Chapter 658: Formulating the Strategy

As it turned, a faint rubbing sound was heard, exuding a sense of composure.

Yu Jie also stroked his speckled white beard, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "I wish to hear Grand Minister Chen Zhuguo's esteemed opinion!"

He has spent his life in campaigns, most cherishing talent; Chen Yan's youthful maturity and strategic vision earn his sincere admiration.

Yuwen Heng sat beside him, his gaze fixed on Chen Yan, watching his unhurried demeanor, and thought silently, "Seeing A Yan's confident bearing, he must have thought it through long ago; the plan he now proposes must be backed by considerable certainty!"

Chen Yan met everyone's gaze and smiled calmly.

That composure eased the solemn atmosphere in the hall a little.

He spoke unhurriedly, his voice clear and firm: "First, I will lead troops with thunderous speed to charge Xiazhou, striking the invading enemy head‑on to swiftly relieve Xiazhou's plight!"

"Xiazhou is a key stronghold in the northwest; its city defenses are solid, the garrison few but elite, yet it was suddenly attacked by the Qi army, and morale has been shaken."

"I will lead the army to rush to aid, striking from inside and outside, and we shall swiftly crush the besieging enemy, stabilizing the core of the northwest defense line!"

As soon as the words fell, Qin Zhao was the first to nod in agreement, saying in a deep voice, "What Grand Minister Chen Zhuguo says is absolutely correct!"

"Xiazhou is a Northern Border hub; if Xiazhou falls, Lingzhou will become an isolated fortress, and the entire northwest defense line will collapse. Relieving Xiazhou's siege first is truly the best strategy!"

Lu Miao also nodded in agreement: "A thunderous offensive can catch the Qi army off guard and boost the garrison's morale; with a double‑pronged attack, Xiazhou's siege will surely be broken!"

Yuwen Hu gave a slight nod, his right hand still turning the Jade Ring, his gaze landing on Chen Yan, and he asked, "A Yan, to lift the siege of Xiazhou, how many troops do you need?"

Chen Yan blinked, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, his gaze like a torch, and replied loudly, "Three thousand cavalry, plus twenty thousand elite of the Left Martial Guard!"

"What?" Yuwen Heng heard the words, his brows suddenly furrowing, a clear worry appearing on his face, and he immediately asked, "A Yan, could that be a bit insufficient?"

"According to the reports, the main Qi force invading Xiazhou numbers over forty thousand, all elite of the Qi State, with formidable combat power."

"You only bring twenty‑three thousand troops; the disparity in numbers is likely too great!"

Not only Yuwen Heng was worried; Qin Zhao and Lu Miao also showed hesitation.

Qin Zhao said in a deep voice, "Grand Minister Chen Zhuguo, twenty‑three thousand against over forty thousand means our forces are only half of theirs; with the Qi army holding the siege advantage, such numbers may not achieve a swift victory and could even become stalemated."

Lu Miao added, "How about adding another ten thousand elite to ensure safety?"

Chen Yan, however, slowly shook his head, his tone resolute, and said, "You are over‑thinking; within Xiazhou there are still garrison troops, all veteran soldiers stationed in the Northern Border for years, and their combat strength is not weak."

"We will lead the army to aid, joining the Xiazhou garrison, and the difference with the Qi army will be negligible."

"Moreover, the Qi army has marched a long distance, its vigor already depleted, and after many days of an unbroken siege, its morale is low."

"Such a force is sufficient!"

Yuwen Hu has always trusted Chen Yan greatly, knowing that his own protégé never engages in battles without certainty.

Hearing his analysis clear and logical, he immediately gave his approval, saying, "Since A Yan dares to propose this, he must be fully confident; no further discussion is needed!"

"According to your words, three thousand cavalry and twenty thousand elite of the Left Martial Guard shall assemble and stand ready early tomorrow!"

He paused briefly, continued turning the Jade Ring, and indicated, "Now present your second plan!"

Chen Yan gave a slight nod, his fingertips rubbing his palm, his expression growing more solemn, and said in a deep voice, "Second, we must select a seasoned veteran commander, lead elite troops in two columns toward Lingzhou, to intercept the over‑fifty‑thousand Qi forces that have broken through at the junction of Xiazhou and Lingzhou."

"That unit is one of the Qi army's main forces, extremely ferocious; its aim is to cut off the link between Xiazhou and Lingzhou, isolate the two regions, then join with the Rouran cavalry to form a joint encirclement."

"Therefore, our army cannot engage in a head‑on clash; we must focus on interception and maneuvering, delaying their advance, tying down their forces, and after I relieve Xiazhou's siege, lead our troops back to create the opportunity for a coordinated encirclement!"

"Brother, let me take this route!" Yuwen Heng heard this and immediately rose, strode to the center of the hall, bowed his fist to Yuwen Hu, his tone decisive and unwavering: "I am willing to command twenty thousand troops, split into two columns to block the Qi army, and will hold them until A Yan leads his forces to the encirclement, never allowing them to advance a single step!"

