"Sigh! These cowardly turtles!" Tian Kai returned to Gongsun's main tent, having failed once again to provoke the enemy. After dismounting and removing his armor, he threw his longsword to a guard.
Seeing Tian Kai's furious expression, the officers and soldiers in the tent, including Gongsun Zan, could only look helplessly.
"My lord, no matter how I curse them, those bastards won't come out to fight!" Tian Kai reported casually with a cupped fist salute and then gulped down a mouthful of cold water.
Gongsun Zan remained silent for a long time. The generals exchanged glances. After a prolonged silence, the military strategist Guan Jing stepped forward and cupped his fists. "My lord, please order a retreat!"
"Retreat?" The generals began to murmur. They had fought so hard to enter Liaodong. If they retreated now, wouldn't that signal Gongsun Zan's defeat to the world?
Gongsun Zan looked at Guan Jing with tired eyes. He was reluctant to retreat but unwilling to fight.
"My lord, please listen to me. The terrain here is treacherous, and our army, mostly cavalry, is not adept at sieging. A forceful assault is unwise."
"In my opinion, Gongsun Du's talents alone may not have led to the construction of this pass at such a strategic location to resist invasion. There must be a brilliant advisor behind him who has already devised countermeasures for our army's advance. A rash attack is not the best strategy; please reconsider."
After listening to Guan Jing, the generals, though unwilling, could only lower their heads in silence. Gongsun Zan did not respond, only faintly asking, "Is there a path that bypasses Eagle's Beak Pass?"
"There is a narrow mountain path leading directly to Xuantu Prefecture, but it can only accommodate a thousand men. Moreover, Gongsun Du seems to have stationed troops in Xuantu Prefecture. If we take the small path, we might be attacked from both front and rear." The officer responsible for scouting, Qu Dan, also looked helpless.
Gongsun Zan sighed heavily and was about to give the order when a soldier staggered into the tent and knelt, reporting, "My lord! The defenders at Eagle's Beak Pass are taunting us, calling us brave but foolish and claiming they'll soon counterattack Beiping to capture you and the generals alive!"
"Bastards!" Gongsun Zan had never endured such humiliation. Guan Jing sensed something was amiss; it was clearly a trap set by the enemy, and Gongsun Zan was falling for it!
"I originally planned to spare them, but these bastards dare to provoke us! All troops, hear my command! Launch a full assault on Eagle's Beak Pass! I want the heads of every defender hung on the gates!" With a wave of his hand, the commanders stood up in unison.
"My lord!" Guan Jing hurriedly stepped forward, but Gongsun Zan raised his hand to stop him. "There's no need to say more, Shiqi (Guan Jing). Today, I am staking my decades of reputation on this battle. How can we tolerate such rampant enemies any longer?"
"My lord!" Guan Jing grabbed Gongsun Zan's armor. "These tens of thousands of soldiers have followed you to expand our territory. Your actions are pushing them to their doom! Please reconsider!"
Gongsun Zan frowned, seemingly swayed by Guan Jing's words. However, the war drums quickly began to beat outside, snapping him back to reality. He donned his helmet and strode out, ignoring Guan Jing.
"Sigh! Gongsun Zan, your stubbornness will lead to a great defeat!" Guan Jing sighed in frustration as he watched Gongsun Zan's receding figure, but there was nothing he could do.
...
"General! Gongsun Zan's troops are attacking!" A lieutenant pointed to the well-organized formation of enemy troops advancing toward Eagle's Beak Pass.
The commander defending the pass, Yang Zuo, was a close confidant of Gongsun Du. Though he was not as skilled in battle as Gongsun Zan, defending a strategic pass was well within his capabilities.
"Hahaha! Good! They're coming!" Yang Zuo laughed loudly, sitting in the middle of the city wall with his long spear. "I knew Gongsun Zan had a short temper. Brothers! Stay calm and wait for the enemy to approach. Then shoot them mercilessly! Hold out until our reinforcements arrive, and we'll capture Gongsun Zan alive!"
"Capture Gongsun Zan! Capture Gongsun Zan!" The defenders shouted their desire to capture Gongsun Zan alive, which only fueled the anger of Gongsun Zan's forces below.
Gongsun Zan roared, pointing his spear at Yang Zuo. "Rebels! When I break through the pass, I'll tear you apart!"
"Hahaha!" Yang Zuo laughed, not responding but merely wearing a taunting expression. Gongsun Zan could no longer hold back and immediately ordered an assault.
The deep sound of horns echoed, and Gongsun Zan's army charged toward Eagle's Beak Pass with the force of a tiger descending the mountain.
The army attacked in three formations. Five thousand heavily armored infantry carried ladders and braved a rain of arrows toward the city wall. Archers and the White Horse Volunteers provided cover fire.
Eagle's Beak Pass was the last barrier protecting Liaodong, and Gongsun Du had heavily fortified it. The defenders were equipped with strong bows and powerful crossbows. Arrow crates were piled high on the walls.
As the infantry approached the walls, the defenders unleashed a barrage of arrows. The heavy armor of Gongsun Zan's troops was insufficient against the modified crossbows, which, despite their shorter range, had significantly increased power.
With a snap, a steel-tipped bolt pierced through the chest of the first soldier carrying a ladder and then embedded itself in the chest of the second soldier behind him.
