spoiled brat

Chapter 139 138. Empty Flowers (8)

"Our army is now marching eastward with unstoppable momentum, heading straight for the enemy's capital."

Wu Jiu divided the war pieces in his hand into three sets and arranged them neatly on the sand table:

"The northern front is under your father, Prince Ning, whose troops are mainly cavalry, and are known for their iron cavalry. Thirty thousand cavalrymen are engaged in guerrilla defense in the north."

"My father is in the center, and his troops are mainly heavy infantry, with a forest of spears and swords, as fierce as tigers descending the mountain."

He wanted to boast about his own family, but who in the room didn't know that all the recent victories had come from the army of Prince Ning?

With the force of thunder and lightning, the iron cavalry surged across the battlefield like a raging torrent. Often, before Wu's army even arrived at the battlefield, news of their victories would already be sent to the capital.

Wu Jiu seemed to have also thought of this point, adding, "But because the central army is still responsible for escorting grain and protecting supplies, their speed is slow, and their precious swords have not yet been tested. Now that the roles of offense and defense have changed, even the bravest cavalry cannot break through the city. In the future, we will still have to rely on the central army to attack fortifications."

Finally, he picked up three teams of crossbowmen and placed them on the southern front, laughing proudly: "Although my family's heavy infantry is powerful, it is not the best in the world. When it comes to killing weapons, it has to be my family's Divine Machine Army."

No introduction is needed; the Shenji Army is already a household name.

Even Zhao Zhao, who grew up in the remote Yunzhou, felt her eyelids twitch. She had heard a lot about the reputation of various armies from Xiao Duo before. The cavalry and archers under the command of Prince Ning were all top-notch in the world, but there was one thing that they were inferior to the Wu family, and that was the Shenji Camp.

Legend has it that the Wu family, who have been nobles for generations, have accumulated enough wealth to fill the East China Sea. All of this wealth was used to purchase firearms, cannons, and ammunition from the West, and to commission renowned craftsmen to forge the Lu Gong Chariot, the Cloud Ladder, and the Ten Thousand Warrior.

Because of its high cost and the need for heavy guard, this army was rarely used, only being deployed briefly when defending a city.

The Wu family mobilized all its forces for this battle not because they were willing to sacrifice themselves, but because their troops were already close to the enemy capital. The twenty-year-long war might be resolved in one battle, and the Wu family wanted to take the credit.

Unlike Wu Jiu, Xiu Ning couldn't explain as she laid out the formations. She quietly lowered her eyes and arranged the enemy forces according to the reports from the scouts at the front.

The students watching the play around her were astonished by her every move, and asked in surprise, "When did the barbarians get an artillery unit?"

The others echoed this sentiment, all agreeing that Xiu Ning was ignorant of military matters and that his actions were absurd.

Xiu Ning looked up at Zhao Zhao and flipped his fingers. Zhao Zhao was worried about how to translate accurately when a voice rang out from the crowd: "They not only have firearms, but they are also far more advanced than us."

These words were tantamount to stepping on Wu Jiu's face. He turned around gloomily, his eyes slicing through the crowd like knives.

Everyone was afraid of him and retreated to the side like a tide, leaving only Xie Xiaoqing, as stubborn as a rock, standing there, meeting Wu Jiu's gaze with unwavering resolve:
"Eight years ago, seven cities along the northeast coast fell into enemy hands, and Japanese pirates and water bandits continued to roam the South China Sea. Our dynasty's giant ships were no longer able to go out to sea. How can we sail to the West to upgrade our firearms?"

"Young Master Wu, I do not mean to boost the enemy's morale or dampen our own, but most of the Shenji Army's firearms are Western-made from ten years ago, while the enemy's firearms are only from recent years—"

"That's really strange. It's only been ten years. How can we talk about being advanced or backward?" Wu Jiu sneered. "The cavalry under Prince Ning all like to use old bows, the older the better, and they haven't lost to the barbarian cavalry. Could it be that the foreigners who made firearms ten years ago were monkeys, but now they've grown up and can make 'sons' that can crush their 'fathers'?"

Laughter erupted in the hall. Seeing his prejudice, Xie Xiaoqing offered no explanation, but simply cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Xiu Ning:
“Princess, although I am not from a military family, I know a little about military affairs. I would like to ask for your advice on the game of chess.”

