The Prodigal Son

Zong Bi quickly discerned the Ning army's intentions.

Wangzhou Prefecture!

This is Ning Jun's true objective.

If they use Wangzhou Prefecture, Panshibao, and Changping as their defensive lines, the enemy only needs to send one force to tie down the troops in Panshibao before launching a major attack on Wangzhou Prefecture.

Changping is quite far from Wangzhou Prefecture. Under these circumstances, it is uncertain whether Wang Sengyuan's troops can even protect themselves, let alone provide timely support to Wangzhou Prefecture!

Once Wangzhou Prefecture falls, the troops in Changping and Panshibao will become easy prey for the enemy.

If that's the case, why keep Wang Sengyuan guarding Changping?

Are we just giving away our war achievements to the enemy?

Conversely, if Wang Sengyuan were to lead his troops to retreat to Pengzhao, the distance between the various units would be relatively short, allowing for timely support.

Upon hearing Zong Bi's words, the generals finally realized what was happening.

He Cong nodded slightly, then asked, "Does the General also agree to order Wang Sengyuan to lead his troops to retreat to Pengzhao?"

Zong Bi gently shook his head, "You underestimate the enemy! The enemy cannot allow Wang Sengyuan's troops to retreat to Pengzhao. Even if he did retreat to Pengzhao, he would probably have very few troops left!"

He Cong pondered silently for a while, then gave a helpless, bitter smile.

Yes!

With the enemy having prepared for so long, how could they possibly allow Wang Sengyuan's troops to retreat safely to Pengzhao!

"What is the General's opinion?"

At this moment, another general spoke up to ask a question.

Zong Bi lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then a fierce glint appeared in his eyes: "Either we find a way to support Wang Sengyuan's troops, or we go all out!"

Everyone was taken aback by Zong Bi's words.

They could understand why they needed to support Wang Sengyuan's troops.

But how should one take this gamble?

"Report..."

Just then, a loud voice rang out from outside.

Immediately afterwards, a messenger, led by Zong Yuan, jogged in.

Upon meeting Zong Bi, the messenger immediately reported: "Reporting to General, after the Ning people occupied Zhu County, they drove out the people from the city, and the people of Zhu County fled to Panshi Fort and Wangzhou Prefecture..."

Upon hearing the message brought by the messenger, Zong Bi's face turned pale and then red.

Damn the ancestors of Ning!

The Ning people are trying to use the people to consume their grain!

They clearly wanted them to collapse without a fight!

Although he didn't know what tricks Ning Ren had up his sleeve, he was pretty sure that the fact that Yan State hadn't had much new grain on the market yet was most likely related to Ning Ren!

Damn Ning people!

This time, they definitely want to destroy the Great Yan!

Zong Bi was initially hesitant, but now he has made up his mind!

Let's take a gamble!

He wanted to see just how capable the Ning people really were!

Having made up your mind, Zongbi, give the order in a deep voice.

"Shan Hong, I order you to lead two thousand cavalrymen and advance towards Zhujun! If you encounter enemy forces along the way, retreat immediately! If you do not encounter enemy forces, proceed to Du County, and from Du County onwards, burn all the granaries in the cities along the route towards Wangzhou Prefecture. Order the people of each city to take their family's grain and flee in all directions!"

"Tong Lu, I order you to lead 15,000 troops, carrying my banner, and advance towards Pengzhao! The main force will retreat after 15 li outside the city, leaving only 2,000 cavalry to continue the advance. Burn all the granaries in the cities and towns from Pengzhao to Wangzhou Prefecture!"

"Immediately order Wang Sengyuan to divide his troops into two armies of two thousand, advancing towards Zhu County! Leave three thousand men to cover the rear, and the rest of the troops shall retreat to Panshi Fort overnight! Before retreating, burn all provisions and supplies!"

"Order Wu Huaishan of Panshi Fort to dispatch two thousand men to cooperate with Wang Sengyuan's feinting force and create the illusion of attacking Zhu County..."

Zong Bi issued several orders in succession.

However, upon hearing Zong Bi's order, everyone was somewhat bewildered.

Is this a preemptive strike?

Is this what he meant by taking a gamble?

"General, what are you doing?"

Even He Cong, who had always been by Zong Bi's side, couldn't understand his orders.

A ruthless glint flashed in Zong Bi's eyes as he gritted his teeth and growled, "Join forces at Panshi Fortress and seize control of the Ning army!"

Seeing that no one understood his strategic intentions, Zong Bi could only suppress his anger and patiently explain to them.

Although he still doesn't understand why Yan State hasn't had much new grain on the market, he's certain that Ning people are behind it all.

Given the current situation, the Yan state will soon face a food shortage.

Once a large-scale food crisis breaks out, the Yan state will fall into internal strife!

If the Ning people were to invade, the Yan state would be in danger.

What he needs to do now is to cut off the Ning people's opportunity to quickly obtain supplies from Yan territory, delay the Ning army's offensive, and buy time for the reinforcements behind them!

It's practically impossible for Wang Sengyuan's troops to retreat to Pengzhao!

But the chances of retreating to Rock Fortress are much greater!

He sent 15,000 troops there as a feint, hoping to make the enemy think they were going to reinforce Wang Sengyuan's troops, thus giving Wang Sengyuan's troops a chance to retreat to Panshi Fort.

Once Wang Sengyuan's troops retreat to Panshi Fort and join forces with the main army there, they can rely on the fort's defenses to cut off the Ning army's supply lines and threaten their future grain transport routes.

Unable to obtain sufficient supplies from Yan territory and with their supply lines threatened, Ning's army would certainly try to remove Panshi Fortress as a thorn in their side.

Once their reinforcements arrive, they will not only drive the Ning army out, but also concentrate their forces to invade Ning territory, seize grain, or force the Ning people to give them grain!

Only in this way can the State of Yan possibly weather the impending great crisis.

Hearing Zongbi's explanation, everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

He Cong slowly raised his head, looking at Zong Bi with a complicated expression: "General, if we do this, the people of Wangzhou will likely all die!"

The other generals also looked at Zong Bi.

What He Cong said was also what they wanted to say.

He had already foreseen the food crisis in Daning, and even ordered the burning of granaries along the way.

Before winter arrives, countless people will starve to death!

"I know!"

Zong Bi gritted his teeth and growled, "But we have no way out now! Do you want the people of an entire province to die, or do you want the country to be destroyed?"

Destroy...destroy the country?

"It shouldn't be... that serious, right?"

He Cong's heart skipped a beat, and he again worriedly advised, "Moreover, we have many soldiers from Wangzhou in our army. If we do this, it might cause a mutiny!"

He didn't want to do that!

If we actually do that, even if we defeat the enemy, we will lose the hearts and minds of the people and the army.

If the soldiers mutinied, the outcome would only be worse.

"No!"

Zong Bi shook his head slightly, his face ruthless: "Tell the soldiers, this was all done by the Ning people!"

Therefore, they want to drive the Ning people out!

They might even invade Ningguo territory to avenge their fallen comrades!

"this……"

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth, "Can this really be kept secret?"

Sending so many people to do this, we can't just kill all the generals who set fire to the granaries afterward to silence them, can we?

"Maybe!"

Zong Bi gave an ambiguous answer, gritting his teeth as he said, "Hesitation will only lead to more trouble! My mind is made up; all units shall execute the order immediately!"

Now that we've come this far, let's not hesitate any longer!

Right now, nothing is more important than containing the Ning army's offensive!

Even if he suffers eternal infamy, Zongbi will bear the brunt of it!