Chapter 618: Evil Intent

Fanyang.

After Chang Wei returned, he gathered the commanders to create a sand table and frequently simulated attacks on the three cities upon it.

At the same time, Yanzhou scouts traveled back and forth between the three cities and Yanzhou to investigate the situation of the three cities.

According to the information they gathered.

Currently, Leling City is garrisoned with 60,000 Qi troops.

Pingyuan is garrisoned with 80,000 Qi troops.

And Yangping is garrisoned with 70,000 Qi troops.

Besides this, the city walls of Pingyuan have the most artillery, totaling 240 pieces.

Leling City is equipped with 180 pieces of artillery.

Yangping City is equipped with 160 pieces of artillery.

"The Han Family and the Wang Family established Qi, and the troops of the two families have merged into one, totaling roughly 500,000. To defend these three cities, they have committed nearly half their troops, which shows they are also very clear about the importance of these three cities."

This day, after another sand table simulation ended, Chang Wei pointed to the Pingyuan county seat on the sand table.

"These are only the troops of the Han and Wang families; their subordinate Rich Clan troops are not included," Qin Shan added. "Musketeers are easy to train, and it will be easier for them to raise an army in the future. If they are bellicose, their troop numbers will be even higher."

Hearing this, the commanders sighed.

The powerful clans are incompetent in foreign wars, but always proficient in civil wars.

Therefore, the Qi established by the Han and Wang families showed considerable strength in all aspects.

If they had not encountered Yan Wang, Qi would have firmly remained the number one great power in the North Territory.

After founding the state, it might have lasted for one or two hundred years.

It is just that there are no "ifs"; they can only blame their own bad luck for encountering Yan Wang.

"Therefore, it is even more necessary to take these three cities. We must turn the Jin River into a natural barrier similar to Yanguan. In this way, the flames of war will not be able to reach the Prince's fief, and we can also seize the initiative—advancing to attack and holding to defend."

Clearing his throat, he pointed to Pingyuan City. "Although the Prince has not given us a time limit, the sooner we take these three cities, the better, to prevent long delays leading to complications. Therefore, the war starts here."

The commanders looked toward Pingyuan, and none had any objections.

Pingyuan City is located in the middle of the three cities.

As long as this city is taken, it is equivalent to taking the central node.

It will cut the defensive line constructed by the three cities of Leling, Pingyuan, and Yangping into two segments.

By then, the remaining two cities will be easy to take.

Naturally, Qi also sees this, which is why Pingyuan's troop strength is the most formidable and its artillery the most numerous.

Of course, it will also be more difficult for them to attack.

"Qin Shan, Lv Chang, you will each command 30,000 troops to head to Guangning City and rendezvous with Guan Tong, gathering an army of 100,000 to march toward Pingyuan. The remaining troops will stay in place to guard against a sneak attack by Qi," Chang Wei said. "Afterward, I will also head to Guangning City."

Guangning City faces Pingyuan City directly; relying on Guangning City to launch an attack on Pingyuan City is most appropriate.

"Yes, General," Qin Shan and Lv Chang replied in unison.

These past few days, the main commanders of the three cities have been concentrated in Fanyang, participating in war simulations.

After settling this matter, Chang Wei let the three wait a few more days.

At the same time, he ordered his plan to be sent to Yancheng for Yan Wang to review.

After nearly two days, Zhao Xu received Chang Wei's war plan.

After flipping through it briefly, he felt there were no problems, so he drew a circle to indicate it had been approved and ordered it to be sent to Chang Wei.

Although he had entrusted this war to Chang Wei.

He also attached great importance to this conflict.

In his view, the importance of the Battle of the Three Cities was in no way inferior to the Ningjin Dusi.

The Ningjin Dusi allowed Yanzhou and the Northern Di to have the Ningjin Dusi as a buffer zone for war.

And by taking these three cities, he would fill in the final short board in the defense of his fief.

Yanzhou would become an absolutely safe rear area, providing a continuous supply of weapons and provisions for the soldiers on the campaign.

Upon receiving Yan Wang's reply, Chang Wei felt reassured.

He let Lv Chang and Guan Tong return to their respective posts.

Qin Shan immediately mobilized his troops and set off for Guangning City the next day.

