As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 320 Lure the Enemy
"What? The Emperor Qianlong has ordered Song Mingzhe to be transferred away?"

In Zhenling Pass, soldiers are building a new city in full swing.

This pass, situated between Beilie and Qianyuan, has become the biggest obstacle to Beilie's southward expansion in recent years.

Now Bei Lie has finally gotten his hands on it.

Inside the commander's tent, a composed middle-aged general listened to his subordinate's report, his brows furrowed, muttering to himself.

He was Deng Yingcheng, the commander-in-chief of the three passes in the northern border of Qianyuan.

He now holds the Qian Yuan Three Passes, which Bei Lie acquired from the Jing Lan Alliance at great cost. His mission is to guard these three passes before Bei Lie's army marches south.

As long as he guards the pass well, does nothing else, and doesn't lose any of the three passes, then he has made a great contribution.

So after he arrived here, he continuously strengthened the city's defenses and implemented a scorched-earth policy.

Qian Yuan's army was no pushover either. They marched north in a mighty force, wiping out everything in their path. In less than two months, they recovered a large amount of land and stationed their troops in Xingyue City, which was very close to the Three Passes.

Xingyue City is located on a plain and has no strategic terrain for protection, but fortunately the city is well-built and has a river, so it can be considered a fortified city.

After Song Mingzhe pushed the battle line here, he tentatively attacked Xingtai Pass, which was the closest pass to them.

Unfortunately, it's completely unkillable.

Deng Yingcheng was stationed at Zhenling Pass, the rearmost point, and didn't even see a trace of the Qian Yuan army.

The two armies faced off, quietly awaiting the arrival of winter.

Although Song Mingzhe could not compare to unparalleled top generals like Tian Hong and Ling Yu, he was still a capable general who strategized and won more battles than he lost.

Deng Yingcheng considered himself a rather formidable opponent.

However, Deng Yingcheng did not expect that Qian Yuan would transfer Song Mingzhe away at this critical juncture.

Changing generals on the eve of battle is a major taboo in military strategy.

What does "乾元" mean?

"Did they send someone even stronger?"

"So you still want to give up?"

He walked to the edge of the sand table, quietly looking at the strategic deployment on it, his brow furrowed.

He paused, then asked, "Who is the current general in command of the army in Qian Yuan?"

"Song Hongsheng, son of Song Mingzhe."

Upon hearing this, Deng Yingcheng abruptly raised his head: "Huh?"

"Has the Emperor Qianlong lost his mind?!"

"How dare you humiliate me like this?!"

As far as he knew, Song Hongsheng was just a young general in his late teens or early twenties.

He learned military strategy from his father and mastered it, showing a great deal of influence from his father, which earned him some fame.

But he's too young!

This should only be his second time on the battlefield.

Battlefield experience and knowledge are a general's most valuable assets.

How could someone like that possibly command an army?!

Do you really think everyone is like Ming Chen Ling Yu?
Ling Yu is a disciple of a military genius, so it's only natural that he receives special treatment.

Even someone as extraordinary as Mingchen has never led a large army into battle on his own.

Unconsciously, Deng Yingcheng's breathing quickened for a moment.

Could this be a chance to make a great contribution?
Everyone has desires.

When faced with temptation, it's inevitable that your heart will race.

Even the most composed person will have a million thoughts running through their mind in that one moment.

The army in the northern border of Qian Yuan only numbered eight thousand, and the general in charge was a passionate young man.

The south side is flat and there are no natural defenses to be found.

As far as he knew, Emperor Qian was still staying in Yueyang and would wait until at least the spring of next year before deciding whether to return to Jiqu. There were not many troops guarding Yueyang.

If he were to go all in and crush Xingyue City, then march south and take Yueyang, he might achieve the feat of destroying a nation!

This is a merit that will be remembered for thousands of years!
The reason why many people cannot see through simple temptations is not because their schemes are so sophisticated, but simply because the bait is too big and too tempting.

It blinds people's wisdom, making them hypnotize themselves.

However, a fleeting thought is just a thought.

Deng Yingcheng shook his head and stared intently at the sand table in front of him.

Is it a scam?

Perhaps it's a trap?
Perhaps Song Hongsheng really is a talented person?
His Majesty's task for him was to guard the three passes in the northern border of Qian Yuan; he only needed to defend the passes.

