Fu Shanhe

Chapter 527 Conspiracy

"It's obviously not enough to hold off the enemy, but our mission is to buy time."

The general originally deployed seven lines of defense along the way, with a garrison stationed at each line, and Laozi personally oversaw the command.

On average, each line of defense only needed to delay the enemy for two days to accomplish the task assigned by the Prime Minister beyond expectations.

Shi Jingming said casually.

This kind of fighting style is completely at the cost of human lives.

However, the Liaodong Army is not short of manpower, but rather time.

Shi Jingfeng assigned him so many troops largely because he had too many soldiers under his command and simply couldn't manage them all.

There was no other way; there were just too many people in the north who were willing to join the army and earn a living.

In order to reduce the cost of ruling, the Shi family would conscript soldiers on a large scale after arriving in each place.

The effect was very obvious; after a large number of young men enlisted, the local situation stabilized immediately.

The remaining elderly and weak, even if they wanted to cause trouble, never really stirred up any waves.

The aftereffects were equally enormous; the rapidly expanding Liaodong army had already acquired the style of the Song Dynasty's imperial guards.

It appears to be large in scale, but its actual combat strength is very weak.

The real fighting force still comes from the tens of thousands of elite troops from the original force; all the newly formed units are just there to make up the numbers and intimidate the enemy.

In some newly formed units, some soldiers even went to the battlefield carrying bamboo spears.

Knowing full well that his forces were insufficient, he still chose to divide his troops and resist step by step, which was actually a way for Shi Jingming to correct his own shortcomings.

In the past, when he commanded a garrison, he was able to handle any situation with ease.

During the last Battle of Xuzhou, he suddenly commanded an army of 50,000, which led to a series of problems.

This time, he had even more troops under his command, and they made quite a few laughable mistakes during the march.

He was truly unsure of himself to force his troops together and confront the Marquis of Hanshui head-on.

"General, it's good that you have a plan in mind."

Unlike last time, this time the army sent to defend the emperor also included a large force of cavalry.

The enemy cavalry were all trained by the Marquis of Hanshui. If we were to clash head-on, my troops might not be able to gain the upper hand.

Defeating the enemy cavalry would certainly be a cause for celebration.

If they were to be defeated, these defensive lines would then have to guard against enemy cavalry raids.

While constructing the defensive positions, it's best to dig as many horse traps as possible, to avoid being caught off guard later.

Zhou Qihai said with a solemn expression.

Since his debut, he has never been afraid of any enemy.

Even against the renowned Tatar cavalry, he dared to lead his men to charge forward and challenge the enemy.

This time was the only exception.

The shadow of his previous defeat at Xuzhou still lingered in his mind.

If even the most unknown subordinates are so capable, how could the world's greatest general, whom they are about to face, be weak?

"Guards, pass on the order."

"Instruct all units to dig more horse traps and set up more horse-trapping stakes outside the defensive line."

Shi Jingming decisively gave the order.

Having learned his lesson from the cavalry's escape, his confidence in the Liaodong cavalry was not as strong as before.

Even though we are all in the same boat, there is still a chance to escape when the boat is sinking.

They couldn't survive in the Great Yu Dynasty, but the rebel army and the Northern Barbarians still welcomed their talents.

The fact that the Liaodong Army did not fall apart means that it still had a fighting chance.

If the Battle of Xuzhou ends in defeat again, then it will be time for everyone to flee in disarray.

……

The roar of cannons echoed over Xuzhou.

Shi Jingfeng did not encounter artillery with a range of more than ten miles, but the brief artillery battle still caused the Liaodong army to suffer heavy losses.

The enemy not only had an advantage in artillery performance, but also used only high-explosive shells.

The same bombardment, with ten shells fired by them, was less lethal than a single shell fired by the enemy.

What's worse, the enemy's artillery units, positioned on higher ground, suffered heavy losses in the first round of bombardment.

"It seems Zhou Qihai wasn't lying; the enemy's artillery is indeed formidable."

At this rate, let alone taking Xuzhou, even getting close to the city walls will come at a heavy price.

Putting down his binoculars, Shi Jingfeng couldn't help but sigh.

Even though he was mentally prepared beforehand, he still found it difficult when he actually encountered it.

No matter how difficult it is, the battle must continue.

When the Tatars rose to power, they did not have sharp firearms, but they still managed to defeat the Great Yu border army with their flesh and blood.

Facts have long proven that what determines the outcome of war is not firearms, but people.

After some self-consolation, Shi Jingfeng's thoughts were pulled back to reality.

To win this war, we cannot engage the enemy head-on.

Traditional siege tactics are simply handing victory to the enemy.

"Prime Minister, order a halt to the attack!"
Using this method of attack, the attacking troops would be decimated before they even reached the city walls.

Losing troops and soldiers so early in the battle will severely impact morale.

Shi Jinglin then offered some words of advice.

