Chapter 1087

Chen Wuji gave a somewhat forced smile, "Sir, with these words you ask, how should I respond..."

"I know the lord is troubled, unable to make a firm decision!" Xu Zengyi shifted closer to Chen Wuji, "Hezhou is a city of utmost importance; with Hezhou, the lord can stand on its walls and gaze over all of Dayu's southern territories, then face south and advance north."

"But, my lord, this time it is absolutely out of the question. In terms of military strength, the Huihe are inferior to the Qiang; they have fought many times, losing more than winning. Our army defeated the Qiang swiftly and cleanly, flattened their largest tribes, and made their people work our fields, driving the weak tribes all the way to the distant western borders. By rights, our army should find fighting the Huihe even easier."

"Indeed, from the current situation, this is truly the case. Our army advanced on two fronts, progressing exceptionally smoothly; in just a few months, the Huihe people's most valued Magic Capital Mountain defense line is already in our hands."

"But, Deputy Officer must say this: the Huihe are a unified nation; even before our advance, they had already plotted to attack Dayu. Their internal turmoil, no matter how chaotic it becomes, remains merely internal strife; their popular sentiment remains unshaken!"

"My lord, if the people's hearts remain unshaken, then warfare can be anticipated!"

Xu Zengyi spoke this long string of words in two breaths, then fixed his gaze on Chen Wuji.

"Old Xu, I understand your meaning; I have indeed considered multi-front troop deployments, but not the kind you imagine—only elite troops!" Chen Wuji said, "I am thinking: if we dispatch half of the Central Army, could we, with the aid of Hezhou's provisions, break through from north to south to open Jiannan and the two Shangfang commanderies?"

"I know a large force of troops is impossible, and I dare not act rashly. Our current pressure is not small; the troubles we left behind in Lingnan's six commanderies are now gradually growing. Old Yang leads troops northward, and I worry whether Third Uncle and Ninth Uncle can hold their ground."

"I dare not withdraw or reduce the Huihe forces; to do so would risk collapse on both fronts. But I speak truly: I am genuinely envious of this express route to Hezhou. With this opportunity, I do not wish to let it pass."

"Sir, you did not sleep well last night; in truth, I too did not sleep well, tossing and turning over these matters."

Xu Zengyi glanced, then suddenly plopped down on the grass with a thud, saying despairingly, "I thought I had grown accustomed to the lord's wild manner of warfare, but today I see... I still... did not think boldly enough, too conservative, too conservative!"

Chen Wuji watched Xu Zengyi in this state, silent for a long while.

This was a Xu Zengyi he had never seen before—so old, yet suddenly behaving like a child; had his ideas truly driven him to this?

Surely not?

This idea is not so exaggerated, after all; he did the same when he was in Nan Jun.

And not just once!

"My lord, three-pronged warfare, and facing enemies who are no novices—I truly... cannot imagine how this battle should proceed from here, cannot fight it, truly cannot fight it." Xu Zengyi rose again, beating his chest and stamping his feet as he spoke to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji was stunned, then hurried to soothe him: "Sir, do not be agitated, do not be agitated, we will not fight, we will not fight!"

It truly seemed he had been driven to this point.

Even his image was disregarded.

"But, sir, there is a problem: if Lu Chuan guessed correctly, and Guo Jin'ge has taken independent action on his side, what then? Should this reinforcement be sent or not?" Chen Wuji now also felt dazed; he needed to re-examine this matter, to clarify its crux.

Xu Zengyi drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, swiftly regaining his usual composed and inwardly restrained demeanor—like a cold-faced scholar unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him—"My lord, I say we must not attempt to bore through Jiannan Commandery and Shangfang Commandery to connect with Nanyue Commandery, nor stretch the battlefield so long and so far."

"But holding Hezhou, occasionally going out to seek opportunities, gathering some provisions and supplies—this is still possible, and reinforcements should be dispatched. Lu Chuan may have his reasons for favoring Guo Jin'ge, but in my view, if the lord sends reinforcements, Guo Jin'ge will feel more at ease."

"Ah, so the crux you spoke of lies here." Chen Wuji lost his smile, retaking hold of his fishing rod, "Last night I slept poorly; this matter nearly confused me further. Hear me, sir: do not undertake grand actions; at that time, let Chen Wuyi lead the Wing Rest Camp on a trip to Hezhou."

Xu Zengyi had just prepared to relax his breath, but upon hearing Chen Wuji's words, his small heart clenched tightly again, "My lord, do you intend to dispatch the Wing Rest Camp?"

"Send it if we send it—make it elite, so we can act conveniently at that time." Chen Wuji said, "Even if Hezhou is a pitfall, the Wing Rest Camp has several tenths more chance of fighting its way back than other camps."

Xu Zengyi stared speechless for a long while, then muttered, "My lord, the Wing Rest Camp is at full strength of ten thousand cavalry, each with three horses; such a cavalry force passing through—would Shangfang Commandery and Jiannan Commandery truly have no reaction?"

"Ah, so you were worried about this!" Chen Wuji smiled.

The point Xu Zengyi worried about is precisely what Chen Wuji least worries about.

Regarding this matter, the ancestors who once crossed Snow Mountain and traversed the grasslands long ago already gave the most correct method; the paths of this world have never been only one—Shangfang Commandery and Jiannan Commandery lack such great mountains as Shenxian Ling, nor do they have the vast mountain range behind Hezhou.

Blocked? Then change the path.

Not every place has city walls and passes, nor enemy troops blocking the road.

As long as intelligence along the way is sound, and Chen Wuyi does not act foolishly, this matter is difficult, yet not impossible.

Xu Zengyi regarded Chen Wuji with a doubtful face, "Seeing the lord's demeanor, it seems he already has a complete plan in mind?"

Chen Wuji said, "I wish to ask sir: how did we, in Nanyue Commandery, cause the court army to act like fools, and finally, by your hand with a single flood, detain them in Yanzhou City?"

"It was intelligence!"

"Exactly! It was precisely intelligence!" Chen Wuji said.

"Our soldiers are skilled in battle, possess armor and weapons, and have warhorses enthusiastically donated by the Qiang people—enough to be called a force capable of both offense and defense, elite and fierce troops. But without intelligence, our army would be blind."

"Intelligence filled the gaps left by your several strategists, giving us clear eyes on the battlefield, timely perception of opportunity; they are the very reason we have achieved consecutive victories."

"Sir, I can say with full confidence: in this age, few possess intelligence as solid as mine, and they would not achieve 'troops unmoving, intelligence advancing'!"

In this era, regardless of the nature of warfare, 'troops unmoving, provisions advancing' is an ironclad rule that cannot be broken; the methods of the Marquis of Champion have never appeared in the histories here.

Many actually find it hard to imagine how a cavalry force could charge through enemy territory without carrying provisions.