Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 639: Taking Action in the West

"Yes, General!" Fatty Qian left in a hurry, secretly thinking about how to solve this difficult logistical problem.

The tent fell silent again. Jia Changsheng paced back and forth, thinking about every detail of the entire battle plan. After a long time, he stopped and said to everyone: "This attack on the west is related to the success or failure of our great cause. We must not only win the military victory, but also win the hearts of the people. Pass the order down, all soldiers must strictly abide by military discipline and must not disturb the people. If they violate it, they will be punished by military law! We want to let the people in the west see that we are here to liberate them, not to plunder them."

All the generals responded in unison: "Yes, General!"

In the following days, Jia Changsheng's army began to prepare for the attack on the west. The small team quietly sneaked into the valley and headed towards the hinterland of the west. They carefully avoided the enemy patrols, crossed the dense forests, overcame many difficulties, and finally approached the rear of the enemy.

At the same time, the army was also slowly advancing westward, waiting for intelligence from the small team while marching. Jia Changsheng discussed the battle plan with the generals every day, constantly adjusting and improving the plan based on the latest intelligence.

Finally, the team received news that they had successfully scouted out important information such as the enemy's troop deployment, food and grass storage locations, and the stationing locations of major generals. They also destroyed several of the enemy's supply lines and communication facilities, causing considerable chaos to the enemy.

After Jia Changsheng learned the news, he immediately convened a military meeting with all the generals.

"Everyone, the time has come! According to the intelligence of the small team, we can launch an attack on several key cities in the west." Jia Changsheng stood in front of the map and said seriously, "Zhao Meng, you lead the main force to attack this city from the front to attract the enemy's attention; Li Xuan, you lead a special force to bypass the enemy's rear, raid their food camp, and burn their food reserves; the rest of the generals, according to the established plan, attack other cities separately, cooperate with each other, and form a siege. We must take over the west in the shortest possible time!"

"Yes, General!" All the generals accepted the order in unison and returned to their camps to prepare for battle.

At Jia Changsheng's command, the army surged to the west like a tide. The battlefield was filled with smoke and shouts of killing. Zhao Meng's main force bravely attacked the city and engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy; Li Xuan's special forces quietly bypassed the rear and successfully raided the enemy's grain camp. For a time, flames shot up into the sky and the enemy's morale was in chaos.

With the close cooperation of various troops, Jia Changsheng's army was unstoppable and captured several important cities in the west one after another. Although the Baekje defenders fought desperately, they gradually found it difficult to hold on under Jia Changsheng's careful planning and powerful offensive.

However, the war was not smooth sailing. When attacking a city, Jia Changsheng's army encountered stubborn resistance from the enemy. The city walls were strong and the enemy's defense was very tight, so the attack was once blocked.

After Jia Changsheng learned about the situation, he personally went to the front line to observe the battlefield situation. He found that the enemy's city gate defense was the weakest, so he immediately ordered to adjust the tactics.

"Concentrate all the catapults and siege equipment to attack the city gate! Infantrymen form assault teams and prepare to charge!" Jia Changsheng shouted loudly.

After a fierce attack, the city gate was finally breached. Jia Changsheng's infantry rushed into the city like a tiger and started a fierce street battle with the enemy. After a hard battle, they finally captured the city.

As cities fell one after another, Baekje's defenses in the west gradually collapsed. Jia Changsheng's army continued to advance westward, toward the heartland of Baekje. Jia Changsheng knew that greater challenges were still ahead, but he was not afraid, because he had a firm belief and grand ambition in his heart, which was to unify this land and establish a prosperous new order.

In the grand and solemn palace of the Baekje royal palace, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was suffocating. The Baekje king sat high on the golden throne with a dragon carving, his face as gloomy as the dark clouds before a storm, his eyes revealing deep worry and uneasiness. His Highness, all the ministers lowered their heads, exchanging terrified glances with each other, and the whole court was filled with an atmosphere of impending doomsday.

The King of Baekje was the first to break the deathly silence, his voice trembling but pretending to be calm: "My dear ministers, I just received news this morning that Jia Changsheng has deployed his troops on the western border. His wolfish ambitions are obvious. It seems that he will launch a fierce attack on our western part soon. The survival of Baekje is now hanging by a thread. Do you have any good plans?"

