Chapter 551: Prelude

Chang Wei's gaze rested on the location of Chrysanthemum Island.

Thinking of a matter, he hesitated for a moment, "Zhou Yi only has twelve warships; the number of soldiers that can be transported to Ningjin Dusi at one time is limited, which I fear will be disadvantageous to the war effort."

"No need to worry, this Prince will have Yang He mobilize some merchant ships to transport troops," Zhao Xu said.

The Yanzhou sea area is controlled by Zhou Yi and his men; merchant ships are absolutely safe sailing on the sea and can be used to project military force.

"That would be excellent," Chang Wei said, rubbing his hands together, "When the time comes, we only need to leave sixty thousand men at Yanguan. Relying on the artillery, mortars, and rifled muskets, those six hundred thousand Northern Di won't be able to take Yanguan."

"Once they are exhausted, we will dispatch sixty thousand soldiers to sail north. Taking advantage of Ning City being empty, we will first seize Ning City, cut off the retreat of the Northern Di troops attacking the city, and launch a pincer attack from both sides to annihilate them."

"If Mule Hongzhen is in Ning City, we can wipe them out in one go. If he is in Jin City, he will surely come to the rescue. At that time, we will have the Ningjin Army set out from Chrysanthemum Island, arrive directly beneath Jin City, and cut off Mule Hongzhen's retreat, likewise launching a pincer attack from both sides. This is called a chain trap."

Chang Wei stretched out his hand to draw two circles on the map, while explaining his strategy in detail.

Zhao Xu heard this and revealed a satisfied smile.

Chang Wei's strategic thinking was becoming increasingly consistent with his own.

After all, having studied at the Military Academy for so long, he had been subtly influenced and had grown accustomed to some of his ways of thinking.

"Proceed according to this method. However, while there are no problems with the strategy, you and the generals should simulate it on the sand table a few more times in the coming days. Also, bring Yang Zhen over to get familiar with the generals," Zhao Xu instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness," Chang Wei's tone rose a notch.

Having his formulated strategy approved by Zhao Xu made him even more excited.

After saying a few more words, Chang Wei departed.

At this moment, Zhao Xu called Liu Fu over.

In truth, he was the one who had been the most exhausted during this period.

The soldiers of the Prince's Personal Army were all concentrated together, making it relatively easy to create the illusion of a plague.

It only required displaying soldiers with pustules and burying some fake corpses.

Then, in the name of preventing the spread of the plague, send troops to guard the pits and forbid the common people from approaching.

As for the Yanzhou Seven Commanderies, there were many counties and villages.

Liu Fu could only mobilize the common people just as they had done to guard against the Northern Di's Autumn Hunt.

Once they discovered merchants entering the village to ask for water or the like, they would have some of the common people hide in the tunnels.

At the same time, they would deliberately display villagers with pustules to create the illusion that the plague was causing mass deaths among the villagers.

To prevent any slips, Xu Ke's Four Courts would also provide the movements of suspicious individuals to the village heads.

Furthermore, ancient society was quite closed off.

Whether they were merchants, scholars, or commoners, they all needed a travel permit to go far away.

Merchants from other provinces entering Yanzhou also needed to report to the Government Office to obtain a merchant permit.

He had not let the Government Office cancel this system.

Therefore, the freedom of movement for suspicious merchants was not very great.

It was enough to focus on releasing smoke screens against them.

Before long, Liu Fu arrived at the study.

Upon learning that the Northern Di believed Yanzhou was indeed severely devastated by the plague and were preparing to move south, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

What he had worried about most during this time was that the Government Office side would have a slip-up and affect Yan Wang's plan.

"This subordinate has almost run his legs off during this time, but in the end, it was not in vain," Liu Fu looked at his shoes; the soles were almost worn through.

He then said, "Your Highness, is it not necessary to continue acting? During this time, the officials have all been busy with this, which has delayed quite a few government affairs."

"This Prince knows you all have been working very hard, but before the war breaks out, this play must continue for a while longer to avoid alerting the enemy," Zhao Xu laughed.

