The World is Shocked 166. Battle (2)

The deployment of troops is not a knowledge that can be mastered in one go. At least, Ye Li, who is now on the battlefield, can hardly help Feng Zhiyuan in this regard. Even if she can understand and come up with some ideas, she will definitely not be able to let the Mohist army, who is fighting fiercely under the city, understand her intentions in a short time. Moreover, Ye Li, who is only a beginner in the art of formation, will never be arrogant enough to think that she can immediately go up and compete with the Xiling Zhennan King, who is known as the Xiling God of War, to see who is better at deploying troops. Standing on a high place, Ye Li stared at the battlefield below, and sure enough, after several changes in the formation, the Mohist army's formation gradually began to disintegrate and was surrounded by the Xiling army.

"Princess..." Qin Feng frowned, anxiously wanting to say something. He was born in the Black Cloud Cavalry, but he was not the highest commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Moreover, the cavalry did not use formations much, and they were not proficient in them. But this did not prevent him from seeing the fact that the Mohist army was gradually losing.

Ye Li raised her hand to stop him from saying anything, lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said: "Feng San is indeed no match for Lei Zhenting, let's stop here today." This battle seemed fierce, but in fact, neither side tried their best, it was just a test. Qin Feng said: "Our army has been trapped in Xiling's formation, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to get out. Princess... Princess, do you have a way to break the formation?" As if out of habit, Qin Feng looked at Ye Li with hope. The time they followed the princess was not too long, but they all unconsciously regarded the princess as an omnipotent genius. Ye Li shook her head, smiled slightly and said: "As for the formation, this princess really doesn't know much."

Hearing this, Qin Feng was also a little frustrated. No matter how powerful the princess is, she is only in her teens. How can she know everything? Many generals may not be able to master it thoroughly even after spending decades. The generals who stayed with the princess this time were all young generals. The only more experienced Nan Hou was sent out by the princess to perform other tasks. Moreover, in Qin Feng's opinion, even if Nan Hou was there, he might not be able to deal with the Nan Wang of Xiling Town. Ye Li smiled lightly while rubbing her fingertips thoughtfully, "Since... technology and intelligence can't solve the problem, then it can only be solved... by violence." Qin Feng was stunned and couldn't understand what Ye Li meant. He saw Ye Li walking down the platform and walked to Feng Zhiyao who was standing by the city wall watching the battle. Before Qin Feng had time to think, a gorgeous red flame rose into the sky with a sharp roar. Then a shocking sound of horse hooves rang out from the southwest corner, like a black tornado sweeping across the battlefield in an instant. At the same time, the Mohist Army, which had been torn apart by the Xiling Army, also connected in an extremely short time, breaking out from the enemy's belly, and forming a larger formation with the surrounding comrades, like a sharp arrow tip that cut a crack in the huge formation of the Xiling Army. The Black Cloud Cavalry, who had just arrived, did not remember to fight or leave. They shuttled back and forth on the battlefield, instantly tearing the originally neat formation into pieces.

Behind the Xiling army, where the central army stood, the Xiling general looked at the sudden appearance of the Black Cloud Cavalry and his face changed in shock, "What kind of formation is this?!"

King Zhennan put away the smile on his face, looked at the city wall in the distance thoughtfully and said: "This is not a formation!" In the face of absolute power, any formation is just empty talk. In terms of strength, the Mohist Army is slightly better than the Xiling Army, but what it lacks is the manpower and truly brilliant generals. If you want to compete with the Mohist Army, you have already prepared to pay a price. At this time, with the addition of the new force of the Black Cloud Cavalry, the outcome is naturally unpredictable. The general beside him suggested: "Let the army behind press on and completely destroy the Mohist Army outside the city?" King Zhennan shook his head and said: "It's too late, they are going to retreat."

As expected, the sound of bells calling for troops to retreat was heard from the city of Hongzhou. The gate of Hongzhou was instantly opened, and the Mohist Army, which had just rushed out of the Xiling Army's guard under the cover of the Black Cloud Cavalry, rushed into the city. The Black Cloud Cavalry behind them also rushed towards the city gate. The Xiling soldiers who were chasing behind were greeted by a rain of arrows from the Mohist Army defending the city. Seeing this scene, the generals around King Zhennan started to curse, "The people of Dongchu are so mean, they just run away if they can't beat us!" King Zhennan laughed instead of getting angry, and said, "Of course we have to run away if we can't beat them. But... Ye Li's behavior made me realize one thing. There are really no generals capable of taking on the responsibility in Hongzhou City. Just relying on Feng Zhiyao, he may be able to take charge of the situation after a few more years of training, but he is too young now." The generals thought, isn't it? The forces of both sides are equal, but the people of Dongchu need the help of the Black Cloud Cavalry to retreat back to the city. If it's not that there is no one in the army, what else could it be?

