The generals inside the tent felt a chill in their hearts when they saw Zhao Muyun's sudden change in expression.
Li Si asked cautiously, "Grand Commander, Xijing..."
"Yang Chao led 50,000 Fengtian troops in a surprise attack through the Ziwu Valley." Zhao Muyun's voice was calm, yet it carried an undercurrent of suppressed rage.
"What?!"
"mean!"
"Grand Commander, we're not fighting the Tartars anymore! We're going back to reinforce them immediately!" Zhong Meng was the first to jump up and shout.
Although Wu Shangzhi, Guo Luo, and the others were equally anxious, they remained calm.
Wu Shangzhi said in a deep voice, "Grand Commander, our army is deeply trapped behind enemy lines. If we return to reinforce now, Arahan's cavalry will surely pursue and kill us. The journey is long, and we may be killed before we even reach Hedong..."
Zhao Muyun raised her hand, stopping the crowd's discussion.
He walked to the map, his sharp gaze sweeping over Youzhou, then over the Arahan tribe behind him, finally settling on the location of Xijing.
"We must not panic, much less act rashly."
Zhao Muyun's voice regained its composure, "With Prince Jin and Lin Feng in Xijing, the city's defenses are strong and its food supplies are plentiful. Holding out for a month should not be a problem."
"Yang Chao's hasty deployment of troops is advantageous for a quick battle; if he cannot conquer the enemy after a prolonged siege, his momentum will naturally falter."
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Returning to provide reinforcements now would be exactly what Yang Yan wants!"
"I suspect he must have already leaked this information to Wuzhu, just waiting for us to panic and retreat in disarray, so that he can join forces with the Northern Di to attack us from both sides and annihilate us on our way back!"
"Then...then are we just going to abandon Xijing?" Zhong Meng asked anxiously.
"We must manage! Of course we must manage!" Zhao Muyun said decisively. "But we need a strategy for how to manage! We not only need to manage, but we also need to make Yang Yan pay a heavy price for their betrayal!"
His finger slammed down on Youzhou: "Yang Yan wants to hold us back, while Wuzhu wants to take the opportunity to devour us."
"Then let's do the opposite! Not only will we break through their encirclement, but we'll also deliver a fatal blow to them where they least expect it!"
“We must… take the initiative to confront Arahan! First, cut off Wuzhu’s outstretched claw! Then, depending on the situation, decide on the next course of action.”
Zhao Muyun's decision was bold and reckless.
Despite his hometown being robbed and him being surrounded, he not only refused to retreat but instead chose to fight back against the strongest pursuers head-on!
But this is exactly in line with his consistent style of military command:
Seek victory in danger, and survive by putting yourself in a life-or-death situation.
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