang's troops by Jiang Wei
Another group of over one hundred Shu soldiers is stationed here. They are dressed in blue garments, their heads wrapped in blue cloth, holding round shields and short willow-leaf swords, with patterns resembling mulberry leaves painted on their faces. The Qiang ethnic group is numerous in Shu, particularly the Blue-clothed Qiang. According to the "Chronicles of Huayang: Records of the Southern Region," it is recorded that Zhuge Liang, during his pacification of the Southern Region, relocated over ten thousand elite Blue Qiang soldiers to Shu.
The Shu army fought while retreating, relying on the desperate resistance of the Lang and Qing Qiang soldiers. Zhao Guang led the remaining over 2,000 soldiers to shake off the Wei army and retreated to Yinping. In the battle at Ta Zhong, the Shu army suffered a loss of 3,000 troops, while inflicting casualties on the Wei army that reached 10,000. Such results were extremely rare in the later confrontations between Shu and Wei.
Urgent report from the commander: The Shu army has taken a stronghold and established a camp. The initial assault on the camp has suffered heavy casualties, and reinforcements are requested! Deng Zhong's eyes were filled with despair
Compared to A Gui, who was beheaded, Yang Qianwan is fortunate. After his death, a new generation of heroes, tyrants, and outstanding figures began to emerge on the stage in Longshang
Now, Zhao Guang took out the sand table to demonstrate the terrain, and the mountains and rivers of Yinping and the books vividly appeared before our eyes, much more specific than a hastily prepared map on silk.
The veteran fights to the death without retreating
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O ancestors of the eel! Bless your descendants! Lang Tongyi leaned against the wall, supporting each other with the injured Qiang soldier beside him, their weathered faces reflecting a sense of liberation.
After Ma Chao's defeat, A Gui was annihilated by the Wei general Xiahou Yuan. Yang Qianwan subsequently sought refuge with Ma Chao, who had already allied with Liu Bei. The success of Zhuge Liang in capturing Yinping was greatly aided by Ma Chao's support
Unlike Liu and Ma, Chen Shou appeared calm. After witnessing the wonders of cement, his confidence in Zhao Guang increased significantly. Having extensively studied historical texts, he found no record in the books indicating that rocks could become as hard as iron after being crushed.
Cao and Liu
Lang died in battle at Konghan Road, and these veteran soldiers of the Wudang Flying Army stood like a dam against the flood, fully aware that they could not stop the torrent of the Wei army, yet they resolutely refused to retreat
"General Zhao, what is this?" asked the new Qiang king Yang Feilong in surprise
Jin Ma Chao roamed freely in Yong and Liang, directly forcing Cao Cao to flee in embarrassment. The invincible feats of the Qiang cavalry in Tongguan, Chang'an, and Longxi gradually faded away, just as in the Hexi region, the distant Xianbei people began to replace the Qiang and Yuezhi, becoming the new generation of prairie overlords
Birth, aging, illness, and death are the natural states of human existence
The Wei soldiers surged forward and clashed with the Shu army's Qiang troops at a certain point. The Shu soldiers held the high ground, and Lang Tong, with his back against a solid stone wall, received stones passed to him by the soldiers behind and hurled them down at the foremost Wei military officer.