Chapter 337: Make the First Move!

Wei Wenlie laughed: "Good! Sir's words are very much to this King's liking! Then follow Sir's strategy, station troops at the border, and focus on defense. Then select agile and reliable people to try to get in touch with the Northern Frontier. As for the strategy of going south..."

His eyes were full of ambition: "Please explain in detail, Sir!"

This time he completely trusted Si Wushuang, because the ones hovering in those places were the Scholar-Gentry, and Si Wushuang's own Si family was also among them.

And as long as they are taken down, it is equivalent to enriching his own granary, and the Scholar-Gentry have no choice but to support him.

With money, food, and people, are you afraid that you won't succeed?

Si Wushuang nodded slightly, knowing that his first step had been taken steadily.

Western Liang King took down Jiangnan and other regions, which is equivalent to having abundant logistical resources, plus having his own Scholar-Gentry identity in the middle to mediate, it is not difficult to let the Scholar-Gentry support Wei Wenlie.

This move is both checking the Imperial Court and forcing the Scholar-Gentry to stand in line, and it is also knocking the mountain and shaking the tiger to make the Northern Frontier wary.

How should that Northern Frontier Lord respond to such a scheme of killing three birds with one stone?

At the same time as the Western Liang King and Si Wushuang set the strategy, the news that Northern Frontier Prince Ming Jiang Jinshi held the Imperial Jade Seal, openly resisted the decree, reprimanded the puppet emperor, and cleared the side of the monarch, set off a huge wave in the world.

The fastest to react were naturally the local Scholar-Gentry and powerful families. They controlled local public opinion, economic lifelines, and even had private armies, and their sense of smell was the most sensitive.

"The Jade Seal is in the North! The mandate of heaven is in the North!"

Some scholars and small and medium-sized Scholar-Gentry who were dissatisfied with Si Gui's monopoly on power, believed that Wei Xi Yuan's acquisition of the throne was not right, or were frustrated in the Imperial Court, immediately began to move.

The Northern Frontier openly raised the banner of "following heaven to crusade against thieves," and had the Imperial Jade Seal as a banner, which was simply the natural "orthodoxy" and an excellent opportunity to change families and seek the merit of following the dragon!

As for whether this "orthodoxy" is true or not, it doesn't matter, because the Northern Frontier already has the "admission ticket" to compete for the world, and they naturally need to think about whether they can plan something in it.

In the Jiangnan region, some scholars from poor families and frustrated literati began to connect privately, preparing to defect to the North.

In the Central Plains, some local powerful families suppressed by large Scholar-Gentry families secretly sent people to try to contact the Northern Frontier.

Even some frustrated generals in the frontier military towns had ideas, but they didn't dare to make a move for the time being. After all, the strength of the Northern Frontier had not been revealed so far, what if it was a paper tiger?

Most people are watching now. The Northern Frontier is just a corner, how is its strength?

Can it withstand the thunderous blow of the Imperial Court? Is that Prince Ming Jiang Jinshi really a wise master?

These are all unknowns for the time being, but the appeal of the "Jade Seal" and "Righteousness" has already begun to appear.

The slogan "Follow heaven to crusade against thieves, clear the side of the monarch, and correct the court!" began to resound through the six Juns of the Northern Frontier.

The rubbing of the Jade Seal was made into a notice and posted at city gates and markets everywhere.

After the initial shock, the soldiers and civilians of the Northern Frontier were quickly shrouded in an unprecedented impassioned emotion.

The Commander they followed was not only the leader who led them to live a good life, but also a wise master who held the Imperial Jade Seal and represented the orthodoxy of heaven!

They were an army of justice, heroes who were going to overthrow that muddled Imperial Court and defeat treacherous ministers!

Military morale was at an all-time high.

At this moment, in Guangwu City, they were already discussing the war.

A huge map of the Northern Frontier and its surroundings hung on the wall, and Jiang Jinshi and the civil and military officials under his command sat solemnly.

