Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3730 Is it absolute or sudden? All directions are without obstruction.
The darkness before dawn is the thickest and most viscous, and even on a summer night, it seems to carry a chill.

Deep within the General's camp, the central command tent was brightly lit, like a lighthouse in the ocean. The light spilled through the gaps in the thick tent curtains, casting dappled patterns of light around it.

The generals in the command tent had not slept all night, while the cooks in the logistics camp had already woken up.

The experienced cook sergeant, along with two young soldiers, was deftly stirring the bubbling millet porridge in the large pot.

The rich aroma of rice, mixed with the oily scent of diced salted pork, spread with the rising steam.

The cook, a platoon leader, was an old man in the battalion. His hair and beard were already gray, and his calloused hands held a long-handled wooden ladle steadily as he focused on stirring the rice porridge.

"Old man, it's almost dawn, and the generals haven't finished their meeting yet. I see their lights are still on over there..."

"It was said by a soldier who had just returned from fetching water."

The cook, keeping a close eye on the fire, whispered, "You think meetings are that simple? They're discussing important matters! Go add more firewood, don't let the fire go out. This pot of porridge is for the brothers who just finished their night patrol shifts, it needs to be kept warm."

He paused, put down the wooden spoon, and said with a simple pride, "The generals' discussions take more effort than our cooking porridge. If we ruin the porridge, we might get a scolding, but if they ruin their plans, people could die."

……

……

Inside the central command tent, Chen Mao underwent rigorous screening and repeated cross-examination before being allowed to enter and directly receive questions and provide intelligence.

Chen Mao's face showed obvious fatigue, with dark circles under his eyes, but his spirits were unusually high, as if he had finally found a way to prove his worth. His voice was also slightly hoarse due to tension and excitement, "Reporting to the General, esteemed generals... the hidden gate of the Gongxian irrigation canal is located slightly west of the south gate..."

He stretched out his arm, gesturing to indicate the width. "It's about... about this wide, just enough for two people to walk side-by-side. Inside... inside it's all paved with large bluestones, and over the years, it's all slippery and covered in moss. Underfoot... underfoot it's all mud, sticky and slippery; you have to hold onto the walls, otherwise you'll definitely slip and fall..."

He tried hard to recall every detail, afraid of missing anything. "Yes, there was... there was an iron fence in the middle, suspended by a winch... the outer brick wall that blocked the water was also suspended, with iron chains pulling it up..."

"There are hidden stakes across the moat, all underwater. Lay down some planks first, then you can carefully feel your way across..."

"General Cao..." Chen Mao licked his lips and said, "He sent us out through this hidden door in the canal... But when I came out, I saw... some new things planted along the canal, like... like sharpened wooden stakes..."

"Wooden stake?" Pang Tong pondered, stroking his beard.

Chen Mao was incredibly forthcoming, sharing almost everything he knew. He even described situations he witnessed while on patrol, situations that weren't even within his assigned area…

Spare logs were piled up at the entrance of an alley...

The hidden troop shelters inside the city wall appear to have been reinforced...

A large courtyard was piled high with sacks; it was unclear what they contained...

His thoughts were fragmented and intertwined, like the winding streets he had walked through. Sometimes he would get stuck at a certain corner, and Pang Tong would patiently guide and question him to connect the fragments of his memory and make them clear.

The sketch of the defense of Gongxian that unfolded before Pang Tong was gradually filled with various symbols as Chen Mao described it.

The cross represents spiked stakes, the triangle represents barbed wire, the wavy line represents obstruction, and the circle represents hidden troop positions...

Even the areas where stones and logs were piled up on the city walls, as well as the hidden spots that were suspected of storing molten gold and oil, were marked one by one.

Of course, this is limited to what Chen Mao knows; what he doesn't know is naturally beyond his knowledge.

But in areas he was familiar with, such as the troop deployment arrangements for the section of the city wall under his jurisdiction, the locations of visible and hidden sentries, the exact time of the shift change, and even the locations of several courtyards in the city where he had received provisions and equipment, he spoke with exceptional fluency.

This intelligence, along with the information observed and recorded by the scouts of the Flying Cavalry over the past few days, corroborated and supplemented each other, outlining an increasingly clear picture of the internal defenses of Gong County.

After confirming that there was no more information, and even after Chen Mao began to repeat himself, he was finally able to step down and was led away by his personal guards to rest.

