usatvline Chapter 19 Feint to the East, Attack in the West
Chapter 19 Feint to the East, Attack in the West
"Zang Ba is asking us for help?"
Yuan Tan frowned.
"Lu Bu couldn't even conquer Langya, so why did he dare to launch an attack on Beihai and Donglai?"
Even though he didn't understand military strategy, he knew from reading so many novels and watching so many TV shows in his previous life that dividing troops was a major taboo in military strategy.
If the siege of Langya fails, the troops from Beihai and Donglai will become an isolated force.
Everyone was taken aback.
Sinpi stroked his beard and pondered:
"My lord, this matter is strange. Lü Bu's forces are limited; besieging Langya is already difficult enough, how could he possibly have the spare strength to divide his troops and plunder our Beihai and Donglai? Moreover, bypassing Langya and penetrating deep into Qingzhou is a cardinal sin in military strategy."
Although Lü Bu was brave, his subordinate Chen Gong was a wise and experienced strategist, and he should not have acted so unwisely…”
Zhang He clasped his hands in a fist and asked, "Could it be a feint? Or perhaps Yellow Turban soldiers are impersonating them?"
This remark served as a reminder to Yuan Tan. Just as he was about to speak, Guo Jia, who had been silently staring at the map, suddenly laughed:
In my opinion, Lü Bu must be starving.
He looked around at everyone and spoke faster:
"Lu Bu is indeed brave, but he is incompetent in commanding his army, and the supply of provisions has always been his Achilles' heel. Now that he is attacking Langya with all his might, if he fails to capture it after a long siege, his provisions will surely run out!"
Attacking Beihai and Donglai is a pretense; his real intention is to plunder grain! He's doing this out of desperation, a desperate measure to quench his thirst!
Guo Jia's finger suddenly pointed to the location of Dongwu on the map:
"If Langya falls, the southern gate of Qingzhou will be wide open, and Lü Bu's iron cavalry can advance straight in along the Shu and Yi rivers. At that time, we will all be trapped like turtles in a jar! Saving Zang Ba is saving ourselves!"
Xinpi, upon hearing this, seemed to be deep in thought and said:
"Fengxiao's words make sense. According to the reports from the scouts, the attackers of Beihai and Donglai are mostly cavalry. Cavalry is not suitable for attacking fortified positions. If we let the two places fortify their defenses and wait for our army to come to their rescue, then the two places will surely be safe."
What we need to focus on now is Langya. Since Zang Ba is willing to surrender, we have a good excuse to take control of Langya.
Yuan Tan nodded slightly and asked:
"Do either of you have a brilliant plan?"
Now, after this discussion, we have a general understanding of Lü Bu's army.
However, although Yuan Tan had some ideas on how to defeat the enemy, it would be difficult for him to articulate them.
Indeed, professional matters should be handled by professionals!
Guo Jia laughed and said:
"This isn't difficult; I have a plan to feint to the east while attacking in the west!"
Then, under Guo Jia's guidance, the three quickly came up with a plan for the next step.
Xin Pi was instructed to make a grand show of force, using Yuan Tan's name, and leading the newly recruited auxiliary soldiers and laborers from Linzi, numbering in the tens of thousands, southward in a grand manner, making the appearance of rescuing Beihai and Donglai.
The march should be slow and the momentum should be great, so as to attract the full attention of Lü Bu's scouts.
The other route was led by Yuan Tan, who, along with Zhang He and all his elite troops, marched in silence, taking a shortcut along Mount Tai, and headed straight for Dongwu!
Dongwu is the vital passage connecting Langya with Beihai and Donglai!
The goal was to cut off the cavalry's retreat route, leaving Song Xian and Hao Meng's detachment that had been seizing grain isolated and with no way to escape!
At that time, whether to encircle and annihilate or force a landing will be decided in a single decision!
With no supplies left, Lü Bu's retreat was imminent.
After making the decision, Xin Pi immediately conscripted auxiliary soldiers and laborers from Linzi, and they set off in a grand procession from the mainland toward the North Sea.
Meanwhile, Yuan Tan led his elite troops along the Taishan Trail to launch a surprise attack on Dongwu.
