Chapter 1410: Seizing the Bridge, Blowing Up the Waterway (Part 1) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
"Can't we go around it?"
A group of seasoned battlefield veterans could tell from a glance at the map that this area was difficult to attack. Their own formation was hard to deploy, while the enemy held a significant terrain advantage. This disparity meant they were at a considerable disadvantage.
Someone scoffed, "Where do you think you can go around?"
Then a military officer muttered under his breath, "If we gave the whole army a pair of wings, they'd be flying away in a flash."
Shen Tang silently broke off a piece of chalk, one for each of them: "Flying, flying, flying, flying in mid-air to be used as a moving target for the archer camp? At this density, even a blind man could shoot five or six people with one arrow while drawing a bow with his foot."
A piece of chalk hit the helmet with a crisp sound. The other man, who wasn't wearing a helmet, caught it on his forehead, leaving a dusty mark. It didn't hurt, but he felt a little aggrieved to be mocked by his colleagues. He stammered, "This humble general was just saying..."
He really does speak without thinking.
Even a fool would know it's impossible.
If it's just a martial artist with exceptional courage, they must reach a certain level of courage before they can take to the air. The time it takes to take to the air is also related to their martial energy reserves and the rate of consumption, not to mention the need to fight and defend while airborne. If it's a military formation as a whole, the operational threshold and requirements are relatively lower, but it's not so low as to be completely without any threshold. Even in Kangguo, there are only a handful of elite battalions that can do this.
Seeing the two in such a "miserable" state, the others suppressed their laughter.
Shen Tang's face darkened: "What are you laughing at?"
She singled out a smirking military officer as an example, the intensity of which was comparable to being called on by the homeroom teacher in a public lesson—all the eyes of her colleagues were fixed on him, leaving him nowhere to hide. The officer she called on looked quite young and somewhat unfamiliar, but judging from his seating arrangement and physical characteristics, he was most likely a general from the Wuzhou faction. For various reasons, Wuzhou's participation rate in Kangguo's external wars was not high, and they lacked experience in large-scale battles like this. This was evident from the way the officer clenched his fists tightly when Shen Tang called his name.
He was visibly uncomfortable.
Subconsciously, he glanced at his superior, Su Shiyilu, seeking help.
Su Shiyilu stared at him with a half-smile, a single glance sending chills down his spine. Normally, losing face wouldn't be so bad; the Wuzhou army had focused on recuperation and development in recent years. But now, having finally achieved victory in battle, especially with his old rival Chu Jie present, if he were to lose face again, he feared he wouldn't make it back to Wuzhou alive, and would be strangled to death by Su Shiyilu halfway there.
"...This, this humble general is laughing at the enemy's seemingly...not very clever." While frantically shouting in his mind, "Get your brains working!" he simultaneously adopted his most "profound" side, "It's not easy for our army to deploy its forces here, but there are always exceptions. The two generals suggested an aerial attack, which, while difficult, is not entirely impossible. If I were to defend this stone fortress, the strategist would surely lay down a massive weight from the bottom of the ravine!"
Regardless of the likelihood of it being feasible, we must first eliminate this path.
After he finished speaking, he glanced quietly at Su Shiyilu.
The latter not only withdrew his murderous glare but also revealed a faint smile, seemingly quite satisfied with his performance, which secretly relieved him. In his youth, he had moved with his parents to other places to work and make a living. Later, he achieved some success, freeing his parents from slavery, and returned to his ancestral home of Wuzhou to join the Zhechong Prefecture. He was appreciated by the Zhechong Commandant for his talent and appearance and was given special training as a promising young talent.
The last major battle was the defense of the city during the Southwest Campaign.
The Southwest Allied forces were not effective and did not actually penetrate into the homeland, so he could only follow his superiors to broaden his horizons, and he did not have much battlefield experience.
Shen Tang lifted her eyelids: "Not a bad idea."
Her praise made the young general blush instantly, his dark eyes filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy. The old nobles in Wuzhou didn't feel it deeply and might even curse Shen Tang behind her back, but the commoners and slaves worshipped her as a god.
