Chapter 566: Imminent

The latest update: "The Northern Di troops are on the move."

High above Jin City, a Hot Air Balloon floated at a great height.

On the Hot Air Balloon, a soldier held a Telescope, staring at the ground.

After delivering soldiers to the Lian County beach, a Warship had sailed north with the Hot Air Balloon, responsible for conducting reconnaissance on Jin City.

Just moments ago, they suddenly discovered that countless ants seemed to be moving around Jin City.

The ants at the very front were heading straight for Ning City.

Of course, they knew these were not ants, but Northern Di Cavalry.

Having discovered the movements of the Northern Di army at Jin City, they immediately drifted toward the sea, preparing to land on the Warship.

In just half a day, Chang Wei received the news.

At this moment, he was no longer in the waters of Lian County.

Once Ning City was taken, he had ordered the fleet to head to Chrysanthemum Island.

From here on, he would remain at Chrysanthemum Island to oversee and command.

"General Chang, the Northern Di are completely being led by the nose by us," Yang Zhen said, slightly excited.

At present, the war was proceeding in the direction they had anticipated.

"More than ten years ago, Mule Hongzhen personally took the Ningjin Dusi; if the Ningjin Dusi is lost while in his hands, the face of this Khan will be completely wiped away," Chang Wei said slowly.

It was not that he was divinely calculating, but that he understood the significance of the Ningjin Dusi to the Northern Di.

Once the Ningjin Dusi was lost, it meant that more than ten years of the Northern Di's achievements would be lost in a single day.

"Therefore, what follows will be a bloody battle," Yang Zhen said, looking toward the direction of Ning City.

For both sides of the war, neither would be willing to spit out the results they had already achieved.

Then, it could only be a fight to the death.

Chang Wei nodded and looked at Yang Zhen, "In the past, these sixty thousand men might not have been able to hold out, but now, I have great confidence in the Rifled Musket."

If the Matchlock and Flintlock could still be compared to bows and arrows.

Then the Rifled Musket simply left them behind by more than a few streets.

In front of the Northern Di, he had achieved for the first time that the enemy could not hit them, while they could hit the enemy.

This gap was similar to how the Great Song Infantry in the past could only be killed by Northern Di Cavalry while being kited.

Of course, the premise was that they could rely on the city walls for defense.

If it were open field combat, unless they had a Chariot Formation accompanying them, they would suffer heavy casualties even if they could win against a large number of Northern Di Cavalry.

Suddenly remembering something, he turned to Yang Zhen, "Once the defense of Jin City is empty, I will have the fleet send your Ningjin Army ashore, and Jin City will be left to you."

As long as they took Ning City and Jin City, they would effectively control the Ningjin Dusi.

After all, the Ningjin Dusi belonged to a long and narrow terrain.

Holding these two cities was like holding the throat of the Ningjin Dusi.

The Northern Di could not bypass these two cities to directly attack Yanguan.

Otherwise, the armies in the two cities could strike at any time to cut off their supply lines.

"The Ningjin Army will not let His Highness down," Yang Zhen said with a firm expression.

After Yan Wang learned of his identity, he had never blamed him for the loss of the Ningjin Dusi more than ten years ago.

He had formed the Ningjin Army and, overriding all objections, handed the command of the Ningjin Army to him.

He had even given the most advanced firearms of Yanzhou to the Ningjin Army; everything was no different from the Prince's Personal Army.

If he did not fight a beautiful battle this time, how would he have the face to see Yan Wang?

"In that case, I hope you return victorious," Chang Wei gave Yang Zhen an encouraging look.

Yan Wang once said that a grieving army would surely win; without a doubt, the Ningjin Army was this grieving army.

From top to bottom, whether it was Yang Zhen or the soldiers, all had had painful experiences at the hands of the Northern Di.

Facing the Northern Di directly, the hatred hidden in their hearts would allow them to erupt with even more formidable combat power.