He had called Liu Fu over, firstly to tell him that they would not need to act for much longer, allowing them to relax.

The second was to tell them not to slack off at the final moment.

The third was to have the Government Office prepare grain and baggage trains to get ready for the war.

"As long as we can give the Northern Di a sound thrashing, these things count for nothing. Your Highness, please rest assured, this subordinate will go back and continue to keep watch," Liu Fu said.

Zhao Xu nodded, then spoke to him about the matter of preparing grain.

Liu Fu was well-versed in such matters; after all, the Prince's Personal Army had already fought several battles.

As he was leaving, he suddenly remembered something, "Your Highness, you said you had a way to recoup the losses suffered during this time. Now that this plague matter is nearing its end, can this method be implemented?"

Zhao Xu heard this and shook his head helplessly.

Liu Fu was now the steward of the entire Yanzhou.

It was impossible for him not to feel pained by the losses during this period.

So he leaned in and whispered a word to Liu Fu, and Liu Fu's face immediately beamed with joy, his spirits lifted.

"However, this method must also wait until after the war is fought before it can be implemented," Zhao Xu said.

"Yes, Your Highness," Liu Fu was already fantasizing about the wealth that would soon be pouring in.

As for whether it was a little earlier or a little later, it did not matter; it was of no consequence.

Ning City.

At this moment, Mule Hongzhen stood on the city wall, gazing toward the direction of Yanguan.

Tiemuta and Wulanba stood to his left and right, respectively.

After waiting for a long time, Tiemuta's body showed no abnormalities, and he was permitted to approach.

And at the sides of Tiemuta and Wulanba stood two more Royal Tent Great Kings each.

Beside Tiemuta were Guertu and Keerqin.

Beside Wulanba were Gule and Wuyan.

After the fall of Xiliang, these two had surrendered to the Northern Di and migrated with their clans to Ningjin Dusi.

During this short period, he has been taking orders under Wulanba, responsible for training the soldiers of the Xiliang Royal Tent.

"After waiting for so long, this day has finally arrived. These past few years, we have suffered so much humiliation under Yan Wang; now, we can immediately wash it away with his blood." Mule Hongzhen clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails almost sinking into his flesh.

Judging from the intelligence he received, the plague had destroyed Yanzhou just as he had hoped.

Now, trade in Yanzhou has withered, farming has been damaged, and the population has also decreased significantly.

This is the best time to launch an attack on Yanzhou.

Ivan had said that Smallpox would not kill everyone, and nearly half the people would still survive.

The number of people who died from Smallpox in Yanzhou has almost reached this limit.

If he drags this out any longer, Yanzhou will restore order and emerge from the bottom of the valley.

He will absolutely not give Yan Wang this opportunity.

"It is a pity that Yan Wang did not die from Smallpox." Mule Hongzhen muttered, then suddenly turned his head to look toward Gurtu and Khorchin.

Gurtu's Curved Blade Royal Tent and Khorchin's Wuhuan Royal Tent were the Dare-to-Die Royal Tents he had selected this time.

During the last time Yan Wang's soldiers attacked Ningjin Dusi, Gurtu's tribesmen suffered slaughter at the hands of Yan Wang's soldiers.

The entire Curved Blade Royal Tent's will for revenge is soaring.

It was Gurtu who personally requested to be the first to attack Yanguan.

Khorchin's Wuhuan Royal Tent has a close relationship with the Black Iron Royal Tent.

He has only one daughter in his life, and that is Enke's wife, Niya.

After Enke died, Enke's wife Niya led the remaining people and forces of the Black Iron Royal Tent to join the Wuhuan Royal Tent.

To comfort his daughter, Khorchin swore to exact a blood debt for his son-in-law.

Thus, when Mule Hongzhen was selecting the Dare-to-Die Royal Tents, he gave the second position to the Wuhuan Royal Tent.

He believes that the remnants of the Black Iron Royal Tent will surely charge toward Yanguan at any cost.