Its status is even above that of the legendary Golden Crow ancestor.
This also includes the parents and relatives of military officers.
Every time he returned home on leave, their most frequent topic of conversation was loyalty to the emperor, and how he was determined to rise above his station and serve the emperor. Over time, he came to believe it wholeheartedly. If his relatives knew that the emperor had personally praised him, they would record it in the family genealogy and honor it.
Shen Tang's gaze fell on Su Shiyilu.
"...Why haven't I seen you with him before?"
Su Shiyilu said, "We should wait until he calms down a bit."
The better the talent, the less we should rush to put them into action.
Early fame is a wonderful thing, but for every general's success, countless others have perished. Behind every renowned general are countless "youngsters" whose luck and ability are far inferior. The Wuzhou army is facing a severe shortage of capable successors, with the lower-class population flowing out of the region, causing great concern for the Zhechong Prefecture.
A lack of talent would lead to a weak military force, which in turn would relegate the Wuzhou Army to the margins, with others snatching away their opportunities to achieve great things, leaving them only able to scrape by. Su Shiyilu was anxious, but he could only suppress his emotions and endure it.
He deliberately suppressed several promising military officers from Wuzhou.
As they grow older and their cultivation deepens, most importantly, they should study military texts for a few more years and broaden their knowledge. Wuzhou was formerly known as the Ten Crows, who, as a foreign race, were isolated by other states, resulting in a naturally underdeveloped foundation in the art of speech. Now that it has been incorporated into the territory of Kang State, this "isolation" is no longer permitted.
Su Shiyilu will sue anyone who isolates Wuzhou!
Every lawsuit they file is successful!
Taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we must study diligently. Even if something happens to Kangguo in the future, or if Wuzhou becomes independent again, what we learn will never be taken away. Su Shiyilu felt that he was being very farsighted.
Haha, didn't this give him a little boost in prestige?
Shen Tang stared at the suspended bridge on the map, her eyes sharp and shrewd, her mind racing as she considered a solution. After a long while, she lightly tapped her fingers on the table, the rhythmic tapping seemingly drawing everyone's heartbeats.
"Okay, go on."
The young military officer from Wuzhou respectfully clasped his hands in greeting.
I recalled a game of sandbox battlefield that I played with a colleague.
The simulated terrain was similar to this one, but he wasn't on the defensive; he was on the offensive. He and his colleague played over twenty rounds of attack and defense, with each side winning and losing. After each game, they reviewed and analyzed the game.
What's the difference between this and making a mock exam to predict the major questions from the Imperial Academy?
He's experienced in defense.
He also has experience in offense.
They even had a general idea of what military formations to use for offense and defense, and how to counter each move. The content involved more than twenty military formations and formation changes. At first, the people in the tent were just watching the show. Roll call at meetings was a habit the lord had maintained for many years. If they answered well, they would be rewarded and get recognition in front of their colleagues. If they didn't answer well, it was fine as long as they didn't mess up the battle.
result--
This kid from Wuzhou is interesting.
Even Chu Jie couldn't help but give Su Shiyilu a meaningful look.
[You old rascal, you really didn't secretly slip anyone answers?]
Su Shiyilu is very concerned about his image, and he is indeed capable of doing such a thing.
"Bullshit, I wouldn't stoop to cheating."
Chu Jie looked away.
Indeed, Su Shiyilu would need to be able to provide an answer even if she wanted to. Given Chu Jie's experience of entanglement with Su Shiyilu for over a decade, the latter's mind certainly hadn't evolved to that level.
Su Shiyi Lu: 【…I'm going to sue you for defamation!】
Don't think he can't read the meaning in Chu Jie's eyes!
He gritted his teeth in secret, but when others cast various glances at him, he proudly straightened his back—humph, a bunch of snobbish people, how come Wuzhou can't produce any generals who are both literate and martial?
We cannot judge the Urumqi army today with the same perspective we had more than a decade ago!
