Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 44: All is fair in war

When Wu Yuan learned of Fang Yong's decision to leave the city and fight a decisive battle with Duke Shan, he hurried over to dissuade him.

"General, do not act on impulse. Duke Shan's actions are perverse and have angered the heavens and the people. They are no longer tolerated by heaven and earth. He is like an antelope with one horn hanging in the abyss, trying to pull you down with him before dying. General, do not fall into his trap."

Wu Yuan believed that there was no need to engage in a decisive battle with Duke Shanguo now.

As long as they firmly guarded Huaizhou City, it would be like a steel nail stuck in the throat of Shanguogong. Shanguogong was desperate now, and if they dragged it out for a while, the court would deal with Shanguogong without them having to do anything.

After listening to this, Fang Yong asked Wu Yuan calmly.

"Yuan Hao, I know this is the plan of the Duke of Shan Guo. However, if I do not fight, the Duke of Shan Guo will invade my land and kill my people. How should I resolve this matter?"

Wu Yuan was silent for a moment and said:

"General, your benevolence is as great as the sun and the moon. However, the world is like a chess game, and everyone in the game has their own choices. How can ordinary people dare to compare with the general's great cause? The land of Shanxi will change soon. The good opportunity is coming, why don't you be patient for a few days, and imitate Gou Jian who slept on firewood and tasted gall, and wait for the right time."

Fang Yong shook his head.

He knew that what Wu Yuan said was correct. From a strategic point of view, Wu Yuan's strategy could help him preserve his strength to the maximum extent.

But sometimes, strength cannot be simply counted on the soldiers under your command.

The support of soldiers and the trust of the people, these intangible things are sometimes more important than pure strength.

Fang Yong is not afraid of fighting with the public transportation of Shanguo.

Winning would be the best, but if he loses, Fang Yong can regroup and fight again.

The most frightening thing is not daring to fight and losing the support of the people, which is the real defeat.

Fang Yong looked at Wu Yuan seriously and said:
"You can wait for the right time, but you can't wait for people's hearts. If the world is like a chess game, where you have to make choices, I would rather give up the right time and win people's hearts. Yuan Hao, are you willing to help me?"

After hearing this, Wu Yuan stood there in silence for a long time.

The scenes of his youth flashed through Wu Yuan's mind one by one.

Why didn't he meet someone like Fang Yong at that time!

Wu Yuan admitted that he was persuaded by Fang Yong.

"The general's existence is a blessing for the people. I only sigh, why didn't the general live 50 years earlier..."

On the eve of the war, Xue Dacui returned from the capital and brought Fang Yong five hundred new cannons, as well as a large number of weapons, leather armor, cotton armor, etc.

Although the iron armor was still not found, Xue Dacui brought back dozens of craftsmen.

It is said that these were official craftsmen "eliminated" by Da Xi, and they were skilled in making iron armor and heavy armor for generations.

Although there are few people, they can teach their skills to apprentices. One person tells ten people, ten people tell a hundred people, and over time, there will naturally be more craftsmen.

If Fang Yong can get a large amount of iron in the future, he can rely on these people to create the necessary armor.

On the other side, in the Duke of Shanguo’s military camp, the soldiers were making a fire and cooking.

"Pah, my teeth! Sergeant, there are too many stones in this rice!"

One soldier complained angrily.

Wu Chang sighed and said, "Just bear with it for now. Eat steamed buns for the next meal. There is less sand in them than stones."

Duke Shanguo looked at the soldiers in the barracks with a serious expression.

He knew that if the decisive battle didn't start soon, morale would collapse.

After Fang Yong occupied Huaizhou, he blocked the army's food supply.

The army's food supply was exhausted and the imperial court was unable to transport food, so Emperor Longqing had no choice but to order the governor of Huizhou to transfer food from Huizhou to support the Duke of Shanguo's army.

That's the result.

There is gravel mixed in the rice, and sand mixed in the flour.

If the enemy intercepted their grain carts one day, wouldn’t they think that they were planning to build a new city outside Huaizhou?
Fortunately, at this moment, Fang Yong sent someone to deliver a declaration of war.

Duke Shan's heart finally settled down.

The two sides agreed on a time and place to have a decisive battle five days later!

During this period, both sides did not invade each other.

On the first day, Fang Yong trained the soldiers, rewarded the three armies, and boosted their morale. On the second night, at three o'clock in the morning, Fang Yong ordered Ma Laohei to lead an army to attack the camp of the Duke of Shan Guo.

As for the non-aggression agreement...

