Chapter 201: Pre‑War Mobilization

You Xian responded and moved, and together with several embroidered‑cloak envoys, retrieved Chen Yan's horse spear and armor.

Zu Ting, seeing this, a bewildering terrifying thought rose uncontrollably in his mind; after swallowing, he tentatively tested his guess: "Lord Chen Yan, you… could you be intending to personally lead the army and charge the Turkic cavalry?"

His eyes were filled with shock.

Not only does he not avoid battle, but he wants to take the initiative and personally command the troops?

Considering that Zu Ting has served as the Sima of Jingzhou for years and has never once led from the front, especially when the enemy is strong and we are weak…

What a brave young man!

"Otherwise?"

Chen Yan cast a sideways glance at Zu Ting, reached out to take the horse spear, and retorted.

Do you truly think that I, Chen, am merely bluffing?

"Absolutely not!"

Zu Ting, seeing he was not joking at all, felt a sudden jolt in his heart and hurriedly urged: "Lord Chen Yan, you now control Jingzhou's military and civil affairs; you must not risk any mishap!"

At that moment, Zu Ting's panic was visible to the naked eye…

The present Chen Yan represented not only himself but the backbone of Jingzhou!

To personally lead the charge at the forefront—if he falls, the army's morale would collapse, and being captured would be no better!

This meticulous, cautious member of the Jinghong Society, how could he suddenly become so reckless?

Chen Yan gazed at the chaotic battlefield, smiled calmly, and shouted: "They have marched far, their men are exhausted and their horses weary; they are nothing but a paper tiger, strong on the outside but weak within!"

"What is there to fear?"

Undeniably, three thousand Turkic Iron Cavalry look formidable on paper…

But after such a long march, a long‑range charge cannot remain unwearied!

Moreover, Chen Yan follows the master's saying: strike a single blow to prevent a hundred.

The point is to meet sharpness with sharpness!

"Son of a general!"

Wang Xiong, moved by the aura of dominance radiating from Chen Yan, couldn't help but comment: "Such spirit truly befits the direct grandson of Chen Lao Zhuguo!"

Not only him, Dou Luling also felt sincere admiration.

A true man should be like this!

Gallop across the battlefield, unyielding!

"Lord Chen Yan, think it over!"

"You bear the entire Jingzhou on your shoulders…"

Zu Ting clasped his fists and stepped forward, urging again, trying to persuade Chen Yan with righteousness to change his mind.

At the same time, Helian Shi, He Ba Le and other generals also stepped forward.

"What?"

Chen Yan ignored Zu Ting, turned his head toward the two, half‑smiling, and asked: "Helian Shi, He Ba Le, are you both prepared to block me?"

In those deep eyes, only sharpness and resolve shone.

"No!" Helian Shi shook his head and blurted out.

After a pause, he bowed with military courtesy and said: "Subordinate General wishes to say, Lord, you lack no meritorious battle achievements for promotion, but we Subordinate Generals lack them!"

"Please, Lord, reserve the opportunity to earn merit in a trapped formation for the Subordinate Generals and these lads!"

The words were full of pleading.

"Indeed!" He Ba Le immediately echoed, "Lord, with such magnanimity, you cannot compete with your subordinates for credit, can you?"

The two sang in harmony, displaying rhetorical art.

They endorse their lord's strategic deployment, targeting the elite; would Great Zhou men fear Turkic cavalry?

Yet they also heed the Sima's words, not wishing their lord to risk himself…

Leave the risky merit‑seeking to them!

Lord, just stay at the rear and await good news!

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yan gave the two a meaningful glance, burst into hearty laughter, raised his hand and pointed, sighing: "These are the troops I, Chen Yan, have brought out!"

After a pause, he continued: "Since that's so, let the two of you pierce those Turkic cavalry!"

"Raise the prestige of our Great Zhou army!"

How could Chen Yan not see their intentions?

And he was no longer stubborn.

"Thank you, Lord!"

"Subordinate General will never disappoint you!"

Receiving approval, Helian Shi and He Ba Le immediately bowed and clasped fists.

In their eyes, it was not a mountain of swords or sea of fire, but a once‑in‑a‑millennium chance to earn merit!

"Good."

