Chapter 353

"Please!"

Qin Qin Tianrui said indifferently.

He had long heard of Bai Jing Yifeng's great name, though it was entirely an infamous one.

If the upcoming battle didn't require cooperation between the two sides, he truly wouldn't want to bother with him.

In the blink of an eye, a scholar dressed in a green-colored scholar's robe was brought over by personal guards.

"Student Bai Bai Wenyi pays respects to the Regional Commander!"

The young scholar performed a cupped-hand salute, neither servile nor overbearing.

"You also have the surname Bai; what relation are you to Bai Jing Yifeng?"

Seeing the youth's extraordinary bearing, Qin Qin Tianrui asked casually.

"He is my father."

As soon as Bai Bai Wenyi's words fell, Qin Qin Tianrui's pleasant expression vanished instantly.

The son of a "Human Butcher"—no matter how capable he might be, they were not of the same ilk.

"Bai Jing Yifeng sent you here; is it to coordinate a joint campaign to recover Anqing?"

Qin Qin Tianrui asked coldly.

For this mission, the Regional Commander only required him to feign an attack on Anqing.

But as an ambitious military officer, he didn't just want to complete the mission.

Anyone with a modicum of military common sense knew Anqing's strategic value in this campaign.

With the opportunity right before him, he naturally had to attempt to take Anqing.

"Just as you said, my father sent me here to discuss a joint military operation."

Bai Bai Wenyi replied immediately.

It wasn't just Qin Qin Tianrui who wanted the great merit of recovering Anqing; Bai Jing Yifeng wanted it just as much.

There were many armies with poor discipline; the reason the Regiment Army was looked down upon was mainly the lack of military achievements to support them.

If they could slaughter their way across the battlefield, the gentry wouldn't care about the lives of the commoners at the bottom.

Yet the Regiment Army's achievements were mediocre, while their victimization of the populace was top-tier, driving many into the arms of the rebels.

After realizing the crux of the problem, Bai Jing Yifeng was also changing.

On one hand, he strengthened the training of the Regiment Army; on the other, he sought opportunities to earn merit.

Compared to the beginning, the Regiment Army had seen significant improvements in both discipline and combat effectiveness.

Alas, deep-seated prejudices made everyone turn a blind eye to their changes.

After all, the troops on the main battlefield now were mostly brought up by Li Mu himself.

The discipline of each unit was top-tier in the current era.

Even if incidents of harassing the populace occurred, they were handled swiftly, earning widespread praise from the gentry and commoners.

The Regiment Army hadn't constrained their discipline at the start, and when they wanted to change later, internal nepotism became the greatest obstacle to rectifying it.

Once problems occurred, everyone would help cover them up.

Even if Bai Jing Yifeng emphasized discipline repeatedly, the actual enforcement at the lower levels was greatly diminished.

With such a stark contrast, the changes in the Regiment Army were directly attributed by officials and gentry to their fear of the new Viceroy.

To change their passive situation, the Regiment Army urgently needed a major victory to prove their worth.

"This is simple. Let's act together and attack Anqing in five days.

If the rebels send reinforcements, we will surround the point to strike the reinforcements, crushing their momentum and sharpness."

Qin Qin Tianrui immediately provided a battle plan.

Having spent a long time under Li Mu's command, he had long been accustomed to handling problems with high efficiency.

Coordinating operations between units was just a matter of giving a heads-up, and everyone would cooperate actively.

The bellyful of rhetoric he had prepared went completely unused.

For Bai Bai Wenyi, who was accustomed to the bureaucratic style of haggling, this frank exchange was truly unfamiliar, and for a moment, he was actually stunned on the spot.

"What, do you have a problem?"

Seeing Bai Bai Wenyi slow to speak, Qin Qin Tianrui asked suspiciously.

The battle plan he proposed was based entirely on the actual situation.

In five days, both armies could reach the walls of Anqing, and there was nothing wrong with a joint siege.

If the rebels reacted slowly, the forty thousand Huguang Regiment Army plus the Jiangxi First Town under his command had every chance to take Anqing Prefecture.

Choosing a joint operation was because the Regiment Army's lives were cheap; they could be used as cannon fodder during the siege.

"No!"

"It's just that, Regional Commander, a joint operation is a matter of great importance; I must return to report to my father first..."

Before Bai Bai Wenyi could finish, Qin Qin Tianrui rolled his eyes.

Without decision-making power, there was no point in talking; it was purely a waste of time.

On the battlefield, speed is the essence of war; it would be a wonder if they didn't suffer for being so sluggish in making decisions.

"Then hurry back and report!

Whether it can be done or not, have your father send someone with a definitive answer as soon as possible.

Opportunities on the battlefield are fleeting; we have no time to waste."

Qin Qin Tianrui said with a look of disdain.

The welcome banquet he had originally prepared was now saved.

The Bai Bai Wenyi before him truly gave him no reason to see the value in hosting him.

