Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 223: Beifeng’s decision, Taicang fire!
Zhou Yong continued, "It has been five days. We have brought in countless food and supplies. The rice has piled up like a mountain, and the oil and salt have accumulated like a river."

When Tuoba Shuchao heard this, he could not help but sigh:
"If Taicang is not cleared, I will be restless and unable to sleep at night!"

Zhou Tian unfolded the map and focused his eyes on the place in Xuzhou called "Taicang".

Xuzhou was originally flat in terrain, so even the Taicang that was built was just built on flat ground with "no strategic location to defend."

As for Bozhou, there are numerous waterways. Although a moat can be built to increase defense, it is a tedious task and a thankless task.

Neither of these two states has geographical advantages.

Therefore, Beifeng had no choice but to give up and retreat to Yuanchong City in Yuezhou. It was really a helpless move.

At this time, an old veteran groaned aloud.

"However, Lu Chen's move easily exposed the location of the food and grass. Isn't this a big suspicion?"

This is a big taboo in military strategy!
What’s worse, after the autumn harvest, they still blatantly transported grain and fodder to the “Taicang”.

The teams transporting grains worked day and night, with torches flying all the way, like a dragon of fire.

The food and fodder for the 200,000-strong army of Bozhou also came from Taicang.

When everyone heard this, they all understood what was going on and guessed that this was Lu Zhichen's move to lure the enemy out of the city.

Tuoba Shuchao also lowered his head in thought. Lu Chen's actions in the past six months were really hard to understand.

At first, the army had not yet crossed the river, but was gathering together, which was puzzling.

Subsequently, he dispatched more than half of the Yanbei Army to engage in farming, leaving Xuzhou almost defenseless.

There are obvious flaws revealed!
Yuan Chongcheng just watched Lu Chen leisurely cultivate the land.

Sow a grain in spring and harvest ten thousand grains in autumn.

Today, Taicang is full of food and fodder.

The Yanbei Army solved the food problem, and the war continued with no end in sight.

Although the north wind had been foreseen, there were thousands of acres of rice stored in the city.

But seeing that Lu Chen has been self-sufficient since he sent troops, and the national strength has not been damaged, he can't help feeling unwilling.

Half a month ago, my brother sent me a letter, saying

"Don't be hasty, the war will be protracted. If it goes on like this, the winner will be the north wind."

however!
Many young generals present could no longer suppress their anger.

There were several good opportunities, but the troops were not dispatched. Over the past six months, Bei Feng's fear of the Yanbei Army has quietly dissipated.

He Sheng, as Zhou Tiancheng's trusted and beloved general, volunteered to fight many times, but was stopped by Zhou Tiancheng every time.

Zhou Tiancheng has great prestige throughout the army. No one dares to act rashly without his approval.

At this moment, Zhou Tiancheng, who was sitting in the main seat, remained silent.

Tuoba Shuchao spoke slowly:
"Since Taicang is the foundation of the army's food and grass, how could Lu Chen not increase the number of troops to defend it?"

Zhou Yong responded immediately, his tone revealing a bit of solemnity:

"It has been found that Taicang is currently being closely guarded by 80,000 Yanbei troops, while the rest are training in Xuzhou or busy reclaiming wasteland."

"What's worse, according to secret reports from spies, new troops are sent to Taicang every month. In recent days, the number of defenders may have increased to 90,000."

When Tuoba Shuchao heard this, he nodded secretly.

After the autumn harvest, farming becomes less busy, and it is the time to gather troops and build up strength.

Taicang is an important town with abundant food and grass, so it should be defended firmly. This is common sense.

There are 90,000 Yanbei troops stationed in Taicang. If we want to attack, we must have an army of 200,000 to defeat the enemy.

Moreover, as the year is coming to an end, Taicang may become a strategic location for the Yanbei Army.

If we gather nearly 200,000 Yanbei troops and attack again, it will be difficult.

He frowned, it seemed that the Yanbei Army would not retreat this year.

Zhou Yong changed the subject and brought another piece of new information:
"Recently, there has been news from the Yanbei Army that they have started to hold meetings frequently, one every ten days, and all the military officers at all levels must attend. During the meetings, experienced old soldiers teach the art of marching and deploying troops. In the most recent meeting, Lu Chen personally took the stage to teach the "Minutes of Military Training."

When Zhou Tiancheng heard the news, his eyelids slightly raised, and he raised his head and asked:
"Zhou Yong, is this news true?"

Zhou Yong nodded firmly:
"It has been held twice and confirmed to be correct. There will be another meeting in three days."

Zhou Tiancheng nodded slowly and looked at the map again.

Taicang is not far from Yuanchongcheng, only half a day's journey by land, thanks to the flat terrain of Xuzhou, which allows for rapid marching.

He thought to himself that the centurion, also known as the centurion, was a middle-level general in the army and a key person who commanded the soldiers under him.

If these barons and their superiors are not in the barracks during the meeting, who will command the army?

All the generals on the field were brave warriors in the army, so they naturally understood the importance of this information.

However, how could such important information leak out so easily?

Everyone couldn't help but feel doubtful.

