Chapter 273: The Xiongnu Divide into Three Routes

Every time the goods were delivered, it seemed more 'difficult'.

The caravan could 'occasionally' be late for an hour or two, and Li Xinyue's complexion when delivering the goods was also more 'exhausted and haggard'.

Such a big move by the other side made Wang Hou start to worry, fearing that the grain would really be sold out by the other side, and their own Ming Army would have no grain to eat.

Only Li Xinyue and Jiang Jinshi knew that the Ming Army's grain and grass were sufficient. With her, with the system, how could she let the soldiers guarding the border go hungry?

Qi Sansheng and Liu Heng's calculation, starting from aiming at the Ming Army's grain and grass, was destined to be a huge joke.

Li Xinyue let Jiang Jinshi know about these things happening in the rear, but Jiang Jinshi didn't have time to deal with the other side for the time being, because according to the news scouted by Jiang Jinshi before, the Xiongnu's Great Sacrifice should have passed.

And this moment also arrived at the coldest time of winter in Beijiang. Jiang Jinshi knew that if the Xiongnu wanted to take any action, these days were the most suitable time.

Since this period of time, Jiang Jinshi didn't dare to relax his vigilance, and the scouts still returned with news every day without fail.

The Xiongnu cavalry who escaped before didn't hover around, but went all the way north back to the Royal Court.

This move made the Ming Army's morale even higher, believing that they had already driven away the Xiongnu.

Jiang Jinshi didn't dare to have the slightest relaxation, letting the brothers seize the time to train, trying their best to overcome the severe cold of winter.

Although such training made the soldiers miserable, the effect was still there. The most critical thing was that they never went hungry. Regardless of how severe the training was, there were steaming hot meals and meat after it ended.

This could be considered the only belief support for the Ming Army soldiers; otherwise, it was really not wanting to move when it was cold, especially when snowflakes were constantly drifting in the sky.

Huang Yan wrapped the cotton-padded clothes on his body. "It's almost New Year! The Xiongnu shouldn't have any movement, this heavy snow makes it hard for horses to walk!"

Han Xiao's brows were locked in a frown. "I have guarded Beijiang for many years and know the habits of the Xiongnu people. They are like wolves, retreating temporarily after being injured, but they will never forget the hatred!"

Jiang Jinshi nodded in deep agreement. "Exactly! The Xiongnu will not give up. The worse the weather, the less we can relax our vigilance!"

At this very moment, inside the Xiongnu Royal Court, there was a completely different scene.

The Chanyu sat on the primary seat paved with tiger skin, the furnace fire in the tent was burning, and the aroma of roasted whole lamb permeated.

"The Great Sacrifice is over, the Heavenly God is on our side." The Chanyu's voice was low and full of power, and the twenty-odd tribal leaders in the tent all stood solemnly to listen. "The Da Qian people think winter is our enemy, they are wrong! Winter is our ally!"

He stood up and walked to the map spread out in the center of the tent: "The enemy's troops are divided into three cities, echoing each other, seemingly solid as a rock, but in fact, it is difficult to exert their role in winter!"

"Our grassland sons will only be more fierce in winter, and those Da Qian people are just two-legged sheep shivering! They dare not leave the city to fight us, then we will take the initiative to attack the city and seize the land!"

The large tent was silent, and then low discussions broke out.

"But the three cities are horns for each other. If we attack one, the other two will definitely come to rescue." The Left Worthy King questioned.

The Chanyu's mouth hooked up a cold smile: "Divide the troops into three routes. One route feigns an attack on Frost City, letting the Ming Army think we want to attack from the side, attracting the Ming Army's main force! One route raids Lin City at night, letting their main general think our final goal is still Lin City! The last route, led by me personally, goes straight to Yin City."

"They absolutely won't expect us to divide into three routes!" The Left Worthy King's eyes brightened. "If the other side first mobilizes troops to support Frost City, and then discovers they were tricked and can only mobilize Yin City's troops to return to defend Lin City, and Yin City is empty, we will take it without any effort."

The plan was detailed and bold, and everyone in the tent was convinced. The moment for revenge and shame had finally arrived!

Three days later, late at night, Lin City.

Jiang Jinshi was startled awake from his sleep, and Han Xiao reported urgently: "General! Traces of the Xiongnu were discovered!"

Jiang Jinshi didn't dare to be slow, rolled out of bed and began to put on armor, while asking about the situation, "How far away? How many Xiongnu?"

"Fifteen li to the northeast, the scouts estimate about five thousand cavalry, the night is too dark to see clearly!" Han Xiao's face was full of anxiety, fearing that the Xiongnu army would raid at night.

Jiang Jinshi put on armor and climbed the city wall, only to see torches constantly flickering on the snowfield in the distance.

The Xiongnu people didn't rush to attack, just hovering outside the bow and arrow range, occasionally making provocative whistles.

"What are they waiting for?" Huang Yan asked suspiciously.

Han Xiao stared at the Xiongnu cavalry, and suddenly a thought flashed through his mind: "General, not good! Their target might not be here!"

Jiang Jinshi didn't respond immediately, but carefully analyzed in his mind. Such provocative behavior by the other side was indeed quite abnormal. At present, he didn't know the Xiongnu's plan. If the target wasn't Lin City, then which of the other two cities was it?

Rashly sending troops would only fall into the other side's rhythm, it was better to keep the status quo and see what the other side would do!

The garrison of the other two cities was also thirty thousand, even if the Xiongnu came out in full force, they wouldn't be broken quickly, not to mention the people guarding the city were the Xiexiezi with the soul of Bai Qi and Jiang Ze with the soul of Li Jing.

So it wouldn't be too late to make a decision after the other side's army appeared, there was absolutely no need to lose composure for these thousands of cavalry.

After making the decision, Jiang Jinshi issued orders one by one. Although the Xiongnu had no signs of attacking the city, the preparations that should be made couldn't be missing at all.

When the sky gradually brightened, that cavalry unit didn't know where it went, completely out of sight.

It wasn't until evening that Jiang Jinshi received news from Frost City that about twenty thousand Xiongnu cavalry had gathered outside Frost City. The other side launched a tentative attack early in the morning, but didn't start a full-scale war, and vaguely had the intention of setting up camp outside Frost City.

After Han Xiao received the news, his brows were tightly locked. "General, I'm afraid this is a plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain! But if the Xiongnu really attack Frost City in full scale, I'm afraid it will be difficult to resist!"

"Twenty thousand?" Jiang Jinshi kept thinking, and finally concluded: "The Xiongnu will not attack Frost City in full scale!"

"Why?" Huang Yan was full of confusion, he really didn't understand the logic.

"If they wanted to attack, last night was the best time!" Jiang Jinshi explained: "Deliberately tentative attacks mean they don't want to lose too many people, but they have to attack."

Jiang Jinshi instantly understood. "The Xiongnu are composed of multiple tribes. If the person leading is not the Chanyu but the leader of his own tribe, naturally he is not willing to let his own people suffer losses!"

"So the unit led by the Chanyu is the true main force of the Xiongnu?" Han Xiao pondered slightly.

"Exactly!" Jiang Jinshi nodded. "The grassland reveres the strong. If he, as the Chanyu, doesn't lead the army personally to avenge Hunxie, how will others submit to him?"

"But we don't know the Chanyu's appearance, how should we judge this?" ===== CHAPTER 274 =====