Through countless dynasties, I can summon the heroes of Chinese history.

Chapter 113 The Army Advances to Anyang Pass, Fan Li, the Sage of Commerce

September of the 26th year of the Tianfeng reign.

As the north wind first rose, it swept across the territory of the Cangming Dynasty, carrying with it the chill of the northern frontier.

King Jiang Yue of Zhen was ordered to take command and personally lead the Cangming army of over 100,000 to march eastward. King Jiang Ce of Laiyang personally led his 3,000 vanguard troops and 20,000 well-trained troops from Laiyang headquarters, totaling 23,000 elite soldiers to accompany the army.

As for the remaining troops, they would naturally stay in Laiyang. If Prince Yelü Qing of Yishuo took advantage of the army's attack on the puppet Qi regime to personally lead a large army to attack Laiyang County, the main camp would definitely be in danger if there were no generals to protect it.

Jiang Ce didn't want his hard-earned foundation to vanish into thin air.

As for King Jiang Yue of Zhen, although his army was equipped with machine-operated troop transport vehicles that moved like thunder, the journey from the capital to Laiyang County was a long one, with mountains and rivers blocking the way. It took them more than half a month to finally arrive at the seat of Laiyang County after traveling day and night.

After the army entered Laiyang, Jiang Yue immediately ordered the entire army to set up camp outside the city and rest there for half a month.

First, it was to allow the soldiers, who had traveled a long distance, to rest and recuperate, sharpen their weapons, and feed their warhorses, so that they could march eastward when their morale was at its peak.

Secondly, he personally dispatched trusted generals to inspect the weaponry and combat capabilities of the Laiyang army, and worked with Jiang Ce to refine the coordination among the various units, ensuring that the entire army could operate as if it were their own arm.

Inside the main tent of the Cangming Army.

Several bronze animal-head candlesticks burned brightly, their flames illuminating the curtains and casting long shadows of the people inside.

A map of the four prefectures of Laiyang, more than ten feet wide, with thick silk as the background and vermilion markings, was laid flat on a heavy sandalwood table. The county towns, mountains, passes, and rivers were marked with fine brushes, as numerous as stars. With varying shades of ink, the strategic locations, advantages and disadvantages of attacking and defending this territory were fully revealed.

Commander Jiang Yue, clad in black chainmail and with a long sword hanging at his waist, stood before the desk. His face was resolute, and his slender fingers lightly traced ink lines on the map, slowly sweeping across the territory of the four prefectures from west to east. His deep voice, like the tolling of an ancient bell, gently echoed in the quiet tent.

"The four prefectures of Laizhou occupied by the pseudo-Qi state appear to be scattered territories, each occupying its own territory. In reality, the lineages of the six great families are connected, forming a mutually supportive relationship. The core and vital points are only these three places."

He suddenly pressed his fingertips heavily on the mark of Eyang Pass on the north side of the map, his fingertips grinding across the paper, his voice as firm as iron.

"The Eyang Pass in Wendeng County in the north is strategically located between two mountains. The pass is only wide enough for a few riders to pass through. The cliffs on both sides are sheer, which successfully controls the passage between Laiyang and Wendeng."

"It is also the first iron gate of Wendeng County, which can be defended by one man against ten thousand."

After saying this, Jiang Yue immediately moved his fingertip to the center and pointed to the location of Sendai Castle.

"The capital of Sendai County, Sendai City, was built with rammed earth walls and moats. The walls were eighteen feet high and had many parapets. The city had full granaries and ample armories. It was the core foundation that the Jiang family had built up over many years."

Finally, his fingertip landed on Jiangyuan Pass on the west bank of the river, and he said with a deep gaze, "Jiangyuan Pass, located in the western part of Sendai County, is built against the great river and stands guard against the natural defenses. The river waves crash against the shore and the gate tower is majestic. It is the key gateway for the pseudo-Qi to guard the western border of Sendai. If this pass is destroyed, there will be no natural defenses on the west side of Sendai."

