Chapter 156 Tuo Baxiao Chased All the Way.

Chapter 156: Tuo Baxiao gave chase.

"General, what did you say?"

His words were too quiet, and the scout didn’t catch them.

"Nothing." Zhang Qian shook his head.

He had originally planned to withdraw to Liangzhou but now changed his mind.

"Scout again and report back as soon as you know more."

"Yes."

"General, are you not returning to Liangzhou?" Liu Wei asked.

Zhang Qian replied, "We’ll see what the scouts find. If the Xianbei Army has truly come to aid Liang State, we can use this chance to hit them from both sides."

The Huns were nothing but trouble. Recalling the scene he had witnessed earlier, only blood would settle the score.

Speaking of hitting from both sides, Liu Wei was reminded of He Yang’s Liangzhou Army. Even now, the anger burned—if He Yang couldn’t handle the Huns, he never should’ve promised help. The Liangzhou Army had already engaged the Huns, yet He Yang fled midway. To make it worse, they pulled out without warning, leaving them trapped for over two months and nearly got twenty thousand Liangzhou men killed.

They scrounged up some supplies from the Hun camp, enough to sustain them for a few days. Zhang Qian then chose a spot that was easy to defend and strike from to await the scout’s report.

The next afternoon, the scout returned.

Sure enough, it was the Xianbei Army, led personally by Tuo Baxiao, locked in battle with the Huns.

Zhang Qian kept watch from the shadows until the third day, when the Hun and Xianbei forces clashed again by the Guo Family River outside the city. He struck from behind without warning.

Wudati Hou had recalled the majority of his 150,000 cavalry to deal with Tuo Baxiao. Though Tuo Baxiao’s forces had not yet fully assembled, lacking numerical superiority, the Xianbei Army was exceptionally fierce and well-equipped. The fight had been even, but now the Xianbei were gaining the upper hand.

Wudati Hou gazed at the sturdy warhorses, gleaming blades, and sturdy armor, finally realizing that the Xianbei lived far better than he had imagined. Jealousy and bitterness boiled inside him.

The Hetao region had originally belonged to the Huns. The Xianbei had seized the most fertile lands, which was how they could sustain such an army.

He swore to kill Tuo Baxiao, reclaim the entire northern steppe, and march south to conquer Liang State.

As the Hun and Xianbei forces fought fiercely, all hell broke loose behind them.

"Enemy ambush!"

"Whose forces?"

"The Liangzhou Army."

At that, Wudati Hou saw red.

Worthless idiots.

Sure, he’d pulled back half his men, but he never expected the remaining forces not only failed to hold back the Liangzhou Army but also allowed them to find an opportunity to ambush him.

Meanwhile, the Xianbei spotted the commotion too. After observing for a moment and spotting a banner bearing the character "Zhang," Tuo Baxiao understood what was happening.

"Hit them with everything." He, too, recognized this as an excellent opportunity and acted without hesitation.

The Liangzhou Army numbered little more than ten thousand—not much of a threat to Wudati Hou. But caught between two fronts, the situation was undeniably unfavorable.

Wudati Hou sized up the fight and made up his mind fast.

"Fall back—split forces and retreat to Zhongwei and Tongyin."

Zhongwei, Tongyin, and Guyuan formed a defensive triangle. By holding these three cities, they could both attack and defend with ease, especially Zhongwei, which was also a crossing point on the Yellow River. Securing this passage would ensure a steady flow of reinforcements from the Xiongnu.

A single loss meant nothing. Wudati Hou swallowed his rage.

The Xiongnu were fleeing, and who knew when they’d get another shot like this? Tuo Baxiao had Chigan Balie cut off Wudati Hou’s retreat.

On the plains by the Guo Family River, a hundred thousand soldiers locked in chaos. Yellow sand swirled, and banners darkened half the sky.

Whether by chance or design, Zhang Qian found himself drawing closer to the Xianbei Army. From a distance, he caught a glimpse of Tuo Baxiao—though he couldn’t make out his features, he made out a towering, battle-hardened frame.

Even among an army packed with elite warriors, his stature stood out. Clad in exquisite black armor, he was impossible to miss, let alone his kill-or-be-killed aura, which kept the surrounding Xiongnu at bay.

Zhang Qian had never seen Tuo Baxiao before, yet he recognized him instantly.

Brave and young—that was Zhang Qian’s first impression of him.

And unlike other generals, Tuo Baxiao had no beard?

