"Lord Ito's ninja, Sasaki Jiro, pays respects to the Left Virtuous King!"
As the male ninja entered the tent, he first announced his name, then immediately presented the secret letter delivered by Yuzao, informing him of the detailed situation.
"Your country of Izumo's most talented woman has infiltrated Liang Xiao's inner circle and become the wife of Yu Qingchuan, a chivalrous swordsman of Tianshan under Liang Xiao? Excellent, excellent!" The Left Virtuous King clapped his hands in praise, then passed the secret letter to his generals for perusal. "What do you all think?"
"Is that woman truly reliable?" the strategist worried.
Sasaki replied, "Lord Tamamo-no-Mae is a native of our Izumo country. She is a dancer personally trained by our Emperor. The Emperor owes her a debt of life-saving, protection, and upbringing. He even avenged her by eliminating his political rivals who destroyed her sect!"
The barbarians, deep in thought.
"So, Liang Xiao suddenly ordered the White Robed Soldiers to act as scouts precisely to clear out our scouts around Yan Province, making it convenient for him to sally forth and attack our army?" The Left Virtuous King's gaze turned cold.
The strategist reminded him, "Marshal, we also heard from spies within the city yesterday. Indeed, dozens of Tianshan swordsmen swaggered through the streets and entered Liang Xiao's manor. Among them was one Du Pingling, a capable individual ranked tenth under the Sword Saint and a renowned swordsman in the north! The Northern Frontier Army is also mobilizing cavalry. Coupled with the White Robed Soldiers, their numbers should reach thirty thousand!"
"So, considering all this, this intelligence is accurate. Liang Xiao indeed intends to annihilate our reserve forces after we split our troops?" The generals sneered.
The Left Virtuous King questioned Sasaki further. When the latter could no longer provide any more information, he ordered someone to escort him to the reception room and reward him handsomely. Then, his eyes narrowed into slits as he began to contemplate a countermeasure.
The strategist reminded him, "Marshal, if that is the case, then our sending cavalry to harass Yan Province will only make Liang Xiao firmly believe that we do not intend to retreat, and the Yan Province garrison will become even more hesitant to venture out!"
The Left Virtuous King nodded slightly and smiled, "Then let's cancel the cavalry harassment strategy. We'll play along with his scheme. Send out only a small number of scouts for probing, and finally, let Liang Xiao be convinced that there are no more of our scouts within twenty-five li of Yan Province. This will give him more confidence to investigate our intelligence, luring him to attack?"
The strategist was delighted, "Marshal, your decision to encamp in such terrain, rather than pressing close to Yan Province, is truly far-sighted and brilliant! This way, Liang Xiao believes he has discovered our garrison's intelligence. Once he discovers we have 'split our troops,' he can confidently launch a surprise attack on the reserve army's camp, unaware that we have been lying in ambush in the rear. With our cavalry, we can rush to support at the fastest speed!"
The Left Virtuous King's long-depressed mood finally eased, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily to the sky, "If the Yan Province garrison pours out entirely, then as long as we win this battle, entering Yan Province will be as easy as turning our hand! One hundred and eighty thousand cavalry against less than one hundred and fifty thousand Yan Province garrison troops. The advantage is ours!"
The generals rejoiced.
The Left Virtuous King reminded them, "Immediately calculate the timing. Around the time the Tianjiang River freezes near Yun Province, our army can feign a division. The Tianjiang has not frozen yet, so even if we feign a division, they may not necessarily pursue. This plan cannot be rushed!"
In the Northern Frontier Army camp, Zuo Wushang, disguised as the family retainer Liang Ke, returned to report to Liang Xiao.
"We waited on the official road near Tianshan and Yan Province last night. As expected, we discovered a carriage traveling at full speed. The passenger's appearance was very similar to Yuzao's description. Later, this person only allowed the carriage to enter the city and did not enter Yan Province himself. Instead, he bypassed the forests around Yan Province and headed north!"
Below the platform, Mu Hong, Nan Jiyun, and Lü Changhe were both surprised and delighted.
After Zuo Wushang left, everyone immediately began to discuss.
"It seems they have indeed brought the intelligence provided by Yuzao to the barbarians." Liang Xiao smiled slightly, glancing at the military map of the Yan Province region. "According to the barbarians' past methods, if they do not intend to retreat, they will dispatch cavalry to harass and provoke our army daily. This action would prevent us from clearing out surrounding scouts, making it extremely difficult to execute subsequent plans."
Mu Hong reminded him, "Perhaps they intended to feign a division to lure our army out?"