"If our army can first capture Jiangyuan Pass and Eyang Pass, cutting off the barriers on both flanks of the puppet Qi, we can then advance straight into the heart of Sendai County. Even if the Dongyi allied forces come across the sea to reinforce us, our army can still occupy strategic locations and secure victory."

King Jiang Yue of Zhen Kingdom was a renowned general of the Cangming Dynasty, known for his many battles.

Although he was a collateral descendant of the imperial family, he had no relatives to protect him or any powerful clan to support him. Relying solely on his extraordinary courage, strategy, and wisdom, he fought his way up from an ordinary soldier to become the King of Cangming, commanding a large army after more than a hundred battles.

Even among the seven great dynasties, he was a renowned general of the royal family.

[Ding-dong—Jiang Yue's five-dimensional attributes: Command 98, Strength 104, Intelligence 82, Politics 85, Charisma 90]

With such outstanding talent, he was good at both offense and defense, and possessed both courage and wisdom. Looking at the world today, he was definitely a famous general. Even among Jiang Ce's subordinates, only a few could compare to him!

At this moment, the tent was completely silent. All the generals held their breath and listened attentively to the command.

Standing beside Jiang Ce was Fan Li, dressed in a plain Confucian robe. He slowly stepped out of the ranks, waving a feather fan, his gaze fixed on the Eyang Pass on the map, his tone as steady as a rock.

"Your Highness, in my opinion, Eyang Pass is the key to Wendeng County and a vital passage that will block our army's advance into the counties to the east. If this pass is not breached, any further advance will be in vain."

The terrain of Eyang Pass is too crucial. If the Cangming Army does not take this place, when advancing eastward, its rear supply lines and flanks will always be at risk of being attacked from behind by the pseudo-Qi army, and the army's foundation will be difficult to stabilize.

Once this pass is breached, it will be equivalent to seizing the central strategic location of the battle and firmly grasping the initiative in both offense and defense.

"This pass is located in a very dangerous place, with high cliffs and narrow roads. It has always been a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It seems that the only way for our army to take it is to launch a strong attack."

Fan Li subtly changed the subject, lightly tapping the cliff and pass marked beside the Eyang Pass with his feather fan, his voice becoming more solemn.

"But this pass is a famous and formidable pass, and the puppet Qi regime will surely send elite troops to guard it. If we insist on forcing our way through, our army will suffer heavy losses and our momentum will be dampened, which would be a losing proposition."

After saying this, he immediately looked up at Jiang Yue, his eyes clear and bright. He gently closed his feather fan, bowed, and said, "Therefore, I believe that we should take a strong attack as the main force, and send a large army to be arrayed below the pass to contain the enemy's main force."

Then, using strategy as a surprise attack, we should find a narrow pass and a dangerous path on the side peak, and send elite troops to flank and launch a surprise attack from the rear. Only by combining conventional and unconventional tactics, and attacking from both inside and outside, can we have a chance of breaking through the pass.

"Mr. Fan Li, do you have a brilliant plan to break this deadlock?"

Jiang Yue's voice was deep and resonant, his gaze fixed intently on Fan Li.

He had already heard of this advisor working under his nephew; the man seemed to be from the Great Xia Dynasty, having been recruited through...

Xianling was ordered to join the Prince of Laiyang's residence.

Since he arrived at the Prince of Laiyang's residence, he has managed the military and political affairs of Laiyang Prefecture in a clear and orderly manner. His composure and skill are far beyond what ordinary scholars can match.

In Jiang Yue's eyes, there is no distinction between clever and clumsy military strategy; as long as it can defeat the enemy, it is a peerless strategy.

Although he was a commander-in-chief of an army, and usually held a high position and was dignified and self-respecting, at this moment he put aside his arrogance, his expression solemn, and waited for the strategist in front of him to speak and make a plan.

Fan Li paused slightly with his feather fan, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"Firstly, he secretly dispatched trusted assassins to Liangshan, so that Song Jiang and his men would lead their troops to attack Fengxiang County near Liangshan, causing it to fall into disarray. The surrounding garrisons would be too busy to help the troops at Eyang Pass."

