novelSusiti Chapter 77 Merger Strategy
Chapter 77 Merger Strategy
Chapter 77 Merger Strategy
Zhong Pu led two thousand elite troops from Xihe and Qinfeng, traveling light and quickly. With strict orders from Hu Zonghui in the prefectures and counties along the way, the supply of food and fodder was smooth, and they arrived at the city of Shanzhou in less than five days.
At this moment, outside the city gate of Shanzhou, Zhao Mingcheng, along with Wang Shan, Liu Zhongwu, Tong Guan, Xia Zheng, and others, had lined up to welcome them.
To show respect, Zhao Mingcheng wore a scarlet official robe today, but not a fur coat, only a light cloak. Wang Shan and Liu Zhongwu were both in armor and stood solemnly on either side.
From afar, Zhong Pu could see the neatly arranged banners below the city. As he approached, he saw that the welcoming party was not large in number.
The one in the scarlet robe must be Zhao Fuyu.
"What a fine man! So robust and strong!"
This was Pu Xin's first impression of Zhao Mingcheng.
Having spent a lot of time with military officers and soldiers, coupled with his already tall stature and his consistent physical training, Zhao Mingcheng has become increasingly more like a warrior.
What caught Zhong Pu's attention even more was...
The soldiers guarding the city walls were fully armored, stood at attention with their guns, and the sentry posts were clearly marked. The city walls had also been repaired and reinforced, and were by no means the dilapidated border town that one might imagine after just experiencing war and barely maintaining its condition.
"This humble general, Zhong Pu, has been ordered by Commander Hu to lead his troops to provide assistance. I pay my respects to Commissioner Zhao!"
Zhong Pu clasped his hands in a fist salute on horseback, his voice booming.
The two thousand soldiers behind him bowed in unison on their horses when their commander saluted. Their movements were so synchronized that they created a rustling sound as their armor plates rubbed together, demonstrating their excellent training.
Zhao Mingcheng stepped forward, returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and smiled.
"General Zhong, you have had a long and arduous journey! Commander Hu trusts you greatly. Your arrival is a great help to the people and soldiers of the Hehuang region! Please come into the city quickly!"
As the group entered the city, Zhong Pu deliberately observed them closely.
Although the streets of Shanzhou City were not wide, they were clean and tidy, and the patrolling soldiers moved about in an orderly manner.
The faint sounds of people trading could be heard coming from the direction of the market, which seemed quite lively.
Upon arriving at the temporary headquarters, which was converted from the former Tibetan royal palace, a simple feast had been prepared in the hall to welcome Zhongpu and his main generals.
During the meal, Zhao Mingcheng introduced Wang Shan, Liu Zhongwu, and others to Zhong Pu one by one.
Zhong Pu had long heard of Wang Shan, a valiant general who had expanded the borders, and greatly admired his military achievements. He also had a good impression of Liu Zhongwu's composure.
As they ate and talked, the topic quickly turned to the current military situation.
Zhao Mingcheng informed Zhong Pu of the latest intelligence that Tong Guan had gathered: approximately a thousand Xia soldiers had left Zhuoluo City and were suspected of joining forces with Xisheluosa. He also reiterated his assessment of the enemy's situation.
After listening, Zhong Pu frowned and put down his wine glass.
"The judgment made by the pacification commission largely coincides with what I had thought along the way. The Xia traitors are indeed unable to restrain themselves and are about to make their move. I just don't know how many rabble that scoundrel Xi Sheluo Sa has gathered."
Wang Shan replied.
"According to reports from various places in the past few days, as well as news from the former subordinates of the Longza leader, Xisheluosa has gathered about two thousand men around the Qilian Mountains and Qinghai Lake through a combination of intimidation and deception. Adding the remaining two thousand of his own troops, the total number of Tibetan soldiers is about four thousand. Adding the one thousand Xia soldiers, especially those several hundred Iron Falcons, the total strength should be over five thousand, perhaps close to six thousand."
Liu Zhongwu added: "Although the enemy forces are numerous, their composition is complex. The Xia army and the Tubo army are certainly not of one mind. The Xia army needs to preserve its strength, and Xisheluosa needs to prove its worth through battle. The various Tubo tribes were hastily assembled, with inconsistent commands and varying combat capabilities. This is their weakness."