As soon as he finished speaking, an old general in armor and with a solemn expression stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted, saying: "Your Majesty, I think the only urgent thing at the moment is to send our Baekje's elite guards to fight the enemy, so that there will be a glimmer of hope. The guards have been trained for a long time and are well-equipped. They will definitely be able to crush Jia Changsheng's spirit!"

As soon as these words came out, the court immediately started to discuss. A civil official said worriedly: "General, the Imperial Guard is the last barrier of Baekje. If we send them out easily, if something goes wrong, the capital will be in danger! Moreover, Jia Changsheng's army has fought many battles and their morale is high. Their fighting power cannot be underestimated. It is hard to predict the outcome of this Imperial Guard expedition."

After hearing this, the old general frowned and retorted, "Sir, now that the enemy is approaching, if we do not take the initiative to attack, are we going to sit and wait for Jia Changsheng to erode our Baekje territory step by step? Although there are risks in sending the Imperial Guards to the battle, it can at least show our Baekje's determination to resist and boost the morale of the army and the people. Moreover, if we can give Jia Changsheng a heavy blow while he is still unstable, we may be able to turn the tide of the war."

The ministers held their own opinions and argued endlessly, and the whole court was in chaos. The King of Baekje rubbed his temples and said with a tired face: "Stop arguing! This matter needs to be considered carefully."

At this time, a man who looked like a counselor stood up. This man had a deep gaze and was known as a think tank in the court. He bowed slightly and said slowly: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, whether the Imperial Guards go to war or not still needs to consider many factors. First of all, we need to have a more accurate understanding of Jia Changsheng's troop deployment and combat strategy. Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle. I suggest sending spies to go deep into the enemy camp to find out the truth before making a decision."

The King of Baekje nodded slightly: "My dear minister, what you said makes sense. In your opinion, if the Royal Guards go to war, what are the chances of victory?"

The counselor thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, Jia Changsheng's army was able to advance so quickly, which must be due to his extraordinary military command ability, and his soldiers have been baptized by many battles and have rich practical experience. However, our Baekje Guards are not without advantages. We are familiar with the local terrain, and if we can make good use of it and set up ambushes and surprise attacks, we may be able to compete with them. But war is unpredictable, and I dare not make a rash conclusion."

After hearing what the counselor said, the old general said anxiously, "Your Majesty, the opportunity for battle is fleeting. We can't wait any longer. Even if we send out spies, by the time they come back, Jia Changsheng may have already launched an attack. We should act decisively and send the imperial guards out immediately to catch Jia Changsheng off guard with a thunderous force!"

The civil officials all shook their heads in opposition: "No, no! This is too risky. Once the Royal Guards are defeated, Baekje will no longer be able to fight back. We should first strengthen the city defenses, store food and grass, hold our ground, and wait for the opportunity."

The king of Baekje was in deep entanglement. On the one hand, he was worried that the Royal Guards would encounter unexpected events, and on the other hand, he was afraid of missing the opportunity to resist. After thinking for a long time, he raised his head and asked, "If the Royal Guards go to war, who will be the commander?" The old general answered without hesitation, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the Royal Guards to the war. If I cannot repel Jia Changsheng, I am willing to die as a token of my guilt!"

The King of Baekje looked at the old general, his eyes flashing with emotion, but he was still a little hesitant: "General, your loyalty is commendable, but this matter is of great importance. Please allow me to consider it again."

At this time, the minister in charge of logistics stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, whether the Royal Guards go out or not, our food and fodder reserves are in urgent need of replenishment. The food and fodder in the warehouse is only enough to sustain the capital for a few months. If the war is prolonged, the consequences will be disastrous. I suggest that we immediately collect food and fodder from all over the country and purchase it at high prices from neighboring countries to ensure the supply of the army."

The Baekje king sighed helplessly: "It can only be done this way. I'll leave this matter to you. Make sure to collect enough food and fodder as soon as possible."

Then, another minister said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Jia Changsheng's army is disciplined and never harms the people, which is very popular among the people. But the people of Baekje are now full of fear of war, and the army and the people are unstable, which is extremely disadvantageous to us. I suggest that Your Majesty issue an order to appease the people, reduce taxes, open warehouses to release grain, let the people feel the care of the court, and thus inspire their patriotism and support this war."

