Chapter 654: Crown Prince, You Plan to Besiege a Point to Draw Reinforcements!

The pale dawn light pierced the thin mist of the Northern Border, coating the Qi army's endless tents with a cold silver sheen.

Inside the central army's main tent.

Gao Xiaoyu sat upright on the main seat, his dark battle armor outlining a tall figure; the gilt wolf head on his Shoulder Armor glimmered a muted sheen in the morning light, making his face appear even more austere.

He held last night's battle report in his hand, his fingertips brushing the rough hemp paper; his deep gaze fell on the words between the lines, his brow slightly furrowed, as if pondering something.

The tent was silent, save for occasional warhorse whinnies and soldiers' footsteps from outside, adding to the gravity.

Though Gao Xiaoyu was young, he had already served in court affairs for years; not a trace of youthful greenness showed in his brow, only a composure and authority beyond his age.

He had long cultivated a mind that remains unshaken in crisis.

This time he personally led over forty thousand elite troops to strike the Northern Border, expecting to capture Woye Town and Gancao City in one blow, cutting off Zhou State's Xiazhou supply route, and earning another merit for Great Qi....

But he did not expect that the tiny Gancao City would turn out to be a hard, unchewable bone.

"Damn!" a coarse, angry curse suddenly shattered the tent's silence.

Ding Weize, clad in dark iron armor, strode in like a comet; the armor clanged "Clang clang" as it struck, his face full of anger and frustration, and he slammed his helmet onto the table, cursing, "We fought day and night, and we still haven't taken a single city gate!"

"This is really damn weird!"

"The guys inside Gancao City are just too good at defending!"

Ding Weize is hot‑tempered and fierce in battle, long known for breaching strongholds, yet this assault on Gancao City left him with a bitter taste.

Twenty thousand infantry took turns on the front lines, suffering heavy casualties, yet they couldn't even set foot on the North Gate's tower; how could he swallow that bitterness?

Liu Zaizhou, following closely behind, also entered, his brow tightly knit, his expression even more solemn than Ding Weize's.

He bowed slightly toward Gao Xiaoyu on the main seat, then turned to Ding Weize and said in a deep voice, "The Zhou Army defending Gancao City is few in number, yet extremely resilient!"

"Last night I observed from the front line; their soldiers were each fierce and fearless, even when gravely wounded they still fought to the death without retreating....."

"One could even say they defend with the mindset that if the city falls, everyone dies!"

Liu Zaizhou is meticulous and keen at reading the battlefield; he saw the night's fight with crystal clarity.

The Zhou State garrison not only defended in orderly fashion, but also had high morale, especially the commander atop the city walls clad in radiant armor, who stayed at the front, his command steady, and with his own effort alone steadied the troops' spirit.

Such an opponent is far more terrifying than those numerous but demoralized armies.

Ding Weize let out a heavy sigh, his anger fading, replaced by utter helplessness, and complained, "That may be so, but we marched a long way and didn't bring many siege engines at all!"

We only have a dozen or so portable ladders and a few ram carts; we toiled all night yesterday, and they were either smashed by the Zhou Army or stuck in the Mudi outside the moat, making them unusable for the moment!

Facing Gancao City's still sturdy walls and the Zhou State garrison's desperate resistance, these crude siege tools could hardly make any impact.

Liu Zaizhou nodded, his expression growing even more grave, and said in a low voice, "And we can't afford not to attack!"

"Gancao City is the gateway of Xiazhou's Northern Border; if we fail to take it, our gains from the assault on Woye Town will be hard to consolidate."

"Moreover, we are deep behind enemy lines; the longer we delay, the greater the risk. We must seize Gancao City quickly to safely march south!"

Woye Town has been captured, and most of the wheat seedlings in the fields have been burned.

But if Gancao City remains in Zhou State's hands, it is like a dagger thrust into the rear of the army, ready to cut off their retreat at any moment.

Therefore, Gancao City must be taken, and it must be taken swiftly.

Ding Weize gritted his teeth, a fierce glint appearing on his face, and continued, "The crucial point is they still lit the signal fires, sending the news out!"

"Once the Tongwan City garrison in Xiazhou learns that Gancao City is besieged, they will surely dispatch troops to aid!"

"Then we will be attacked from front and rear, and our situation will become even more difficult!"

Thinking of this, Ding Weize grew restless.

Their raid was meant to be a surprise; now the initiative is lost, the advantage of the sudden attack vanished, and the upcoming battles will likely be arduous.

The atmosphere inside the tent fell silent again, as Ding Weize and Liu Zaizhou both turned their gazes toward Gao Xiaoyu on the main seat, awaiting his decision.

At that moment, the ever‑silent Gao Xiaoyu suddenly lifted his head, a flash of brilliance in his eyes, slowly set the battle report down, and said aloud, "Since we cannot take it head‑on, let's change our approach!"

