Chapter 117: Marching Toward Dingbian

Xiao Ding had earned the respect of the five seasoned veterans sharing his dormitory and decided to have some fun with them.

“What’s the matter? Don’t you want to?” Xiao Ding asked.

“We wouldn’t dare... If we receive any rewards in the future, we’ll definitely give them to you first, boss,” Yu Feng said nervously.

“Boss, when the mess improves the meals, I’ll make sure my share is given to you first,” Wang Dong, the third veteran, added.

“For tasks like cleaning the dorm, we’ll take care of everything from now on. Also, I’ll wash your clothes and socks for you, boss,” Zuo Fei, the fourth, was not to be outdone.

“I’ll be responsible for your foot baths, boss. I’ll even wash your feet,” Wu Gang, the fifth, said.

“I’ll take care of emptying your chamber pot, boss. No need to compete with me on that,” Zhu Bo, the sixth, chimed in.

Xiao Ding looked at these seasoned men and thought to himself, if I didn’t have strength backing me up, all these chores would definitely fall onto me. It seemed that wherever he went, strength was the ultimate measure. Without it, one had no say and was only subject to mistreatment.

He then inquired about the barracks and current war conditions from the men in the dorm.

According to them, Xiao Ding’s direct superior was a commander named Jin Xi, whose own superior was Huang Wenlong, the military governor commanding the northern camp of the provincial army and simultaneously the regional militia commander. The highest commander of the provincial forces was the provincial governor, Fei Wu.

The recent massive conscription by the imperial court was due to the alliance between the Dahala Kingdom and the Daxia Kingdom, which had launched a full-scale attack along the northern border. Dahala focused its main offensive towards Youzhou, while Daxia targeted Yongzhou. Dahala’s forces were split into two routes: one breaking through Baima Pass, Shentang Valley, and Qinglong Gorge; the other through Bailin Pass, Dajiao Valley, and Heigu Pass, aiming straight for the Huang Song Valley area.

Meanwhile, Daxia’s troops had breached Jiuyuan and Yunzhong commanderies, crossed the Yellow River, and were advancing toward Guangyang.

Xiao Ding, unfamiliar with the geography of this era, found their account confusing and couldn’t grasp the exact positions of the enemy forces.

The next day, the leadership of the northern camp convened to discuss troop deployments. Though Xiao Ding did not know the details of their deliberations, he soon received orders: his unit under Jin Xi would accompany Huang Wenlong’s main force to Dingbian County to confront the enemy head-on.

Because Xiao Ding had a horse, he was assigned to the cavalry. Before departure, he went to the armory and received a spear, but no armor—ordinary soldiers were not issued armor.

Before setting out, Xiao Ding visited the local militia dormitory to see Zhao Laixi and others. They had been assigned to transport grain and supplies to Dingbian County.

Xiao Ding warned them to be cautious on the road; if enemy troops attempted to seize the supplies, it would be perilous.

Zhao Laixi, Zhao Hu, and the others all promised to be careful and reminded Xiao Ding to stay vigilant at the front.

When Xiao Ding returned to his dorm, someone had already brought back his dinner from the mess hall. He thought to himself, being the dorm leader wasn’t so bad after all.

At dawn the next day, the army set off. Fifty thousand troops moved in grand formation toward Dingbian County.

The Song Kingdom’s army was mainly infantry, with fewer cavalry. Among Huang Wenlong’s fifty thousand troops, only around eight thousand were cavalry. The scarcity of cavalry was largely due to a lack of suitable land for horse breeding.

The horses Zhao Laixi and Zhao Hu rode became the heavy labor of the local militia, who trailed behind the main force, burdened with baggage and supplies.

Dingbian County lay north of Yongzhou city, not too far away. The army reached it in two days.

Dingbian County was about the size of Luoxia County, and with fifty thousand troops entering, the town suddenly felt small.

County magistrate Yang and the local military commander personally came out to welcome the army. The locals were enthusiastic because they had heard that Daxia’s forces were stationed not far to the north in Tuhe Town, and Dingbian was likely the next target of their attack.

Xiao Ding felt honored to witness the townspeople lining the roads to welcome them. He thought that even if he lost his life on the battlefield, contributing to the people’s safety would make it worthwhile. Having been a special forces soldier before his transmigration, Xiao Ding bore a profound sense of duty toward his country and its people.

The leader commanding the Daxia army was Prince Li Daocheng, sent by the emperor to gain battlefield experience and build merit, so he would have the confidence and stature to succeed the throne without being looked down upon by court officials.

Accompanying Li Daocheng were his strategist Mao Yanshun, Daxia’s famed warrior Bala Tian, and renowned generals Wan Niba, Han Qianhu, and Fang Qiupi.

As the army settled into Dingbian City, the leaders had yet to discuss how to repel the enemy when scouts returned with news: Li Daocheng had dispatched generals Bala Tian and Han Qianhu with twenty thousand troops toward Dingbian County, while Wan Niba and Fang Qiupi led another twenty thousand aiming directly for Lin County’s Pubian County.

Scouts, also known as reconnaissance riders or spies, were the intelligence gatherers of ancient armies, akin to modern scouts.

Hearing the report, Huang Wenlong furrowed his brow. He knew well that Lin County’s Pubian County currently had no forces capable of resisting the Daxia army. The few hundred city guards stationed there were not even enough to slow the enemy’s advance.

But if he sent no reinforcements, Pubian County would be surrendered to Daxia, who would then turn to aid Bala Tian in attacking Dingbian City.

The nomads excelled at mounted archery; if his fifty thousand troops merely held the city, he was not afraid. But if they engaged in open-field battle, the outcome was uncertain.

Considering this, Huang Wenlong looked up at Magistrate Yang and asked, “Yang, what do you think we should do about troop deployment?”

Yang naturally shared these concerns and shook his head. “We cannot lose Pubian County.”

Though small, Pubian County housed tens of thousands of civilians. If seized by the nomads, innocent lives would be at stake.

As the local governor, Yang could not bear to see his people suffer.

“Very well, Commander Wei, you’ll take twenty thousand troops immediately to support Pubian County. You must hold the city at all costs,” Huang Wenlong ordered one of his officers.

“Commander Jin, go organize personnel and prepare city defenses,” he instructed Jin Xi.

“Yes, sir!” Jin Xi acknowledged and departed.

At that moment, Xiao Ding was unaware of the events about to unfold; he was busy watering his horse.