It's broken, and was picked up by a femme fatale

The nominal commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard was Ling Lun, but the actual commander of the troops was the deputy commander Tong Guang, nicknamed "Little Baiqi".

Tong Guang's main job is the commander of the Imperial Guard. As a veteran who has been on many battlefields, he is well versed in the essence of military tactics.

Whether marching or camping, everything was done in a proper manner, flawlessly and with ease.

The vanguard had 5,000 men, the left and right armies had 15,000 each, the rear army had 20,000 men, and the center army had 35,000 men.

Another ten thousand people cooperated with the White Lotus Sect to besiege the evil base in Dayin Mountain.

Each army maintained a half-day's distance between them, and they advanced steadily and cautiously, making the 100,000-strong army as easy to use as their own arms.

With such a large concentration of troops, conventional positional warfare would have no chance of success at all.

Soon, the staff was divided into two factions, arguing with each other.

One is the "piecemeal" tactic, which means not launching a frontal attack, but using guerrilla warfare to force the Guards to split up and divide up again, and then annihilate small groups of enemy forces one by one with superior forces.

The other is ambush warfare, which is to choose advantageous terrain, use long-range attack firepower, delay and kill the enemy layer by layer, in order to achieve the purpose of wearing down the enemy's morale.

Lu Yuan was very happy that the training of the student staff in the military department was not in vain. Both plans were highly targeted and remarkable.

However, he always felt a little regretful and felt that it was not perfect enough.

There are two disadvantages. The process will take too long, which will cause great losses to both parties.

Especially since almost all of our people are new recruits, and they have almost no willpower or sense of honor.

Another shortcoming is that no matter which plan is adopted, the deployment is centered on the Guards, and the Northern Navy is passive in the fight.

Simply put, it was a textbook stupid fight with nothing new or exciting.

If you are dealing with bandits or peasant armed forces, both options are completely fine.

But, the opponent now is the general of the Shenling Empire who has fought his way out of a sea of ​​blood and corpses. This little trick is not enough.

Lu Yuan stared at the sand table, drank the spiritual tea in one gulp, and put the teacup aside.

Suddenly, someone beside me picked up the teacup and refilled it with hot water.

Lu Yuan looked sideways and saw that it was Nurhaci who had taken over the job of the personal attendant.

Seeing this fierce Jurchen general glancing at the sand table from time to time, Lu Yuan's heart moved.

"Nurhachi, tell me, what do you think of these two plans?"

Nurhachi lowered his head and replied graciously: "All the staff officers are knowledgeable. I think they are all good..."

Having said that, Lu Yuan could see that he did not show much admiration or appreciation.

"Don't worry, if you think of yourself as the commander, how would you arrange it?"

When this was said, the student staff officer disagreed. What strategies and tactics does a hunter from a wild land know?
Some people deliberately provoked him: "Haha, I think the usually majestic Hatch must have a better way to fight... Tell us quickly so that we can open our eyes!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone smiled playfully.

Not to mention anything else, the Jurchen tribe didn’t even have their own writing system and couldn’t afford to buy “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, so how could they know anything?

Nurhaci is a tribal man, and honor and respect are more important than life and death.

He immediately looked at the students with a gleam in his eyes, took a step forward and stood in front of the sand table.

"Okay! Since the master has spoken, and the staff officers have shown their respect, I will venture to speak."

This time, the whole audience was shocked.

Shit, no way, I asked you to say it and you really said it?

Lu Yuan knew very well that a brave man who left his name in history could not be compared with a sparrow.
"Okay! Just tell me. If what you say makes sense, the whole army will obey your command!"

Nurhaci was shocked and looked at Lu Yuan with eyes full of surprise.

This trust and respect from his master gave him a sense of honor that "a gentleman will die for his friend."

He pointed to the central tent of the Imperial Guards and said firmly, "Shoot the horse first when shooting a person, and capture the leader first when capturing a thief. If it were me, I would send a death squad to raid the enemy commander's tent..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the staff officers were shocked and then began to laugh.