"Secondly, Your Highness should quickly send an envoy to the far north to request the Prince of Zhenbei to dispatch a capable general to directly attack Jiangyuan Pass, forming a pincer movement from the east and west, so that the pseudo-Qi cannot attend to both ends."

At that point, they will have no way to advance or retreat, and they will collapse without a fight!

The six powerful families of Laizhou have been operating in the four prefectures of Laizhou for many years and have accumulated a great deal of resources. Fan Li made a preliminary calculation and concluded that as long as they are given enough time, the powerful families of Laizhou can quickly gather an army of 400,000.

Therefore, their army, which was tasked with suppressing the rebellion, had to establish an advantage as quickly as possible and not give the puppet Qi regime a chance to react.

"Mr. Fan's words are very insightful!" Jiang Yue nodded heavily, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"I have long heard that the Prince of Laiyang and the Prince of Zhenbei are on good terms. I urge Your Highness to immediately write a letter requesting them to send troops eastward to Jiangyuan Pass!"

Although the Zhenbei Army had to guard against invasions from various northern tribes and could not deploy too many troops, Jiang Yue did not need them to send many soldiers. He only needed to send 30,000 to 40,000 troops to be stationed on one side of Jiangyuan Pass.

With the addition of these troops, the puppet Qi Sendai County garrison can be severely restrained, relieving them of a huge burden and preparing them for the upcoming battles.

"However, it is not something that can be accomplished overnight to have the Liangshan troops attack the counties near Liangshan or to ask the Zhenbei Army to send troops to Jiangyuan Pass."

Jiang Yue's tone turned serious, and his gaze swept over the generals in the tent: "We cannot retreat an inch when it comes to tough nuts to crack. It's time to show the strength of my Cangming army."

Inside the central command tent, the candlelight flickered fiercely, illuminating the armor of the officers and soldiers, creating an atmosphere so tense it was almost frozen in place.

Jiang Yue sat upright in the main seat, exuding an imposing aura. His gaze swept over the crowd like a cold blade, and he suddenly shouted, "Where is Jiang Ce?"

The sound was like a thunderclap, causing the air inside the tent to tremble slightly, and the candlelight to flicker.

"Your subordinate is here!"

Jiang Ce strode forward, his black iron armor clashing against each other with a series of crisp, resounding sounds. His posture was as upright as a spear, displaying the demeanor of a fierce general.

Jiang Yue suddenly stood up, his voice booming like a bell, making people's eardrums buzz.

"You will remain in command of the main army, and I will allocate another five thousand elite infantry and cavalry to you, to form the vanguard of the entire army!"

He raised his hand and pointed directly towards the direction of Eyang Pass outside the tent, his imposing manner chilling: "Your troops must immediately advance to the vicinity of Eyang Pass to intimidate the enemy, clear away all obstacles such as traps, deer antlers, and hidden crossbows in front of the pass, and buy enough space and time for our main army to form ranks, set up siege weapons, and establish camps!"

"If the garrison inside the pass dares to launch a counterattack, crush them head-on with our iron cavalry! There must be no mistake!"

"Yes!" Jiang Ce replied in a deep, steady voice, his fist pressed against his chest.

"All other generals, heed my command!"

Jiang Yue's voice echoed throughout the tent, carrying an undeniable authority.

"The entire army shall immediately dispel concealment, deploy into attack formation, and proceed at full speed to Eyang Pass. Reveal all ladders, battering rams, and siege towers—there is no need for further concealment!"

He looked up toward the pass, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"I will give the general guarding Eyang Pass two choices: either come out of the pass and form ranks, to be trampled flat by my army in the open field; or cower inside the pass and watch helplessly as my siege weapons stand tall, enduring my army's relentless attacks day and night!"

"But Your Highness, if we launch a full-scale attack on Eyang Pass, the casualties will likely be—"

Upon hearing this, Du Lei, one of Jiang Yue's generals, changed his expression slightly, his brows furrowed, and he spoke in a low voice, but before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted sharply by Jiang Yue.

