Chapter 874: Chapter 519: Three Days Later, Burning City in Flames (Happy Lantern Festival)
However, he also didn’t expect that this "Scholar General" would be so resolute!
"So that’s it... No wonder, when I went to the silver mine, I saw the rebels burning the fields. It seems now that this is all part of Su Dan’s strategy...
He knows that once reinforcements arrive, the occupied territories need to be handed back, so before we arrive, he launches a full-scale attack on the city, trying to destroy the mines and granaries... At the same time, he arranges for the seized resources to be transported to the rear, preparing for burning the city..."
"And by relying on the city, they can defend it to the death, delaying time. When the resources are moved, or if they can’t hold it any longer, they can abandon the city and leave... What a decisive character!"
Zhao Douan took a deep breath, gaining a deeper understanding of this "Scholar General" whose name he had only seen on paper.
Mo Chou’s expression changed, and she said anxiously:
"What should we do next? At this rate, we have little time left! If we continue to nibble away slowly and steadily, it will give the enemy enough time to prepare for withdrawal."
The situation has changed again!
The favorable situation suddenly worsened!
Although a strong artillery attack can quickly win, the opponent dares to burn the city; they certainly wouldn’t mind using civilians as shields.
But if we don’t use firearms, it’s very difficult to recapture the lost ground in a short time.
The atmosphere was heavy, everyone looking gloomy, and a sense of anxiety began to spread!
"How about sending out experts to assassinate the enemy generals? We have many cultivators now," someone suggested.
"No! Do you think the enemy generals don’t have means to resist the strong of the world? Moreover, no general is foolish; as soon as the main general is killed and the signal is given, I’m afraid the burning of the city will start immediately everywhere!" someone retorted.
"My lord, leave it to me, I’ll rush out of the city immediately, while the enemy hasn’t reacted, maybe we can..."
"They have city walls to defend! Is attacking a city such an easy task?"
"In my opinion, we should..."
For a moment, the hall was noisy and chaotic, with various ideas being proposed but quickly shot down.
Xue Shence raised his hand to quiet the noise, his expression extremely solemn, yet his voice remained steady:
"Don’t panic, Su Dan won’t carelessly abandon the territory until he’s at the end of the rope, and Mu Prince won’t agree either! Based on my understanding of this person, he will certainly try to fight us, and only when he absolutely can’t hold it will he implement scorched earth, so we still have time."
After a pause, he looked around at everyone:
"Three days, it will take at least three days for the other side to complete the preparations for burning the city!
Everyone stay behind, we will discuss together, and by tomorrow, we must come up with at least three plans to counterattack as quickly as possible."
He turned to Sun Xiaozhun:
"Governor Sun, please attend to all the big and small matters in the city."
Sun Xiaozhun nodded vigorously, the black and thin magistrate’s hair seeming whiter.
Xue Shence looked again at Zhao Douan and Mo Chou, saying with some shame:
"Commander Zhao..."
Zhao Douan stood up, saying calmly:
"I don’t understand commanding troops in battle, so I won’t get involved in the specific tactical arrangements. I’ll go rest first in the back. I’m tasked with supervising the army, and all specific battle arrangements are decided by Minister Xue."
He knew full well how terrifying it is for an outsider to guide an insider, so he explicitly stated he wouldn’t interfere in specific matters.
Xue Shence gave him a grateful look.
Zhao Douan turned his head to look at Mo Chou, who was still sitting there:
"What about you?"
Mo Chou bit her lip and said, "I’ll listen here for a while, you go rest first."
As if you could even understand what you’re listening to... Zhao Douan shook his head and walked out alone.
No one saw him off, not even Shi Meng or Chen Gui, these leaders of the Divine Mechanism Camp, who were all engrossed around the sand table, discussing tactics with Xue Shence.
The noisy, heated discussion had nothing to do with Zhao Douan.
Even though he had defeated the Qingzhou Army, everyone knew it was mostly thanks to firearms, so as long as the Divine Mechanism Camp was here and Chen Gui was here, that was enough.
And when faced with real battlefield decisions and operations, aiming to recapture lost ground within three days, a nearly impossible task,
all eyes would be fixed on Xue Shence.
Placing their hopes in this "Great Yu’s Military God."
Like when the enemy was attacking, just seeing Xue Shence’s flag-like figure on the city walls could stabilize the army’s morale.
On the frontline battlefield, the "Military God" is the real protagonist.
The deep discussions grew more distant as Zhao Douan stepped out of the courtyard gate of the "Command Center," briefly pausing, turning to look back at the "Meeting Room" deep inside, and looking up at the sky where dark clouds had unknowingly gathered.
He murmured softly:
"Three days later, will the flames consume the city?"
"Heh, interesting."
——
PS: Happy Lantern Festival everyone