gnovel Chapter 17 Military Conference, Strategy for Support
Chapter 17 Military Conference, Strategy for Support
After reading it, Tian Heng felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and the silk cloth in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, almost too heavy to hold.
Huangfu Yang! That's the soul of the Great Xia army, the pillar of strength! His basic combat strength is as high as 110, and he has been in the Saint Martial God Realm for more than ten years. He is recognized as one of the top ten strongest people in the world!
He guarded the northern frontier for ten years, and the Eastern Barbarians would stop crying at the mere mention of the name "Flying Dragon Blood God"! Now... he has fallen under the siege of bandits, and even his head could not be saved!
Tian Heng was well aware that although the defeat in Youzhou had resulted in the loss of territory and soldiers, the Great Xia still possessed a vast territory and a strong foundation, and there was still room for maneuver and recovery.
But with Huangfu Yang's death, the pillar supporting the northern frontier collapsed! The blow to morale, the loss of unparalleled fighting power, and the covetousness of neighboring countries... this is the truly unbearable tragedy that shakes the foundation of the nation!
He finally understood why his emaciated father, sitting on the throne, had vomited blood and urgently summoned him.
If this message is handled carelessly, the collapse of the northern frontier will be imminent. Even more terrifying is that Da Cang and Da Yao will swarm in like wolves that have smelled blood. At that time, war will break out on all four borders of the Great Xia, and the century-old empire may be destroyed in an instant!
Inside the Imperial Study, a deathly silence lasted for what seemed like an eternity, broken only by Tian Ke's suppressed, fragmented coughs, each one pounding against everyone's hearts.
Finally, General Qin Yue, his beard and hair bristling, took a sudden step forward, the armor plates clashing violently, the sound shaking the roof tiles! His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared with clenched fists, his voice like thunder:
"Your Majesty! The barbarian traitors have gone too far in defying Heaven! General Huangfu died a martyr's death, and 150,000 soldiers shed their blood on the battlefield. This hatred and resentment cannot be washed away even by the waters of the Milky Way! Your subject, Qin Yue, begs Your Majesty to grant us the Tiger Tally!"
"I urge you to immediately mobilize the elite troops of the Northern Army, marching day and night to reinforce Youzhou! I swear I will not return to court until the Eastern Barbarians are defeated and the two traitors, Helan and Huli, are beheaded! I will repay blood with blood to comfort their spirits!"
His roar was deafening, his fighting spirit soaring, like a lion that had been thoroughly enraged.
Minister of War Zhao Yi, however, frowned deeply, hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said in a deep voice:
"The General's loyalty and bravery are evident to Heaven and Earth! However, Your Majesty, this matter must not be rushed! The Northern Army is the last line of defense protecting the capital and the foundation of the nation! If they all march north, the capital will become a ghost town!"
The Great Cang Army has 150,000 troops stationed south of the Yellow River, while the Great Yao Army has 100,000 iron cavalry patrolling the western border, both eyeing us covetously! If they hear that our capital is undefended and seize the opportunity to invade, their iron hooves could reach the city walls in ten days! Then… it will be too late for regrets!
He took a breath and continued his analysis, speaking quickly and clearly: "Furthermore, in addition to Youzhou, the towns in Liaoxi, Yunzhong, and Yanmen in the northern frontier also need to guard against the Northern Barbarians' movements, and their troops must not be lightly deployed."
With troops stationed in various locations scattered, hasty conscription, assembly, provisions, equipment, and pay were all major challenges.
Before reinforcements can fully assemble, Youzhou may already have fallen! This is not a rescue effort, but a waste of national strength and a self-inflicted crisis!
"Minister Zhao!" Qin Yue's expression changed drastically, and he roared angrily.
"Are we just going to sit idly by and watch Youzhou fall, 150,000 soldiers die in vain, and General Huangfu's blood feud go unpunished?! Youzhou is the key to the northern gate. Once the gates are opened, the Eastern Barbarian cavalry can roam freely across Hebei and march straight into the Central Plains!"
"By then, with no natural defenses, can Kyoto remain unscathed?! A collapse in morale would be catastrophic! Now is the time to unleash the might of the Great Xia army with overwhelming force, only then can we deter the lesser powers!"
"General! We are not sitting idly by! We have planned this carefully before we act!" Sweat beaded on Zhao Yi's forehead, but he refused to budge an inch.
"We must save them, but we must have a foolproof plan! How can we gamble everything on one throw?!"
Seeing the two high-ranking officials locked in a stalemate, the atmosphere tense and on the verge of conflict, Left Chancellor Wang Qin coughed lightly, his aged yet steady voice ringing out like a tranquilizer injected into a boiling pot of oil:
"Your Majesty, what the two ministers have said is entirely of the public good and for the sake of the country. In this critical situation, I believe that we should proceed in three steps, one after another, and not act rashly."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and slowly said:
"Firstly, Li Yuan's crimes are too numerous to mention! He deserted his post in the face of battle, abandoning his troops and fleeing first, which led to the annihilation of the entire army, the death of a valiant general, and the endangerment of the country."