An eerie atmosphere filled the tent. Shen Tang was very satisfied with the young general from Wuzhou, and his brows gradually relaxed. Just as the young general was about to sit back down, he suddenly asked, "How many times have you simulated the battlefield on the sand table?"
The sandbox battlefield is an "alternate space" constructed by combining the literary and martial energies of both sides. In addition to the traditional city attack and defense, there are also randomly generated simulated battle terrains. Whether you are a scholar or a warrior, you like to play a few rounds when you have nothing to do. A few years ago, [Another Spring] also developed a "spectator mode", which gradually spread among the people and became another very popular entertainment activity.
In some areas, "competitions" are held at fixed times.
The military officer blushed with embarrassment: "Twenty-seven rounds, please."
Shen Tang: "Diligence is a good thing."
Drawing a difficult question is a matter of luck, but truly mastering it requires perseverance, diligence, and meticulousness. Even if others had his luck, what good would it do if they didn't put in the effort? For such a good student, the homeroom teacher... no, Shen Tang's impression of him deepened considerably.
She originally planned to send a new military commander to seize the water source.
Although this is a tough nut to crack, heavily defended by the enemy, our side has a lot of room to maneuver. If we can't take it down immediately, we can retreat flexibly. She will lead the main force to take down Changqiao.
Now they've changed their minds and are redistributing the funds.
Su Shiyilu led half of the Wuzhou army to fight Chu Jie for the water source, while the remaining half, led by this young general, followed the main force to capture Changqiao. After this, their own logistics and water supply would be secured, and the next step would be to advance and seize Yuanfu County and its surrounding areas from both sides.
Once the army leaves the Yudi Mountains, it will be considered a partial success.
"Do any of you have any objections?"
Su Shiyi Lu couldn't help but speak up: "This humble general has..."
Why should Chu Jie come with me?
The feud between Chu Jie and Su Shiyi was common knowledge among the officials. Even though time had passed, and Shiwu had been renamed Wuzhou for many years, and Wuzhou's military command was consistently rated as excellent, and Su Shiyi had even shared drinks and chatted calmly with Chu Jie, it couldn't change the fact that they had a blood debt from many years ago. Shen Tang was somewhat surprised by his reaction—Su Shiyi had cooperated with Chu Jie before, and these two mortal enemies had fought side by side before.
Su Shiyilu: "..."
Times change.
Previously, the Wuzhou army had not been mobilized.
This collaboration involves not only him and Chu Jie, but also his loyal followers. He's quite worried that things might get out of control as the conflict progresses.
That would be a complete disaster.
Shen Tang's gaze fell on Chu Jie, her eyes seeking his opinion. She wasn't a domineering person; if the two truly had no intention of cooperating, she was willing to discuss it with them. Chu Jie, however, merely sneered, "I am not a narrow-minded person."
The soldiers he led were all heroes who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment.
When faced with matters of principle, personal grudges should be set aside.
Several older veterans then echoed the sentiment.
They were all veterans who had followed Chu Jie since the Longwu County era, and they refused to retire. So what if they were in their seventies or eighties with graying temples? They were in their prime, and fighting on the battlefield was no problem for them.
how--
Su Shiyilu doesn't have the guts to accompany him?
Faced with this half-hearted provocation, Su Shiyilu retorted defiantly, "You're not a narrow-minded person, but I'm a petty coward? Let's fight! The men of Wuzhou are not inferior to anyone!"
At this critical juncture, whoever backs down is a coward.
Chu Jie simply looked away calmly.
Su Shiyi Lu finds his calm demeanor most annoying; he thinks it's pretentious!
Chu Jie also asked Shen Tang for one more person.
"Want to be obscure?" Even a fool would know who that is.
Fighting alongside Chu Yao had become an unbreakable obsession for Chu Jie. The two had known each other since childhood and were indeed the best partners. However, Shen Tang was wrong this time. Chu Jie asked for Kang Shi, whom he was not very familiar with, which attracted a lot of attention.
His gaze was as if he were looking at a radiant hero.
Even Kang Shi himself looked at him with horror.
He pointed to himself: "Are you sure it's me?"
Someone actually went out of their way to seek out the "plague god"?
