My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 628 - 210: A Worthy Opponent_4

Military Strategy.

Defend the nation with righteousness, deploy troops with surprises, plan before battle, encompass both circumstances and essence, and use techniques skillfully.

Those who like to employ military strategy often arrange everything in advance.

Just like a game of Go.

The player holding the white pieces moves first.

That Han Xiang, has already taken the lead by one move.

That night.

The battle reports from the front were quickly relayed back.

"Report—"

"Cloud Top Prefecture is in urgent need!"

"General Teng Le claims that the West Qi has dispatched additional troops to besiege us, and he hopes we can hurry to reinforce!"

"..."

"Not good!"

Chu Shixiong looked over the map, "Lord Governor, if Cloud Top Prefecture falls, the West Qi Army will be able to control the food supply route of Luo River, peering into the whole of Jiazhou. Worse still, we might have to continue retreating."

"If we retreat further... we'll have to fall back to 'Guan Du'!"

"I think we should immediately go to support them, why not let me go!"

"Wait..."

Tong Xiaochu, no longer the Commander, felt significantly less pressure and was finally able to calmly consider the situation. He analyzed, "Supervisor, could West Qi be feigning an attack, aiming to lure us west of Luo River?"

"Indeed, it's a feint."

Chen Sansi gave a firm affirmation.

"What should we do?"

Tong Xiaochu said, "Shall I send a message to Teng Le immediately, ordering him to continue defending at all cost?"

"No."

Chen Sansi suddenly stood up, "Issue orders to the entire army to set out immediately. Twelve thousand troops to cross the river together, providing support to Cloud Top Prefecture without fail."

"Supervisor."

Tong Xiaochu, following close behind, asked in confusion, "Knowing it's a feint, why cross the river?"

"When the false is true, the true is also false."

While walking out, Chen Sansi calmly said, "If we don't go, the feint will become a ferocious attack. If the fifty-thousand soldiers in Cloud Top Prefecture were to be lost, we would truly have no strength to contend with them afterward."

"Tong Xiaochu, listen to my command!"

"Immediately lead two Qi Refining Middle Stage Practitioners and five hundred soldiers with two hundred small boats, and have hooks and iron chains ready on the boats. Wait in advance on both sides of the Du He Bridge."

"Small boats? Chains?"

Tong Xiaochu initially wanted to inquire further but stopped midway through his question, finding it too embarrassing to ask, and thus promptly turned to execute the order.

Meanwhile.

The Supervisor's standard army also began their march, preparing to cross the great bridge over the Yangtze River.

After nearly half a year of continuous defeats, their morale was at an all-time low, so much so that their march seemed deathly still. In contrast, the fifteen thousand soldiers from the Hongze Camp were disciplined and bristling with aggression.

"That's the Hongze Camp?"

"Yes, I've heard we have a new Commander, now it's Chen Dushi who is commanding!"

"That's excellent."

"Does that mean we won't suffer defeats like before?"

"Nonsense!"

Zhao Kang shouted, "Think about it, has Chen Dushi ever lost a battle since he enlisted?"

"Indeed not!"

"And I heard that today in the camp, Chen Dushi and the clone of the Military Immortal had a conversation, saying that the Military Immortal has been defeated!"

"..."

Driven by the Hongze Camp.

The morale of the Supervisor's standard army gradually recovered. Upon reaching the shore, they started the river-crossing under the cover of night.

...

In the West Qi camp.

"Immortal Master."

Zhong Wuxin lifted the tent flap with excitement, "Just as you predicted, the twelve-thousand-strong Dasheng army has begun to cross the river! And because time is of the essence, they could only take the bridge. Should we attack them mid-crossing and make their crossing uneasy?"

"Tap~"

Upon hearing the news, Han Xiang picked up a black piece, acting as an opponent, and placed it on the board.

Then, he placed a white piece, advancing a new move, as if in a good mood, he patiently explained, "Cloud Top Prefecture has not yet fallen, at most two to three hundred people can bypass the city unnoticed. Any more would reveal their position and get sandwiched from both sides. Do you think that two to three hundred people are enough to strike them mid-crossing?"

"So."

"Let them cross the bridge."

"After they cross the bridge, command an Immortal Master to fill a storage bag with boats, lead two hundred men to silently bypass the city, find an opportunity to burn the bridge and cut off their retreat."

"But..."

Despite his worries, Zhong Wuxin dared not speak directly.

"If you have a different opinion, just say it. Sometimes it is the mediocre who can foresee the unforeseen."

Han Xiang spoke with contempt, but was not averse to his subordinates offering advice.

He liked to hear diverse opinions.

It was only this way that he could affirm what was the "correct" strategy.

A military leader must have his own pride but cannot be stubborn, otherwise, he is nothing but a common thug.

With permission granted, Zhong Wuxin spoke without hesitation, "But if the twelve thousand troops have all crossed the river, and then their retreat is cut off, won't that drive them to fight desperately like cornered beasts? The battle of the Agate River was less than a year ago."

"Agate River~"

Thinking of the place, Han Xiang casually remarked, "I've read the records of that battle, used last resort tactics myself. But whether it's a last resort battle or burning bridges behind, it's not as simple as a 'cornered beast's fight' on the surface; it requires 'hope' for support."

"Agate River was successful."

"Because the blockhead from the Yuwen clan emptied the nest, losing their base."

"That won't happen to us."

"And Chen Sansi's subordinates, aside from the Hongze Camp, aren't his loyal troops; their trust in him isn't that high."

"If the retreat is truly cut off, they won't fight like cornered beasts; they will be in a state of panic until they completely fall apart."

"I understand."

With a salute, Zhong Wuxin said, "Thank you for the instruction, Immortal Master! I'll arrange it right away!"

...

The Luo River!

Right after Dasheng's twelve-thousand-strong army had crossed.

At midnight.

A large, silent ship appeared on the surface of the water.