xymnovel Chapter 454 Learning on Horseback
Chapter 454 Learning on Horseback
Ji Dan cleared his throat and began to analyze the current situation: "If you retreat and seek peace now, not only will the Qin army see through your weakness, but it will also make them even more arrogant!"
By then, the Qin army's triangular advance will only be faster!
The Left Wise King frowned and said, "Immortal Master, are we supposed to fight them head-on instead of retreating? The Qin army's camp is fortified; how can we break through their triangular formation?"
Following the words Maodun had taught him, Ji Dan continued, "The Qin army's advantage lies in its defense and heavy armor. Your advantage, however, is mobility!"
The Qin people were accustomed to building fortified cities; their tactics, while solid, were quite cumbersome.
"Do not attack their passes. You are a nomadic people, and moving camps is commonplace for you. Great Chanyu, order the royal court and the various tribes to be dispersed in all directions."
"Once the Qin army leaves the pass and penetrates deep into the desert, you should use the advantage of your warhorses to maneuver against them. When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue!"
Ji Dan pointed to the map: "The Qin army is not familiar with the terrain of the grasslands, nor are they adapted to the lifestyle and climate!"
Their supply lines are getting longer and longer!
As long as you keep moving around to pull the Qin army apart, their triangular formation will eventually break down.
"When they are exhausted from fighting and unable to coordinate their efforts, the triangle formation will show a weakness! At that time, you can concentrate your forces and take advantage of the situation to break the Qin army's triangular advance!"
Upon hearing this, Touman Chanyu and his two wise kings' eyes lit up.
Yes!
I've fallen into a misconception!
Why would you use your weaknesses to attack the Qin army's strengths?
The Qin army was unfamiliar with the terrain of the grasslands and their lifestyle was not adapted, which was an advantage for the Xiongnu.
As long as we can keep pulling the Qin army, disrupting or lengthening their triangular formation, we can take advantage of the situation to attack.
The generals whispered among themselves, their faces instantly clearing of dejection.
They all looked at Ji Dan, their eyes filled with admiration.
"The Immortal Master is truly a divine being!"
"The immortal master's words have awakened us from our dream; with his help, we will surely defeat the Qin army!"
Faced with the praise of the crowd, Ji Dan felt smug and unconsciously raised her chin a little higher, enjoying the feeling of being admired.
Just as he was feeling smug, a cold gaze shot out from the corner.
Ji Dan sensed something and glanced out of the corner of her eye, meeting Maodun's cold gaze.
He shivered immediately, quickly abandoned his arrogant demeanor, lowered his head, and stepped aside without uttering a word.
Touman Chanyu stood up and loudly announced, "Excellent! The Immortal Master's strategy is the key to victory! Pass down the order to stop the discussions about seeking peace!"
The various tribes planned to break up their forces and use the grasslands to distract the Qin army!
Once the military meeting was finalized, Touman Chanyu immediately decided to proceed with this arrangement.
But right now, he is still heartbroken. His most beloved daughter, Yun, is missing and her fate is unknown.
Touman Chanyu looked at the general in charge of intelligence and ordered, "Immediately notify every tribe and nomadic settlement on the grasslands. Send out all scouts to search."
"Tell them that if they find Princess Yun, bring her back, and I, the Chanyu, will reward them with a thousand head of cattle and sheep! No matter the cost, you must find her!"
Touman Chanyu clenched his fist. "I hope she's still on the grasslands. Ideally... she hasn't fallen into the hands of the Qin. If that's the case, the Qin will definitely use her as leverage against us!"
The generals inside the tent responded in unison and quickly withdrew to arrange the search.
Maodun sat in his wheelchair, looking at the empty camp.
Find the cloud?
His heart was calm and undisturbed.
If Yun'er really can't be found again!
Then I guess I won't come back...
……
at the same time.
Inside the military camp at Gaoque Pass.
In the center of the tent was a sand table, around which Fusu, Zhang Fan, and the garrison commander Zhao Ben sat discussing military plans for the northward advance.
The early mornings I've been getting for the past few days have brought me back to my 8 a.m. routine.
At this moment, Zhang Fan leaned back in his chair, his eyelids drooping, his head nodding down little by little, and he was in a half-awake state.
Fusu and Zhao Ben looked at Zhang Fan's drowsy appearance, exchanged a glance, shook their heads and smiled wryly.
The two did not wake him, but instead continued their discussion in hushed tones.
Holding a baton, Zhao Ben pointed to the location of the "Meng Tian" general's flag on the sand table and explained the current battle situation to Fusu.
"My lord, please look. General Meng Tian, leading 100,000 troops in the central route, has already left the Jiuyuan camp and is advancing into the depths of the northern grasslands. Our eastern and western routes will also soon break camp to provide support!"
Zhao Ben's face showed worry. "But according to the intelligence reported by the scouts, the main force of the Xiongnu has broken up and scattered in all directions. The 100,000 troops led by Commander Meng will most likely encounter constant harassment from the Xiongnu's cavalry!"
Looking at the terrain on the sand table, Fusu nodded and said, "Meng Shuai's troops are mostly heavily armored infantry. If they advance on the grassland, they will inevitably be slowed down by the Xiongnu cavalry."
"Exactly!"
Zhao Ben sighed and continued, "Battles on the grasslands are not what our Qin soldiers excel at. If we are to form a defensive formation, our infantry phalanx will fear no charge!"
But for pursuit and skirmishes on the vast plains, we need to rely on cavalry!
At this point, Zhao Ben's tone was tinged with helplessness: "But our Qin cavalry is far inferior to the Xiongnu in terms of horse handling!"
Once the cavalry of both sides clash in open terrain, our army will inevitably be at a disadvantage!
Therefore, Commander Meng's expedition would inevitably rely on infantry formations to withstand the pull of the Xiongnu cavalry!
Zhao Ben hadn't finished speaking.
"etc!"
Zhang Fan, who was dozing off in his chair, suddenly opened his eyes and sat up straight.
Although he was dozing off, he still retained a sliver of clarity in his mind, and he heard everything Zhao Ben had just said.
Zhang Fan frowned, looked at Zhao Ben, and asked, "Don't our cavalrymen know how to ride horses?"
This statement came out.
The tent fell silent instantly.
Zhao Ben looked at Zhang Fan with a troubled expression, his face showing great embarrassment.
This kind of obvious difference, which even cooks in the army know, how could the immortal master not know?
Seeing this, Fusu quickly stepped in to smooth things over, patiently explaining the reasons to Zhang Fan.
"Teacher, you are unaware of this."
Fusu pointed to the sand table and said, "The Qin cavalry naturally know how to ride horses. But knowing how to ride and being able to fight on horseback are two different things!"
When it comes to actual combat on horseback, the Qin soldiers are far inferior to the Xiongnu!
Zhang Fan asked, puzzled, "What's the difference?"
Fusu explained, "The Xiongnu people grow up on horseback from childhood. When they ride a horse, their legs can grip the horse's belly tightly!"
During a charge, they could even release the reins with both hands, turn around on horseback, draw their bows, and shoot arrows with pinpoint accuracy.
"And the soldiers of my Great Qin need to step on wooden stakes or be lifted up to mount their horses!"
When riding a horse at full gallop, you must hold the reins tightly with one hand to prevent falling off!
In combat, weapons can only be wielded with one hand!