Zhang Qian blinked in confusion for a moment, but a nearby Xiongnu warrior seized the chance to attack, leaving no room for thought.

Outnumbering his foes, Wudati Hou eventually broke through the encirclement by the Liangzhou Army and the Xianbei Army.

Both sides sent troops in pursuit before parting ways.

The Liangzhou Army and the Xianbei Army had completed an unplanned yet effective cooperation.

After two days of pursuit, Wudati Hou still managed to retreat to Zhongwei and Tongyin. With the cities as fortresses, Tuo Baxiao called off the assault and instead occupied Zhongning to lick their wounds.

On the sixteenth day of July, Jiang Congyan’s carriage rolled into Lingwu.

Tuo Baxiao dropped everything and rode out of the city to meet her.

A black banner flickered into view down the mountain pass, and spotting it, Tuo Baxiao urged his horse forward.

At the front were armored Xianbei Imperial Guards on horseback, bearing the royal standard. Upon seeing Tuo Baxiao, they snapped to attention, flanking the road.

Only then was the two-horse-drawn carriage behind them revealed.

The convoy ground to a stop.

Jiang Congyan dozed against the carriage wall, resting with her eyes closed. Sensing the stop, she opened them—had they arrived?

Just as she was about to lift the curtain, someone was faster.

A large hand abruptly reached in from outside, sweeping the curtain aside. The gust of wind that rushed in sent the hair at her temples fluttering.

The light stabbed at her eyes, and as she raised a hand to shield them, she found herself staring at a familiar face.

Backlit, she couldn’t make out the details—only a razor-edged profile and gleaming jade-green eyes.

Her wrist hovered midair as she gaped at him. Seizing the moment, the man swiftly boarded the carriage.

The carriage, neither too large nor too small, would have comfortably seated two or three people. But with Tuo Baxiao’s towering frame inside, it shrank around him.

The curtain fell back into place, plunging the space back into shadow.

"Why did you come in person?"

After more than half a month apart, Jiang Congyan felt inexplicably uneasy and instinctively sought a topic to break the silence between them.

From the moment he saw her, Tuo Baxiao’s gaze never left her face.

His eyes were intense, almost oppressive, like bottomless whirlpools threatening to drag her under.

"I missed you—couldn’t wait to see you."

She’d lost weight, but her color was better than when they had first parted, which eased his mind somewhat.

He was watching Jiang Congyan, and she was watching him too.

His presence was fiercer now, reeking of the battlefield. If before he had been like a peerless blade gleaming with cold light, striking fear into those who beheld him, now that blade had tasted blood, radiating a bloodthirsty dominance, ready to cut down any foe.

Only their closeness kept Jiang Congyan from fearing him now. If this had been their first meeting, she’d have kept her distance.

"You were injured—"

Before she could finish, he yanked her into his arms, his scorching lips pressing down on hers.

Tuo Baxiao wanted nothing more than to hold and kiss her.

Jiang Congyan didn’t refuse him. Mindful of the people outside, she tried to keep quiet, but the man kissed her so fiercely that soft, unmistakable noises still slipped out. Fortunately, the rumbling wheels and clopping hooves masked the noise.

She indulged him for a moment—until he tugged loose her sash, her collar slipping halfway down her arm, revealing broad glimpses of pale shoulders and collarbone. She pressed her hand over his and whispered, "No, stop. We can’t." They were still in the carriage.

Tuo Baxiao was out of patience. "The second I stepped off the battlefield, you were all I could think about."

"...Still no." Jiang Congyan gripped his hand firmly. "We’re almost there. Just hold on a little longer."

Growled low in his throat, heaving a sigh, Tuo Baxiao restrained himself from going further, though he lingered close, murmuring against her skin, nuzzling close until the carriage entered the city. Only when they neared the government office did he reluctantly release her, helping straighten her clothes.

Tuo Baxiao had captured Zhongning, but his main camp remained in Lingwu.

Zhongning had fallen once last year, its countryside nearly devoid of civilians. This year, war had struck again, and the Xiongnu had plundered all supplies, leaving behind an empty city. Lingwu, however, was close to Lingzhou and Xitao, allowing military provisions to be supplied from Lingzhou, so he temporarily stationed his forces there.

The grandest building in Lingwu was, of course, the government office—a two-courtyard estate, split between a front hall and private quarters.

The moment they stepped through the gate, the man hurriedly guided her toward the rear courtyard.

