Chapter 1601: Heavy losses

Gu Yi stared out the window, calculating countermeasures in his heart. The night grew heavy, and moonlight spilled through the sparse clouds onto the watchtower, adding a chill to the tense atmosphere. He thought to himself, "Although the enemy's scheme is cunning, it also exposes their desperation. Grain and fodder are the lifeblood of an army; they certainly will not easily abandon this opportunity."

Just then, a scout hurried in, knelt on one knee, and reported, "General Gu, we have discovered a small enemy unit three miles south of the city approaching our position. Their intentions seem unclear."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi's eyes flickered. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Have you ascertained the enemy's exact numbers and equipment?"

The scout replied, "There are about three hundred of them. They are well-equipped and moving stealthily; they look like special forces."

"Three hundred men?" Gu Yi murmured softly, then ordered, "Pass the word down: all soldiers are to prepare for battle, but do not act rashly. General Zhao, you are to immediately lead one hundred elite troops and hide beneath the watchtower. When the enemy approaches, launch a surprise attack to disrupt their formation. Remember, finish the battle quickly; do not get bogged down."

Zhao Yun accepted the order and left. Gu Yi remained on the watchtower, closely monitoring the changing situation. Before long, sporadic sounds of fighting drifted from afar; clearly, Zhao Yun had already engaged the enemy. Gu Yi clenched his fists and prayed silently, "You must hold them off. As long as we can stall the enemy, we have a chance to find a way to break their scheme."

About an hour later, Zhao Yun returned with his unit. Although they had suffered some casualties, they had successfully repelled the enemy unit. Covered in dust and with bloodstains on his armor, he still reported to Gu Yi with high spirits, "General Gu, the enemy has been repelled, but this was only a small force. I fear a greater storm is yet to come."

Gu Yi nodded approvingly and said, "General Zhao has worked hard; you did well. Next, we must be even more cautious. Since the enemy dared to come, they will certainly not stop easily."

As the two were discussing, another scout came to report, "General, we have discovered many suspicious signs around the grain camp; they are likely explosives planted by the enemy. Furthermore, according to the captives' confessions, the main enemy force plans to launch a full-scale attack at midnight tonight."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi's gaze turned sharp: "Midnight? What a cunning opponent, actually wanting to use the cover of night. General Zhao, let us use their own strategy against them."

Subsequently, Gu Yi laid out a detailed battle plan, deciding to use the enemy's desire for the grain to set a trap, lure the enemy deep, and then annihilate them in one stroke. He had Zhao Yun lead a portion of the troops to feign protection of the grain, while actually withdrawing in secret, leaving only empty tents and a small amount of flammable material in the camp, while simultaneously setting up ambushes in the surrounding area.

The night was like ink, and midnight approached. The enemy arrived as expected. Seeing the camp's defense seemingly lax, they were overjoyed and swarmed in. Just as they thought victory was within their grasp, Gu Yi gave the order. Torches suddenly flared all around, ambushes sprang up, and arrows fell like rain. At the same time, the pre-arranged fire attack began. In an instant, the enemy was plunged into a sea of fire, falling into utter chaos.

Gu Yi stood on the watchtower, calmly commanding the overall situation. Watching the enemy struggle in the sea of fire, he felt not a shred of pity. He knew this was war, a life-and-death struggle that allowed for no soft-heartedness.

The battle lasted for two hours. In the end, the enemy was routed in despair, leaving behind a large number of corpses and weapons and equipment, fleeing in a panic. Gu Yi and Zhao Yun led their troops in pursuit until they confirmed the enemy had completely retreated, only then ordering the troops to stand down.

After the battle, Gu Yi gathered his officers to summarize the lessons learned. He said earnestly, "Today's battle, though a victory, has also exposed many of our shortcomings. The enemy is cunning, but we need even more wisdom and courage. Remember, on the battlefield, one must never let their guard down at any time, because often the most fatal attack is hidden in the place you least expect."

Zhao Yun and the others agreed deeply and nodded one after another. This incident not only saved Gu Yi's army from a catastrophic disaster but also taught them how to find a path to survival in adversity and how to defeat a strong enemy with strategy.

In the days that followed, Gu Yi and Zhao Yun led the army to continuously strengthen their defenses while actively seeking the enemy's weaknesses, preparing for the next round of confrontation. They knew the real war had only just begun; only by continuously learning and growing could they have the last laugh in this cruel contest.

As for the enemy side, after this failure, they temporarily reined in their aggression, and the two sides entered a brief stalemate. But Gu Yi understood that this calm was merely the silence before the storm. He had to use this time to further consolidate the defensive line and boost morale, making full preparations for the upcoming great battle.

Under Gu Yi's meticulous deployment, the army's training became more rigorous, and reconnaissance work became more detailed. He knew well that only by knowing oneself and the enemy could one be invincible in a hundred battles. At the same time, he began to think about more far-reaching strategies: how to gradually weaken the enemy's strength while maintaining his existing advantages, and ultimately achieve peace.

Gu Yi and generals like Zhao Yun often discussed tactics in the camp late into the night. Their figures appeared exceptionally resolute under the candlelight. In everyone's heart burned an inextinguishable flame; that was the longing for victory and also loyalty to their home and country.

"General Gu, should we consider taking the initiative to attack and disrupt the enemy's deployment?" Zhao Yun proposed this suggestion during a late-night meeting.

Gu Yi pondered for a moment and said slowly, "General Zhao's words are very true, but taking the initiative requires caution. We must ensure the action is foolproof, otherwise, we might fall into a passive position. We need a meticulous plan that can both strike the enemy and ensure our own safety."

Over the next few days, Gu Yi, Zhao Yun, and the other generals discussed repeatedly and finally formulated a detailed battle plan. They decided to adopt a strategy of feigning an attack in the east, gathering troops at the east gate to make a show of launching a large-scale offensive, while actually sending elite troops to raid the enemy's vital supply line from the west gate.

Once the battle plan was determined, Gu Yi gathered the entire army and delivered a passionate mobilization speech: "Soldiers, we are about to face a key battle. This battle is not only to defend our home but also to prove our courage and wisdom. We must let the enemy know that no matter how cunning they are, they cannot defeat our firm belief and determination!"

Encouraged by Gu Yi, the soldiers' morale soared, and they all expressed their willingness to fight bravely and sacrifice themselves for the country.

On the day of the operation, Gu Yi personally commanded the feint force at the east gate. They beat drums and shouted, creating the illusion of a large-scale offensive. Seeing this, the enemy indeed mobilized the majority of their troops to defend the east gate.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun led an elite unit to quietly circle to the west of the city, launching a surprise attack on the enemy's supply line. The enemy was caught off guard, the supply line was quickly severed, and they suffered heavy losses in grain, fodder, and supplies.