Chapter 2805 - 2804: Yan Yun Iron Cavalry

Chapter 2805: Chapter 2804: Yan Yun Iron Cavalry

The battle at Yang Valley Pass completely opened up the only passage between Lu State and the Capital City.

Not only did Lin Chong’s one hundred thousand Imperial Army surrender, but also Wu Zhi’s one hundred thousand garrison troops and the previously transferred one hundred thousand Garrison Troops from Mengzhou.

In total, three hundred thousand troops fell under the command of Song Gongming’s Righteous Army.

The news returned to the Imperial Court, and both the civil and military officials at the Privy Council and Prime Minister’s Residence were shocked and at a loss for how to report this to Huizong.

Tong Guan cursed angrily, "That Zhang Mengfang is utterly useless. I instructed him to guard against Wu Zhi, guard against Wu Zhi. Now it’s all gone awry; Yang Valley Pass is lost, and the Capital is in danger. If Your Majesty places blame upon us, none of us will see good days."

Cai Jing said coldly from one side, "I already told you to revoke Wu Zhi’s military authority, but you wouldn’t listen. Now, it’s too late; Wu Zhi has rebelled, and Yang Valley Pass is taken. Lu State’s Bandit Soldiers are growing stronger, they might become Great Songg’s greatest threat."

Tong Guan retorted with annoyance, "Enough with the cold remarks, Grand Tutor; shouldn’t we be figuring out how to handle this matter?"

Cai Jing said, "What else can be done? The gates of the Capital are wide open, and the remaining Imperial Army cannot be mobilized. We can only hope Gao Qiu and others suppress the rebels, though we must assign them some troops. Otherwise, relying on their strength is merely a gesture."

Tong Guan asked sidelong, "Grand Tutor, do you have more troops at hand?"

Cai Jing replied, "My son-in-law Liang Zhongshu has ten thousand Border Army in Yan Province that can be mobilized. These troops are all Yan Yun Iron Cavalry capable of resisting the Northern Barbarian Country. If they march south to suppress the rebellion, handling Lu State’s rebel army poses no issue."

Tong Guan furrowed his brows and said, "But the Northern Barbarian Country in Yan Province has been stirring trouble lately; withdrawing ten thousand troops would leave Yan Province vulnerable."

Cai Jing responded, "At this point, we can only take steps cautiously; can’t afford to consider so much. Yan Yun Sixteen Provinces are wild, barren lands anyway. If necessary, abandoning them is acceptable."

Tong Guan took a deep breath, secretly noting the Grand Tutor’s ruthlessness.

For personal gain, he considered abandoning Yan Yun Sixteen Provinces.

Back then, he led troops against bandits, conquering town after town in Yan Province.

If it were him, he wouldn’t willingly abandon it.

Yet the current situation is dire, and if they don’t promptly suppress the rebels, leaving Song Gongming and others unchecked, the Capital will surely be in peril.

Thinking over the situation, he agreed with Cai Jing’s plan.

The two discussed matters and jointly submitted a proposal.

Seeing it, Huizong was indeed furious, reprimanding all civil and military officials in the hall.

Tong Guan stepped forward, conveyed the countermeasures he and Cai Jing devised to Huizong, and successfully calmed his temper.

Huizong decreed, "If you can’t resolve Lu State’s rebel army, hand over your official hats. Whoever has the ability will take your places."

Cai Jing and Tong Guan were so frightened they knelt down, repeatedly bowing their heads in assurance, "We swear to eliminate this major threat for Your Majesty."

Minister Su stood off to the side, his eyes gleaming, though he remained silent for now.

He knew Song Gongming was always loyal and brave, merely forced to rebel.

If the Imperial Court gave Song Gongming a chance to serve the country, the current crisis could be resolved without any military force.

After the court adjourned, Tong Guan decided to proceed to the Qizhou front, personally mobilizing troops against Lu State.

Cai Jing made efforts in the Capital, instructing the Ministry of Revenue to allocate a substantial sum for Gao Qiu to fully eliminate Song Gongming.

