Chapter 129: The Empty City Stratagem

Chapter 129: The Empty City Stratagem

Ashina listened and said sternly, “Continue using severe torture on them! You people are a disgrace to us Turks! What drug did Xiao Ce give you to make you so loyal to him?”

Everyone was stunned. They were telling the truth!

But at this moment, even when they told the truth, these people did not believe them!

“Please… please… give us another chance! Great Khans, you are wise. You are right! Xiao Ce ordered us to do it!”

After hearing one of the Turks say this, a fierce glint flashed in Ashina’s eyes.

“Hmph, that’s more like it! Now speak up, or must I ask every single question?”

This time, the surviving Turk from the Ashide clan spoke first. “I’ll talk… Xiao Ce sent us to trick you, saying our rear had been attacked by him. This was to make you move the troops away! So he could catch his breath!”

Ashina nodded with satisfaction. “Hmph… that’s much better! Continue.”

Seeing Ashina’s reaction, the Turks who were tortured and eager for death realized their leaders did not want the real truth.

These leaders only wanted the truth THEY believed!

Everyone understood they could not live. Now they just wanted a quick death.

So they all said exactly what their leaders wanted to hear.

Zuomu Ashide said, “Great Khans, Xiao Ce bribed me with a huge sum of money. He told me to first sow discord among you. If that failed, I was to trick you into leaving. If successful in any way, I would be given ten thousand taels of Gold.”

“That’s right, it was the same for me!”

Ashina nodded satisfactorily. “Then how did Xiao Ce contact you?”

The group, who had never met Xiao Ce, did not know how to answer. Zuomu Ashide had never met Xiao Ce, but he had seen Da Lei.

“A man named Da Lei came to find us! We don’t know how he got into our rear…” Zuomu Ashide replied.

Ashina nodded satisfactorily. “Then is Xiao Ce in Yanbei City?”

Zuomu Ashide nodded. “My Khan, yes… he is!”

After that, no matter what Ashina asked,

these people all agreed. They were completely fabricating a false truth.

To their surprise, these people actually believed them.

After their confessions, Ashina and the other leaders stood up.

“Enough. Lock these men up first.”

Helu asked, “These scum of the Turks, why keep them? Let’s chop them up and feed them to the dogs!”

Ashina waved his hand. “No need. I still have a use for them!”

Ashide said, “Do you want to use them to trick Xiao Ce again?”

Ashina nodded. “Exactly, you are clever! It’s a waste if they just die. Instead, let’s turn their plot against them.”

Ashide said, “That could work!”

Ashina said to them, “I’ll give you a chance to live. Go get treated properly first. I will come for you later!”

With that, these people left.

…

Meanwhile, at the residences of the Family Heads of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

They were all gathered at Cai Yong’s mansion. Since the last meeting, on Mr. Hidden Dragon’s suggestion, they had stayed together to make communication easier.

Now, they heard news from outside.

“What? Are you sure? The refugees in Yanbei City have all fled from Yanbei City?” Kan Shanyue asked Cai Yong.

Cai Yong nodded. “Yes. According to intelligence, Xiao Ce learned about the plague spreading here and knew that future provisions couldn’t be transported. So he ordered all the refugees in that city to go to Lingxiao City! They evacuated the civilians first. The Northern Desert Army will follow later.”

“Hmph, this Xiao Ce is truly a ‘saint,’ isn’t he? Facing his own doom, he still remembers to take those burdens with him! But I thought their bold claims, like defending Yanbei City to the death, were just bluffs,” Liu Qi said.

“Exactly. Xiao Ce is as timid as a mouse. He talks big! He’s not only timid but also incredibly stupid! I thought he would at least send a few people over to check on the situation here! But he only issued a notice of sympathy! And he told us to seal the cities tightly and not let anyone infected with the plague leave! Look how scared he is!” Lin Shou chimed in.

