vstars Chapter 2015 Each Holding Their Own Opinions
Chapter 2015 Each Holding Their Own Opinions
"It's alright, civil administration and military affairs each have their own methods."
"If Tian'er can concentrate on his studies, he will become a pillar of society in the future."
Chu Ning comforted her, then asked, "What about Ying'er? That little thing, she was just learning to babble when I left the capital, and she's the most clingy one."
When her youngest son, Chu Ying, was mentioned, Feng Mulan's smile deepened, and she even seemed to be suppressing a laugh.
"Ying'er, this child... I don't know what to say."
"He is only a little over a year old now. He hasn't shown any improvement in other skills, but he is exceptionally gifted when it comes to eating and drinking."
"His appetite was unusually good; even the wet nurse often said they were running out of food. But guess what happened?"
She raised her eyes, looking at Chu Ning, her tone filled with disbelief:
"Perhaps because he ate too well, he grew extremely fast and his height increased dramatically!"
"In her letter a couple of days ago, Sister Wu specifically mentioned that when she took Ying'er to pay her respects to Empress Shen, everyone was surprised to find that Ying'er's height was... almost as tall as her four-year-old brother Tian'er!"
“Standing there, he was sturdy and solid, like a small stone roller, so robust that it was almost comical.”
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning was first taken aback, then burst into laughter, his chest heaving.
"Is that so? Good lad! Looks like he's got the makings of a general, all he's got is height! Maybe he'll grow into a mighty general like a pillar of heaven?"
The hall echoed with Chu Ning's hearty laughter and Feng Mulan's gentle explanations, filled with the warmth of family bliss.
Outside the window, the moonlight was cold and clear, and the mountains and passes were solemn and majestic.
Inside the window, spring was in full bloom, and laughter filled the air.
This rare moment of warmth temporarily washed away the cruelty of war and the turmoil of the court, leaving only the most ordinary yet most precious concerns and whispers within the imperial family.
The following morning, the atmosphere in the council hall of the Zhennanguan Palace was solemn and dignified.
A huge sand table of southern Xinjiang was placed in the center of the hall, clearly showing the terrain and the distribution of enemy and friendly forces.
The charcoal brazier dispelled the winter chill, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness and contemplation that permeated the air.
Chu Ning sat upright in the main seat, with Feng Mulan beside him, dressed in a simple palace gown that could not conceal her heroic spirit.
Below, led by Feng Anguo, a group of senior generals including Zhao Yu and Ran Ming stood solemnly on both sides, clad in armor.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The generals saluted in unison, their voices shaking the rooftops.
"Everyone is safe."
Chu Ning raised his right hand slightly, his gaze sweeping over the resolute faces of every general present, and got straight to the point.
"The only thing I have summoned you all here today is to discuss—what should our army do next?"
"Li Jing consolidated his forces and held his ground while awaiting reinforcements, while Gao Xianzhi's troops were on their way to join him."
"Whether to attack or defend, whether to wait for the right opportunity or to take the initiative, I would like to hear your opinions."
As soon as Chu Ning finished speaking, a valiant general eagerly stepped forward from the crowd.
This man was exceptionally tall and strong, and his shiny bald head was particularly striking under the lights in the hall. He was none other than Ran Ming, a general known for his bravery and ferocity.
He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice booming like a bell, carrying an impatient, murderous aura:
"Your Majesty! I believe there's nothing to discuss! Warfare is all about momentum!"
"Now that our army has just won a great victory at Luoxia Mountain, and the Empress herself has led the Vermilion Bird Legion to join us, our strength and morale are far superior to the Tang army inside the pass!"
"Gao Xianzhi is still on his way, which is the perfect opportunity for us to defeat him piecemeal! If we wait for all his remaining forces to regroup and cower in their shells, it will only cause more trouble!"
He waved his large, fan-like hand sharply across the sand table outside the pass, and continued in a deep, booming voice:
"This humble general is willing to lead the vanguard and send my troops out of the pass to challenge them! If Li Jing dares to accept the challenge, we will slaughter him without leaving a single survivor!"
"If he dares not, our army can take advantage of the situation to advance, occupy advantageous terrain outside the pass, and even find an opportunity to intercept Gao Xianzhi's troops!"
"It's better than wasting supplies here and waiting for the enemy to gain strength! Please give the order, Your Majesty, and I will go to muster the troops immediately!"
Ran Ming's proposals were simple, direct, and aggressive, reflecting the sentiments of many generals eager to achieve merit.
As soon as he finished speaking, several generals who were also known for their bravery nodded slightly, their faces showing approval.
However, just as the atmosphere of war was growing stronger, a calm voice rang out, like a piece of ice thrown into boiling water.
"General Ran is commendable for his bravery, however, this move is too risky and I think it is inappropriate."
Feng Anguo stepped forward slowly, his face calm and his eyes sharp.
He first bowed slightly to Chu Ning and Feng Mulan, then looked at Ran Ming, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.
"General Ran, are you aware that, according to the latest intelligence, Wang Zhongsi's remnants from the Black River Valley, along with the Blood Wolf troops of the Tuwu Jin, totaling about 50,000 men, arrived at Zhennan Pass three days ago and joined up with Li Jing's main force."
Feng Anguo emphasized the location of Zhennanguan on the sand table with his finger:
"This means that the enemy forces inside the pass are not a helpless isolated force. Although their total strength is still less than ours, they number over 100,000 and are defending the pass, waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out."
He looked around at everyone and calmly analyzed, "Although our army has nearly 200,000 soldiers and high morale, attacking fortified positions is different from field battles."
"Zhennanguan is a formidable pass, and Li Jing is no ordinary man. How could he easily allow our army to annihilate the enemy in open battle?"
"If our army rashly marches out of the pass, and Li Jing holds firm and refuses to come out, our army will be stuck under the fortified city, our troops will be exhausted and our morale will be low."
"If they take advantage of our army's instability in establishing a camp, or find a loophole in our deployment, and launch a counterattack outside the pass, even though our army is large, it will be difficult to fully deploy in the narrow area in front of the pass. The outcome is still uncertain, and this is one of the risks."
He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, although Gao Xianzhi's troops are en route, our army has not yet fully grasped their marching route and arrival time."
"If our main force is deployed to confront Li Jing at the pass, and Gao Xianzhi suddenly appears, attacking our flank or cutting off our supply lines, what should we do then?"
"At that time, our army will be attacked from both sides, and the situation will be extremely passive. This is the second risk."
Feng Anguo's analysis was clear and to the point, causing even some of the generals who had advocated for an attack to fall into deep thought.
The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the faint crackling of burning charcoal.
Following this, other generals also began to express their opinions, and a clash of two main viewpoints immediately broke out in the council hall.
Some generals supported Ran Ming, believing that they should take the initiative to attack and use their superior forces to pressure the enemy, rather than watching the enemy complete their assembly.
A middle-aged general cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, General Feng's words make sense, but the opportunity to win is fleeting!"
"If we wait for General Xue Huaide and General Ma Chao's more than 100,000 troops to arrive, our army will certainly be stronger, but by then the enemy will have already completed its full assembly. With the natural defenses of Zhennan Pass, the difficulty of attacking the enemy will only be greater."
"Why not take advantage of this moment and strike with overwhelming force to crush Li Jing's arrogance!"