His voice was not loud, yet carried an undeniable authority that instantly drew Ding Weize's and Liu Zaizhou's attention.

Ding Weize was startled, a puzzled expression on his face, stepped forward, and with cupped hands asked, "Crown Prince, you mean…?"

He truly could not understand; aside from a forced siege, what other way could capture Gancao City?

Gao Xiaoyu's mouth curved into a half‑smile, his gaze landing on Ding Weize, and he retorted, "Didn't you just say the Zhou Army lit the signal fires?"

Ding Weize instinctively nodded, "Yes, they were lit last night; the Tongwan City side has probably already received the news!"

Gao Xiaoyu slowly rose, walked to the edge of the tent, lifted a corner of the curtain, gazed toward the south where Tongwan City lay, and said meaningfully, "The Tongwan City garrison in Xiazhou will inevitably come to rescue!"

Ding Weize blinked, stared blankly for a moment, then his eyes flared intensely; he slapped his thigh hard and exclaimed, "Subordinate General understands!"

"Crown Prince, you intend to besiege a point to draw reinforcements!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zaizhou's eyes instantly sparked with fierce light, the solemnity on his face vanished, replaced by sheer exhilaration.

He lunged forward, clasped his fists to Gao Xiaoyu and bowed, his voice resonant as he praised, "Brilliant plan!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince, this scheme is a stroke of genius!"

Our own Crown Prince's besiege‑point‑draw‑reinforcements strategy is truly exquisite.

It not only resolves the current stalemate at Gancao City, but also seizes the chance to heavily crush Xiazhou's living forces—a win‑win.

While praising, Liu Zaizhou lifted his brow slightly, his gaze scanning the troop deployment map inside the tent, and said with firm confidence, "We happen to still have enough troops!"

"Subtracting the infantry lost in yesterday's siege, the remaining are sufficient to split forces for action!"

Although the siege battle cost many men, the main force remains, especially the cavalry which suffered almost no loss.....

With such a force arrangement, using it for the besiege‑point‑draw‑reinforcements plan is more than sufficient.

Gao Xiaoyu slowly nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, clearly approving Liu Zaizhou's assessment.

A faint smile curled his lips, revealing confidence, and he said in a deep voice, "Exactly!"

He paused, then turned his gaze to the two, his tone growing firmer, "Leave ten thousand men to continue the siege of Gancao City!"

"The remaining over twenty thousand, head to Heifeng Valley to set an ambush!" Gao Xiaoyu's voice rose sharply, his eyes flashing sharply, "This ambush seeks not to capture alive, but to inflict casualties!"

"Make sure to kill as many of Zhou State's reinforcement living forces as possible, so Xiazhou can no longer send aid to the Northern Border!"

Ding Weize felt his blood boil, his face full of eager expression, hurried forward a step, clasped his fist to Gao Xiaoyu and said, "Excellent! This plan is brilliant! Crown Prince, let the Subordinate General handle the ambush!"

"The Subordinate General will surely lead the troops and wipe out Tongwan City's reinforcements without a trace!"

He had been repelled in yesterday's siege, and a fire boiled inside him.

Now he had a chance for revenge and to earn merit, and naturally did not want to miss it.

Gao Xiaoyu looked at Ding Weize's eager demeanor, a faint smile appearing on his face, waved his hand to the two, and said, "Come, look!"

"Yes!" Ding Weize and Liu Zaizhou answered in unison, hurried forward, and gathered before the map placed at the center of the tent.

The map was drawn extremely detailed; the Northern Border's mountains, rivers, cities, and passes were all clearly marked.

Gao Xiaoyu extended a finger, landing on a narrow strip between Xiazhou's seat Tongwan City and Gancao City on the map.

There, mountains surrounded, with only a narrow passage in the middle—Heifeng Valley.

"This place is the fastest route from Tongwan City to reinforce Gancao City!" Gao Xiaoyu lightly tapped the spot of Heifeng Valley, saying firmly, "Gancao City's situation is critical; Tongwan City's defending general surely knows the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold. They dare not delay, nor linger…"

"To reach Gancao City quickly and lift the siege, nine out of ten will go through here!"

Heifeng Valley's terrain is treacherous; both sides are towering cliffs, and the middle passage can only accommodate a few people side by side.

Once the enemy enters the valley, they cannot see front and rear, making them easy to be flanked by ambushing troops—a perfect spot for a one‑man gate and ten‑thousand‑man impassable ambush.

Ding Weize's gaze fell on Heifeng Valley on the map, a fierce light flashing in his eyes; he clenched his fist and loudly said, "Even better! Let this place become their burial ground!"

"The Subordinate General will ensure Tongwan City's reinforcements come and never return!"

Liu Zaizhou's eyes also lit up, his face full of excitement, adding, "If we annihilate Xiazhou's reinforcements here, we can fully seize the Northern Border's greatest advantage before the main forces reach Chang'an!"