……

……

In the main camp, a patrol of soldiers marched in orderly steps through the darkness before dawn.

They were clad in heavy armor, their battle robes fluttering in the wind, wielding long spears and halberds, with swords at their waists.

The blades of the weapons gleamed coldly in the torchlight.

As their patrol route approached the brightly lit and heavily guarded central command tent, the squad leader immediately made a gesture, and the entire patrol's footsteps instantly became extremely soft, even their breathing unconsciously softened. Everyone knew that the generals were inside discussing matters of life and death concerning the entire army, and they must not be disturbed.

As they were holding their breath and carefully passing behind the main tent, one of the soldiers was startled by the sudden increase in the volume of the argument inside the tent. Whether it was because he was startled or because he was too nervous, he tripped over something and stumbled, bumping into the soldier in front of him. Although both of them managed to regain their footing and did not fall, the sound of their armor clashing was particularly jarring!
The captain was furious and immediately rushed over, grabbing the soldier...

"What's up?!"

Hearing the commotion, the guards on duty around the main tent rushed over, swords drawn. Seeing their captain holding the soldier, they assumed something had gone wrong and, with a clang, drew their swords, demanding, "What's going on?!"

The captain was momentarily embarrassed. He had originally intended to warn the careless soldier, but seeing that he had alerted the Imperial Guards, he was startled himself. He quickly released the soldier and explained, "It's nothing, it's nothing. I didn't see where I was going and tripped..."

A corner of the tent was lifted, letting in light.

It seemed that Xu Chu had noticed something was wrong and came to investigate.

Sweat poured down the captain's forehead, and the unsuspecting soldier beside him was also trembling.

Xu Chu understood the situation, glanced at the squad leader, and nodded slightly. "It's dark, and night patrols are arduous. It's inevitable that they might not see the road clearly for a moment; don't be too harsh. Remember this lesson, and don't let it happen again. Go."

The squad leader quickly pulled the careless soldier to bow to Xu Chu.

Xu Chu waved his hand, letting the team leader leave.

The captain led his men forward, and after they had traveled some distance, he turned to the soldiers behind him, especially the careless one, and said, "Now the general is lenient and considerate... but back then... be careful, keep your eyes wide open! Watch your step!"

……

……

Xu Chu returned to his tent and whispered a few words to Fei Qian.

Fei Qian nodded, gesturing for Xu Chu to sit down.

Inside the large tent, everyone's eyes were focused on the sand table of Gong County.

An indescribable sense of excitement spread silently.

As everyone gradually pieced together the intelligence provided by Chen Mao and the others, the strategy for attacking Gong County gradually focused on a suggestion Pang Tong had made earlier... Pang Tong had previously proposed a surprise attack strategy involving elite troops breaking through the water gate, and now, with the detailed information provided by Chen Mao...

In particular, Chen Mao's description of the underwater stakes in the moat, the hidden doors in the water channel to the southwest, the internal structure of the waterway, and the possible defensive weaknesses of Cao Cao's army suddenly became more specific than ever before, and seemed to be full of feasibility!
If we can send a group of assassins to eliminate the sentries, destroy the mechanisms, and sneak in to open the water gate, the main force can then advance directly by water, saving us the enormous cost of a swarm attack and a bloodbath!

In this way, we can bypass all the fortifications, city wall defenses, and congested city gates that Cao Cao's army has set up in Gong County and take it directly!

Gongxian County seems to be within easy reach...

Infantry Commandant Zhao Hu, Artillery Commandant Zhao Hong, Engineer Commandant Chen Wu, and several other mid-level military officers were excitedly discussing the matter. Meanwhile, high-ranking generals like Zhang Liao and Xu Chu sat to Fei Qian's left and right, listening and thinking without immediately offering any opinions.

Fei Qian watched, clearly intending to encourage these military academies to conduct discussions.

If the military only has rigid and strict orders, and only emphasizes execution, there may be hidden dangers under this kind of "absolute obedience," which is much more troublesome than the simple advocacy of "orders must be obeyed" by ordinary people.

Indeed, the core of an army is discipline and obedience to orders, which are the foundation of combat effectiveness. An army without discipline is a disorganized mess. However, if we emphasize "execution" in an absolute way, without listening to anyone's opinions or analyzing specific situations, then while an army that "obeys orders without question" may seem wonderful on the surface, in reality, soldiers without brains and unable to think are equivalent to losing their initiative, creativity, and adaptability.

