Chapter 451: with translation of chapter title

Regarding Gu Wenjie's five hundred Bīngmǎ tactics, Chen Wuji and others racked their brains, but only came up with two possibilities, so they temporarily arranged according to those two possibilities.

Chen Wuji sent someone to deliver a letter to Xu Zengyi, giving him a heads-up.

At the same time, they dispatched a large number of Bīngmǎ along the route to clear traces of their march, and carried out large-scale camouflage of the Yíngzhù. They increased the number of Scouts, while the remaining soldiers reduced their activities, to avoid being discovered by Gu Wenjie's Scouts.

On the third day, an urgent report arrived from the Scouts dispatched from Hezhou City.

Hezhou dispatched three thousand troops, rushing to Guangyuan State.

"Shi Yi Shu, it looks like you guessed correctly." Chen Wuji received the secret letter, and for a moment he felt somewhat flattered, "Gu Wenjie this bastard gave me quite a bit of face this time; in order not to let me disturb his attack on Guangyuan State, he actually sent five hundred people over for me to eat for free."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the actual soldiers among these five hundred probably number only a few dozen; the rest are all newly recruited Young Strongmen."

Chen Li naturally offered a compliment, "This shows that the Commandant has already broken Gu Wenjie; he should now be quite afraid of the Commandant's use of troops against Hezhou."

"He may think that, but we ourselves must not be arrogant." Chen Wuji said in a low voice.

"After observing for two more days, we will seize the opportunity to act against Hezhou City; additionally, we will send another urgent letter to Mr. Xu, telling him to withdraw first, as there is currently no need for negotiations in Guangyuan State."

Even if Xu Zengyi's side has already worked out some details, the newly attached troops facing Gu Wenjie's siege will inevitably cause chaos, which would instead threaten the safety of Xu Zengyi and others, so it's unnecessary.

"Yes!" Chen Li responded, then hurriedly went to the Camp Tent and wrote a letter to Xu Zengyi.

The next day, Chen Wuji was busily preparing to find an opportunity to attack Hezhou, when a spy under Qin Zhanhong suddenly delivered a secret letter saying that Gu Wenjie personally led three thousand Bīngmǎ north into the Shenxianling Mountain Range, unknown what his intention was.

After receiving the secret letter, Chen Wuji remarked to Qin Zhanhong and Chen Li, "This old and young pair are truly old foxes, damn cunning; we only guessed two possibilities, and they've done them all!"

"What's more excessive is that they seem to have also guessed that there might be our Scouts and spies in Hezhou City; this kid Gu Wenjie actually waited a day before sending out troops, and did not dispatch them simultaneously with the forces attacking Guangyuan State."

Regarding this, Chen Wuji could only say, truly excessive.

"In that case, it seems the Commandant still has the upper hand!" Chen Li laughed like an old auntie.

Chen Wuji glanced over and said, "Shi Yi Shu, isn't most of this what you guessed?"

"It's because the Commandant governs his subordinates well."

Chen Wuji: ……

He stared blankly at Chen Li, "Shi Yi Shu, who have you been learning from lately?"

"Actually I haven't learned from anyone; I just see that the Commandant has been under a lot of strain lately." Chen Li said with a light smile.

Chen Wuji: ……

So it turns out it's just emotional value.

No wonder he's the Baozang Clan Uncle; in the Chen family, he's an undisputed Overturned Pillar.

This insight is unmatched.

"Thanks, Shi Yi Shu, but I don't need to go that far." Chen Wuji said.

"Let's get down to business; since they've already done everything according to our plan, we shouldn't hold back either—we should cooperate properly."

"It's just three thousand Bīngmǎ; I think we shouldn't just shut the door and beat the dog, causing panic among the villagers with a pincer attack. Instead, let them enter the mountains first, then look for a chance to wipe them out there."

In terms of tactics, Chen Wuji attaches utmost importance to any enemy.

But strategically, he really doesn't hold Gu Wenjie's three thousand Bīngmǎ in high regard.

The Qiang People's six thousand cavalry, who drove sheep and cattle, were all left by him in the mountains under cover of night; although Gu Wenjie's three thousand Bīngmǎ are still twice his number, they are still far weaker than the Qiang People's forces.

"Pass the order: gather the Scouts, leave only a few to watch the enemy's movements, and have the rest all retreat into the mountains to avoid alerting the enemy." Chen Wuji issued the order.

"Yes!"

The aides swiftly took command.

Chen Li suddenly said, "Commandant, Hezhou now seems to be quickly becoming an empty city."

"Let Lao Yang try a probe, using Shocking Heaven Thunder to strike them for two days, to see if we can knock down the garrison." Chen Wuji made a swift decision.

This time it's a multi-front war; we cannot spare manpower, and if we can achieve a quick victory, we must not delay.

"Yes!"

Once Chen Wuji's military order was issued, the central command hidden deep in the mountains and wilderness immediately sprang into action.

The Personal Guard, carrying Chen Wuji's military order, crossed mountains and ridges to head in all directions.

At the same time, the entire army began intensive preparations for battle.

Sharpening knives, readying bows and arrows, building up spirit, preparing to kill.

Although Chen Wuji's tactic was to let Gu Wenjie come in and fight, the preparations were made assuming the Scouts would be discovered and the two armies would meet head-on; tactics are never set in stone.

The optimal solution is to make the best arrangements first, then adapt as circumstances change.

No one can guarantee that every step the enemy takes will follow their plan.

Even military gods have their missteps, let alone Chen Wuji, who has just opened a military manual.

Chen Wuji's worry was soon proven true.

Indeed, what one fears tends to come.

On the second day after he had set up his tactics, a Scout came rushing in to report that they had run into the enemy's Scouts; the enemy outnumbered them, they killed a few, but in the end only two escaped.

The war before the main army begins always belongs to the Scouts.

This is normal.

Chen Wuji did not blame the Scouts, but quickly ordered the entire army to prepare for battle and meet the enemy.

The fact that two survivors escaped means that their ambush in the mountains has been exposed.

They must march swiftly to intercept Gu Wenjie's force outside Hezhou City.

As a result, something unexpected happened again.

Just as Chen Wuji's side began moving troops down the mountain, a Scout hurried in to report that the enemy was accelerating its march, and the distance between the two sides was now less than five li.

This news left Chen Wuji dazed for a while, and once again he failed to react.

By common sense, Gu Wenjie should have led his troops back, or sent more Scouts to scout his situation; why is he instead accelerating his march?

Could it be that this kid is also worried that he might run away?!

Although this matter is already a settled fact, Chen Wuji always feels as if something isn't quite right.

But at this moment, the battle is already at the point of no return, like an arrow on the bow that must be released, leaving no time for him to think further.

"Shi Yi Shu, pass the order: have the Shield Soldier pass the shields over, and have the Archer find a way to go around to the mountain, to cut off his rear." Chen Wuji ordered in a low voice.

"I think this place is a pretty good battlefield; now it's truly a case of narrow road encounter, where the brave win."

The stretch of road before and after is nearly ten li, all carved into the cliff as a narrow path barely wide enough for three people to walk side by side; using such a place as a battlefield, the contest comes down to courage.

Once the vanguard loses its fighting spirit and retreats timidly, the entire army will fall into chaos.

When the whole army falls into chaos, fighting becomes secondary; in the pushing and shoving, countless people will be buried in Xia Gu.

Chen Wuji took out the prepared cloth strips and tightly wrapped the horizontal knife around his wrist.

Chen Li watched this scene, wanting to speak but holding back, then silently took out a cloth strip and did the same action as Chen Wuji.