Jiuxi

Chapter 914 912 [Instead of advancing, you retreat]

In the Battle of Taikang, the Qi army achieved very brilliant results.

They completely wiped out the Tiger and Leopard Battalion of the Jing Army's heavy cavalry. In the final pursuit, the Dingbei Army killed more than 2,000 Jing Army's light cavalry. More than 28,000 Jing Army infantry were killed or captured on the main battlefield.

The most important things were the heads of Wuyan Shu and more than a dozen generals of the Jing army. This battle almost directly destroyed the main force of the Jing army's western army in the center and seized countless food and supplies.

Of course, the Qi army also paid a heavy price for this.

More than 2,100 of the 5,000 Changdao soldiers were killed, and nearly 8,000 infantrymen from the remaining armies died heroically. The losses of the Dingbei Army and the Feiyu Army were relatively small, but they also lost a total of nearly 1,000 cavalry.

Generally speaking, in this head-on decisive battle, the Qi army defeated the Jing army with a casualty ratio of nearly one to three.

If this casualty ratio can be maintained, even if the huge gap in military strength between Qi and Jing still exists, the Qi army can still achieve final victory.

"This kind of thinking is unacceptable and can kill people."

Lu Chen held the teacup in his right hand and spoke with a smile in response to the recent self-confidence expressed by the military generals.

Although his tone was very calm, even a little joking, Liu Shouguang did not dare to be careless and said sincerely: "Your Majesty is right. Why don't I gather them together and listen carefully to your instructions?"

"That's excused."

Lu Chen smiled and waved his hands, saying frankly: "Do you think I don't have enough to do? You are the Grand Commander of Jingzhou, and it is your job to train the generals under your command. Don't think about being lazy. And the two of you, Marquis Yongding and Deputy Commander Fan, you should help Lao Liu share some of the burden as much as possible."

There were also two military heroes sitting in the hall: Zhang Xu, Marquis of Yongding, who had rushed back from the eastern battlefield, and Fan Wendi, deputy governor of Jingzhou and commander-in-chief of the Guangji Army.

Zhang Xu smiled and said, "How dare I disobey the order from my Lord?"

He actually didn't get much credit this time.

In Lu Chen's original plan, the Jingzhou Military Governor's Office needed to respond to Wu Yanshu's three-front advance. The central line adopted a strategy of calm confrontation. The defenders from Yanwu City to Qiliu City on the western line were prepared to retreat and evade at any time. On the eastern line, mobile forces were mobilized to create the illusion of swallowing up Gulijia and Shuhu's 30,000 Jingjun infantry in one gulp.

This is the response method based on Wu Yanshu's plan.

If one wanted to trick Wu Yanshu into thinking that the Qi army was going to attack on the eastern front, he must have a general of sufficient weight to command the army on the eastern front. There was no more suitable candidate than Zhang Xu.

But Lu Chen's move was a feint, because Wu Yanshu had arranged more than 40,000 infantry and more than 30,000 cavalry there, and Lu Chen brought both the Dingbei Army and the Feiyu Army to the Taikang battlefield. The Qi army on the eastern front did not have the strength to take the initiative to attack, so Zhang Xu was destined to be just a bait to lure Wu Yanshu to make up his mind.

In the end, he completed the task perfectly, and did not seek credit for anything else, and brought all the troops back safely.

Lu Chen looked at the thoughtful commander of the Beijing Camp and smiled, "Lord Zhang used himself as bait this time, so that Wu Yanshu could fall into the trap smoothly. I have already recorded it solemnly for you in the memorial requesting merit."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Zhang Xu showed just the right amount of gratitude, but it wasn't flattering at all.

Lu Chen stopped there. He didn't have the energy to explore this person's inner world for the time being. As long as the other party could obey military orders and not act on his own, he would treat everyone equally without bias.

"Let's talk about the strategy that Jing Jun might take next."

Lu Chen looked around at the three of them and brought the topic to the point: "Or to be more specific, who do you think Emperor Jing will let take over the Western Route Army?"

Fan Wending glanced around and said, "Your Majesty, I think it depends on where Emperor Jing will take the main battlefield."

Lu Chen said calmly: "Tell me in detail."

Fan Wendi considered and said, "Jingzhou's border is long and there is no particularly favorable terrain barrier. It is easy for the Jing army to break through at multiple points. Past battles have also proved this. If Emperor Jing chose Jingzhou as the main attack direction, it would seem to be a very reasonable decision, but I don't think so."

Lu Chen asked: "Why?"

Fan Wending replied: "Your Highness, from a geographical point of view, Jingzhou is located in the south of the Heluo region, and Dingzhou is located in the east of the Heluo region. Even if the Jingjun West Route Army can break through the Jingzhou defense line, they still have a problem they must face, that is, as long as our army wins the Dingzhou battlefield, they can go around behind the Jingjun West Route Army, and then it is possible to form a pincer attack from the north and south."

“Having said that, Jing Jun may not be afraid of this.”

Zhang Xu looked solemn, and said slowly: "With the prince personally in charge of Dingzhou, the Jing army's offensive will definitely be frustrated, but if they adopt a safe strategy, with stalemate as the main attack and then set Jingzhou as the main attack direction, isn't that possible?"

In fact, he didn't explain it too thoroughly, mainly because he didn't want to cause Lu Chen's dissatisfaction.

There is no doubt that the Jing army still has the advantage in terms of military strength so far. Even if they cannot break through the Dingzhou army's defense, they can at least trap Lu Chen in Dingzhou.

