Shen Tang's proposal was met with collective opposition as soon as it was put forward.
This also includes Xie Qi, who is not good at this.
He knew Shen Tang liked to use unconventional tactics; Cunshan City had been captured by her clever maneuvering. Although military strategy states, "Those skilled in unconventional tactics are as boundless as heaven and earth, as inexhaustible as rivers and seas," this also indirectly suggests that she liked to take extreme measures and had a radical and daring personality.
A surprise attack, with its high potential rewards, comes with high risks. It's like walking a tightrope; one wrong step and you'll be shattered to pieces!
Chu Yao gently persuaded him, first acknowledging that Shen Tang's idea was indeed imaginative and very bold, but then pointing out the problem: "We are not familiar with the flood season patterns of the Miao River. If we encounter a rapid rise in the river when we send out troops, it may be dangerous."
The key issue is that our own swimming skills aren't very good either.
They're only good enough to paddle a few times in the water; they won't drown.
If they choose Shen Tang's plan, they won't be fighting an enemy, but rather gambling with fate.
With Kang Jishou as a debuff, it's better not to.
Be careful, don't be reckless!
Jiang Sheng, Xun Zhen, and others nodded in agreement with Chu Yao.
At this moment, Luan Xin keenly noticed that Gu Chi remained silent, and couldn't help but frown slightly—was Gu Chi unwilling to openly oppose the lord and displease him, or was he keeping quiet because he had heard the lord's thoughts? Regardless of the reason, it was somewhat suspicious of him trying to take advantage of the situation.
Shen Tang patiently waited for them to finish speaking, then stood up expressionlessly, borrowed Chu Yao's sword from the nearest man, and with a whoosh, the longsword was drawn. Xie Qi's face also darkened, his heart pounding with anxiety. He had worked under Zheng Qiao for so many years, and the fact that the latter would draw his sword and kill anyone who disagreed with him at the slightest disagreement had left an indelible shadow on the young minds of these workers.
This new lord...
I've never heard of her having any reputation for violence.
Xie Qi forcefully suppressed the urge to run away.
“My method is a little different from what you think.”
Xie Qi's fear of someone being stabbed did not materialize. Shen Tang subtly manipulated her wrist, and the longsword flashed white in the air before smoothly embedding itself into a wooden pillar with a muffled thud. Half of the sword was inside the pillar, while the other half remained protruding.
He flicked the blade with his finger.
He said, "Okay, that's it."
She was well aware of the dangers of the flood season. If a group of people who were not good swimmers were unlucky enough to encounter a sudden surge in the river and be swept away before they even saw the enemy's back, it would be incredibly embarrassing. Therefore, Shen Tang never considered marching on the water.
“Take Yuan Yuan as an example. It’s very easy for her to drive her weapon into the riverbank rock wall. We can use the weapon to make a temporary walkway and walk across it. The Miao River is currently in its flood season, and the enemy should know this better than we do. Therefore, even if there are spies watching us here, it won’t be as thorough as elsewhere. The riverbank rock wall will be the most natural cover, and the movement of the river can also conceal our movements.”
Worried about a sudden surge in the price of Miaojiang River?
Just position it a little higher.
"By the way, we don't need to bring too many people on this trip."
Shen Tang didn't plan to use a large force to flank them; it would be too conspicuous and easily alert the enemy. Besides, the temporary plank road was too rudimentary and crude, requiring a certain level of skill to cross, which ordinary soldiers probably couldn't handle. This necessitated elite troops!
"In this way, we can attack from both sides and achieve a swift victory!"
In all battles, one engages with the orthodox and wins with the unorthodox.
Shen Tang prefers to use surprise attacks when he is confident of success!
She looked around at everyone: "What do you all think?"
After some thought and discussion, Chu Yao and the others finally nodded in agreement.
"This is a feasible and excellent move."
With the plan finalized, the next step was to determine the arrangement of the two groups and who would lead them. However, before this topic could even be discussed, Shen Tang eagerly raised his hand and said, "I'll lead the surprise attack group. Yuan Yuan will lead the vanguard and engage in direct combat!"
She made Wei Shou's arrangements perfectly clear in just a few words.
As the saying goes, "It's bound to rain, a mother will remarry, and a lord will roam the battlefield," these are all inevitable and unstoppable events, so Chu Yao and the others naturally had no objections. Most importantly, their elite forces consisted only of their lord and Wei Shou, and now they were splitting into two groups to attack the enemy. Without top-tier fighters leading the charge, morale would be difficult to boost, and unnecessary casualties would increase.
But Xie Qi was clearly facing this situation for the first time.
He has something to say!
However, being naturally tactful, he couldn't speak when everyone had no objections. So he suppressed his emotions and asked Ning Yan in a low voice, "...As the saying goes, 'A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall.' The situation at the front is changing rapidly. It seems...that it's not appropriate for our lord to take such a risk personally, doesn't it? Shouldn't Tu Nan try to persuade him?"
