Chapter 157 Smoke of War (Added 1000 words) What exactly is Ning Huai'an doing...?
To everyone's surprise, Ning Huai'an's war against Sun Yannan ended in just two months.
Sun Yannan led his army to retreat to Meng County in Pingzhou, and closed the city gates and refused to come out.
"Why?"
When Guo Lang, who was far away at Langya Peak, heard the news, he almost thought he had misheard and repeatedly confirmed the truth with Jiang Rong.
“Indeed, Ning Huai’an is skilled in command, and the Yun Kingdom’s army is disciplined, brave in battle, and very strong.” Lu Feng analyzed the situation of both sides. “But Sun Yan’an’s 400,000 troops are not to be underestimated either. How could they have been defeated by Ning Huai’an after only two months of fighting…” He really couldn’t understand how Sun Yan’an had been defeated.
Jiang Rong replied with a serious expression, "It's true. After Sun Yannan's army was defeated, they have fled back to Meng County to recuperate."
The people from Langya Peak looked at each other in bewilderment.
Chen Yusheng asked, "Could it be that Sun Yannan fell for Ning Huai'an's trap? Aren't there many battles in history where the few defeated the many?"
Lu Feng disagreed with this speculation, saying, "Even if Ning Huai'an really schemed against Sun Yannan, Sun Yannan has fought for so many years. Can't he withstand this little setback? He would only try to fight back, not run away."
Guo Lang followed Lü Feng's words and pondered further, "What exactly did Ning Huai'an do?"
Jiang Rong shook his head, "Then only the two of them know." We are far away at Langya Peak, and the information we can gather is extremely limited.
Ningzhou.
Zhu Yunwei and the others also found it hard to believe. How did Ning Huai'an manage to do that?
The newly appointed Prince Ning, Cao Ying, was puzzled. She asked, "Isn't the Yun Kingdom also very strong? They defeated Sun Yannan, so why are you so surprised?"
Xu Dongyang slowly explained to her, "...Firstly, Ning Huai'an only brought 90,000 men, which is less than Sun Yannan's troops; secondly, Sun Yannan is not lacking in food, weapons, medicine, etc., and can fully support a long-term war, so there is no need for him to flee after one defeat; thirdly, it is not that Ning Huai'an cannot defeat Sun Yannan, but two months is too short."
Cao Ying understood. Her eyes darted around. "So you think there's something fishy about this battle?"
Zhu Yunwei nodded, "Sun Yannan was most likely caught off guard and couldn't think of a way to deal with it. He didn't want to suffer too much loss, so he retreated to Meng County."
Hong Changxu thought for a moment, "Perhaps Ning Huai'an used some new type of weapon?" Their Yun Kingdom often introduces unexpected things, such as saddles, stirrups, horseshoes, improved siege weapons, and gunpowder.
Xu Dongyang said, "If Sun Yannan is afraid of Ning Huai'an, he probably won't fight again in the short term."
He will certainly try to prolong the battle and avoid a direct confrontation with Ning Huai'an until he comes up with a solution.
Thinking about it, Hong Changxu laughed and said, "I really want to ask Ning Huai'an what good stuff they used!"
Ning Huai'an can be used against Sun Yannan, and sooner or later, he will be used against them as well.
Ning Huai'an sneezed twice in a row and rubbed his nose.
A lieutenant immediately asked with concern, "General, what's wrong?"
Another lieutenant laughed, "Could it be that Sun Yannan is talking badly about you?"
Ning Huai'an said, "It's a heat-related cold; I've caught a bit of a cold."
The two of them: "Huh?" A cold?
Ning Huai'an laughed, "With this weather lately, isn't it normal to catch a cold from the heat? Old Zhang, go and tell Doctor Qiu to have the medical camp cook some herbal soup for the soldiers to treat colds, and have everyone drink a bowl."
Upon hearing his superior's arrangement, Deputy General Zhang, who had been called upon, showed a resistant expression. He asked reluctantly, "One bowl for everyone? Is it mandatory?"
Ning Huai'an nodded, "You must drink it."
Seeing this, his comrade teased, "You're not even afraid of swords and knives, but you're afraid of taking medicine?"