Xiu Ning nodded, and Xie Xiaoqing moved behind her. Zhao Zhao lowered her voice: "Why didn't you say you had this trick up your sleeve earlier?"

Xie Xiaoqing felt wronged. He was mild-mannered and cowardly, but even a plain white bun has filling inside.

Before he could speak, Wu Jiu raised a wooden paddle and began to demonstrate the war game: "Now, the three lines run parallel to the east, with cavalry protecting the infantry, and infantry guarding the Divine Machine Army. The three armies are as solid as Mount Gen, and we will directly attack the enemy's capital."

There are reasons for choosing to launch a spring offensive.

The barbarians lived a nomadic life, and spring was the busiest time of the year, as raising sheep and herding required a lot of labor, which reduced the number of people who could go to the battlefield.

Our army is pressing in, and the barbarians are finding it difficult to cope. If we want to turn the tide, we have no choice but to take a risky gamble.

Xiu Ning lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. He then raised his finger and combined several elite forces into one, moving them to the northeast of Prince Ning to await orders. He left a lone force to guard the enemy capital.

Wu Jiu chuckled, and whispers arose around him. This young lady from the inner chambers really knew nothing about military affairs—at such a critical moment, instead of gathering the entire army to defend the capital, she deployed troops with a heavy force on the outside and a light force on the inside, and even faced the main force of the iron cavalry directly.

Xie Xiaoqing, well-versed in military strategy, was taken aback upon seeing this. After a long while, he finally understood Xiu Ning's intention: "No matter how many routes you come from, I will only go one way!"

"May I ask, Princess, do you not even know your own troops?" Wu Jiu said, "Although the barbarian elites are brave, they are no match for the iron cavalry led by your father. On the contrary, they will be cut off by the approaching central army because they are stuck on the battlefield."

Xiu Ning, with a calm expression, moved the chess pieces, thus overturning the Northern Army's defense line.

The crowd burst into laughter, mocking her for looking down on her own father's soldiers right from the start. But then Xie Xiaoqing spoke up loudly:

“Young Master Wu, are you perhaps unaware that besides Prince Ning, there are also reinforcements from the vassal state of Joseon on the northern front? Joseon is a close neighbor of the barbarians. Although it is a vassal state of our dynasty, it is bound to be hesitant and ambivalent. Moreover, its strength is meager, and the barbarians will always find a way to break through it.”

Xiu Ning nodded; that was exactly what she meant.

The hall fell silent instantly. With traitors constantly emerging in the court, how could the loyalty of vassal states be guaranteed?
There is no insurmountable defense in the world. Wu Jiu, who comes from a military family, understands this principle. He smiled and looked at Xiu Ning: "Even if the barbarian cavalry bypasses the Northern Army, there is still the rock-solid Central Army. What can they do?"

Logically, the central army, responsible for escorting provisions and supplies, and also guarding the Divine Machine Army, should have marched at roughly the same speed and advanced side by side. Wu Jiu arranged the pieces on the sand table in this manner, with two straight lines of pieces closely aligned.

Xiu Ning raised his hand, but instead of moving his own pieces, he separated the central army from the Shenji Battalion, with the central army far ahead.

"Hey! What's going on?"

"Yeah, why did you even touch someone else's pieces?"

The students watching protested loudly, but Wu Jiu's face paled as he suddenly remembered something—

His father and brothers feared that Prince Ning would monopolize the credit for conquering the enemy capital and would be greedy and reckless, unwilling to fall behind others.

This way.

The Wu family's prized Shenji Army, the decisive weapon in this battle, was left all alone, trailing behind the main army.

...They split up!

The students watching didn't understand the deeper meaning, and Xiu Ning didn't bother to pay attention. He raised his hand and moved his elite barbarian cavalry, easily bypassing the heavily armored infantry who were advancing at full speed but still moving slowly, and rushed straight towards the Divine Machine Army!
About fifty years ago, the nomadic barbarians were unfamiliar with foreign cultures and did not know how to deal with firearms and cannons. Whenever gunfire or cannon fire was heard, the barbarians would flee like mice and hurriedly burrow into the ground.