My lord, she is still a scholar with a literary heart.
Upon hearing this, Ning Yan looked at Xie Qi with a strange expression. She also lowered her voice and said, "Haven't you heard of that sixteenth-rank Grand Master under Zheng Qiao... I remember his name was Jiang Ao. Who personally killed him?"
Xie Qi: "Of course I've heard about Jiang Ao's death."
According to what he heard, Jiang Ao, that reckless brute, was arrogant and overconfident, and severely underestimated his opponents. He fought a long and arduous battle but couldn't defeat the two junior officers of the allied forces. He was held back by the two, and in the end, one of the young generals beheaded him.
Listen to this—
The sixteenth-rank superior craftsman was beheaded by the fifteenth-rank inferior craftsman!
Zheng Qiao nearly overturned the palace upon receiving the news. Xie Qi, being quite astute, took a few days of sick leave to avoid this madman, while also not forgetting to scorn Jiang Ao, this complete fraud. Those who get promoted through connections are indeed not as reliable as those who rise through the ranks honestly.
"But what does this have to do with our lord risking his life?"
It wasn't that Xie Qi lacked imagination; it was simply that Shen Tang displayed perfectly normal intelligence. Furthermore, she found wearing both the Wenxin Huaya (文心花押) and Wudan Hufu (武胆虎符) too heavy and uncomfortable, so she mostly wore only the Wenxin Huaya. Therefore, in Xie Qi's eyes, his lord was a scholar with a lower Wenxin rank than himself, possessing a refined and gentle yet resolute and decisive character.
As for other rumors, Xie Qi had vaguely heard them, but he always felt that the rumors were untrue, so he didn't take them seriously.
Ning Yan said, "Jiang Ao was killed by our lord."
Xie Qi's CPU almost failed to process what he was seeing. He suddenly looked up at Shen Tang at the head of the table, then suddenly looked down and asked, "But isn't our lord a scholar? Rumor has it that he's a military general."
Ning Yan countered, "There's no conflict between them."
Xie Qi: "..."
A ridiculous guess suddenly popped into his head.
"Cultivating both literary and martial arts skills?"
Ning Yan nodded slowly: "Mm."
Xie Qi: "..."
He tried to find any trace of a joke on Ning Yan's face, but naturally found nothing. Xie Qi almost lost his composure. The previous lord was a madman, and the new lord seemed to be an idiot. Was it really that hard to find a normal person?
But what's done is done, and he couldn't voice his grievances. In the end, he could only manage to say, "If that's the case... then some common sense can't be entirely trusted."
The meeting concluded, and the final plan was essentially finalized.
Shen Tang and his men led their five hundred elite soldiers, circling around the enemy's rear from the riverbank cliffs to join forces with Wei Shou's main force in a frontal attack. The selection of elite troops, preparation of materials for building the plank road, and arrangement of two days' rations were entrusted to Chu Yao.
Chu Yao completed the preparations in just half a day.
Because they had to build temporary plank roads while marching, Chen Tang's surprise attack would take longer than usual. Before dawn, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of Cunshan City. The five hundred men, having eaten and drunk their fill and rested well through the night, were full of energy.
Shen Tang and Xun Ding mounted their mules (horses) at the same time.
Xun Zhen did not accompany them. He sternly instructed his son, "Yong'an, remember to protect our lord, and remember to protect yourself."
Xun Ding grinned and said, "Father, don't worry!"
Seeing that his father was serious because of the way he was addressed, he chuckled and changed his address: "This humble general Xun Ding will keep in mind the military advisor's instructions."
Xun Zhen said, "Go."
The crowd bowed and said, "May your journey be filled with military success."
Shen Tang laughed triumphantly, "Wait for my triumphant return!"
Zheng Qiao's troops were closely monitoring Shen Tang's movements. At dusk that day, they received news that several hundred people had left Cunshan City. Upon hearing this, the general's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, "Have you found out where they went?"
The messenger said, "Head west."
The general initially assumed Shen Tang's actions were directed at him, but he was momentarily stunned by the messenger's reply. Why were they heading in the opposite direction? Seeing that their target wasn't him, he asked again, "What about Cunshan City? Any other activity?"
The messenger replied, "Everything is as before."
Twice a day, reports were sent back to Cunshan City, each time finding the gates tightly shut. They were highly vigilant; even birds of prey with high-altitude reconnaissance capabilities couldn't get too close. The scouts' martial spirit totem couldn't stray too far from its master, limiting their range and making it difficult to gather valuable intelligence. Upon hearing this, the general paced anxiously back and forth in his tent, his hands clasped behind his back.
It's too quiet here in Shentang, unusually quiet.
