xymnovel Chapter 594 North-South Standoff
Chapter 594 North-South Standoff
Le Yi, too, was troubled by the combination of Shangguan Lie and Ning Piaomiao.
Although Ning Piaomiao did not appear on the battlefield, her various troop movements in the rear provided continuous support, which truly struck at his weak points.
Moreover, his condition wasn't much better; he was just a bunch of mediocre people hastily put together.
Le Yi can use them to fight when things are going well, but they become a bit weak when faced with a real tough battle.
Furthermore, given the current strength of the allied forces of the vassal kings, it is difficult to maintain this stalemate for long.
At this time, as the chief commander under Shangguan Lie, after seeing that Shangguan Lie was using only a small number of troops to confront the allied forces of the vassal kings of Yue Yi in the south, he no longer focused his attention there.
While the stalemate in the south is worrying, it is not the top priority at present.
Their current target is still the Tiger King of Junzhou in the north, whom they had previously severely damaged and whose stronghold they had captured. He is the last barrier for Shangguan Lie's army to achieve hegemony over the four northern states of Dayong.
Ning Piaomiao sat in the council hall of the capital city of Dayong, surrounded by mountains of documents and maps. His pen lightly traced the map, finally stopping at the location of Junzhou.
This place is not only the northernmost point of Dayong, but also a strategic location of the Dayong Dynasty and one of the largest sources of cavalry.
Once captured, the entire situation in the north will be laid out before us.
In his mind, although the contest with Yue Yi was a tough battle, the Tiger King of Junzhou was the key to determining the future.
Junzhou is not only a strategically important location, but also a psychologically advantageous position.
Once conquered, it will have a profound impact on the situation in the entire north. Those weak vassal kings and counties in the north that are currently wavering will naturally surrender without resistance.
Once the Tiger King is completely defeated and Junzhou, the northernmost state of the Dayong Dynasty, is occupied, Shangguan Lie and his group will be able to control the four northern states of Dayong and look down upon the world.
Even if the allied forces of those southern vassal kings were merely a minor ailment, they could be easily wiped out!
"While the southward advance is urgent, the northward advance is the fundamental solution."
As the war in the south began to stabilize, Ning Piaomiao immediately began preparing for an unprecedented Northern Expedition.
He personally oversaw every step of the process, from mobilizing troops to procuring provisions, striving for absolute success.
Under his meticulous planning, the capital of Dayong gradually transformed into a massive military camp, where soldiers were in high spirits and ready to go.
Ning Piaomiao knew that this battle was no small matter. Not only would she have to face the elite cavalry under the Northern Tiger King, but she would also have to overcome the harsh cold and difficult terrain of the north.
Therefore, after capturing the capital of Dayong, Ning Piaomiao, Shangguan Lie, and others began to pay special attention to the training and equipment of their troops. They equipped their troops with the latest Mohist weapons and high-quality weapons collected from various places, striving to gain the upper hand on the battlefield.
Ning Piaomiao even secretly contacted a large number of Mo family workshops within Dayong territory to customize a batch of advanced equipment, from siege engines to repeating crossbows, all of which were designed specifically for Junzhou's strong city defenses.
At the same time, scouts were secretly dispatched deep into the heart of Junzhou to gather intelligence and make full preparations for the upcoming battle.
Under Ning Piaomiao's meticulous planning, the army's northern expedition plan gradually took shape.
They adopted a strategy of splitting their forces and launching a coordinated attack. One force consisted of elite cavalry that quickly penetrated and struck deep into Tiger King's territory.
The other force, mainly composed of infantry, advanced steadily and gradually. The two armies cooperated with each other to form a pincer attack, aiming to secure Junzhou in one battle.
At the same time, Ning Piaomiao did not ignore the situation in the south. After deciding to call upon Lü Guyun, the most powerful general in Shangguan Lie's previous army, to go north to fight.
Ning Piaomiao also dispatched many experienced generals and sufficient supplies to support Shangguan Lie, ensuring that the southern front could hold its ground and achieve a stalemate with Le Yi's allied forces, thus creating a favorable external environment for the army's northern expedition.
Although the northern and southern fronts appear to be independent, they are actually interconnected, and the loss of either side could have an immeasurable impact on the entire war situation.
...
At this moment, in Tianheng Prefecture, the capital of Hengzhou, Su Ye sat upright in his study. The moonlight outside the window was like water, and the candlelight inside flickered, illuminating his deep eyes.
On the desk, a secret letter from the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) lay quietly, containing the latest developments regarding Shangguan Lie and Ning Piaomiao.
Su Ye gently unfolded the letter and read it carefully, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing. Clearly, the contents of the letter had aroused his great interest.
After reading it, Su Ye pondered for a moment, then ordered his attendants to summon his important ministers and generals.
Before long, the three strategists Gao Jiong, Guo Jia, and Xun You, along with Xue Rengui, the commander-in-chief currently in Hengzhou, and generals Yang Jian, Hanba, and Xiongpijing, arrived at the capital.
Xue Gang, Xue Kui, Xia Gengshi, Shebishi, and others who had recently joined Su Ye's ranks entered the study, making the room feel crowded and heavy.
"Gentlemen, we have just received news from Luo Wang that there has been a change in the northern part of the Dayong Dynasty. A peerless commander named Ning Piaomiao has appeared under the command of the newly appointed Prince Jing, Shangguan Lie."
"This man is both wise and brave. He won three battles to defeat the Dayong Dynasty, causing the Dayong court to flee south in panic. He not only stabilized the war situation with the allied forces of the vassal kings in the south, but also secretly prepared a grand plan to launch a northern expedition against Junzhou."
Su Ye glanced at the people below with satisfaction, then slowly began to briefly recount the contents of the secret letter.
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.
"Ning Piaomiao, although I have never met him, judging from his plans and strategies, he is truly a rare genius in this world."
"With this man's help, Shangguan Lie is like a tiger with wings, which is truly a blessing for our Great Qian."
Gao Ying stroked his beard and sighed. Although he had been busy with various matters in Hengzhou recently, he was still aware of the general situation in the surrounding areas.
"The appearance of Ning Piaomiao has undoubtedly disrupted the balance of power in the north of the Great Yong Dynasty."
"If he can truly help Shangguan Lie pacify the entire northern part of the Dayong Dynasty, then the Junzhou he controls will be connected to the Qizhou currently controlled by our army."
"It's hard to say what the next target will be. After all, expelling foreign enemies sounds much better than fighting amongst ourselves. We must plan ahead and make preparations in advance."
Guo Jia, holding the wine gourd in his hand, had a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"I have learned about Ning Piaomiao over this period of time. He is low-key and efficient. There must be a deeper plan behind his expedition to Junzhou."
Xun You hadn't been idle during this time either, and analyzed the situation with his usual calmness.
Su Ye's gaze swept across everyone's faces one by one, finally landing on the secret letter, as if searching for some clue.
His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound that broke the silence in the room.