Zhao Haiping and General Deng Yuanjing’s silhouettes stood atop a high slope, gazing into the distance at the direction from which the Jin soldiers were invading.
Not long ago, the Jin soldiers had disgracefully retreated from Zhuxian Town, yet now, Wanyan Sheng had regrouped his forces and was making a renewed assault.
An army of eighty thousand split into three routes, was intent on consuming Zhao Haiping’s thirty-thousand-plus n without leaving anything behind.
Not only that, there was also a detached force to the south that had already entered a highly dangerous range.
That was the Qi Army led by Tian Shizhong, thirty thousand n strong.
Calculating in this way, Zhao Haiping could be said to be caught in a pincer attack, with his thirty-thousand-plus Zhao Yi Army to fight against the eighty thousand Jin soldiers and thirty thousand Qi troops.
The situation could be described as extrely bleak.
Zhao Haiping looked out into the distance and asked, "General Deng, what do you think about the battle that’s about to ensue?"
General Deng Yuanjing reflected briefly, "If this battle drags on, the situation will beco very critical."
Zhao Haiping nodded, his view was the sa as General Deng Yuanjing’s.
He had also heard of Tian Shizhong.
In real history, after General Han Fuyue was wrongfully killed, his troops were disbanded, and a large part of his direct lineage was allocated to Tian Shizhong.
Tian Shizhong himself was not very capable and climbed to his position through cunning, managing to completely ruin this strong army over twenty years, turning it into a worthless force indistinguishable from the ordinary Qi Dynasty’s Xiang Army.
Pri Minister Qin could indeed only trust such characters.
Therefore, Zhao Haiping judged that Tian Shizhong, leading thirty thousand n, certainly would not dare to attack proactively, even the likelihood of coordinating a pincer movent with the Jin soldiers was impossible.
He would rely act like a toad blocking the Zhao Yi Army’s path of retreat, establishing deep trenches and strong fortifications to prevent the Zhao Yi Army from escaping.
Of course, although Tian Shizhong was not very capable, Zhao Haiping also dared not underestimate him.
He could not take the initiative to attack Tian Shizhong’s Qi troops.
Because, after all, he had not yet openly rebelled, and most of the soldiers in the Zhao Yi Army were not psychologically prepared to turn their swords against the Qi Army.
Moreover, since Tian Shizhong was originally reluctant to fight, if Zhao Haiping took the initiative, wouldn’t that just force his hand?
If Tian Shizhong really braced himself to hold the position, and the Jin soldiers attacked Zhao Yi Army’s rear from three sides, the battle would instantly collapse; there’d be no chance of success.
Thus, Zhao Haiping also knew that this battle he could only fight to the death against the Jin soldiers.
If he won against the Jin soldiers, Tian Shizhong would certainly flee; if he did not win, then all would be over.
And fighting the Jin soldiers would probably proceed in two stages.
In the first stage, Wanyan Sheng, leading eighty thousand troops, would definitely launch a massive attack first. He would surely think that the Zhao Yi Army was internally divided and want to test the waters.
After withstanding that first fierce assault, if Wanyan Sheng found that the Zhao Yi Army’s combat strength was still as formidable as before, he would inevitably change tactics.
At that point, perhaps it would beco a war of attrition.
Wanyan Sheng might think of using the Zhao Yi Army’s shortage of provisions as a flaw to forcibly drag them to their deaths.
By that ti, whether the Zhao Yi Army took the offensive or stood their ground, the outco would probably not be very favorable.
But no matter what, now that things had reached this point, thinking too much about it was useless.
The charm of war lies in its rapid changes; no one has a guaranteed victory. And the fate of countless people hangs on a small chance occurrence in the midst of war.
...
South of Zhuxian Town.
The Qi Army encampnt.
In the central command tent, Tian Shizhong looked at the military report in his hands with so impatience, then called over a military officer from outside.
"ng Lin! I ask you, how goes the battle between the Jin soldiers and the Zhao Yi Army?"
The deputy general called ng Lin, after saluting, answered, "Reporting to the General, in the first fierce assault by the Jin soldiers, they were decimated by General Han Fuyue, with a situation similar to the great victory at Yan City.
"The two sides initially engaged with cavalry skirmishes, with the Jin cavalry at a disadvantage. Wanyan Sheng, infuriated, ordered a forceful attack, but General Han’s Zhao Yi Army was well-prepared, and after a fierce battle of three hours, the Jin soldiers retreated.
"However, General Han Fuyue’s forces were insufficient, and he could not pursue deeply; both sides regrouped their ranks, seeming to choose another day for battle."
Tian Shizhong scowled, "Why do you still show him such respect? He is a rebel!
"When Han Fuyue is defeated and dead, the court will proclaim his evidence of rebellion to the whole world!
"Alright, I’m inford now, you may leave."
ng Lin frowned slightly, "General, are we really not going to send troops?
"Given the successive crushing defeats of the Jin soldiers, their morale has been extrely low. Wanyan Sheng forcibly gathered eighty thousand troops to attack General Han’s forces, and there is already dissension among the Jin ranks. This defeat is the best proof.
"If our forces could join General Han Fuyue and strike the Jin soldiers hard, such a battle could set the world’s destiny!
"If Wanyan Sheng suffers another catastrophic defeat, Jin soldiers south of Yan and Yun will have no more troops capable of fighting. Our Qi Dynasty’s chance to redeem the disgrace of Jingping and make a direct assault to the heart of Jin territory is right before our eyes!"
Tian Shizhong was nearly driven to a fury, kicking the fully armored ng Lin.
"Nonsense!
"What would a re Deputy General like you understand!
"Han Fuyue has already plotted a rebellion, and our military expedition this ti is precisely to exterminate the traitor! Or do you also wish to join forces with a rebel?
"The words you spoke today, if I were to report them to the court honestly, and let Pri Minister Qin know, do you think you have enough heads to be chopped off?
"Now leave imdiately!"
With a look of resentnt, ng Lin glanced at Tian Shizhong and silently exited the tent.
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