"Ridiculous! Do you think this is just a game?"

"The enemy's central army has 35,000 soldiers. It's a pipe dream to charge into their tent!"

"That's right, one person can drown you with just a mouthful of spit. What the hell is that?"

Lu Yuan frowned and knocked on the table.

The principal's expression of power was not "Hello Katie", and the operations room suddenly fell silent.

Lu Yuan said slowly, "Do you still have any discipline? You always have to let people finish their words. Why are you so anxious?"

The staff officers stood at attention in unison: "The principal's instruction is correct, and the students know they are wrong!"

Lu Yuan then said to Nurhachi with a smile: "No matter who wins or loses, at least your method of boosting your morale is what a real man does! Well, go on, why do you fight like this?"

Nurhachi was moved again, raised his fist and said: "I want to let the enemy know that they will face death and killing at any time and anywhere. Once they are scared, no matter how many soldiers are behind them, they can be defeated in one go."

He knelt on one knee and said: "I am willing to serve as the leader of the death squad. If I don't succeed, I will die!"

Holy shit, isn’t this the “Sword Spirit”?!
Lu Yuan's eyes lit up, he praised Nurhaci highly and reached out to help him up.

On the battlefield, the key to victory or defeat is not simply the number of people or equipment, but people!
The student staff officers present here are far better than Nurhaci in talking about military theories and classic battle examples.

However, after all, they have never really fought in the battlefield, so all they think about and talk about are data on paper, and therefore, they cannot let go of their habitual thinking.

But Nurhaci was different. He had been fighting wild beasts in the white mountains and black waters since he was a child. From his survival experience of iron and blood, he summed up the essence of war.

That is, be brave to challenge and dare to attack the most powerful enemy.

Such a hero can be killed, but never defeat him.

"Well said Nurhachi!"

Lu Yuan praised loudly, and then earnestly reminded the student staff officer: "Since we are wearing military uniforms, we are soldiers. Only by trying to defeat the enemy can we protect ourselves and our families!"

Someone asked weakly, "Principal, I'm not afraid of death! But if the enemy is too strong, who will protect our family if we die?"

The scene suddenly became quiet, and even Nurhaci looked at Lu Yuan blankly.

"That's a good question! But no matter how powerful an army is, they all have their weaknesses. As long as I find their weaknesses, I can defeat them."

"weakness?"

"Yes! As the old saying goes: War is a place of life and death, the way of survival and destruction must be carefully considered. You must remember two things: despise the enemy strategically, and take the enemy seriously tactically."

Everyone was amazed at what the principal said. Every word he said hit the point. It was amazing!
"Yes! I will follow the principal's instructions: despise the enemy strategically and take him seriously tactically."

Lu Yuan smiled and said, "Then you should further refine the tactics so that Nurhaci can successfully attack the enemy's central army tent!"

"Yes!"

A group of staff officers took action, some looking for maps, some planning surprise attack tactics, some searching for information and intelligence. The operations room was busy but not chaotic.

Lu Yuan did not interfere with his students' work. After leaving the tent, he took Nurhaci for a ride on horseback.

The turn of spring and summer is the best time for all things to grow.

Lu Yuan looked into the distance and saw a vast grassland covered with green carpet under the blue sky.

The boundless universe makes people feel particularly small, yet they inexplicably give rise to the ambition to conquer the world.

He suddenly asked: "Nurhachi, look at this vast grassland, how magnificent and refreshing it is!"

Nurhachi tried to open his eyes wide and looked around, but he didn't see any wild animals or pheasants, and he couldn't help feeling a little disgusted.

He said perfunctorily: "Master is right, it is magnificent, very good, very good!"

Seeing that he was confused, Lu Yuan laughed and asked, "The housekeeper said that you are the bravest hero in the tribe. I am very curious, why don't you go back to the tribe, but come to serve as a soldier here?"

"Master, Uncle Talu was just joking. It's nothing more than catching more prey and running faster. But these can't be exchanged for enough food and clothes. Every year when the white disaster comes, many people in the tribe will die. Uncle Talu said that following the master to fight can make the tribe live a good life, so I came."