His achievement was to defend the city, implement a scorched-earth policy, do nothing, and wait for the army to march south.

only……

He can stay clear-headed and resist temptation, which others may not be able to do.

"Report!"

Not long after, an officer strode over and shouted to Deng Yingcheng from afar, "General, the Qian Yuan Army, led by Song Hongsheng, launched a major attack on Xingtai Pass, but was ambushed by General Bai. The attack from both sides broke through their formation and they suffered a great defeat, killing two thousand enemy soldiers."

"General Bai has already led his troops in pursuit. General Deng, please also send troops south to take Yueyang directly."

Deng Yingcheng's eyes widened immediately: "What?!"

"Bai Junxin!!!"

He was deeply shaken and shouted angrily, "Who gave him permission to fight without authorization?!"

Bai Junxin had always been at odds with him and was stationed at Xingtai Pass, the furthest point from him.

The two held similar official positions. Although Deng Yingcheng was nominally the commander-in-chief, Bai Junxin did not submit to him.

They disliked each other, but simply did what they were supposed to do.

Fortunately, Bai Junxin had experienced many wars, was brave and skilled in battle, and was also a formidable commander. When he fought, his momentum was like a tiger, and his battles were relentless.

He's a reliable general.

But he didn't expect that Bai Junxin would send troops south without even consulting him.

What is Bai Junxin's psychology?
Don't you want him to steal the credit?

Want to prove yourself?
Openly challenging me?
If Bai Junxin wins, he will definitely show off in front of me.

If we lose... then the problem will be even more serious.

At that moment, Deng Yingcheng, enraged, was lost in thought.

Whether Bai Junxin succeeds or fails, it's not good news for him.

How many men did he bring?

"Five thousand."

“Five thousand!!!”

How many people are guarding Xingtai Pass?

"one thousand……"

A growing sense of foreboding intensified in Deng Yingcheng's heart. His eyes widened as he turned to look at the sand table, muttering repeatedly, "Xingtai Pass... Xingtai Pass..."

"Go find General Luo immediately and order him to lead three thousand elite troops to Xingtai Pass as quickly as possible to defend it!!"

"Immediately!!! Go now!!!"

"Yes!"

"Wait a minute..."

Just as the officer was about to leave, Deng Yingcheng, his face ashen, waved his hand again and grabbed the helmet from the table: "I'll go myself!"

……

On the other side,
"This General Song is quite a talent."

"To be able to integrate so many people in such a short time..."

Duke Anguo, who should have been leisurely strolling through Yueyang City, and Duke Yingguo, who was heading south to suppress bandits, suddenly appeared on a hill in the northern border.

The two stood side by side, quietly gazing into the distance.

Behind them, the air was quiet, with only faint breathing sounds that could be heard.

Amidst the snow and trees, the sharp gaze seemed capable of piercing through one's entire body.

A pack of ferocious beasts lurks here.

Mingchen took off his fur coat and draped it over Lingyu, saying with a faint smile, "If this succeeds, he will deserve the greatest credit!"

Song Mingzhe faces little pressure heading north.

The North is shattered, the people are impoverished, and the resistance forces are mostly bandits.

A hundred men were enough to form a mountain stronghold, but they were immediately overwhelmed by the overwhelming Qian Yuan army.

Song Mingzhe led Xiao Xinyue's most elite 8,000 soldiers with almost no losses; on the contrary, their numbers increased as the battle progressed, and they captured a large number of prisoners.

These people are violent and eccentric, disorganized and undisciplined, and insubordinate.

Normally, they would either be executed without surrender or escorted back to be forced into labor service.

Keeping them in the army would only affect morale, breed chaos, and hinder the rapid northward march.

However, Song Mingzhe still managed to recruit them all.

And here it comes in handy...

Once you put on your military uniform and armor, who can tell if you're a suicide squad member or a regular soldier?
The chaotic military formation was simply attributed to the young men's lack of command skills and poor handling of the situation.

It was only natural that they were utterly defeated.

It is a demon of a chaotic world, and it is difficult to return to a peaceful and prosperous era.

These people act arrogantly and live off human bones and flesh; it is only right that we should fight them to the death for everything they have done.

If I survive, I have the chance to become a soldier; if I die, I will turn into dust to commemorate a peaceful and prosperous world, and I will not feel any regret.

"Mingchen, I need to fight. Wearing this will hinder my movements."

When it comes to serious matters, Ling Yu is serious matters; she won't be fooling around with Ming Chen at this crucial moment.