Deputy General Zhang said with a bitter face, "I'm not afraid of swords, but I'm afraid of drinking medicine. It's too bitter, I can't stand it."
But he couldn't ignore his boss's words, so Deputy General Zhang left the main tent and headed straight for the medical camp.
Passing by the firearms camp, he saw Yue Yao practicing with his brothers using muskets. He had already learned the moves quite well, but he didn't know how accurate he was.
Deputy General Zhang thought to himself that Yue Yao was really ambitious. No wonder the boss thought highly of him. Who doesn't like someone who is smart and hardworking?
The captain of the firearms battalion patted Yue Yao on the shoulder happily, "It's a pity that you have a higher rank than me, Brother Yao, otherwise I would have gone to the General and cried for two days to beg him to transfer you to our battalion!"
Yue Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud, "It's not that bad, it's not that bad."
The captain waved his hand, "Not at all! I had a brother under my command who was so good at archery that he was forcibly taken away by Old Ma of the cavalry battalion."
He was still a bit angry when he talked about it, "Old Ma said that it was a waste of talent for that guy to stay with me, that he could use his talents better with him! Bullshit, how is it a waste of talent for me? Our firearms battalion is the number one battalion!"
Yue Yao: "..." Huh? You guys are really poaching each other's people behind the scenes?
The captain stared intently at Yue Yao. "Brother Yao, do you think our firearms battalion is the number one battalion?"
Yue Yao naturally couldn't follow his lead. He said seriously, "Each battalion has its own unique advantages; each is unique and irreplaceable. We must unite as one, defeat the enemy, and establish an era belonging to the Goddess!"
The captain was stunned.
After a moment, he clapped his hands and said in an admiring tone, "Brother Yao, you taught a good class."
Gyeongju.
Unlike Langya Peak and Ningzhou, where they only knew from afar that Sun Yannan had been defeated by Ning Huai'an in just over two months, they did not know how Ning Huai'an had managed to do it.
As Sun Yannan's strategist, Xiao Yong received a personal letter from Sun Yannan and learned the truth about this battle in which the few defeated the many.
In his letter, Sun Yannan used more than two thousand words to describe in detail the course of the battle between the two sides, from the barbed wire set up by Ning Huai'an, to the cavalry holding muskets and standing behind the barbed wire, to the cannons with increased power, and finally to the infantry that appeared.
Countless of our soldiers fell to fire and artillery shells, either dead or maimed, resulting in extremely heavy casualties.
After witnessing the power of the enemy's firearms, Sun Yannan immediately ordered his troops to retreat.
However, many soldiers were frightened, morale wavered, and some instinctively tried to escape, which triggered a stampede.
The experienced Sun Yannan immediately made an example of someone to intimidate the troops and calm them down. He then ordered the army to retreat.
He had handled the situation very well; tens of thousands of his own soldiers had been killed, wounded, fled, trampled, or surrendered.
In response, Sun Yannan wrote more than 3,000 words, focusing on criticizing He Qinglan for lacking martial ethics!
"That firearm must have been provided by He Qinglan; there are no such weapons in our world!"
"She went too far. How could she use a weapon that doesn't belong to this world to fight me? She might as well just use her dragon girl powers to kill all my subordinates. Wouldn't that save more time?"
At this moment, he couldn't remember how happy he was when he learned the three-piece set of warhorse gear from the Jinzhou army.
At the end of the letter, Sun Yannan wrote that he would not easily send troops to confront Ning Huai'an head-on until he had devised an effective countermeasure against Ning Huai'an's firearms battalion.
This is tantamount to handing someone their head.
But Ning Huai'an will probably try every means to break through Meng County.
Xiao Yong read the letter twice.
He broke out in a cold sweat, and after a long while, he let out a deep sigh.
Equipping our warhorses with stirrups, saddles, and horseshoes in a short time is not difficult; we can simply steal a warhorse from Ning Huai'an.
However, equipping the enemy's soldiers with firearms in a short period of time... is not so easy!
How does the lord intend to change the current situation?
Did they seize firearms from Ning Huai'an and then copy them?
Or should we use some other method?