The two soldiers groaned as they fell, and the rain of arrows continued to cut down Gongsun Zan's soldiers like wheat.
"Damn it..." Gongsun Zan clenched his fists as he watched from afar. "White Horse Volunteers, dismount! Replace the heavy infantry!"
With that, Gongsun Zan himself dismounted and joined the battle. Several generals followed suit to protect him.
"Follow me into battle!" Gongsun Zan personally lifted a ladder and charged. The soldiers, inspired by his actions, rushed toward the pass.
"He's a madman..." Yang Zuo muttered as he watched Gongsun Zan's reckless assault from the city wall.
Soon, the first ladder was placed on the wall, and the soldiers scrambled up.
"General!" A lieutenant rushed to Yang Zuo's side. "Gongsun's troops are climbing up!"
"Don't panic! They're nothing but a bunch of weaklings!" Yang Zuo scolded. As the enemy forces began to gain the upper hand, Yang Zuo remained calm, counting the minutes.
Gongsun Zan's numerical advantage gradually turned the tide. Yang Zuo's forces began to show signs of collapse.
"Hahaha! Rebel general, I'll come for your head!" Gongsun Zan laughed heartily, stroking his beard.
Yang Zuo smirked coldly. "Gongsun Zan, you're the one who's going to die! Open the gates!"
With a shout from Yang Zuo, Gongsun Zan was taken aback as the heavy wooden gates slowly opened, revealing a massive army charging out.
"Crush Gongsun Zan! Kill!" Leading the reinforcements from Liaodong was Huang Xin, commanding a mixed force of Goguryeo and Buyeo soldiers.
These soldiers, having long lived among the Xianbei, were wild and fierce, charging into the battlefield with savage howls, completely disrupting Gongsun Zan's hard-won advantage.
Focused on the defenders of Eagle's Beak Pass, Gongsun Zan's troops were caught off guard by the sudden arrival of a massive army. By the time they realized, it was too late.
"Retreat! Quickly retreat!" Gongsun Zan ordered a retreat. Suddenly, a strong wind blew from behind him, and Tian Kai pushed him aside.
"Ugh!" A cold arrow pierced Tian Kai's body. "My lord! Retreat quickly!"
"Tian Kai!" Gongsun Zan rushed to help Tian Kai, but enemy troops surged forward.
"Brother! Hurry and retreat, or it'll be too late!" Gongsun Xu arrived in time, pulling Gongsun Zan's horse to cover his escape.
"Retreat! Retreat!" Huang Xin's reinforcements rampaged through the battlefield, slaughtering the defenseless soldiers. Gongsun Zan's troops were utterly routed, and Gongsun Yue was killed in action while protecting Gongsun Fan.
The bloody massacre continued for a long time before ending. Gongsun Zan suffered a crushing defeat and retreated with the remnants of his forces to You Beiping, while Huang Xin seized the opportunity to retake Liaoxi Prefecture.
...
The defeat and loss of soldiers were minor concerns. The fact that Gongsun Du had declared himself King in Liaodong could no longer be hidden, which was Gongsun Zan's greatest worry.
A few days later, the imperial envoy arrived at the gates of Beiping. Gongsun Zan hurriedly led his troops out to greet him.
"Beiping Governor Gongsun Zan, hear the decree!" The eunuch shouted.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..." The eunuch first praised the Emperor and then announced that Gongsun Zan was to enter the capital to receive his reward.
"Your servant accepts the decree! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your benevolence!" Gongsun Zan stepped forward respectfully to receive the imperial edict, but the eunuch's smile was laced with insincerity as he let out a cackling laugh.
"General Gongsun, is there anything you need me to report to His Majesty?" the eunuch asked.
"Re-report?" Gongsun Zan pretended not to understand, playing dumb.
"Hmph," the eunuch snorted coldly. "It seems the general doesn't grasp our meaning. His Majesty entrusted the vast territory of Liaodong to you, but it appears the situation isn't looking good."
Hearing the eunuch's clear insinuation, Gongsun Zan's expression turned awkward. "Eunuch... it's a long story. Gongsun Zan also has his difficulties."
"I ask that you temporarily keep this matter from the Emperor. Soon, I will crush the rebellion in Liaodong and restore the integrity of the Han territory!" Gongsun Zan said, understanding the situation and handing the eunuch a gold ingot. The eunuch weighed it in his hand, satisfied inside but still maintaining a facade of displeasure.
"Since the general has spoken, we will keep this under wraps for now. But you must act quickly. I've heard that this self-proclaimed King of Liaodong is a man named Gongsun Du?"
"Yes," Gongsun Zan replied.
"You both bear the surname Gongsun. Though you are not from the same lineage, there is a familial connection. Moreover, it was you who recommended him. Such a major issue occurring under your watch... If His Majesty finds out, you know what the consequences will be."
With that, the eunuch mounted his horse and rode away leisurely.
"Damn..." Gongsun Zan muttered after the eunuch had gone, realizing the warning hidden in the eunuch's words. Treason was a crime punishable by the extermination of the nine familial connections. The court may not be able to deal with Gongsun Du, but they could certainly deal with Gongsun Zan.
"My lord..." the others approached, seeing Gongsun Zan's grim face, but none dared to speak.
"Gongsun Du... When I return, I will tear you limb from limb!" Gongsun Zan clenched his fists and punched the solid city wall, as if he were striking Gongsun Du's very heart.