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Chapter 484 Linghu Zhishu Becomes Honest

Linghu Zhishu stood on high ground, watching the ant-like crowd busily at work in the distance.

After months of intensive preparation, everything was done, but in the end, it all turned out to be a fruitless endeavor.

No, it wasn't exactly a waste of time.

Because those preparations will actually come in handy later on.

Just like now, aren't these young and strong men who have gathered together coming in handy?
Boling County is undergoing massive construction and excavation. This is not just what we see in front of us. Linghu Zhishu is doing these things in an area that stretches for over a hundred miles and extends for dozens of miles inland, facing the outside of the pass.

This is why Linghu Zhishu accumulated a large network of connections and gained considerable prestige when he served as the prefect here a few years ago, which is why he was able to carry out large-scale construction so smoothly. If someone else had come, the people would probably have complained bitterly.

The same task can yield completely different results depending on who does it.

Linghu Zhishu told the people of Boling that if they did not prepare for defense now, everything they had now would probably vanish when the enemy from beyond the pass attacked.

This caused great panic among the people of Boling.

They lived very close to Yangguan Pass, and they had some understanding of the situation outside the pass.

Under Linghu Zhishu's deliberate propaganda, the current army outside the pass is seen by the people of Boling as a hodgepodge, composed of a bandit leader leading a group of bandits, a group of Yuan people, and a group of barbarians, rather than the Qin state's northern border army of the past.

Whether they were bandits, Yuan people, or barbarians from further north, in the hearts of the people of Boling, they were all savages who committed all kinds of evil.

As for the General of the Cavalry, who had a decent reputation, she was originally quite good. When the news came out that she was a woman, everyone admired her. But then they heard that she had married that bandit leader and even gave up her position as Protector-General to him, which made everyone even more panicked.

Because Xiao Changche was really good at fighting!
Imagine being led by such a renowned figure, along with a group of wicked individuals, to storm your home. How could you not be afraid?

Therefore, when Linghu Zhishu gave the order, everyone was excited and immediately launched a large-scale campaign to build defensive positions.

The once flat and boundless plains of Boling are now riddled with holes.

Linghu Zhishu had everyone dig countless ponds, and then planted rows of trees that were easy to grow and grew very fast everywhere. Every ten miles or so, beacon towers were built, and villages with large populations began to build rammed earth walls and construct arrow towers and other facilities.

All of these were basically for defense against cavalry.

Xiao Changche once conquered the world with only a few thousand cavalrymen, and Li Dachui's cavalry was also extremely elite. Now they have conquered the Yuan Kingdom and subdued the barbarians, and both of these races are primarily composed of cavalry.

Even though the Linghu clan's cavalry was not bad, Linghu Zhishu knew that if the two sides clashed, the Linghu clan's cavalry would have no choice but to lose.

The only force capable of contending with the enemy was the trump card held by my uncle, but even with such elite cavalry, my uncle only had five or six thousand men.

His tens of thousands of troops in Boling County were absolutely incapable of engaging the enemy in open battle.

Defense becomes essential.

Don't underestimate these ponds; they are a cost-effective method. After digging them out, fill them with water, throw in some fish fry, and then leave them to fend for themselves.

If the enemy doesn't come, these fish will grow up, and the people will have some income. But if they do come, these numerous ponds and reservoirs will prevent the enemy cavalry from charging and from utilizing their advantage in the battle.

The same principle applies to trees planted in large areas.

The best way to deal with cavalry is to slow them down. Without speed, cavalry have little advantage against the defenders and become more vulnerable due to their larger size. Linghu Ye is truly troubled now.

I originally thought I could give the Beiting Protectorate a good beating this time, but I didn't expect my ally to be so unhelpful. They were wiped out before I even had a chance to make a move.

But thinking about it now is still terrifying!
Who would have thought that Li Dachui would actually collude with the barbarians? The Eagle Bandits were actually a foreshadowing planted by him, and Shaliewen actually dared to betray his country and surrender?
This is like Li Dachui digging a huge trap, and a large group of people jumped in with smug satisfaction, only realizing what had happened when they were about to die.

Tiele committed suicide by self-immolation, and Linghu Zhishu truly felt a sense of sorrow for the passing of his rabbit.

That was a truly remarkable person!

He died such a pathetic death.

Linghu Zhishu did not want to end up like this.

His uncle gave him a clear task: to do everything in his power to delay the Beiting Protectorate's entry into the pass.

Linghu Ye has eliminated all forces and resources around Chang'an that could support it, and the general offensive against Chang'an is about to begin.

By capturing Chang'an, the Linghu Group would have completely controlled the Central Plains. They would then use this as a base to eliminate all opposing forces in the surrounding areas. This was the same path that the Li family had taken when they replaced the Dayong Dynasty.

It is also the simplest and most direct path in everyone's eyes.

However, unlike then, when the Li clan defeated the Dayong, the area outside the pass was still the domain of nomadic tribes, and was in a state of chaos. Although they often raided the borders and the people suffered, those tribes would rob and leave, so they did not pose a great threat.

Now, however, an unprecedentedly powerful group has formed outside the pass, whose strength is in no way inferior to that of the Linghu Group.

Moreover, they have already extended their reach into the interior of the pass.

They have already taken control of Shu County.

Li Dachui of Jiangnan must have already planted his pawns, and if Linghu Zhishu's guess is correct, it should be places like Xing County and Ning County. These places are supposedly controlled by the Demonic Sect and the Canal Gang, but considering Li Dachui's identity, everything seems quite reasonable.

He Zudao was arrogant and thought he could get away with anything, but in the end, he would be devoured by Li Dachui.

Linghu Zhishu has now completely given up on the idea of ​​competing with Li Dachui.

Because the gap between the two sides is too large.

Only opponents of similar skill levels can inspire interest in competition. If the gap is too large, trying to force a fight will only lead to humiliation.

Therefore, Linghu Zhishu is now very honest and down-to-earth in building defensive positions in Boling County. The defensive positions are over a hundred miles long and fifty miles deep, covering almost the entire Boling County.

I don't want to beat you, I just want to stall you.

As long as Uncle quickly takes Chang'an, and then either persuades or defeats He Zudao, then the area outside the pass won't be so scary. With control of the Central Plains and Jiangnan, the Linghu Group will have the confidence to engage in a prolonged standoff with Li Dachui. In terms of resources, the area outside the pass can never compare with the area inside.

In war, in the end, it all comes down to who can endure the longest!

(End of this chapter)