As Zhong Pu listened, his gaze swept across the faces of Zhao Mingcheng, Wang Shan, and Liu Zhongwu. Seeing that the three men's analysis of the enemy situation was clear and logical, with distinct strengths and weaknesses, and was by no means just empty talk, the slight contempt he had felt because they were civil officials in charge of the matter faded away considerably.
This Zhao Mingcheng was a civil official who knew about military affairs.
Zhong Pu raised a question.
"Five to six thousand—that's definitely more troops than mine. After our forces combine, the garrison in Shanzhou and Miaochuan, plus my two thousand, and then adding General Wang and General Liu's troops and that newly formed Unity Battalion, our field force—would be around four thousand?"
Zhao Mingcheng nodded: "That's right, there are about 4,500 troops capable of mobile warfare. Among them, General Zhong's troops are the most elite, while General Wang and General Liu's troops are seasoned veterans. The Unity Battalion has undergone several months of training and is also capable of fighting, but they are still relatively new and lack experience in field combat."
Zhong Pu quickly calculated in his mind that with four thousand five thousand against five thousand five thousand or even six thousand, his troop strength was at a disadvantage, and the enemy had a type of soldier with extremely strong impact, such as Tie Zi.
However, our side has cities to defend and people to rely on. More importantly, the enemy's lack of coordination is our biggest weakness.
This battle is worth fighting, but we absolutely cannot engage in a head-on confrontation.
He looked at Zhao Mingcheng and asked directly, "The enemy is powerful and coming in a fierce manner. I wonder if you have any strategies to defeat them?"
""
Zhao Mingcheng did not answer immediately, but got up and walked to the large map of the Hehuang region hanging in the hall, gesturing for everyone to come closer.
"Holding fast to Qingtang and fighting from the city walls may seem safe, but it is actually a poor strategy."
Zhao Mingcheng pointed to Shanzhou City and said, "Gentlemen, look, the enemy's army is several times larger than ours. If they besiege us without attacking, but instead divide their forces to plunder our farmland and markets and cut off our supply lines, then we will surely be in internal strife within a month."
Seeing my predicament, the tribes that have submitted to me will inevitably harbor resentment. Furthermore, the Xia army's Iron Falcons excel in open field battles, not siege warfare. Xisheluosa, eager to prove his worth to the Xia, will surely be impatient for battle. If our army merely holds the line, we will play right into their hands, exhausting and weakening us.”
"Does that edict mean—to take the initiative? To fight a decisive battle in the open?" Zhong Pu raised an eyebrow.
Fighting outnumbered opponents, especially in the open field, is extremely risky.
"No." Zhao Mingcheng shook his head, his finger moving away from Qing Tang City and sliding downstream along the Huangshui River, finally stopping at a river bend marked "Black Stone Beach".
"It's neither a passive defense nor a reckless, blind battle. Instead, it's about luring the enemy out of their hiding place, setting up a pre-planned battlefield, waiting for them to tire themselves out, and then defeating them in one fell swoop!"
Zhao Mingcheng emphasized "Black Stone Beach" with his finger.
"This place is about forty miles from Shanzhou City. The Huangshui River makes a big bend here, forming a wide beach surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side."
The entrance was only a hundred paces wide, which was advantageous for cavalry to launch a charge and display their strength upon initial entry. However, once deeper into the beach area, the mountains on both sides gradually rose, and the space available for a large army to maneuver was actually limited. Even better, the ridges on the east and west sides were gentle, with dense forests and grasses, making it extremely easy to ambush troops.
Wang Shan's eyes lit up: "Sir, are you planning to—set up an ambush here?"
"Exactly!" Zhao Mingcheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"The enemy forces are large and are assembled from many different groups, so their hearts are not united. The Xia army, wanting to preserve its strength, will certainly not be willing to fight a desperate battle first."
Moreover, Xisheluosa desperately needed military merit to prove himself worthy of Xia's support, and was eager for war, especially a victory that would demonstrate his worth. So we catered to his desires, giving him a seemingly easy opportunity to win!