Lu Yuan nodded and asked, "Don't you have any ideas?"

"Ah? What's your idea?"

"You don't want to be an official, make money, marry a wife and raise children?"

Nurhachi said calmly, "I have a six-year-old daughter. My mother is taking care of her in the old forest!" "What about your wife?"

"She was kidnapped by another tribe. It is said that she married the son of a tribe leader and gave birth to a pair of children."

Lu Yuan watched and listened, and found that the other party's eyes were dull, as if he was talking about someone else's family affairs.

"Aren't you angry?"

"My Lord, I was very angry at first, but then I heard that she was living well over there, so I stopped being angry."

The underlying logic that started with slash-and-burn agriculture: whoever is strong has the right to speak.

As tribal members, they would basically not sacrifice the survival of the entire tribe for a certain woman.

For any civilization, survival comes first.

Suddenly, a clear cry was heard in the sky.

The two of them looked up at the same time and saw a hawk circling around.

Nurhachi laughed and said, "This flat-haired beast must have discovered a hare or a gerbil..."

Before he finished his words, the goshawk glided rapidly and swooped down to the ground like a cruise missile.

Coincidentally, the prey appeared on a small mound about forty or fifty meters in front of the two people. It was an adult gray rabbit.

Eagles are natural enemies of hares, but this hare seemed particularly alert and quickly rushed towards the cave.

But Hawkeye had already made preparations in advance and locked it firmly, with its huge eagle wings completely covering the prey.

The hare sensed the danger and fell to the ground suddenly when the eagle's claw was about to catch it. In a flash, it kicked up its hind legs and directly blocked the eagle's claw.

Having missed the opportunity to hunt, the goshawk could only flap its wings and fly away again, while the hare took the opportunity to escape back to its hole.

What a beautiful “rabbit kicking eagle”!
This scene stunned Lu Yuan and Nurhaci.

Back in the operations room, a group of staff officers had already formulated a preliminary action plan for the desperate assault.

To ensure success, they designed many smoke bombs, and the final location of the action was chosen next to the large lake called "Tian'e Dang".

Lu Yuan has taken a look at it and found that the details are well done and all aspects are arranged properly, so there are no major problems.

He explained it in detail to Nurhachi, and finally asked: "Give you a hundred people and ask you to stay hidden for two days and one night. Is that a problem?"

Nurhaci wrote down all the details of the action plan, thought it was feasible, and knelt on one knee to swear an oath.

"Master, rest assured! I guarantee with my life that I will complete the task!"

"it is good!"

Lu Yuan helped the other man up and patted his shoulder: "Go ahead, you can choose the manpower and the whole army, and we will give you as much equipment and supplies as you want..."

"Yes! I'll go right away!"

Nurhaci excitedly ran to various camps to recruit death squads.

In order to ensure that the team members are ready to die, Lu Yuan promised that the team members' death pension will be tripled and their loyal souls will be enshrined in the Heroes' Temple.

Moreover, those who are lucky enough to survive will be promoted three levels and be awarded the title of "Soldier King" of the North Navy.

Lu Yuan has a staff of three thousand men under his command, and many of them want to get rich, get promoted, or save their families.

By the evening, 100 members of the death-defying team, led by Nurhaci, with grenades hanging on their chests, stood in front of Lu Yuan's tent.

Lu Yuan picked up the wine cup and said loudly: "God, on behalf of the millions of people outside the Great Wall, I offer you a bowl of wine to show your respect! Cheers!"

Below, the thunderous voice of the death squad members answered: "Done!"

"Gudong Gudong..."

101 people drank it all at the same time, followed by the sound of wine cups being smashed.

Nurhachi saluted with a "Pa" and said: "Master, I'm leaving!"

Lu Yuan suddenly laughed and said, "Nurhachi, I have a feeling that you will overturn Ling Lun's tent just like that rabbit!"

Nurhachi also laughed out loud: "I will definitely cut off Ling Lun's head and bring it back to present to my master!"

