Chapter 144: The change of the four countries, gathering at the Yellow River!

Finally!

The phoenix eyes of the Qian-Yuan Empress, even hidden behind the ghost mask, shoot out a chilling light that makes people's hearts tremble.

Zhou Xuan cannot help but feel a chill, as if he is in an ice cellar, and cannot help but shrink slightly.

The Empress's gaze sweeps over the sand table in the army!

Xu State, Bo State!

Both are important towns of Northern Wind, but now they have become abandoned pieces, and the army has retreated to Yue State one after another.

Yue State has many mountains and dense forests, and has the Yellow River as a natural barrier, unlike the plains and hills of the other two states.

Wu Ying lightly spreads out the map, and the context of the battle between the two armies has already been outlined in her heart.

The generals under Qian-Yuan are all veteran generals of the battlefield, and at this moment, they are also furrowing their brows, pondering:

"Northern Wind actually wants to fight with their backs to the mountains in Yue State? This move is quite strange..."

After speaking!

A flash of doubt in his eyes, seemingly this layout is out of place with the current battle situation.

"The art of war says, survive after being in a desperate situation, exist after being placed in a dead end."

The general says:

"Northern Wind sets up a formation in Yue State, relying on the natural barrier of the Yellow River on the left, relying on Yue Mountain as a shield on the back, and there is the Zhi River on the right, which is equivalent to having no worries on both wings."

"The terrain of Yue State is complex and narrow, making it difficult to spread out the large army, so they can only be sent to the battlefield in batches; in this way, although it limits the deployment of troops, it also reduces the fear of trampling on each other in chaos."

This move is known as "fighting with one's back to the river" in military books, also known as "breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats," which is a decisive tactic for soldiers to fight against the many with the few.

However, the scene before their eyes makes people feel suspicious.

The northern lands are now called Yan land.

Yan land is just a place in Daqing, while Northern Wind is a country.

The Northern Wind army, not only large in number, can gather an army of 500,000.

And with the natural barrier of the Yellow River as help, according to common sense, they should ambush while the Yanbei Army is crossing the river and give them a fatal blow.

However!

Northern Wind acts contrary to common sense, actually wanting to abandon the benefits of two states and fight with their backs to the mountains in Yue State; this decision is truly puzzling.

After careful consideration, the disadvantages of this move are obvious.

Northern Wind has abandoned the vast strategic depth of the north, as well as their familiarity and control over that piece of land, almost handing over all the initiative to others, and instead adopting a strategy of holding firm.

Is Northern Wind afraid to this extent, retreating before fighting?

The way of war is treacherous and changeable; perhaps Northern Wind is using this to show weakness, lure the enemy deep, and then find an opportunity to counterattack?

Or perhaps, they have other plans, wanting to use this decisive battle to lay the foundation for victory.

A group of experienced generals are somewhat lost.

Wu Ying laughs lightly and says slowly:

"Tuoba Shuyi is probably truly scared; they are worried about falling into a disadvantage again in tactics and strategy, so they simply abandon those complex schemes and directly put on a posture of fighting to the death, attempting to win by force."

"It's truly ridiculous. The battle hasn't really started yet, and they have already weakened by three points in momentum. Clearly occupying an advantageous position, they only know how to shrink back."

Wu Ying is increasingly interested in this Lu Chen.

Tuoba Shuyi is afraid of this Lu family Shaobao.

She prides herself on marching and fighting, and deploying troops has never been weaker than others.

At this time!

Another thousand guards of the Black Ice Terrace rush into the military tent, bringing the latest military intelligence.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, urgent military intelligence sent by scouts from the Chu and Han countries."

In war, the importance of information is immeasurable; often a key piece of intelligence can reverse the battle situation and become the key factor in determining victory or defeat.

Since the Empress led the army, she has won every battle; this brilliant record not only stems from her extraordinary military talent but also cannot be separated from the intelligence network she built herself—the Black Ice Terrace.

It is like an invisible net, spread under the feet of the Son of Heaven, providing crucial information support for the Empress.

