Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 22 Master-Disciple Interview
In the center of Huang Chao's camp, the commander-in-chief's felt tent is behind the curtain.

Zhu Wen looked solemnly at his master opposite him.

"Liangyu, please sit down." Huang Chao waved his hand, motioning Zhu Wen to sit down. "Are you saying that you have completely seen through Snow Commander Qi Kerang's plan and figured out how to break it?"

If Qi Kerang's plan could be broken by a young man, he would not be the world-renowned "Snow Marshal".

Because in the past, many people who were conceited, smart, and experienced had thought they had figured out a way to break Qi Kerang's plan.

As a result they either died or died in their military careers.

Because someone who suffers such a terrible defeat will never have a second chance to lead an army into battle.

But Huang Chao always felt that young people had unlimited possibilities.

If the Four Great Generals of the Tang Dynasty maintained their great reputation until they died of old age, then this world would seem too boring.

So of course he had to listen carefully to Zhu Wen's opinions.

Zhu Wen lifted his skirt and slowly sat down on the crescent stool. "Teacher, you should remember that I mentioned that I am from Songzhou. Based on my years of experience, even if the Beibian River is completely dug, there may not be enough water."

Huang Chao said, "As long as the flood can submerge our Yanwangcheng camp to half a man's height, our army will have to move camp. We cannot stay in the wet and muddy..."

Zhu Wen said, "What if even if we completely dig up the Beibian River, we can't even flood our army camp?"

Huang Chao was shocked: "How did you make that judgment?"

"It's just based on my personal experience and intuition." Zhu Wen sighed. "How can a young man like me possess the same precise calculation ability as Qi Kerang?"

"Then we can't afford to gamble." Huang Chao said, "Master, I've also considered that Qi Kerang's pretense of breaching the dam is just a pretense to lure us into obstructing him, thereby sapping our army's strength and morale..."

"One more thing," Zhu Wen said, "the floods that swept through, destroyed people's fields and houses, and even drowned civilians and livestock, do not align with Qi Kerang's benevolent character."

Huang Chao laughed dumbly. "Kindness doesn't command the army, righteousness doesn't manage finances, affection doesn't establish affairs, and kindness doesn't serve as an official. This is a life-and-death battlefield. How could Qi Kerang, who rose to the position of regional commander, be so pedantic? In his early years, he fought against the Tubo under the command of Zhang Yichao, the former governor of the Guiyi Army, and even massacred people in Shibao City. He is definitely not a man who has never stained his clothes with blood."

"But if it's possible to avoid civilian casualties, General Xue will do his best to prevent it," Zhu Wen said confidently. "Besides, the people of Songzhou are all Han Chinese, not barbarians."

Huang Chao paused, seeming to think deeply. "Qi Kerang has indeed never slaughtered Han people indiscriminately. In the past, after suppressing rebellions, he only executed the leaders, and pacified and dismissed the rest. But the enemy and I are as hostile as water and fire. How can we hope for mercy from the enemy commander?"

"When deploying troops in battle, one cannot rely on the enemy's mercy. However, the enemy's past behavior can at least be used as one factor in making a judgment."

Zhu Wen said confidently, "And for a famous commander like Qi Kerang, everything he does is bound to be closely connected, like a chain of iron chains. He will not leave any plan or strategy unfinished."

"Then I will try to enter the mindset of the Four Great Commanders of the Tang Dynasty and figure out what Qi Kerang's plan is all about!"

At this moment, Zhu Wen's eyes were filled with confidence that no one else could do it better than him, which made Huang Chao marvel at the courage of this student.

"Liangyu, if you have any ideas, just tell me."

"Thank you, Master." Zhu Wen bowed and said, "Qi Kerang currently has three strategies: the first is digging a dike, the second is building a tunnel, and the third is building an earthen hill."

"We previously assumed the tunnel attack would distract our troops and provide cover for the dike digging. But since Qi Kerang's goal was to have our troops discover the dike digging as soon as possible so they could intervene and wear down their morale in the wooded area, which is not conducive to our tank operations, why bother engaging in a tunnel attack that would be impossible to succeed?"

"The earthen hills seem to be set up to suppress our troops from above, making it difficult for them to fight outside the camp. However, our troops have been fighting far away in the forests on the south bank of the Beibian River, while the earthen hills in front of the main camp continue to be built, and more and more of them. Could it be that Qi Kerang's supply camp has too many soldiers and nothing to do?"

