If one were to scrutinize the map of Liyang, they would notice that the Northern Liang region resembles a slender blade, while the area south of Gusai Prefecture in the Southern Dynasty of the Northern Mang and north of Liangzhou beyond the frontier resembles a grinding stone.
This vast battlefield served as a whetstone, ultimately honing the Northern Liang cavalry into the finest under heaven.
Murong Baoding’s vanguard cavalry split into two forces: thirty thousand elite Winter Thunder cavalry charged straight ahead, actively seeking out the Left Cavalry Army, while thirty thousand Rouran heavy cavalry surged toward the Right Cavalry Army. Murong Baoding, who also held the title of Orange Prefecture’s Jiedushi and was a royal relative of the Northern Mang, personally commanded the central infantry, avoiding unnecessary risks.
Jiedushi Wang Yong of Baoping Prefecture and Jiedushi Helian Wuwei of Hexi Prefecture, after besieging the military towns of Fu Ling and Liu Ya, similarly dispatched twenty to thirty thousand cavalry southward to reinforce the Winter Thunder and Rouran cavalry. Murong Baoding’s intent to engage the main field forces of the Northern Liang frontier cavalry was undisguised, yet it was an open and unashamed stratagem. The Northern Mang Emperor and Taiping Ling sought to use Murong Baoding’s two elite cavalry divisions to pin down the Northern Liang’s frontier Left and Right Cavalry Armies, both to lure them out and distance them from the city of Jubei and to prevent them from reinforcing the Huaiyang Pass defenses. In short, the Northern Mang aimed to exhaust these two main Northern Liang field forces between Jubei City and Huaiyang Pass.
Though the Northern Mang’s intentions were clear, after discussions between the young Prince and the senior military commanders in the Jubei City war council, there was no hesitation—no one questioned whether to fight these battles, only how to fight them.
Zhou Kang, commander of the Right Cavalry Army, remained in the council hall, likely having further matters to discuss with the young Prince. Lu Dayuan, deputy commander of the Left Cavalry Army, and Li Yanchao, second-in-command of the Right Cavalry Army, both of similar age, happened to stride side by side across the threshold. Li Yanchao, unfamiliar with the suddenly prominent Lu Dayuan, cared little for titles like “youngest deputy commander in the history of the Full Armor Battalion,” “former squad leader of Li Mopan and Wang Lingbao,” or “veteran of the Xu family who once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Xu Pu, Wu Qi, and Liu Jinu.” As a man who valued only military merit, Li Yanchao paid no heed. Moreover, as part of the younger generation of officers who rose under Chen Zhibao’s tenure as the first Protector-General of Northern Liang, Li Yanchao and his peers, who later joined the Right Cavalry Army, differed starkly from the older Xu family generals who emerged during the twilight of the Spring and Autumn period—whether in temperament or military discipline.
For instance, after Lu Dayuan’s return to the frontier army, even with de facto command of the entire Left Cavalry Army, he never adhered to the bureaucratic tradition of “new brooms sweep clean.” He treated his subordinates amicably, inspected his troops without severity, and largely ignored Chen Zhibao’s stringent military regulations, preferring leniency where possible. Even in war councils, unlike the stern Li Yanchao, Lu Dayuan maintained a carefree demeanor, as if nothing in the world could faze him—a stark contrast to Li Yanchao’s rigid discipline, making the latter disdain any thought of camaraderie.
As Lu Dayuan and Li Yanchao walked side by side toward the military affairs office to coordinate with Yang Shenxing and others regarding large-scale troop movements—a matter involving not only the deputy military commissioner but also the finance office led by Bai Yu—Li Yanchao suddenly halted.
“Mind stepping aside for a word?” he asked.
Lu Dayuan agreed, and the two descended the steps instead of entering the office. Opposite the council hall and the six administrative wings stood a wooden archway inscribed on both sides: the southern face bore the words “Northwest” in gold on red, penned by the young Prince, while the northern side displayed a maxim by Li Yishan: “Deceive Heaven and Earth, but never the people.”
Beneath the archway, Lu Dayuan cut to the chase: “I know this position should’ve been yours. If you resent it, there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”
Li Yanchao frowned but remained silent.
Clad in armor, Lu Dayuan exhaled slowly. “The Left and Right Cavalry Armies have always been close. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to rival the Snow Dragon Cavalry at every turn, even turning the Xianli and Tianjing pastures into our backyard. Rumor has it that when the Dragon-Elephant Army was still stationed in Liuzhou, a dispute over two hundred top-grade warhorses nearly escalated until the Right Cavalry Army dispatched two thousand elite riders overnight to back the Left Cavalry Army’s retreating commander, securing the horses. Over the years, our two armies have stood united, often clashing with the Dragon-Elephant, White Feather, and Iron Pagoda divisions. Some say even a lowly quartermaster in our ranks holds more sway than a frontier garrison commander. No wonder the heads of the four major frontier towns tread lightly around us.”
Li Yanchao replied coldly, “Don’t forget you’re now the Left Cavalry Army’s deputy commander. Save your heartfelt speeches for the Prince. They’re wasted on me.”
Lu Dayuan smirked, glancing back at the bustling council hall. “The Xu family I knew wasn’t like this—just a bunch of roughnecks in armor, even the scholars like Li Yishan and Zhao Xuan carrying blades. Now, look at all these robed officials. Times have changed.”
With pressing matters at hand, Li Yanchao snapped, “Cut the chatter. Get to the point.”
Unfazed, Lu Dayuan grinned. “I haven’t seen action in twenty years, but since the Prince trusts me with this command, I won’t disappoint. I’ve fought over sixty battles without a loss, and this won’t be the first. I’m telling you now: the Left Cavalry Army is in good hands. Let the world see that our pride is justified. When the day comes, even the so-called ‘Twin Jewels of Chu’ or Cao Benlei and Yu Deyi will step aside for us veterans.”
He clapped Li Yanchao on the head. “Kid, you’re even grumpier than the old Marshal!”
Stunned, Li Yanchao could only watch as Lu Dayuan sauntered off.
At the council hall entrance, Zhou Kang gaped. “That Lu Dayuan’s got nerve, daring to pat Li Taisui’s head.”
The young Prince chuckled. “The burden on our cavalry just got heavier.”
Zhou Kang snorted. “If you believe those youngsters like Kou Jianghuai can turn the tide in Liuzhou, so be it. But even without reinforcements, He’s Left Cavalry and my Right Cavalry can handle Murong Baoding, Wang Yong, and Helian Wuwei. Rest easy.”
The Prince hesitated, then cautioned, “The Winter Thunder and Rouran cavalries are the Northern Mang’s elite. Don’t underestimate them.”
Zhou Kang nodded.
Suddenly, the Prince clasped his fists. “Safe travels.”
Zhou Kang returned the gesture solemnly. “Only death… or victory awaits.”
Both knew the truth:
Only death awaited.
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