The real battlefield environment is full of uncertainty, fog of war, and unexpected situations. Even the most detailed pre-set orders cannot cover all battlefield possibilities. If soldiers and junior officers can only mechanically execute orders and dare not or are unable to adjust their strategies according to the actual situation, they will at least miss opportunities, and in more serious cases, they may even sit and wait for death when faced with danger.

Given the current communication conditions in the Han Dynasty, if soldiers do not know how to think strategically or adapt to unexpected obstacles or enemy actions, they will be helpless when faced with any situation. They will simply wait for new instructions from their superiors, or they may not even receive any new instructions at all, instead of actively seeking solutions, which will lead to defeat in the battle.

Military tactics, techniques, and methods, much like craftsmanship, require constant innovation to meet new challenges. A rigid environment will only stifle any idea of ​​trying new methods, ultimately leading to the stagnation and backwardness of the entire military.

On major strategic goals, basic principles, and key junctures, orders from superiors must be clear, firm, and unquestionable, and must be obeyed by subordinate soldiers. However, at the specific tactical level of a particular battle, subordinate commanders and soldiers should be given the authority to act flexibly within the established framework and according to the actual situation, and be encouraged to give full play to their initiative within their responsibilities.

These two points are not contradictory.

This is a new model of "task-based command" brought by Fei Qian from later generations. It involves superiors clearly defining their "intentions" and "goals," and subordinates, after understanding the intentions, deciding "how" to complete the task and taking responsibility for the results. This ensures both a unified objective and flexibility.

Ultimately, excellent commanders need to make independent judgments, take responsibility, and make flexible decisions in complex environments. A rigid environment can only cultivate obedient executors, not leaders with strategic vision and adaptability. History is replete with examples of disastrous defeats caused by commanders' stubbornness and subordinates' reluctance to disobey erroneous orders…

(Ma Su coughed twice and muttered something under his breath in dissatisfaction.)
Fei Qian now needs talent, but simply promoting from among the sons of poor and noble families is clearly not enough. Allowing these ordinary military academies to think, learn, and grow more will broaden the source of talent and lay the foundation for future governance.

Seeing Zhang Liao still standing with his arms crossed, deep in thought, his gaze lingering between the water gate and the city wall on the sand table, seemingly weighing the risks and rewards, the young and impetuous Commandant Zhao Hu, sitting below him, could hardly hide his excitement.

He glanced around, seeing his colleagues either discussing or calculating, and finally couldn't contain himself any longer. He abruptly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards Fei Qian and Pang Tong, and said in a loud voice with a hint of urgency, "General! Lord Pang! The situation here is clear! We have a firm grasp on the water gate's strength and weakness! I, your humble servant, am willing to lead a detachment of elite soldiers to launch a surprise attack on the hidden gate in the waterway! We will surely open a passage for the army!"

His face and eyes revealed his desire for the first merit in capturing the city.

Zhang Liao glanced back at Zhao Hu, his eyes calm and unwavering, offering neither praise nor blame. Yet, that single glance sent a shiver down Zhao Hu's spine, but the thought of achieving great deeds overwhelmed the strange feeling. He stood tall, awaiting a response.

The eyes of the other generals in the tent also focused on Pang Tong, awaiting his final decision on this "golden opportunity".

"My lord..." Pang Tong first cupped his hands towards Fei Qian and asked for instructions.

Fei Qian smiled, waved his hand, and gestured for Pang Tong to speak directly.

"Don't you all think the strategy of attacking the water gate is good?" Pang Tong stroked his beard, a smile appearing on his face. He first nodded slightly to Zhao Hu, "Commander Zhao is indeed brave, volunteering for the mission; his spirit is commendable..."

Just as Zhao Hu was overjoyed, Pang Tong abruptly changed his tone, saying, "However, this plan... is absolutely unacceptable at this moment!"

The tent fell into an instant silence; you could hear a pin drop.

The crackling sound of the flags outside the tent in the wind seemed particularly jarring.

Zhao Hu's face drained of color instantly, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Why do you say that, sir? Wasn't it you who strongly advocated investigating the Water Gate? Now that the intelligence is detailed, isn't the timing even better?"

Zhang Liao frowned slightly, as if he had thought of something.

The composed Xu Chu narrowed his eyes slightly.