Her expression was serious as she pushed away the fur coat that Mingchen had draped over her shoulders.

"What's wrong? Does the commander have to lead from the front?" Mingchen looked at her serious expression and couldn't help but chuckle.

Ling Yu is now a renowned general, and he has passed the stage where he needs to fight desperately.

Personally, Mingchen dislikes his commanders leading from the front.

He preferred to watch from the sidelines, strategizing and observing as his troops triumphed.

Ling Yu shook her head: "We don't have many people, so we need my presence to boost morale."

Besides... she has a grudge against Bei Lie!
Every time she personally slays a soldier from the Northern Fierce Army, she feels her family in the underworld smiling at her.

Mingchen shrugged and didn't say anything more.

It's just a personal marching style.

He was watching from the side, ensuring Ling Yu's safety.

He had almost forgotten that his sister had a progress bar for slaughtering millions, and he had no idea where it was at.

However, Mingchen's state of mind has changed somewhat, and he no longer wants to fulfill his sister Dai's long-cherished wish.

Ling Yu is his wife, not a killer.

Mingchen didn't know how the future would affect Lingyu's mindset; he only hoped to hold onto the present and keep everything unchanged.

Ling Yu stared intently at the north and said softly, "We still don't know if it will work!"

If Song Hongsheng were to flee, he would take this route.

If enemy generals were pursuing them at Xingtai Pass, they would certainly follow this route.

She had studied all the terrain around here, and there were only a few suitable locations for an ambush, and this was the best one.

However, she also had a hidden worry: if the enemy general was highly skilled and knew that this place was suitable for an ambush, he would not come again.

Commanding an army is like making a multi-layered cake; one must consider one's own strengths as well as the capabilities of the enemy general.

Especially when using tricks to deceive the opponent, it's crucial to carefully control the degree of manipulation.

She spent a long time considering this location and another secondary ambush site.

In the end, I chose this place.

"If it works, great; if not, we'll think of another way."

There aren't that many things in the world that are 100% guaranteed to succeed.

The initiative in luring the enemy into an ambush lies with the opposing general.

Human thoughts are beyond our control; we can only infer their general behavioral patterns based on their personality.

Whether or not one falls for the trap is just a matter of a thought.

Even Mingchen couldn't control people's hearts.

This trip north was originally just a trial.

Since the three passes have already fallen into enemy hands, let's kill two birds with one stone.

If it works, great; if the other party doesn't take the bait, there's nothing you can do.

Fortunately, the losses weren't too great.

Looking at the snow on the hill, Ling Yu said softly, "We only have this one winter to go."

The Northern Lie have declared war, but have not yet sent a large army south because winter has arrived.

The northern border of Qian Yuan was in ruins, making it impossible to supply the army; they could only rely on logistical support. In winter, the rivers froze, hindering the water transport of food and supplies, while land transport was too costly.

The last ceasefire, when Mingchen went north to negotiate, was also in winter.

The extended supply lines during winter make fighting extremely disadvantageous for the Northern Lie.

Qin Lou knew that this war would last a long time and that he needed to save costs as much as possible.

Therefore, Qian Yuan only has this one winter as his opportunity.

"If I don't get your name, I'll be in big trouble!"

Now, both within and outside Qian Yuan, Ming Chen's reputation is being praised far too highly.

A savior of the nation, a harbinger of chaos in a turbulent era, he accomplished countless miraculous feats, seemingly a divine being descended from heaven, invincible in every battle, and successful in everything he did.

These are all marks he left on this era.

If this trip north yields no results, it will be a blow to Mingchen's reputation.

Mingchen pinched her cheek: "What about our Duke of Ying's name? Isn't our General Ling invincible?"

They were the two pillars of the Qian Yuan dynasty, protecting the nation.

Ling Yu shook his head and said indifferently, "My master told me that there is no such thing as a general who can win every battle. The more you value this title, the more likely you are to suffer an irreparable defeat."

She never cared about these things.

Just do your best.

Mingchen said nonchalantly, "So, I don't care either~"

"It's fine if it doesn't work out. It'll help to lull the enemy into a false sense of security and cool everyone down."

The enemies he referred to here were not only the Northern Lie, but also the ministers in his own court.

Humans are very complex.

They share a common enemy nation, and they will proudly proclaim in the court, "If you want war, then let's fight!" But they also often harbor malice towards their own people.

