Chapter 426: A Miraculous Strategy

Wang Yang looks at Li Jingxuan, who hurriedly lowers his head to play the coward.

Wang Yang withdraws his gaze and says indifferently:

"Of course we cannot return to Jingzhou."

The heart that had been hanging high in Li Jingxuan's chest finally falls back into place!

With Wang Yang's talent and strategy, it is impossible for him to support returning to Jing! If Wang Yang said he wanted to return to Jing, that would be clear proof that he wanted to overturn the army!

If that were the case, even at great risk, he would have to testify against Wang Yang on the spot! After all, the facts are there, the situation is clear, and Wang Yang would have no room for rebuttal! Even if his eloquence were great, he could not reverse—

That is also hard to say!!!

But fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not happen...

While feeling fortunate, Li Jingxuan cannot help but feel a small sense of disappointment...

The Prince of Badong does not have these thoughts; he had actually already been persuaded by Li Jingxuan that they should not return to Jingzhou, but facts had repeatedly proven that Li Yong-dog's level was limited, which is why he asked Wang Yang for a final confirmation. Now that Zhiyan says the same, there is nothing left to doubt.

"This Prince understands. Now we must take Yingzhou with all our might! We must take the three cities of Xiakou before the grain runs out and before the army's morale wavers!"

The Prince of Badong ignites his fighting spirit, showing a bit of his long-lost heroic spirit!

Wang Yang watches the Prince of Badong quietly and asks:

"And if we cannot take them?"

The Prince of Badong's heroic spirit suddenly stalls.

There is no need for him to answer; everyone knows the answer.

At this moment, Wang Yang asks again:

"And if we do take them?"

The Prince of Badong is overjoyed:

"If we take them? If we take them, then—"

Light bursts from the Prince of Badong's eyes! But it quickly turns to confusion...

That's right, what happens after we take them?

Others in the tent, especially Li Jingxuan, also fall into confusion. He was the one who advocated attacking Ying with all his might, but even he, asked this by Wang Yang, does not know what to do next.

The foundation of the Jingzhou army is Jingzhou. Now that the foundation is lost, how long can this isolated army last? Once the news spreads, forcing the army to ignore Jingzhou and continue eastward will likely lead to desertion at best, and mutiny at worst. The army might disintegrate and scatter before even reaching Jiangzhou.

Even if they do not mutiny or collapse, the soldiers will be disheartened and have almost no fighting spirit; how can they fight the Tai army? Besides, once the army leaves, how could Jingzhou not raid the rear? Even if they don't raid the rear, can a newly acquired Yingzhou serve as a backup?

The more Li Jingxuan thinks, the more he feels he cannot breathe, only to hear Wang Yang say:

"Yingzhou is located in the middle reaches, facing enemies from both east and west. Although it is called a strategic location, it is actually difficult to use military force.

In terms of power, the power of Yingzhou lies first in defending against the north, and second in defending against Jing.

In the middle reaches of the Huai River, the first line of defense against the north is Yiyang. With Yiyang in front and the three passes behind, and Ying's Jingling and Xiyang as wings, we can contend for Xu and Luo in the north and control the west of the Huai in the east.

If the first line collapses and the enemy reaches the river, we will use Jiangxia as the heart and backbone, and Wuchang and Baling as the left and right arms. This can serve as the second line, which can connect the shape of Jing and Xiang above, and transfer aid from Jiang and Xiang below! If we hold this line, the twenty thousand northern enemies are nothing to fear.

This is defending against the north..."

Hearing Wang Yang speak in such a relaxed and composed manner, the Prince of Badong suddenly feels a sense of guilt. It seems that a talent like Wang Yang should not be trapped under the walls of Xiakou with him, but should go to Jiankang, to the Tai City, to plan border defenses and northern expeditions with the Three Dukes and the various governors. That would be the true use of his talent...

He obtained such a great talent, yet he did not know how to cherish him, spending his days doubting and guarding against him. It is no wonder he ended up where he is today. Before his great cause was even achieved, he was thinking about how to strip Wang Yang of his power, thinking about how to never let Wang Yang command troops for the rest of his life. Xiao Zixiang, oh Xiao Zixiang, you pride yourself on being heroic, yet you cannot even use a Zhuge Liang; you are even worse than Liu Adou!!!

