Chapter 633

Very complete!

Hu Bu Gui said very confidently and firmly, "This map was redrawn by personnel after I, as Deputy General, assumed the post of Prefect of Dingzhou, to cope with the war against the Qiang people; everything marked on it is exactly accurate."

How wide is that river? Xu Zengyi asked.

Hu Bu Gui immediately gave the answer: "Between fifty and a hundred zhang, the width of the Xiao River crossing this area varies; the narrowest point is about fifty zhang, only passable by small boats, while near the middle reaches it is about a hundred zhang."

This quick question-and-answer let Chen Wuji see Hu Bu Gui's years of merit in Dingzhou.

His basic skills are indeed quite solid.

After Xu Zengyi pondered for a moment, he said, "We still need to go see this river in person. Between fifty and a hundred zhang, the usable width may not be large."

My lord, leave a detachment of troops to garrison Wuyang City to defend against a possible siege by the Qiang people; the rest of the troops will go south and loop around to Wuyang Pass.

Chen Wuji didn't understand Xu Zengyi's purpose, and before he could ask, Xu Zengyi explained himself: "The spring planting is imminent; this fertile land should not be allowed to be ravaged by the Qiang people."

Going around to Wuyang Pass, there we set up Lìng and stockade, first seize the advantage of terrain, then the large army waits for an opportunity to move; this battle is actually quite suitable for wolf pack tactics.

What are wolf pack tactics? Chen Wuji asked.

Mr. Xu smiled and said, "This is a tactic I invented myself; I've tried it a few times, and it works quite well."

"Mr. Xu, when speaking to the two of us, you don't need to be so modest!" Chen Wuji said.

This guy, he suddenly became shy.

Mr. Xu waved his hand, "It's not modesty; I just don't really like the name 'wolf pack tactics'—it's not imposing enough, lacks cultivation. But this name was coined by that bastard Yang Pojun back then; I gave him face and have kept it."

"As a scholar, making a living as a strategist, yet coming up with wolf pack tactics like this—saying it out… actually is somewhat embarrassing."

Chen Wuji laughed heartily, "Good, good, good, so you're embarrassed."

"Like this, don't rush to be embarrassed; first tell us how your wolf pack tactics work—lure the enemy, then swarm?" Chen Wuji asked.

Mr. Xu said, "Yes and no, not entirely."

"Lure the enemy to sortie; our army splits into multiple routes to intersect and ambush, annihilating the pursuing troops is just one part. This tactic has three steps; what was just said is the first step. The second step is to seize an opportunity to ambush the enemy's Daying, not aiming to kill enemies, but even if it's just setting a fire, we must fight a battle."

"If the enemy army still dares to come out, or if there are reinforcements, then continue repeating the first step, killing their pursuers and reinforcements. If the enemy holds fast and does not come out, then repeatedly harass them until they dare to send troops. Afterwards continue repeating the first step, multiple routes intersecting to attack and kill."

Hu Bu Gui hearing this, seeing Mr. Xu stop, then asked: "But what if the enemy launches a large-scale pursuit? The Qiang People like to muster all their Yíngzhù Bīngmǎ to chase the enemy."

"If it's 100,000, they definitely wouldn't do that." Mr. Xu said.

"If they really pursue, we just run; our army splits into multiple routes, running is not difficult. When they turn back, we continue to intersect and bite them; the more bites, the more tired they become, the more they reveal weaknesses; that's when we go for their lives."

"This third step is that all routes of Bīngmǎ combine into three routes, two routes attack, one route provides support and mops up, using living forces to crush the enemy's final line of defense."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Mr. Xu's tactic gives me a feeling of déjà vu, though I can't remember when I saw it, or perhaps I have seen Mr. Xu's great work."

"Below Wuyang Pass is flat terrain; this tactic is indeed applicable and can to some extent avoid the Qiang People's harm to local civilians. If you two have no better tactic, then use this one."

"In the world, it's rare to have both; we must win the battle, preserving this land is already extremely difficult; do our best to preserve as much as we can; our primary premise is still to win this battle."

"Given the Qiang People's nature, once they enter Wuyang Pass they will surely pillage extensively."

"If they can arrive in time, they can tie down the Qiang People's attention, at least preserving the area outside the battlefield; the surrounding battlefield being harmed is probably inevitable."

"The enemy army of 100,000; even if Chen Wuji had great abilities, it's absolutely impossible to protect the civilians in the areas that this 100,000-strong army passes through."

"Mr. Xu's tactic currently appears to be the most applicable."

"The only drawback depends on how flat this place actually is."

"If it truly is a flat plain, Mr. Xu's tactic will certainly be greatly discounted."

"On the plain, if the troops are split into multiple parts to intersect and attack, unless the distance is made very far, otherwise the enemy cavalry riding past will see everything at a glance."

"But if the distance is made too far, the difficulty of attack will greatly increase."

"Considering these things now is useless; only by reaching the battlefield and observing on site."

"If the terrain has slight undulations, or many forests, many villages, this problem won't be a big issue."

Mr. Xu nodded and sighed lightly, "The enemy's forces already far surpass ours, and they have even more cavalry; wanting to win this battle is inherently extremely difficult; we can only do our best to preserve this land and its civilians. To say we could keep them all unharmed is absolutely impossible."

Chen Wuji grunted, lifted the Wine Bowl, tilted his neck back, and gulped it down in one bold gulp.

"Whenever this happens, alcohol in his eyes becomes affectionate."

"The higher the power, the easier many things become."

"But Chen Wuji also experienced more helplessness."

"Sometimes some things are truly not that he doesn't do, but that he really cannot do."

"Human strength has its limits!"

"Divide the troops." Chen Wuji wiped his mouth firmly, "Who can guard Wuyang City?"

"Lü Ji!" Mr. Xu immediately said.

Chen Wuji glanced at Mr. Xu with some surprise, "Feasible?"

"This choice differs greatly from what he had in mind; Lü Ji's performance in all aspects has been mediocre so far; entrusting such a crucial responsibility to him, frankly Chen Wuji is a bit uneasy."

"Feasible!" Mr. Xu said, "This person is steady; although since his surrender he hasn't shown much sharpness nor any merit, but observing his troop movements and camp, he should be a general good at defense."

"My lord, employ without suspicion, suspect without employ; Wuyang City now only Lü Ji can guard, others are even less suitable. Tang Yu could also do, but he is after all Yang Yu's man; such a crucial position should not be given to him."

"Xie Fengxian is brave and resourceful, good at using troops and fond of danger; although he has a fair and serene face, his nature is not serene. If he guards the city, he will surely become an attacker from below the city."