Kan Shanyue said with a smile, “Right. We were really all fooled by him! I thought he was truly formidable. It seems Mr. Hidden Dragon’s words aren’t always accurate, asking us to be wary of him? With a brain like his, it’s a good thing we were all wise not to follow him back then. We listened to Mr. Hidden Dragon in time instead. Otherwise, we might have truly faced disaster!”

Everyone nodded in agreement. “So, should we act against those refugees?” Cai Yong asked.

Everyone shook their heads. “Of course not! Are you stupid? If Xiao Ce wants to take in those lowly commoners, let him. Just let him take them in. If we act, we’d just be asking for trouble. Is your information accurate?”

Cai Yong nodded. “Of course it’s accurate. Han Da personally followed and heard the city’s commoners say it.”

Everyone said, “Let’s stick to our previous plan. Let the Turks and that waste Xiao Ce fight it out. We won’t offend either side. First, send a message to the Turks saying they are about to retreat. Tell them to prepare to attack.”

Kan Shanyue was a bit worried. “The Turks won’t come after us, will they?”

Cai Yong waved his hand. “Don’t worry! Mr. Hidden Dragon has already made arrangements for us. They won’t touch us. As long as they march south all the way and directly attack Lingxiao City, which is unprepared, it will surely be captured quickly. If the Turks succeed in marching south, it might not be a bad thing for us!”

The group nodded. “So for now, we do nothing?”

“We can also leave some provisions along the way! When this news reaches him, Xiao Ce will surely be pleased with our actions. It’s also insurance for us, in case the Turks don’t defeat Xiao Ce. We’ll still have room to maneuver,” Kan Shanyue suggested.

Everyone nodded. “Good! Not too much, just enough for them to eat for a few meals. And tell them the food is safe. Otherwise, we might scare Xiao Ce off.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

…

One day later, at the Turk camp outside Yanbei City.

Ashina was beaming and walked with a spring in his step.

For him, this was a time of joy and high spirits!

Ever since the news from their Turkic rear came back, it had been one good news after another for him.

Just now, they had received news that Yanbei City was about to retreat.

He had summoned all the leaders from Yanbei.

These people looked at Ashina’s happy expression. “Ashina, why are you so happy? Have the people in Yanbei City starved to death?”

Ashina shook his head. “Not exactly! But it’s close! The Northern Desert Army in Yanbei City is going to retreat!”

The group looked eager. “Really? They’re retreating?”

Ashina nodded excitedly. “Of course, it can’t be false! The Family Heads of the Four Great Clans from the Four Northern Desert Prefectures sent news. The refugees they took in inside Yanbei City have already fled. In at most five to seven days, their army will withdraw!”

Hearing this, Helu looked excited. “Great! Once they leave Yanbei City, we attack with full force! Then, without the protection of city walls! Even if they are the army of Prince of Zhenguo, Xiao Dingshan, they will be like lambs for us to slaughter!”

Ashide looked excited. “Right. Now we must closely monitor their situation.”

Everyone in the group nodded.

…

Meanwhile, inside Yanbei City.

A Raven messenger hurriedly found Han Da, who was busy.

Han Da was very busy at the moment.

He was directing the army to dig various tunnels leading outside the city.

Han Da stopped his work when he saw the Raven messenger approach.

“Is there a message?”

His Raven messenger only had contact with Xiao Ce’s side.

The Raven messenger nodded.

Seeing this, Sun Qiang and the others gathered around.

Han Da took the letter and did not check if it had been opened.

Because Xiao Ce’s letters were always written in a special secret code, even if someone saw them, they would not understand.

After Han Da finished reading, his expression became more and more lively.

He kept murmuring to himself, “Where does our Prince come up with these amazing ideas?”

Sun Qiang and the others stood to the side, looking expectant as they asked, “What did the Prince write?”

Han Da glanced around and said, “This is not a good place to talk! Come on, let’s go somewhere else.”

Everyone nodded and followed Han Da back to his residence.

Han Da briefly explained to Sun Qiang and the others, “Although the Prince is behind Turkic lines, he still worries about us! He said that since the people of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures have become dogs for the Turks, news of our retreat will definitely reach their ears.”

