Chapter 947: First Volume, Chapter 947: Psychological Warfare

First Volume, Chapter 947: Psychological Warfare

Previously, when Qin Feng attacked the Xiongyingling Outpost in Sangzhou, he had already deployed catapults. So much time has passed that the Beidi craftsmen must have copied them and built their own siege engines; if the enemy brings heavy siege equipment, this initial battle will be brutal.

After a moment, the soldiers around him all shook their heads: "Lord Qin, we have detected no enemy siege equipment."

Qin Feng did not relax for an instant: "Just because there isn't any now doesn't mean there won't be later. Once fighting starts, the enemy might slip their equipment up under cover of chaos. In any case, have the Tianji Camp Guards stand ready—upon spotting enemy siege equipment, destroy it immediately, without waiting for orders from above!"

"But be careful: no more than five soldiers may attack each piece of equipment at once—never let siege engines draw away too many arrows."

Under Qin Feng's series of orders, the soldiers stood ready in perfect formation.

At the same time, several Tianji Camp Guards ran up, panting, carrying heavy armor.

"Lord Qin, put on your armor!"

Qin Feng was still dressed in everyday attire; facing the approaching enemy army, he did not hesitate, immediately donning the armor with the guards' help. For safety's sake, as always, he wore the most formidable armor—the ShanZiWenPenLingArmor—covering his entire body in metal plates except for his eyes.

In this kind of battlefield, where few face many, swiftly issuing orders is critical, so Qin Feng could not retreat from the City Wall.

Though weighed down by heavy armor and restricted in movement, Qin Feng had already gathered half his messengers beside him and ordered that at least five messengers must always remain at his side, ready for immediate deployment.

Moreover, these messengers were all hidden beneath the City Wall, for they needed rapid mobility and could not wear armor, so they had to stay concealed to avoid being killed by stray arrows.

Qin Feng kept only four Tianji Camp Guards beside him; all other guards and soldiers were dispatched to their assigned directions, including Ning Hu!

At this moment, the enemy army was only a thousand paces from the City Wall. Suddenly, the entire vanguard halted with a rustling sound; scattered cavalry began moving to the flanks, circling along the City Wall—this was reconnaissance to observe troop distribution atop the wall.

Meanwhile, nearly every soldier on the City Wall gripped bow and arrow, standing ready.

The cavalry circled several times, then returned to the enemy's central formation and reported to the vanguard's Main General.

"General, the eastern and western flanks of the City Wall are heavily fortified, with disproportionate strength—higher density at the top, lighter below. The Cheng Nan Fang Xian is clearly stronger than the North of the City Fang Xian."

Jing Peng, clad in heavy armor and mounted on a warhorse, sneered coldly: "What kind of nonsense is this?"

"This Qin Feng is always impossible to read!"

"Changshui County is not large—it should have equal troop deployment on all four defensive lines, with the rest held in reserve inside the city to reinforce as needed. But look: Qin Feng has deployed every soldier on the walls, heavily favoring the eastern and western flanks. Yet the Main Battlefield—the southern wall—has only a moderate garrison. Hmph. It seems Qin Feng isn't as brilliant as rumored."

The Deputy General beside him, about to caution Jing Peng against such arrogance, found his words swallowed as Jing Peng issued a direct order: "Though Grand General has ordered a full assault, charging straight ahead will only lead to bloody noses. Changshui County is a key Jingji stronghold, after all."

"Let's test Qin Feng's depth first. Order all cavalry to advance from the left flank and strike the Bei Cheng Fang Xian—but only pretend to attack. Don't actually press forward."

The Gate General commanding eight hundred cavalry immediately obeyed, leading his troops forward with heavy hoofbeats along the left flank.

Zhong Tao, hearing Jing Peng's order, swallowed the words he had been about to say.

This arrangement was not unreasonable…

As the enemy cavalry began moving, Ning Hu's messenger arrived at Qin Feng's side at the same moment.

"Lord Qin, the enemy cavalry is moving toward the left flank—clearly to open a path. They'll likely attack the Bei Cheng Fang Xian."

Qin Feng watched the distant army, then waved his hand casually: "Ignore them. The enemy general is testing my composure. Cavalry can't assault fortified positions—it's just a feint. He wants to see if our defense shifts in response to their movement."

Within one incense stick time, the eight hundred cavalry had circled Changshui County once and returned to the central formation.

The Gate General hurried to report: "General, the enemy garrison did not move."

Hearing this, Jing Peng's lips curled into a cold smile: "Hmph. Seems Qin Feng does have some military talent. Don't rest—circle again."

"This time, keep your distance, move slower, don't rush. As long as we launch the assault before nightfall, we won't be disobeying Grand General Chen's orders."

Though the Gate General didn't understand Jing Peng's intent, he led the cavalry out again, deliberately slowing their pace as instructed.

This time, it took half a Envoy to complete one full circle around Changshui County.

No sooner had they returned to the central formation than Jing Peng issued the same order again: "Continue. This time, even slower."

Not only the Gate General commanding the cavalry, but even Zhong Tao was baffled, unable to fathom what Jing Peng was scheming—until, just as the cavalry prepared to move again, Jing Peng suddenly gave an unexpected order: "Sixth Battalion of the vanguard, follow the cavalry. Stay hidden among them—do not reveal your position."

At that moment, Zhong Tao finally understood: Jing Peng had repeatedly sent the cavalry on circles merely to lull the defenders into complacency!

And each time, the cavalry moved slower and farther from the wall, so the garrison inside the city would never suspect that Jing Peng had secretly embedded five hundred infantry within the cavalry ranks!

Zhong Tao's gaze toward Jing Peng shifted subtly—this arrogant Imperial Relative did not seem as incompetent as he appeared.

Meanwhile, Ning Hu, guarding the City Gate, watched the enemy cavalry move toward the left flank again and cursed aloud.

"Damn it, what's with all this pointless circling? Are they going to fight or not?!"

"This low-level tactic to tire us out—ignore it."

No sooner had he spoken than a messenger ran up breathlessly: "Lord Qin's order: Cheng Nan Fang Xian, prepare for a fierce enemy assault! Chengdong Fang Xian, immediately dispatch one hundred soldiers to reinforce Bei Cheng Fang Xian!"

What?!

Ning Hu couldn't believe his ears. He shouted at the messenger: "Are you sure you didn't mishear?!"

The messenger, already sprinting toward Chengdong, yelled back: "No mistake! Lord Qin has been calculating the enemy cavalry's speed—their patrol pace has slowed to match infantry jogging speed, and they're keeping distance from the wall to prevent observation. There's an eighty to ninety percent chance they've hidden infantry among them, preparing a surprise attack on Bei Cheng Fang Xian!"

Ah?

Ning Hu immediately stood up, leaning over the City Wall to look out—and indeed, the cavalry's movement was odd: they were deliberately slowing down, their formation tightly packed, clearly shielding infantry.