Chapter 49: Defeating Them One by One

Zhao Mang had originally expected that two hundred heads could be exchanged for a substantial amount of grain and provisions.

To his disappointment, it amounted to a mere single cart.

There was nothing he could do about it.

He could only order his men to haul that cart of grain, load up all the rewards, and lead the newly recruited soldiers back to Dunzi Peak under the cover of night.

Plans could never keep up with changes.

On the very night he departed, the Tibetan army, which had not retreated very far, split into three separate routes.

One of these detachments bypassed the frontier garrison camp and closely followed Zhao Mang's route, intending to plunder the civilians of Shazhou along the way.

Another detachment headed north, bypassing the main frontier camp and marching towards the eastern district of Shacheng.

The following day.

Upon returning to Dunzi Peak, Zhao Mang inspected his territory, which was now mostly constructed and developed.

Xiao Han's reconnaissance unit had been completely established and was already operational.

Zhao Mang was just about to begin training the five hundred new recruits he had brought back. His goal was to enhance their combat capabilities and help them quickly catch up with the veterans so they would not falter on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, fate did not grant his wish.

Before training could even commence, he received an urgent message delivered by Xiao Han.

"The Tibetan barbarian army is coming!"

Zhao Mang cast a look of pity at the group of recruits, thinking to himself that these greenhorns would now have to be forged directly through the crucible of actual warfare.

The arrival of the Tibetan troops came with no warning whatsoever. Zhao Mang found it baffling how this large force of Tibetan barbarians had managed to bypass the frontier garrison and penetrate deep into the heartland of Shazhou.

With war imminent, he was given no time to prepare at all.

At this thought.

Zhao Mang hurriedly summoned everyone to discuss countermeasures.

Xiao Han was the first to step forward and speak: "Commander! With the Tibetan barbarian army pressing down upon us, relying merely on our small numbers makes it impossible to hold this ground."

"Right now, the only viable option is to ignite the beacon tower, retreat to Shacheng, and use the city as our stronghold to defend and preserve our strength."

Ever since Zhao Mang returned from the main frontier camp, he had reorganized and reassigned official military ranks to his subordinates.

Aside from Xiao Han, Zhu Wuneng and Zhu Qiqi were respectively appointed as squad leaders.

Meanwhile, Wang Kang and Li Dabing were appointed as section leaders.

Wang Wu was also appointed as a squad leader, and Zhao Mang had assigned him a core group of elite veterans.

The difference was that Zhao Mang classified Wang Wu directly as his personal bodyguard, keeping him close by his side during campaigns.

Wang Wu possessed formidable individual combat prowess and excelled in solo fights, but his glaring deficiency lay in his lack of command experience.

Yet, he was not the only one facing this issue.

Among all of Zhao Mang's chieftains, only Zhu Wuneng possessed some practical experience in military command.

This was accumulated through long-term participation in warfare within the main frontier garrison camp.

He possessed the ruthless determination and resolve required to slaughter the enemy.

With a solemn expression, Zhu Wuneng said earnestly: "I also lean toward Xiao Han's proposal. Holding out at the Dunzi Peak beacon tower holds no strategic meaning."

"I know those frontier soldiers far too well. Although the frontier garrison displays high morale in suppressing bandits and appears exceptionally capable, facing the Tibetan barbarians is an entirely different matter."

"Stationed at Mingsha Mountain for years, the frontier garrison has never once taken the initiative to attack. Though they conduct routine drills, it is all for show."

"The only ones with any genuine competence are the thousand personal guards under Zhang Chao's direct command!"

"The rest are nothing more than a bunch of wine-sacks and rice-buckets!"

"Their internal structure is utterly chaotic, divided into cliques! When battle commences, each harbors their own hidden agendas. Were it not for Zhang Chao, the frontier garrison camp would have ceased to exist long ago!"

"General Zhang Chao's hands are tied as well!"

Zhu Wuneng's explanation gave Zhao Mang a clearer overall understanding of the frontier garrison camp.

When he had visited the border camp the day before, he indeed sensed a strange atmosphere within the tents—far from being as calm as it appeared on the surface, it could be described as tense enough to snap at a touch.

If an incident were to break out now, lighting the beacon tower and sending men to the border camp to request reinforcements was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Pacing back and forth, Zhao Mang racked his brains, temporarily unable to devise a brilliant strategy.