After discussing some specific details, Yang Zhen left.

They waited for a day.

The Hot Air Balloon responsible for reconnaissance sent back intelligence once again.

The Northern Di troops inside Jin City were mostly gone, with only a small number of soldiers guarding the city.

This news did not move Chang Wei; he decided to continue keeping the Ningjin Army back, waiting for the most critical node.

Moreover, he had another concern.

He had taken Ning City by night; having used this trick once, he feared the Northern Di might be secretly guarding against him doing the same to Jin City.

If the Northern Di set an ambush, his strategy would be affected.

Therefore, he decided to first let Mo Yu wear down the Northern Di army at Ning City for a period of time.

Once they relaxed their vigilance, he would then let Yang Zhen and the others land.

Ning City.

At the same time Chang Wei made up his mind, Commander Tiemuta arrived outside Ning City with the vanguard cavalry.

Ordering the soldiers to set up camp and wait for the follow-up troops, he observed Ning City for a while.

Of the four city gates, the Nanmen and the east gate were both damaged.

However, the Yan Wang troops inside the city had not repaired the gates, but had piled a large amount of stones and Sandbags inside the gates, sealing the entire city gate shut.

Clearly, the situation behind the other two intact city gates was likely the same.

Relying on the large amount of grain and grass inside Ning City, these Yan Wang troops were determined to wear them down to the end.

"Great Khan, the troops of the Gurtu tribe are still thirty li away from Ning City." As Tiemuta was deep in thought, a cavalryman dismounted and said.

Tiemuta nodded and waved his hand to let the cavalryman return.

This time, all two hundred thousand Northern Di Iron Cavalry from Jin City were gathering toward Ning City.

Adding the troops of the Gurtu tribe, they must have over three hundred and fifty thousand troops, still maintaining an advantage over the Yanzhou troops.

Furthermore, the city walls of Ning City were not as tall or grand as the walls of Yanguan City, nor did they have the peculiar walls outside Yanguan.

Most importantly, the Artillery carried by this army was limited.

Therefore, with such a disparity in military strength, their chances of retaking Ning City were very high.

Thinking of this, a trace of a smile finally appeared on his face.

Next, he only needed to wait; wait for his Great Khan to arrive with the remaining troops, and they would be able to launch an attack on Ning City.

Yanguan.

It had been over a day since the Northern Di troops withdrew from beneath Yanguan.

However, Mo Yu had not yet taken any action.

He only sent out Scouts to continuously reconnoiter the movements of the Northern Di.

"General, are we just going to watch Ning City get besieged? Ning City does not have the tall walls and thick ramparts of Yanguan." Mo Yu was not anxious, but the generals under his command were.

"Do not be anxious; being anxious will only alert the enemy." Mo Yu felt somewhat helpless.

If he led his troops over at this time, the attention of the Northern Di would certainly turn toward him.

By then, the Northern Di would concentrate all their strength to deal with them first, before turning back to Ning City.

In that case, it would be better to let Qin Shan hold out for a few days.

He would travel by night and hide by day, leading his troops to the vicinity of Ning City to deliver a surprise blow to the Northern Di army.

Seeing that the generals still wanted to speak, he said coldly: "How is the preparation of the Chariot Battalion coming along?"

"The War Chariots have all been inspected and are ready to depart at any time," a general said.

"Have the provisions and Baggage Train also been loaded?" Mo Yu asked again.

In this sortie, they might fall into the enemy's encirclement, so they had to use the War Chariots to carry more supplies.

"It is done. Everyone is carrying Roasted Flour, and with the food in the War Chariots, there will be no problem even if we are besieged for twenty days," another general said.

Mo Yu nodded; Chang Wei had left the Chariot Battalion at Yanguan.

It was for this very day.

Now, he only needed to wait for the right opportunity to set out under the protection of the War Chariots, transforming into a mobile fortress of the Ningjin Dusi.