Although Fan Wendi and Zhang Xu had different opinions, they did not argue in front of Lu Chen.

Liu Shouguang looked at Lu Chen who was lost in thought and asked tentatively, "Your Highness, if Emperor Jing reappoints Qing Yugong as the commander of the Western Army, do we need to send more troops to the Jingzhou defense zone? I am not afraid of the enemy, but Qing Yugong is stronger than Wu Yanshu after all. Once the enemy attacks Jingzhou, I am worried that the situation will deteriorate quickly."

Lu Chen raised his hand and pinched his brow. After a hard-fought and great victory, the situation did not seem to have improved significantly, and the situation before him was still very serious.

Liu Shouguang and others naturally understood this problem, so they waited patiently.

After a long while, Lu Chen said calmly: "Although it was just a joke before, it is indeed what I am most worried about. The victory of the Taikang War is very likely to make the soldiers below think that our army is much stronger than the enemy and can win under any circumstances. As a result, they are unwilling to endure for a while and only want to fight the enemy head-on. You must change this idea in time, especially those generals who are eager to make achievements. Never allow anyone to act on their own initiative and rashly go into battle."

The three of them responded quickly.

Lu Chen continued, "As for the main attack direction of the Jing army, your analysis makes sense, but in my opinion, Emperor Jing does not need to face the dilemma of having his cake and eating it too."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Xu quickly understood.

Liu Shouguang and Fan Wendi also reacted quickly.

But this made their expressions even more solemn.

The biggest bargaining chip in Emperor Jing's hand is the military strength. According to the intelligence obtained by the spies of the Weaving Bureau after untold hardships, the total strength of Jing's army this time is close to 500,000. In addition to the 160,000 troops that have already appeared on the front line of Jingzhou, Emperor Jing also brought 270,000 to 280,000 troops. Together with the Jing army originally stationed in the Heluo area, the total number is nearly 200,000 more than the border army of Da Qi.

Just as Lu Chen said, why should Emperor Jing make a choice in this situation? He had enough troops to launch offensives in both Dingzhou and Jingzhou at the same time.

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In short, the Jing army did not distinguish between the main attack and secondary attack directions. No matter how Lu Chen planned, they could defeat him with their own force.

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at the map hanging on the wall. In fact, the terrain of the Jingzhou defense zone had already been engraved in his mind, but he still looked at it quietly for a long time.

"Since Yanwu City and Qiliu City on the western front have already been given up, there is no need to think about taking them back for the time being. There is no need to waste our already small number of troops."

Lu Chen finally spoke, his tone slightly solemn: "Gaotang City cannot be easily abandoned. Deputy Commander Fan, you lead the Guangji Army to guard this place."

Fan Wending stood up and bowed, saying, "I will obey your orders!"

Lu Chen raised his hand to signal him to sit down, and then said to Zhang Xu: "Lord Zhang, you will transfer your Beijing troops to Taikang to take over the defense of Guangji Army and Anping Army."

"Follow the order."

Zhang Xu didn't hesitate at all.

Lu Chen finally looked at Liu Shouguang and said earnestly: "Brother Liu, I cannot transfer the reserve troops to Jingzhou for the time being. You must hold on for at least three months."

Liu Shouguang has a heavy burden on his shoulders, because according to the current situation, when the Jing army makes a comeback, the pressure on the Jingzhou defense zone will increase exponentially.

But he did not complain in front of Lu Chen, but said calmly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do my best to stop the Jing army's advance."

……

Four days later, when Lu Chen had made all the arrangements and was about to return to Dingzhou with the Dingbei Army and the Feiyu Army, he received the latest secret report from the Weaving Bureau.

Emperor Jing appointed Changshan Prince Qing Yugong as the commander-in-chief of the Western Army, and led young and strong generals such as Qing Yuzhongwang and 50,000 infantrymen directly south. As a result, the Jing army had nearly 180,000 troops on the western battlefield, while Liu Shouguang and Zhang Xu had only more than 80,000 troops at most.

At this critical juncture, Lu Chen immediately made a decision. Part of the Guangling Army withdrew directly from Teng County, abandoned this bridgehead heading north to Heluo, and retreated to Ningling City.

At this point, the Jingzhou defense line of the Great Qi Dynasty started from Gaotang City in the west, passed through Yongqiu and Taikang, and ended at Xinchang and Shiquan City in the east, with a total length of more than 500 miles, waiting for the appearance of Jing's army.

"I thought you would choose to stay and fight Qing Yugong."

On the way back to Dingzhou, Li Bingxue rode his horse side by side with Lu Chen, and couldn't help but raise the questions hidden in his heart.

In her opinion, the only person in the world who could defeat the military god Dajing on a frontal battlefield was probably her husband.

Lu Chen smiled slightly and said frankly: "At least before the real intention is revealed, I will try my best to avoid Qing Yugong. Not only me, but I will also let the soldiers of the various armies in Jingzhou show weakness to the Changshan County King."

Li Bingxue was a little puzzled. In her opinion, her husband was never afraid of anyone.

Lu Chen raised his head and looked towards the distant north, and said softly: "Although Emperor Jing's injury is not that serious, I still plan to delay it for a while. Perhaps some unexpected situations will occur, which will add a lot of chips to our army's final victory."

"You mean..."

Li Bingxue also reacted at this moment.

Lu Chen nodded, his eyes becoming more profound: "I hope that young princess can be braver."

(End of this chapter)