Who wouldn't be confused in a battlefield like this?
After examining the sand table, Sun Jian nodded with interest and asked, "Teacher, what do you want me to deduce?"
"Now there are two questions. First, please analyze the battlefield situation and circumstances. Second, how can we retreat our large army back to the city with minimal losses?"
After Mr. Zhuang finished speaking, he pointed to a city in the distance on the sand table and looked at Sun Jian.
Sun Jian did not rush to answer, but first looked at Mr. Zhuang, shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Isn't this old man clearly trying to screw himself over?
Why the hell are you pushing the ball?!
The main force was isolated and deep in enemy territory. They camped by the river and were locked in a stalemate with the enemy. The reinforcements were ambushed, and small groups of troops were even annihilated by the enemy from their high ground.
Which bastard is in charge of this?
Sun Jian stroked his chin and said to Mr. Zhuang, "Teacher, the situation is already very clear, there's no need for analysis."
As he spoke, Sun Jian pointed to the troops camped by the river and continued, "He has ventured so far into enemy territory and stretched the front line so long, yet instead of achieving a quick victory, he is now engaged in a protracted war with the enemy."
"The general commanding this unit is either an incompetent or brain-dead."
"The students felt that such a general should be beheaded immediately as a sacrifice to the flag; keeping him alive would only bring disaster."
"Moreover, this commander-in-chief isn't much either. With such poor judgment of character, how could he not suffer defeats?"
"puff!"
Li Gancheng burst out laughing after hearing Sun Jian's words.
He didn't expect that Sun Jian would not analyze the situation, but instead wanted to behead the general in charge of the troops on the sand table and even called him brain-dead.
In Sun Jian's words, his thought process is truly amazing...
"You! You!"
Mr. Zhuang was so angry with Sun Jian that he started to stutter again, but this time he recovered quickly.
"I didn't ask you whether the general in command was fit to serve! I... I'm asking you about the situation and the circumstances!"
"Are you... are you able to say it, or are you unable to say it?"
"If you can't answer... you will be punished immediately!"
Seeing the old man so angry that he was puffing out his beard and glaring at him, Sun Jian helplessly shrugged and said, "Of course I can talk to him. What's so difficult about that?"
Sun Jian rolled his eyes at Mr. Zhuang, thinking, "That old man has quite a temper."
Don't let yourself get so angry that you die within two or three days.
He was, after all, a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, well-versed in literature and possessing strategic acumen. He was even qualified to be the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, making him a highly valued figure in Dacheng.
If you were to die of anger, you would be committing a serious offense.
"The current situation is extremely passive for our large army; it can be said that we are in a situation where defeat is inevitable."
"Because the general in charge of the First Division of the Dagan Army was not smart enough, the army was isolated and deep in enemy territory. It could not win quickly and was caught in a protracted war. This led to the lengthening of the supply lines for weapons and provisions, which not only dragged down the comrades but also put itself in a deadly situation. Therefore, the enemy has the superior military strategy. They can not only besiege the point and attack the reinforcements, but also ambush our reinforcements. After defeating our reinforcements, they can also flank and encircle the First Division of the Dagan Army and annihilate it in one fell swoop."
"As for the second place, the situation is the same. We are extremely passive. The enemy has the advantage of terrain and is on high ground, which greatly enhances the effectiveness of their charges and crossbows. It is only a matter of time before they annihilate our forces."
"And there's the third place: our support troops were ambushed by the enemy. The enemy, having rested and prepared, used stillness to control movement and gained the advantage of popular support. We are bound to lose."
After Sun Jian finished speaking, Li Gancheng had almost finished laughing. He nodded in agreement with Sun Jian's analysis of the situation.
Indeed, as Sun Jian had predicted, the battle situation was dangerous for all three sides.
Sun Jian's moves were all spot-on! He was truly talented!
Although Sun Jian answered the second question, Li Gancheng, as the crown prince, also began to consider how to minimize casualties and losses...
He also began to think about how he should deal with the situation if he were the Grand Marshal.
"Hmm... that's not bad."
Upon hearing Sun Jian's words, Mr. Zhuang stroked his gray beard and nodded gently.
Just as Mr. Zhuang was about to ask Sun Jian his second question, a eunuch's shout rang out from outside the hall.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
As the voice faded, Emperor Ganwu, accompanied by Princesses Chang Le and Taiping, entered the hall.
Behind him followed a group of eunuchs and palace maids, with Wang De and the left and right Jinwu generals also close behind.
Sun Jian was very familiar with these two generals, Li You, who had been swindled out of 100 taels of silver by him, and Li Mu, whose ribs he had broken.
The two of them commanded the Imperial Guards and were responsible for protecting the Emperor's safety. Naturally, they stayed by the Emperor's side for even a moment when he left the palace.
Emperor Ganwu walked with the imposing gait of a dragon and the majestic presence of a tiger. As soon as he entered the hall, Mr. Zhuang and Li Gancheng began to kowtow and kneel in worship.
"This old minister kowtows to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Your humble servant Sun Jian greets Your Majesty."
Sun Jian also knelt down and kowtowed.
He wasn't surprised by the emperor's sudden appearance. Judging from the time, it was reasonable for the emperor to have just finished the morning court session and come to the East Palace to see his son.
The key point is, you can watch, but why did you bring your two daughters along too?
"Alright, rise."
Emperor Ganwu walked past the crowd and stopped at the sand table.
Emperor Ganwu glanced at the standoff between the Gan army and the Zhou army on the sand table, smiled with interest, but said nothing.
At this moment, Sun Jian, Mr. Zhuang, and Li Gancheng had all stood up and stood aside, continuing to bow to Princess Chang Le and Princess Taiping.
"This old minister greets the two princesses."
"Your humble servant greets the two princesses."
The two pampered princesses ignored Sun Jian and Mr. Zhuang's greetings and instead went straight to Li Gancheng's side, calling him "Your Majesty" repeatedly.
Li Gancheng was also very happy to see his two younger sisters, which showed that the siblings had a good relationship.
"Changle, Taiping, what brings you here?"
Li Gancheng spoke in a low voice, afraid of displeasing Emperor Ganwu.
After all, this way of communicating is against etiquette. As the crown prince, he should consider himself the heir apparent. The crown prince is not among the princes, and the princess should also greet him.
"Father brought us here..."
Princess Taiping playfully stuck out her tongue and replied in a low voice.
Princess Chang Le glanced helplessly at her younger sister: "Brother, don't listen to Taiping's nonsense. She insisted that Father bring her here..."
"You guys are really something..."
Li Gancheng affectionately flicked Princess Taiping's nose.
Princess Taiping stuck out her tongue cutely again, her eyes involuntarily turning to Sun Jian, and Princess Chang Le also looked over.
"Brother, is he Sun Jian?"
"Um."
Li Gancheng nodded.
Princess Taiping blinked and added, "She's alright looking, not as ugly as the rumors in the palace say..."
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