Warfare is all about morale; if morale is lost, half of a soldier's fighting strength is gone.

For the Liaodong army, capturing Xuzhou was just the beginning; the decisive battle with the loyalist army was yet to come.

In the early stages of a siege, lives can be sacrificed, but losses must be controlled.

"Ming Jin withdraws his troops!"

Shi Jingfeng gave the order rationally.

During wartime, maintaining rationality at all times is an essential skill for a commander.

The probing attack failed, which Shi Jingfeng could bear, but the war had to continue.

If there is no better way, for strategic reasons, we must capture Xuzhou as soon as possible, even if it means heavy troop losses.

"Prime Minister, when I was besieging the White Lotus Rebellion, I personally witnessed their tunnel siege tactics."

If a tunnel is dug under the city wall and enough gunpowder is buried, even the strongest city wall can be breached.

During this process, although the defenders' artillery could also provide some interference, it did not play a significant role in practice.

The situation in Xuzhou is special; it's not realistic to dig tunnels directly close to the city wall. However, we can dig several trenches first and gradually approach the city wall.

The destructive power of artillery mainly comes from the shrapnel that flies around in all directions.

The trenches could limit the explosive force of artillery shells; as long as they weren't directly hit, the soldiers would be safe inside the trenches, shielded by their shields.

Shi Jinglin then made the suggestion.

Some experiences can never be learned without going to the battlefield.

Although the White Lotus rebels were mostly a motley crew, their sheer numbers made up for it.

With a large enough base, a group of talented individuals will inevitably emerge.

With a flash of inspiration, he also developed many new tactics.

These tactical innovations were naturally learned by the government and military generals who participated in the encirclement and suppression campaigns back then.

However, most generals did not take these tactics seriously.

After all, some things may seem mysterious, but once you break through the facade, they actually don't involve any technical complexity.

On the battlefield, the simpler and more unpretentious the tactics, the greater their effectiveness often is.

"Oh!"

"Since Fifth Brother has experience, then the next siege battle will be handed over to you to command."

However, simply being close isn't enough; Xuzhou's moat is also an unavoidable problem.

Shi Jingfeng offered a tactful reminder.

After the Yellow River changed its course and joined the Huai River via the Si River, it formed lakes such as Yunlong Lake and Pan'an Lake in Xuzhou.

Through historical evolution, these waterways gradually transformed into a moat system that served both flood control and irrigation functions. The stone embankments on both sides of the moat were, on average, more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) higher than the river surface.

Once the trenches reached the banks of the moat, they lost their effectiveness.

If a tunnel attack method is to be adopted, the tunnels must pass through the moat, which will undoubtedly greatly increase the difficulty of construction.

The only connection is the land to the south, but Mount Hubu is in the middle of the way.

Unlike the Hubu Mountain of later generations, the Hubu Mountain of this time was a dangerous mountain with deep ravines on both the east and west sides.

Simply stationing thousands of elite troops there would deter others from even approaching.

The reason why the city was not captured in the last Battle of Xuzhou was largely due to these natural defenses.

"The main problem is that the timing wasn't right!"

The middle-aged scholar standing nearby couldn't help but sigh.

The speaker may have meant no harm, but the listener may have taken it to heart.

"Mr. Kong, do you have a brilliant plan to break through the city?"

Shi Jingfeng hurriedly pressed for an answer.

Although the Liaodong Army was not well-liked by scholars, there was no shortage of opportunists in the world.

Even after occupying the capital, many scholars still sought refuge with them.

Most of them were good-for-nothings, but there were also some talented individuals.

The main reason these people weren't given important positions was because their loyalty was questionable.

Throughout the entire Dayu Dynasty, scholars considered it an honor to have their names recorded in history.

To achieve their goals, they resorted to all sorts of unorthodox tactics.

Compared to posthumous fame, life and death are of no importance to these people.

Having betrayed his own comrades, Shi Jingfeng naturally worried that his subordinates would follow suit.

When dealing with these speculators, aside from superficial courtesy, they are mostly assigned to non-core positions.

The Mr. Kong before me was only reluctantly included in the core group as an advisor because he offered him many strategies after I joined him.

"Prime Minister, the most vicious tactics throughout history are nothing more than water and fire."

Xuzhou City is surrounded by water on three sides, making it clearly unsuitable for fire attacks, but it can be attacked by using water.

Historically, the Yellow River has flooded Xuzhou more than once or twice.

However, it's the dry season now, so simply breaching the Yellow River isn't enough; a dam must be built upstream!

Mr. Kong's answer left the generals speechless.

There are many examples of using water to attack cities throughout history, but few have dared to breach the Yellow River.

It's not that there are technical difficulties, but rather that the aftereffects are too great.

Once the Yellow River overflows, it's not just a single prefecture or county that suffers, but millions of people who will be displaced.

