My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 418 Erzhu Rong's Scheme
July 12
The temperature has begun to drop gradually and is no longer as hot as before.

In a normal year, after another month or so, people would have to harvest their crops and then continue planting.

It is also theoretically the best time of year for military campaigns, especially for cavalry, as the saying goes, "autumn is high and the horses are fat," meaning the warhorses are in their best condition, and the overall climate is also relatively cool, which will not affect sowing.

Winter is too cold for both people and livestock to withstand; spring is when all things revive, having just endured the torment of winter, they have no strength left to fight; summer is too hot and easily breeds disease; only autumn is the most suitable time for battle.

Erzhu Rong was inspecting the camp, and the morale of his soldiers was high.

After all, Erzhu Rong's army had been continuously pushing the battle line northward, and had almost captured most of Xiangzhou.

After touring the central army camp accompanied by his personal guards, Erzhu Rong basked in the sunlight and murmured, "The morale of the army is high."

"Go and summon all the generals to my camp. Tell them I have important matters to discuss with them."

Erzhu Rong returned to the main tent and waited for a while.

Heba Yue, Heba Sheng, Yu Jin, and others entered the tent one after another.

"Greetings, Prime Minister!"

"Rise, all of you. There's no need for such formalities."

Erzhu Rong waved his hand and ordered someone to bring fine wine and good meat. He raised his wine cup and said, "Come, let's drink a cup together!"

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement. After drinking the wine, Erzhu Rong finally spoke up, "More than half a year has passed since we set out at the beginning of the year. He Liuhun is using a strategy of retreat to advance, trying to lengthen our army's supply lines and then harass our supply routes to slow down our advance."

"In the end... he himself knew very well that he was no match for our army, and everything he did was just a delaying tactic to buy time for Mohedu."

"However, do you know that I clearly know what He Liuhun is thinking, yet why have I spent months in a stalemate with him in Xiangzhou instead of marching north?"

Chi Lieping, Guo Luosha and other staunch confidants.

As outstanding graduates of the 'Erzhu Military Academy', they were all too familiar with the style of their principal, Erzhu Rong, in leading troops into battle.

A handsome general with a beautiful beard was the first to bow and greet the speaker before beginning his eloquent discourse.

"This is the Prime Minister's strategy to wear down the troops. The Prime Minister often teaches us the simple truth that even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit."

Erzhu Rong smiled slightly and turned to look at Chilie Ping.

“Slay the demon, then tell me in detail.”

Heba Yue and the others also turned their attention to Chi Lieping, giving him plenty of face.

"He Liuhun's forces are mainly divided into two parts: one is the Rouran tribes in Hexi and the grasslands, and the other is the soldiers and civilians of the former Six Garrisons. They are indeed all brave warriors."

The difference between the grasslands and the Central Plains lies in this.

The grasslands do not need to maintain an army, or rather, the concept of maintaining an army does not exist on the grasslands, because everyone on the grasslands is a soldier. Such a situation arises in the harsh living environment.

Not to mention the soldiers and civilians of the six towns who are still alive today, they were selected from the best by Ge Rong and Erzhu Rong.

They may not be skilled in martial arts or military combat, but they are all incredibly durable.

"Previously, He Liuhun led them to cause trouble within Sizhou..."

When this matter was mentioned, Chi Lieping suddenly paused and subconsciously looked at Erzhu Rong.

It seems that he had unintentionally rubbed salt into Erzhu Rong's wounds.

Erzhu Rong's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and gestured for Chi Lieping to continue.

What he was trying to express was simply this:

Gao Huan led a group of grassland soldiers and the people of the Six Towns to burn, kill, and plunder in Xiurongchuan, and their morale was high.

If Erzhu Rong had chosen to rashly confront Gao Huan at that time, even if he had won, it would likely have been a Pyrrhic victory.

Erzhu Rong's style of leading troops in battle can be understood by looking at how he dealt with Ge Rong.

Holding a huge advantage and knowing that Ge Rong was short of food, they stubbornly fought Ge Rong in Bingzhou for several months, until Ge Rong's food supplies ran out and the morale of Ge Rong's army collapsed, before finally leading their troops to launch a proactive attack.

I'll stall you for now.

After exhausting its prey, it uses all its strength to kill it with a single blow!
“What the demon-slayer said is quite right.”

Erzhu Rong was quite pleased.

Unlike the Wu Chuan faction, Chi Lieping and other trusted confidants were more reliable to Er Zhu Rong in terms of emotions and relationships.

During the Heyin Incident back then.

Erzhu Rong sent Chi Lieping and Guo Luosha to kill Yuan Ziyou's brother and younger brother.

These were his true confidants, apart from the Erzhu clan members. Compared to the Erzhu clan's incompetent followers, these confidants were truly capable.

"He Liuhun has been avoiding battle by focusing solely on avoiding combat, and has already missed a crucial opportunity!"

If Gao Huan had led his men to fight Erzhu Rong to the death at the front line of Ye City from the very beginning, the situation might have been different.

But there are no "what ifs" on the battlefield.

"A message came from our informant in He Liuhun's camp that morale is low and the soldiers are demoralized. The opportunity has arrived! He Liuhun is ready to retire, so I have decided to launch a preemptive strike!"

Everyone nodded.

They all felt that they should indeed take the initiative.

Because if the battle lines are pushed forward a little further, it would be tantamount to driving Gao Huan out of Yinzhou. If it really comes to that...

Whether Gao Huan continues to resist is no longer of much significance.

Since Erzhu Rong has already achieved his strategic goal of opening up the route to Yingzhou, he does not necessarily have to settle the score with Gao Huan here. He can also send troops to Yingzhou to cooperate with Hou Yuan in attacking Gao Yu from both sides.

After all, apart from the Heba brothers, none of the people in the main tent knew anything about what had happened in Yingzhou.

Just when everyone thought Erzhu Rong was about to give the order to prepare for the advance.

Erzhu Rong chuckled and spoke again, "Actually, besides the fact that He Liuhun's army is currently demoralized, it has another fatal weakness. We should act cautiously and use a foolproof method to win this battle beautifully!"

He immediately voiced his thoughts.

Everyone looked at him in astonishment, filled with admiration, and praised him from the bottom of their hearts, saying, "The Prime Minister is meticulous in his thinking, and we admire him greatly."

Erzhu Rong laughed loudly, "I have already sent people to make preparations. Once the supplies arrive from Yecheng in the rear, our army will take the initiative to attack. In the next few days, we will patiently confront He Liuhun again."

He came out of Erzhu Rong's tent.

Hebasheng immediately discussed the matter privately with Hebayue.

"Is the Prime Minister planning to defeat He Liuhun in one fell swoop, or even capture him alive?"

Heba Yue shook his head, "We still don't know where Moheduo's army is at the moment."

"If he had arrived any later..."

"Perhaps the situation will be completely different, my brother. You and I should continue to observe and wait and see."

(End of this chapter)