The Prince of Badong is falling into self-doubt when he suddenly hears a voice calling:

"Your Highness? Your Highness?"

The Prince of Badong wakes up as if from a dream, only to see Wang Yang standing beside him, asking with concern:

"Your Highness, what is wrong?"

"Ah, oh, I, I was just thinking about your words, Zhiyan, continue."

The Prince refocuses his attention.

Wang Yang continues:

"As for defending against Jing, the confluence of the Jiang and Han rivers is a throat, which can also serve as a major town.

However, the river route is dangerous, and both sides rely on it. Although the shape controls the throat, the room for maneuver is small.

As for land, population, wealth, and military resources, it is even less of a match for Jing.

Therefore, the power of Yingzhou to defend against Jing is inherently inferior to defending against the north. Moreover, Your Highness's enemy today is not in the north, but in the east and west.

To the west, Jingzhou is lost, and Wang and Liu are flourishing;

To the east, the Tai army is reinforcing, peeking and approaching.

Both east and west are in danger. Your Highness is in the middle, like a person standing on a single log, with abysses on both sides, unable to turn your feet!

And once the news of Jingzhou spreads through the army, the civil and military officials will miss their homes, and the soldiers will look to the west. At that time, with enemies in the east and west outside, and wavering human sentiment inside, how can Your Highness defend it?!

Defending is not enough, let alone advancing!

The slightest setback will lead to total defeat!"

The Prince of Badong had been pulled out of the water and sunned, but listening carefully to this, he is pushed back into the water!

The blood drains from his face, and he hurriedly steps forward to grab Wang Yang, as if grabbing the only lifeline:

"Zhiyan, Zhiyan, you said it! You said the odds of victory are still fifty-fifty! You must have a way, right?!"

Wang Yang's brows are calm and firm:

"Indeed! Someone, bring the map."

Wang Yang leads the Prince of Badong to the map and draws with his finger:

"Yongzhou is a thousand miles wide, with counties scattered everywhere, pillowing Wan and Luo, and embracing Fan and Mian. It is balanced in water and land, and the canal transport is unimpeded.

In addition, the soil is fertile, the fields are good, the households are wealthy, it is rich in warhorses, and has many elite soldiers!

To the north, it overlooks the Central Plains, which Guan Yu used to pressure Cao;

To the south, it overlooks Jing and Ying, which Jin Wu used to destroy Wu.

This is the foundation of martial arts, the heroic mansion of kings and hegemons!

Does Your Highness have any interest?

Now the enemy is huddled in three cities, and our vanguard is attacking urgently, waiting only for them to collapse. The rest of the army is stretching their necks and looking in vain, with nothing to do.

The army is stagnant, wasting grain and millet in vain. Even if they can raid the fields, it is difficult to sustain for long.

Instead of this, it is better to divide the army in half, go north along the Han River, and ambush Yongzhou!

(Map above)

Remember this Xiakou map I drew before? The heart represents Lushan, the moon represents the Yanyue Fort, and the waterway of the heart and moon is the Han River, which can go straight to Xiangyang.

The great enemy of Yongzhou is in the north, thinking we are concentrating our strength to go east, fighting in the river, and they must be unprepared!

Catch them off guard, and we can sweep them away in one go!

Once Xiangyang is taken, the military prestige will naturally rise, and morale will naturally soar!

From Jiangling to Xiangyang, the land route is no more than five hundred miles, the terrain is flat, and it is conducive to galloping!

Once Xiangyang is taken, select the elite, double the pace to the south, and strike straight at Jiangling!

If we can collect horses and collect cavalry teams, things will be even better!

We can use infantry as the rear and cavalry as the vanguard, like Cao Cao chasing Liu Bei past Xiangyang, rushing day and night. The ancient and modern paths are the same, and the army will arrive even faster!

(Cao Cao sent cavalry to chase Liu Bei to Dangyang, traveling three hundred miles in one day and night, taking this Jing-Xiang road. Because the flat plains are flat, the speed is fast.)

Wang and Liu are locked, either busy settling Jing or discussing how to help Ying. How can they expect the enemy to come from the north? We will definitely capture them in one battle!

In this way, first, divide the army to get food and relieve the distress of grain and fodder.

The army going north will take food from the north; the army staying in Ying will take food from Ying.

Both armies have their own sources and do not have to rely entirely on one place.

