xymnovel Chapter 18 Strategies to Defeat the Enemy, Governor of Youzhou
Chapter 18 Strategies to Defeat the Enemy, Governor of Youzhou
"Step two."
Although the Eastern Barbarians were victorious, their army was not a monolithic force. Commander-in-chief Helan Cangfeng, having gained an advantage in this battle, will surely become arrogant. The newly promoted Holy Martial God Huli Changsheng is indeed brave, but he has a fiery temperament and has a long-standing feud with the Helan clan.
Many spies and assassins were sent to infiltrate behind enemy lines. One was to spread rumors, exaggerating Helan Cangfeng's unique achievements and concealing Hulü Changsheng's breakthrough power, sowing discord among their generals.
Secondly, they would seek opportunities to harass their supply lines, burn their fodder, and poison their water sources. The Eastern Barbarians' 200,000-strong army was on a long expedition, with a long supply line; if even one place was damaged, their morale would waver. Once internal suspicion arose and supplies were disrupted, their military might would naturally falter.
"The third step. Once the main force of the imperial reinforcements arrives, our army's morale will be restored, while the enemy's morale will be exhausted and there may be internal discord, then we can concentrate all our efforts to find their weakest point and strike it hard, striving to annihilate it completely and restore our army's prestige."
Subsequently, they would either engage in direct combat or launch flanking attacks, depending on the situation at the time. Their ultimate goal was to force the main force of the Eastern Barbarians to retreat, or even severely damage them, and to recover the lost territory of Youzhou in one fell swoop, driving the enemy back beyond the pass!
This is merely my humble opinion; the details still require careful consideration with Generals Wang Kong and Huangfu Gong, as well as the soldiers at the front.
The ministers listened with varying expressions, but most nodded in approval. Left Chancellor Wang Qin stroked his long, snow-white beard and slowly praised, "Your Highness's strategy is quite methodical. First, it secures the foundation; then, it wears down the enemy's strength; and finally, it waits for the opportune moment to act. It is not in a hurry for a short-term victory, but focuses on the overall situation. It is indeed a mature way of governing the country."
"However," Zhao Yi, the Minister of War, asked with a furrowed brow, raising the most practical question.
"Your Highness's strategy rests on reinforcements. But where will these reinforcements come from? The iron cavalry of the capital region is the foundation of the nation and should not be moved lightly."
Other border towns in the north, such as Yunzhong and Yanmen, are also busy defending against the northern barbarians and are stretched thin. Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice!
Li Rong seemed to have planned this all along, and stepped forward again, bowing, and said:
Your Majesty, Minister Zhao's concerns are very valid. Therefore, I have come up with a plan that may solve this urgent problem.
The main force of the Northern Army had just returned from supporting Yunzhou and was exhausted from their journey, urgently needing rest. Furthermore, they needed to guard the northern gateway to the capital, so it was not advisable to mobilize them all. However, the situation of the Southern Army was different.
His gaze sharpened slightly, and he continued:
"In recent years, the Southern Great Cang has been plagued by natural disasters and man-made calamities, with refugees flocking everywhere. Furthermore, powerful merchants and wealthy families within the country have stirred up trouble and disrupted the court, leaving the Southern Cang region preoccupied with its own problems. This has greatly reduced the pressure on the southern border. At this moment, we can immediately draw 50,000 elite troops from the Southern Army's Imperial Guard and send them north. This is the first point."
"Secondly, although Youzhou has fallen, the three prefectures of Pingzhou, Dingzhou, and Xinzhou to its south are the shield of Youzhou. Each prefecture has about 30,000 troops. Although their training and equipment are not as good as the border troops, they are still capable of fighting."
A strict decree may be issued, ordering the governors of Ping, Ding, and Xin prefectures to mobilize all their troops, set off within a specified time, and march north to the designated location to join the 50,000 imperial guards of the Southern Army, and place them under the unified command and control of His Highness Prince Qin!
Thus, with the 50,000 Southern Army and the 90,000 from the three prefectures, we can have a fresh force of 140,000. If we combine them with the few thousand remaining soldiers from Tian Rangju in Youzhou who are still capable of fighting, and the troops Your Highness brought with you, the total number can reach 150,000!
While insufficient for a full-scale counterattack, relying on the strategic importance of the Northern Pass to maintain a stalemate with the Eastern Barbarians, stabilize the battle line, and await the recovery of national strength before launching a major offensive is more than enough!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xia's sunken eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, as if a long-term patient had been given a strong stimulant.
He struggled, and with the help of the eunuchs, straightened his back a little more. His gaze was sharp as he swept over every important official in the imperial study. His voice was hoarse, but it carried a resolute determination:
"Prime Minister Li's plan is perfectly in line with my thoughts! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! Issue my decree—"
He took a breath and raised his voice:
"Effective immediately, Prince Qin, Tian Heng, is hereby appointed as 'Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Youzhou Road Army, concurrently serving as Grand General of Youzhou,' granted the authority of the Yellow Axe, and given overall command of all military and political affairs in Youzhou and the three prefectures of Ping, Ding, and Xin, with sole authority over military campaigns! The Southern Army shall draw upon 50,000 Imperial Guards and 90,000 troops from the three prefectures of Ping, Ding, and Xin, all to be placed under his command!"