Tuo Baxiao was accustomed to roughness, his living habits simple. The bedroom in the rear courtyard had only a hastily laid-out bed, not even a canopy, and the room was bare, dust still lingering on the floor.

The shabby room killed Jiang Congyan’s mood, especially since she wasn’t sure if the bedding was clean.

Not wanting to sound too picky, she tugged his arm and said, "I’m hungry. Can we eat first?"

She wasn’t fooling him. His gaze shifted between the bed and her face. Not wanting her to go hungry after the long trip, he finally agreed to eat first.

A Fei, seeing them emerge from the bedroom, sent Yun Duo and Lu Zhu to fetch Jiang Congyan’s things while she and Tong quickly cleaned and arranged the room—changing the bedding, hanging a canopy, laying out toiletries in the adjoining room...

Once in the side hall, Jiang Congyan finally had the chance to ask what concerned her most. "You’ve faced Wudati Hou already? How did it go? What about the Liangzhou Army?"

Tuo Baxiao gave her a brief account. "...The Liangzhou Army’s clear—they haven’t fallen back to Liangzhou yet. They’re still pursuing the Xiongnu."

Relieved to hear her uncle was safe, Jiang Congyan then asked if Tuo Baxiao had been injured.

"What ordinary soldier could touch me? Unless you’d like to... check me over yourself?" His last words carried a suggestive tone.

Jiang Congyan flushed at his teasing and scowled.

They couldn’t do that now, so Tuo Baxiao tried his best to divert his attention, answering whatever she asked. Speaking of the Liangzhou Army, he said, “They’re tougher than I expected for a Han Chinese army.”

Though they hadn’t even properly met on the battlefield, the Liangzhou Army had accurately seized the opportunity, daring to coordinate with his forces despite their smaller numbers to flank the Xiongnu. Their ferocious fighting skills indeed made them a capable fighting force.

Hearing his praise, Jiang Congyan said with a proud sniff, “The Liangzhou Army has always been valiant.”

Tuo Baxiao thought to himself that in the entire Liang State, only the Liangzhou Army was truly capable of fighting—the rest were nothing but incompetent buffoons. Otherwise, how could Wudati Hou have crushed over a hundred thousand troops so easily before?

After a simple meal, the room had been tidied up, completely redone in just an hour.

At a glance, everything looked brand new.

The bed was now covered with clean bedding and a mosquito net, while several neatly arranged chests stood on the other side. A bronze incense burner shaped like coiling dragons sat on the desk, emitting delicate wisps of smoke, filling the air with a faint, elusive fragrance.

The entire room now had a woman’s touch.

Without a bathtub, they could only make do with a quick rinse.

Having endured for two hours, the man was already impatient.

In the heat of the moment, Jiang Congyan suddenly remembered something and pressed against his shoulders, “We didn’t use the contraceptive herbs.”

This matter had always been handled by themselves—never entrusted to the maids, who wouldn’t know about it anyway.

At such a critical moment, she brought this up?

Tuo Baxiao took a deep breath, glared at her, and snapped, “Even if an urgent military report arrived right now, I’d still finish what we started first.”

“…”

In the end, fortunately, the man kept just enough self-control and withdrew in time.

Though this might not completely prevent consequences, it was still better than going all the way. Besides, she wasn’t particularly fertile—it should be fine. Jiang Congyan comforted herself this way.

The night passed too quickly, and the next day, Tuo Baxiao didn’t even want to deal with military business—but he had no choice.

Military situations changed rapidly, and he had to be ready to face the enemy at any moment.

Exhausted from the journey and the night before, Jiang Congyan slept until well past noon before waking.

Still drowsy under the blankets, she wondered—could she find a chance to see her uncle?

It depended on the war situation. As the main commander, her uncle would prioritize combat.

If it were just ordinary sieges and conquests, Jiang Congyan might have been busy with civilian relief efforts. But now, the lands west of Xiaoguan had been slaughtered by the Xiongnu, with hardly any civilians left alive. Aside from managing some logistics, she didn’t have many miscellaneous tasks.

Tuo Baxiao had declared that whoever capitalized on the chance to seize territory from the Xiongnu would claim it, so naturally, he wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

After staying in Lingwu for a day, he soon headed to Zhongning, preparing to launch an attack on the Xiongnu.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qian had pursued the Xiongnu to Zhongwei but couldn’t retake the city yet. As he weighed whether to push forward or fall back, reinforcements from Liangzhou arrived.

