I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1166 Multi-front War

Faced with Su Yao's aggressive pressure, Emperor Severus did not back down, but instead devoted all his efforts to speeding up the deployment, determined to win the battle quickly.

This decision has unsettled many senior officials and generals.

But the emperor's close friend, Protinus, the commander of the royal guard, knew very well that this was probably His Majesty's only option.

The nobles could abandon their land and return to Italy to live as wealthy men.

But Severus could not bear this responsibility. The loss of Egypt and Syria had already damaged His Majesty's prestige; if he were to lose Asia Minor as well, allowing the Han army to advance directly towards the Bosphorus, then even if he retreated to Italy, the enraged Senate and the citizens of Rome would never forgive Augustus for losing nearly half of the empire's territory. Severus's crown, and even the lives of his family, would be in grave danger.

Before the Han Chinese navy could be fully developed and able to directly challenge the empire's naval power, a decisive battle in Asia Minor became their only option.

"We are by no means without a chance of winning!"

Severus pointed to the map and said, "These barbarians from the East have crossed mountains and valleys, and relying on their strong ships and cannons, they have only won a few battles. Now they are arrogant and have divided their forces in all directions."

"Currently, their main forces are scattered in Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, and other places. The maximum number of troops they can deploy in Asia Minor is no more than 50,000, and there are also a large number of vassal states to make up the numbers. Our army, on the other hand, has assembled fifteen corps here, with a force several times that of the enemy."

"More importantly, Asia Minor is mountainous and has complex terrain, making it difficult for the Han army to implement tactics that rely on horsepower and heavy artillery. On the other hand, we are familiar with the terrain and are fighting on our home ground, so we can outflank and encircle the enemy through various small paths!"

Severus's fingers slammed heavily on the map of the Anatolian plateau, a resolute glint rekindling in his eyes. "General Letus has already constructed a defensive line in Cappadocia, setting up camps along the mountain valleys and destroying all the bridges along the way that the army could pass through. If the Han army tries to penetrate deep inland, they will inevitably fall into the ambush we have set up!"

Protinas immediately stepped forward to agree, unfolding a military report filled with annotations: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. According to the intelligence sent back by General Letus, although the Han army has 'Thunder Cannons,' they are difficult to transport. When marching in the mountains, they often require dozens of people to drag them, making their marching speed much slower than our lightly armed corps. They have hardly been deployed in Asia Minor."

"What's on the front lines are just some small cannons that are slightly more powerful than our scorpion crossbows, and their food and supplies are heavily reliant on land transport routes from Syria."

"Now, as the enemy forces penetrate deeper into the mountains, their supply lines are becoming longer and longer. Our army can send light cavalry to harass their supply routes and cut off their logistics at any time!"

This analysis slightly warmed the somber atmosphere in the council hall. The generals looked up, a glimmer of hope reappearing in their eyes—yes, even the most powerful weapons need to rely on terrain and supplies, and although the Han army possessed supernatural abilities, they were ultimately not truly heavenly soldiers.

And so, the discussion got back on track.

Following advice from numerous generals and strategists, the Romans adjusted their deployment once again, focusing on a strategy of swift victory.

On the sea, the mission of large-scale harassment of the east coast was cancelled, and a defensive contraction was chosen, with a focus on the defense around Rhodes and Crete. Port defenses were strengthened while the coast of Asia Minor was kept watch to prevent the Han army from sneaking across and launching surprise attacks. Only small-scale ships were sent forward to harass and carry out reconnaissance and sabotage missions.

On land, Severus divided his main force into three groups:
The left flank, led by the experienced veteran Quintus Flacus, consisted of four legions and a large number of allied cavalry. It advanced eastward along the rugged mountains of the southern Black Sea coast, with the mission of threatening the northern flank of the Han army and seizing the opportunity to cut off its potential support from the Armenian direction.

