Chapter Fifty-Three: At a Complete Loss

The Wolf Banner Battalion and the Heavenly Strategy Army joined forces, marching together toward the Western Capital. Following Yu Lang’s suggestion, Li Shao abandoned his plan to enter Cangzhou for rest and reorganization. With the enemy’s position unclear, the priority was to hurry to the Western Capital and rendezvous with the Longyou army.

Seizing this opportunity, the brothers of the Wolf Banner Battalion learned much from their counterparts in the Heavenly Strategy Army. The latter was composed of seasoned veterans, all around thirty years of age, who took a keen liking to these eager younger men and gladly imparted their experience. The commander of this branch of the Heavenly Strategy Army was Yuan Qilang, a sixth-rank Flying Cavalry Captain, who had been thoroughly reprimanded by Li Shao. He was particularly close to Nan Jiyun; the two moved together as if they were brothers.

Yu Lang was pleased to see this camaraderie. In his strategy, the Wolf Banner Battalion would one day become peerless elite troops. It was always beneficial for his brothers to learn from the Heavenly Strategy Army. Even Yu Lang himself had mastered more advanced mounted archery techniques under Li Guangbi’s tutelage. The soldiers of both the Wolf Banner Battalion and the Heavenly Strategy Army intentionally kept their distance from Li Guangbi, assuming that although he was talented, he was not favored by the Crown Prince. Yu Lang, however, would not miss the chance to befriend such a hero.

Li Shao, usually strict with his subordinates, turned a blind eye to these interactions. As the un-crowned prince, he thirsted for talented men. If he could recruit Yu Lang into his camp, he would even entrust the Heavenly Strategy Army to him, let alone tolerate the presence of a Khitan. Indeed, Li Shao’s dislike for Li Guangbi stemmed partly from the latter’s independent decision to infiltrate the Heavenly Strategy Army, but more so from his Khitan blood. Li Longji himself held no prejudice against minorities—several centuries ago, the Li clan of Longxi had foreign blood, and many frontier generals were of non-Han origin. Li Shao, however, revered Han scholarship, his advisors were mostly Han scholars, and he despised the non-Han blood in his own lineage.

Two days later, the party arrived at the gates of the Western Capital.

General Zhao Weide led the civil and military officials of the city to welcome them. Within the Western Capital, there were forty-six thousand soldiers available for battle, yet fewer than a hundred war horses remained. This was because when Huangfu Weiming seized Hongji City after a thousand-mile raid, he took nearly all the cavalry and horses of the Longyou army with him. Previously, Hu Can had also led a squad of cavalry to rescue, only to be intercepted and wiped out by the Tubo forces. The dozen or so horses left in the city were merely old mounts, the leftovers. All the soldiers were infantry; forcing them onto horses would only weaken their fighting strength.

This predicament troubled Li Shao and Yu Lang greatly. Their original plan was to join forces with the Western Capital’s troops, march on Hongji City, and cooperate with Huangfu Weiming from within and without. The martial prowess of the Xiyue Academy disciples would be used to restrain the Tubo Grand Master, who favored fighting on the front lines himself. Yet, the Western Capital could not field even a single squad of cavalry. If they mobilized the infantry, passing through Tubo-held towns along the way would surely invite enemy harassment, greatly slowing their march. Worse still, the Tubo Grand Master Kuduoza might dispatch a surprise force to seize the Longyou Protectorate, a loss of territory that would be a grave offense.

At this point, however, the arrow was nocked and could not be held back. With Huangfu Weiming besieged in Hongji City, each passing day increased the risk. If Crown Prince Li Shao led the Heavenly Strategy Army out of the capital and achieved nothing, he would face double punishment: it was not impossible that he might be stripped of his succession rights. In the end, Li Shao gritted his teeth and decided to stake everything, ordering Zhao Weide to select elite soldiers with cultivation above the Hundred Refinements realm or exceptional agility from the forty-six thousand, forming a Wolf Fang Army to accompany the Heavenly Strategy Army and the Wolf Banner Battalion on their expedition to rescue Hongji City.