"casualties?"

Jiang Yue suddenly turned his head, his eyes like cold blades drawn from their sheaths, his burning gaze fixed on Du Lei. An imposing pressure, as heavy as a mountain, crashed down, and the atmosphere in the tent instantly froze.

"Our Cangming Dynasty has stood for nearly a thousand years, traversing countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood. We have never bowed our heads before the word 'casualties'!"

Jiang Yue was a famous general and a fierce warrior. With the blessing of the Blood Fiend Qi, his voice was like a booming bell, causing the candlelight on the tent ceiling to tremble and the tassels on his armor to sway slightly.

"On the battlefield, how can there be no death or injury? But if we hesitate and delay, and the northern mountains are blocked by heavy snow and our supply lines are cut off, our soldiers will freeze to death in the wilderness and collapse without a fight. That would be a disgrace for all time, a total annihilation!"

"Today, we shed our blood and sacrifice our lives not in vain, but so that more brothers can survive, and so that we can break through this barrier and wipe out the rebels of the false Qi!"

As soon as Jiang Yue finished speaking, he swung his right arm down sharply, decisively, leaving no room for maneuver.

"By order of the King, whoever first breaches the pass will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and promoted three ranks. I, Jiang Yue, will personally lead the charge, to live and die alongside you all!"

His words struck the ground, reverberating throughout the tent.

The generals under the tent felt a surge of adrenaline rush to their heads. Their armor clanged, and they bowed in unison, clasping their fists. Their shouts nearly lifted the tent roof: "As Your Highness commands! We swear to defeat the enemy to the death!"

Morale surged like a raging tide, soaring into the sky.

The army's momentum suddenly changed. All its previous forbearance and dormancy dissipated, transforming into a long-accumulated torrent, carrying an indomitable determination and valor, like dark clouds pressing down on a city—surging towards the Eyang Pass ahead.

Jiang Ce's troops took the lead, their iron cavalry shattering the silence of the wilderness and being the first to approach the pass.

The cold wind swept dust past the armor, and the banners fluttered in the wind.

On a small hill, Jiang Ce watched as his soldiers quickly set up camp and set up defenses. Shield bearers stood in formation to guard the area, archers occupied the high ground, and engineers rapidly dug trenches and erected stockades, their movements as skillful as flowing water.

He turned his head to look at the only strategist beside him, his tone calm but carrying a hint of his usual trust.

"Sir, do you think the enemy will launch a battle before our main force arrives?"

Wen Zhong, Tian Feng, Chen Yun and others stayed in Laiyang to consolidate the rear base. Jiang Ce was unwilling to reveal too many of his trump cards to Jiang Yue, so the only person he could consult was Fan Li.

[Ding-dong, Fan Li's skill "Sage of Commerce" has been activated;]

The Sage of Commerce: He revitalized Yue and destroyed Wu, and his strategies ensured his survival; he amassed wealth three times and dispersed it three times, making him richer than a country. This was Fan Li's unique skill.

Effect 1: When Fan Li gains the monarch's complete trust and the monarch and his ministers live in harmony, there is a certain chance to increase one random attribute value of both the monarch and his ministers. Each person can only be affected by this skill effect a maximum of three times in their lifetime, and the Gold attribute can only be activated once.

Effect 2: When Fan Li is thinking about a problem or devising a plan, he can increase his own intelligence value by 1 to 3 points. When he is scheming against others, he can randomly suppress the opponent's intelligence value by 1 to 4 points, depending on the opponent's intelligence strength.

Effect 3: When handling government affairs, it can increase one's own political attribute by 1-2 points, which can increase the activity of merchants and tax revenue, and cause the territory's money and food production to increase additionally;

Effect 4: When personally leading troops into battle, increases personal command value by 1-2 points; when acting as a strategist, increases the commander's command value by 1-3 points.

Effect 5: Upon being granted the title of Duke Tao Zhu, one of one of one's attributes will be permanently increased by 1, and the "Tao Zhu" skill will be successfully awakened.