Purple River Chapter 05 Part 05 - From the Red Lake to Fort Warren

Thirty thousand soldiers perished under the command of Red Banner Master Li Ke, a devastating loss the High Command did not anticipate. It proofed that the rebels were not as disorganized as they had thought. Instead, they were a well disciplined force of armed warriors. It also served to further illustrate the incredible talent of their military leaders. They first exploited Li Ke’s arrogance, luring his army deeper into their territory, and then surrounded him with superior force. For such skillful display of combat strategy to come out from a race which was commonly believed to be pure brutes with little brains, one couldn’t help but reconsider – if the Beastmen possessed same kind of cunning and guile of Humans, in addition to their natural physical prowess, how long could Humans remain the masters of these less evolved races?

One very important factor that led to House ZiChuan Army’s defeat was: During the heat of battle, one division of Beastmen and one division of Serpents from House ZiChuan’s army had mutinied at the same time, causing the front line to crumble in an instant. It was exactly what Di Lin had feared. A large portion of the Far Eastern Army consisted of local non-human races. In the war of Humans against other races, their loyalty was not something you could count on. The situation continued to evolve as Di Lin predicted, the terrible defeat was like adding firewood to what was already a wildfire. Everywhere, non-human soldiers sent to suppress the local revolt turned on the human officers leading the army, causing entire division to mutiny and then joining the rebellion.

Within the month, what was once the rebellion of a small village had spread to seven provinces. The number of people participated in the rebellion had reached five hundred thousand. The speed and the ferocity, in which the rebellion had spread, gave everyone a pause.

Someone did recall what Inspector General – Di Lin had predicted, but could only lament regretfully: “If only I knew…”

The second war council joint by High Command and the Ministry was assembled at the request of ZiChuan Shen Xing to discuss how to best handle the current situation.

As of now, the other commanders had all realized their mistakes and the correctness of Di Lin’s foresight. They were fully prepared for Di Lin’s disgusting gloating and humiliating mockery… They had turned themselves into solid rocks.

But Di Lin didn’t say a word this time around. He just kept smiling, but doing so silently… making everyone completely miserable in the High Command.

In the end, ZiChuan Shen Xing finally lost his patience as he kept asking Di Lin: “Inspector General, what is your opinion on this matter? Would you like to share?”

And every time, Di Lin would answer directly: “Sir. I have no opinion on this matter. I would rather hear what other Commanders had to say.” It was a worse torture than straight out killing them. Luo Ming Hai’s cheeks were swollen red.

As a result, the war council did not reach any conclusion, and had to end prematurely.

Later, Stirling came to see Di Lin: “Brother, I knew you had something to say. Why wouldn’t you say it?”

Di Lin smiled bitterly: “Because it is pointless. When Lei Hong first mutinied, I told them we have to redeploy the Central Army to the Far East. Nobody listened. When the non human races rebelled, I told them we needed to divert the army fighting Lei Hong to deal with the rebellion; we could even negotiate with Lei Hong for a temporary truce. And again, nobody listened, instead they went to draw forces from the provinces west of Fort Warren. I’m sure they are going to order Far Eastern Army to ignore Lei Hong and focus their full attention on the rebellion of races next… But too bad, they are always one step behind.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“My proposal would scare Luo Ming Hai shitless and give him a stroke.”

Stirling smiled: “My blood pressure is just fine, you can tell me!”

Di Lin looked at Stirling: “All right, then listen up. In my opinion…”

Di Lin spoke one word at the time: “We don’t need to care about Lei Hong or the rebellion. Pull the Far Eastern Army all the way back to Fort Warren, together with every garrison unit stationed around the border, including the ones guarding the border to the Demon Empire. We must relinquish our control to the entire Far East… Perhaps then we can still salvage this.”

Even Stirling was shocked, so much so he couldn’t even speak. Di Lin sighed: “See, even you can’t handle it. What is the point of me telling them?”

……

High Command’s reaction was exactly as Di Lin predicted. They just gave the order to Deputy Commander Lin Bing and Luo Bo currently holding in the province of Galock with the bulk of Far Eastern Army, ordering them to cease the battle with Lei Hong and turn around to deal with the revolt!”

The order arrived just when the Far Eastern Army was caught in a fierce battle against the Rebel Army. Given the chaos of the battlefield, if they gave the order for retreat now, they might as well bend over and let their enemies kick them in the ass!”

When Deputy Commander Lin Bing first received the order from the High command, she shouted angrily: “Luo Ming Hai knows nothing of war! If we turn around now, we may as well let them kill us! Fuck him and his stupidity!”

The more level-headed Luo Bo put a hand against her mouth and began preparing for the retreat.

Luckily, under Luo Bo’s shrewd leadership, a normally very flawed tactical manoeuvre, to retreat right in front of your enemy, was made to look like a perilous ambush, deterring Lei Hong from giving chase. After suffering a few casualties here and there, the Far Eastern Army of three hundred thousand strong successfully retreated from the province of Galock and began their march towards the rebellion of races.

The battle against the rebellion of races went pretty much according to plan at first. The Far Eastern Army booked success almost every day; even Luo Ming Hai was relieved. But when the army reached the heart of the rebellion, the province of Yun in Year 779, June, they suddenly lost all contact. Three hundred thousand men seemed to have disappeared from thin air, leaving everyone in the High Command in the dark…”

Only Inspector General – Di Lin seemed not to be bothered by it: “Lei Hong is not a fool after all.”