Along the way, he also figured out Guo Jia's plan.
He himself had a poor reputation, and his advisors, such as Guo Jia, were hiding in the shadows.
Therefore, Lü Bu would certainly not suspect anything if I pulled this stunt.
Even if Chen Gong and the others had some doubts, they couldn't think of so many things at the moment.
……
On the other side, in the main tent of Lü Bu's army in Langya.
Chen Gong, holding the intelligence just delivered by his spy, frowned deeply: "Lord Wen, Yuan Tan has led an army of over ten thousand south."
Lu Bu was wiping his halberd, without even looking up:
"Yuan Tan? That good-for-nothing who only became the governor of Qingzhou because of his father? It's better that he's coming to his death, saving me the trouble of going after him later. Let Song Xian and Hao Meng take care of him while they're at it."
"otherwise!"
Chen Gong shook his head.
"Judging from their military posture, their movements are sluggish and their soldiers lack fighting spirit, which seems more like a feint. Yuan Tan's move is probably intended to contain them, or perhaps he has other plans."
To be on the safe side, an emergency order is issued to Song Xian and Hao Meng to abandon Beihai and Donglai and immediately lead their cavalry back to defend Dongwu! If Dongwu falls, our flank of the Langya army will be in grave danger!
Lu Bu looked impatient:
"Gongtai, you're always so cautious. What courage does that brat Yuan Tan possess?"
But seeing Chen Gong's solemn expression, he waved his hand:
"Fine, fine, as you say. Issue the order for Song Xian and Hao Meng to withdraw and reinforce the defenses of Dongwu."
……
Beneath the walls of Beihai City, Hao Meng and Song Xianzheng were leading over a thousand cavalrymen in a fierce and relentless attack on the city.
As a veteran general in Lü Bu's army, how could he not know that using cavalry to attack a city is a major taboo in military strategy?
They initially used small groups of cavalry to lure the enemy, and then launched a counterattack once the main force of the Beihai garrison was mobilized.
This fighting style has indeed yielded many results.
What's infuriating is that after suffering several defeats, the Beihai garrison began a scorched-earth policy, refusing to come out no matter how they tried to lure the enemy out.
Although Hao Meng has made quite a few gains recently, he hasn't managed to get a single grain of food.
With his rations running low, how could he not be anxious?
With this in mind, Hao Meng put even more effort into directing the operation.
"My comrades! Give it your all! After the city falls, let our swords not be sheathed for three days!"
Upon hearing this, his soldiers began their attack on the city with even greater vigor.
Although the Bingzhou Iron Cavalry were cavalry, they were still elite troops.
They were far superior to the garrison troops in the city.
The siege ladders were erected countless times, but the defending troops' resistance grew weaker and weaker, and the city was about to fall.
However, at this critical moment, a scout suddenly galloped up, saw Hao Meng, and dismounted, whipping his horse, saying:
"General! The lord orders you to return to Dongwu immediately to guard against Yuan Tan's army!"
"What?! With the city on the verge of falling, are you retreating now?"
Hao Meng was so angry that she snatched the command token away, wishing she could break it on the spot.
"I'm not retreating! Go back and tell Marquis Wen, give me two more hours—no, one more hour! I will definitely take Beihai City!"
Song Xian, who was standing nearby, quickly pulled him back:
"General Hao! Calm down! Military orders are absolute! Marquis Wen must have a deeper meaning! Besides, if Dongwu falls, we will all be isolated and die without a burial place! Seizing some spoils is a minor matter; preserving our lives and the army is the greater good!"
Upon hearing this, Hao Meng spat angrily. Just as he was about to order a retreat, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked at the sentry and said:
"Was this order issued by Marquis Wen, or was it issued on his advice by the strategist?"
The sentry hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully:
"To be honest, General, this order was issued only after the strategist strongly urged our lord to comply!"
Hao Meng immediately burst into laughter:
"What is there to fear! Once I've taken Beihai and seized enough supplies, it won't be too late to return to Dongwu! With supplies by then, Lord Wen won't really do anything to us!"