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Chapter 122 Dumpling Making Tactics

The next day, it was just dawn.

The scouts who had been sent out in advance came back quickly to report that the Shu army had not arranged any troops to garrison in the direction of Huanghua Valley.

This was exactly as Li Yi had expected. Given the terrain conditions of Huanghua Valley, there was no stable source of clean water, and logistical transportation was extremely difficult. The Shu army simply could not send people to guard it for a long time.

Li Yi immediately ordered the army to break camp and set off.

He planned to lead the main force of more than 3,000 vanguards and march directly to Huanghua Valley.

As for the remaining four military camps of the Shu army, there is no need to worry about them. They can be attacked by the second commander and his troops.

"If the Shu army commander in Tangcang Town wasn't a complete idiot, he would definitely not allow our army to advance on Weiwu City after learning that we had declared war. He would definitely lead his troops to Huanghua Valley immediately."

Li Yi stopped his horse on a high slope beside the road. Teams of soldiers passed by him. They were all strong and sturdy men. The elite of the imperial guards were definitely not just talk.

He turned to look at Li Hanchao beside him and chuckled, "But war is all about information asymmetry. Last time we attacked Shu, it took our army several days to capture eight military camps. This time, the Shu army commander would never have thought that their military camp couldn't even hold us off for two days."

"Tangcang Town is forty miles away from Huanghua Valley. Even if they set out immediately after receiving the news, it would be too late... Besides, the Shu army will need at least a day to prepare."

Li Hanchao nodded and said, "Brother, you're right. Weiwu City is not suitable for holding out. Once besieged, there's no way to survive. The Shu army should either intercept our army in advance or set up a battle array outside the city and confront us head-on."

"But when it comes to field battles, who are we, the Imperial Guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty, afraid of? Hehe, last time the Fengxiang Army suffered a loss at the gates of Weiwu City, I'm afraid the Shu Army has become arrogant. This time, our Imperial Guards will show them what it means to be an elite force!"

Li Yi glanced at him and reminded him, "After all, the Shu army won a battle before at Weiwu City. Now you're already looking down on the Shu army before the battle even begins."

Li Hanchao quickly apologized and didn't dare to say anything more.

After a moment of silence, Li Yi sighed again and said, "No matter how good our plan is, the Shu army must follow our instructions. If they are determined to hold on, even if we can finally capture Weiwu City, it will take more than ten days or half a month."

What he needed to consider now was not just winning, but winning quickly and beautifully. If he spent too much time in Weiwu City, subsequent progress would be greatly affected.

"By the way, how is Deng Conghui, the military commander of the Shu army?"

Hearing Li Yi's question, Li Hanchao replied, "Deng Conghui is quite lucky. I thought he wouldn't make it through last night, but when I went to see him this morning, he looked much better. I gave him some broth and had him and our wounded soldiers sent to the rear."

Li Yi chuckled and said, "Maybe it's not his destiny..."

……

In order to reach Huanghua Valley as quickly as possible.

The main vanguard of the Later Zhou Dynasty traveled lightly, leaving behind the logistics team that transported food and fodder. Each person only carried two days' worth of food and marched quickly towards the Huanghua Valley.

More than 3,000 people arrived at Huanghua Valley before dark in the evening.

Li Yi then sent dozens of scouts to conduct reconnaissance in the direction of Weiwu City and Tangcang Town.

The main force set up camp on the spot, waiting for the Shu army to come to them.

After arranging military affairs.

Li Yi, along with Li Hanchao and his personal soldiers, surveyed the terrain from north to south along the entrance of Huanghua Valley. Although there was a map for reference, it was certainly not as clear as what they saw in person.

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu says: "The terrain can be open, vulnerable, supported, narrow, dangerous, or far away."

Huanghua Valley is a narrow valley between two mountains, and is a typical "narrow" terrain.

As the saying goes, if the terrain is narrow, we must occupy it first and then fill it up to wait for the enemy. If the enemy occupies it first, do not follow if it is full, but follow if it is not. In Li Yi's view, for terrain like Huanghua Valley, it is necessary to seize it first and block it with heavy troops, waiting for the enemy to pass and fall into the trap.

Once the entrance to Huanghua Valley is occupied by heavy troops, absolute tactical initiative will be gained.

at dusk.

The scouts who went out for reconnaissance sent someone to report back that Weiwu City had strengthened its patrol defenses, while the Shu army in Tangcang Town had not made any movement.

Logically speaking, the Shu army should have known about the invasion of the Later Zhou Dynasty, which can be seen from the actions of the garrison in Weiwu City to strengthen its defense.

But the Shu army in Tangcang Town did not make any big moves, which was really unexpected... Could it be that the commander of the Shu army in Tangcang was a coward?

Li Yi thought he should wait and see the situation first, so he immediately sent more scouts to Tangcang and asked them to keep a close eye on the Shu army in Tangcang Town.

However, it was not until the afternoon of the next day that the troops of the second and third commanders captured the remaining four camps of the Shu army and arrived at Huanghua Valley along with the logistics transporting food and fodder.

The Shu army in Tangcang Town still showed no signs of sending out troops.

In the big tent.

Li Yi looked at the gradually darkening sky outside from the opened door curtain for a while, then stood up and walked to the map hanging on the side, looking at it thoughtfully.

It has taken five or six days from leaving Dasan Pass to arriving at Huanghua Valley, and most of the time was spent on the road.

From beginning to end, the only battle was fought at the Shu army camp led by Huangniu.

The time is almost halfway to the goal of taking Weiwu City in half a month, and Wang Jing only promised Li Yi stable logistics for half a month. Once it exceeds half a month, the food and drink for these thousands of troops will be a big question mark.

At this moment, Li Hanchao's voice rang out from behind: "The scouts ahead have sent word that the Shu army in Tangcang Town is transporting food and fodder, but the Shu troops show no signs of moving out."

Li Yi turned around and asked, "What do you mean? The Shu army's food and supplies have moved, but the troops haven't moved?"

Li Hanchao nodded quickly.

Hiss... Li Yi took a breath and turned around to look at the map carefully.

There are two roads from Tangcang Town to Huanghua Valley. They split into two branches at the bend on the south side of the valley entrance, and then converge at the same place at the end of each road.

There are two points, one in front and one behind, with two curves in the middle.

If the two forks were connected, it would be like a half-round dumpling without much stuffing. The road to the north is longer and in poor condition, while the road to the south is the shortest and much easier to travel.

As he looked at it, Li Yi suddenly had an idea.

He suddenly realized, "I know what the Shu commander in Tangcang is planning. He wants to take advantage of our army's advance on Weiwu City and go around to Huanghua Valley from behind to cut off our supply of food and our escape route."

This explains why the Shu army in Tangcang was gathering food and supplies, but there was no movement of soldiers and horses.

It was probably the commander of the Shu army stationed in Tangcang Town. He was worried that he would not be able to reach Huanghua Valley in time to stop the Zhou army, so he simply made preparations in advance. When the Zhou army passed through Huanghua Valley and arrived at Weiwu City, he would lead his troops to encircle them from behind.

The more Li Yi thought about it, the more he felt that his guess was almost right.

He immediately ordered Li Hanchao, "Call all the generals to the tent to discuss matters... Damn it, since the Shu army wants to surround us, let's use their own tactics to surround them!"

(End of this chapter)