Zhou Tong’s joy over Northern Qiang’s retreat was shortlived.
The main forces of Northern Qiang arrived the next day, armed with a full array of siege equipment. Siege ladders, battering rams, trebuchets, and more menaced the city.
Three hundred thousand troops marched in a mighty procession from the north, joining the two hundred thousand cavalrymen already encamped outside the city. Together, they set up a truly massive camp.
Five hundred thousand troops. Even at its peak, Liangzhou Prefecture, with all its bustling prosperity, had never been host to so many people. If two hundred thousand cavalry harassing the city before had been like a tiger cautiously circling a bull, then the arrival of three hundred thousand additional troops turned the city into a mouse under a cat’s paw.
"There's only five hundred thousand?" Zhou Tong muttered, standing atop the city wall, his brow furrowed.
Jiang Chao nodded from behind Zhou Tong. "Yes... It matches the intelligence I gathered on the way here. Only three hundred thousand troops were on their way here. Adding that to the cavalry already stationed here, it makes five hundred thousand in total."
"Where are the remaining three hundred thousand then?" Zhou Tong wondered, "And who is leading Northern Qiang’s forces?"
Jiang Chao remained silent for a moment before replying, "We haven’t identified them yet, but in a battle of this scale, it’s unlikely to be anyone other than the Grand Marshal. It is said that all of Northern Qiang besides their King is under his command."
Zhou Tong’s body trembled slightly as he spoke bitterly, "Yelü... Zhige."
Upon hearing the name, Jiang Chao’s expression grew even graver. He nodded and said, "External Prime Minister Qi had already suspected that he would be the one to lead their army. Among the people of Northern Qiang, there’s a legend.
"The heavens, pitying the hardships of the Qiang people, sent down two guardian spirits to protect them. One excelled in governance, the other in warfare. These two brothers are none other than Yelü Jiejia and Yelü Zhige."
Zhou Tong massaged his aching temples. "I’ve heard of him too. They say Yelü Zhige is a god of war descended to earth, undefeated in his entire life. The Oirat tribe to the east, which borders Northern Qiang, was utterly crushed by him. They now pay tribute annually, and don't dare to delay in the slightest."
Jiang Chao snorted. "Just folk tales, full of exaggeration. Minister Qi’s unparalleled wit will put this so-called god of war to the test."
"Then"—Zhou Tong turned to Jiang Chao—"how soon until Prime Minister Qi arrives?"
Jiang Chao squinted as he gazed at the dense Northern Qiang camp outside the city. "Our scouts reported just now. It will be half a day... We only need to hold out for half a day, and Prime Minister Qi’s army will arrive."
Meanwhile, in the Northern Qiang camp.
The Northern Qiang Grand Marshal, Yelü Zhige, lifted the tent flap and entered Wangyue Pi’s tent. A strong medicinal scent immediately assaulted his senses.
Seeing Yelü Zhige enter, everyone in the tent knelt in deference. He waved them off and directly addressed the military doctor by the window, "Well? Can he be saved?"
The doctor hesitated, his lips moving soundlessly for a long time before finally saying, "He... he can be saved, but..." He trailed off and turned to look at the person lying on the bed.
On the bed, Wangyue Pi remained unconscious. His entire body was wrapped in white bandages splotched with bloodstains in many places. Splints secured both his arms and legs, presenting a pitiful sight.
Yelü Zhige frowned slightly, but his tone remained unchanged as he asked calmly, "But what?"
The doctor took a deep breath. "But... he likely won’t be able to fight anymore."
Yelü Zhige raised an eyebrow, understanding that the doctor’s carefully chosen words were an understatement. He asked in return, "You mean... he’s crippled?"
The doctor gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yes... that's correct. Over eighty percent of General Wangyue's bones have been fractured and less than one-tenth of his tendons remain intact. Even if he wakes up, he’ll never stand again."
"Hmm..." Yelü Zhige made no comment. He waved at a guard. "Where is Guarjia Aduo? Bring him to me."
The guard saluted, accepted the order, and left.
Soon, the tent flap was lifted, and Guarjia Aduo hurried in. Upon seeing Yelü Zhige, he immediately dropped to his knees with a loud thud, kowtowing repeatedly like he wanted to pound garlic with his forehead.
Guarjia Aduo looked worse for wear. His arm and head were wrapped in bandages, likely the result of rough treatment from Murong Buguan’s men. As he kowtowed, blood seeped through the bandages anew.
Yelü Zhige didn’t spare him a glance. He let Guarjia Aduo continue kowtowing and walked over to a chair brought by a guard, sitting down.
Seeing that Yelü Zhige remained silent, Guarjia Aduo grew anxious and spoke first. "Grand Marshal, I made a mistake!"
Yelü Zhige cast a sidelong glance at him and asked flatly, "What was your mistake?"
Guarjia Aduo hastily replied, "My mistake was that I failed to take Liangzhou Prefecture for you. That is a grave crime... but, but..." His face twisted in resentment.
"But what?" Yelü Zhige prompted.
Guarjia Aduo gritted his teeth and spat bitterly, "It’s just that I was constantly thwarted within the army. General Wangyue ignored my advice, and Murong Buguan and his cronies targeted me.
"I couldn’t put my skills to use! Otherwise, Liangzhou Prefecture would already be yours. Look at me, Grand Marshal, these injuries of mine were caused by them!"
"Oh?" Yelü Zhige smiled faintly. "How did they target you? Tell me, and I’ll see that you receive your due justice."
Guarjia Aduo was overjoyed and gave a loud, heavy kowtow. "Thank you, Grand Marshal! General Wangyue was obstinate and arrogant. We could have easily taken Liangzhou Prefecture, but he insisted on dueling the enemy in the field.
"Not only did he lose, but he also fell into their hands, forcing us to retreat. I prioritized the battle and wanted to launch a direct assault to rescue him, but Murong Buguan and others obstructed me and even imprisoned me. I beg the Grand Marshal to seek justice for me!"
Yelü Zhige remained silent for a long time, fiddling with the dragon-head thumb ring on his finger, a ring identical to the one his elder brother wore.
Guarjia Aduo trembled in growing trepidation as he waited for Yelü Zhige to finally speak.
"Guarjia Aduo... What did I tell you when I assigned you to Wangyue Pi’s side?"
Guarjia Aduo’s heart skipped a beat. He bowed even lower and replied respectfully, "Grand Marshal... you told me to remain calm and composed, to keep an eye on General Wangyue, to help him steady the troops’ morale, and to use his momentum to suppress the enemy’s spirit without launching a direct assault on Liangzhou Prefecture—"
"Did you accomplish that?" Yelü Zhige’s tone grew icy.
Guarjia Aduo panicked. "Grand Marshal! General Wangyue wouldn’t listen to my advice! He—"
Yelü Zhige cut him off. "Did you stop Wangyue Pi when he went out to face the enemy alone?"
"I..." Guarjia Aduo was at a loss for words. He hadn’t stopped the general. At the time, he hadn’t expected Wangyue Pi to lose.
"Guards," Yelü Zhige said, tapping his dragon-head ring. Two personal guards entered from outside.
"Take him out and execute him."
As soon as the words fell, the two guards grabbed Guarjia Aduo by the arms and began dragging him outside.
Guarjia Aduo finally realized what was happening and cried out in terror, "Grand Marshal! Grand Marshal! It’s not my fault! It’s not my fault!"
Yelü Zhige ignored his pleading. Before long, the sound of a blade being drawn echoed from outside, and Guarjia Aduo’s cries abruptly ceased.
Yelü Zhige turned back and silently gazed at Wangyue Pi, who lay on the sickbed. He remained silent for a long time.