Perhaps this person had some ability, but his style of conduct was clearly still that of a civil official.

Bringing such a style into the army would seriously affect the combat effectiveness of the troops.

It might pass for bullying rebels, but if they encountered a strong enemy, they wouldn't even know how they died.

At dusk, the Wu Army camp.

"Have you figured out the troop strength of the pseudo-dynasty army that has penetrated deep alone?"

Marquis Marquis Wuyang Fang Wan Yuxuan asked with concern.

For this counterattack, the entire Wu State had bet everything.

Fu Fu Haoxuan had transferred his thirty thousand most elite troops to his command.

Including other units cooperating in the operation, the total troop strength in his hands was over one hundred thousand.

Looking at the figures on paper, it was enough to fight a large-scale campaign.

"Reporting to the Marquis, according to information from scouts:

The enemy troops dispatched this time are the Huguang Regiment Army and the Jiangxi First Town.

The former has a total strength of about forty thousand, led by the 'Human Butcher' Bai Jing Yifeng.

The latter is a full-strength pseudo-dynasty town with about twelve thousand men, led by the fierce pseudo-dynasty general Qin Qin Tianrui."

Yuan Yuan Baifeng replied immediately.

Compared to the enemy, they had a sufficient troop advantage this time.

Moreover, they were fighting on their home turf, and local units could also provide significant help.

"The pseudo-dynasty is truly audacious, daring to penetrate deep alone with such a small force.

Do they really think my Wu State has no one left? It is simply preposterous!"

Though he cursed loudly, Fang Wan Yuxuan was inwardly delighted, as if military merit were waving at him.

"Marquis, the 'Human Butcher's' tens of thousands of Regiment Army troops have combat effectiveness not much different from our own.

The one that really needs attention is the Jiangxi First Town; although it is a newly formed unit, its Regional Commander is no ordinary person.

Being entrusted with such a heavy responsibility by the rebel Li, his ability is definitely not poor."

Yuan Yuan Baifeng reminded him tactfully.

As a strategist, he had studied the enemy's combat style extensively.

Generally, generals who had spent time under Li Mu would have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Although their combat effectiveness was not as good as the main force, compared to other imperial troops, they were still much stronger.

"That goes without saying!

Before I set out, His Majesty personally instructed me to act with caution.

Li Mu and Zheng Zheng Ruitao are both famous generals of the pseudo-dynasty; this deep penetration by the enemy might be their conspiracy.

Regardless of whether it is an enemy conspiracy, I must turn the tables and swiftly devour the deep-penetrating enemy troops.

Pass the order: send men to strictly monitor the imperial troops near Jiujiang and Nanchang, and report immediately if any unusual movements are discovered.

At the same time, contact the Anqing garrison, tell them to seal the city gates and prepare for battle; do not let the enemy find an opportunity."

Fang Wan Yuxuan ordered immediately.

Whether politically or militarily, the Wu State needed a victory.

If the enemy hadn't split their forces to penetrate deep, they really wouldn't have known where to launch a counterattack.

Now that the opportunity had come to their door, regardless of the risks, they had to seize it.

Since the outbreak of the great war, nearly a month had passed, and Hangzhou City remained impregnable.

Looking at the towering city walls, Jing Jing Guoliang revealed a worried expression.

The counter-insurgency war had progressed to this point, and with just Hangzhou City left, he, the Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang, would be a Viceroy in name and deed.

Alas, Hangzhou Prefecture's strategic value was too high; the rebels were willing to abandon other regions but unwilling to lose the political and economic center of Zhejiang.

They deployed heavy troops near Hangzhou to confront the imperial army.

Through a series of battles, they had removed the nearby thorns, but finally hit a wall at the gates of Hangzhou City.

"Viceroy, we cannot continue to force the attack."

Jing Jing Yifeng advised.

To take Hangzhou City, the imperial army had suffered nearly three thousand casualties.

If there were hope of taking Hangzhou, these losses would be acceptable.

Alas, despite such fierce fighting, the city remained unmoved.

During this period, they had tried various siege tactics, none of which had worked.

Effort without hope is the most despairing thing.

"Hmm!"

"Hangzhou City is indeed not easy to attack."

"Let's do this: I will give you one town of troops, plus the twenty thousand-strong army left to guard Songjiang Prefecture, and you will lead the army north to Suzhou Prefecture.

The navy will cooperate with your battle; you must exert enough pressure on the enemy to make them feel that Nanjing is no longer safe!"

Jing Jing Guoliang said slowly.

The original plan was to connect with Songjiang Prefecture after taking Hangzhou, then march north to Suzhou and Yingtian Prefectures.

Now that the situation had changed and Hangzhou could not be taken, they had to adopt the backup tactic of taking Suzhou Prefecture first.

He had no confidence in whether they could quickly seize Suzhou.

However, before the war began, the various high-ranking nobles had communicated that if they couldn't swallow the rebels in one bite, they would gradually nibble away at their territory.

