Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Elephant Cavalry

“Can a strategist not ascend the throne?” Volume 10: The World in Chaos, the Time for Conquest, Chapter 363: Elephant Cavalry

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“I say, if you want to go to Jiaozhi, go ahead, but why drag me along?”

Fa Zheng turned to look at the stern of the boat, where a man, tied up with ropes, was muttering.

The man’s identity was clear from his attire—he was from the Yi tribe of the Nanman.

The speaker was none other than Meng Huo, whom Cheng Yu had mentioned to Qiao Yan when discussing the situation in Yizhou.

In a letter sent to Chang’an, Fa Zheng wrote that given the terrain of southern Yizhou, it was impossible to win over the Nanman through repeated captures and releases. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t retaliate or flee into the deep mountains, never to be seen again.

Thus, their goal was to use captured Nanman leaders to expose the powerful clans of Yizhou while finding another way to subdue and recruit them.

Without hesitation, Fa Zheng brought Meng Huo along on his journey to Jiaozhou.

Though Meng Huo was a leader among the Yi, he spoke Han Chinese well and quickly deduced his fate from Fa Zheng’s conversations.

But this “understanding” didn’t bring him any comfort.

“Taking me from Yizhou to Jiaozhou? You Han people really love doing pointless things. If you want to kill me, just do it. Hanging my head out for my wife to see wouldn’t be a big deal. But using a prisoner to show off? What kind of nonsense is that?”

Fa Zheng glanced at Meng Huo and casually cast a fishing line into the Ming River. “Where did you get the idea that I’m taking you to show off? If I wanted to make a scene, I’d bring more ships and soldiers. My trip to Jiaozhou is unexpected by the Jiaozhi Prefect. With more men, I might even capture him. Wouldn’t that be better than reasoning with a barbarian like you?”

Meng Huo was stunned.

He realized Fa Zheng had a point.

Though Zhangqi County and Jiaozhi were connected, they hadn’t interacted formally in years. Neither the Jiaozhi Prefect nor the locals near the border expected anyone to come down the Ming River while Yizhou was still in turmoil.

Especially not an official appointed by the Chang’an court.

“Then why bring me along?”

Bringing him meant assigning guards, as no one knew if Meng Huo, with his strength, might break free and escape.

“Can’t blame me,” Fa Zheng shrugged. “You know the southern Yizhou terrain better than we do. If we left you behind, your wife and subordinates might find you. Better to take you out of Yizhou, making it hard for them to retrieve you quickly.”

“I heard your wife holds significant influence among the Yi and is decisive. Instead of wasting time on you, we might as well deal with her. Defeating her might make recruiting her easier than dealing with you.”

Meng Huo’s expression darkened at this strange yet plausible explanation.

If he died, his men would seek revenge.

But if he were merely taken out of Yizhou, his men might fall under his wife’s command and continue fighting.

Over the past year, Meng Huo had come to understand his opponents’ capabilities.

If his wife led the fight, the chances of success were slim, and they might suffer another defeat.

In the Nanman’s rules, strength and lack of deep enmity meant submission.

Even before his capture, Meng Huo’s wife had suggested that, following Yao Chang’s example, they should switch allegiance to the Yizhou Governor under the Grand Marshal.

With Yong Kai likely to fall, why sink with him?

Meng Huo didn’t know how Fa Zheng learned of their internal disagreements, but his response hit the mark.

“Do you understand now?” Fa Zheng asked. “Still think I’m using you to show off?”

Meng Huo shook his head dejectedly.

Fa Zheng continued, “By the time we reach Jiaozhi, Yizhou might be settled. The Grand Marshal is determined to subdue the Nanman, and we won’t delay. Once we land, I’ll release you. As colleagues, I won’t make things hard for you.”

Meng Huo sat up, studying Fa Zheng’s expression. The young man seemed confident that Meng Huo’s wife, A Cuo, would soon face them, lose, and switch sides.

Confused, Meng Huo followed the river’s flow and was freed upon landing.

But with freedom came hesitation. Should he return to Yizhou?

If Fa Zheng was wrong and the Yi were still fighting, his return could boost morale.

But if Fa Zheng was right, his return might disrupt the new alliance or put him in an awkward position, even offending Fa Zheng.

“…”

Seeing Fa Zheng leave without a backward glance, Meng Huo hurried after him.

“Wait!” Meng Huo shouted. “What kind of strategist abandons his prisoner?”

Fa Zheng replied, “I said we’ll be colleagues. Go back if you want. We’ll discuss capturing Yong Kai later. The Grand Marshal doesn’t intend to wipe you out. Yizhou is now under Chang’an, and its people are the Emperor’s subjects. Or do you not consider yourself from Yizhou?”

This alliance-building tactic might have seemed like sophistry in Yizhou, but on Jiaozhou soil, with Fa Zheng’s confident demeanor, Meng Huo’s resolve weakened.

“I am from Yizhou, but…”

Still confused, Meng Huo suddenly said, “I’ll go with you to meet this Jiaozhi Prefect. We’ll settle things when we return to Yizhou!”

