Chapter 873

The central command tent of the Canmeng army, a golden-domed yurt carriage.

AleTang and the general who had requested troops were both deeply puzzled after hearing AnDa Han’s words.

But they knew AnDa Han was a hero of the steppe; though he could not read or write like the Han, his wisdom was innate, and his mastery of military strategy and tactics surpassed that of most of the three Canmeng tribes.

His assessments and decisions on warfare often anticipated events before they unfolded; though his intentions were sometimes unclear at first, AleTang and the others were accustomed to it.

He asked: “Your Majesty’s plan to strike directly for Yuanzhou is premature. Yet the Great Zhou is responding with extreme caution—troops from all regions are now converging.”

The three northern passes facing the capital have gathered sixty thousand troops; if this war drags on, they will continue to reinforce.

When their numbers swell further, attacking Yuanzhou will only grow harder.”

AnDa Han said: “This southern campaign has been planned for years. I have a complete understanding of the Great Zhou’s troop deployments.”

The Jiangnan region is the Great Zhou’s wealthiest land, its treasury of taxes and grain; it appears serene and prosperous, but beneath the surface, unrest has long simmered.

When the Great Zhou founded its state in Jiangnan, it left behind too many hidden forces—now too entrenched to uproot, yet the roots of disaster are deeply buried, merely awaiting the right moment to erupt.

At the beginning of Emperor JiaZhao’s reign, secret sects in Jiangnan rose in rebellion; though crushed by the imperial house, Jiangnan’s people have remained fickle in loyalty.

The imperial house has always been wary—troops in Jiangnan’s prefectures are rarely moved, lest someone exploit the weakness and ignite rebellion in their own backyard.

The Great Zhou’s reinforcements must come from the northern prefectures, but each prefecture must retain troops for defense; the number of troops available for deployment is strictly limited.

Added to this, our surprise attack on the Donggang Garrison seized sixty thousand dan of Zhou grain.

Such a massive loss cannot be made up in less than six months.

The eight northern garrisons require grain supplies; the three northern passes demand even more to sustain their troops. Even with the Great Zhou’s vast territory, it is already stretched thin.

Due to this immediate grain shortage, the number of troops available from the northern prefectures must be cut by a third—otherwise, how will they feed the troops massed at the three passes?

The capital, being the heartland of the Great Zhou, requires heavy garrisoning, and will further reduce the number of troops available for northern deployment.

I have calculated this repeatedly in advance: by the end of this spring, the Great Zhou’s total troop strength at the three northern passes will not exceed one hundred thousand.

Our three Mongol tribes field one hundred fifty thousand mercenaries; even if we cannot deploy them all, our forces will be evenly matched—no need to panic.

Moreover, victory in war never depends on troop numbers, but on the general’s strategic brilliance and combat skill.”

…

Though JiRang Khan harbored deep resentment toward AnDa Han, he could not help but inwardly admire his words.

When AnDa Han planned the raid on Donggang Garrison and seized hundreds of thousands of dan of grain, he had already struck the vital point—cutting the Great Zhou’s available reinforcements.

To call this planning from afar, decisive beyond the horizon, was no empty boast…

AnDa Han continued: “Though the Great Zhou has many battlefield commanders, how many are truly exceptional?”

Only Liang Chengzong is my true rival; the rest are of no consequence.”

Emperor JiaZhao appointed Liang Chengzong as Regional Commander—that was a masterstroke. This man, if in command, will act with extreme caution.”

Liang Chengzong has fought me many times; we know each other’s tactics and strategies. To defeat him now, we must achieve victory through surprise—cut off his ability to anticipate our moves.”

…

AnDa Han looked at AleTang and said: “AleTang, you are always sharp-witted and deeply strategic.”

According to the intelligence from our spies in the capital, you should know how far Liaodong Garrison is from here—when can he possibly reach the main army at the three passes?”

AleTang, hearing AnDa Han’s words, seemed to grasp the meaning: “The Great Zhou’s emperor issued the imperial decree appointing the commander several days ago.”

Even if the emperor sent the order ahead of time, the imperial edict would still take days to reach Liaodong Garrison; even if Liang Chengzong departed immediately, traveling day and night, the round trip would take ten days.”

Moreover, the nine frontier garrisons of the Great Zhou are elite standing forces; they must be drawn upon, yet the Zhou will not strip too many from the northern frontier, lest it become vulnerable.”

But Liang Chengzong cannot travel alone; mobilizing troops, marching them, gathering supplies—all take time.”

Liang Chengzong’s arrival at the three northern passes will take more than ten days…”

…

AnDa Han’s face broke into a smile, but it held no warmth—only cold, cruel calculation.

