Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3933 If you remain cautious from beginning to end, you will never fail.
To the west of Sishui Pass, the cavalry's continuous camps lay dormant like silent behemoths.

Banners fluttered, like the whiskers and mane of a giant beast.

The occasional flashes of cold light from blades and spears were the claws and fangs that the behemoth inadvertently revealed.

On a slightly elevated earthen plateau, Fei Qian and Zhuge Liang stood side by side on horseback.

Their cloaks fluttered and rustled in the wind.

Fei Qian looked up at the sky.

The clouds were thick.

However, it was not like the turbulent dark clouds before a summer downpour. Instead, it was more like old cotton wool, layer upon layer, pressing low over the wilderness and mountains, almost within reach, completely swallowing and obscuring the light of the stars and moon, and shrouding everything in the world.

"Kongming, observing these celestial phenomena, what will the weather be like tomorrow... or the day after?"

Fei Qian asked slowly.

Fei Qian was somewhat worried about the weather.

This is also due to normal psychological stress...

Before a major battle, even the smallest thing can trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction. As the commander-in-chief, the pressure on him is particularly immense.

While cloudy days are common in winter, what if it rains or snows?
Even though Fei Qian had made some preparations for rain and moisture, it would be best to avoid rain if possible.

Zhuge Liang tilted his head slightly, stretched out his hand, and made a loose clenching motion under the night sky, as if sensing the breath and humidity of the wind.

Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Reporting to my lord, although the clouds are thick at this moment, their energy is stagnant, and their bases are tangled and chaotic, yet they show no sign of rapid ascent or churning, which is not a sign of sudden rain... I believe the key to the current celestial phenomena lies not in the clouds, but in the wind... The wind is the pivotal factor in the gathering and dissipation of rain and snow. If the south wind does not rise, then rain and snow will be difficult to form. However... in the past two days, the north wind has indeed weakened somewhat compared to the previous days..."

Zhuge Liang paused, glanced at Fei Qian, and added, "Even if the weather changes... winter rains are mostly short and cold, unlikely to become torrential downpours. While they may slightly hinder siege equipment and the movement of soldiers, they may not necessarily halt the overall trend. We only need to take appropriate precautions..."

Fei Qian turned his head and, using the faint reflection from the distant campfire, carefully examined Zhuge Liang. He suddenly smiled and said, "I've long heard that Kongming is a master strategist, possessing profound military knowledge, and the ability to summon wind and rain, and command spirits. At this crucial juncture, why not ascend the altar and perform a ritual, borrowing a north wind to disperse the heavy clouds and clear the sky? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Zhuge Liang was initially taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He seemed completely unprepared for Fei Qian's words at this moment. However, he quickly realized it was Fei Qian's playful remark, intended to ease the pressure and adjust the atmosphere. He straightened his sleeves, which were billowing in the wind, and his expression immediately turned solemn. He bowed slightly to Fei Qian and replied clearly and earnestly, "My lord is joking. I received a traditional family education from a young age and traveled extensively as I grew up. What I have studied and explored are the laws of observing celestial phenomena, surveying the terrain of mountains and rivers, discerning the subtle intentions of people's hearts, and regulating the principles of yin and yang. This is certainly not the art of sorcerers, shamans, or magicians who pray for rain and draw talismans and chant incantations. The direction of the wind and the causes of rain and snow are all natural phenomena. Even with human ingenuity, one can only adapt and plan accordingly to increase benefits and avoid harm. How could it be as the folk saying goes, that a wave of a fan can summon a gale, or a spell can bring rain and snow?" Such claims are mostly the deceptive words of sorcerers who deceive the world and mislead the masses; they should never be believed. Moreover, military strategy requires utmost caution; how can one rely on empty illusions?

Upon hearing this, Fei Qian burst into laughter, his voice carrying far across the silent hill. He reached out and patted Zhuge Liang's shoulder forcefully. "I was just joking! A bit of banter with Kongming to ease the pre-battle tension. Do I not know that Confucius did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits? The key to victory in warfare lies in the far-reaching strategies of the court, the skilled training of the soldiers, the strength and ingenuity of the weapons, the uninterrupted transport of provisions, and above all, the unity of the people! How can we entrust the lives of countless people and the very foundation of the state to absurd and nonsensical methods? Come, come, let's not stand here catching a chill. Let's go back to camp and see how far the generals have progressed in their calculations… It's easy to talk about war on paper, but difficult to adapt to the situation on the battlefield. I want to hear if they have overlooked anything…"

The two chatted and laughed as they rode their horses slowly down the gentle slope of the earthen mound, one after the other.