Capturing Cunshan City but remaining inactive would render it useless in hindering Zheng Qiao's troops, thus rendering the attack on this strategic location meaningless. The general knew this was impossible; Shen Tang and his group would definitely make a move, but he didn't know when or how. So, he waved his hand and said, "Scout and report again! Send men to keep a close eye on the movements of those few hundred men."
As night fell, the general received a second report.
Those several hundred people crossed the river and left.
general:"???"
His expression twisted for a moment, and his voice rose uncontrollably: "What? Dujiang left? Are you sure it was Dujiang who left?"
The messenger had no choice but to repeat it again.
Beyond Cunshan City lies Shentang territory, a route the scouts sent out could hardly traverse. They could only rely on their aerial advantage as raptors to see that the several hundred people were indeed heading west towards the Miaojiang River bank. Due to the limited distance and the obstruction of the high mountains and cliffs on both sides of the river, further intelligence was unavailable. During this time, two scouts were exposed and captured by enemy patrols; one was killed and the other wounded.
The scouts with reconnaissance capabilities were extremely valuable, and fearing that the rest would also be captured, they had no choice but to rush back.
The general stroked his beard, while his subordinates lowered their eyes in deep thought.
The general muttered to himself, "What are these hundreds of men up to?"
One person asked, "You wouldn't be thinking of going down the river to the front lines to provide support, would you? But what use can a mere five hundred men be?"
Another person said, "Perhaps they're coming for us?"
He was immediately met with merciless ridicule: "The Miao River will be swollen in two or three days. Going into the water at this time is tantamount to suicide. Even if they are coming for us, wouldn't our scouts have spotted them? These few hundred people might just be a smokescreen for the enemy."
After all, this operation was really too confusing.
The general also had this thought in mind: "Investigate further and report back!"
Meanwhile, Shen Tang and the others transformed into mountain goats, nimbly traversing the steep, vertical rock face. Each time a faint flash of martial energy appeared, a wooden stick was driven into the rock. For safety, each person had a rope tied around their waist, with a loop at the other end. This loop could be fastened to the wooden stick driven into the rock, ensuring they wouldn't be easily swept away even if they slipped and fell into the water.
Hundreds of people formed a line on the stone wall.
Those with abundant martial spirit and high levels of courage led the way, while the weaker ones followed behind. At first, the soldiers were unfamiliar with the terrain and their legs trembled at the sight of the surging river beneath their feet. Once they became more skilled and stabilized their center of gravity, they were able to move nimbly along the stone wall.
"Wangchao, are you alright?" Shen Tang walked quickly and stopped to wait, when she heard a slight cough covered by the river water.
They were currently unable to use scouts for reconnaissance to avoid revealing their position, but they needed to be constantly on guard against the enemy's movements. Gu Chi's scholarly path became the only option. Gu Chi appeared weak, but in reality, he steadily stepped on the wooden stick, one hand supporting himself against the wall.
He waved to Shen Tang in the distance, indicating that he was alright, but a gust of river wind caused him to cough uncontrollably.
"You don't look well." Shen Tang turned back.
It took Gu Chi a while to calm his cough, and his pale face regained some color: "The view of the river from this position is a bit dazzling... My lord, don't worry, it will be fine in a moment."
After his family was massacred, he was hunted down by Tao Yan's former subordinates and barely survived by jumping into the river. Although he didn't develop a fear of water, he still feels uncomfortable seeing similar scenes.
At this moment, Bai Su rushed over upon hearing the news.
"My lord, please entrust the strategist to this humble general."
"Okay, give him a hand so he doesn't slip and fall into the water. If things get really bad, you can carry him."
After giving her instructions, Shen Tang turned back to continue working.
Gu Chi was about to say that important matters were at hand and that he didn't need to worry about himself when he saw Bai Su tightly wrap the other end of the rope around his waist around her wrist and tie a knot: "In this way, even if the strategist falls, this humble general will pull you up."
Is a scholar with a refined mind more stable in the lower body than a warrior with a bold and courageous stance?
Bai Su was full of confidence; she was certain she wouldn't fall.
Gu Chi imagined himself accidentally falling into the water, headfirst, being swept away by the river, with Bai Su pulling him up from above. A slight twitch appeared on his lips. This scene could definitely be written into a storybook.
Another day has passed in the blink of an eye, and night has fallen.
Wei Shou ordered the entire camp to light fires and cook.
"Have you all eaten your fill?"
The soldiers said in unison, "We're full."
"We've eaten our fill this time, but not well enough. If we want to eat well, have fatty meat to eat, fine wine to drink, money to spend, and clothes to wear, we must achieve merit! How do we achieve merit? By destroying the enemy's stronghold! They are the enemy, but they are also the stepping stones to our military achievements!" Wei Shou, wielding a rose-gold pink axe, pointed in the direction of the enemy and shouted, "Did you hear that?"
The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the sky.
"You all, proceed!"
(ω`)
Today's title... sigh, I was careless. My OCD is really bothering me.
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