12dz Chapter 2006 Persuasion
Chapter 2006 Persuasion
Gao Xianzhi suppressed his displeasure and did not answer directly. Instead, he handed over the imperial edict and said solemnly:
"Chief Huyan, please take a look at this first."
Huyan Ying took the silk with suspicion. Although he knew some Chinese characters, he found it quite difficult to read.
They could only guess and piece together the bits and pieces of information Gao Xianzhi had previously revealed, and roughly understood what it meant—to retreat, abandon the Canglang River, and go to Zhennanguan.
After reading it, Hu Yanying's face instantly darkened, as if water could drip from it.
He casually tossed the imperial edict back to Gao Xianzhi as if it were nothing more than a tattered rag, then let out a loud, contemptuous, and angry snort from his nostrils:
"Hmph! I thought it was some important military intelligence! Turns out it's just telling us to run away with our tails between our legs!"
He suddenly took a step forward, almost touching Gao Xianzhi, his spittle nearly hitting Gao Xianzhi's face, his voice echoing like thunder in the tent:
"General Gao! Hasn't your Great Tang always prided itself on being a superior celestial nation with a large army and many generals, and invincible in battle?"
"Isn't that Li Jing, whom you guys hailed as some kind of military genius, invincible in every battle?"
"Why do you become like a spineless shrimp when you encounter the Chu army? First, that idiot Helian Wujiu wiped out all 30,000 warriors of the Golden Scorpion Tribe at Luoxia Mountain. Now you're even abandoning Canglang River without a fight, retreating again and again?"
He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, waving his thick arms and his eyes burning with fury:
"Helian Wujiu is dead, but the 30,000 iron cavalry he took with him were the fine sons of my Scorpion Clan!"
"And that Tuojin fellow also suffered heavy losses! We haven't even settled this blood debt with the Chu people yet, and you guys are already thinking about running away?"
"Your Great Tang Dynasty may swallow this insult, but I, Huyan Ying, and the warriors of my Blood Eagle tribe, will not!"
The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense. Several Tang army guards instinctively placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, nervously watching the Scorpion Clan leader, who resembled a furious lion.
Faced with Huyan Ying's aggressive approach, Gao Xianzhi's expression turned extremely ugly, but he knew that he must not escalate the conflict at this moment, and that the retreat required the cover of the Scorpion Clan cavalry.
A fierce clash between retreat and battle, forbearance and anger, suddenly erupted in the military tent on the banks of the Canglang River.
The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became tense due to Hu Yanying's undisguised anger and sarcasm, as if a single spark could ignite it.
Faced with this scorpion clan leader who was like a raging bull, Gao Xianzhi knew that a head-on confrontation was not a good strategy.
He suppressed his anger at being offended, forced a calm expression onto his face, and raised his hand to signal the tense guards inside the tent to calm down.
"Chief Huyan, please calm down for now and listen to what I have to say."
Gao Xianzhi's voice softened, carrying a sincere attempt to explain the stakes:
"I have always admired the leader's bravery and I understand his desire to fight the Chu army to the death."
"However, a general cannot rely solely on youthful courage; he must assess the situation and know the principles of advancement, retreat, survival, and destruction!"
He walked to the sand table, pointed heavily at the markers representing Xue Huaide and Guan Yun's forces, and pushed them toward the Canglang River:
"Does the leader know the latest military intelligence? General Xue Huaide of Chu has integrated his own troops and Guan Yun's troops, totaling 120,000 men, and they are marching day and night toward our Canglang River!"
"And here, our army, including General Ma Chao's troops, has a total of no more than 60,000 men."
He raised his head, his gaze meeting Huyan Ying's fierce eyes, and spoke in a heavy tone:
"120,000 against 60,000, a difference of half the troops! Moreover, Xue Huaide has just defeated Chief Helian and General Wang, and with the momentum of a great victory, the morale is soaring."
"Our army has just suffered a defeat, and morale is inevitably dampened. Chief Huyan, you are a veteran of the battlefield. You should know what the consequences would be if we were to force a decisive battle with Xue Huaide here, given the current situation."
"I'm afraid that not only will we fail to avenge Chief Helian, but we will also cause the tens of thousands of men under our command to perish here, bringing pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies!"
"Is this what the leader wants to see?"
Although Huyan Ying was irritable, he was not entirely without intelligence. The troop strength comparison presented by Gao Xianzhi was a stark reality.
His anger subsided slightly, but he still held his neck straight, snorted coldly, and did not immediately refute, clearly weighing the huge difference in strength.
Seeing that his attitude had softened, Gao Xianzhi immediately pressed his advantage and offered his hope:
"Moreover, this retreat is not a rout due to fear of battle, but a strategic shift to accumulate strength for a decisive victory in the future!"
"His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty has issued an imperial edict and is urgently dispatching 100,000 elite troops from the country, who will soon be on their way to aid the southern border!"
"At that time, our army's strength will far exceed that of the Chu army!"
He paused deliberately, observing Huyan Ying's reaction, then lowered his voice and offered an even more enticing message:
"Moreover, His Majesty has personally written a letter and dispatched a secret envoy to the Scorpion Clan's royal court to meet the Khan."
"The letter not only expressed deep condolences for the sacrifice of Chief Helian and the warriors of the Golden Scorpion tribe, but also explained the advantages and disadvantages and invited the Khan to join forces to attack the powerful Chu."
"My leader, please consider this: the main force of the Chu Kingdom is currently concentrated here, leaving its northwestern border vulnerable. This is the perfect opportunity for the Khan to lead his army eastward, conquer cities and territories, and seize wealth and grasslands!"
"Once the Khan's army is mobilized, and the Chu army's rear is on fire, how can they not return to provide reinforcements?"
"At that time, the situation in the southern border region will surely be reversed!"
"We are temporarily avoiding direct confrontation here precisely to wait for the best opportunity to coordinate with the Khan's army from within and without to annihilate the main force of the Chu army in one fell swoop!"
These words were like a boulder thrown into Huyan Ying's heart.
The arrival of 100,000 Tang reinforcements was already a shot in the arm, but the news that the Scorpion Khan might send troops to strike deep into the heart of Chu ignited a wildfire in his eyes.
If this can be achieved, not only will the great revenge be avenged, but the Blood Eagle Clan will also be able to seize huge profits in this battle!
Compared to fighting head-on with inferior forces, waiting for an opportunity to join forces with the Khan is clearly a wiser choice and more in line with the interests of the Scorpion Clan.
The anger on Huyan Ying's face gradually faded, replaced by a gloomy and hesitant expression after weighing the pros and cons.
He took a few heavy breaths, as if trying to expel all the pent-up emotions in his chest, and finally said in a muffled voice:
“General Gao, what you say makes sense. If the Khan really sends troops, then it is indeed worth waiting for.”
"Alright! Since that's the case, I, Huyan Ying, am not one to be ignorant of the bigger picture. I will follow your advice and retreat!"
Gao Xianzhi felt a great weight lifted from her heart, and a slight smile appeared on her face.
But then, he changed his tone, becoming more cautious, even carrying a barely perceptible request:
"Chief Huyan is truly wise and righteous; I, Gao, am deeply grateful!"
"However, this retreat must be carried out in a methodical manner to ensure its success."