"Mo Xiuyao is fighting against the coalition forces of three families at the same time in the pass. No matter how powerful Mo Xiuyao is, they will not care about him. I am afraid that the generals of the Mo family army have followed Mo Xiuyao into the pass."

"Isn't it? Mo Xiuyao actually handed over the northwest to a woman. It can be seen that the Mohist Army is really empty-handed!" When the generals were discussing, King Zhennan once again turned his attention to the pale blue figure on the top of Hongzhou City. In recent days, the Mohist Army's continuous defeats and today's victory made the Xiling generals look down on the Mohist Army. But King Zhennan, as the commander-in-chief, did not do so. Not only did he not do so, but he paid more attention to the young Princess Dingguo. These days, they have indeed won consecutive battles, but they have hardly gained any real advantage in Hongzhou. Along the way, the mature grains in various parts of the northwest had already been harvested, and even the few that could not be harvested were burned clean. These days, the Mohist Army was not resisting, but blocking their steps so that the people of Hongzhou could harvest grain. According to the intelligence he got, Ye Li even photographed the Mohist Army helping the people to harvest grain. This invisibly aggravated his need to capture Hongzhou as soon as possible, because in another month, the northwest would really enter a severe winter, and by then, heavy snow would block the roads in many places, and even if there was grain, it might not be transported. And their food and military supplies would definitely not last until the beginning of next spring.

The closer they got to Hongzhou, the more the King of Zhennan had a hunch that the Mohist Army had deliberately led them to Hongzhou. But he couldn't understand the thoughts of the Mohist Army or Ye Li. Behind Hongzhou was the vast plains of the interior of China. Judging from Ye Li's performance these days, he didn't seem to have the confidence to keep him out of Hongzhou. The Mohist Army didn't even have a master who could deploy troops. In fact, the King of Zhennan didn't understand. He always thought that he valued Ye Li enough, but when he thought that there was no famous general in the Mohist Army, it was already a kind of contempt. He would never have thought that what Ye Li wanted was not to keep the Xiling Army out of Hongzhou, but... to completely destroy the 200,000 Xiling Army in Hongzhou!

Looking at the green-clothed woman on the tower who seemed to nod at him, the King of Zhennan's heart suddenly jumped. A strange feeling of uneasiness instantly troubled his mind, but after repeated calculations, he still couldn't find the source of this uneasiness. After thinking for a while, the King of Zhennan turned back to the camp and ordered the 300,000 troops stationed at the border of Xiling to rush to Hongzhou along with food and grass. The generals following him were startled and said hesitantly: "My Lord, the marching speed of the army transporting a large amount of food and grass..." The soldiers stationed at the border carried enough food and grass for 400,000 troops for a winter. If they wanted to transport it all the way to Hongzhou, the marching speed would naturally not be very fast. The King of Zhennan snorted and said, "It's enough to enter the pass in time. If you are a little slower, the army may have arrived before you can break through Hongzhou City!" The generals who followed him couldn't help but blush, showing dissatisfaction. If they couldn't even beat a woman, they would have no face to return to Xiling. "Within five days, we must break through Hongzhou!"

"I will wait and see."

In Hongzhou City, Feng Zhiyao looked at Ye Li with a face full of shame and said with a smile: "If the princess had not been prepared in advance today, the Mohist army that went out of the city to fight would have been unable to return. I am still far behind..." Ye Li looked at him with a smile and said: "Although you have been fighting on the battlefield since you were a teenager, you have not fought for many years. In terms of experience, you are naturally inferior to the Zhennan King who has been fighting for half his life. Today's lesson tells us that it is best to Don't compare your own weaknesses with others' strengths." Feng Zhiyao said helplessly, "In a face-to-face fight, all you have to do is deploy the troops. If you just let the soldiers attack in groups, the death will be even more miserable. But the princess is right, we will be the only ones who will suffer in this way. The two armies are equal in strength, so what matters is the formation." If it was Mo Jingli's chaotic crowd in the south, who would care about his formation? Just attacking them directly would scare those weak soldiers to death.

Ye Li was also helpless. Nan Hou, who had the most experience in the army, was sent out by her. As for the others, they might not be as good as Feng Zhiyuan, who had been learning from Mo Xiuyao since childhood. Although she understood a little bit, for someone who was more accepting of modern military affairs, it was actually very difficult to grasp the essence of these ancient formations. Even if you read a lot of military books, it would be useless if you can't really integrate into the war environment. Not everyone can become a peerless general after reading Sun Tzu's Thirty-Six Strategies of War. Thinking for a while, Ye Li said, "Try to avoid such face-to-face fighting. How are you preparing for what I said a few days ago?"