Since the war broke out, although none of the main battlefields had achieved a breakthrough, the imperial army had actually recovered more than twenty counties one after another.

The northern expedition was the same; even if they couldn't take the whole of Suzhou, recovering some prefectures and counties was still a victory.

Besides exerting force from Songjiang Prefecture, he was also preparing to nibble away at Huizhou and Ningguo Prefectures near Hangzhou.

For the imperial army, whether they could effectively occupy these areas was not important, as long as they stopped them from continuing to provide money and grain to the rebels.

This strategic suppression of accumulating small victories into a big one meant the longer it dragged on, the more strained the rebels would become.

Once the rebels realized this, it would be hard for them not to engage in a decisive battle.

"Viceroy, rest assured, I will certainly live up to expectations."

Jing Jing Yifeng stated immediately.

When it came to leading troops in battle, his ability was not poor.

Back when he was in Among Guangxi with Li Mu, he often chased the rebels.

Unfortunately, this was not an era for pure military generals; they not only had to be able to fight but also learn to raise their own money and grain.

This deficiency made him appear very weak when he had to stand alone.

However, in this day and age, it was not easy to cultivate a capable general, and Jing Jing Guoliang had not given up on this clansman.

In troubled times, being able to fight was the greatest advantage.

Other shortcomings could be compensated for.

In recent years, the Li family's rise had been too fierce, threatening their status in the military.

Even if they were allies, such a situation was still not what they wanted to see.

Letting Jing Jing Yifeng lead the northern expedition was actually creating an opportunity for him.

If he could advance triumphantly and take Nanjing, given the Jing family's status in the court, being enfeoffed as a Marquis after the war would not be a problem.

If he couldn't, he would have to share the credit for recovering Nanjing with other nobles.

How much he would gain in the end would depend on his individual contribution.

Within the noble group, there was also fierce competition.

After the Li family withdrew, other families participated in the competition, and the Jing family only had the advantage of the first move.

"Hmm!"

"Just do your best; if you can't take Suzhou Prefecture, don't force it too much.

At a time like this, it is better to have no victory than to suffer a major defeat.

Time is on our side; we can wear the rebels out."

Jing Jing Guoliang reminded him earnestly.

Not achieving a major victory meant no hope for a title, but there was still hope for further advancement.

Since Li Mu took the post of Viceroy of the Two Guangs, this long-sealed position had been reopened.

With the Jing family's strength and Jing Jing Yifeng's own merits, it wouldn't be difficult to secure a provincial command after the war.

If they were lucky and the noble group gained the upper hand in the subsequent court struggles, there might even be a chance to aspire to the position of Viceroy in the future.

The value these core positions could bring to the clan was no less than that of a title.

Regiment Army camp.

Hearing the news brought by his son, Bai Jing Yifeng's brows furrowed tightly.

He sat atop forty thousand troops and was the Emperor's personally appointed Minister of Training; he should have occupied a leading position in the cooperation.

Qin Qin Tianrui had a special status, coming from the Xingguo Duke's mansion; it was understandable that he wouldn't want to bow his head.

But no matter how high his status, when it involved cooperation between two armies, he should have consulted his opinion first.

Coming out directly with a battle plan clearly showed he didn't take him seriously.

"Qin Qin Tianrui really said that?"

Bai Jing Yifeng confirmed again.

Cooperation between imperial armies had always been a difficult problem.

If the other side didn't take them seriously, problems would inevitably arise in the subsequent cooperation.

Whether or not to cooperate with Qin Qin Tianrui suddenly became a thorny problem.

"Father, in times like these, how would I dare to lie?"

Bai Bai Wenyi replied immediately.

The news he brought back was a verbatim account, without adding any extra information.

Qin Qin Tianrui was the person most likely to inherit a title from the Xingguo Duke's mansion; he wouldn't easily provoke a powerful enemy for his family.

"Big Brother, don't you know Bai Wenyi's character?

If it weren't for that arrogant fool Qin Qin Tianrui, both sides would certainly have communicated in depth."

A middle-aged man said.

Compared to the stranger Qin Qin Tianrui, he clearly trusted his nephew more.

"Hmm!"

"Bai Wenyi, it's not that Father doesn't believe you, it's just that the matter involves too much.

Cooperating with the Jiangxi army to attack Anqing was decided by the Marquis of Zhenyuan.

Our Regiment Army's situation is already very awkward; if we refuse to execute the Viceroy's orders, our situation will only become more difficult."

Bai Jing Yifeng explained immediately.

He still held high hopes for this son.

If he hadn't offended too many people, he would have arranged for Bai Bai Wenyi to study under a great Confucian and prepare for the imperial examinations.

"Father, I understand; such matters cannot be taken too seriously.

It's just, regarding Regional Commander Qin's attitude, do we really want to cooperate with him?"

Bai Bai Wenyi asked with concern.

(End of chapter)