"But that's why he made a big show of things at Longmen Pass, trying to use a feint to attack our strength and prevent our army from making any rash moves."
Cui Mian added: "What Prime Minister Feng said is absolutely right. According to reports from our scouts, Zhao Muyun's main force of the Divine Machine Battalion and the Bow and Crossbow Battalion has indeed marched west. Many of the cannons displayed at Longmen Pass are wooden fakes, which were removed at night. He is indeed bluffing."
A glint of light flashed in Li Jingang's eyes: "Is Minister Cui certain?"
"I'm about 80% sure." Cui Mian bowed. "Xijing is well-defended, but there are always loopholes. Our people have personally witnessed that during the shift change, some of the artillery pieces were as light as a feather; they must have been fake cannons."
A moment of silence fell over the hall.
Niu Desheng stepped forward: "Your Majesty, if that is truly the case, this humble general is willing to lead an army north from Wuguan Road and march straight to Xijing. As long as Xijing is captured, Zhao Muyun's western expeditionary army will become rootless and collapse without a fight."
“No.” Ma Zongliang shook his head. “The Wuguan Pass is only defended by 10,000 troops, while there are at least 20,000 troops defending Xijing City. In addition, the city walls are strong, and it will be difficult to take it by force.”
"If we fail to capture the city after a prolonged siege, Zhao Muyun will return with his troops, or the war in Longyou will end, and our army will be put on the defensive."
"Then let's attack from both the east and the west!" A ruthless glint flashed in Li Hu's eyes. "This humble general will lead an army of 100,000 to launch a strong assault on Longmen Pass."
"At the same time, Zhang Tao, the military governor of Henan, can be ordered to march north from Wuguan, advancing in two directions simultaneously. Zhao Muyun's remaining troops will be scattered and will inevitably be unable to attend to both sides."
Feng Liang pondered: "This plan is feasible, but it needs to be resolved quickly. Although Zhao Muyun's western expeditionary force only has 15,000 men, they are all elite troops and have new firearms."
"If the Northern Barbarians are easily defeated and quickly routed, then turn their troops back east to reinforce our forces, our army will be in grave danger."
Li Jingang lightly tapped the dragon-shaped desk with his fingers, lost in thought.
He knows Zhao Muyun too well.
This young man, who rose from humble beginnings on the frontier of Shuozhou, was a brilliant strategist, repeatedly defeating the strong with the weak.
In the Battle of Xijing, he defeated Yang Chao's 10,000 elite troops with a thousand heavy cavalry; in the Battle of Youzhou, he used firearms to defeat the Northern Di cavalry.
Would someone like that leave such an obvious flaw?
But wouldn't it be a pity to miss such a great opportunity?
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