Old Master Luo was clearly getting carried away while writing about himself replacing Zhuge Liang...

Actually, a patch would work. For example, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang's ultimate skill had a very long cooldown, only once every twenty years. He used the first twenty years for the Battle of Red Cliffs and the next twenty years for extending his life. That way, the loophole would be patched. Although there are still some flaws, it makes sense.

However, the Zhuge Liang of today is clearly not the one in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms; at least he hasn't "learned" any of the arts of summoning wind and rain...

The two returned to the camp, and as soon as they approached the central command tent, they heard a noisy argument coming from inside.

The two couldn't help but exchange a smile.

With the big battle approaching, everyone is under pressure.

The sounds inside the central command tent were even louder than the orderly footsteps of the soldiers patrolling around the tent.

The debate was not a general discussion, but rather a fierce stalemate over a specific tactical detail and the order in which troops were to advance. Both sides held their own views, citing their own exercise data or past battle examples, and neither side would give an inch, each shouting louder than the other.

When Fei Qian and Zhuge Liang entered the central command tent one after the other, Huang Cheng and others were still gathered around the sand table in the middle, pointing at the clay model representing the fortified wall, gesturing the attack route to the small wooden figurines of different colors representing their own troops, and expressing their opinions and concerns with great enthusiasm.

The charcoal fire inside the tent was blazing, making everyone sweat and creating a scorching atmosphere.

Only when Fei Qian walked steadily to the large, tiger-skin-covered stool at the head of the table, sat down calmly, coughed once, and then coughed a second time at a louder volume, did the people in the tent realize that Fei Qian had returned. They immediately stopped arguing, quickly composed themselves, and somewhat flusteredly returned to their respective positions. According to their military rank, they lined up in two rows on either side of the sand table, clasped their hands in unison, bowed, and saluted Fei Qian, "Greetings, my lord!"

Fei Qian glanced around, then chuckled, "You all have a lively discussion... excellent, excellent... pooling your wisdom is the only way to identify and fill in any gaps..."

Fei Qian didn't waste any time and went straight to the point, "So, has a decision been reached? Who will take on the crucial role of vanguard?"

Among the assembled generals, Huang Cheng glanced sideways at Jiang Jiong, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and declared arrogantly, "This humble general will serve as the vanguard!"

Fei Qian glanced at Jiang Jiong, then turned his gaze back to Huang Cheng.

These two almost came to blows over who should be the vanguard, but now they've finally settled things.

Fei Qian nodded to Huang Cheng. "Since you are the vanguard, how will the various units coordinate and support each other? When will the advance begin, and when must we reach our destination? If we encounter enemy resistance or unforeseen circumstances during the advance, how will we respond and handle them? Do you have a plan?"

Huang Cheng, clearly confident, immediately replied to Fei Qian's question: "Reporting to my lord! I have repeatedly rehearsed and devised a combined attack plan! At Chenshi (7-9 AM), after the first round of artillery fire, I will immediately lead my men forward, advancing two hundred paces, then halting! After the second round of artillery fire, we will advance as quickly as possible to within two hundred paces of the fortress wall! We will seize the vanguard position and solidify our foothold! If we fail, I will accept military punishment!"

Huang Cheng spoke with a passionate and resounding tone, full of confidence in undertaking this important task and an unwavering sense of pride.

In this decisive battle, the vanguard undoubtedly bears the greatest risk, facing the first wave of death. However, once they successfully establish themselves, their contribution to breaking through the barrier is the most illustrious, enough to be recorded in history.

Who gets to the top first depends on luck, but who gets to be the vanguard is a matter of skill. Huang Cheng, of course, is determined to succeed.

Fei Qian, upon hearing Huang Cheng's words, did not let the matter rest. Instead, he continued to press for details: "The first round of artillery fire, two hundred paces, is acceptable. But for the second round, how far will your unit need to advance during the intervals between shelling? What is the total distance you will advance from your starting position to the designated vanguard position? Based on your unit's fastest speed in daily drills and the weight of your armor, how long will it take to complete this advance? From the end of the three rounds of artillery fire until your unit has fully deployed its formation, shields in place, spears pointing outwards, ready to defend against a counterattack from the city walls, how much time will be allowed for error? If, during the advance, soldiers slip on wet ground, trip over debris, or fall due to excessive nervousness during their first battle, blocking the path and affecting the entire following column, how will you, as the commander, handle the situation on the spot? I want to hear concrete steps, not empty words like 'willing to accept military law.'"

