Chapter 121 A sudden enlightenment
When Yun Chong'an arrived in Xuanhua exhausted, part of the reinforcements had already arrived.
When that familiar and resolute figure appeared in the camp, many veterans' eyes lit up with excitement and inspiration. Whispers and sighs spread quickly among the troops - General Yun is back! This battle will be won!
Yun Chong'an didn't take a moment to rest, only hurriedly gulping down a few sips of cold water before heading straight into the commander's tent. His eyes immediately fell on the massive sand table and the hanging military map. He examined them intently, radiating an overwhelming focus. He had to devise a strategy to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible.
Several generals in the tent were talking at once, all worried. All they talked about was the shortage of troops, the difficulty in transporting food and fodder, and how fierce and difficult the Wala cavalry was.
"General Yun! You're finally back!" A weather-beaten general stepped forward, his voice urgent, "You have no idea how rampant the Wala are these days! They're plundering cities, killing people, launching surprise attacks, committing all sorts of atrocities!"
"Exactly! Marshal Yun, the Wala must have heard that you've retired to the countryside, which is why they dare to so brazenly invade our territory!"
"That's right! As long as you hold this banner, the brothers will feel assured! Hearing your name, the arrogance of the Oirat people will surely be dampened by a factor of three!"
Yun Chong'an, however, seemed to have not heard these words. His entire mind was focused on the crisscrossing mountains, rivers, and valleys on the sand table. After a moment, he pointed to several key points of terrain. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight, instantly suppressing all the noise in the tent:
"The Oirat are best at luring the enemy deep into their territory, setting ambushes and annihilating them. This is their tried-and-true classic tactic, and it's also the burial ground for countless of our soldiers." His sharp gaze swept over each general in the tent. "They often use small, elite forces to provoke and harass our forces. Once our army attacks, they feign defeat, luring the pursuers into pre-set ambushes—mostly in valleys and dense forests like this. Then, their main cavalry will converge from all directions, leveraging their superior mobility to annihilate our forces. Gentlemen, do you have any countermeasures?"
The atmosphere in the tent suddenly became solemn, and the anxious complaints just now instantly turned into solemn thinking.
A young general spoke first: "General Yun, then we won't be fooled! No matter how they provoke us, we will just hold our ground!"
Before he could finish his words, someone immediately retorted, "Hold on? The Oirat are as cunning as foxes. If I don't pursue them, they will continue to harass the food supply routes, slaughter the border residents, and advance step by step! Can we just watch the people suffer and the soldiers be humiliated and do nothing?"
Another veteran general posed a more practical challenge: "The Oirat army is almost entirely composed of cavalry. Each man is equipped with multiple horses, and they move with the speed of the wind. Their mobility far surpasses ours. They can assemble quickly across the vast grasslands and march hundreds of miles, but they can also break up and retreat in an instant, making it difficult for our army to capture their main force. We have a powerful punch but no place to deliver it."
"And their bows and arrows!" another added gravely. "The Oirat's composite bows have a range far exceeding our standard crossbows, delivering immense power and exceptional accuracy. Their cavalry are particularly adept at 'returning arrows,' turning back and firing accurately while fleeing at high speed, continuously depleting and disrupting our formation. Aren't we already suffering enough in this regard?"
Yun Chongan listened quietly, his brows furrowed ever tighter. All he heard were difficulties and disadvantages, but no ideas or good strategies to break the deadlock.
He took a deep breath, his voice growing more solemn, carrying the weight of history: "Do you all remember the Battle of Tumu? Your Majesty's grandfather, the late Emperor Yingzong, was targeted by the Oirat using similar tactics to lure the enemy, causing hundreds of thousands of troops to advance recklessly and penetrate deeper into their territory. Ultimately, they were cut off from their water supply at Tumu, surrounded and captured... That battle nearly wiped out our dynasty's entire elite military force at the time. It's a disgrace to our nation!"
The tent instantly fell into dead silence, and the heavy shadow of history weighed on everyone's heart.
After a long moment, a lieutenant general broke the silence with a complex whisper, "I heard... I heard that Your Majesty originally wanted to lead the army in person to avenge the previous humiliation, but the ministers, threatening death, persuaded him to give up. That's why he sent the Minister of War, Lord Bai Qi, to escort the food and fodder, and... reinstated you, Marshal Yun."
Yun Chong'an pulled his thoughts back from the heavy history, grasped the key information, and immediately asked, "When will Lord Bai arrive?"
A lieutenant general beside him answered with a subtle contempt in his tone: "Tomorrow at the earliest. But... Lord Bai is a civil servant, as you know, Marshal Yun. I heard that the inside of his thighs were rubbed raw after galloping all the way. I'm afraid..." He didn't finish his words, but his meaning was very clear.
Yun Chong'an said sternly, "Don't talk nonsense! Lord Bai may be a civil official, but he's definitely not one for armchair warfare. He and I went to Jingxiang to quell the rebellion. He's a master of strategy and calculation, and his ability to allocate funds and manage the overall situation is unmatched. He's truly a rare and valuable pillar of the nation! Perhaps his meticulous thinking is exactly what we need to defeat the Oirat Mongols, to find a way to defeat them from another angle."
He glanced around at the generals in the tent and gave a firm order: "Until Lord Bai arrives, all troops must defend the camp, reinforce the fortifications, and remain stationary. However, the entire army must intensify training, especially training for cavalry raids and counter-encirclement formations. There must be no slacking! Once Lord Bai arrives, we will discuss strategies to defeat the enemy!"
"I obey your command!" The generals responded in a stern voice, and the solemnity and fighting spirit before the battle filled the tent again.
Bai Qi arrived very quickly, still covered in dust. He quickly ate a simple meal and then rushed to the commander-in-chief's tent to meet Yun Chong'an.
As soon as he entered the tent, he bowed to Yun Chong'an, who was gazing at the map, with an extremely sincere attitude: "I am in charge of the grain and grass, and I have come here at full speed. In the end, I am a step late and was unable to discuss military affairs with the Duke earlier. I hope the Duke will forgive me."
Yun Chong'an turned around upon hearing the voice, a genuine smile on his face. He quickly stepped forward and helped him up personally: "Master Bai, what are you talking about? What crime have you committed? You've been galloping all the way and must be exhausted. Why don't you rest for a while before coming here?"
Bai Qi stood up, holding Yun Chong'an's hand. His expression was solemn and his tone was urgent. "Firstly, I know that the Duke is eager to fight. If I could arrive earlier, I might be able to relieve your worries earlier. Secondly... expelling the Oirat and stabilizing the northern border are truly urgent. The Duke must have heard that His Majesty is extremely worried in the capital, and even... even considered following the example of his predecessors and leading the army in person. If it weren't for the earnest advice of the ministers, he would have already set off. This shows the urgency of the situation."
Upon hearing this, Yun Chong'an's eyes calmed and his tone reassured him firmly, "Don't worry, Lord Bai. The current emperor is not the Emperor Yingzong of the past. Although young, he possesses strategic vision and is very methodical in his approach. Even if he were to personally visit the front lines, he would plan carefully and act cautiously, and would never act rashly. You and I must be convinced of this."
Bai Qi listened to Yun Chong'an's steady and powerful words, and saw the unquestionable trust in his eyes. The tension in his heart seemed to relax a little. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Hearing what the Duke said, I suddenly feel enlightened. I can finally put down the heavy stone in my heart."
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