Whether they’d settle things or remain allies was uncertain, but Fa Zheng had gained a notable bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Shi Xie, still monitoring Jing Province, received news.

“Someone claiming to be Fa Zheng, the Yizhou Personnel Officer, is here?”

Shi Xie repeated the name, finding it familiar.

He recalled hearing it when Liu Ba went north to Chang’an. Fa Zheng had ranked just below Liu Ba in the selection exam.

In just a year, Fa Zheng had risen to a key position in Yizhou and now appeared before him.

With Zhang Jin’s recent move north, Fa Zheng’s arrival was no mere courtesy call.

“Your Yizhou Nanman troops noticed something interesting,” Xu Jing added. “Fa Zheng is accompanied by Meng Huo, a Yi leader. Though he hasn’t revealed his identity, it speaks volumes about Yizhou’s situation.”

Shi Xie, deep in thought, frowned. “Are you saying the Grand Marshal has made a breakthrough in Yizhou, and bringing Meng Huo is a show of force?”

“I didn’t say that,” Xu Jing shook his head. “It might be a ruse. You should meet Fa Zheng and judge for yourself.”

Considering the timing, Shi Xie felt Fa Zheng’s arrival was likely genuine.

Perhaps it was time to make a decision.

“Let him in,” Shi Xie ordered.

He wanted to hear what Fa Zheng had to say.

As Fa Zheng entered Shi Xie’s domain, Liu Biao arrived at Chen County after a grueling journey.

Chen County was the seat of Guiyang Commandery.

Two days of non-stop travel had taken its toll on Liu Biao, but the urgency left him no choice.

“Where is Zhang Jin?” Liu Biao asked the local garrison.

Given Zhang Jin’s position, it was surprising Liu Biao had arrived first.

The garrison’s response was sobering. “They haven’t moved north yet. After taking Linwu County, the Jiaozhou Governor split his forces. One remains at Keling Mountain, while the other moved to Nanping and Guiyang Counties.”

Liu Biao’s face darkened. Five counties lost!

Worse, Nanping connected to Lingling Commandery. If Zhang Jin took this hub, he could bypass Liu Biao’s forces and strike directly at Quanling, the capital of Lingling, then move north to Nan Commandery.

Troops from Yulin Commandery could also enter Lingling through the Jiuyi Mountain pass.

Liu Biao realized Zhang Jin, though not a visionary, was no fool in military strategy.

But Zhang Jin likely didn’t expect Liu Biao to react so swiftly to the Jiaozhou invasion.

“Deploy troops! Before Zhang Jin moves into Lingling, crush his rear forces at Keling Mountain!”

“Destroy.” Liu Biao immediately issued the order.

After some thought, he added, “Zhongmiao, go ahead and take a detour to Quanling. If Zhang Ziyun really intends to head to the Lingling County office, make sure to stop him at the city gates.”

The brothers Huo Du and Huo Jun had recruited hundreds of skilled men in their hometown when Jing Province was still affected by the Yellow Turban Rebellion. After Liu Biao took control of Jing Province, they joined his ranks.

Although they were not as skilled in military tactics as Huang Zhong or Wen Ping, Liu Biao discovered that the brothers had a talent for defending cities. Thus, Huo Jun was sent on this mission.

Huo Jun was young and held a low position in Liu Biao’s army. Even if the decision to intercept at Quanling was wrong or failed to achieve the desired result, it wouldn’t be a significant loss.

The most urgent matter at hand was to defeat Zhang Jin’s forces stationed in the central part of Guiyang County.

However, Cai Mao had a gut feeling that Zhang Jin’s sudden change in direction was unusual.

It seemed like more than just introducing another army from Jiaozhou into Jing Province or quickly completing a detour before Liu Biao’s arrival.

Seeing Liu Biao’s confident tone in issuing orders, Cai Mao quickly said, “I think it’s best to be cautious and not fall into Zhang Ziyun’s trap.”

The decision to move north from Jiaozhou to Jing Province was not an easy one, especially at a time when the Ye City court was already weak. Zhang Jin must have had some special preparations to choose this moment to strike.

However, Liu Biao waved off Cai Mao’s concerns, indicating that there was no need to worry unnecessarily.

Perhaps because he was eager to prove that he was the only governor in Jing Province, or because he needed to vent the frustration caused by Qiao Yan’s earlier intimidation, Liu Biao maintained his original judgment.

“Even if he has some trap, as long as we avoid deep valleys and high mountains, we’ll be fine.”

Liu Biao unfolded the map of Guiyang County and saw that one of the routes to Keling Mountain required passing through a valley in the Qitian Mountain range. He said, “Look, this is the best place for an ambush. I’ll take a detour and head east, taking the main road to the front of the mountain.”

“If that’s the case, what is there to worry about?”

With Liu Biao’s words, Cai Mao couldn’t continue to press his concerns.

He thought about the soldiers from Jiaozhou, who, although fierce, had never shown any extraordinary ability in following military commands.

Cai Mao could only reply, “Nothing, except for one thing—please don’t lead the charge yourself, my lord.”