"Then, we will join forces with Duke Ku Di's army and the Rouran cavalry, directing our spear straight into Xiazhou's interior…"

"Perhaps we can seize the momentum to break into Guanzhong and strike directly at Chang'an!"

Gao Xiaoyu slowly nodded, a hint of ambition and yearning flashing in his eyes, and said gravely, "Exactly! This encirclement‑and‑reinforcement operation concerns not only Gancao City's fate but also the overall strategy of our Great Qi's western expedition!"

"As long as we can crush Xiazhou's reinforcements and seize Xiazhou, Great Qi will occupy the strategic points of Zhou State's Northern Border, and later march south to pacify Guanzhong—its success is only a matter of time!"

At this point Gao Xiaoyu's tone suddenly grew serious, and he called lightly, "General Ding!"

"Subordinate General here!" Ding Weize straightened his body, clasped fists and replied, his eyes full of resolve.

"Command three thousand cavalry and twenty thousand infantry to go to Heifeng Valley and set an ambush!" Gao Xiaoyu ordered gravely.

"At your command!" Ding Weize replied loudly, his voice full of excitement and confidence.

The wind in Heifeng Valley whistled as it rushed between the cliff walls.

The twenty thousand infantry led by Ding Weize had been lurking in the valley for a full two days.

By day, the soldiers hid behind the cliffside shrubs, chewing dry wheat cakes, daring not even to breathe for fear of revealing their position.

The passage inside the valley was narrow; the rear guards were stacked on both sides, piles of rolling stones and timber stacked like mountains, ready to leave no armor on Zhou State's reinforcements once they entered.

Yet day after day, the valley mouth remained silent; not a shadow of reinforcements, not even a single scout appeared.

As night deepened, two days of lurking had worn away the soldiers' initial vigor; fatigue spread over their limbs like tide.

Ding Weize, clad in Xuan Armor, leaned on his long sword atop a high slope, brows knit, his gaze fixed on the valley mouth.

The wind rattled his battle robe, and the restlessness in his heart grew wild like weeds.

Logically, Tongwan City, upon learning Gancao City was besieged, should have rushed to aid overnight; why then was there no movement?

Could something have gone wrong along the way?

Or perhaps…

A bad thought surfaced faintly in his mind, but he forced it down.

"General, it's been two days; will the Zhou army not come?" the deputy beside him whispered, fatigue in his tone.

Ding Weize was about to rebuke when a strange sound suddenly came from the valley mouth.

The sound was chaotic, not like galloping hooves, but like a massive beast running wildly, accompanied by heavy panting and a rumbling thunder.

"Stand guard!" Ding Weize shouted sharply, his body under Xuan Armor tensing instantly, his long sword flashing from its sheath, cold light sharp.

Before his words finished, several silhouettes wrapped in flames shot into Heifeng Valley like arrows released.

They were a few yellow cattle, their massive horns glinting coldly, tails bound with oil‑soaked torches blazing, their eyes reddened by the fire as they rampaged crazily through the narrow gorge.

"Bad! It's a fire‑cattle formation!" someone shouted.

The rear guards inside the valley were caught off guard; already lax from days of lurking, the sudden charge of the fire cattle threw them into chaos.

The fire cattle roared, trampling soldiers' tents, toppling the piled rolling stones and timber.

The infantry who couldn't dodge were either crushed by the cattle's hooves, breaking their leg bones, or impaled by sharp horns through their chests, their cries rising in waves.

A fire cattle charged straight at Ding Weize; he swung his sword fiercely, the blade striking the beast's head with a dull thud, only inciting its ferocity.

The fire cattle let out a long bellow, its hooves flailing, then slammed into a nearby pile of timber, which crashed down with a roar, crushing two soldiers who couldn't dodge.

The two let out muffled groans and died on the spot.

Ding Weize watched helplessly as the valley fell into chaos; soldiers either fled the fire cattle or tried to save the ignited tents, the carefully arranged ambush now a complete mess.

Only when the last fire cattle collapsed exhausted, its flames fading, did the valley regain a slight calm, leaving only the wounded's moans and the crisp clatter of weapons.

He hurried to a corpse whose chest was pierced by a horn, gazing at its still‑youthful face, his inner fury and humiliation exploding.

Two days of lurking, meticulous planning, all turned into a joke!

He jerked his head up, staring at the deep night beyond the valley mouth, his eyes blood‑red, he kicked a nearby boulder, producing a deafening curse: "Damned! We were fooled!"

The curse, laden with endless shame and resentment, echoed through the empty Heifeng Valley for a long time.

He finally understood that the Zhou army of Xiazhou had never been duped.

They not only saw through the encirclement‑and‑reinforcement scheme, but also turned those fire cattle against him, giving him an unexpected trick!