The Empress' Livestream - Chapter 498
Chapter 498: Besieging Fengyi County (VI)
The night was dark and thick, and heavy clouds were accumulating from all over and compressed in a thick pillar. Their union overshadowed the sky from horizon to horizon.
Lifting one’s head, it looked like an overturned black pot covering the earth. The strong winds blew across the grasslands, bringing with it a mild scent of soil that came in waves. Some days before, it had rained. The uneven soil accumulated so much water that it oozed out and failed to evaporate.
“Report! Traces of an army ahead, which is suspected to be our enemy.”
A few scouts came consecutively to report, and Meng Hun’s face turned somber having received them. Off to one side, Li Yun’s eyes were sharp. “Have our tracks been discovered?”
Meng Hun frowned, and said with a sneer, “It might not be that we have been discovered. Perhaps the enemies have other plans. Continue to scout!”
One after another, the scouts were sent, and they came back with reports. Meng Hun and Li Yun’s facial expressions slowly calmed.
“Let’s follow according to plan. The army tracks discovered are from half a day ago. Based on their route, they probably haven’t picked up our trail…”
Meng Hun rode on his horse. He hadn’t had time to wash up since they were on the move the past few days. He appeared boorish and the dirt caked in the wrinkles between his brows, making dark rivers on his forehead.
Li Yun looked a lot better than Meng Hun, as he was still a young man. He just had to freshen up slightly to have that air of manliness about him.
He had become the second military officer for the vanguard battalion camp. Li Yun was cold, distant and solemn.
“Tsing Yi army doesn’t have a holistic source of military supply wagons. They can only depend on stealing resources from the local people to support their spending.” Li Yun’s eyes shone with a burning desire for war. This happened to be Tsing Yi army’s latest military supply wagon. Luck was on their side. It was fated that they start off well.
He licked his dry, peeling lips, and said, “We are unsure about the situation at Chengan district, but the military supply wagon has always been the lifeline of an army. If we cut off Tsing Yi army’s supplies to Chengan district, we can occupy the city by just surrounding them…”
Fengyi county consisted of four areas. They were Xiangyang district, occupied by Jiang Pengji, Chengan district, occupied by Tsing Yi army, and the Maolin and Jiaoping Districts. Of these four, Xiangyang district was the most remote, but had the largest area, and secondly was the flourishing Chengan district.
The geography of Chengan district was unique. It could be attacked if one gained entry, and well defended if they chose to retreat. It was the heart of Fengyi county. For many reasons, this was also the location Tsing Yi army eyed from the start and it was where one of their largest military camps was based. It was estimated that over 20,000 Tsing Yi troops defended it.
Though they were ignorant about Tsing Yi army’s present situation, based on the report from the previous scout, Tsing Yi army and the Red Lotus group fought throughout winter, so their resources were depleted. If they stopped their military provisions from reaching them, it would be advantageous for the middle troops.
Faced with this suggestion, Meng Hun’s heart was moved. Now that he was the vanguard commander, whether they chased and attacked would be based on his decision.
The vanguard battalion bore the responsibility of scouting for the entire army. Besides investigating their enemy’s territory, they also had to be sensitive to their movements and confound their battle formation. If the situation allowed, they were to engage in battle with the enemy’s advance party. This would be the largest extent to reap the fruits of victory.
Now that Tsing Yi army’s reinforcement troops had arrived, if they did not seize the chance, when this heavy military supply weapon transported to Chengan district instead, it would cause trouble.
They couldn’t claim that the goods in the military supply wagons contained miracle pills that would make Tsing Yi army invincible. Rather, the magic involved the soldiers’ fighting spirits.
If his lord were to lead her troops to conquer the city and Tsing Yi army obtained the backup provisions, their fighting spirit would be maintained at a fairly high level. To engage them in a prolonged and tiresome war, awaiting their reinforcements to arrive will be detrimental to his side.
Without this batch of supplements, Tsing Yi army’s soldiers and horses would be exhausted. They would only need to surround them for a few days, and their fighting spirit would be dampened.
If the soldiers lost their morale, conquering the city would be much easier.
Meng Hun strongly believed in the attack machinery his lord had constructed. He also anticipated an unexpected victory during their first war. But sacrifices are expected when attacking a city, and it was a good idea to minimize the number of soldiers dying, so he quickly made his decision.
“After them!”
Commanding them to chase their enemies, he also sent a scout to pass the order to the middle soldiers.
Although the vanguard battalion camp could move anywhere, it couldn’t do it on a whim. If their communication with the middle troops were to be broken, it would be no different from being stranded and injured. If at that moment, they engaged with their enemies at war and both sides couldn’t do it simultaneously, they would be in a dire state.
Reality had proven, Meng Hun was more dependable and took more conservative actions, compared to Jiang Pengji.
If Jiang Pengji commanded the vanguard battalion, her style would probably have been to go where there was excitement. Wherever her enemy was located would be where her sword pointed. Even an insignificant one would not be spared; she would kill whoever she saw. What was the middle troops to her? It is none of her business.
When the enemies came, she would deal with it!
Thus, Wei Ci at one time could not understand how such an unrestrained fellow could become one of the masters of the realms.
After his previous lord was beheaded, he landed in Pengji’s camp base, and only then did he realize the wonders that existed.
The vanguard battalions were crazy dogs, while the middle troops and reinforcements were fighters. If they intend to launch a surprise attack, they may fall into their enemy’s trap.
Later they assigned a few strategists to be overseers, and the situation improved.
However, the literates and strategists were hardworking overseers, while military generals were still running about like mad dogs with their paws spread out.
People in front were fighting wars and expanding the fruits of their success, while the overseers behind were picking up their mess after them.
As if an old lady serving a milk bottle and pacifying her grandson to drink, her cheeky grandson often has a “I refuse to listen to a baddie recite scriptures” expression.
What else could they do? They were also depressed.
Wei Ci couldn’t help but pity Jiang Pengji’s previous scholarly workforce…Yes, her workforce in this life was also equally pitiful.
He secretly glanced at her, as she was just receiving news from a scout, and indeed she revealed a regretful and envious expression.
“My lord needs to stabilize the army from within and not make a rash decision.”
As if reciting an incantation, Wei Ci pensively reminded her.
“I haven’t even said anything.” Jiang Pengji ordered the scout who delivered the message to leave, and she turned her head and rolled her eyes at Wei Ci.
Laosiji Lianmeng: “Yes. Indeed, the streamer has yet to speak but your eyes gave your thoughts away.”
Jintian Kaishi: “Hahaha, the streamer had a jealous face just now but suddenly her heart softened.”
Yuepiao Shuangpei: “To delegate the aggressive streamer with the task of heading the army, just thinking of these literates is scary enough.”
Qiuyuepiao: “I believe the streamer isn’t one who is easily impeded, she cannot command the vanguard battalion, but she has the autonomy to conquer the city. Who is as excited as me to see the streamer calling the shots as a warrior and being at the forefront killing the enemy’s generals?
Wei Ci was so hateful, he purposefully chose to annoy her.
Except that both his eyes and those viewers’ eyes were brightly lit.
He said, “It is impossible for the lord to lead the vanguard battalion.”
If the lord was given free rein to command the vanguard battalion, Wei Ci was unsure if he could lead the middle troops to find her location.
She laughed saying, “If we don’t try, how will we know?”
Wei Ci pursed his lips, “Ci wishes that the lord won’t be so willful.”