Now, fifty years later, the barbarians have learned to make leather shield carts to withstand artillery fire, reducing casualties while allowing for rapid attacks.

The Shenji Army was unable to withstand the charge of the cavalry. They were unable to counterattack or defend. Often, after only one or two rounds of gunfire, the enemy's blades were already at their necks.

Wu Jiu pictured a scene of utter defeat in his mind, smiled but didn't laugh out loud, and asked Xiu Ning, "Even if the Shenji Army is wiped out, how will the barbarian cavalry return to reinforce? Judging by their speed, our army is already close to the enemy capital."

Xiu Ning remained calm. When he was young, his parents taught him the art of war, which could be summarized in four words: offense is the best defense.

She never shied away from any hardship, and her soldiers never deserted.

With a slight lift of her finger, she commanded the large cavalry force to charge straight at the center of the army, while simultaneously gesturing in sign language. Zhao Zhao translated:
“I will not send reinforcements. I will send a troop of surrendered soldiers to the central army to tell your father and brothers that the Shenji Army and the Prince of Ning's cavalry have been completely wiped out, and then launch a surprise attack from the south.”

A cold, icy sensation ran down his spine to the back of his neck. Wu Jiu knew exactly what kind of people his father and brothers were.

If surrendered soldiers were to use deception, and barbarian cavalry were to launch a surprise attack from the south, his father and brothers would surely believe it and hastily retreat, fearing they would fall into an encirclement.

Wu Jiu's face turned pale; he was worried... The next moment, Xie Xiaoqing voiced his concerns:

"Although the central army is mostly composed of infantry, there are different types of soldiers, and their speeds vary. If they retreat hastily, they will inevitably scatter and be easily defeated by the barbarian cavalry who launch a surprise attack."

Wu Jiu murmured absentmindedly, "At that time, my father and brothers..."

“Your father and brother will be safe and sound.” Xiu Ning gestured in sign language, which Zhao Zhao translated: “Cavalry has the advantage of speed; engaging infantry in close combat is futile. The barbarian cavalry will force your father and brother to flee in panic, and then—”

Xiu Ning moved the war game pieces, and the large group of barbarian cavalry coming from the south and the barbarian soldiers defending the enemy capital surrounded and besieged the Ning King's cavalry who were still advancing.

Some people around were puzzled: "Ridiculous! Even if the central army retreats in a panic, it will not forget to send out scouts to inform the northern army. How could Prince Ning continue to advance blindly?!"

A chorus of doubts arose, the students were puzzled, but Wu Jiu understood—he knew his father and brother's selfishness and cowardice, as well as their narrow-mindedness and scheming.

If such a situation were to occur, his father and brothers would surely flee without regard for the fate of the Northern Army.

Anyway, after the war, they could lie and say that the messenger hadn't arrived.

In any case, the Ning Prince's Mansion and the Wu family have a deep-seated grudge.

...You should not have crossed the river, yet you did! You fell into the river and died. What can be done about it?
Wu Jiu chuckled self-deprecatingly. His sister Wu Wenrou was right; the person before him was indeed an unparalleled chess player of their time. Nothing in the world, including human hearts, could escape her calculations. It was truly a pity that she was burdened by illness.

He stood up and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Xiu Ning: "Princess, I admit my rudeness earlier."

He was ultimately a vain playboy, his actions humble, but his words of admitting defeat were spoken softly.

The students watching were completely bewildered, looking at Wu Jiu with great incomprehension, assuming that he was simply too lazy to argue with a young lady from a wealthy family.

Suddenly, someone blurted out: "You little brat, a sickly mute who never leaves the house, you dare to lecture like a hen just because you have some family connections!"

The crowd was dense. Zhao Zhao glanced coldly across the room, but couldn't see which fearless person had uttered such arrogant words. He only heard someone immediately reply, "Listening to a mute lecture is not as good as going to the building to listen to the girls sing! I'm leaving now! You can stay if you're bored!"

Wu Jiu thought to himself, "Oh no!" He had originally intended to embarrass Xiu Ning today, so he had specially arranged for a few foul-mouthed brothers to cause trouble.

Now that he has submitted, his men are starting to complain!
Just as Wu Jiu was worrying about how to end this, a black shadow darted out like a swift leopard, its momentum so fierce that it was unstoppable!