Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 556: Battle of Queshu Valley
Only when he heard the name "Guanjuejin" did Erzhu Rong react.

This is also an ancient battlefield. Guanjue is a homonym of “stork”, which means that only the clever and powerful stork can fly over it.

However, locals generally call this road "Sparrow and Mouse Valley", meaning that this place is rugged and steep, and only sparrows, mice and the like can fly over it.

Erzhu Rong looked at the valley and said to Heba Yun:
"Let's set up the formation here."

Heba Yun understood that Erzhu Rong was determined to die, but if they continued to flee, the entire army would probably die of exhaustion and starvation before reaching Huoyi.

Heba Yun also felt very regretful in his heart.

If the person pursuing was not Su Ze, Erzhu Rong would have had countless opportunities to counterattack and ambush the pursuers along the way.

Or maybe if Su Ze didn't pursue so closely, giving his side some time to catch their breath, Erzhu Rong might really have a chance to capture Huoyi.

It’s a pity that there is no if, and I can only sigh that my opponent is Su Ze.

Heba Yun had also made up his mind to die.

When Heba Duba died, Heba Yun wanted to die with his grandfather.

But he was the eldest brother and had to take care of his two younger brothers, so he traveled around with Heba Sheng and Heba Yue.

Now that Heba Yue has surrendered to Su Ze, he has no control over Heba Sheng's affairs in Southern Liang.

Heba Yun didn't want to escape anymore.

Following Erzhu Rong's military order, these hungry soldiers quickly formed their battle formation in Queshu Valley.

What a good soldier.

Heba Yun also felt that the soldiers who were chosen by Erzhu Rong and survived so many years of war were the elite among the elite.

Heba Yun saw that their horses had been slaughtered for this final battle, and the soldiers were eating the horses' blood to gain the last bit of strength for the battle.

They changed from cavalry to infantry, but their military appearance remained intact.

Heba Yue had a premonition that there would never be such an army again in the future.

In fact, there was another important reason for Erzhu Rong's failure this time, besides the fact that he was not good at civil affairs.

The times have changed.

The most brilliant achievement of the armored cavalry was when Erzhu Rong defeated one million with only seven thousand.

After this war, war began to change.

When Chen Qianzhi occupied Beizhong City, Erzhu Rong was unable to capture this small city. In the end, he relied on a surprise attack to bypass and attack Luoyang.

Later, Erzhu Rong failed to capture Yubi City, wasting a lot of time and energy, which bought time for Su Ze.

Then Su Ze used the city's layers of defense to trap Erzhu Rong to death.

Heba Yun understood that the era of cavalry charges was over.

In future wars, the battle will be about who has the stronger city defense capability, who can mobilize more resources, and fight on a longer front, so as to achieve victory in the war.

After Heba Yun understood this, he felt a little disappointed.

So what if you hold the strongest blade in the world?

Others just don't fight you, and use pieces of broken stones to break the edge of your strongest blade.

No matter how strong your blade is, can it withstand the rocks all over the mountains?
Elite soldiers are indeed much stronger than ordinary soldiers, but a hundred ordinary soldiers wearing paper armor can also kill one elite soldier.

These ordinary soldiers only need some simple training and understand how to coordinate in battle formations.

This is even more true when defending a city.

Defending a city is a competition of who is better prepared, who has better discipline, and whose walls are stronger. These are what Erzhu Rong lacked.

Rather than saying that Erzhu Rong lost to Su Ze, it would be better to say that he lost to the changes of the times.

The war of the future is really boring.

Heba Yun put on armor and led his troops, crouching on the main road of Queshu Valley.

Su Ze's military command was like a god, and he had the ability to plan battles thousands of miles away. Heba Yun did not expect to ambush Su Ze, but only hoped to kill a few more of Su Ze's soldiers, and preferably have a fierce battle with Su Ze's generals.

At the same time, Su Ze also chased to the front of Queshu Valley.

Yu Jin had passed through Queshu Valley on his way north, so he was very familiar with the dangers of Queshu Valley. He immediately said to Su Ze:
"My Lord, this road is Queshu Valley, a dangerous place heading north. You have defeated the bandits and chased them here, which is enough. We should not go any deeper! Besides, the soldiers are hungry and tired, so we should rest at this entrance. When we have enough food and supplies, we can send out spies to find out Erzhu Rong's movements, and then we can advance again. It will not be too late."

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"No need, Erzhu Rong must have set an ambush here."

Yu Jin's face was serious. Su Ze was a military genius and he had an organization like Xuan Jingsi under his command to spy on military intelligence. What he said about Erzhu Rong setting an ambush in Queshu Valley must be true.

Yu Jin said quickly:

"In that case, let me take over."

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"This battle must be fought by me personally."

Yu Jin was a famous general of his time, but he was still inferior to Erzhu Rong.

The road in Queshu Valley is difficult to travel. If Yu Jin is defeated in this battle, Erzhu Rong can calmly move south and take advantage of the victory to capture Huoyi.

Then the war in the north will be delayed again.

At that time, Liu Xiu had already established his capital in the north, but Wei Xiang of Longxi County alone blocked his way for three years.

Wei Xiang alone could be like this. If Erzhu Rong were really allowed to take control of the situation, wouldn't it take me several more years?

Apart from that, it’s Su Ze’s own thoughts.

After traveling through time, Su Ze found Erzhu Rong to be the most extraordinary person in terms of temperament and ability. Back then in Luoyang, Su Ze relied on his relationship with Erzhu Rong to get in touch with Yuan Yi.

Su Ze still wanted to personally command this battle to determine the world.

In comparison, although Su Ze's army was also chasing all the way, they had sufficient supplies of food and grass. If they still couldn't defeat Erzhu Rong under such circumstances, it would be a shame to cheat and travel through time.

Su Ze brought three systematically trained legions, with Yu Jin as the flank, and deployed his troops outside Queshu Valley.

He also sent out systematic scouts and followers, and together with the spies who had already been lurking in Erzhu Rong's army, Su Ze already knew Erzhu Rong's arrangements well.

With the map open and cheats turned on, Su Ze still fought with full spirit. According to the military books passed down by his father-in-law and the military tactics taught by Li Chong, he started a war with Erzhu Rong in Queshu Valley!
The second year of Wutai, 526 AD, February th.

This battle was even more brutal than Su Ze had expected.

Su Ze led his elite troops to fight eight battles with Erzhu Rong in one day, from morning to night.

Although Su Ze was defeated in all the battles he fought, the soldiers under Erzhu Rong were determined to die and none of them were willing to surrender.

The thirty elite soldiers led by Heba Yun even unexpectedly attacked near Su Ze's tent. In the end, Chen Shun led the troops himself and fought with Heba Yun for half an hour before killing Heba Yun!

Even so, Su Ze failed to capture Queshu Valley, and Erzhu Rong was always able to reorganize his troops and block Su Ze's army.

That night, Su Ze stayed at the north harbour of Queshu Valley. He did not eat for two days and did not take off his armor for three days.

Three days later, the enemy was defeated.

(End of this chapter)