Zhao Mingcheng explained his next plan: "First, we need to convince Xi Sheluo Sa that our main force has been dispersed. Recently, the number of military settlements has increased, and we need to protect them with troops; the grain routes leading to Xizhou and Hezhou also need to be guarded."
I can have General Liu stationed in Shanzhou City, but we must make a big show of it, raise many flags, and open and close the city gates regularly every day, with troops coming and going, to make it appear as if we have a large army in the city and are strictly guarding it.
At the same time, I deliberately allowed the patrol teams and grain transport teams to be more active around the Black Stone Beach, and let some messages be transmitted to the ears of possible spies through reliable but careless channels, or let the people of the tribes who have submitted to me inadvertently reveal that I am worried about the autumn harvest of the garrison and often lead guards to patrol the garrison points.
The pressure on rear supply lines is immense, and the increased movement of convoys has diverted a significant amount of troops.
In short, the goal was to make Xi Sheluosa believe that while Qing Tang had a considerable number of troops, its mobile field forces were hampered by trivial matters and were relatively weak.
Zhong Pu listened intently, and he quickly understood Zhao Mingcheng's thoughts.
"Upon hearing this, Xi Sheluo Sa would surely think there is an opportunity to take advantage of. In particular, if he discovers that a grain transport team or an imperial patrol team is active in the Black Stone Beach area, he would see it as a godsend."
If we can defeat the grain escort team, or capture and kill them to appease them, our achievements will be immediately apparent, enough to give an account to the Xia people, and will also boost the morale of the Tibetan allied forces!
'
"Excellent!" Zhao Mingcheng gave Zhong Pu an approving look. "This is bait. When the time comes, Xi Sheluo Sa will be eager for merit and will rely on his superior numbers and the Iron Falcons. He will likely lead his troops to advance rapidly and pursue Xi Sheluo Sa into the beach area. The Xia army will also follow suit to monitor the battle and prevent Xi Sheluo Sa from taking all the credit."
Then, Zhao Mingcheng pointed to the terrain of Black Stone Beach.
"Once the enemy's main force floods into this funnel-shaped beach, their numerical advantage will be difficult to fully exploit on the narrow front, and their ranks will inevitably become elongated and chaotic. Our ambush can then be launched suddenly! Do any of you generals have any objections?"
"This humble general has no objection!"
"This humble general has no objections!"
Wang, Liu, and Zhong all agreed on this battle strategy.
"Okay, let's get started on the arrangements."
Zhao Mingcheng began making arrangements.
"General Liu, you will lead your troops of about a thousand men to stay and defend Qingtang. You must defend the city with great fanfare, creating the illusion that the main force is still there. At the same time, ensure that Qingtang is completely safe, stabilize the people's hearts, monitor the tribes that have submitted, and serve as the last line of defense."
Liu Zhongwu has always been steady and cautious. This kind of task requires someone who is meticulous and familiar with the situation in Shanzhou City, and Liu Zhongwu is the most suitable person for it.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Liu Zhongwu clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"General Wang Shan, you commanded the main force of the Unity Battalion, about two thousand men, and secretly moved to the pre-arranged positions on the east and west ridges of Black Stone Beach two days in advance."
Bring plenty of bows and crossbows, along with arrows, gongs, drums, and flags. Your mission is to wait until the majority of the enemy forces enter the beach, then, using gongs, drums, and shouts as signals, unleash a volley of arrows to strike the enemy's central and rear areas, creating chaos.
There's no need to rush down the mountain for close combat; focus on ranged attacks and disrupting morale. If the enemy's vanguard is too fierce, a proper retreat can be made to lure them deeper.
"Understood! We'll make those barbarian thieves taste the dread of a rain of arrows!" Wang Shan rubbed his hands together, eager for battle.
"General Zhong," Zhao Mingcheng said, looking at Zhong Pu with a solemn expression.
"Your two thousand elite troops are the sharpest spearhead of our army. Your mission is the most important and crucial. Your unit should secretly move into a secluded valley a day's journey upstream from Black Stone Beach, keep quiet, and block all news."
Once the ambush is launched and the enemy is thrown into chaos, especially with their vanguard separated from their main and rear guard, and the Xia army harassed by a hail of arrows, you will lead your troops in a swift attack from the upstream valley, striking directly at the enemy's heart and core!
