"There was no need to return to Datong City. We could go around from the side; that was still within Datong's territory. With Guo Deng and Kuang Ye guarding it, the enemy could not get through. We had already traveled that road before, so we knew it well. It was safe."
The emperor was persuaded. Traveling a road they had already taken had to be safer.
The great army changed course and turned back. Cao Nai laughed in exasperation. "The city is right ahead. Once we enter it, we'll be safe. Even if the enemy has laid an ambush, are our hundred thousand troops just here for decoration? Where is Jing Yuan? Isn't he the vanguard?"
"Consort Commander Jing Yuan was ordered to return to the city and scout the route. He has already been gone for a quarter of an hour."
Cao Nai could only take the other ministers to persuade the emperor.
Yet they could not even see the emperor, and could only stand outside the imperial carriage, staring wide-eyed at Wang Zhen.
The great battle came without warning. First, as Jing Yuan advanced along one side of Datong, he encountered an enemy force, and both sides clashed before either could react.
At that moment, Kuang Ye had only just subdued Guo Deng and, through threats and inducements, forced him to reveal Datong's true military situation. He had just divided the reinforcements into three routes and stationed them together with Datong's garrison to defend Datong.
Just then, scouts discovered the enemy. Two Oirat forces were quietly infiltrating one section of Datong's defense line, and half their men had already crossed through.
Had their reinforcements not happened to rush over and collide with them head-on, they might not even have known their rear route had been cut off.
They