Chen Yan lifted his head, tossed the horse spear back to You Xian, walked to the edge of the earthen slope, and said: "Helian, He Ba, come and see!"

"The Turkic cavalry and Jingzhou troops have already become entangled in close combat; they cannot disengage quickly…"

"So, your objective in this battle is not to launch a sudden strike to crush them, but after inserting, not linger, and head straight for Moheduo's special forces!"

The master once said, strategically despise the enemy, tactically respect the enemy.

Therefore, upon hearing of the Turkic special forces, Chen Yan decisively adopted a decapitation tactic…

Capture the thief by first capturing the king!

Why does Chen Yan dislike massed troop tactics but favor elite soldier tactics?

Not because he likes the hollow reputation of few defeating many, but because elite individual combat power is greater and their fighting will is firmer....

For example now, although the Jingzhou troops show clear decline, they have not been broken!

"Subordinate General, understood!" Helian Shi and He Ba Le replied loudly.

"Remember, capture the living ones as much as possible....."

Chen Yan placed his hands behind his back and instructed, "If you truly cannot capture them, killing them is fine!"

Undoubtedly, living specials are more valuable, for Chen Yan knows that the Turks will later become the new generation's grassland overlords.....

At this stage, using them against Great Zhou's Northern Border arch‑enemy Rouran is most fitting.

Yet Chen Yan also knows the difficulty, and will not issue a death order to trouble his own subordinates.....

Anyway, the Great Khan has more than just that one son.

"Yes, Lord, rest assured!" The two men firmly etched the orders in their hearts.

"Let's go, I'll see you off to the expedition....."

Chen Yan waved his hand, "Now say a few more words to the soldiers!"

Obviously, Chen Yan is about to conduct pre‑battle mobilization.....

Now there is no Political Commissar, so these tasks can only be done by him.

"All troops, assemble!"

Helian Shi ordered the deputy commander to sound the horn, gathering all one hundred cavalry under his command.

Chen Yan, with a dragon‑like stride and tiger's step, moved to the front, his face solemn, and loudly said, "Before we go into battle, I, Chen Yan, have a few thoughts to share with everyone....."

"Do you see over there the Turkic Iron Cavalry locked in combat with the Jingzhou troops?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, pointing toward the distant battlefield.

"Seen!"

Including Helian Shi and He Ba Le, over a hundred people answered in unison, full of vigor.

"Behind us are Great Zhou's civilians; there is no retreat!"

Chen Yan nodded and said loudly, "Even though you have only a hundred riders, you are the iron‑blooded warriors who broke out from Qinzhou with me, Chen Yan—elite among elites!"

He paused, then continued, "Dare you clash with those three thousand formidable Turkic cavalry?"

Chen Yan, well‑versed in pre‑battle mobilization, spoke with rhythmic cadence, deafening and resonant, striking each person's heart.

"Dare!"

"As long as Lord Chen Yan gives the order, there is nothing we won't dare!"

The hundred‑plus soldiers hesitated not, almost blurting it out.

"Good, very good!"

Chen Yan lifted his head, his gaze sharp, extremely satisfied, and said, "Some of you may die in battle here....."

After a brief prelude, he quickly shifted tone, "But I, Chen Yan, will personally carry your coffins into the Lieshi Lingyuan!"

"Your family record will open a new page!"

"Your merits will illuminate your clan!"

"Your families will soar because of you!"

The words just fell.

Only the rising and falling mountain‑like roars and sea‑like surges could be heard:

"May I die serving Lord Chen Yan!"

"May I die serving Lord Chen Yan!"

"May I die serving Lord Chen Yan!"

A man pursues a grand finale until death.

With the most revered lord personally bearing the coffin, the honor of entering the Lieshi Lingyuan and opening a new page in the family record, the clan will be shielded by its achievements—so why fear the word 'death'?

As for gold, silver and treasures?

Lord Chen Yan has never lacked those worldly possessions, has he?

Wang Xiong, witnessing the scene, inhaled deeply, and couldn't help but think, "Brother Chen, could you truly be a born commander? With just a few words, you can rouse these troops to howl?"

Chen Yan's gaze burned like a torch; he raised his hand and swung it sharply, shouting two words: "Expedition!"

In an instant, the fierce tiger burst out!