vstars Chapter 2011 What to do now?
Chapter 2011 What to do now?
One day later.
Zhennanguan, this ancient pass that stands majestically at the throat of southern Xinjiang, appears even more imposing and precipitous in the cold winds of the twelfth lunar month.
On the wall, the weathered bricks and stones, weathered by time, were icy cold. The soldiers on duty, wrapped tightly in their armor, vigilantly watched the vast wilderness beyond the pass.
The temporary palace built inside the pass, though not as luxurious as the imperial palace in the capital, was still heavily guarded and exuded a simple and solemn atmosphere unique to the military.
Inside the military chamber specially set aside on one side of the palace, a charcoal fire was burning brightly, dispelling the damp chill unique to winter in the south.
Chu Ning stood alone in front of a huge sand table of southern Xinjiang, his deep gaze like that of a circling eagle, slowly sweeping over every detail of the mountains, rivers, cities, and passes on the sand table.
On the sand table, small red flags representing the Chu army were densely planted inside and outside Zhennan Pass and in the direction of Luoxia Mountain.
The small black flags representing the Tang army were mainly concentrated west of Zhennan Pass and in the direction of the Canglang River, which was shrinking towards the pass.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the edge of the sand table as he mentally rehearsed various possible changes in the battle situation.
The joy of the victory at Luoxia Mountain has long since subsided, transforming into a calm plan for the next steps.
"His Majesty."
A calm and steady announcement broke the silence in the room.
Feng Anguo, clad in black armor and covered in dust, strode in, holding a secret letter with a feather in his hand, his face bearing the solemnity characteristic of frontline military intelligence.
"A message sent by General Han Xing from the front line of the Canglang River, delivered by carrier pigeon, is urgent and travels 800 li."
Chu Ning turned around abruptly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Bring it here."
He took the letter, quickly removed the sealing wax, and scanned the paper with lightning speed.
The letter was written in Han Xing's familiar, neat, and clear handwriting. It detailed how Gao Xianzhi's troops and the Scorpion Clan's Blood Eagle Clan had abandoned the Canglang River defense line and retreated towards Zhennan Pass. It also reported on how Ma Chao led his cavalry in pursuit and inflicted a minor defeat on the enemy's rearguard.
After reading it, Chu Ning's lips curled into a cold smile. He casually placed the letter on the edge of the sand table and snorted.
"This Gao Xianzhi is truly a ruthless character who knows how to make choices. He abandoned such an important place as the Canglang River without hesitation."
He raised his hand and pointed to the location representing Zhennanguan on the sand table, his tone resolute.
"Li Jing is scared of being beaten. He wants to gather Wang Zhongsi's remnants, Gao Xianzhi's troops, and those insignificant Scorpion Clan barbarians into Zhennan Pass, and fight me to the death here, relying on the pass's natural defenses."
Instead of fear, his face radiated an air of domineering confidence.
After the Battle of Luoxia Mountain, the Tang-Scorpion allied forces suffered nearly 100,000 casualties and their morale was severely damaged.
Under his own command, there were not only elite warriors like Xue Huaide and Guan Yun, but also the fresh force of 100,000 Vermilion Bird Legion soldiers brought by Feng Mulan.
He held an absolute advantage in terms of troop strength, morale, and overall situation.
If Li Jing really dares to come out of the pass for a decisive battle, he would be more than happy to do so!
"Pass the order to Xue Huaide!"
Chu Ning's voice was resolute and carried an unquestionable authority: "Order him to speed up the march and, after joining up with Han Xing and Ma Chao's troops in the direction of Canglang River, immediately proceed to Zhennan Pass without stopping!"
"I want to see how long Li Jing can hold out in this turtle shell!"
"Old minister, I obey the order!"
Feng Anguo bowed and accepted the order, but did not leave immediately. Instead, a deeper worry crossed his face.
After a moment of hesitation, he spoke again, his voice even lower: "Your Majesty, although the front lines are temporarily stable, there may be hidden worries in the rear."
Chu Ning frowned slightly: "Oh? What is it, General Feng? Please speak freely."
Feng Anguo took out another sealed file from his pocket and presented it with both hands:
"This is the latest intelligence brought to us by a secret agent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who has infiltrated the northern border, risking his life."
"The Scorpion Clan royal court has been making frequent unusual moves recently. Its various cavalry units are gathering in large numbers north of Wolf Dwelling Mountain, especially the Black Wolf and Mad Leopard units, which are known for their ferocity and whose movements are shrouded in mystery."
"Based on information from all parties, their intention is most likely to take advantage of the fact that our main force is trapped in the southern border, and then march eastward to launch a surprise attack on the heartland of our You and Yun prefectures!"
He raised his head, his eyes filled with solemnity: "Your Majesty, the Scorpion Clan cavalry are swift as the wind and have a penchant for plunder."
"If they break through the border and advance unimpeded, our northern prefectures and counties will be devastated, and thousands of fertile fields will be reduced to scorched earth."
"This is a strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao,' intended to force our army to return to defend and thus relieve the siege of the southern border."
"If this matter is not handled properly, our army will be in a precarious situation where it cannot support itself from both ends, and all the previous victories may be lost!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning's face instantly darkened, and the relaxed mood he had just felt due to the good news from the front lines vanished.
He slammed his fist on the sand table frame, making the small flags on it tremble, his voice filled with suppressed anger.
"Hmph! A bunch of barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood dare to take advantage of our misfortune!"
"Once I've dealt with Li Jing and pacified the southern border, they'll be next! I'll drive them back to the harsh, cold north to eliminate any future troubles!"
After venting his anger, Chu Ning quickly calmed down.
He knew that the emperor's wrath would not solve the real problem.
He took a deep breath and looked sharply at Feng Anguo: "General Feng, you are absolutely right."
"The Scorpion Clan's plan is indeed vicious. We must not let them succeed! In your opinion, how should we deal with it?"
Feng Anguo had clearly given this matter considerable thought, and upon hearing it, he immediately offered his suggestions in a clear and logical manner:
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that we should take a two-pronged approach and be prepared for both possibilities."
"First, send envoys to negotiate peace, using incentives to lure them and delay the war."
He analyzed, "The reason why the Scorpion Clan was willing to risk their lives for the Tang Dynasty was simply for their own benefit."
"Our dynasty can immediately dispatch an eloquent and knowledgeable minister familiar with the affairs of the north, carrying heavy gold, silk, tea and other gifts, to the Scorpion Tribe's royal court to meet with their Khan."
"Promising them great profits and pretending to discuss trade and border demarcation, we tried to delay their deployment of troops as much as possible."
"Even if it can only delay for one or two months, it can buy our army valuable time in the southern border region and at the same time give us a chance to regroup and deploy troops domestically."
"Secondly, and this is the fundamental solution, we must immediately mobilize all available troops in the country, march north to Youzhou, construct a defensive line, and be on high alert!"
Feng Anguo's tone became firm and powerful: "Peace talks are ultimately a temporary measure, and the Scorpion Clan may not fall for it."
"We must prepare for the worst, that is, the Scorpion Clan will disregard everything and force their way in."
"Therefore, it is necessary to immediately issue an order to urgently draw troops from the surrounding areas of the capital, Hedong, Hebei and other places, especially troops that are good at defending cities and dealing with cavalry, and to quickly assemble and send them to the front line of Youzhou."
"Under the unified command of a highly respected and capable general, relying on the Great Wall and border fortified cities, we must establish layers of defense to ensure that any invading enemy is kept outside the country's borders, or at least that their plundering is kept to a minimum!"