Chapter 1135: You're Lying
The officers and soldiers on Pi Island hosted a grand banquet, with the finest wines, delicious dishes, hearty meals, and noodles. Everything was top-notch, and everyone was overjoyed.
However, they soon realized that the sailors aboard the ships were not attending. They remained at sea, patrolling the waters around Pi Island and keeping a watchful eye on the situation.
A soldier from Pi Island rushed to the shore and shouted to the ships at sea, "Brothers on the boats, why aren't you joining the feast?"
A Gao Family Village sailor on one of the ships replied with a chuckle, "We can't all go eat. It would be trouble if the Manchus attacked again. Someone has to stand guard."
Hearing this, the soldiers on the island felt a little embarrassed.
The Gao Family Village sailor continued, "You've guarded the island for years; it's been tough. Eat well, get as drunk as you like, we don't mind standing watch for a night. Tomorrow, you can wake up refreshed and take over from us."
The island soldier was deeply moved. "Brothers, thank you so much!"
Cheers erupted anew, the aroma of wine and meat filling the air. "Cheers!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea, outside Han City.
The Qing army had suffered immense losses in this battle, with thousands of elite troops gone in an instant. For the Qing, whose population was already struggling, this was an excruciating blow.
Huang Taiji's heart ached so much he could barely breathe.
He pondered grimly for a long time, then waved a hand. "Leave Pi Island alone for now," he commanded. "Until we possess a powerful navy, we cannot attack it again. We cannot afford another loss like this."
After he finished speaking, he swiftly pulled out *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and flipped to a page. "See," he declared, "when Cao Cao campaigned south, he suffered a crushing defeat at Red Cliffs. He withdrew his troops, but this did not prevent the State of Wei from unifying the Three Kingdoms. A temporary retreat is for regrouping, to gather strength and await a better opportunity."
With that, Huang Taiji announced loudly, "Return to our homeland! The operation code is 'Cao Army Retreat.'"
Ajige interjected, "Huh? Even a retreat has an operation code?"
Huang Taiji explained, "Retreat is also an art, so of course it needs an operation code. Back then, after Cao Cao's army retreated, he left Zhang Liao to guard Xiaoyao Ford, where he decisively defeated the Wu army. I shall emulate this: leave a garrison in Dandong to tie down Pi Island's forces. It will surely have a remarkable effect."
Ajige responded, "Your Majesty is wise."
And so, the Qing army withdrew...
News soon reached the Joseon royal palace. When Li Zong heard the report, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. "They've withdrawn!" he exclaimed. "The Qing army has finally pulled back, and Pi Island has held! This is excellent news! There's still a chance! A chance! We still have a chance to return to the Ming Dynasty's vassalage! There's still a chance!"—
Even as the battle raged fiercely on Pi Island.
In the Xuan-Da region...
Huokou!
With the substantial financial backing of the imperial merchant Tie Niaofei, the horse market Lu Xiangheng had been constructing in Huokou was finally complete.
It was a considerably large market, spanning several acres. Tie Niaofei had brought over Gao Family Village's market-organizing expertise. Long rows of sheds had been erected, prioritizing simplicity and efficiency.
Then came the most crucial items: the goods for trading horses!
Lu Xiangheng had been somewhat skeptical of that "egg-yolk pastry" Tie Niaofei had suggested last time. The strange confectionery left him feeling rather uneasy.
So, he had prepared a large quantity of "proper" goods—items the Mongols had always favored.
For example, salt, tea, and iron pots—these three staples had been cherished by Mongolian herdsmen for centuries, serving as the hardest currency on the steppes.
He deliberately placed these three items at the entrance of the horse market, on stalls immediately visible upon entering.
Tie Niaofei, however, didn't argue. He took his egg-yolk pastries and retreated to the innermost corner of the market.
Early that morning...
A scout burst into the Xuan-Da Command headquarters, shouting urgently, "Bad news! Terrible news, Your Excellency Governor-General! The Mongol leader Qitan's cavalry is advancing in a forty-li-wide formation, clearly targeting our Huokou Horse Market! It looks like they're coming to seize our goods!"
That single sentence jolted Lu Xiangheng wide awake.
He sprang out of bed, leaping up before he could even dress, and loudly ordered, "Immediately inform all regional commanders! Mobilize your armies at once and prepare to engage the enemy!"
The entire Xuanfu and Datong garrisons were activated.
All officers and soldiers were making urgent preparations for deployment.
Soon, the soldiers from both Xuanfu and Datong garrisons, numbering nearly ten thousand in total, were fully assembled and racing towards Huokou.
As they hurried along, Lu Xiangheng continually dispatched scouts to gather intelligence.
Lu Xiangheng asked, "Have the Mongols entered the pass?"
The scout replied, "Almost."
Lu Xiangheng cursed, "Damn it, speed up! We must get there faster!"
The scout reported, "General Wang Pu of Datong has led his forces and arrived first at the Huokou Horse Market, forming a battle array outside its north gate."
Lu Xiangheng was overjoyed. "Wang Pu is indeed reliable! No wonder he was able to decisively defeat the Manchus back then. Mark this down as a great merit for him!"
With one unit already there, Lu Xiangheng felt much more at ease. As they marched, he arranged for the soldiers in Yunyang and Jinyang to secure their respective jurisdictions, ready to reinforce the main battlefield at any moment.
With all arrangements in place, he himself finally arrived at the Huokou Horse Market, where he positioned his troops in formation outside, waiting.
After a long wait, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed from the north.
The large contingent of Mongol cavalry had arrived.
So many people...
Gazing across the plains, beyond the horizon, countless Mongol horsemen stretched in a dense mass.
These Mongol horsemen were clearly prepared for a long-distance raid. Each man rode one horse and led two spares, with provisions loaded onto the backs of the reserve mounts.
Typically, when the Mongols presented themselves in such a manner, it meant they intended to penetrate deep into the interior, plundering and pillaging for a month or two before retreating.
Lu Xiangheng raised a hand. "Prepare for battle!"
The soldiers, tense, were drenched in sweat.
The immense Mongol cavalry force drew nearer and nearer...
Lu Xiangheng was ready for the Mongols' arrow rain. He only awaited the command for everyone to raise their shields and retaliate with crossbow bolts.
Just then, the vast Mongol force suddenly halted. Only one man, who appeared to be a chieftain—Qitan, the leader of a large northern tribe—galloped forward.
Qitan, riding alone, approached until he was within shouting distance, then bellowed at Lu Xiangheng, "Lu Xiangheng, you scoundrel! You tricked us, saying you'd opened a horse market here where we could buy egg-yolk pastries! My entire tribe, families and all, came here to buy them, and instead, you've assembled such a huge army to ambush us! You Han people are too cunning!"
Lu Xiangheng, who had been about to shout "Fire arrows!", looked utterly bewildered by these words. "What did you say?" he demanded. "Weren't you leading a large army to invade us?"
Qitan retorted, "What audacity would I have to invade you Han people? Am I not afraid of being run over by your great iron chariots?"
Lu Xiangheng was utterly confused. "What great iron chariots running over faces?"
Qitan pressed, "Are you opening a horse market or are you here to fight us?"
Lu Xiangheng declared, "Of course this official is here to open a horse market. But when you lead such a massive cavalry force, stretched for several li, charging towards us, this official naturally must deploy troops to protect the market."
Qitan said, "Huh? I'm not here for a fight."
Lu Xiangheng: "..."
Qitan urged, "Look closely at what my people are carrying."
Lu Xiangheng: "???"
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