Compared to today, gathering the masses to sit and eat in Jiangxia is more sustainable.

Second, stabilize the three armies and win over people's hearts.

The rear army is in the west, closer to Jingzhou than the vanguard. News travels back and forth, and the situation cannot be stopped. No matter how strict the blockade is, it will spread sooner or later.

If we divide the army to go north, the army staying in Ying will move forward, getting further away from Jing, and the wind will naturally slow down.

And the army going north, tracing the Han River upwards, will get further and further away, and the news will be transmitted even later.

After entering Yong, everything in their path will be destroyed, and the morale of the army will definitely rise, and confidence will definitely be high!

Even if the army hears of the change, we can clearly say that taking the road through Yongzhou is precisely to return to Jing!

From north to south, sweeping away with victory, striking straight at Jingzhou, it is as easy as picking up mustard!

Compared to failing to take the city and turning back to the west, losing the foundation in front and the road behind, the situation cannot be compared in the same breath!

Third, do not be trapped in Ying, do not gamble on one battle, open up a new situation, and be flexible.

The army staying in Ying will attack the city with all its might. If the three cities are not taken and the enemies of Jing and Yang arrive, the army can stop the attack and go north to join forces in Yongzhou, without worrying about having no way out.

If the three cities are taken, then manage Yingzhou, repair the city, and accumulate grain, on one hand, defend to wait for the Tai army, and on the other hand, wait for the good news from Jingzhou.

As long as Jingzhou is recovered, the army will have no worries in the rear! We can focus on the east and watch for the enemy's gaps.

If the enemy can be hit, then strike directly at the Tai army and destroy it!

If the enemy cannot be hit, then hold out with them, wait for the reinforcements from Jing and Yong to arrive, and join forces to break them!

At that time, three provinces will be in hand, with strong soldiers and fierce troops, breathing and gathering like clouds! The military resources and wealth will be immeasurable!

If we defend, we can split the land; if we advance, we can ask for the tripod!

However, I believe that after we get our hands on it, we should not rush to advance and compete in the east.

The acquisition of Yongzhou is an ambush by taking advantage of the emptiness, taking it by surprise, and the foundation is not solid;

Jingzhou has repeatedly changed hands, human sentiment is disturbed, and it should be settled;

As for Yingzhou, after the great war, we should focus on recuperation.

Your Highness should guard and defend outside, cultivate military and political affairs inside, reorganize troops and stockpile, soothe the soldiers and people, sit and watch the world's cracks, and take the north and east, and you will definitely be able to make the Jiang and Huai tremble and the Central Plains look sideways!"

Wang Yang's brows are heroic, his mouth is like a hanging river, his fingers are pointing and his words are clear, his spirit is high, and he has the intention of swallowing mountains and rivers! Everyone is stunned!

Whether they believe it or not, agree or disagree, everyone in the tent cannot help but admire Wang Yang's miraculous strategy and high learning. After all, under such circumstances, no one had thought of going north to take Yongzhou, not even a small thought!

This plan sounds crazy at first glance, completely unreasonable! Jingzhou is lost, Yingzhou has not been taken, the Tai army is on the way, and the grain is not enough. Everyone is overwhelmed and the fire is burning their eyebrows. How can they divide troops to attack other provinces? Isn't this looking for death?!

But if you think about it carefully, you have to say that this might really be a way to fight for a path to survival from a dead end!

Not to mention anything else, just the point of the army going north to delay the spread of news has its uses. Now the most feared thing is that the news cannot be suppressed. Sending half of the army north along the Han River, far away from the rear, might really be able to delay the news. As for dividing the army to get food and reduce the pressure of grain supply, it is even more reasonable.

The most exciting thing is the strategic concept of "turning to Yong and taking Jing."

Is it possible to suddenly turn north and take Yongzhou by surprise?

It is possible!

Is it possible to attack Jingzhou from Yongzhou and catch Jingzhou off guard?

It is even more possible!

Hmm...

It is indeed a miraculous strategy, and it may have miraculous effects. But this miraculous danger...

Note: "Book of Southern Qi, State and County Below": "Jiangling is five hundred miles away from Xiangyang by land. The situation is like lips and teeth. Without Xiangyang, Jiangling will be attacked, because it is not established." ===== CHAPTER 427 =====