Lv Chang traveled for nearly three days from Fanyang to Dai Commandery to gather his troops, arriving at Guangning City last.

The mobilization of Yanzhou troops naturally did not escape the scouting of Qi troops; Qi scouts constantly traveled between Lu City and the three cities to relay information.

Pingyuan City.

Han Qi was currently looking in the direction of Guangning City, with Yuan Li on his left hand side.

On his right hand side was a Dongying commander named Shicun Dahe.

After the failure of the last probing attack, this Dongying commander was sent to Pingyuan City to assist Han Qi in defending it.

"Marshal, the Dai Commandery troops and the Fanyang Commandery troops have gathered in Guangning Commandery. Currently, there are 100,000 troops in Guangning Commandery." Just then, a scout hurriedly climbed the city wall and bowed to say to Han Qi.

After the establishment of Qi, Han Zheng appointed Han Qi as the Great Marshal of Qi, commanding the troops of Qi.

Hearing this, Han Qi frowned. "It seems they are going to attack Pingyuan City?"

"It is said that Yan Wang is full of tricks. Could this be another one of their feints? Attacking Pingyuan City is fake, while attacking the other two cities is real," Shicun Dahe said.

After establishing Yan Wang as the enemy of Dongying, he had studied many of the campaigns launched by Yanzhou.

"That is possible." Han Qi's heart skipped a beat.

During this period, he had also carefully analyzed the battles Yanzhou had fought recently.

Yan Wang is extremely cunning; many times, a frontal attack is just a smokescreen, and one does not know what he is plotting behind the scenes.

"If that is the case, we cannot easily mobilize the troops of Leling City and Pingyang City, otherwise, if we fall into Yan Wang's trap, the trouble will be great," Shicun Dahe said.

Han Qi nodded, agreeing with Shicun Dahe's assessment.

It is just that in this way, the three cities will temporarily fight their own battles.

Unless Yan Wang's conspiracy is exposed, then decide on other matters.

Having settled this matter, Han Qi added, "This time, Yan Wang's troops are aggressive, and their muskets have a longer range than ours. I wonder what brilliant plan the General has to make them return in defeat?"

"Hmph, no matter how long the range of their muskets is, can it be longer than Artillery?" Shicun Dahe said.

"However, it is said that Yan Wang's Artillery has a longer range than the Northern Di's Artillery; it seems we do not have the advantage in Artillery either," Han Qi said, full of worry.

In terms of these two types of firearms, they held no advantage in either.

Before the battle had even begun, they were already a step behind.

"Indeed, there is no advantage, but do not forget that the Northern Di's failure was because they were deceived by Yan Wang and rashly attacked Yanguan, so Yan Wang's Artillery destroyed their Artillery from a commanding height; as for Ning City, it was taken by a sneak attack, and their Artillery did not even get to play a role," Shicun Dahe said, narrowing his eyes.

He did not come to Pingyuan City this time just to help Han Qi defend the city.

Most importantly, he wanted to see the capabilities of Yan Wang's troops with his own eyes to provide a reference for Dongying and to formulate countermeasures.

Therefore, in order to test the true strength of Yan Wang's troops, he taught the Qi army everything he could, holding nothing back.

Of course, there was another reason for him doing this.

They simply wanted to use the hands of Qi to weaken Yan Wang, or even eliminate Yan Wang.

Letting the Great Song People slaughter each other is what they in Dongying most love to see.

So he said, "The situation now is different; our Artillery is at a commanding height, while Yan Wang's Artillery would be firing from below, so it will not be that easy for them to destroy our Artillery."

"Moreover, I have taught you that Artillery can be mounted on gun carriages, and in this way, your Artillery will be much more flexible."

"When Yan Wang's Artillery bombards the city walls, pull the Artillery away from the walls to avoid their shelling; when Yan Wang's soldiers launch a charge, push the Artillery forward to shoot and kill their soldiers. In this way, you can reduce losses and kill more enemies."

After a pause, he added, "Furthermore, I have also told you the secret of Grape Shot; this type of Cannonball will cause massive casualties to Yan Wang's Infantry."

Upon hearing this, Han Qi felt as if he had taken a soothing pill.

Shicun Dahe had indeed taught them many new things over these past few days.

He hoped that these new things could achieve the effects Shicun Dahe described.