Chapter 989: First Volume, Chapter 989: The Situation Is Highly Favorable

First Volume, Chapter 989: The Situation Is Highly Favorable

Although Li Zhang refused to admit it, facts spoke louder than words: both Chen Si and Wu Kang had already seen through the fatal weakness of "Flash Strike Warfare"; as the two finest generals of Northern Di, their military talent was unquestionable.

Chen Si held firm to the Ezhou North Line, while Wu Kang led the Xiongying Brigade on mobile operations within Ezhou.

If the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade advanced as vanguard, the Xiongying Brigade would directly cut them off; if the Main Force launched a full assault, the Xiongying Brigade would execute a Yuan Hui maneuver and launch a stealth attack on the rear of the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade.

No matter what, Wu Kang must cripple the Expeditionary Brigade and strip the entire army of its ability to wage a swift war.

According to Li Zhang's strategy, the only solution was to deploy those four thousand Light Cavalry Corps to launch a proactive assault on the Xiongying Brigade, while the Main Force stormed Chen Si's DefensiveLine, and the Expeditionary Brigade executed a Yuan Hui from the Xi Xian to strike Chen Si's flank.

By the time the Xiongying Brigade crushed our Light Cavalry Corps, the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade would already be far away; Wu Kang's only option would be to rush to reinforce Chen Si, merging the two forces to face Li Zhang's Main Force—both sides would inevitably sink into a stalemate. At that moment, the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade would launch a fierce assault from the Eastern Front and crush the Enemy Camp in one blow!

Upon hearing Li Zhang's strategy, Xu Mo's eyes lit up: "No wonder you're the heir apparent—you came up with this counterplan so quickly!"

Li Zhang threw back his head and laughed: "Hahahaha! I'm just learning as I go—credit goes to Marquis Qin, who taught me well. When I first arrived in Beixi County, I suffered many defeats before Chen Si; now that we meet again, I'll surely avenge myself!"

After formulating the overall military deployment, the army did not immediately attack, but continued gathering Military Intelligence; numerous scouts and orderlies, aided by the Brocade Uniform Guard, moved back and forth across Ezhou to pinpoint the exact movements of the Xiongying Brigade and Chen Si's Army.

At the same time, the nearest Materials and Supplies transfer stronghold had been established at the border between Zhuozhou and Ezhou.

The stronghold would not advance further, or else, facing the enemy's cavalry mobility, the cost of protecting the stronghold and the Military Supply Line would rise dramatically.

Materials and Supplies flowed steadily toward Ezhou's territorial boundary, then were transported in batches to the army via War Horses.

Thousands of War Horses shuttled back and forth solely to continuously supply the Front Line army—so much so that, whether the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade or the Main Force, their supplies remained abundant; even if the Supply Line was blockaded by the enemy, they could still fight independently for a month!

No one anticipated that a cavalry force of two thousand men had charged in from the Eastern Front.

This cavalry unit belonged to Gaoshan Country.

Only half a month ago had news of Qin Feng's Winter War reached Gaoshan Country; the King of Gaoshan immediately ordered military support for Qin Feng.

After all, crushing Northern Di was a highly profitable move for Gaoshan Country—it would at least ensure they were never oppressed by Northern Di again.

This Gaoshan Country cavalry unit was among their most elite, most combat-effective forces; given their small, narrow territory, assembling two thousand cavalry was already a full mobilization—no comparison to great powers like Shedynasty or Northern Di.

These two thousand cavalry carried their own rations and raced eastward without pause.

Since Northern Di's focus lay entirely on Ezhou, and heavy snows blocked mountain passes, making troop movements difficult, few forces could block the Gaoshan cavalry.

Coincidentally, Yuezhao Kingdom, stationed along Northern Di's Eastern Front, also dispatched three thousand Infantry and one thousand Cavalry, crossing the border into Northern Di territory and advancing forward.

As Yuezhao Kingdom and Northern Di were allies, the army met no resistance upon entry; the garrison commanders of towns they passed even came out personally to welcome Yuezhao's troops.

These unsuspecting Northern Di soldiers were suddenly attacked by Yuezhao's army and suffered heavy casualties.

Even as the city fell and blood ran in rivers, the Northern Di defenders could not believe Yuezhao had seized the opportunity to strike.

Unbeknownst to them, Yuezhao Kingdom had long wished to defect to Shedynasty, but due to its distance from Shedynasty and proximity to Northern Di, it had dared not speak up under Northern Di's military pressure; now that Qin Feng's army had reached Ezhou and advanced triumphantly, Yuezhao naturally seized this chance, mobilizing urgently, forming an army, and coming to lend aid.

When the wall falls, everyone pushes—it was not only the main battlefield in Ezhou, but also the northern frontier regions of Northern Di that were now ablaze, attacked by armies from various nations and tribes.

The original plan to shift Materials and Supplies from the Eastern and Western Fronts to reinforce Ezhou was now dead in the water due to the sudden incursions by Gaoshan Country and Yuezhao Kingdom.

When Qin Feng, relying on Qi Ya to scout outside the city, learned that Northern Di's Eastern, Western, and Southern Fronts were all under siege, his previously tense and heavy mood instantly lifted.

Of course, the happiest was Xu Mo's decisive decision to retreat and preserve the Expeditionary Brigade's Combat Effectiveness.

According to Qi Ya, the news that the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade had been repelled by the Xiongying Brigade had spread throughout Wang Du, and it thrilled everyone.

Logically, Qin Feng should have been deeply worried—but the opposite was true.

Qi Ya could no longer hold back and asked softly: "Marquis Qin, your most elite army has been repelled—why are you still smiling?"

Qin Feng didn't stop—he laughed even harder: "This is called a Strategic Retreat—you don't understand!"

"Xu Mo is truly our Beixi County's First General—his strategic quality is already sufficient to graduate."

"The situation has shifted again; the scales of victory tilt once more toward us—but the sudden entry of Gaoshan Country and Yuezhao Kingdom caught me off guard."

Upon hearing the name "Yuezhao Kingdom," Qi Ya's spirits plummeted.

She pursed her lips, irritable: "Gaoshan Country I can accept—it's always been close to you, so their military aid is understandable."

"But Yuezhao Kingdom, switching sides mid-battle and striking while the iron's hot—how disgraceful!"

Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back at the County Yamen's entrance, in high spirits: "Does your country truly believe Yuezhao Kingdom was sincerely friendly with Northern Di—or was it forced into it?"

"Yuezhao Kingdom was once a prosperous, beautiful, and civilized land, yet over the past century, it suffered repeated invasions by Northern Di, leaving its mountains and rivers shattered and countless families destroyed; now, Yuezhao's betrayal is merely revenge for ancient grudges."

"The way nations treat each other comes down to two options: either genuine trust for genuine trust—or One-Strike Victory, Cutting Grass and Eliminating Roots."

"Otherwise, prepare yourself for what happened today."

Qi Ya lacked such long-term vision; she could never return to Northern Di, and her future now rested entirely in Beixi County.

Yet she harbored one lingering worry: Jing Ci.

"Marquis Qin, may I go see the Princess?"

Hearing this, Qin Feng laughed—he'd planned to suggest it himself, and immediately nodded: "Go persuade her."