The right flank, commanded by the valiant general Gaius Macrinus, also led four legions and auxiliary forces. They marched north from the Pamphilian coast, entering the western foothills of the Taurus Mountains, using the complex terrain for covert operations. Their objective was to outflank the Han army's southern flank and form a pincer movement with General Letus's central main force. Meanwhile, Emperor Severus himself, along with Protinas, personally led seven of his most elite legions, including the Praetorian Guard, as the central main force, marching towards Cappadocia to join forces with General Letus's troops stationed there. They prepared to engage the Han army's main force in a decisive battle at the pre-arranged battlefield—the "Valley of Sald" on the upper reaches of the Harris River.

The Salde Valley is one of the few flat passages leading to the heart of Asia Minor, but it is surrounded by mountains, making the terrain relatively closed and the exit narrow. General Letus had been preparing there for several months, building strong fortifications and multiple lines of defense, and stockpiling large quantities of provisions and weapons. Severus's intention was very clear: to use the terrain advantage to lure the main force of the Han army into the valley, and then to encircle and annihilate them with overwhelming force from all sides!

To ensure the plan's success, Severus issued the harshest mobilization orders to his vassal states and allies scattered throughout Asia Minor, demanding they provide all available troops and severely punish any collusion with the Han army. Suddenly, the entire Anatolian plateau was filled with unease, and the shadow of war loomed ever heavier.

……

Antioch, the Emperor's temporary residence (formerly the Roman governor's residence).

Su Yao gazed at the enormous sand table before him, which clearly marked the movements of the Roman army and the terrain of the Salde Valley. High-ranking officials, including Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Cao Cao, Zhao Yun, Xiahou Dun, and Cao Ren, stood solemnly on either side.

“Severus is clearly declaring he wants a decisive battle with us,” Cao Cao stroked his beard and pondered. “The Salde Valley… its terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, which makes it easier for the enemy to exploit their numerical superiority. Your Majesty, this battle…”

"What's there to be afraid of?" Su Yao chuckled, pointing to the location of the Salde Valley on the sand table. "He wants to be a turtle, hiding in his shell and waiting for us to knock on it. Do we really have to go and knock on it?"

A glint flashed in Jia Xu's eyes: "Does Your Majesty mean... to ignore his challenge and find another battlefield?"

“That’s right.” Su Yao straightened up and glanced at the generals. “He wants to go fast, but we can go slower.”

"Severus has amassed a large force in Cappadocia, leaving his rear vulnerable. He thinks he can restrict our movement by relying on the mountains, but he forgets that we also have wings."

He paused, then continued, "Order: Ma Chao and Yan Xing's troops in the north should not rush south to join the main force. Instead, continue sweeping westward along the Black Sea coast, making a show of threatening Bithynia and the province of Pontus, thus restraining the Roman left wing legion and preventing it from advancing eastward with full force."

"Guan Yu and Zhang Fei of the Southern Route, after securing Egypt, shall, apart from leaving behind the necessary troops, immediately advance westward along the Mediterranean coast, launching a fierce attack on Cyrenaica by both land and sea! Tell Yun Chang not to be stingy with cannonballs; I want him to smash the Romans' North African defenses to smithereens within a month!"

"The main force in the central route will be led by Mengde and Zilong. You just need to proceed steadily and slowly towards Cappadocia, making it appear as if you are seeking a decisive battle, to attract the attention of Severus's main force. But remember, you must never rashly venture into the Salde Valley. Your main focus should be on maintaining contact and wearing down the enemy."

Upon hearing this, the generals' eyes lit up with understanding. His Majesty was planning to avoid the Romans' strength and attack their weakness, taking advantage of the Han army's superior mobility and multi-front warfare capabilities to maneuver the Romans and keep them constantly on the move.

“Then Your Majesty…” Cao Cao looked at Su Yao.

Su Yao's lips curled into a smile as he turned his gaze westward, looking out the window at the azure ocean: "As for me... naturally I'll go to Cyprus to see how well Gongjin and the others have practiced my new toys."

"Severus wants to play hide-and-seek with us in the mountains of Asia Minor, and stage a decisive battle? Fine. But before that, I'll give him a decisive blow at sea!"

(End of this chapter)