Will Ning Huai'an give his lord time to break the deadlock?
What if Ning Huai'an breaks through Meng County?
...
Countless questions swirled in Xiao Yong's mind, giving him a terrible headache.
But he also knew that for him, the most important thing right now was to capture Qingzhou.
Xiao Yong was unaware that, at this time, after learning of his arrival with troops, Zhu Kexuan persuaded the new governor of Qingzhou to bring out Cao Yuan, who had been confined to his home for several years after being forced to resign.
Cao Yuan was originally unwilling. He knew very well that Zhu Kexuan was behind Zhao Jiashu's death, and he did not want to work for them.
However, Zhu Kexuan visited Cao Yuan and presented the facts and reasoned with him.
Cao Yuan was persuaded.
He was furious that Zhu Kexuan and others had killed Zhao Jiashu, but he couldn't just stand by and watch Sun Yannan's iron cavalry march into Qingzhou.
So he accepted the military command again, donned his armor, and went into battle.
It was at this moment that Cao Yuan realized that neither the new governor nor Zhu Kexuan truly wanted to pledge allegiance to Sun Yannan.
They were merely playing a game with a tiger, using Sun Yannan to get rid of Zhao Jiashu.
If Sun Yannan relaxes his guard even slightly, they will immediately turn around and bite back.
But is Sun Yannan so easily manipulated?
Cao Yuan picked up two large swords and walked outside with a serious expression and a determined look in his eyes.
He knew very well that Qingzhou was now finished.
But there was no other way. As long as he lived, he would fight to protect the people of Qingzhou until he shed his last drop of blood.
The autumn wind blew from Qingzhou to Maozhou.
Meng Junping led two teams of female soldiers to greet the newly arrived members of the administrative office at the gate of the prefectural government.
Considering the unique situation in Maozhou, He Qinglan personally appointed Yun Youning, who was highly qualified and capable, as the governor of Maozhou and led the construction of the new Maozhou.
After the two sides met, Meng Junping and Yun Youning coordinated their work.
“We have already conquered all thirteen counties within Maozhou,” Meng Junping said. “We are currently recruiting soldiers. I want to take advantage of Sun Yannan’s predicament in Pingzhou and seize Liangzhou.”
Yun Youning had no objections. "Our administrative office will fully cooperate and strive to take Liangzhou as soon as possible." She joked, "The personnel department has prepared a list for the Liangzhou administrative office, and we're just waiting to take Liangzhou."
Meng Junping spat out a mouthful of tea and laughed, "Then I'm under a lot of pressure."
Yun Youning and the Maozhou Administrative Office quickly got to work.
Over the years, we have accumulated considerable experience: checking household registrations, counting population, distributing land, encouraging land reclamation, building workshops, constructing schools, recruiting workers...
The people of Maozhou, bewildered and apprehensive, began their new lives following the instructions of the administrative office staff: they farmed, built roads, worked, and studied... They could eat hearty meals every day, and even received money at the end of the month for working for the administrative office.
The people: "!!!"
Yun Youning and Meng Junping took some time to visit Sun Yannan's residence and meet his wife, Yang Wenyu.
Yang Wenyu was watching several children practice calligraphy when the two women arrived. Yang Wenyu was slightly taken aback, then instructed the children to continue writing. She calmly straightened her clothes and went to see the two most powerful people in Maozhou, one a scholar and the other a military officer.
Two women.
It was hard to believe. When Yang Wenyu entered the living room and saw Meng Junping and Yun Youning drinking tea, he was somewhat dazed.
In the Kingdom of Yun, women can govern a province just like men.
More than a decade ago, she would never have been able to imagine it.
But now it's commonplace, starting with Mo Jingchun.
Yun Youning had no intention of making things difficult for Yang Wenyu; she was simply concerned about her and her family's living conditions.
Finally, he said, "Please stay in the manor, Madam, and do not go out or do anything inappropriate."
Yang Wenyu remained unfazed. "Thank you for your concern, Governor Yun. I only know how to take care of my family; I know nothing else." She looked at Yun Youning. "But I wish to send a letter to my husband. I wonder if Governor Yun could pass it on for me?"
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