Yuwen Heng has always been steady and decisive, seasoned by years on the battlefield; although he has long assisted Yuwen Hu in state affairs, he has not neglected military duties, making him a fitting choice to lead the interception.

Yuwen Hu, seeing this, had already consented in his heart and was about to nod in agreement, when a firm, urgent voice suddenly rang out: "No! Absolutely not!"

Yuwen Heng turned toward the voice and saw that the objector was Grand Protector Yu Jie, his face full of bewildered astonishment.

The venerable Grand Minister Chen Zhuguo, a veteran of Great Zhou who has served three reigns, is renowned for his steady wisdom and concern for the overall situation; today, his resolute opposition to my leading troops truly puzzles him.

Yuwen Heng furrowed his brow, his tone tinged with confusion and urgency, murmuring, "Grand Protector, you…"

He paused, took a half step forward, clasped his hands and asked, "Why is it not allowed?"

"The Northern Border situation is urgent; the main Qi force of over fifty thousand has already broken into the Xiazhou‑Lingzhou junction, and a fierce commander is desperately needed now. I, the Grand Protector, am willing to lead troops forward, not out of a rash desire for glory, but after careful deliberation!"

Yu Jie's expression grew even more solemn, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening with his grave demeanor, his sharp eyes that have seen the world locking onto Yuwen Heng, and he said in a deep voice, "Grand Tutor, have you forgotten the Sima Shi Gaoping Mausoleum incident of years past?"

That brief sentence, like a flash of thunder cracking through the hall, instantly choked Yuwen Heng's words in his throat.

His urgent confusion on his face suddenly solidified, his pupils constricting slightly, and that sealed‑off history flashed in his mind—

In the first year of Jia Ping of Cao Wei, Sima Yi, seizing the moment when Cao Shuang's brothers escorted Cao Fang away from Luoyang to Gaoping Mausoleum for a tomb‑sweeping, launched a coup, seized the capital, and ultimately wrested Cao Wei's supreme power, laying the foundation for the Jin dynasty.

That episode marks the beginning of great chaos caused by a powerful minister leaving the capital, leaving the central authority vacant.

Yuwen Heng opened his mouth, wanting to argue something, but found thousands of words stuck in his chest, finally reduced to a dry, "This…".

He could say nothing more, his face full of being at a loss and sudden realization.

Yu Jie inhaled deeply, his chest rising slightly, his tone measured and weighty, undeniably authoritative, and continued, "The Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor are the backbone of Great Zhou; now the Grand Preceptor oversees the court, coordinating the whole, and is the nation's core."

"As Grand Tutor, you rank among the Three Dukes, command the Grand Marshal, control the military, assist the Grand Preceptor in stabilizing the court, pacifying both inside and out; this is your primary duty."

"At this critical moment for the nation, with foreign enemies surrounding us, who can guarantee that no one in the court covets power?"

"Who can guarantee there are no Qi State spies stirring trouble in secret?"

"You two brothers must each hold a civil and a military post in Chang'an, supporting each other, stabilizing the core; neither may depart lightly!"

"If troops march out, Chang'an becomes empty; should petty men seize the chance to plot rebellion, the court will be in turmoil, the people anxious, and even if the front‑line soldiers fight bravely, the rear will have collapsed, and Great Zhou will truly be in danger!"

These words, each a pearl of wisdom, struck the ground with sound, ringing like a warning bell in everyone's ears.

Chen Yan, seated at the table, heard this and wholeheartedly agreed, immediately standing and bowing, "Grand Protector, what you say is absolutely correct!"

Stabilizing the core is the foundation of victory; in the past, when the Six States attacked Qin, although the allied forces were large, they failed because each state's core was not unified and mutual suspicion caused defeat.

Now Great Zhou faces a season of life‑or‑death, and Chang'an must not be without the Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor stationed for even a single day.

The Grand Tutor remaining at the core allows front‑line soldiers to fight without worry, focusing on defeating the enemy!

Qin Zhao and Lu Miao instantly grasped the key point, both rose together, loudly agreeing, "Grand Protector makes a sound argument!"

"With the core stable, all can be of one mind, jointly resisting foreign foes."

"The Grand Tutor staying in Chang'an to coordinate all sides is a merit no less than killing the enemy on the front line!"

Yuwen Hu sat on the main seat, slowly nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Yu Jie's words struck right at his heart.

Yuwen Hu turned the Jade Ring on his right thumb, his gaze slowly sweeping the assembled people, and in a deep voice said, "What Lord Yu, the former Pillar of State, said is very true; the central command cannot be left empty, A Heng must indeed stay behind in Chang'an…."

"Then who do you think should take on the task of blocking the main Qi army along this route?"

"I have a person to recommend!" Yu Jie immediately spoke aloud, his tone firm, clearly already confident.

A hint of curiosity flashed in Yuwen Hu's eyes as he asked, "Who?"

"Duke Yun Wei Shaokuan!" Yu Jie said without hesitation.

The name caused everyone in the hall to gasp.

Yuwen Hu gave a slight nod, indicating, "Please elaborate!"