The key to war, besides sufficient food and grass and strong troops and horses, the acquisition and application of information are equally crucial.

Wu Ying cannot help but think that Lu Chen also only has "mercury" in the Lu Army.

Known as: "Mercury pouring on the ground, entering every hole."

The Empress says faintly: "Speak."

The thousand guards of the Black Ice Terrace say:

"The large armies of the Han and Chu countries have been camping fifty miles outside Shizhou City for seven days, but strangely, they have not moved, nor have they launched any offensive."

"According to scout reports, they only beat war drums every night to create momentum, but have been slow to attack the city."

Zhou Xuan hears this, his brows furrowed, his heart filled with doubt.

The large armies of the Han and Chu countries arrived directly at Shizhou, but why have they been slow to launch an attack?

This behavior is completely different from their previous style, which is truly puzzling.

The person in the black robe continues to add:

"Yesterday, the one thousand troops sent from the Daqing capital arrived in Shizhou; the commanders are the two generals Jia Fu and Cheng Pu from the Lu Army."

"After these one thousand elite cavalry camped outside Shizhou City, they have been constantly provoking the forty thousand large army of Han and Chu since yesterday, but the Han and Chu large army has always remained silent and did not leave the camp to meet the battle."

Zhou Xuan feels a bad premonition in his heart!

The scene before his eyes is exactly the same as what they encountered in Jingyang City.

The weaker side does not retreat, but instead sends a thousand troops to provoke; the same script is truly puzzling.

He knows Lu Chen's military talent deeply; although the two have not directly clashed, Lu Chen's achievements are obvious to all.

And Zhou Xuan himself has clashed with the Qian-Yuan Empress, and that scene still makes him feel lingering fear.

The Empress's "majesty" makes him firmly believe that no one in the world can rival her!

It is this deep understanding that ultimately made Zhou Xuan choose to submit to Qian-Yuan.

However, facing the current situation.

Zhou Xuan has his own calculations and requests to fight again:

"Superior, Jingyang City is a key place; capturing it first is no different from getting a wonderful move in the chess game, which is a sure win! Please allow me to lead thirty thousand elite troops and swear to break that mere one thousand Lu Army troops!"

Wu Ying hears this, lightly shakes her head, and slowly sits back in the seat of honor, her tone peaceful but carrying unquestionable majesty: "At this moment, it is not the time to move."

"Then what should be done?"

Zhou Xuan's brows furrow, unable to hide his urgency, and asks.

To be King in the imperial mausoleum!

It is within reach.

Wu Ying smiles slightly and says:

"Wait!"

Zhou Xuan is confused.

"Someone is more impatient than us."

Zhou Xuan hurriedly says:

"If we let the situation develop, I fear we will miss the opportunity. Just imagine, if our army heads straight for the imperial mausoleum now, wouldn't the land of Jiangnan be within reach?"

"At that time, the Han and Chu forces will naturally be difficult to resist, and Northern Wind and Lu Chen will fight, and we will sit back and reap the benefits."

"The cause of hegemony can be achieved!"

Wu Ying lightly shakes her head and chooses to remain silent.

Arguing with ignorant people will only make one join them.

Lady Gongsun Pingxi sees this and smiles, explaining to Zhou Xuan:

"Heavenly King, please don't be impatient. We need to understand that once we successfully capture Jingyang City, the situation will turn sharply."

"Northern Wind and the Yanbei Army will immediately stop the civil war and turn south, while the Han and Chu countries will also join forces, forming a siege against us."

"At that time, Qian-Yuan and the Heavenly King's Hexi land will instantly become the target of public criticism."

Zhou Xuan hears this and feels that there is no such possibility.

Lady Gongsun Pingxi continues helplessly:

"Has the Heavenly King ever thought that in this complex chess game of the world, every chess player has great ambitions and is unwilling to fall behind."

"Then who is the easiest to be eliminated?"

"Often it is those who are the weakest, or... the most powerful."

(End of chapter)