The Marquis of Liangzhou, upon learning he was besieged by the Xiongnu, had driven back the Qiang troops at Xiping and finally spared troops to rescue him.

Zhang Yan had insisted on leading the rescue for his father, only to find that he had already broken through. He was even more surprised to hear that it was the Xianbei Army who had helped them escape.

News was slow to reach Liangzhou—they only knew the court had sent emissaries to the Xianbei but hadn’t heard that Tuo Baxiao had already decided to aid Liang State.

“It must be Ah Yan’s doing,” Zhang Yan thought immediately.

Either way, both father and son remembered this kindness.

Zhang Yan added, "I wish we could see her someday."

Zhang Qian didn’t object: "We’ll play it by ear."

With the crisis at Xiaoguan resolved, the entire court breathed a sigh of relief. However, the subsequent battle reports made the Emperor of Liang’s face darken.

On the 20th of July, Tuo Baxiao engaged Wudati Hou at Tongyin and Huan County, with each side winning some battles.

On the 22nd of July, Tuo Baxiao captured Huan County.

On the 29th of July, Tuo Baxiao's forces advanced directly on Guyuan.

If Guyuan fell, the entire Beidi and Hanyang Commanderies would fall into the hands of the Xianbei, and Longxi Commandery would also be threatened. They’d just be trading one threat for another.

The Emperor of Liang abandoned even the pretense of imperial dignity, publicly lambasting Zhao Bian and Zhou Hong for their incompetence in front of all his ministers, wishing he could haul them back and behead them to vent his fury.

Previously, he had gritted his teeth and accepted Tuo Baxiao's terms, thinking that at least not all would be lost. Yet, he never expected Zhao Bian and Zhou Hong to be so completely useless.

"What do you suggest we do now? Should we truly hand over our land to the barbarians? I may bear the shame, but what of you? History will record your disgrace line by line—let us all await eternal infamy!"

The Emperor of Liang slammed the battle report down, his face dark as he glared at the assembled officials. The twelve jade pendants on his crown swayed violently with his movements.

The ministers were dead silent, holding their breath.

"Cui Wang, as the leader of the officials, you speak."

Cui Civil Affairs Minister, now put on the spot, could no longer play dumb. He had no choice but to respond:

"Zhao Bian and Zhou Hong aren’t seasoned against the barbarians, which is why they failed to retake the cities. Maybe we ought to send more capable generals."

"Do you all agree with him?"

Cui Civil Affairs Minister's reasoning made some sense. War was not just about the strength of the army but also the strategy of its commander. If the general was incompetent, even the best soldiers would flounder under his leadership.

"I agree."

"I also agree."

Most found his argument reasonable.

"Then, who do you propose we send?" the Emperor of Liang pressed further.

This... The room fell silent.

Who to send?

Though the court had many officers, few were actually up to such a responsibility. The most respected among them, Zhou Ji, had collapsed in fury upon hearing the Emperor of Liang's willingness to cede territory in exchange for Tuo Baxiao's aid and had yet to regain consciousness.

When no one answered, the Emperor of Liang turned his gaze back to Cui Civil Affairs Minister. "Cui Wang, since this was your suggestion, tell me—who do you recommend?"

Cui Civil Affairs Minister let out a quiet sigh, his aged eyes flickering with a trace of disappointment.

He lifted his gaze and said, "The Liangzhou Army has extensive experience fighting barbarian foes."

What? Liangzhou?

The ministers were stunned and uneasy. Yet upon reflection, it was true—Liangzhou was their only real option.

The Emperor of Liang’s face froze.

Though Liangzhou was nominally under the rule of Liang, in reality, apart from a few civil officials sent to monitor the Zhang family, he had no control over it. The Liangzhou Army never obeyed his imperial commands, and the Zhang clan was openly defiant. It could be said that whether Liangzhou would rebel hinged entirely on the Marquis of Liangzhou’s decision.

At this moment, when Cui Civil Affairs Minister mentioned Liangzhou, the Emperor of Liang's first reaction was refusal.

Suddenly, Sima Wei spoke up, "Your Majesty, I believe the Civil Affairs Minister's proposal is sound."

The Emperor of Liang turned to him.

Sima Wei continued, "Liangzhou is the territory of our Liang State, and the Liangzhou Army is naturally our Liang army. Any cities recaptured from the barbarians by Liangzhou would rightfully be Liang’s."