This series of questions is specific and detailed.

"Charge" is not the same as "rushing forward like a pig."

Establishing a heavily armored and stable front line is also a necessary prerequisite for the follow-up deployment of subsequent troops.

If one is not careful, the countless hidden possibilities will become variables that determine the success or failure of the outcome.

Huang Cheng, clearly well-prepared, replied logically: "Reporting to my lord! According to the artillery captain's calculations during previous joint training, the fastest time to reload after firing a cannon is 15 minutes, and the slowest is 15 minutes! Based on the fastest reloading time, I have divided the vanguard into three echelons: front, middle, and rear. During the artillery barrage, each echelon will lie low to avoid friendly fire. As soon as the cannon fire stops, the front echelon will advance rapidly for 50 paces and then regroup. The middle echelon will advance, and the front echelon will follow. After another 50 paces, the front and middle echelons will regroup, and all three echelons will advance simultaneously. This process will continue in the front, middle, and rear echelons, ensuring no interference between them. Based on the speed of rapid marching in armor during regular drills, and disregarding minor pauses, the time taken is 15 minutes. Before the third round of artillery fire begins, they will be 250 paces from the city walls, still outside the city's firing range." From the moment the final ceasefire signal was given, the three columns advanced the last fifty paces, until the entire unit fully deployed into defensive formation according to the manual, the entire process took approximately 15 minutes, leaving 15 minutes to spare… As for the soldiers who accidentally fell and blocked the way…”

Huang Cheng's tone became even more certain, "This situation is also planned in routine drills. The accompanying squad leaders and platoon leaders must immediately step forward and direct the other soldiers to bypass them. All personnel following behind must strictly adhere to the original route and spacing, without looking around or hesitating. If anyone falls but is uninjured, they will be assisted to their feet by the squad leaders and platoon leaders after the main force has passed, and then quickly catch up and rejoin the unit. If they are injured and unable to move, the squad leaders and platoon leaders will drag them away from the passage to await medical treatment. This has been simulated many times in siege drills, and the soldiers are all familiar with it."

Wearing heavy armor means that if you fall, getting up isn't as simple as a fish leaping out of the water...

After listening, Fei Qian nodded slightly, his face still showing no emotion. He gestured for Huang Cheng to sit down, and then turned his gaze to Zhao Hong, the artillery captain who was standing quietly to one side of the sand table.

"Commander Zhao," Fei Qian called out, "do the artillery intervals and advance timing that General Huang just mentioned match the data obtained from your artillery unit's multiple joint training exercises? Are there any discrepancies?"

Zhao Hong quickly replied, "Reporting to my lord! I have repeatedly calculated that after firing the cannon, the time required for cleaning the barrel, loading the propellant charge and projectile, and re-aiming is approximately one and a half quarters of an hour, sometimes as fast as one quarter of an hour, and sometimes as slow as one and a half quarters of an hour! General Huang's use of one quarter of an hour as a interval is perfectly appropriate."

Fei Qian nodded and said, "Good. Let me ask you another question: for all the artillery pieces involved in the battle, have their calibration data, including range, elevation, and azimuth, been finalized and recorded? Have the ranges of the artillery volleys and the advance routes of General Huang's troops been repeatedly confirmed to be safe? Furthermore, actual combat is different from drills. If artillery overheats during continuous rapid firing, or if a shell slips from the hand during loading, are there contingency plans in place?"

Zhao Hong didn't mince words either, "Reporting to my lord! The firing data for all types of artillery involved in the first salvo has been finalized by 3:45 PM today. The relevant data has not only been recorded but also distributed to the gunners at each position on wooden slips. It will be confirmed again tomorrow morning during preparations to ensure accuracy! The core coverage area of ​​the first salvo is concentrated on the parapet, crenellations, and watchtowers in the middle section of the city wall, at least fifty paces away from the advance route of General Huang's troops! The second salvo will be raised three-tenths of an inch higher, concentrating its attack on the designated city wall. The third salvo and subsequent follow-up fire will target the enemy's assembly point, the rear barbican, which does not overlap with our assembly point."

Zhao Hong continued, "Furthermore, lookout posts have been set up on both sides of the artillery position. Any deviation should be immediately reported! As for cannon malfunctions… the chief craftsman has thoroughly inspected them and has spare parts on hand. If a simple malfunction occurs during firing, it can be replaced. If the malfunction is serious, five spare cannons are available for reinforcement. In addition, I have prepared five teams of men to supplement our forces in case of unforeseen circumstances."