It wasn't that Kang Shi was "inferior," but rather that people throughout Kangxi who had the confidence and courage to withstand his interference were truly rare!
These truly exceptional individuals don't actively request it; they basically wait for their master to assign them, and only accept their fate when someone is unlucky enough to be assigned to them. Partnering with Kang Shi won't cost you your life, but it's incredibly exciting. Victims like Ning Yan, Gu Chi, and Xun Zhen can all share their experiences.
Chu Jie calmly replied, "Confirmed."
Just those two words made Kang Shi find him incredibly pleasing to the eye.
He exclaimed, "The General has a discerning eye for talent!"
Finally, someone understands the true value of his Kangshi.
Although partnering with him might be a bit of a "troublemaker," every time it's been a close call, it's always a close call. Kang Shi is both skilled in literature and martial arts, adept at both offense and support. In crucial moments, he can seemingly overdraw on his lord's luck to unleash a powerful ultimate attack, with an endless supply of spiritual energy. He's unstoppable, killing anyone who stands in his way.
Do other scholars have his endurance?
Choosing him was the right decision for Chu Jie.
Knowing his childhood friend's temperament, Chu Yao chose to remain silent.
His intuition told him that Chu Jie was probably up to no good.
An impromptu operational meeting concluded amidst the astonished and complex gazes of the crowd. Shen Tang hadn't allocated too many troops to Chu Jie's force: "It would be best if we could seize control of the water source this time. If not, we can destroy it and turn the water into vapor."
If you don't let them drink water, then neither of them should eat.
As the evening glow painted the sky, Chu Jie followed half a step behind Shen Tang. The two, ruler and subject, still had some private words to say: "Transform water into vapor?"
Shen Tang pointed to the sky: "Turn the water into 'clouds'."
Qin Li just needs to intercept the cloud again.
Although this effort was arduous, it prevented the enemy from tampering with the water source. However, this measure can only provide temporary relief and cannot last.
Chu Jie looked up at the magnificent sunset without saying a word.
Having fought wars my whole life, this is the first time I've ever known it could be done this way.
"...Does Your Excellency lack confidence in capturing the bridge?" He was worried that their forces might be bogged down in a prolonged stalemate, hence the prioritization of a stable water supply despite its inadequacy. "It's rare to see you so cautious."
Shen Tang: "This place isn't very good."
Below the long bridge lies a ravine over a hundred feet deep.
"...It's not that I lack confidence, but I have a bad feeling that the war might drag on longer than expected." The Central Region's decision to cut off the Kang Kingdom's forces from other routes clearly aims to force her into battle here. The more importance the Central Region places on this area, the more it proves that a large number of elite troops are stockpiled here. A person without foresight will have immediate troubles; it's best to prepare for the worst first.
Chu Jie said worriedly, "What if..."
What if the time really drags on for too long?
Shen Tang stared indifferently at the gradually fading sunset.
"What if? Ha! Even a hundred-foot-high mountain can be razed to the ground!"
So what if the ravines are deep? If she's really pushed to the limit, she can level the battlefield. What advantage will the enemy have left?
Shen Tang: "You, be careful."
Chu Jie also said, "This subordinate will keep an eye on Kang Jishou."
Tell him to avoid using his ultimate skill recklessly.
(▼ヘ▼#)
Today I heard a chilling story—after local customs were changed, the funeral period was shortened from seven days or more to three days: the first day is for the deceased, the second day for the body to be laid to rest, and the third day for cremation—that's basically the procedure. When I went to help hold up the paper money (incense sticks), I overheard several unfamiliar middle-aged women talking to her mother. The gist of their conversation was that she was so young at 17 and still unmarried, and would be lonely; they suggested she find someone… a 17-year-old high school girl is easy to find… The seemingly casual conversation had a chillingly absurd undertone. I was completely speechless…
Fortunately, a brawl did not break out.
PS: The power of Wenzhou dialect swearing is really great. It basically goes straight to the genitals of the entire person's household registration (whether alive or dead)... One sentence can involve several genitals.
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