Liu Biao laughed, “Do you think I’m the Grand Marshal? Even if you wanted me to kill the enemy leader on the battlefield, I don’t have the ability!”

With that, he drew his sword and led his generals, leaving Cai Mao to guard Chen County, and headed south without rest.

They arrived at the foot of Keling Mountain under the cover of night.

Although Liu Biao hadn’t experienced many battles, as the governor of Jing Province, he had paid close attention to military affairs and was skilled at seizing opportunities. His analysis of the battlefield was not poor.

His earlier decision to enter Jing Province alone proved his extraordinary courage in critical moments.

He had to seize this opportunity to strike while the enemy was unprepared and deliver a blow that would deter the Jiaozhou troops.

Choosing the main road instead of the mountain paths, his speed was astonishing. As the sun set and night approached, the silhouette of Keling Mountain appeared in his vision.

He quickly signaled his troops to slow down to avoid being detected by enemy scouts, which would ruin the ambush.

Fortunately, Liu Biao’s worries were unfounded.

When he saw the Jiaozhou camp in the distance, there was no sign that they had been discovered.

His eyes lit up, and he immediately ordered the attack.

But as his cavalry charged towards the enemy camp, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed through the mountains. Instead of the enemy scrambling to defend, a sound equally loud as the cavalry charge came from the opposite side.

The ground trembled violently, causing Liu Biao’s horse to stumble.

The slow, heavy thuds were unmistakable—elephants!

“Watch out!” Liu Biao shouted in alarm.

But Zhang Yun, eager for glory, had already led the cavalry charge and was too close to stop.

In the darkness, Zhang Yun saw dozens of massive shadows charging towards him, crashing into his cavalry with unstoppable force.

If it were just a cavalry clash, Zhang Yun wouldn’t have feared. But when the enemy was not horses but elephants, his arrows bounced harmlessly off their thick hides.

An elephant’s trunk swept Zhang Yun off his horse, and the crushing weight of its legs ended his life.

Liu Biao’s face turned pale as he heard the distant cry of “General Zhang!”

Elephant soldiers! He never expected Zhang Jin to bring such a unique force to Jing Province, hiding them here to deliver a fatal blow.

After scattering Zhang Yun’s vanguard, the elephants continued their charge towards Liu Biao’s main force.

The enemy soldiers, now fully armed, charged forward with battle cries.

The ambush had turned into a counter-ambush in an instant.

Liu Biao saw his troops falter. The sight of elephants terrified his soldiers, and even Huo Du’s efforts to rally them failed.

Before Liu Biao could regain control, the elephants accelerated, charging towards them with renewed force.

How could mere flesh withstand such an impact?

Liu Biao had no answer, and neither did his troops, now leaderless.

The enemy followed up with a barrage of arrows, raining death upon Liu Biao’s forces.

An arrow struck a soldier in front of Liu Biao, and a rain of arrows fell on the horses that had survived the elephants.

In the chaos, Liu Biao lost his grip on the reins and fell from his horse.

Instinctively, he rolled to the side, avoiding a trampling hoof, but being unhorsed meant certain death.

Liu Biao’s face turned deathly pale.

He never imagined that what seemed like a sure victory would turn into such a disaster, or that his rare personal expedition would end in his death.

As the horses charged towards him, he felt the dust kicked up by their hooves hit his face.

But before the horses could trample him, a hand reached out and pulled him to safety.

The young soldier, no older than eighteen, carried Liu Biao on his back and used a shield to protect them as they fled the chaos.

Behind a large rock, Liu Biao finally saw his rescuer’s face, hidden mostly by armor but clearly young.

Liu Biao didn’t know where this young soldier came from, but his bravery was evident.

“Lord, what should we do now?” the young soldier asked urgently.

What to do? Liu Biao wanted to ask the same.

In the face of death, his mind had gone blank, but now he regained his composure.

He saw a pair of eyes filled with ambition—the eyes of the young man who had saved him.

“What’s your name?” Liu Biao asked.

In normal times, Liu Biao wouldn’t have noticed such a lowly soldier, but now he sought support in the young man’s determination.

The ambition in the young man’s eyes gave Liu Biao a sense of security.

It meant the young man would do everything to help him.

Saving a superior in such a crisis was a sure path to glory.

“My name is Wei Yan!” the young soldier replied.

“Good, Wei Yan!” Liu Biao grabbed Wei Yan’s wrist.

The pain from the fall had driven away his fatigue, leaving only the urgency to turn the tide. “Now, listen to me. We have one chance to counterattack. Are you willing to take a risk for me?”

The elephant soldiers didn’t intimidate the bold young Wei Yan. He knew that if he could help Liu Biao escape this predicament, even at such a young age, he could make a name for himself in Jing Province.

In the heat of the moment, he replied firmly, “I will follow your orders, my lord!”

Liu Biao pointed to the distant Jiaozhou general leading the elephants. “Do you see that man?”

Wei Yan nodded.

“I will give you a small team. Then, with the loudest voice you can muster, lead them and shout that the lord is dead, fleeing towards that direction.”

“You might be shot down halfway, even by our own men, but you have one chance—kill that enemy general!”