Jealousy, disdain, disgust... everyone has pride, everyone has selfish desires.

People tend to exaggerate their own achievements while belittling the talents of others.

For example, Bai Junxin's relationship with Deng Yingcheng.

Bei Lie has it, and Qian Yuan also has it.

The reason it is not visible now is because the light is too dazzling and has covered all the shadows.

Once the sun sets in the west, many demons and monsters will appear.

Mingchen was held in a very high position, and many people were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

As the two were talking, Mingchen seemed to sense something and looked up towards the north: "However... it seems this won't be the last time!"

The spirited horses neighed and galloped in from the north.

……

No sooner had Song Mingzhe left than Song Hongsheng, as if to prove something, led his army to attack Xingtai Pass.

However, Bai Junxin had anticipated this young player's potential.

They had set up ambushes in two mountain forests outside the pass in advance, and instead of defending the pass, they went out to meet the enemy and surrounded them from three sides with the ambushers, inflicting a great defeat on them.

The army's formation was broken.

Song Mingzhe was extremely cautious, and he would feel heartbroken for half a day if even one of his soldiers died. In this battle, two thousand soldiers were killed or wounded.

This was an unprecedented defeat for Qian Yuan since he went north to confront Bei Lie.

Seeing the enemy army fleeing in disarray, Bai Junxin could not resist mounting his horse and leading his troops in pursuit.

With the morale of the Qian Yuan army severely damaged, their troops scattered and their formations chaotic, this was the perfect opportunity to launch an attack.

Deng Yingcheng, that old turtle, has always been one step ahead of him, and he needs to find an opportunity to prove himself.

Now the opportunity has arrived. He must wipe out the Qian Yuan army and capture Xingyue City before Deng Yingcheng does.

Even... one can imagine the devastating achievement of marching south and directly threatening Yueyang.

Regardless, if he succeeds, he will be the general with the highest merit in this battle, and will be honored and rewarded, and his name will be recorded in history.

Snowmelt and mud mixed to form a muddy road, and horses galloped by, kicking up clouds of dust.

A massive army surged forward.

Leading the group was a short but very fat general with a mustache, holding a long spear, and galloping on horseback.

Seeing that he was about to catch up with the fleeing Qian Yuan army, his eyes grew even more eager.

He intends to take over Xingyue City on his own.

However, his adjutant rode up on horseback, panting heavily, and said as if to advise, "General, don't pursue a desperate enemy."

"If you go any further, you'll reach Qifeng Slope. I've scouted it out; it's an extremely suitable place to set up an ambush."

“I heard some of the defeated soldiers shouting that they were not the regular army of Qian Yuan, but just bandits from the northern border.”

"I think this battle was really strange."

"How about we wait for General Deng's reinforcements to arrive before launching a joint attack on the city?"

Bai Junxin raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Waiting for them?!"

"Whether General Deng, the one who's in charge of maintaining the status quo, will send troops is still uncertain! By the time they arrive, the enemy will have already regrouped!"

"The opportunity will never come again!"

"That stupid brat Song Hongsheng lost so many soldiers in this battle. His troops are all under my control. Where is he going to find an ambush?"

"Northern bandits? You believe that? That's just a child's excuse to save his own life!"

"Yan Jia, this battle is our chance to achieve unparalleled glory! If we falter, this opportunity will be lost forever!"

In contrast to Deng Yingcheng, Bai Junxin was a brave and enterprising general.

He was known for his fearless pioneering spirit and climbed step by step to the position of general.

Therefore, he will attack without hesitation once he has the opportunity.

It's not that Bai Junxin is stupid and doesn't know how to think things through; it's just that he's now unwilling to believe certain clues.

The arrow has to be fired when it is on the string.

Even if he discovers some problems, his brain will automatically generate reasons to explain them.

From his perspective, all he saw was Qian Yuan changing generals on the eve of battle, Song Mingzhe's selfishness in placing his own son in command, the young general's foolishness and recklessness, the collapse of morale, and the heavy loss of troops...

Now is the best time to attack!

If we don't seize the opportunity and throw out our chips, and wait for Qian Yuan to recover and then replace the general, we'll never have another chance.

Just as the army was marching rapidly and was about to achieve great merit,

"Whoosh!"

Just as the Northern Fierce Legion was crossing the hill, a sharp arrow pierced the air and arrived.

(End of this chapter)