novelSusiti Chapter 400: Heavy Snow Blocks the Mountain!
Chapter 400: Heavy Snow Blocks the Mountain!
Zhang Fan looked at Fusu and earnestly reminded him, "An arrogant army is bound to be defeated; this is a major taboo in warfare."
The Xiongnu are familiar with the terrain and are extremely mobile. If we push them to the brink, they might send their elite cavalry to flank and attack us from behind. Our rear may not be safe!
No matter how good your equipment is, you should always be extra careful on the battlefield!
Upon hearing Zhang Fan's reprimand, Fusu immediately composed himself, his expression turning solemn as he bowed respectfully, saying, "Teacher's words are well-deserved; I will remember them and dare not slacken in the slightest!"
Mo Feng shrank back and quickly sat up straight, no longer daring to utter any more nonsense about a "vacation".
"Whoa!"
Just then, a long shout came from outside the carriage.
Immediately afterwards, the bugle call for the army's march became low and drawn-out, signaling that the entire army should halt its advance and set up camp on the spot.
The carriage came to a smooth stop.
"Reporting to the Grand Preceptor! The army has arrived at the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain, and Commander Meng has ordered us to set up camp and rest!" A guard shouted from outside the carriage.
"Have we arrived yet?"
Zhang Fan stretched, and with the help of Luo Ying and Luo Li, he put on a heavy black cloak and opened the carriage door.
A gust of cold wind instantly rushed into the carriage, making Fusu and Mofeng shiver.
Zhang Fan jumped off the carriage and looked up. He saw a majestic black mountain range lying across the vast land like a giant dragon on the horizon ahead. Its peaks were covered with thick white snow, exuding a chilling aura.
This is Yinshan!
Before long, a fast horse galloped from the direction of the main camp ahead.
Before the man even got close, he excitedly shouted, "Immortal Master! Young Master! I've been waiting for you!"
The newcomer was none other than Wang Li, the vanguard general.
He dismounted, the armor plates clanging together with a resounding thud, and strode up to Zhang Fan, his face flushed with barely suppressed excitement.
"Master! The 'Mitsubishi Military Dagger' forged from the blueprints you provided is simply a divine artifact!"
As soon as they met, Wang Li began to praise them endlessly, "These past few days, I had the brothers of the vanguard battalion test its power with frozen pig hind legs on the road!"
As soon as it was stabbed in, the three blood grooves bled instantly, and when it was pulled out, it brought out a large chunk of flesh, making the wound impossible to stitch up!
With such a powerful close-combat weapon, I am confident that if we encounter the Xiongnu cavalry, my five thousand vanguard brothers can riddle them with holes!"
Seeing Wang Li's enthusiastic expression, Zhang Fan smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "A good knife should be used on its own. If you like it, that's all that matters!"
But you rushed here so quickly, surely it wasn't just to praise me, was it?
Wang Li's expression turned serious, and he quickly clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Immortal Master, you are wise! The army has already set up camp. Commander Meng requests that you and the eldest son proceed to the central command tent immediately to discuss urgent military matters and plans!"
"Urgent military situation?"
Zhang Fan and Fu Su exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking slightly.
An emergency has already occurred just as we arrived at the foot of Yinshan Mountain. It seems that this battle is indeed not as easy as we imagined.
"Let's go to the central command tent!"
Central command tent.
Inside the large tent, four huge braziers were burning, illuminating the interior brightly.
In the center of the tent, there was a huge sand table covered with small flags of various colors representing the forces of both sides.
Meng Tian, the commander-in-chief of the 300,000-strong Qin Northern Expeditionary Army and one of the empire's two pillars, was frowning deeply, his hands gripping the edge of the sand table, staring intently at a canyon on the northern slope of Yinshan Mountain.
"General Meng! The Imperial Advisor and the Eldest Son have arrived!"
With a shout from the guard outside the tent, the heavy curtain was lifted, and Zhang Fan and Fusu walked in one after the other.
Upon hearing the report, Meng Tian, who had been frowning, suddenly turned around.
The moment he saw Zhang Fan, a bright smile instantly bloomed on his weathered and resolute face, and he quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"This humble general, Meng Tian, greets the eldest son! Greetings to the Imperial Preceptor!"
Meng Tian gave Fusu a perfunctory half-bow, then grabbed Zhang Fan's wrist, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and affection, and laughed heartily:
"Immortal Master! You've finally arrived! The military exercise outside Xianyang City a few months ago, the talent you displayed on the simulation sand table, and your imaginative strategies for breaking through enemy formations, still leave me with endless admiration and awe!"
"This humble general has long advised His Majesty that if Qin were to ever wage war, Lord Zhang would undoubtedly be the commander-in-chief! To be able to fight alongside the Grand Preceptor today is truly a blessing for Meng Tian and for Qin!"
Faced with such blatant praise from this legendary general, Zhang Fan couldn't help but blush a little.
In that military exercise a few months ago, he merely used modern tactics to deliver a crushing blow to these ancient generals.
"General Meng flatters me. I am but a theorist. When it comes to the real battlefield, we will have to rely on your wisdom and guidance," Zhang Fan said modestly, waving his hand.
Meng Tian laughed and shook his head: "Grand Preceptor, you are too modest! However..."
Meng Tian's smile gradually faded, his gaze returning to the sand table in the center of the tent. His eyes became solemn and profound, and he sighed, saying:
"My urgent invitation to the Imperial Advisor and the Eldest Son today is not for reminiscing. The army is indeed facing a tremendous problem!"
Upon hearing the word "difficult problem," Zhang Fan and Fu Su's expressions turned serious.
The army had just arrived at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, with ample supplies and high morale. The problem that could trouble Meng Tian, a veteran general who had fought countless battles, was definitely no small matter.
The two walked to the sand table and looked in the direction Meng Tian was pointing.
"Please take a look, Imperial Advisor."
Meng Tian pointed to the massive mountain range model stretching east to west on the sand table, "The Yin Mountains are our only route into the northern grasslands and straight to the Xiongnu royal court! This place is strategically important and has a treacherous terrain!"
"According to my original plan, after the army rests for a day, we will break camp and split into three routes to cross the Yinshan Mountains and storm into the grasslands with overwhelming force."
As Meng Tian spoke, he walked to the tent flap, suddenly lifted it a crack, pointed to the swirling snowflakes falling outside, and said in a heavy tone:
"However, things didn't go as planned! The grasslands were hit by a rare 'white disaster,' and this cold wave not only froze the Xiongnu's cattle and sheep to death, but also affected the entire Yinshan mountain range!"
"Imperial Preceptor, do you know what this falling snow signifies?"
Meng Tian lowered the curtain, walked back to the sand table, and frowned.
"The Yinshan Mountains are inherently rugged with steep cliffs, and in many places, even in the height of summer, only one or two horses can pass side by side."
Now, the mountains are blocked by heavy snow, with snowdrifts reaching knee-deep and even waist-deep! Once those steep mountain paths freeze over, they become as slippery as mirrors. Forget warhorses; even foot soldiers climbing on foot face a near-certain death. A single misstep could send them tumbling into the abyss, shattering to their deaths!