Zhou Yong seemed to have seen through everyone's thoughts and said slowly, "This news was kept extremely secret at first, and even our spies in the Yanbei Army were not able to get the news. Later, it was said that one of them was praised by Lu Chen in the meeting and was so happy that everyone in the army knew about it."

An old general nodded and said, "Lu Chen is very famous in the army, there is no doubt about that. His every move can affect the morale of the army."

After hearing this, Zhou Tiancheng asked again: "What's the situation in Yancheng?"

"Everything remains the same," someone replied. "Huo Hai is an experienced military commander. He has already pinned down Qian Yuan's troops in Yancheng, making them unable to move."

Zhou Tiancheng pondered for a moment, secretly calculating in his mind.

Using 80,000 soldiers to tie down the 200,000 Yanbei Army is undoubtedly a sure-win deal.

So, what they need to focus on next is the 200,000 Lu family troops led by Lu Chen.

He Sheng could no longer hold back, and stood up and spoke passionately: "General Zhou, I am willing to fight for you. Just give me 50,000 elite soldiers, and I will be able to capture Taicang!"

There are 90,000 Yanbei troops stationed in Taicang. How can it be captured with only 50,000 soldiers?
This doubt arose in everyone's mind.

He Sheng has always been arrogant. When the Lu family army went north, they bypassed the city guarded by Zhou Tiancheng. He Sheng even stepped forward to provoke, but Lu Chen ignored him. In He Sheng's view, the world-famous Lu Chen is no more than this.

He thought that if he could defeat Lu Chen this time, then his name of He Sheng would surely spread across the north wind.

However, Zhou Tiancheng did not respond immediately.

He Sheng would ask to join in every meeting, but the final result was always nothing.

After all, Zhou Tiancheng was known as a general who defended the city and he always acted prudently.

Tuoba Shuchao responded from the side:

"No matter what Lu Chen does, if he can't take Yuan Chong City, he will retreat."

Surprisingly, today He Sheng actually refuted:

"Prince Qi, if Lu Chen is still farming in Xuzhou next year, what should we do? We can't just keep on the defensive, we must take the initiative!"

"General Zhou, have you ever heard how the Qianyuan soldiers ridiculed our army? The sick man in the north wind is too afraid to leave the city."

Wulong led his troops to attack Yancheng many times, confronted Huo Hai, and even repelled the Yanbei Army twice.

On the other hand, Yuan Chongcheng, with a garrison of more than 500,000, has never taken the initiative to go out of the city to fight since June. How can this situation not make people feel depressed?

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the young generals in the hall all became embarrassed. This was indeed an indisputable fact.

Although Qianyuan had only 80,000 soldiers and horses, he took the initiative to attack many times and won many victories.

Among them, a young general could not help but say: "Lu Chen has been practicing Taoism in Zhongnan Mountain for many years, and he may have long forgotten the art of marching and deploying troops. In the past six months, the Yanbei Army has been marching in a disorganized manner, and Lu Chen has made many mistakes in his decisions."

"Does our army think Lu Chen is too scary?"

He Sheng also spoke up, his words sharp: "From what I've seen from Lu Chen's military tactics, I can see that he is a fraud who is trying to deceive the world and steal his reputation."

When these words were spoken, many young generals echoed them and looked happy.

However, the old generals looked unhappy. They had personally experienced how their army was defeated by Lu Chen and had to retreat northward in panic.

He Sheng's words clearly contain innuendos.

In fact, Zhou Tiancheng was not defeated by Lu Chen head-on, but his front line collapsed early, forcing him to face a strong enemy and eventually choose to retreat.

This decision was a helpless one. Tuoba Shuchao was also unhappy, because the battle was led by his brother Tuoba Shuyi, and he was also in it.

If anyone is to be held accountable, my brother will be the first to bear the brunt of the blame.

However, he did not get angry because He Sheng was Zhou Tiancheng's confidant.

If he blamed him now, given He Sheng's temper, it would probably cause even greater conflicts.

In the current situation where we are surrounded by external enemies, we must not allow internal chaos to occur.

Tuoba Shuchao was also slightly helpless.

At that time, the emperor's elder brother was defeated by Lu Chen. Although he later rebelled and proclaimed himself emperor, he also left many hidden dangers, especially since all his direct descendants were killed in the battle. Due to several reasons, his prestige in the army was greatly reduced.

anyway!

My royal brother, after so many years, I still feel fear when facing Lu Chen.

Otherwise, generals like Zhou Tiancheng would not have been able to gain increasing power in the army.

Tuoba Shuchao sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, Zhou Tiancheng finally shook his head and did not agree.

Tuoba Shuchao agreed, "As long as we hold on to this city, Lu Chen will retreat sooner or later. Generals, don't worry about your contributions."

"The day Lu Chen retreats will be the day you all become marquises and ministers."

Zhou Tiancheng also smiled and said, "Prince Qi is right. Just keep your troops in place."

Then, he changed the subject.

"Everyone has worked hard, please leave."

As everyone left, the hall gradually became quiet.

Zhou Tiancheng watched Tuoba Shu's departing back, a thoughtful look on his face.