His implication was clear—let the Liangzhou Army assist in the recapture, and then reclaim the cities from Liangzhou later.

But there was one problem—what if the Marquis refused to hand them over?

As if reading the Emperor of Liang's thoughts, Sima Wei added, "Your Majesty might first confer upon Zhang Yan, the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Liangzhou, the title of General of the Guards and order him to report to General Zhao."

This way, the Zhangs would fight for Liang while Zhang Yan would act as leverage to ensure the cities recaptured by Liangzhou would eventually be returned to the Liang State.

Cui Civil Affairs Minister frowned, finding this condition unfair. The Marquis of Liangzhou was a man of honor—he didn’t deserve such treatment. But before he could speak, the Emperor of Liang stood up.

"Good, this is an excellent plan."

"Will the Marquis of Liangzhou agree?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Sima Wei was confident. "Of course, he will."

Clouded by bias, the emperor believed the Zhang clan was amassing power for their own gain. Only outsiders understood Liangzhou's sacrifices over the years and the Marquis of Liangzhou's devotion to Liang. He had once followed the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen—he wouldn’t let Liang fall to the barbarians. However humiliated or furious, he would do everything to preserve Liang.

Once the decision was made, the Emperor of Liang swiftly drafted an edict and sent it urgently to Zhao Bian and the Marquis of Liangzhou.

After reading it, Zhao Bian's face turned ashen.

The Emperor of Liang harshly rebuked him for his military failures, having yet to reclaim any cities from the barbarians. If he didn’t achieve some success soon, he’d be stripped of his rank upon returning.

This wasn’t explicitly stated in the edict, but he knew it would be the outcome.

Someone had to take the fall.

No—he had to find a way.

Then he noticed another order: to have Liangzhou join the fight against the barbarians and to place Zhang Yan under his command...

Meanwhile, Zhang Yan was taken aback upon receiving the edict.

The Emperor of Liang had appointed him General of the Guards and put twenty thousand men under his command to fight the barbarians.

After some thought, he accepted. He, too, wished to annihilate the barbarians, take back their land, and settle the score.

Zhang Yan left the Liangzhou Army with his father and went to the camp alone.

Zhang Qian said, "Be careful."

Zhang Yan nodded. "Father, don’t worry. I understand."

The emperor wouldn’t risk killing him—not now. His death would push Liangzhou to revolt, something the emperor did not want.

Things played out just as Zhang Yan expected. Upon entering the camp, Zhao Bian was surprisingly cordial and promptly transferred command of the twenty thousand men to him.

Zhao Bian patted him on the shoulder. "We are both soldiers of Liang. It is our duty to stand united against the nomadic invaders and not fail the Emperor's profound trust."

The combined forces of the Liangzhou Army, Liang Army, and Xianbei Army soon launched a counterattack against the Xiongnu forces.

Among them, the Xianbei Army fought the most fiercely, recapturing several cities. The Liangzhou Army fared slightly worse, while the Liang Army, led by Zhou Hong, reclaimed two small counties. Zhao Bian, however, scored almost no victories, while Zhang Yan, commanding twenty thousand Liang troops, also seized two minor towns.

Zhao Bian kept a straight face but was seething inside. He had the largest force—seventy thousand men.

By mid-August, a sudden blizzard blanketed the entire northwestern region.

Tuo Baxiao had prepared in advance, quickly outfitting his Xianbei troops with thick winter clothing. Simultaneously, he launched a surprise attack on Guyuan.

Wudati Hou, taken by surprise, barely managed to react but was already on the verge of defeat.

Zhao Bian had been searching for a way to distinguish himself in battle. Upon hearing this news, a scheme hatched in his head.

He sought out his most trusted strategist, Jia Gong, and huddled in secret for over an hour.

"I believe if this plan succeeds, General, you'll bag the top honors," Jia Gong said.

Zhao Bian smiled—he, too, thought it was quite feasible.

Guyuan was the largest and most populous city between the two commanderies, as well as a key fortress. Capturing it would instantly turn the tide in his favor.

After days of fierce fighting, Wudati Hou, unprepared for the August cold snap and lacking sufficient cold-weather supplies, saw his Xiongnu cavalry's combat effectiveness drastically reduced. In the end, he lost his largest city. Surrounded by enemy forces on all sides, his southern campaign collapsed. With the weather growing increasingly harsh, he had no choice but to retreat to Zhongwei.

Tuo Baxiao hounded him all the way.