"Not going to Yishuichuan? Then where to go?"
"Go here." Zhao Muyun pointed to another spot on the sand table—Yanshi.
"Yanshi?" Xiao Cheyun asked, puzzled. "The Luo River is blocking the way there, making it difficult to cross."
“It’s precisely because it’s not easy that Ma Zongliang couldn’t have imagined it.” Zhao Muyun’s eyes gleamed. “He was certain I would take the central route through Yishuichuan, so he deployed his heavy forces there. The left and right flanks, especially Yanshi on the eastern route, would inevitably be undefended.”
He looked at Zhang Tao: "General Zhang, you are from Henan. What is the water level of the Luo River like in winter?"
Zhang Tao pondered for a moment: "The spring floods haven't arrived in March, and the Luo River is shallow at this time, making it fordable in many places. However, if there are garrison troops on the other side..."
“There won’t be a large force,” Zhao Muyun said confidently. “Ma Zongliang’s 200,000 troops may sound like a lot, but if they are to defend a front line of several dozen miles, they will be vulnerable in every direction.”
"He has to defend the main position at Yishuichuan and also guard against Hangu Pass on the west side. How many troops does Yanshi have on the east side? At most 10,000."
He looked around at his generals and said, “Our light cavalry has 20,000 men, plenty of horses, and is highly mobile! If we suddenly appear in Yanshi and cross the river with lightning speed, we can be at the gates of the capital in a single day.”
"At that time, Ma Zongliang will be waiting in vain at Yishuichuan, while our army has already arrived in the capital—what do you think he will do?"
Wu Shangzhi suddenly realized: "He must be rushing back to reinforce! With 180,000 troops retreating hastily, their formation will surely be disrupted! Our army can ambush them halfway..."
“No.” Zhao Muyun shook his head. “Don’t set an ambush. Let him go back.”
The generals were taken aback again.
“Ma Zongliang is no mediocre man; he will surely be on high alert for ambushes during the retreat.”
Zhao Muyun said, "What I want is for him to be constantly on the move, exhausted. With 200,000 troops, how many soldiers will be left to fight after a forced march from Yishuichuan to the capital, a distance of eighty li?"
He paused, then continued, "When he returned to the capital, he discovered our army had vanished again—"
"Gone again?" Xiao Dayong's eyes widened.
“That’s right.” Zhao Muyun smiled. “After crossing the river in Yanshi, I will not attack the capital, but will move westward and circle around to the south of the Yishui River.”
"At this time, Ma Zongliang's army is in the capital, and Yishuichuan is undefended. Our army can easily occupy this place and cut off his connection with the capital."
Xiao Cheyun gasped: "This is... a feint, a diversionary tactic!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com