Only Zhou Yong and He Sheng were left in the hall.

Zhou Yong seemed to see Zhou Tiancheng's thoughts and asked softly:

"Uncle, are you interested?"

Zhou Tiancheng smiled slightly and said, "I still can't hide it from Yong'er!"

He had no children and treated Zhou Yong as his own son, so he did not shy away from talking to him about his concerns.

Zhou Yong's advice and suggestions never disappointed Zhou Tiancheng.

The crisis in the city in the past was all planned by Zhou Yong.

He Sheng remained silent.

Zhou Tiancheng glanced at He Sheng and said with a smile: "Why, my dear brother, do you still have a grudge against me?"

He Sheng's expression changed slightly, and he quickly responded: "Brother, you are too kind. How dare He Sheng do that?"

He knew his brother's character very well. He was ruthless and resolute, but he was able to run a meat business in the city and hold on for three months when he was out of ammunition and food. He was ruthless to himself and even more ruthless to others, which was awe-inspiring.

Zhou Tiancheng sighed and said, "I am also quite hesitant. Should I send troops or not?"

"Yong'er, tell me what you think."

Zhou Tiancheng turned to ask Zhou Yong.

Zhou Yong's hand, which was crippled while saving Zhou Tiancheng, has not been put down until now.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "It is true that grain is stored in Taicang. As long as our army plunders the grain, Lu Chen will surely lead his army to rescue them."

"The enemy has 80,000 soldiers. We need to mobilize 200,000 troops to ensure victory."

"Uncle, what do you think the consequences will be if we lose this battle?"

Zhou Tiancheng thought for a moment and said slowly: "Even if we lead the army out of the city, there are still 300,000 troops in the city, enough to defend the city."

Zhou Yong asked again: "Your Majesty, will you revoke my uncle's position?"

Zhou Tiancheng hesitated for a moment and then replied, "There may be punishment, but the guarding is still the responsibility of this old man himself."

When Bei Feng decided to defend Yuan Chong City, Zhou Tiancheng built fortifications and organized training here, and he already knew the place well.

Most of his subordinates are his trusted confidants. If they are replaced rashly or their generals are replaced in the middle of a battle, something unexpected might happen.

Your Majesty today is not a foolish and incompetent person.

Zhou Yong said: "Uncle, what do you think is the chance of winning the battle outside the city?"

At this time, He Sheng said, "We should have an 80 to 90 percent chance of winning."

Zhou Tiancheng just smiled slightly.

"Don't underestimate Lu Chen."

He Sheng disagrees.

Zhou Yong added: "If we attack while the Yanbei army is holding a meeting, we may have a 60% chance of winning."

Zhou Tiancheng nodded and said, "Let's observe for a few more days. Anyway, the initiative is in our hands."

With that, the conversation came to an end.

He Sheng took his leave, leaving Zhou Yong alone.

"It's not that my uncle is timid, but Lu Chen is so prestigious that he is definitely not an ordinary person."

Zhou Tiancheng said earnestly: "I see that Your Majesty is as afraid of him as a tiger or a dragon, how dare I look down on him?"

Zhou Yong did not respond directly, but asked:
"Uncle, how old are you this year?"

Zhou Tiancheng was stunned when he heard this, and then he sighed:
"This year I am almost 70 years old, but I have not even earned the title of Marquis."

Zhou Yong asked again: "Then your majesty, how old are you this year?"

The white-haired old man did not answer.

The northern emperor, Tuoba Shuyi, was a few years older than him.

Zhou Tiancheng already understood the implication of Zhou Yong's words.

"Your Majesty, what arrangements should be made a hundred years after your death?" Zhou Yong's voice echoed in the hall.

"I remember that although my sister married the prince, she was not favored."

A heavy sigh!

It was already afternoon and the light in the room was gradually dimming.

Zhou Tiancheng sat back in the main seat, his entire face hidden in the shadows, only his pair of sparkling eyes were fixed on the standing map.

"When the Yanbei Army meets for the first time next month, pass on my Marshal's order." He said in a deep voice, "I will personally lead an army of 200,000 to attack Taicang."

Zhou Yong stood aside and bowed slowly in response:

"As ordered!"

……

……

[On the sixth day of October, the Yanbei Army held another meeting at 1:00 pm.]

【Today, the King of Yan came in person, and the army suddenly became very lively. Many soldiers cast envious glances, and to be praised by His Majesty the King of Yan, for them, it is undoubtedly an honor for the county.】

[For this rally, even the 3,000 sentinels who were monitoring Yuan Chongcheng on the west bank of the water control station were all withdrawn to Xuzhou, which shows the importance of this rally.]

[On this day, the Yanbei Army, which was originally stationed in Taicang City, was surprised to find smoke and dust billowing outside the city just after 3:30 pm.]

[The army of the north wind is coming like a raging storm.]

[Within two hours, Bei Feng had already conquered Taicang City. His speed was so fast that it was astonishing.]

[From a distance, I could see a huge fire burning in Taicang City. ]

[The flames shot up into the sky, illuminating half the sky red.]

(End of this chapter)