As night falls, 100 members of the Death Squad sneak secretly towards "Swan Dang".

Lu Yuan stipulated that in order to maintain confidentiality, no one except themselves would know the specific hiding location during the next two days and one night.

After Nurhaci left, Lu Yuan ordered the entire army to conduct guerrilla warfare and lead the imperial guards to Tian'e Dang.

At midnight, in the tent of the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, Tong Guang, with white hair and beard, wearing armor, was still reviewing the military reports delivered that day.

As he watched, he couldn't help but frown: "Only nearly 10,000 people dare to take the initiative to provoke? Where do they come from?"

The clerk beside him replied in panic: "Reporting to the deputy commander, the flag is the 'Northern Navy'... The details are not available yet, and we are still trying to find out."

Tong Guang said in a low voice with a sullen face: "Well, tell the people below that if they can't find out the truth in two days, they will lead the army."

"Yes!"

At this time, Tong Guang's deputy general Gao Xinyi asked in confusion: "Beihai... Your Majesty doesn't seem to plan to go that far this time, why did they come here?"

Tong Guang was very wary of unfamiliar enemies and would not easily express his opinion. Instead of answering, he asked: "No, it doesn't taste right... With such a small number of troops, they can't even defeat the front army. Why do they dare to harass the left and right wings?"

Gao Xinyi nodded and shook his head, guessing: "Could it be that they are some ignorant people who don't understand the art of war and are acting recklessly?"

Looking at the marks on the map, Tong Guang shook his head and sighed, "The military report lists the number of our casualties, but only says that we defeated a large number of enemies... It's probably because there is no definite result of the battle."

Gao Xinyi was surprised and asked, "Catch or kill them all? Who are these Northern Navy soldiers? Otherwise..."

After looking at Tong Guang's expression, he asked tentatively, "Strengthen the patrol team internally and send more scouts to follow the clues and find their lair?"

Tong Guang paused. Although this method was a bit clumsy, it was the most reliable and common way to deal with it.

"Ok!"

Seeing the old commander's approval, Gao Xinyi agreed and turned around to go out of the tent to dispatch scouts to investigate the enemy's whereabouts.

The lights in the deputy commander's tent remained on until late at night. At his age of sixty, he was no longer fit for marching.

However, the emperor has recently been carrying out a massive purge in the military, to a level that is bordering on madness.

The Minister of War hanged himself in prison, 8 out of 6 generals with outstanding contributions were killed, 18 out of 15 generals were killed, and as for the middle-level officers, countless of them died in vain.

This led to everyone in the Shenling Empire feeling insecure.

If not for Tong Guang's introverted personality and his advanced age and illness, he probably would not have lived to this day.

Although he did not like Emperor Linggui's "Purification Movement", he was a real soldier. After receiving the imperial order, he put on his military uniform and went to the battlefield despite his illness.

Having not touched military power for ten years, his military skills have become even more sophisticated.

Although the imperial capital was extremely luxurious and could be called the number one city in the world, it was a false prosperity brought about by the depletion of the national treasury.

He was able to see the big picture from the small details and had long since glimpsed the danger of the empire's collapse from the boiling public resentment.

After leaving the country, many signs further confirmed his premonition.

Although they managed to defeat the Liaodong border troops, they did not capture Lingxiong, and only about 10,000 of them were killed in the battle. The remaining 30,000 or so mysteriously disappeared in the vast grassland.

Moreover, Taining was almost an empty city, which showed that people outside the Great Wall did not welcome the Imperial Guards.

The Second Prince's personal guards, in anger, used terror to suppress innocent people, which in turn aroused even greater hatred.

What a pig teammate!

However, he was the head coach, and Tong Guang couldn't stop him even if he disagreed.

Hopefully, this is the last time...right?
After clearing the grassland, hurry back to the interior.

As long as the empire concentrates its strength on defeating the foreign enemies in the west, it can still hold on for a while.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

Tong Guang, who was in a trance, jumped up as if he were resurrected with full blood.

"Enemy attack!" (End of this chapter)