He said: “These dozen days are our golden opportunity to seize control of the battlefield and secure victory.”

The current commander at the three northern passes is Chen Yi, Duke of Qi of the Great Zhou—a decrepit old man. Though a seasoned general, he lacks exceptional strategic talent; he is no threat.”

According to our covert agents in the capital, his grandson was implicated in the leakage of the garrison’s grain stores. Removing him is as easy as flipping a palm—but not yet the right moment…”

AleTang, hearing AnDa Han’s words, felt a chill. The Regional Commander of the great army, planning grand maneuvers of advance and retreat,

yet still leaving no detail unconsidered—even Chen Ruichang’s betrayal had been foreseen and planned for. Such flawless strategy, nothing left to chance.

If we strike at the right moment, while Liang Chengzong has yet to arrive, the deputy commander will already be disgraced—how can the three passes’ army not be thrown into chaos without a leader?”

…

AnDa Han continued: “We must strike while Liang Chengzong has not yet assumed command, disrupting the Zhou army’s coordination and plunging their troop movements into disorder.”

Even if Liang Chengzong reaches the three passes, he will be overwhelmed trying to contain the chaos—his tenfold strategic advantage will be reduced by threefold; defeating him will become far easier!”

He turned to the general who had earlier requested troops: “ManHai, among my sons, you are the bravest and most skilled in battle—never defeated.”

You are the eagle of the steppe, the blade in my hand. Sending you to capture the tiny Yaoshan Post would be like using a cannon to kill a chicken—I have a greater task for you.”

ManHai was the youngest among the assembled generals, clad in armor, towering and muscular, his face broad with rugged features, radiating fierce martial vigor.

His features bore a resemblance to AnDa Han’s, for they were father and son; he was one of AnDa Han’s most trusted commanders.

Yet AleTang and the others knew well: though ManHai appeared crude and reckless, he was no fool—he was cautious, clever in battle, and deeply favored by AnDa Han.

AnDa Han stepped before the map and said: “I will select twenty thousand elite iron cavalry, under your full command. You will circle around Yaoshan Post tonight.”

Head east along the western foothills of Yunzhi Mountain, use its dense forest trails to conceal your movement. March hard for three days—you will reach a village called Wawu Town.”

This place is only twenty li from the eastern suburbs of the capital—three quarters of an hour on galloping horses, and you will stand before the gates of the capital itself!”

…

All present were stunned by AnDa Han’s words—before the main armies clashed, to detour and attack the capital itself seemed reckless.

JiRang Khan also frowned slightly but said nothing. Such a surprise strategy meant ManHai’s twenty thousand troops must be the elite of the TuMan tribe.

He would not draw from the other two tribes. Though the three Mongol tribes were allied, AnDa Han was meticulous—he trusted the other two only to a limited degree.

He would not use the Ordos tribe’s forces; JiRang Khan would not speak out—only watch and wait…

ManHai’s eyes burned with intensity: “Father, you want me to strike the capital with only twenty thousand elite cavalry? That may not be enough.”

AnDa Han laughed: “The capital is the Great Zhou’s heart—its walls are high, its defenses thick, its garrison heavy.”

To capture the capital—no, not twenty thousand cavalry, even a hundred thousand troops could not easily take it.”

I am ordering you to lead a separate force to approach the capital—I have another purpose. How to coordinate the operation is written in this pouch.”

You may open it only after leaving camp tonight—follow the plan exactly.”

…

AnDa Han pulled out a deep gray silk pouch, sealed tightly at both ends with woven thread; to retrieve its contents, one must break it open—this was the army’s standard method to prevent leaks.

JiRang Khan and AleTang both understood: AnDa Han held extremely high expectations for ManHai’s surprise strike, hence his extreme caution, keeping it secret.

Each secretly speculated how ManHai, leading twenty thousand elite troops, would operate near the capital—but none could guess the truth…

AnDa Han said: “Tonight, after ManHai departs, the army will lock down camp. At dawn tomorrow, we will immediately attack Yaoshan Post.”

But we must attack without occupying it—create a stalemate with the Zhou troops, holding for more than two days. The three northern passes will surely send reinforcements.”

The Great Zhou’s tens of thousands of troops advancing north will be pinned at Yaoshan Post, forcing continuous troop movements northward—then it will be our chance!”

Those present pondered AnDa Han’s words—some faintly grasped his intent, others remained as lost in fog.

…

AnDa Han suddenly said: “I hear the Great Zhou has built a firearms workshop on the eastern suburbs of the capital, manufacturing various firearms, overseen by Marquis Jia Cong.”

AleTang, you stayed in the capital for months—have you gathered any intelligence on the Great Zhou’s firearms workshop?”