Chapter 352: Deploying Troops
"The enemy has split into two groups, one in front and one behind, to surround and consume us," Xiao Zhuo stared at the topographic map hanging in front of him. "We are outnumbered. We must concentrate our forces to defeat one group first, and then turn around to deal with the other."
Xiao Zhuo's explanation was concise and clear, and the generals in the tent immediately understood the key points of this battle.
Only Shen Yuexi didn't understand the secret. She raised her hand and said, "Husband, we must concentrate our forces to deal with one group. If we ignore the other group of enemies, they will rush straight towards us."
According to the agreement between him and Xiao Zhuo, Xiao Zhuo took her with him on this campaign. She could also pretend to attend military meetings, but she was in a daze most of the time.
Mei Dai sat beside her and patiently explained, "Sister, each enemy group has over a hundred thousand troops. Prince An's strategy is to concentrate our forces to defeat one group first, and then turn back to deal with the other. While we fight, we need someone to hold off the other group and buy us time."
"So we have to fight a blocking battle?" Shen Yuexi thought of this word.
Xiao Zhuo turned around, his armor making a slight scraping sound, reflecting the light from the candles in the tent. "Yuexi, you used the word well. We really need to block the other route."
Qiu Liming stood up and said, "Please tell me which enemy army we are going to stop and where we are going to stop it?"
Xiao Zhuo walked slowly forward, passing between the two rows of generals. He said, "The enemy in front is led by Xiao Beiheng, and the enemy that's flanking us from behind is led by Zhao Mu... Then we should stop Zhao Mu and fight Xiao Beiheng to the death."
After hearing Xiao Zhuo's decision, all the generals in the tent were ready to fight.
"That's right, hit the snake at its weakest point. As long as Xiao Beiheng loses, Zhao Mu will definitely not be willing to continue fighting."
"The last time Xiao Beiheng besieged Shengjing, our soldiers were not well-trained, and he showed off his power. This time, we have a strong army and sufficient food. We will definitely take it back with interest."
Shen Yuexi was delighted to see everyone's high morale. Although Prince An's army consisted of less than 80,000 men and the enemy had 300,000, as long as Xiao Zhuo was in command, everyone had the confidence to defeat the enemy.
Xiao Zhuo turned around and strode to the map, pointing to a corner of the map.
"If the enemy wants to outflank us, Baixiu Mountain is the only way to go. This mountain is strategically located, easy to defend but difficult to attack. As long as we set up camp there and buy us about fifteen days, I will be able to defeat the enemy head-on."
Shen Yuexi looked up at the large map marking the location of Baixiu Mountain.
Xiao Zhuo did not allow Prince An's army to passively defend Shengjing. Instead, he led his army eastward and set up camp forty miles north of Baixiu Mountain. The road under Baixiu Mountain was the only way to go west. If the enemy wanted to outflank Prince An's army, they had no choice but to take Baixiu Mountain.
She was still studying the map when Xiao Zhuo looked at the generals with a sharp gaze:
"The key to this battle lies in Baixiushan. I wonder who among you can take on this important task?"
"Prince An, Mei Dai requests to go into battle." Mei Dai was the first to stand up. Qiu Liming followed closely behind, saying, "I am willing to go!" Qiang Lin said, "Let me go." Even deputy generals Geng Hong and Feng Zhang were eager to try.
Shen Yuexi thought to herself: Everyone is eager to fight, who should I send? Deploying troops before a battle is such a hassle, but fortunately she doesn't have to worry about it.
Xiao Zhuo smiled without saying anything, and looked at Chen Lan beside him: "What do you think, Military Advisor Chen?"
After hearing this, everyone turned their eager eyes to Shen Lan.
Chen Lan smiled as she swept her gaze over everyone. She first addressed Mei Dai, "The Queen's troops are all cavalry. If they are used to defend the mountains, their advantages will not be fully utilized. Prince An, we are facing Xiao Beiheng on the plains and will still need cavalry. So please, Queen, please follow Prince An and attack the enemy head-on."
Mei Dai nodded in approval and sat down.