Huang Chao was also a man of great intelligence. After hearing Zhu Wen's analysis, his mind suddenly became clear, as if a flash of lightning had struck him. He felt as if the clouds had been cleared and the sun had finally come out. But he didn't interrupt Zhu Wen. Instead, he counted on his fingers, signaling Zhu Wen to continue.

"Furthermore, if the dike is dug to release the water, the floodwaters will also flow into the tunnels, which would be detrimental to a waterborne attack." Zhu Wen asked, "But if Qi Kerang's goal was to divert the floodwaters into the tunnels, why would he do this?" "Our army's strength lies in its chariots and cavalry," Huang Chao said resolutely. "We will use chariots to advance, supported by light cavalry. Previous battles have proven that even the armored cavalry of the Pinglu army cannot withstand the sharp advance of our chariots and cavalry."

"That's right," Zhu Wen said. "If the dike isn't big enough to flood our camp, the flowing river water will turn the ground into a muddy mess, making it difficult for our chariots and cavalry to fight."

"Furthermore, I've discovered that most of the tunnels dug by the Taining Army are quite shallow, making them easily intercepted by our trenches. But if the tops of these shallow tunnels are removed, wouldn't they become a network of crisscrossing trenches? Once the Beibian River embankment is breached, the water will surge in, turning the battlefield into a swamp!"

Huang Chao said, "So the earthen hills that are constantly being built are actually forward camps. When the enemy's forward camps press in front of our camp, our army will be forced to fight a decisive battle."

"The soldiers of Wu and Chu are fond of attacking camps. But Qi Kerang's 'three thousand Yue soldiers,' armed with swords and knives, are adept at melee combat. Aren't they quintessentially 'soldiers of Wu and Chu'?"

The atmosphere in the tent seemed to be as calm as before.

But the world in the eyes of the master and disciple was already full of lightning and thunder.

When the surging lightning faded away, the hidden truth, after wiping away all the disguises above, became clearly visible.

There is only one truth. If one can uncover the enemy's true plan, then the outcome of the battle is entirely within their grasp.

Zhu Wen was so excited that he took a few breaths as he spoke. "During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Southern Army was adept at using the tactic of destroying the camp. Fighting in the cramped camps, not only was the cavalry unable to charge, but even the Northerners' traditional spear formations were blocked. However, the Southern Army's sword and shield tactics were unstoppable."

"But the key to attacking a camp is surprise. Only by advancing their positions to the front of our own camp can we launch a thunderous attack with our infantry."

"So, digging dikes on the river, excavating tunnels, and building earthen hills are all preparations for the destruction of the camp. And each of these strategies can also limit the strength of our chariots. Each one is linked to the other, like a chain of golden chains, with incredible ingenuity."

Huang Chao was silent for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and said loudly, "Well said!"

"The Four Great Commanders of the Tang Dynasty are indeed extraordinary. Liangyu, your analysis is naturally the most likely scenario that could emerge from the thinking of a figure like Qi Kerang."

"It's just..." Huang Chao shrugged. "Qikerang's plan is like a dragnet, impenetrable. Even if one or two links go wrong, it doesn't seem to affect the overall situation. For example, now that you and I have seen through this plan, it has simply turned Qikerang's conspiracy into an open one."

"But Liangyu, you said before that you already have a way to break the deadlock."

Zhu Wen smiled slightly, but secretly clenched his left fist to make his words sound more confident.

"Even an overt conspiracy will have flaws before it's fully launched. Just like a chain, no matter how beautiful it is, it's still held together with solder, so before it's completely welded, there will still be gaps."

"Qikerang's style is to strike back and then win. We just need to seize the loopholes in his strategy and strike first to defeat the enemy."

He swung his clenched left fist violently, his blood boiling uncontrollably in his chest.

"The powerful enemy can be defeated, and the overall situation is on our side. The victory or failure of this battle, survival or destruction, all falls into our calculations!"

Huang Chao also laughed.

He patted Zhu Wen's shoulder with force.

"The young are to be feared! You were absolutely right back then. What is there to fear about Snow Marshal Qi Kerang?"

Huang Chao said solemnly, "After this battle, the position of our army's chief strategist will belong to you. And your name will spread throughout the world as a man of extraordinary wisdom, rivaling the Four Great Generals of the Tang Dynasty!"

After listening to Zhu Wen's plan, he was actually very confident about the battle of Songzhou!

(End of this chapter)