Chapter 448: Besiege Wei to Save Zhao

Latest URL: Military Academy, Sand Table Room.

Zhao Xu, Xu Ke, Chang Wei, and other generals stood in a circle around the Qinzhou sand table.

After Zhao Heng decided on the Northern Expedition, under his guidance, the Military Academy manufactured the sand table of Qinzhou.

After all, at the time they were unsure if they would be dispatched to Qinzhou to fight, so they made preparations in advance.

Unexpectedly, they ended up using this Qinzhou sand table after all.

"According to the information this subordinate has received, after the Battle of Yongcheng, the old General Yang severed his arm to survive and led the remaining troops to Xian City under the cover of night," Xu Ke said.

"Therefore, there are currently about 200,000 troops in Xian City, and before attacking Yongzhou, most of the grain and fodder transported by the Northern Expeditionary Army were stored in Xian City; there should be no problem with food for a month."

"As for the Northern Di, one royal tent set out from Xiao Pass, cut off the Northern Expeditionary Army's path of retreat to the south, and now controls all the key roads in Qinzhou."

"Khan Mule Hongzhen himself led three royal tents to arrive beneath the walls of Xian City, coordinating with the Xiliang troops inside Yongcheng and Ma Jin's troops, and has now surrounded Xian City tightly."

"After the Xiao Family was defeated by the Northern Di troops coming out of Xiao Pass, they retreated to Jian Pass, not daring to step into Qinzhou again."

"Ma Han lost thirty percent of his troops, but has yet to take Xiangcheng, which is occupied by Xiliang. Upon learning that the Northern Di were coming south, he temporarily withdrew to Qin Pass. It is estimated that people from the Ma Family will soon arrive in Yancheng to discuss this matter with His Highness."

Holding a teaching pointer, Xu Ke moved the stick toward the position of each force as he spoke about them.

"So, the Northern Di, Xiliang, and Ma Jin forces currently entrenched in Qinzhou add up to nearly 700,000?" Chang Wei frowned deeply.

The Northern Di have 400,000.

Xiliang has stockpiled 100,000 troops in Xiangcheng and 100,000 troops in Baocheng.

Neither Ma Jin nor the Xiao Family has taken their cities; these two cities combined must have at least 150,000 troops.

Plus the troops in Yongcheng, it really is nearly 700,000.

Xu Ke nodded, "That is indeed the case, and the Xiliang troops in Xiangcheng seem to belong to the Xiliang elite, while the Xiliang troops in Baocheng are weaker."

Upon hearing this, Chang Wei

looked at Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, you cannot go to Qinzhou."

Pointing at the county city on the sand table, he continued: "In this general's view, Mule Hongzhen's southward movement this time likely took into account the possibility of failure in the east, so the siege of Xian City, besides wanting to capture the Emperor, is also likely waiting for Your Highness to take the bait."

"This is the 'besiege a point to strike reinforcements' strategy that Your Highness used against Murong Wuji when you were in Jinzhou," Chang Wei finally raised his voice.

The other generals nodded one after another, agreeing with Chang Wei's assessment.

Currently, the Northern Di have two royal tents positioned outside Yanguan.

They naturally cannot mobilize all of the Prince's Personal Army.

Even if the Prince's Personal Army is skilled in battle, this small number of men would likely find it difficult to hold out against the coalition of the Northern Di, Xiliang, and Ma Jin, who possess artillery.

Seven hundred thousand people—even if they didn't resist and let them be slaughtered like pigs, it would take days and nights to finish.

Zhao Xu's gaze swept across the faces of those present.

The expressions of the generals were almost all the same.

Xu Ke shook his head at him; clearly, he did not approve of this either.

Even if they could win this battle, the foundation of the Prince's Personal Guard would likely be wiped out.

"Do not worry, this Prince is not stupid. To rashly enter Qinzhou at this time would be no different from seeking one's own death," Zhao Xu said.

Chang Wei breathed a sigh of relief, then sighed and said: "But in that case, I fear the Emperor and the old General Yang will fall into the hands of the Northern Di."