Having just barely recovered from his injuries, Hao Zhaozhe, who had rushed back to the team, subconsciously touched his chin.

Honestly, if he weren't worried about his wound reopening, Hao Zhao would have wanted to fight for the mission to attack the water gate...

But now Pang Tong is saying it's "not feasible"?
Fei Qian seemed to have anticipated this conclusion. His gaze remained fixed on the direction of the west gate of Gong County on the sand table, as if he were pondering something.

Pang Tong did not answer Zhao Hu directly. Instead, he first asked Zhao Hu to sit down, then rose and walked to the sand table. He picked up the small flag representing Cao Hong's army and precisely planted it at the water gate. His voice was steady and powerful: "My previous suggestion to scout the water gate, and even consider a surprise attack, was made when Cao Zilian had just retreated from Gongxian, still shaken and unsettled! At that time, his hasty deployment might have had some loopholes in the water gate. If our army launched a swift and decisive attack, we might have a fifty percent chance of victory..."

He surveyed the generals in the tent, his gaze sharp and piercing. "However, today is different!"

He paused, then emphasized, "Last night, Cao Zilian dispatched Chen and his men on a near-suicidal night raid! Think about it, with Cao Zilian's years of military experience, how could he not know that such a sneak attack, under our army's tight defenses, had a slim chance of success? How could he not suspect the fate of Chen and his men? How could he not suspect that intelligence about the water gate had been leaked?!"

Upon hearing this, the military officers inside the tent all nodded in agreement.

Zhao Hu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He reached out to wipe it, but the more he wiped, the more sweat appeared.

Pang Tong slightly raised his chin, his beard trembling, and said, "Although Cao Zilian seems impetuous, he is by no means ignorant of military affairs! Wen Yuan,"

He looked at Zhang Liao and asked, "Based on your observations from overseeing the battle these past few days, how is the morale of Cao Cao's army in Gong County?"

Zhang Liao responded in a deep voice, each word clear and distinct: "Lack of morale! The slightest setback could easily lead to collapse and mutiny!"

"Exactly!" Pang Tong clapped his hands, his voice suddenly rising, "If that's the case, why would Cao Zilian, knowing the morale is low, still resort to this suicidal strategy that only wastes troops and could further demoralize the army?!"

Before anyone could answer, Pang Tong spoke directly, "The Chen family... rose through the ranks through merit, not being Cao Cao's trusted confidants... If morale is low, their subordinates... hehe, you all know what happened last night... that's one point. Secondly, Cao Zilian's decision to abandon the Chen family is also suspected of luring our army to attack the water gate! If I'm not mistaken, the secret passages of that canal are now riddled with spiked stakes and caltrops, piled high with flammable materials, and the guards in the hidden caves are ready and waiting, just as our 'surprise attack' will stumble into their trap!"

"Thirdly..." Pang Tong smiled, "Cao Zilian fears the power of our artillery and is accustomed to wars of attrition..."

Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, and the others pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

Zhao Hu turned ashen-faced, filled with lingering fear; his earlier impulse to volunteer for battle had vanished completely.

Fei Qian then slowly raised his head, a hint of approving smile on his face, and nodded slightly to Pang Tong: "What Shi Yuan said is exactly what I thought. My earlier rejection of the plan to attack the water gate was also for this reason. Commander Zhao need not blame himself; military discussions are naturally free-flowing and unreserved, and his courage in taking on responsibilities is commendable."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu's face brightened and he became more lively.

Fei Qian surveyed the scene, his voice calm. "The water gate is narrow and difficult to traverse; the terrain is extremely unfavorable to us. A slight misstep could lead to the annihilation of our entire army. Our troops are well-supplied, morale is high, and we have no shortage of brave soldiers like Commandant Zhao. Why take such a risky step and inflict unnecessary casualties?"

Pang Tong cupped his hands and said, "My lord is wise. I believe that Cao Zilian's plan is also a delaying tactic taken out of desperation... He wants to use this feint to buy time, wear down our army's morale, and perhaps... still harbor a sliver of hope that reinforcements will arrive from the rear to relieve his immediate crisis..."

Fei Qian glanced at the sand table and nodded. "That's possible."

"What the enemy desires, I will avoid; what the enemy does not desire, I will attack," Fei Qian said slowly. "Cao Zilian wants us to keep an eye on the water gate, but we will strike where he least wants us to attack!"