As he spoke, the Jade Ring in his hand continued to turn slowly, his gaze landing on Yu Jie with a hint of expectation.

Chen Yan, Yuwen Heng, Qin Zhao, and Lu Miao all turned their eyes to Yu Jie, awaiting his further explanation.

Yu Jie cleared his throat, his expression steady, and slowly said, "I recommend Wei Pillar of State for two reasons."

He paused, his gaze sweeping the crowd, and continued in a deep voice, "First, Wei Pillar of State is knowledgeable in warfare, adept at strategy, and has been stationed at Yubi for twenty years, enjoying great prestige in the army; he is one of the few commanders in Great Zhou capable of acting independently."

"He has long clashed with Qi State's elite, familiar with Qi army tactics; with him leading the troops to block, they can hold steady and slow the Qi army's advance along this route."

Yuwen Hu heard this, slowly nodded in agreement.

He naturally knew Wei Shaokuan's achievements and prestige; Yubi City became Great Zhou's eastern steel shield precisely because Wei Shaokuan once held command there.

Qin Zhao also nodded, saying, "Wei Pillar of State employs troops steadily, excels at defensive counterattacks, truly a suitable choice to block the Qi army."

Lu Miao added, "Yubi's terrain is similar to that of Xiazhou and Lingzhou; Wei Pillar of State is familiar with such landscapes, allowing him to leverage an advantage."

Seeing this, Yu Jie continued with reasoned argument, "Second, and the most important point..."

"Back then, Wei Pillar of State at Yubi defeated Qi State's He Liuhun decisively!"

"In that battle, Wei Pillar of State held a lone city, skillfully employed stratagems, crushing He Liuhun's over one hundred thousand elite, causing more than half of them to be lost, bodies strewn across the fields, piles of bones, becoming an everlasting wound in Qi State's court and populace."

"The people of Qi harbor bone‑deep hatred for Wei Pillar of State; this grudge has never lessened."

"I understand!" Chen Yan's eyes brightened, he instantly grasped, rose, and loudly declared, "If Wei Pillar of State personally leads troops there, the Qi army, upon learning their commander is their enemy Wei Shaokuan, will be blinded by hatred, recklessly latching onto Wei Pillar of State's forces to avenge the old Yubi grievance!"

"Thus, their march tempo and battle deployments will be restrained by Wei Pillar of State, unable to proceed according to the original plan!"

Yuwen Hu also instantly understood, a meaningful curve lifting his mouth, a flash of approval in his eyes, and in a deep voice said, "Not only that! The Qi army's detached force originally intended to cut off the connection between Xiazhou and Lingzhou, isolating the two regions."

"But once they are restrained by Wei Pillar of State, their sole focus on revenge may cause them to forget their original strategic aim, turning to fight Wei Pillar of State's troops to the death!"

"Thus the link between Xiazhou and Lingzhou can be preserved, the siege of Lingzhou eased, and after A Yan lifts the siege of Xiazhou, he can calmly return his forces, join forces with Wei Pillar of State to encircle and annihilate the fifty‑thousand Qi troops in one blow!"

"Exactly!" Yu Jie gave a firm nod, his tone resolute, "The Qi army is notoriously arrogant and harbors bone‑deep hatred for Wei Pillar of State; they are very likely to fall into this scheme."

"Having Duke Yun go forward, using his own prestige and the Qi people's hatred as bait to restrain the enemy could have remarkable effect!"

"This is a sound strategy that trades the smallest cost for the greatest strategic advantage!"

Yuwen Heng at this moment was fully convinced, all concerns vanished, replaced by approval and nodding, "Lord Yu's plan is brilliant!"

"Wei Pillar of State truly is the best choice; his reputation can steady morale, and his old grudge can restrain the enemy—truly a win‑win!"

Yuwen Hu, seeing no dissent, had already decided; his right hand ceased turning the Jade Ring, slamming it onto the table, and in a deep voice said, "Very well! Let the Left Guard's thirty thousand elite go to the aid!"

Then his gaze slowly withdrew from Yu Jie, Yuwen Heng and the others, finally resting on Chen Yan; his fingertips gently brushed the Jade Ring, his tone calm yet weighty, continuing, "What about this final route?"

The hall fell silent instantly, candle flames crackling, reflecting a variety of expressions on the faces.

Previously, Yuwen Heng was assigned to hold the central command, Wei Shaokuan to block the Qi army's middle route, and Chen Yan to rush to Xiazhou; the three‑front deployment had taken shape...

Yet the threat on the Northern Border, besides the Qi army, includes the Rouran Iron Cavalry watching hungrily; if Rouran is not dealt with, even a defeat of the Qi forces leaves the rear still beset on all sides.

Everyone's gaze converged on Chen Yan, waiting for him to reveal the final breakthrough plan.

That key step concerning Rouran.

Chen Yan, meeting the crowd's gaze, let a subtle, meaningful smile curl his mouth, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and loudly declared, "We will enlist the Turks as aid to defeat the Rouran!"