Yet, he was unwilling to sit idly by and await his doom.

At that precise moment.

A scout from Xiao Han's unit rushed back to deliver another report.

"The three thousand Tibetan barbarians coming from the east have split into three separate groups once again and are closing in around us."

"They are now merely ten miles away from Dunzi Peak!"

"Ten miles? Splitting forces? Encirclement?"

Hearing these words, a flash of inspiration struck Zhao Mang.

As he gazed at the map, the method to break the deadlock became increasingly clear.

He paced back and forth.

By this time, his subordinates were growing anxious, particularly the displaced refugees.

This time, the number of Tibetan barbarians was far greater than just one hundred.

The previous encounter with a hundred men had already cost them numerous loved ones.

This time, they had no wish to cause trouble for Zhao Mang.

Wei Xian took the initiative to speak, revealing his intentions: "Why don't we begin migrating right now? Otherwise, once the main army arrives, the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children among us will only be a burden to you!"

"The young men in the village are all willing to stay behind and fight alongside you. This is the only way we can assist you."

Zhao Mang's mind raced as he sifted through the residual historical memories left in his brain.

After careful consideration, Zhao Mang made a bold decision.

He would take the initiative to attack, pursuing the three thousand Tibetan troops and defeating them one by one.

"In that case! Elder Wei, take the elderly, women, and children, abandon all property here immediately, and hurry straight to Shacheng!"

The moment anxious Wei Xian heard Zhao Mang's command, he turned and strode out of the tent.

Every moment wasted was a disregard for one's own life.

Seeing Wei Xian leave the tent, Zhao Mang immediately began issuing rapid commands: "Wang Pockmark, send a message to Jiang Wan at once, telling her to gather these refugees! You will go with them as well!"

Wang Pockmark turned and departed without a moment's hesitation. When it came to Zhao Mang's orders, he always executed them blindly wherever pointed.

Having settled the refugees, Zhao Mang pointed at the map and began to layout his plan: "Presently, our total force stands at five hundred and fifty men. Coupled with the youths among the refugees, we have slightly over six hundred troops."

"Your reconnaissance unit will fan out rapidly, using carrier pigeons to transmit messages and maintain real-time awareness of the battlefield movements!"

"Out of the six hundred and fifty men, a hundred cavalrymen will follow me along the Ganquan River to circle behind the Tibetan barbarian army and wage guerrilla warfare!"

"Zhu Wuneng, Wang Wu, Wang Kang, and Li Dabing will accompany me to charge the enemy's rear!"

"Zhu Qiqi, the remaining five hundred soldiers will hold the Dunzi Peak beacon tower!"

"You can utilize the terrain here to maneuver against them!"

"All supplies at the beacon tower are under your command! You must hold this position at all costs!"

"Although they have three thousand troops, I have already crossed swords with them before! They are nothing more than paper tigers!"

"Besides, their cavalry is unsuited for capturing a fortified position! As long as you hold out until I smash into their rear, this battle will not be difficult to win."

"Judging by how they split their forces, the commander leading these Tibetan barbarians is not very clever!"

"If they attack, you will defend to the death. If they retreat to give chase to us, you must open the fortress gates and cling to them relentlessly!"

"Naturally, the scenario I speak of assumes their forces are divided!"

"Do you all understand my instructions?"

Hearing this, everyone responded in unison with solemn and booming voices: "Understood!"

The men inside the tent had long since regarded Zhao Mang as their true leader from the bottom of their hearts!

Having fought four battles of varying scales alongside Zhao Mang, they held absolute confidence in him.

At this moment, they had undergone a complete transformation.

They were no longer as timid and shrinking as before! Zhao Mang stood like a beacon in their hearts, welding their wills together as one.

His orders delivered, Zhao Mang immediately led all his cavalry and set out.

The sky was still draped in the dim light of early dawn.

The sun rose from the east as it did every day!

At this hour, the Tibetan army remained utterly oblivious to the situation here.

They had long since cast aside the habit of conducting reconnaissance before marching.

Years of perceived weakness among the Han soldiers had caused them to abandon all caution, leaving behind nothing but arrogance.

And precisely this flaw would become their gravest mistake on this expedition!

Zhao Mang had ridden out from the mountains!