New reports only began to arrive on July 5th, the bulk of the Far Eastern Army shrunk from three hundred thousand down to fifty thousand. They had to give up their heavy weaponry and run back to Fort Warren with tails between their legs. Behind them, the combined Army of all races pounced at them like hungry wolves. There were fifteen divisions of Lei Hong’s Rebel Army amongst them as well.

Only until now did they realize what had happened: The traitor Lei Hong had contacted the Army of all races, promising them to cut off Far Eastern Army’s supply line and their path of retreat. In the eyes of the Army of all races, it was no doubt a win-win situation.

They quickly came to an agreement in the province of Minske, and signed what would later be known as the infamous “Minske mutual protection pact”. Its content entailed how they would divide the Far Eastern territories after House ZiChuan’s defeat. According to the treaty, everything east of Fort Warren, the Far Eastern Regions would fall into the hands of the non-human races, allow each race to rule over themselves, and everything west of Fort Warren, the former core regions of House ZiChuan would belong to Lei Hong.

Many people found it strange, how Lei Hong, who was a Deputy Commander of House ZiChuan himself, could be so arrogant to think that with the support of a few Beastmen or Serpents, he could topple House ZiChuan’s rule. Surely he should have known just how powerful House ZiChuan really was.

But there were others who thought the only reason Lei Hong signed the treaty, was to ensure his own survival. He was definitely not delusional enough to think that he could somehow bring an end to House ZiChuan’s hold over the continent which had lasted for nearly two hundred years. By agreeing to that particular proposal, he could make it look fairer to the other parties in the treaty, so they wouldn’t question his sincerity. It wasn’t every day a human would come to their aid.

The fact was Lei Hong knew exactly how the outcome would affect his chance of survival; it was in his personal interest to fulfil his part of the bargain. He went on to cut off Far Eastern Army’s supply line, the path of retreat and any chance of contacting the High Command. And that was what led to the mysterious disappearance of the Far Eastern Army.

Both Luo Bo and Lin Bing felt relieved when the Far Eastern Army finally managed to catch up to the bulk of the Army of all races on the beach of Red Lake in the province of Yun. They immediately gave the order to engage.

Even though the soldiers were hungry and exhausted by the time they arrived, they knew if they win this battle, the rebellion would effectively end and they would be able to go home. The thoughts filled them with strength and made them fight with renewed vigour.

For a while, the Far Eastern Army had the complete control of the entire battlefield. Their armoured lancers crushed through the lines of the Army of races, sending them scattering in all directions. Everyone thought their victory was certain!

Until the sun began to drop, and glimmers of sabre and lancers flashed over the horizon. A thundering roar later, the same armoured lancers, except under a different banner and wore a different colour showed up behind them. It was Lei Hong’s Rebel Army!

The already exhausted Army of House ZiChuan had no chance of stopping the charge of Lei Hong’s still fresh army. By then the scattered Army of races had regrouped and fought their way back… They scattered quickly, but they regrouped swiftly as well.

Luo Bo took reign immediately, killing a dozen of deserters with his sabre; Lin Bing stood in the forefront of the danger, encouraging the soldiers to continue to fight. But their defeat was decided, nothing else they did mattered.

Battle of the Red Lake, Far Eastern Army sustained two hundred and thirty five thousand casualties, including three Red Banner Masters, fifteen Banner Masters and forty six Deputy Banner Masters. Army commander, Luo Bo was serious injured… Since the founding of Far Eastern Army, not even when they faced the elite forces of the Demon Empire, had they ever suffered a loss this great…

Rebellion rolled on like a snowball, bigger and more fiercely every passing day. Soon the flame of chaos had engulfed twenty one of the twenty three provinces in the Far East.

Over a million rebel army battered against Fort Warren, time and time again! Pressing request for reinforcement poured down on High Command like storm, every word sounding more urgent than the previous!

--Rebel army has besieged Fort Warren, their army is massive!--

--Request for reinforcement, the defence won’t last.--

--We have ran out of medical supplies; we can no longer effectively treat the wounded!--

--We have run out of arrows and rocks. We pushed them back today with spits, tomorrow it will be blood!--

--Even the trainees from the Far Eastern Army Academy have joined the fight! We are now sending children into battle!--

--Staff Officer Luo Bo is heavily wounded, Deputy Commander Lin Bing has taken charge.--

The final letter was signed by Lin Bing and Luo Bo together in blood:

--If the reinforcement does not arrive within the week, then all that is left are our corpses.--

Fort Warren is the sturdiest barrier separating the Far East from the Capital City – Di Du. If Fort Warren falls, the million strong Rebel Army will pour through the gap like a flood sweeping away countless human lives living in the core areas of House ZiChuan. It is a scenario House ZiChuan simply cannot allow to happen at any cost!

Year 779, July 30th, The High Command gave the order, Acting Central Army Commander – Stirling was to lead fifteen hundred thousand, newly reformed Central Army to reinforce Fort Warren. Commander Fang Jing shall follow closely behind with the Black Banner Army. (Since Black Banner Army was stationed further away.) In addition, House ZiChuan had declared emergency state level two. All officers from the Army Reserve had been recalled to active duty, effect immediately.

……

Chapter end