Fei Qian nodded, then turned his gaze to Chen Wu, the engineering sergeant standing on the other side.

"Chief Chen," Fei Qian's voice softened slightly, "can the ground paving and compaction work leading to the base of the fortress, for heavy siege equipment, be completed before the general offensive begins tomorrow at dawn? Did Cao Cao's harassment today cause any damage to key sections of the road?"

Chen Wu, called upon by name, quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and replied, "Reporting to my lord, the compaction of the main roadbed and the paving of the gravel surface were basically completed by this evening. Only the last hundred paces remain to be compacted a second time… Today's attack by Cao Cao's troops was limited in scope and did not damage the core of the compacted roadbed… As long as Cao Cao's army does not leave the pass to cause further damage by tomorrow morning, I guarantee that all the finishing work will be completed on time without any problem!"

Fei Qian smiled. "Cao Cao's army will definitely come out of the pass! Especially at dawn tomorrow! If Cao Cao's army moves out at dawn and damages the ground, how will you deal with it?"

Chen Wu paused for a moment, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. After a brief moment of contemplation, he cupped his hands and said, "Your consideration is shallow… I will make the arrangements immediately. Prepare mortar, crossbeams, and straw bags, and load them all onto the carts. At the same time, assign a capable team specifically for emergency repairs, clearly define their deployment routes, and equip them with specialized tools. Once enemy activity is detected, the repair team will be deployed immediately to ensure that the general offensive at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow is not affected!"

Fei Qian nodded and told Chen Wu to go and make preparations.

Fei Qian then looked at Jia Qu, who was in charge of overall coordination.

"Liang Dao," Fei Qian inquired, "Cao Cao's army is now on the verge of defeat and will surely fight like cornered beasts; their battle will be fierce. On the eve of the battle, they will undoubtedly try to sabotage our fortifications, disrupt our supplies, or create chaos to buy time... Have our ambush troops been properly arranged?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Qu bowed and replied calmly, "I have already arranged for elite and courageous men to be divided into two shifts, and multiple layers of hidden sentries and traps have been set up. If Cao Cao's army dares to send any daredevils, they will be ensured to never return, and their hopes will be dashed."

Fei Qian then confirmed with Jia Qu some details about the preparations for the ambush against Cao Cao's army. After making sure nothing was overlooked, he turned his attention back to the others.

Inside the large tent, everyone's eyes were fixed intently.

By asking questions, especially about specific details, Fei Qian essentially reviewed all the preparations for the great battle...

This tactic of treating combat troops as a giant war machine is indeed beyond the current war thinking of the Han Dynasty.

Before a battle, every gear and belt of the war machine is rigorously inspected, straightened, polished, and tightened to ensure that the machine will be less prone to malfunctions after it is put into operation, thereby increasing the chances of final victory.

The generals in the tent, who were initially excited due to their confidence or hot-blooded due to the ongoing debate, have now calmed down. Many of them have also re-examined their missions as Fei Qian asks others for their opinions.

This is the broken window theory.

If everyone breaks down, then even the good ones won't last long.

But if everyone else is neat and orderly, then whoever breaks first will definitely look extremely ugly!

Seeing that the atmosphere in the tent had shifted from restlessness to calm, Fei Qian surveyed his generals. "Plan before you act, know when to stop and you will gain—these are wise ancient teachings. Tomorrow's battle will not rely on mere brute force, nor on luck or destiny. What we desire is a decisive victory! All of you, return to your posts and conduct a final check of your duties! Tomorrow, we will assemble at dawn, eat at dawn, and march out to defeat the enemy at dawn!"

At Fei Qian's command, the generals under his command responded in unison, their voices deep and resonant, their momentum overwhelming.

All the generals bowed to Fei Qian, who was in the main seat, in unison. They then left the tent in single file without saying another word, their figures quickly disappearing into the deep night outside. They went to their respective posts to carry out the final and most crucial round of preparations and inspections before the great battle.

Jia Qu walked at the very back. When he reached the entrance of the main tent, he paused slightly and gently tugged at the hem of Zhuge Liang's robe.

Zhuge Liang understood and slowed down his pace.

After the generals and officers had all left, Jia Qu and Zhuge Liang returned and bowed to Fei Qian, saying, "My lord... we have another matter..."

There will be more later.