"General Qiu," Chen Lan turned to Qiu Liming, "although your Iron-faced Army is well-trained and can defeat ten enemies with one, they are slightly undernumbered. Prince An needs the Iron-faced Army's crossbows to support him in his decisive battle with Xiao Beiheng."
Shen Yuexi pulled Mei Dai's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Mei, the Iron-faced Army has crossbows. Wouldn't it be perfect for them to guard Baixiu Mountain?"
Mei Dai leaned over to her ear and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Sister, although the repeating crossbow is powerful, what will we do after it's used up? Staying with Prince An will allow us to get crossbow support from Shengjing. Prince An has already made arrangements, and we'll just follow his orders."
Shen Yuexi suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly.
It turned out that her husband Xiao Zhuo had already made arrangements, but he asked his sister Chen Lan to make them known on his behalf.
Qiu Liming was a little unconvinced, but he trusted Shen Lan very much, so he sat down anyway.
Seeing that his two main rivals were unable to go, Qiang Lin immediately bowed and said, "Prince An, please leave the defense of Baixiu Mountain to me. The Western Rong soldiers will surely live up to your expectations."
Chen Lan and Xiao Zhuo exchanged a glance, then said to Qiang Lin with a serious expression, "King Qiang Lin, defending Baixiu Mountain is the most crucial part of the entire battle. The enemy will inevitably attack Baixiu Mountain fiercely. We need to hold them off for fifteen days. Do you have the confidence to do so?"
Qiang Lin drew his sword and stood before him: "If you cannot hold back the enemy for fifteen days, please chop off my head."
Xiao Zhuo said, "King Qianglin, our army's success or failure depends entirely on stopping the enemy at Baixiu Mountain. However, I'm worried about you going alone, so I've asked Military Advisor Chen Lan to accompany you. You two will discuss everything. You only need to defend the camp and stop the enemy. You must not go down the mountain to engage in battle."
Qiang Lin agreed and immediately set off with 20,000 Western Rong troops.
Before leaving, Xiao Zhuo called Chen Lan again and explained to her in detail the defense strategy at Baixiu Mountain.
"The top of Baixiu Mountain was once occupied by bandits. The springs there are enough to supply drinking water to an army of 20,000. Even if the enemy surrounds you, don't panic. As long as we can hold them back for 15 days, we will surely win."
Shen Lan nodded and turned to Shen Yuexi who was standing next to Xiao Zhuo: "Sister, you insisted on coming to join the battle. Prince An and I can't stop you. Please take care of yourself and just watch the battle from the back."
Shen Yuexi smiled and said, "Don't worry about me, sister. I'll be waiting here for your triumphant return."
Chen Lan said goodbye to Mei Dai again, mounted his horse and followed the Xirong army to Baixiu Mountain in the south.
Shen Yuexi held Xiao Zhuo's arm with both hands, looking at the fire dragon winding southward in the night sky, and said, "Husband, are you really sure you can defeat Xiao Beiheng on the 15th? If you can't defeat him, what will happen to Bai Xiushan?"
Xiao Zhuo reached out and scratched her nose: "Don't you have confidence in your husband?"
"How could that be? My husband is such a great fighter," Shen Yuexi puffed out her chest, "We will definitely win."
She had fought many battles with Xiao Zhuo and had complete confidence in him. She was actually worried about Qianglin, fearing it wouldn't be able to hold on. But thinking of her sister, Chen Lan, going along, she felt confident it wouldn't be a problem and felt relieved.
Xiao Zhuo stretched out his hand and tightened the cloak around her shoulders and said, "Let's go back to the tent. It's cold outside."
Only after Xiao Zhuo reminded her did Shen Yuexi feel the coldness on her feet. She opened her mouth and exhaled, a puff of white mist in the torchlight. She groaned and said, "I just stood outside for a while, and my feet are already so cold. Go back quickly."
When the two returned to the tent, the soldiers had already lit the charcoal pot, making the tent warm and bright red. Xia Lan asked the servants to bring up the hot ginseng chicken soup.
Shen Yuexi and Xiao Zhuo sat opposite each other in front of the charcoal brazier, warming themselves by the fire while drinking soup. On a shelf beside them, the parrot Liuli was leisurely preening its feathers.
Although it is only November, it already feels like winter outside the Great Wall.
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