"Mr. Kong, this plan is good, but its impact is too bad."

It's probably not worth it just to capture Xuzhou!

Shi Jingfeng shook his head and said.

Having stooped so low as to commit regicide, reputation was meaningless to him.

The reason he didn't adopt the suggestion to dig the Yellow River wasn't because he was soft-hearted; it was mainly because he needed time.

If the Yellow River were to overflow, the Liaodong army would be unable to advance south for a considerable period of time.

The Jianghuai region has a dense network of waterways, giving it a very strong flood control capability.

Given the current water level of the Yellow River, it is possible to build a dam to submerge Xuzhou, but it is clearly not feasible to submerge Huai'an and Yangzhou as well.

Even if they capture Xuzhou, the enemy can still build new defensive lines in Huaiyang and Huai'an.

In the end, a direct confrontation with the loyalist army will be unavoidable.

The added infamy of digging up the Yellow River will inevitably cause public support to shift towards the enemy, thus lowering the chances of winning the decisive battle.

"Prime Minister, what if we strictly control the information, and then suddenly release the water when the army that came to the aid of the emperor arrives in Xuzhou?"

After Mr. Kong finished speaking, not only Shi Jingfeng was moved, but also a group of Liaodong army generals showed expectant eyes.

They never had a reputation to begin with.

If they could wipe out the loyalist army in one fell swoop, they would accept being infamous for eternity.

Without the support of the loyalist army led by Li Mu, sweeping south and conquering Jiangnan would be a piece of cake.

Having occupied the most prosperous region in the land, as long as they don't cause any further trouble, the probability of them conquering the entire country is at least 50%.

Even if they cannot unify the world, they can still live in peace in a corner and enjoy wealth for a hundred years.

……

"My lord, news has come from the reconnaissance battalion that enemy cavalry have been spotted in the distance."

The enemy was very cunning, remaining at least three miles away, thus avoiding the optimal range of the artillery.

Wu Da stepped forward and reported.

After landing, Li Mu refused the local officials' invitation to a banquet, and after a day of rest, the army marched directly north.

They had barely set out when they spotted enemy cavalry.

Combined with the previous shipwreck in the river, it is clear that the enemy came prepared.

"Pass down the order to have Yang Hanwen's troops attack and teach the enemy a lesson."

Li Mu calmly gave the order.

Any conspiracy or trick needs to be backed by strength.

While the Liaodong cavalry were indeed elite, their weaknesses were also obvious.

As a traditional, old-fashioned cavalry force, after the advent of the firearms era, neither its tactical thinking nor its equipment kept pace with the times.

The last battle of Xuzhou proved the power of firearms, which could compensate for the shortcomings of warhorses.

Even if the enemy is very cunning and deliberately widens the distance, it cannot change the fact that one's own strength is insufficient.

"My lord, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? A few scouts can handle it."

Kong Yutang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but offer his advice.

Under the Annam Protectorate system, military merit directly determined the speed of a military officer's promotion and his status in the army.

Unfortunately, the previous series of battles were all about bullying inexperienced natives in the Southeast Asian region.

European colonial empires tried several times to challenge the Annam Protectorate, but were ultimately forced to give up due to the situation on the European continent.

Considering that these guys are currently the Protectorate General's largest trading partner, they can't bring themselves to start a major war.

If the war affects export trade, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Finance will not let it go unpunished.

Having never encountered a formidable enemy, any general on the battlefield would lead to a chaotic and unpredictable world.

As a result, despite the Protectorate launching numerous wars against foreign powers, the individual strength of its military commanders remains a mystery.

This war to defend the emperor was not only about supporting the country and gaining political prestige, but also an opportunity for them to prove themselves.

The task of leading the charge was taken by Li Sanqi, and everyone is now extremely envious of the current combat mission.

"Cavalry against cavalry is the proper way of warfare."

The soldiers in the reconnaissance battalion are all handpicked elites, their main task being intelligence gathering; they can't afford to waste their time on these meaningless skirmishes.

Li Mu scolded him impatiently.

It's a good thing for subordinates to be warlike, but if they're too warlike, it becomes a problem.

Just by looking at the changes in the map of the Protectorate General's territory, you can tell that it is being revised every now and then.

Sometimes the changes would occur several times a month, making the officials who drew the maps extremely worried.

To reduce workload, the adjustment was changed to be done every quarter.

The old stronghold, which had previously served as a buffer zone, was gradually eroded by the Protectorate and became the new prefecture capital.

The King of Annam, who fled there, would have become a prisoner if he hadn't died young.

The Kingdom of Myanmar, standing nearby, was trembling with fear, dreading the day Yu's army would come knocking on their door.

The situation in Southeast Asia was similar; islands not occupied by colonial empires were basically all marked by the flag of the Annam Protectorate.

As a result, the tributary system of the Great Yu Empire in the south became history.

(End of this chapter)