“During this time, whether it’s the Family Heads of the Noble Clans from the Four Northern Desert Prefectures or the Turks themselves, they will all be watching us closely. Once they see any sign of us retreating, they will surely chase after us immediately.”

“The Turks’ Cavalry is nothing to scoff at! Our side has mostly new recruits, so we would definitely suffer heavy losses! So, the Prince first ordered us to use an empty fort strategy! To scare them, to intimidate them!”

Sun Qiang and the group listened, their faces full of confusion as they asked, “Empty fort strategy? What kind of plan is that…”

Han Da explained, “First, we announce publicly that we are retreating. Then, we let some wounded soldiers retreat first, making sure to spread out our forces. After that, our main force will set up an ambush inside Yanbei City.”

“When they learn of our retreat, they will definitely want to take advantage. They will certainly send light Cavalry to chase us at full speed! At that time, we can ambush them once. We will fight them in street battles, and our weapons will give us the advantage! Caught off guard, they will be taken by surprise.”

“After they encounter the ambush and are defeated, they will retreat! Next, we can open the city gates and leave a light Cavalry unit of around a thousand men to bluff. Since they were ambushed once, if the city gates are open and a few soldiers are sweeping at the entrance, acting as bait, they definitely won’t dare to enter!”

“As long as we delay for a few days, once the main force leaves, they won’t be able to catch up no matter what!”

Han Da gave a concise summary, and after listening, everyone praised repeatedly.

“Our Prince has never fought a single battle, yet he can come up with such a brilliant idea!”

“True… I almost can’t wait.”

Han Da said, “Then each of you should prepare and make arrangements. Tell those retreating to definitely spread out their formation!”

Sun Qiang and the group nodded.

…

Three days later, Han Da began to carry out Xiao Ce’s plan.

Early in the morning, before it was even light, a group of wounded soldiers formed a long line, making their formation appear very extended, and they left Yanbei City in an organized manner.

The Scouts from the Noble Clans of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures who were watching the area received the news immediately.

Cai Yong and the other four Family Heads, afraid of being too late to please, each sent out a Raven to report the news.

Since the distance was not far, the Message Crows they released in the morning arrived a little over an hour later outside Yanbei City.

Ashina wanted to take the lead, so he had his troops set out lightly equipped first.

He then went to inform the other leaders.

After hearing the news from Ashina and learning that he had already sent an advance force to pursue, the group of leaders reacted.

“Ashina, that’s not fair!”

“Right, you don’t have to be in such a hurry to grab credit!”

Seeing this, Ashina said to them, “You misunderstood. I sent them as an advance force to check for any ambushes or the like for you!”

Helu’s face turned ugly as he said, “Ambush my foot! If they ambush there, they’re just waiting to die! I think you just want to take the credit!”

These leaders originally wanted to complain a bit!

But thinking it would waste time, they decided it was better to lead their troops out immediately.

After each returned, they had their light Cavalry set out first.

Other follow-up forces gradually followed.

By then, Mosi Ashina had already led a light Cavalry unit to the city walls.

When they reached the city, they were very cautious at first.

But upon arriving at the city gate, they found not a single person there.

They initially wanted to attack the gate, but after some attempts, the Concrete gate suffered little damage, so they turned to attack the city walls.

Previously, there had always been people to open the gates for them, but now even though there was no defense,

and they had come in a hurry with only simple siege tools,

breaching the city was very difficult.

When Ashina and the other Cavalry arrived and saw them tearing at the walls, their faces turned pale with anger.

Helu mocked from the side, “Haha, Ashina, you were right! You really are serving us! But if you’re going to attack a city, shouldn’t you bring some heavy siege weapons?”

Ashide was fairly decent and said, “Enough, let’s all help together!”

He immediately had those with simple siege tools step forward and take turns trying to break through.

The leaders watched the group struggle with the siege, and Ashina couldn’t help but sigh, “With inside help before, we never realized how strong Yanbei City was. If we had to attack it by force, how many lives would we have lost!”