"If we were to gather the remaining Imperial Guards and the troops of the powerful clans within Da Song, we might still be able to fight," he added, having thought of something.

But his tone was very unconfident; clearly, he himself did not believe that Da Song would assemble a great army to save Zhao Heng.

Hearing this, Xu Ke directly retorted, "With the First Prince acting as regent, I fear he is hoping the Emperor cannot return, so that he can take the opportunity to ascend the throne. After all, the Third Prince has lost the possibility of succeeding to the throne, and the Second Prince is also in Xian City and cannot assemble the Imperial Guards."

After a cold laugh, he added: "As for the powerful clans, their hearts for separatism are clear to see; why would they risk their own true foundations? They might even be hoping for a new emperor who is easier to control."

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed, "Oh no, the Dou Family and the Han Family will certainly not support the Crown Prince. By then, I fear Da Song will fall into chaos."

He looked toward Yan Wang and saw that Yan Wang was also looking at him.

He immediately understood that Yan Wang had already made his calculations.

"What Chief Xu said is also what this Prince wanted to say. If we can save the Emperor, we should naturally try to save him, but this Prince has never liked being led by the nose."

"Mule Hongzhen wants this Prince to enter the trap he has set, but this Prince insists on taking an unconventional path. We are not going to Qinzhou, but to Ningjin Dusi!"

Zhao Xu turned and walked toward the Yanzhou sand table next to Qinzhou.

"Ningjin Dusi?" Chang Wei and the generals had not yet grasped the meaning.

Zhao Xu nodded, "This tactic is called 'besiege Wei to save Zhao'."

"Wei? Zhao?" The generals were even more confused; they had never heard of this idiom.

Zhao Xu then explained the process of 'besiege Wei to save Zhao'.

Of course, this world did not have the historical allusion of 'besiege Wei to save Zhao'.

So he told everyone that this was just a story.

"So that's it, 'besiege Wei to save Zhao'—under the circumstances at the time, it truly was a divine strategy," Chang Wei clicked his tongue and couldn't help but exclaim.

At this moment, he also understood what Yan Wang intended to do.

The Northern Di currently have a huge advantage in Qinzhou, and the cost of a head-on confrontation is too high.

So it is better to simply attack Ningjin Dusi directly.

"But will Mule Hongzhen abandon the siege of Xian City for the sake of Ningjin Dusi?" Chang Wei frowned.

Zhao Xu laughed, "Don't forget, the Northern Di's artillery was manufactured in Jin City, and what if we add his son Wulanba to the mix?"

He told everyone about his capture of Wulanba.

"Hahaha..." Chang Wei was taken aback, then burst into loud laughter, "Your Highness, this subordinate truly admires you to the ground. With this, Mule Hongzhen will really have to consider his options. This subordinate will head to Yanguan immediately to lead the troops into battle."

Zhao Xu shook his head, "No, this time, attacking Ningjin Dusi will not be done in that manner."

On land, the mobility of the Prince's Personal Guard cannot compare to the Northern Di Iron Cavalry.

But at sea, the mobility of the fleet is something the Northern Di Iron Cavalry cannot match.

He could fully utilize his own fleet to transport a portion of the Wangfu Army to the rear of the Ningjin Dusi.

Upon learning that enemies had appeared in their rear, the Northern Di grand army at Yanguan would certainly have to dispatch troops to encircle and suppress them.

But by utilizing the advantage of the warships at sea, the Wangfu Army could strike and move to a new location, creating the illusion for the Northern Di that the war was blossoming everywhere, leaving them exhausted from running about.

Once the Northern Di dispersed their forces for this, they could then concentrate superior forces to strike at the Northern Di grand army at Yanguan.

Of course, this was only the strategy adopted for the east.

Although the weight of the Ningjin Dusi was heavy enough for Wulanba, he could not be one hundred percent certain whether Mule Hongzhen would submit.

Therefore, for the worst-case scenario, he had also prepared a clever plan in a silk pouch for the northwest.