Furthermore, General Wang Kong, the Commander-in-Chief, is appointed as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and General Huangfu Gong, the Eagle-Winged General, is appointed as the Vanguard Commander. Troops are to be mustered immediately and dispatched to the northern frontier to jointly attack the Eastern Barbarians, avenge the national humiliation, and avenge the blood feud!
The Grand Commander-in-Chief and Grand General, holding the imperial yellow axe, wields such immense power that it has become extremely rare in the Great Xia Dynasty in recent years.
By taking this action, Emperor Xia was undoubtedly placing the safety of half of the northern frontier, along with the fate of hundreds of thousands of troops, entirely on the shoulders of the young King of Qin, Tian Heng.
Tian Heng's heart trembled violently, as if struck by a heavy hammer, yet also as if hot blood surged to his head.
He immediately lifted his robe and knelt down, touching his head to the ground. His voice trembled slightly with excitement, yet he tried his best to maintain a firm tone:
"Your subject... Your subject Tian Heng kowtows to thank Your Majesty for Your Majesty's grace! On this journey to the northern frontier, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to the cause, sharing joys and sorrows with the soldiers. Relying on Your Majesty's divine might, I will surely drive out the Eastern barbarians and recover our lost territories, to comfort the spirits of General Huangfu Yang and the 100,000 soldiers in heaven! If I fail Your Majesty's trust, I am willing to accept military punishment!"
He knew perfectly well that, given his age and experience, without his status as a prince and without his father's unwavering trust despite opposition, the position of commander-in-chief would never have fallen into his hands.
There are many veteran generals in the court who are skilled in battle and have enough prestige to command respect. Qin Yue, Zhao Fang, Luo Wei, Yang Shu, Cao Xu, and even other generals who guard their respective regions, are all more qualified than him.
The Emperor is betting heavily on the fact that the royal family will personally control the military, which is also a huge investment for him, or rather, for the future of the royal family.
Emperor Xia's decision at this moment was made out of desperation. Within the imperial clan, there were very few capable individuals to shoulder such a great responsibility.
The King of Qi and the King of Jin may be powerful, but their intentions are unpredictable, and they are deeply involved in the factional struggles at court.
The other generals were entangled in complex relationships; if they won, they risked becoming too powerful and overshadowing the emperor, while if they lost, they would damage the foundation of the state. Only Tian Heng possessed a sufficiently high status to subdue all sides, yet because he was an "outer vassal," his influence in the court was the weakest, making him easy to control.
If we put him in command, with a loyal and experienced general like Wang Kong as his deputy, and a fierce general like Huangfu Gong who has a blood feud with the Eastern Yi as the vanguard, as long as he doesn't make any major mistakes and we advance steadily, defeating the Eastern Yi is not an unrealistic expectation.
This is the most beneficial choice for the royal family and the most balanced option for all parties that Emperor Xia can make under the current circumstances.
However, this balance was broken in an instant.
As soon as Emperor Xia finished speaking, Zhang Jingzhi, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke in a heavy and earnest tone:
"Your Majesty! We are grateful for Your Majesty's trust in the Prince of Qin. However, matters of state are not child's play! His Highness the Prince of Qin is intelligent, but he is still young and has never led a large army on his own or experienced such a fierce battle."
Youzhou is now a land of tigers and wolves. The Eastern Barbarians, riding high on their great victory, are in high spirits. Furthermore, Huli Changsheng has just broken through to the Saint Martial God Realm, making him incomparably sharp!
Your Highness has suddenly taken on this heavy responsibility. I...I fear that Your Highness lacks experience and may make the slightest mistake. Not only will Youzhou be in danger, but the 140,000 reinforcements will also be in peril!
"I implore Your Majesty to reconsider and choose a more experienced and prudent general as commander-in-chief. Your Highness could serve as supervisor or deputy commander. This would ensure the success of the campaign and allow Your Highness to gain practical experience and grow through experience. This would be the most prudent approach!"
As soon as Zhang Jingzhi finished speaking, Wei Yong, the Minister of Works, also stepped forward and echoed him:
"What Minister Zhang said is indeed the wise and insightful advice for governing the country! Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Qin is courageous in taking on responsibilities, and his ambition is commendable."
However, commanding an army of tens of thousands requires coordinating the generals, managing supplies, discerning opportunities, and making decisions on the battlefield; this cannot be accomplished overnight.
Your Majesty believes that General Wang Kong, who has been through many battles, is calm and steady, and is suitable for the position of Grand Commander.
It would be even more desirable to have General Qin Yue, the Grand General of the State, take command. His Highness the Prince of Qin is wise; he can serve as an advisor to the army, learn and observe, and once the situation has stabilized somewhat, entrust him with a regional command. Wouldn't that be a more prudent approach?
This is not a questioning of Your Highness, but rather for the sake of the nation, the lives of the soldiers, and Your Majesty's wise consideration!
The two spoke with conviction, appearing entirely selfless and concerned for the public good and the well-being of the people.
But it was clear to everyone present that Zhang Jingzhi had always maintained close ties with the Prince of Qi, while Wei Yong was implicitly aligned with the Prince of Jin.
Their attack at this moment was not out of concern for Tian Heng's lack of experience, but rather because they did not want to see a prince who was originally insignificant suddenly gain such enormous military power and disrupt the existing competition for the throne.
If, under the guise of stability, the commander-in-chief could be replaced with a general whose influence or ability to be won over by their backing forces is greater, that would be ideal.