Chapter 219: A Bold Idea

"Is that so?"

Jiulong chuckled.

A detailed intelligence report regarding the current deployment in Cheshi appeared before all the officers.

"Good!"

"And it's intelligence in the Yanqi language; there shouldn't be any problems!"

Jiao Zhe said proudly, "Everyone, rest assured. This was sent out by Jiao Ming; how could there be any problems?"

Others sneered one after another, speaking insolently.

If you Cheshi people all had as much backbone as your brother, would Cheshi have been lost? You might as well yield your throne to your brother.

Jiao Zhe was furious but dared not speak, only able to force a smile.

Who told him that the national strength of Cheshi could not compare to those of Yanqi, Qiuci, and Jingjue?

He was still counting on these people to help him "restore his country"!

Jiulong frowned: "It seems this Longyan Army has a clear grasp of the situation in Cheshi. Knowing that Cheshi has no natural barriers to defend and that only this Sanlinpo can be heavily fortified, they have gathered all the Langxian Soldiers capable of dealing with our Western Regions Cavalry here, and most of the Spearmen are here as well."

This Sanlinpo was considered the most "strategic" place outside the city of Cheshi, but it only had a slope of about forty degrees and was two li long in total; it got its name because it was flanked by three desolate red willow forests.

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Great General, mere Cheshi—that Sanlinpo, the cavalry can ride right up; where is the defense?"

"Great General, give me ten thousand troops, and I will take Sanlinpo!"

"Our Western Regions Archer Cavalry is famous throughout the world; what is there to fear from mere Longyan people?"

The group was full of confidence.

Jiulong also chuckled.

In reality, these people did not take the Longyan Army seriously at all.

"Since that is the case, let us take this Sanlinpo first!"

Jiulong laughed heartily and raised a bowl of wine.

The crowd drained theirs with a roar.

"Young Master, do you mean to leave Sanlinpo completely undefended?"

Inside the military tent.

Everyone was shocked.

Liu Zheng smiled and nodded: "This Jiulong, who claims to be invincible under heaven, must be arrogant and proud. Although there are rumors that he is cautious by nature, this is the Western Regions. Having lost Cheshi, they are determined to crush the prestige of our Longyan in one battle. If he didn't know about the heavy defenses at Sanlinpo, that would be one thing, but if he obtained the intelligence, how could he not strike at our most heavily defended position to show off the might of his Western Regions soldiers?"

"But, Young Master..."

"If we do that, it will be flat terrain; how are we to defend?"

Jiang Xuan was somewhat hesitant.

This was truly too risky!

To yield Sanlinpo, the only place that could be defended, to the Western Regions Army just like that—Cheshi would truly have no natural barriers left to defend!

Liu Zheng laughed heartily: "Everyone, I intend to let the Western Regions Army in and use a 'shut the door to catch the dog' strategy!"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

Qingyang Shuo slapped his thigh: "Young Master, do you mean the Empty City Strategy?"

Liu Zheng smiled and pointed at the sand table: "Everyone, please look. Sanlinpo is still ten li away from the city of Cheshi. These ten li are the key."

"If we do not set up defenses at Sanlinpo, what will the Western Regions main force think when they break through?"

"Advance, or retreat?"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

Advance—could there be an ambush ahead?

Retreat—are they willing to?

Isn't this plot exactly the same as that Empty City Strategy?

"If they advance, we will open the city gates, welcome them in, and engage them in street fighting within the city!"

"If they retreat, we will use small detachments to harass their movement, and the surrounding troops will form an encirclement to annihilate this main enemy force!"

As soon as Liu Zheng said this, the whole room was in an uproar.

Street fighting?

This was likely a term they had never heard before.

That's right.

Actually, Liu Zheng also couldn't understand why, in ancient warfare, it was always about attacking cities, defending cities, attacking cities, and defending cities. Once the city gate was breached, it would result in a rout.

