Xianyang, the Grand Commandant's residence.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, there's unusual activity in the south!" A secret agent from the Black Ice Guard strode into the hall. "The Dian Kingdom and Yelang seem to be forming a secret alliance, with frequent exchanges of envoys recently."
The wicked man put down the bamboo slips in his hand, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes: "Tell me in detail."
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," the spy said, bowing. "The King of Dian has recently convened several secret meetings with the tribal leaders. Envoys from Yelang have also been frequently visiting the capital, seemingly discussing some important matter. Furthermore, intelligence indicates they have sent envoys to Sichuan and Chongqing, intending to win over the local forces..."
"Hmph!" the wicked man sneered. "These barbarians have certainly got a good plan. Too bad..."
He stood up and walked to the huge map on the wall. The terrain of the southwestern kingdoms was complex, mostly mountainous and jungle-filled. This was completely different from the open grasslands of the north; if he were to wage war, he would need a different strategy.
"Send word to the Mo family workshops!"
Before long, Xianglihe and Zizhen arrived in a hurry.
"Grand Commandant," Xiangli He said, "there's been progress on your request to improve the 'swarm' firing mechanism. The range is now four hundred paces, and..."
"Very well." The wicked man interrupted him, "This Grand Commandant has a new request. Do you know the characteristics of the southwestern mountains?"
The two Mohist masters exchanged a glance, and Zizhen replied, "The mountains are treacherous, and the forests are dense. In battle, visibility is limited, making ordinary bows and arrows ineffective."
"Exactly!" the wicked man nodded. "Therefore, I, the Grand Commandant, require you to further improve 'The Beehive.' It must be made effective in the dense forest, and..."
He paused, then continued, "It needs to be able to penetrate armor, set fires, and easily pierce those thatched huts. In short, we need to show these southern barbarians what a true weapon of war looks like!"
"Understood!" The two masters immediately accepted the order and left.
Just then, Zhang Erhe rushed in: "Grand Commandant, there's new intelligence. The Dian Kingdom seems to be mobilizing troops; tens of thousands have already gathered at the border."
The wicked man remained calm: "Let them assemble. This Grand Commandant wants to see what tricks these southern barbarians can pull. Order the navy!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Order the navy to immediately head south and control the Lancang and Red Rivers. In this battle, we must cut off their water supply!"
"Yes, sir!"
Military orders were issued like the wind. The Qin army's war machine was started again, this time targeting the southwestern states.
Three days later, in the council hall of the Grand Commandant's office.
Generals Meng Tian and Wang Li gathered together. The wicked man stood in front of the sand table, carefully analyzing the terrain.
"Gentlemen," he said, tracing the contours of the mountains with his finger, "this campaign differs from the one in the north. The southwestern kingdoms are built along the mountains, with formidable passes everywhere. If we were to employ conventional tactics, I fear we would achieve far less with far less effort."
The generals nodded. They had all seen the terrain map and knew the difficulty of this operation.
"However..." A ruthless glint flashed in the wicked man's eyes, "This Grand Commandant already has a plan. These southern barbarians love guerrilla warfare, taking advantage of the terrain to come and go as they please. But they don't realize that this is precisely their death trap!"
He planted small flags on the sand table: "Our army will be divided into three routes. Meng Tian will lead 100,000 main force troops along the central route, directly attacking the capital of Dian. Wang Li will lead 50,000 elite troops along the eastern route, cutting off Yelang's reinforcements. Zhang Erhe will lead 30,000 cavalry to encircle and block all the passes from the west."
"In that case, they have no way to escape!"
The generals suddenly realized. The plan was to trap the enemy in the mountains and then slowly wipe them out.
"And another thing," the wicked man continued, "I have ordered the navy to control all the major rivers. Without water, these rats hiding in the mountains will naturally obediently die!"
Just then, the Mohist craftsmen delivered an improved version of "A Swarm of Bees".
Xiang Lihe explained, "Grand Commandant, please take a look. This is a version specifically improved for mountain warfare. The arrowheads are equipped with oil pouches that automatically ignite upon hitting a target. In addition, we've added guide fletching to the shafts, ensuring accuracy even in dense jungle."
"Give it a try!"
The craftsmen immediately demonstrated in the backyard of the mansion. A volley of arrows shot out, eighteen arrows piercing the air and riddling the distant wooden planks with holes. Even more impressively, the oil immediately ignited, burning the planks to ashes in the blink of an eye.
"Excellent!" the wicked man exclaimed joyfully. "This is the effect! I, the Grand Commandant, will let these southern barbarians taste what true technological power is!"
Just then, a scout reported: "Grand Commandant, the King of Dian has contacted more than twenty tribes, and about 100,000 troops are gathering at the border. In addition, Yelang seems to be mobilizing troops as well, preparing to provide support..."
"Well done!" the wicked man sneered. "Let them be arrogant for a few days. Once our army is ready, we'll make these ignorant fools disappear from this land forever, just like the Goryeo and Sushen!"
The generals responded with a resounding roar. They all knew that this was a new war of annihilation.
Seven days later, outside the south gate of Xianyang.
Three hundred thousand troops are ready to go. These battle-hardened warriors, tempered by the northern campaigns, are even more ferocious. Each is equipped with a modified version of the "Hive of Bees," prepared to unleash their might in the southern jungles.
"Order the entire army to march!"
With a single command, the Qin army surged southward like an iron torrent. They were determined to make this land belong to the Qin, and to condemn all barbarians to history!
Along the way, scouts kept bringing back new intelligence.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the King of Dian has summoned all the tribes to hold a grand ceremony to worship Heaven in the capital. It seems he is praying for the upcoming great battle."
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, Yelang sent an envoy to contact the various tribes of Ba and Shu. However, they were discovered by our scouts and killed on the spot."
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the navy has taken control of the upper reaches of the Lancang River. The tribes along the river are in a state of panic, and some have already begun to flee."
Every piece of news only strengthened the wicked man's resolve. The end of these southern barbarians was nigh!
Ten days later, the Qin army arrived in the territory of Bashu.
The wicked ruler summoned his generals and issued his final military orders: "Starting tomorrow, the army will march south in three routes. Remember, this is not an ordinary campaign; it is to wipe these southern barbarians from history forever!"
His gaze was sharp as lightning: "This Grand Commandant will ensure that not a single word of non-Qin dialect is ever heard on this land again. He will make these mountain barbarians, like the Goguryeo, Sushen, and Buyeo, forever fade into the dust of history!"
The soldiers were filled with fervor. They couldn't wait to let their swords drink blood again, to make this land submit to the Qin banner!
That night, the wicked man stood alone outside the tent, gazing southwards.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars twinkle. This vibrant land is about to be baptized in blood and fire. Those barbarians who thought they could withstand the Qin cavalry by relying on the terrain are about to learn what true war is!
"Give the order to the entire army!" he suddenly declared. "Starting tomorrow, the entire army will march south! I, the Grand Commandant, will make all the barbarian tribes on this land sacrifices to my Great Qin!"
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