With a fierce fighting spirit burning in his eyes, Zhong Pu responded with a resounding roar.
"This plan of your pacification is exactly what I wanted! I will lead my men straight to the central army, slay the generals, and seize the flag!"
Zhao Mingcheng concluded.
"As for the cavalry used as bait, they will be led by a deputy general appointed by General Liu or General Zhong. They must be brave and alert, able to lure the enemy deep into their territory and then escape in time. We will discuss the specific personnel and details later."
Zhao Mingcheng looked around at everyone one last time.
"The key to this battle lies in the timing and coordination, and in General Zhong's swift and precise assault."
All units must strictly adhere to the time limits, conceal their movements, and obey unified commands. The enemy forces are powerful, but their hearts are not united, and they are blinded by greed.
We can use this opportunity to set a trap and lure them in. Once we defeat Xisheluosa, the Xia army will lose its henchmen and excuse, and will certainly not dare to linger.
At that time, the Hehuang region will be pacified!
The crowd was thrilled by the plan, which was intricately linked and made the best use of the enemy's psychology, the terrain, and their own forces.
Wang Shan and Liu Zhongwu were already used to Zhao Mingcheng's strategies.
This was the first time that Zhong Pu had personally witnessed this young envoy planning a major battle. The doubts he had about the young envoy's status as a civil official completely disappeared, replaced by admiration and a strong desire to fight.
"We will obey the governor's order!" the three replied in unison.
With the plan finalized, the entire Shanzhou city and surrounding garrisons mobilized.
Upon returning to Shanzhou, Liu Zhongwu immediately ordered the city's defenses to be strengthened, with daily drills and soldiers marching in formation up and down the city walls, their flags clearly visible.
They also deliberately sent additional "patrol teams" out of the city at night, which would circle around for a short distance before returning, creating a tense atmosphere.
To the residents and merchants in the city, it was claimed that it was a routine precaution to guard against small groups of bandits.
Wang Shan began to secretly mobilize various units of the group, under the guise of "field training" and "relocation and joint defense," and moved them in batches and phases towards Heishitan under the cover of night or morning fog.
Along the way, Tong Guan's scouts eliminated any potential informants to ensure concealment.
Upon arriving at Black Stone Beach, they immediately occupied the advantageous terrain on the east and west slopes as planned, dug simple fortifications, stockpiled arrows and stones, and practiced ambush signals.
Zhong Pu led his 2,000 elite troops, guided by an expert familiar with the terrain, and made a large detour before quietly entering a remote valley about 30 miles upstream of Black Stone Beach, as designated by Zhao Mingcheng.
The entire army was to conceal their movements, and were forbidden from moving around or making loud noises. Scouts were to be sent out twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) to ensure that no one would notice them.
At the same time, Zhao Mingcheng instructed Tong Guan to begin releasing information.
Several remaining spies from the Wild Wolf tribe who were previously captured and were still in custody "accidentally" escaped. During the "pursuit," one or two of them were "killed," while the rest fled into the deep mountains in panic, bringing back Zhao Mingcheng's false intelligence.
At the same time, when the chiefs of several surrounding tribes came to report, Zhao Mingcheng "unintentionally" mentioned his concerns about the safety of the autumn harvest and the settlement, and "casually" said, "I still need to go to Heishitan to check on the newly reclaimed hillside in a couple of days."
After these chieftains return, the news will naturally spread gradually.
An invisible net has quietly been cast.
At the heart of the net was the seemingly calm and open Black Stone Beach, perfect for cavalry to roam.
Behind the net are the flags fluttering atop Qing Tang City, the silent bows and crossbows in the mountains, and the swords and spears honed in the valleys.
Zhao Mingcheng was stationed at the Qing Tang Commander's Mansion, listening to reports from all sides daily and adjusting the details accordingly.
Xi Sheluo Sa and Xia Jun were not fools; overly obvious flaws would only arouse suspicion.
His scheme was seven parts truth and three parts falsehood, making it extremely difficult to distinguish between them.
The key lies in grasping Xi Sheluo Sa's eagerness to prove himself and Xia Jun's contradictory mentality of wanting to reap the rewards but also being afraid of getting involved.
The bait has been cast, and the net has been set.