Sun Tzu said: All is fair in war
Unfortunately, however, Duke Shanguo was strict in military discipline and tight in defense, and he did not slack off even in the middle of the night.

Ma Laohei led his army in an attack, but did not achieve much result. Instead, he suffered heavy losses himself and finally had to leave in disappointment.

After Ma Laohei came back, he reported the results of the battle to Fang Yong.

We destroyed an enemy watchtower, burned down two tents, killed 153 enemies, suffered 185 casualties, and injured many others.

Judging from the results of the battle, it was not a complete failure, but it was definitely not a success.

Wu Yuan suggested: "Since this surprise attack failed, the government troops will surely be proud of their victory. We can launch a second surprise attack tonight to catch them by surprise and we will surely succeed!"

Fang Yong nodded, agreed to Wu Yuan's suggestion, and ordered Ma Laohei to prepare for a sneak attack again.

On the other hand, the government troops did as Wu Yuan expected, feeling proud of their small victory and became lax.

But soon, Duke Shanguo came over personally and gave instructions to the soldiers.

Duke Shanguo believed that Fang Yong appeared to be a gentleman but was actually a villain. He agreed that the two armies would fight in five days, but he sent people to launch a surprise attack on the second night. Such behavior could lead to a second surprise attack.

Duke Shanguo was afraid that his men would be careless, so he came in person to remind them.

Although most of his soldiers did not agree with it, they still obeyed the orders under the majesty of Duke Shanguo.

At five o'clock that night, Ma Laohei led his men to launch another surprise attack.

The effect is much better than the first time.

They killed more than 300 enemies and burned down six tents, with only a few dozen casualties.

They could have achieved even greater results, but thanks to the reminder from Duke Shanguo, the government troops quickly recovered from their panic and organized a defense. Seeing that the situation was not good, Ma Laohei hurriedly led his men to retreat.

After being ambushed twice, Duke Shanguo was furious and sent people to throw kerosene into Huaizhou City in retaliation.

Although Fang Yong sent people to put out the fire in time, many houses were still burned down.

Fang Yong couldn't help but curse angrily, saying that the Duke of Shanguo had no bottom line and had harmed innocent people in his pursuit of victory. He really deserved to be killed!

On the fourth day, Fang Yong ordered Li Sheng to lead the artillery battalion to Shitang Town to set up an ambush in advance to prepare for tomorrow's decisive battle.

Coincidentally, when Li Sheng arrived at Shitang, he happened to encounter the army of Shanguogong who had also come to set an ambush.

A fight broke out between the two sides immediately.

Li Sheng led 8,000 soldiers, while the other side led about 10,000 soldiers.

There is not much difference in combat effectiveness between the soldiers of both sides, but the armor worn by the officers and soldiers led by Duke Shanguo is more solid, while the armor defense of the soldiers on Li Sheng's side is lower.

After the two sides fought, Li Sheng quickly fell into a disadvantage in close combat.

Li Sheng quickly sent someone to ask for help.

After Fang Yong learned about it, he immediately sent Niu Jin to lead reinforcements, and also sent Ma Laohei to lead troops to launch a surprise attack on the military camp of Duke Shan Guo.

On the other hand, Duke Shanguo also soon learned the news of Shitang Town.

Duke Shan immediately sent people to Shitang Town for reinforcement.

At the same time, based on his years of combat experience, Duke Shanguo judged that Fang Yong's reinforcements must be coming from the direction of Zhuqiao Town, so he immediately sent highly mobile cavalry to intercept them.

As expected of an experienced man, Duke Shanguo's judgment was very accurate. Niu Jin's reinforcements were heading to Zhuqiao Town, and the cavalry successfully intercepted the reinforcements sent by Fang Yong.

Niu Jin led his soldiers in a desperate charge, but ultimately failed to defeat the enemy and were blocked in Zhuqiao Town.

On the other side, the reinforcements sent by Duke Shanguo quickly arrived at Shitang Town and surrounded Li Sheng.

At this time, Niu Jin was still in Zhuqiao Town, and Li Sheng was isolated and helpless.

After Fang Yong received the news, he personally led his troops to rescue Li Sheng.

The usually cautious Duke Shanguo finally lost his vigilance after seeing Fang Yong personally go out. He personally led a large army to stop Fang Yong, preparing to completely wipe out Li Sheng's artillery unit.

But in fact, Fang Yong’s real purpose was not to rescue Li Sheng’s artillery camp, but to lure away the main force of Duke Shan Guo and cover Ma Laohei who was preparing to steal the house.

(End of this chapter)