Liang Xiao patiently explained.
"Winter has not yet arrived. Even if the barbarians divide their forces to support Yun Province, it would be counterproductive. Although Yun Province has also implemented a scorched-earth policy, there is a vast grassland north of Yun Province where horses can be grazed. As winter arrives, some water sources will inevitably freeze, and the grazing grass will wither in large quantities!"
"However, the barbarian iron cavalry from Yan Province arriving here would add two hundred thousand people out of thin air. If they cannot quickly conquer Yun Province, it would be a tremendous burden on water and fodder. As long as we can control the visibility around Yan Province, the initiative for engaging in battle outside the city will always remain with us."
Everyone suddenly understood.
As winter approached, the barbarians faced increasing difficulty in drawing water from the Tianjiang. By dividing their forces into three routes, they could tie down three locations, increasing opportunities to attack two locations, and also reducing the barbarians' drain on local water, wood, and other natural resources.
Moreover, with an additional two hundred thousand people, it would take a significant amount of time for them to cross the Tianjiang and rendezvous with their allies before the frozen period. Given the already limited river crossing resources, the time required just to cross the river would be enough for the Yan Province garrison to arrive and provide reinforcements. This was not what the barbarians desired!
"The barbarians consist mostly of cavalry. If they were to reinforce the Right Virtuous King in Yun Province, we, for the sake of stability, would also have to reinforce Yun Province. At that time, we would need to dispatch Yan Province's cavalry, just like them. With Yan Province lacking cavalry, even if we could defeat the barbarians in open battle, we wouldn't be able to pursue them. It would be better to simply hold our ground defensively..." Mu Hong explained.
Lü Changhe added, "Therefore, before the Tianjiang River section freezes, if the Left Virtuous King is not incompetent, he would not go to support Yun Province. Once the Left Virtuous King chooses the period when the Tianjiang freezes to withdraw his troops, it would be logical and justifiable. We would then be put in a passive position, unsure whether he is truly retreating or feigning retreat. We would either have to pursue or also go to reinforce Yun Province! In that case, for him to clear out the surrounding barbarian scouts would be exactly what he wants?"
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly.
"From the moment the barbarian iron cavalry chose to encamp at the highest terrain, they had this intention. We must fall right into their plan!"
"For the years of peace of the Great Qian Kingdom, for the people of the Northern Frontier not to live in constant fear, and for the one hundred thousand souls of Helan Mountain, this battle must seize the right opportunity and strike fear into the hearts of the barbarians!"
"But our army must choose the most advantageous terrain and situation. We absolutely must not let the barbarians know our deployment after leaving the city too early. At the same time, we must induce the barbarians to return and attack Yan Province. Only then can we achieve a decisive victory, minimize casualties, and ensure that Yan Province is not destroyed!"
Everyone suddenly understood, their hearts grew stern, and they all nodded in agreement.
They all knew that Liang Xiao had never shied away from battle, he was simply waiting for the best opportunity!
The opportune moment for the White Robed Soldiers, the Great Qian Iron Guards, and the Qingtian Guards to fully unleash their might and deliver a fatal blow to the enemy.
The Left Virtuous King had been famous for a long time and could not possibly not understand military strategy.
There were many factors influencing the outcome of a battle between two armies, such as troop strength, command and leadership, and pre-battle planning...
Nan Jiyun returned the Setting Sun Bow to Liang Xiao and said with a wry smile, "The Heaven Shaking Bow is still more practical. The draw weight of the Setting Sun Bow is too great. With my strength, even if I can barely draw the Setting Sun Bow, its power wouldn't be much higher than using the Heaven Shaking Bow. Furthermore, it drains too much strength. The Vice Marshal is truly remarkable!"
Nan Jiyun had gone on two expeditions, and Liang Xiao had lent him the Setting Sun Bow for practical use, making it easier to shoot down enemy generals.
Liang Xiao summoned the Shadow Guards dispatched by Xiao Qing to retrieve the Setting Sun Bow for safekeeping.
Liang Xiao was now the Son-in-Law. These three hundred Shadow Guards were all at the level of five-person squad leaders or above, specifically responsible for assisting Liang Xiao in various confidential tasks.
For example, providing cover for Bai Ye Fei Ying and safekeeping the Setting Sun Bow...
Nan Jiyun finally couldn't help but ask, "Vice Marshal, I heard my third brother say that you can draw this bow full. I imagine the heavily armored commander in Luzhou was also killed by you with this bow. But to draw this bow, what kind of divine strength is required? You..."