The pressure on Gao Qiu increased significantly.

However, with this financial aid, his immediate needs were addressed.

He gathered troops across Qizhou, with the current army exceeding a million.

While numerous in number, there was a shortage of supplies.

This crucial allocation from the Imperial Court proved immeasurably helpful.

Upon learning that the ten thousand Yan Yun Iron Cavalry would soon march south to assist in suppression, his confidence in quelling Lu State’s bandits rose even higher.

Throughout Great Songg, in terms of cavalry.

Only the Iron Cavalry of Yan Yun Sixteen Provinces could be deemed the very best in the realm.

Relying on these ten thousand Iron Cavalry, the Great Songg Dynasty had swept through the Northern Frontier, sealing victories against the Northern Frontier barbarians on Divine Mountain.

Now, with this army marching south, they were certain to easily subdue the rebels.

When the news reached Lu State, Song Gongming and his fellows sat in the military tent, deeply troubled.

Wuu Yong waved a feathered fan, saying, "These ten thousand Yan Yun Iron Cavalry are renowned across Great Songg. Initially stationed at the border to prevent threats from the Northern Barbarian Country. But now, due to Cai Jing and Tong Guan’s selfishness, they’ve ignored the northern border crisis, mobilizing these troops south against us."

Chao Gai sneered, "Just ten thousand Iron Cavalry, what’s there to fear? Mere reputation!"

Song Gongming furrowed his brows and said, "Big Brother, don’t underestimate them. I’ve seen these ten thousand Iron Cavalry alongside the Duke of Yan. Their horses are not ordinary war horses, but infused with Dragon Blood. Clad in dragon scales, they can cover vast distances swiftly. Even a single neigh can make thousands of horses submit and bow."

Lin Chong added, "I heard the leader of these Iron Cavalry is a descendant of the Yang Clan, the Blue-Faced Beast Yang Zhi!"

Lu Zhishen raised his brows and asked, "Is Yang Zhi formidable?"

Lin Chong replied, "Certainly, the Yang Clan is among the Noble Families of military strategists. They not only study military strategies but also practice Daoist and Buddhist Laws. The clan’s disciples are either Buddhist Disciples or Daoist Sect disciples. Recently, his uncle Yang Zongbao even married the disciple of Lady of Mount Li, Mu Guiying. This person is not easy to deal with. Back when I was in Yan Kingdom, I once met him."

Lu Zhishen defied and said, "Just a second-generation descendant, what’s there to fear about him? On the battlefield, I’ll face him."

Song Gongming said, "Yang Zhi alone isn’t dreadful; it’s the ten thousand Iron Cavalry that warrants careful planning."

In the military tent, there came a playful laugh.

Everyone turned towards the sound and saw a young girl sitting at the back, laughing, "Father, why worry over this?"

Song Gongming lifted his brows and said, "Adults are talking; why are you laughing?"

Song Yuchan said, "Father mentioned these ten thousand Iron Cavalry; but daughter has a plan to deal with them."

Song Gongming, curious alongside everyone else, asked, "What plan?"

Song Yuchan said, "Father, have you forgotten our Liangshan Island? Our Liangshan Island specializes in producing a Magical Treasure called the Fire God Cannon. Its immense power can sweep through armies. If we equip ourselves with this Magical Treasure, what’s there to fear from the mere ten thousand war horses?"

Wuu Yong laughed heartily, "Brilliant, brilliant! I’ve been in the mundane world too long; I forgot about our sect’s mighty weapon. Equipping ourselves with this, dealing with the ten thousand Iron Cavalry is indeed no issue."

Chao Gai laughed in praise, "Yuchan is indeed clever, much stronger than my Yueying."

Across the table, Chao Yueying rolled her eyes upwards, a trace of disdain appearing on her face as she said, "I actually wanted to suggest this long ago, but simply let Song Yuchan propose it first."

Upon hearing this, everyone chuckled, only Song Gongming pondering over the cost of the Fire God Cannon.