In fact, there were three main reasons why there was no street fighting in ancient times. First, *Sun Tzu's Art of War* states that when fighting an enemy, if you have ten times the number of the enemy, you should adopt an encirclement and annihilation tactic; if your force is five times that of the enemy, you can adopt a frontal attack tactic; if your force is only equal to the enemy's, you can only use tactics to split the enemy up before destroying them. If your strength is inferior to the enemy's, you can only adopt a strategy of shifting from offense to defense, waiting for reinforcements, or avoiding them directly.

Therefore.

Since ancient times, in city defense battles, one's own side has always had fewer troops than the enemy, and often significantly fewer, so conducting street fighting in such a situation would undoubtedly be like throwing an egg against a rock.

Second, the consumption of street fighting is too great, and it is extremely taxing on the strength of both sides. In ancient times, armies were semi-private and semi-state-owned, relying entirely on close-quarters combat, which was an enormous drain on manpower. Therefore, most generals, whether attacking or defending a city, were unwilling to engage in street fighting. If they lost, they could take their own troops and leave—a strategic retreat—and still have a chance to make a comeback.

Third, and of course the most important.

Ancient warfare relied on morale; as the saying goes, "The first drum rouses the spirit, the second exhausts it, and the third drains it." Once the city is breached and the common people suffer, the soldiers' morale is low; how could they have the heart to engage in street fighting on the spot?

Overall.

Why was there so little street fighting in ancient times?

The structural foundations of ancient armies and modern armies are different.

The killing methods of ancient weapons and modern weapons are different.

The application methods of ancient tactics and modern tactics are different.

However...

This turning point is very important.

In ancient times, there was a great victory similar to urban warfare. That was the Defense of Beijing during the Ming Dynasty! The Oirat army attacked the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and under the leadership of the Minister of the Ministry of War, Yu Qian, the Ming Dynasty conducted a classic battle that allowed the Ming Dynasty to continue to exist for another hundred years.

In this battle, during the final stage, Yu Qian feigned a rout, luring the Oirat army to Tucheng, where the Oirat army was ambushed by Ming troops lurking in the residential houses of Tucheng, suffering countless casualties, and finally, they were defeated and began to retreat.

However...

Today's situation is different again.

Because his side still has 150,000 troops!

And the opposite side has only 200,000!

It can be said that they are evenly matched.

The Yinzhou army has strict discipline and is not seriously affected by morale.

And there is one most important thing, which is that the Western Regions Cavalry are not good at urban warfare!

And the Yinzhou soldiers have Plate Armor for protection, and can fight both on and off their horses!

Then why...

Not engage in urban warfare?

Since this Cheshi has no dangerous terrain to defend, urban warfare is the first choice!

Liu Zheng knew that this idea was too bold, and these people would probably find it hard to accept.

Sure enough.

Jiang Xuan said in shock: "Young Master, Young Master, this... this urban warfare..."

The other generals also took a deep breath.

This is too bloody, this is too fierce!

Liu Zheng laughed: "Is Jiang Xuan afraid?"

Provoked like this, Jiang Xu said loudly: "Afraid of what, Young Master, this time, Jiang Xuan will be the vanguard!"

Liu Zheng smiled: "Don't mess around, the vanguard is not yours..."

Qin Zhangfeng was stunned: "Young Master, Zhangfeng is willing to go!"

Liu Zheng shook his head: "It's not yours either."

Everyone was puzzled.

If it's not Qin Zhangfeng, and it's not Jiang Xuan, then who could it be?

Just at this moment.

A gust of fragrant wind blew over, and the sweet and innocent Reguli, with her accessories jingling, walked into the military tent. Seeing Liu Zheng, she smiled sweetly: "Protector of the State, do I smell good today? I used the rose Perfume you gave me. Could you come to my tent to drink and sing?"

Everyone held back their laughter.

Liu Zheng smiled: "The vanguard is the Loulan Army!"

"Bang!"

Reguli almost lost her footing and fell headlong to the ground.