Jiang Jinshi spoke first: "The Imperial Court's crusade army will arrive in at most one month. They won't give us much preparation time. The matter of the Jade Seal is huge, and they will want to get rid of it quickly."

Bai Ting responded: "Since this is the case, it is better to make the first move!"

"I did think so!" Jiang Jinshi nodded, then his gaze fell on Wang Hou: "Is there any news from Western Liang?"

He couldn't help but attach importance to Western Liang. If Western Liang really joined forces with Da Qian, the Northern Frontier could only defend.

Wang Hou stood up and responded: "The scout reported that the Western Liang army indeed has movements on the Longxi border, but it seems to be more of a defensive posture, and there is no sign of a large-scale eastward advance."

This approach was exactly the same as what Jiang Jinshi thought: "They are happy to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. The Imperial Court and us fighting to both sides suffer is the result they most want to see. They might even secretly provide us with some convenience, so that we and the Imperial Court fight as long as possible."

"Beautiful thinking!" Luo Feng snorted coldly: "After we clean up the Imperial Court, the next one will be his Western Liang!"

"The urgent matter now is to block the Imperial Court's first wave of attacks."

Bai Ting said steadily: "It is not yet known how many troops the Imperial Court will send, we must make good use of the terrain, block them layer by layer, consume their sharpness, and wait for them to be tired before looking for an opportunity to decide the battle."

"Guansongling." Jiang Jinshi pointed his finger at the terrain map: "How about this place?"

Feng Chunsheng stroked his goat beard and said: "Guansongling is indeed a natural danger. There are three passes, built on the mountain and relying on each other. Taking it, the gate of the Northern Frontier is wide open! Guarding it, the enemy can be kept out. But this place is also difficult to take, and the Imperial Court will not give us much time."

"Hard bone." Han Xiao stared at the terrain map and smacked his lips: "Three passes, layer upon layer, if you attack hard, the casualties will inevitably be heavy."

"No matter how hard the bone is, you have to bite it down!"

Zhang Honghong stared: "Otherwise, when the Imperial Court army comes in from here, we will be passive! Take advantage of the fact that the Imperial Court army has not yet gathered, we will make the first move and take it!"

She didn't forget that Big Brother promised her last time that if there was war again, she would be the vanguard!

"That's right!" Jiang Jinshi's gaze was firm: "Guansongling, must be taken! Not only must it be taken, but it must be firmly in our hands before the Imperial Court army arrives!"

"With Guansongling, we can attack and defend, and the initiative is on our side. Otherwise, being beaten passively, even if the Northern Frontier retreats to Lin City, it will be slowly consumed."

He looked around at everyone: "This battle, only victory is allowed, no defeat! And it must be fast, ruthless, and show the prestige of our Northern Frontier army, and let the world see that we are not a mob that only knows how to shout slogans!"

Now everyone is watching, seeing if the Northern Frontier is bluffing. Once the Northern Frontier shows a little fatigue, those watching will turn into hungry wolves and pounce on the Northern Frontier.

After all, the temptation of the Jade Seal is too strong. If you don't have the strength to hold it, it will only accelerate your destruction.

But similarly, if the Northern Frontier shows that it has the strength to compete for the world, then people coming to defect will be endless.

"Lord is wise!" Everyone agreed in unison, with high fighting spirit.

"Luo Feng, Bai Ting, Zhang Honghong!" Jiang Jinshi started calling names.

"The general is here!"

"Luo Feng and Bai Ting are the main generals, Luo Feng is in charge, Bai Ting is the deputy, Zhang Honghong is the vanguard! Lead 200,000 troops, set off today, and send troops to Guansongling!"

"The detailed combat plan will be formulated by you with Tang Lin and Xiao Chunqiu. What I want is not only to take Guansongling, but also to minimize casualties as much as possible and deter the defenders!" ===== CHAPTER 338 =====

"The detailed battle plan is to be formulated through discussions between you, Tang Lin, and Xiao Chunqiu. What I want is not just to take Guansong Ridge, but to minimize casualties as much as possible and strike terror into the defending troops!"