Feng Zhiyao nodded and said, "Everything has been arranged according to the princess's wishes. Princess..." After hesitating for a moment, Feng Zhiyao asked, "There is nothing important in Hongzhou City now. Princess, do you consider entering the city first?"

"Enter the customs?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows and turned to look at Feng Zhiyao who was following behind her. The young and handsome face was full of worry.

Ye Li shook her head and said, "I can't leave Hongzhou now. If I'm not in Hongzhou, the King of Zhennan will probably notice our intentions. I'm here... just to make him believe that the Mohist Army will definitely defend Hongzhou to the death."

"But..." Feng Zhiyao said worriedly: "If it was earlier, I would not be worried. Even if we were caught in a rebellion, with the princess's ability and Qilin, we could at least get out safely. But now...if something unexpected happens..." Although it is not obvious now, the princess is pregnant after all. The battlefield changes rapidly. No one knows what kind of accident will happen. Ye Li said in a deep voice: "If there is nothing else, there is...send someone to send Han Mingyue and Su Zuidi away. As for Qilin...I have another use for him."

Feng Zhiyao's face darkened, and he stood in front of Ye Li firmly and said, "The Qilin is used to protect the princess's safety."

Ye Li looked up at him, frowning and said, "I worked hard to train Qilin, not to use him as a guard. Without them... this plan will at least fail. Feng San, think clearly about the consequences of hundreds of thousands of Xiling troops entering the interior of the country before you talk to me." After that, Ye Li turned around and walked down the tower without paying any attention to Feng Zhiyao. Feng Zhiyao sighed helplessly. How could he not know what the princess was thinking about? Not to mention the damage that the Xiling troops entering the Central Plains would cause to the people, not to mention the harm that the Xiling troops invading the Central Plains would cause to the Chu Empire, just the threat of hundreds of thousands of troops to the Mohist army inside the country was enough to make them do their best to stop these bandits outside Hongzhou City. But... no matter what, nothing could happen to the princess. Feng Zhiyao simply couldn't imagine how Mo Xiuyao would react if something happened to the princess.

"General Feng?" the subordinate following behind him reminded in a low voice.

Feng Zhiyao rubbed his brows and said, "We'll double the number of guards around the princess. They don't have to do anything. Once Hongzhou City is breached, they will immediately escort the princess out of the city!"

"yes."

At this time, the magnificent palace of the Great Chu Imperial City was even more gloomy and quiet than usual. In the study, Mo Jingqi stared at the man kneeling on the ground with a gloomy face, and said coldly: "Mo Xiuyao went to fight in the interior of the country, and Princess Dingguo led an army of 200,000 to resist the King of Xiling Zhennan?" The man kneeling below shuddered at the coldness in the tone, and said in a trembling voice: "Replying to the emperor, the news from the northwest is this... Princess Dingguo led the Mo family army that stayed in the northwest and retreated all the way to Hongzhou. I'm afraid she plans to fight a decisive battle with the Xiling army near Hongzhou... Several generals in the interior of the country near Hongzhou have written to ask for support for Princess Dingguo!"

"Shut up!" Mo Jingqi said coldly, his heart heaving with rapid breathing. Support Princess Dingguo...win this battle and make Princess Dingguo famous as a woman who is as brave as a man? After so many years, Mo Xiuyao was finally abandoned. Unexpectedly, he not only stood up again, but also had a princess who could fight! "Ye Li..." Mo Jingqi regretted countless times in his heart, why did he point Ye Li to Mo Xiuyao in the first place. His heart moved, and suddenly something rang, "What is the current situation of the Xu family in Yunzhou?"

The kneeling official's heart choked, he glanced at the emperor on the throne, and said carefully: "Xu family... Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu are still teaching at Lishan Academy, there is nothing unusual." His heart was pounding, he suddenly had a feeling that the emperor might have gone crazy. The Xu family is the leader of the world's literati, if it was a peaceful and prosperous era, it would be fine, but now the Great Chu is in internal troubles and external wars, and the emperor actually wants to take action against the Xu family. You know... at least half of the officials in the world are Mr. Qingyun's disciples, and when the Xu family has no handle for the emperor to catch.

Mo Jingqi was silent for a long time, and finally said, "I know, you can leave now."

"Your Majesty... the letters of request from the generals in the interior..."

"Ask for a fight?" Mo Jingqi's cold voice chilled people's hearts. "Go ahead, I will take care of it."

"I will take my leave."