An imperial edict should be issued immediately to strip him of his post and title, proclaim this to the world, sentence him to death, and dispatch imperial guards to his possible escape route to arrest him and bring him to justice!
This action serves three purposes: first, it upholds national law; second, it calms the anger of the military and civilians; and third, it serves as a warning to all generals and commanders!
"Secondly," he looked at Tian Heng, whose face was pale, and at the isolated Beique Pass on the map, which stood alone in the northern border region.
"The remnants of the Youzhou forces are trapped at an isolated pass, with no news of reinforcements from the outside and a lack of will to defend to the death. We must dispatch a high-ranking official of the court, or a general of great prestige, leading a force of elite light cavalry, at any cost, to break through any possible obstacles and be the first to reach Beique Pass! Inform Tian Rangju and the remaining soldiers:"
The court is aware of his loyalty and bravery, and reinforcements are on their way! His Majesty has not abandoned Youzhou! This is crucial to maintaining the last spark of hope in the northern frontier, and it concerns the survival of the army's morale!
"Thirdly," Wang Qin concluded, pointing to the massive map of the territory.
"The plan is to mobilize a large army to provide relief. How should troops be deployed? How many troops can the Northern Army mobilize? How should the western and southern borders be defended against Da Cang and Da Yao? How should the grain, fodder, and taxes of the various prefectures and counties be urgently collected and transported?"
Who should oversee the reinforcements? How to launch a counterattack and stabilize the front lines? All these require meticulous planning; not a single mistake can be tolerated. One wrong step could lead to total defeat.
Right Chancellor Li Rong nodded in agreement with Left Chancellor Wang Qin, then stepped forward, his voice clear and cold:
"What Prime Minister Wang said is absolutely right. Holding Li Yuan accountable is to rectify military discipline and bolster morale. Sending the vanguard is to reassure the remaining troops and stabilize the defense line. As for the strategy for sending troops, I believe that the most urgent task is to establish a core leader at the front."
Tian Rangju, the deputy general of Beique Pass, was fearless in the face of danger. He first won the battle of defending the pass, and then he was able to ambush the vanguard of the Eastern Barbarians in a desperate situation, blunting the enemy's morale and saving 5,000 soldiers. This shows his ability to adapt to changing circumstances and his perseverance.
"An imperial edict may be issued immediately, promoting Tian Rangju to the position of garrison commander of Beique Pass, temporarily in charge of military affairs at Beique Pass, and ordering him to defend Beique Pass at all costs to buy time for the imperial reinforcements."
He turned his gaze to Prince Qin, Tian Heng, and continued, "Your Highness, you were ordered to go to Youzhou to establish your own government and yamen. This is perfectly legitimate. At this critical moment, you should set off immediately without waiting for the army to be fully assembled."
One could lead a small cavalry unit, traveling day and night, straight to the northern frontier.
Firstly, it demonstrates the court's resolve and boosts the morale of the army and civilians; secondly, it allows for the practical reorganization of the remaining troops, the gathering of defeated soldiers, and the stabilization of the rear at Beique Pass; and thirdly, it ascertains the enemy's strength and weaknesses, paving the way for the arrival of the subsequent main force.
Emperor Tian Ke listened, his sallow face shifting with emotion, his gaze finally settling on Tian Heng:
"King Qin, Youzhou is the place you are about to take up your post. I ask you, what strategies do you have for defeating the enemy and securing the borders? I want to hear the truth, I want to hear words that can be put into practice."
The pressure was immense, and all eyes in the imperial study were focused on Tian Heng.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a low but clear voice, striving to display a composure beyond his years:
"Father, in my humble opinion, although the situation in Youzhou is extremely precarious, the Eastern Barbarians are not invincible. To defeat them and regroup, we must proceed in three steps, proceeding cautiously at each step."
"The first thing I will do upon my arrival is not to engage in reckless fighting, but to join forces with General Tian Rangju to defend Beique Pass together."
We must immediately conscript laborers, sparing no expense, to reinforce the walls, dig deep trenches, and set up numerous barricades and traps. At the same time, we must take stock of the existing remnants of the army, weed out the weak and keep the strong, and reorganize and train them together with the elite troops who accompanied me on my journey, so as to rebuild our strength.
The people within the pass have suffered greatly from the ravages of war. It is necessary to open granaries to distribute food, properly resettle displaced people, and execute those who spread panic to quell public unrest. As long as the Northern Pass stands, the backbone of Youzhou remains, and our army will have an inch of foothold for a counterattack.