God Three Group Chat: Three Kingdoms

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"The enemy is even carrying torches? It's been so long since I've seen such a scene." Fa Zheng, riding on horseback, raised his binoculars with one hand, looking at the bright flames in the distance, his words filled with surprise.

"This shows that the enemy was well prepared and did not give us much of an opportunity." Guo Jia smiled lightly, his words showing no concern for this point.

"It seems the enemy does have problems in this area, just as we suspected, but they are already trying to make up for it." Fa Zheng had become interested in Shan Ta Nu as an opponent.

If the two sides continue at a normal, accelerated marching speed, the battle will inevitably take place at dawn, that is, at the moment of daybreak.

Engaging in combat at that moment would be a good opportunity for both sides, as each side would have its own advantages.

The Han Empire was fully armed, and the weather and temperature were relatively suitable, so the battle did not consume as much physical strength as it would have in the high temperatures, which would have caused them to lose combat effectiveness quickly.

The Kushan Empire, on the other hand, could take advantage of its inherent physical strength and wait for the opportune moment.

If the Han Empire did not want to face this time, it had only two options: to further accelerate the march and engage in battle earlier, or to slow down the march and delay until the afternoon, when the weather was equally cool and the troops had recovered sufficiently to counter the Kushan army's rested and ready state.

However, the Kushan army set fire to grain-growing areas and destroyed crops, forcing the Han Empire's army to abandon the idea.

For an elite force, the destructive effects that can be caused in a full day are difficult to estimate.

Even considering the worst-case scenario, if left unchecked for just one day, the grain-growing areas within a hundred miles of the Kushan army's encampment could be completely wiped out.

In order to save more food, the only option was to speed up the march, expend more energy, and engage in battle at an earlier time.

Based on their understanding of the Kushan army, there were indeed some units within the entire Kushan military system that were truly skilled in night combat and had the capability for it, but their numbers were relatively small.

While visualizing deities and Buddhas can improve a soldier's physical fitness, not everyone can be directly exempted from night blindness.

This disease, which was very common in the Central Plains, has been almost completely eradicated thanks to the efforts of the Han Empire.

However, this disease still exists in the Kushan Empire, and the proportion is not low. If it weren't for the influence of gods and Buddhas, this proportion would be extremely terrifying.

One of the main reasons for this is the issue of food and nutrition intake.

The vast majority of soldiers come from stable lower and middle ranks. While this level can barely make a living, it's wishful thinking to expect them to have a rich diet.

As for the Untouchables, they are completely invisible at night, to the point that, given this reality, not being able to see at night was once described as the sin of the Untouchables.

"It doesn't matter that the enemy was prepared long ago. Night fighting itself won't have much impact on our army. Besides, the enemy's preparations are tantamount to tying their own hands." Guan Yu didn't think there was anything wrong with this point. On the contrary, he recognized the correctness of the timing.

Indeed, the ambient light was quite low, which would affect even Han Empire soldiers who did not suffer from night blindness to some extent.

This impact is actually not significant; compared to the impact of the Kushan soldiers, it's a minor issue.

How much combat power could a Kushan soldier holding a torch in one hand possibly exert?
Even if only one person among a dozen is holding a torch, their position not only marks the enemy's formation but also interferes with the enemy's command, the tactics of small-scale forces, and their operational distance.

Compared to this negative effect, the impact on the Han army's field of vision was a minor issue. The real factor affecting the Han army's combat effectiveness was most likely the physical exhaustion caused by high-intensity, long-distance marches.

To address this issue, Guan Yu distributed sugary fruits to his soldiers before this campaign, aiming to quickly replenish their energy and restore them to peak combat strength as much as possible.

With swordsmen and shieldmen as the core, they formed a wedge formation to try and crush the enemy in the shortest possible time.

The shield guards, who were considered the backbone of the army, were placed on the rear of the two flanks.

With their heavy armor talent, the adaptive shield guards naturally possess terrifyingly strong physical defense capabilities, and their movement speed is not inferior to that of light infantry. However, in terms of assault capabilities, they are completely inferior to other elite units in the army.

Therefore, Guan Yu placed them on the rear of the two flanks in order to further utilize the capabilities of the wild goose formation.

Not only should they crush the enemy head-on, but they should also encircle the enemy from both flanks, inflicting heavy damage or even annihilation.

And this war objective was naturally different from the initial plan.

The original plan was for the princess's guard to be responsible for the interception, so Guan Yu's army needed to give them some leeway, defeat the enemy, and chase them to the fortress, giving the princess's guard a chance to intercept them before finally achieving the strategic objective.

On the one hand, they could capture the enemy's fortress and annihilate the Kushan forces; on the other hand, they could send the princess's guard back in a dignified manner.

The changes in the Princess Guard's behavior have naturally led to a change in the objectives of Guan Yu's army.

If no one is blocking their way, then all they need to do is display the most violent side of the Han army and decisively defeat their opponents.

The special nature of the Princess Guard made everyone understand that waiting for the other party and giving them face would not do any harm, especially since the plan seemed perfect, didn't it?
The changes to the Princess Guard have not displeased the public.

Things have changed, so be it. They get all the credit, and even if they don't achieve their goal perfectly, the Princess Guard will bear the responsibility and risk.

If the outcome isn't good, they can use this as an excuse to send the princess's guard back; either way, they won't lose out.

Whether the Princess Guard's conduct is respectable or not is not something they can decide; rather, it depends on the Princess Guard's own capabilities and choices.

"Die!" Liao Hua, who had emerged from Huangzhong and made numerous military achievements, later transferred to the Fifth School of Sanhe and served as the commander of the Tiger Battalion, looked at the heavy pikemen with their spears like a forest, his eyes showing no fear, but rather a hint of disdain.

In battle, the effectiveness of spearmen is absolutely worthy of the title of king of weapons, especially these specialized heavy spearmen, whose combat capabilities are even more terrifying.

But what kind of troops did he lead?
The Tiger Warriors of the Five Schools of Sanhe!
Without drawing his sword, he simply pulled a dagger from behind his shield and casually hurled it, pinning the spearman in front of him to the spot.

The same was true for the other Tiger Warriors; their sudden and rapid throwing tactics made the Kushan spearmen who underestimated the Tiger Warriors because they didn't have bows and crossbows pay the price.

The Tiger Warriors, who had broken through the gunfire, unleashed their speed and quickly closed in on the enemy soldiers.

Those Tiger Warrior soldiers who failed to eliminate the enemy ahead rolled across the ground, much to the astonishment of the Kushan army, dodging the spear tips in front and simultaneously giving the Tiger Warrior soldiers behind them a chance to throw their weapons. (End of Chapter)