“Commanders of the infantry battalions!” Yang Yan’s gaze swept over the several commanding generals.
"Your subordinate is here!" Several men stepped forward in unison.
"Starting tomorrow, infantrymen from each battalion will take turns, in units of one hundred households, to work with engineers to build fortifications and dig trenches!"
"No mistakes allowed! Prepare plenty of rolling logs, boulders, kerosene, and molten gold on the walls. Every watchtower and observation post must be manned by two guards day and night, with shifts in place. Anyone who slacks off will be punished along with their entire team."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
"Cavalry Captain Wang Bing!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
A general, not particularly tall but with eyes as sharp as a hawk, stepped forward. He was one of the few trusted subordinates that Yang Yan had brought from the capital.
“Gather all cavalry, including the original remnants and the cavalrymen supplemented by the Beijing garrison, and place them at the pre-arranged camp at Lijiapo, ten miles behind the defensive line.”
"Without my personal order, no one—including yourselves—is allowed to launch an attack, even if you see the Northern Di cavalry swaggering around outside the camp."
Yang Yan's tone was particularly stern, "Your mission is to conserve your energy, train rigorously, maintain the stamina of your warhorses, and wait for the right opportunity."
"Either intercept and kill small groups of enemy cavalry that break through the defensive line, or wait until the enemy has been unable to break through for a long time and their morale is exhausted before launching an attack to pursue and defeat them. Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be executed, no matter how many kills they have made!"
"This subordinate understands! The cavalry battalion is like a sharp blade in the commander's hand; if it doesn't move, it's fine, but if it does, it will surely kill."
Wang Bing responded in a deep voice, his eyes showing no resentment, only absolute obedience and understanding of tactics.
Each order was clear, specific, and assigned to a specific person, with each step closely linked to the next.
There was no grand mobilization, only cold and pragmatic deployment, assembling the entire Xiangzhou defense system like a precision machine.
The generals solemnly accepted their orders and filed out. The bewilderment and confusion they felt due to Ma Zongliang's defeat and death were gradually replaced by a heavy sense of order and direction, and even a glimmer of hope for survival, in the face of this iron-fisted reorganization and meticulous planning.
After the generals left, Yang Yan summoned the military advisor in charge of logistics and supplies and local officials from Xiangzhou for a private meeting.
He inquired in detail about the specific locations of the grain and fodder storage warehouses and their guarding arrangements.
He personally oversaw every detail, from the number of arrows in stock and their daily consumption and replenishment capabilities to medicines, cloth, iron, firewood, and so on.
Requirements were even set for moisture-proofing of grain bags and humidity of arrow shafts.
"In a battle to defend a city, seven parts depend on defense and three parts on attrition."
Yang Yan said to the somewhat weary military advisor, "Wuzhu's advantage lies in a swift battle, while our advantage lies in a protracted struggle. Logistics, provisions, and weapon replenishment are the foundation for this protracted struggle."
"If the foundation is not solid, even the most formidable passes and strategic strongholds will not prevent annihilation. Your responsibilities are heavier than a thousand pounds!"
The soldiers and officials were drenched in sweat, repeatedly agreeing without daring to be negligent in the slightest.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