The king of Baekje thought this suggestion was feasible, so he nodded and agreed: "My dear minister, what you said is very true. I will immediately draft an edict and announce it to the world, saying that the court will do its utmost to ensure the safety of Baekje and reassure the people."

After a heated discussion, the court gradually divided into two groups: one group supported the Royal Guards to go to war, believing that this was the only chance to take the initiative and turn the tide of the war; the other group advocated holding on to defense, strengthening city defense and logistics support, and waiting for the opportunity. The King of Baekje was always unable to make a decision and was in a painful struggle.

Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the palace, and a soldier hurried into the palace, kneeling down and reporting: "Your Majesty, Jia Changsheng's army has begun to launch a small-scale exploratory attack on my western city. The situation is critical!"

This news was like a bombshell, instantly making the atmosphere in the court even more tense. The veteran general stepped forward again and said, "Your Majesty, there is no time to lose. I beg you to send the Royal Guards out immediately, otherwise the western city will be in danger!"

The King of Baekje gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind: "Okay! Pass on my order and order the Royal Guards to go out immediately to fight Jia Changsheng. General, I will entrust this important task concerning the survival of Baekje to you, and I hope you will return victoriously!"

The old general knelt down excitedly and accepted the order: "I will not fail the king's trust. I will not return to the court until Jia Changsheng is killed!"

Following the order of the King of Baekje, the Royal Guards quickly assembled and prepared to go to war. The entire capital was filled with a tragic and resolute atmosphere. The people silently prayed for the soldiers who were going to the war, while the ministers in the court looked worriedly in the direction where the Royal Guards left, silently muttering about the fate of Baekje.

Under the towering walls of the Baekje capital, the soldiers of the Imperial Guard, dressed in shining armor, lined up neatly in a square formation, like a forest of steel. The military flags fluttered in the wind, as if telling of the difficulty and heroism of the journey they were about to embark on.

General Hong, the commander of the Imperial Guard, rode on a tall black warhorse, his posture as straight as a pine tree, and his eyes swept resolutely over the troops in front of him. He knew that this expedition was a heavy responsibility, not only related to the fate of Baekje, but also carried the life and death of thousands of people.

"Soldiers!" General Hong shouted loudly, his voice resounding through the sky like a huge bell. "Now the bandit Jia Changsheng has invaded our border, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil, trying to annex our Baekje. We, as the imperial guards, are the last line of defense of Baekje and the protectors of the people! Today, we will rush to the battlefield and fight Jia Changsheng to the death. We must let him know that the warriors of Baekje are not to be trifled with!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The soldiers shouted in unison, shaking the earth and sky. Everyone's face was filled with determination and resolve, and their eyes were burning with the fire of fighting spirit.

Following General Hong's order, the army marched towards the western border in a mighty manner. Along the way, the dust was flying and the horses' hooves were clattering, like a galloping steel torrent, unstoppable.

During the march, General Hong and several deputy generals rode side by side on horseback, discussing battle strategies.

"General, according to intelligence from the front, Jia Changsheng's army has set up multiple defense lines outside several cities in the west, and their troops are deployed very tightly. I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to attack this time." A deputy general said worriedly.

General Hong frowned slightly, his eyes revealed a hint of solemnity, but his tone was still firm: "I know this mission is difficult, but we have no way out. We can't be intimidated by the enemy's appearance. We need to carefully observe their defenses and look for loopholes."

Another deputy general nodded in agreement: "General, what you said is very true. I heard that Jia Changsheng is good at using surprise attack tactics. We must be careful of their surprise attacks and strengthen the security of the camp."

General Hong pondered for a moment and said, "Pass the order on. The entire army should be on high alert and take turns on duty day and night. Send out multiple patrols every night to patrol within a ten-mile radius around the camp. If you find any trace of the enemy, report it immediately."

"Yes, General!" The deputy generals took the order and quickly conveyed it to each unit.

After several days of rapid march, the Imperial Guards finally arrived near the western border. General Hong ordered the army to set up camp in a hidden valley and sent several reconnaissance teams to spy on the enemy's strength.

The soldiers of the reconnaissance team were all agile, moving through the mountains and forests like ghosts, and quietly approached Jia Changsheng's camp. They carefully avoided the enemy's patrols and used the cover of night to observe important information such as the enemy's troop deployment, fortifications, and the army's work and rest patterns.

(End of this chapter)