Zhao Weide managed to assemble fewer than eight hundred men for the Wolf Fang Army, most of them sons of wealthy families, bearing noble titles. This was a matter of necessity. Veteran soldiers in the barracks were largely from impoverished backgrounds; otherwise, they would not risk their lives at the frontier for a meal. While their combat strength was solid, those with cultivation above Hundred Refinements were rare. The affluent sons joined the army merely to earn military merit and advance their careers, intending eventually to return to Chang’an. When facing the enemy, how could they be expected to fight to the death? Zhao Weide was racking his brains. If Huangfu Weiming perished at Hongji City, he could at least take his place, but if His Highness the Crown Prince fell into Tubo hands and the Emperor was enraged, the entire Longyou Protectorate might suffer.

After this incident, Crown Prince Li Shao was disappointed in Yu Lang. He had believed Yu Lang to be a man of both civil and military talent, and that the military strategies taught at Xiyue Academy were profound—otherwise, how could a general like Huangfu Weiming have emerged? To his surprise, Yu Lang’s military aptitude seemed not as high as anticipated; faced with such circumstances, he was at a loss.

Meanwhile, in the official residence of the Western Capital, Yu Lang and the Xiyue Academy disciples sat around stone benches in the courtyard, discussing their options.

Dai Yang, the most agile among them, acted as scout, climbing the tallest tree in the courtyard to observe the surroundings.

It was not that Yu Lang had no ideas, but rather that he dared not speak them.

Qingqing said, "I believe Yu Lang’s choice is correct. Offering strategies to the Crown Prince now would be tantamount to tying ourselves to his fate. If we succeed, there is little benefit for us, but if we fail, we might lose our lives."

Qingqing’s concern for Yu Lang’s safety was understandable.

Zhang Chengxing complained, "But after this morning’s meeting ended, the Heavenly Strategy Army brothers’ attitude toward us changed dramatically. Yu Lang seemed to be sleepwalking through the meeting, only mumbling and nodding. Now even our Wolf Banner Battalion is looked down upon by the Heavenly Strategy Army!"

Xie Zhiqian added, "Besides, remaining silent may not be good for us. The Heavenly Strategy Army, our Wolf Banner Battalion, and the ragtag Wolf Fang Army from Longyou are marching boldly a thousand miles, but how can we possibly defeat the well-rested Tubo forces? Isn’t this courting death?"

Nan Jiyun’s brow was tightly knit. "Indeed, coming here has shown us this situation is much more difficult than we imagined. With the Crown Prince commanding, many of our methods cannot be used."

The methods Nan Jiyun referred to were mostly about carrying the giant sword Juque to assassinate the Tubo Grand Master—a desperate gamble with slim chances of success.

Finally, everyone’s gaze turned toward Yu Lang.

These expectant looks weighed on Yu Lang like a thousand-pound stone. He was the pillar of the group; at this moment, he could not show a hint of hesitation. He must keep his face calm, his eyes resolute. If he lost his composure, the Wolf Banner Battalion would surely lose its cohesion. Yet, he had too much to consider: he could not easily offer Li Shao advice and become embroiled in the succession struggle, nor could he take reckless risks. He had to rescue Huangfu Weiming while ensuring the safety of every brother in the Wolf Banner Battalion. So many concerns, and worry only led to confusion.

Sensing Yu Lang’s burden, Xue Wenyang hummed a strange melody, easing the tension and shifting everyone into their usual bantering mood.

Taking advantage of this, Xue Wenyang said, "Why should everyone’s mood be so heavy? This is our first time away from home—why not go out and explore, experience the unique atmosphere of a frontier town? I’ve heard there are delicacies here we’ve never tasted, and even exotic singing girls..."

The brothers of the Wolf Banner Battalion, youthful at heart, were stirred by Xue Wenyang’s suggestion, quickly forgetting their worries and clamoring to go out drinking.

Thus Yu Lang was freed, and when everyone had dispersed, he took Qingqing for a walk outside.