Chapter 1158: First Volume, Chapter 1158: Three-Step Strategy

First Volume, Chapter 1158: Three-Step Strategy

Within five days, news of the Northern Border Army's approach had reached Gusu City.

At this moment, Lin Wenwan was staring at the map, lost in thought.

The deputy generals beside her no longer doubted her in the slightest; during this time, had Lin Wenwan not been holding Gusu City, the city would not have even held back Sun Bo's vanguard.

Success depends on human effort; no matter how strong Gusu City's walls or how numerous its defenders.

Without a competent commander, they would merely be a swarm of headless flies.

At that moment, Lin Wenwan's voice suddenly broke the silence.

"How many men remain in Sun Bo's vanguard?"

The deputy general beside her, named Ma Du, immediately bowed and replied in a deep voice.

"Madam, roughly estimated, Sun Bo's vanguard has fewer than five thousand men left."

"After the Battle of the City Gates, Sun Bo's vanguard has lost morale, and over this period, Madam has continuously ordered offensive actions."

"Sun Bo's vanguard has suffered heavy losses and is now a spent force."

Lin Wenwan nodded, yet showed no trace of pride at this "good news."

On the contrary, her gaze grew even heavier.

"The fact that Sun Bo's vanguard has held out this long is extremely disadvantageous for our side."

At these words, all the generals present froze.

They did not understand: Sun Bo's vanguard was nearly shattered, the scales of victory had clearly tipped entirely toward Gusu City.

Why, then, was Lin Wenwan boosting the enemy's morale and diminishing their own?

Lin Wenwan naturally understood their confusion and immediately explained softly.

"The Battle of the City Gates was not a decisive engagement."

"Or rather, Sun Bo's vanguard was always meant to be a sacrificial pawn—its sole mission was to maintain pressure on Gusu City."

"If we fail to crush Sun Bo before Qin Feng's main force arrives, and the two forces merge, it will be extremely perilous for us."

Ma Du frowned deeply: "Madam, after the Battle of the City Gates, we have come to understand the tactical advantage of Qin Feng's army."

"We certainly will not underestimate them, yet… according to reliable intelligence, Qin Feng has sent ten thousand cavalry."

"Cavalry used for siege warfare is tantamount to walking into death."

"Why, then, is Madam so concerned about this cavalry force?"

These Nan Jing generals had never fought Qin Feng before, and their only military pressure had always come from the Central Plains and the Liang Emperor.

Thus, they specialized in countering the Central Plains Imperial Party and had studied Northern Border warfare very little.

They simply did not realize how dangerous Qin Feng's move truly was.

To make them see the situation clearly, Lin Wenwan had no choice but to patiently explain.

"Qin Feng will attack cities, but not in the way you understand siege warfare."

"Qin Feng's plan is not about attacking—it is about surrounding; the assault on the city is merely the final step."

"He sent so many cavalry precisely to sever Gusu City's connection with its rear."

"Ultimately, he will turn Gusu City into an isolated fortress, and then methodically wear it down."

Seeing the generals exchange uncertain glances, clearly skeptical of Qin Feng's "tactics,"

before they could ask, Lin Wenwan cut straight to the point: "Do you believe cutting off Nan Jing is like a madman's dream?"

"Heh, that only proves how limited your knowledge is."

"The city-states of Nan Jing, though mutually supportive, are still separated by hundreds of Li."

"For infantry, even with forced marches, that distance requires days and nights of travel."

"For cavalry, it is but the blink of an eye."

"Then, our infantry-dominated force will be led by the nose by Qin Feng; if we attempt to hold the cities and adopt a defensive counterattack posture,"

"our greatest advantage will be nullified."

Before this, Qin Feng had already sent three thousand Beixi Light Cavalry; now he has deployed ten thousand more.

A total of thirteen thousand pure cavalry!

Such a terrifying scale made even Lin Wenwan inwardly gasp—she realized Qin Feng's strength had grown to this level.

You know, even the entire She dynasty, mobilizing all its resources, might not be able to assemble a cavalry army of this scale.

Only the peak-era Northern Di possessed such capability.

This reveals how much Qin Feng invested in warhorses—and now is the moment his accumulated strength manifests the superiority of his cavalry army.

Moreover, Qin Feng's strategic intent in deploying pure cavalry is crystal clear.

The overall plan is divided into three steps: first, the Logistics Battle—using cavalry's mobility to constantly penetrate Nan Jing and eliminate every supply unit encountered.

If Nan Jing sends troops to protect its supply lines, it becomes even more passive.

Too few troops, and the cavalry will concentrate superior force and crush them in one-strike victory.

Too many troops, and supplying them becomes a massive burden.

Once the supply lines are disrupted, the second step—siege—can begin.

With rear support cut off, Gusu City must rely on itself, while all around it are Qin Feng's cavalry; the city cannot send out large forces to attack.

Then, the infantry units advancing to the battlefield can methodically encircle Gusu City and consume its resources.

When Qin Feng once conducted siege warfare in Northern Di, he deployed catapults and bed crossbows in rotation, nearly without bloodshed, throwing the city into chaos.

Once this situation arises, defeat for Gusu City is merely a matter of time.

After capturing Gusu City, Qin Feng's strategic deployment enters its final step: full-scale advance.

Using Gusu City as a base, he will push southward continuously, attacking cities and destroying fortresses as he goes.

Hearing Lin Wenwan's analysis, the generals present were filled with utter admiration for her.

At the same time, they finally realized that the Qin Feng they were about to face was unlike any enemy they had encountered before.

If they still relied on past wartime experience, they would surely be beaten by Qin Feng until they couldn't even recognize their own mothers.

"Madam, what should we do next?"

Facing Ma Du's inquiry, Lin Wenwan blurted out: "Before Qin Feng's army arrives, we should first wipe out Sun Bo's vanguard."

"Once this Ji Zhan force is gone, Qin Feng's Cavalry Army will lose its foothold."

"As for whether it will be a Logistics Battle or a Closed-Door Beat-Dog from then on, that remains to be seen."

Realizing that Sun Bo's vanguard was the key to the early stage.

The group of Gusu City generals immediately accepted the order and departed, commanding the army to launch a fierce assault on Sun Bo's garrison.

At the same time, the situation on Sun Bo's side was already hanging by a thread.

The former Grand General of the Jingji Garrison, sparing no effort, personally donned armor and went into battle, leading the army in a bloody fight against the Gusu City Rebel Army.

Unfortunately, the enemy's numbers were simply too great.

Coupled with the fact that their own side, after successive fierce battles, was already utterly exhausted, defeat was already a foregone conclusion.