The Eagle Shooting Heroes: From Golden-Knife Prince Consort to Emperor Guangwu of the Great Zhou Dyn

Guo Liqing said with a serious expression, "Your Majesty! Zhongxing Prefecture is currently besieged. Whether or not to attack the city is entirely up to us. If we attack, our army will certainly suffer heavy casualties."

Sun Tzu's Art of War states: "The best policy in warfare is to preserve the country intact; to destroy it is next best. The best policy is to preserve the army intact; to destroy it is next best."

War is not about killing the enemy, because killing the enemy comes at a price. If I kill a thousand enemies, I will lose eight hundred of my own.

Therefore, the best approach is to subdue the enemy without a fight and force him to surrender. In that case, the entire city's wealth, population, and army will be mine!

After listening, Genghis Khan smiled slightly and said, "So, along the way, you surrounded all the military towns without attacking them, hoping to subdue the enemy without a fight?"

Guo Liqing bowed and said, "Yes."

"Jing'er, you're still too kind..."

Guo Liqing looked at Genghis Khan, sensing an unspoken meaning. Remembering Genghis Khan's usual methods, Guo Liqing quickly said, "Great Khan, you wouldn't..."

Genghis Khan shook his head and said, "Since I have appointed you Grand Marshal, I will naturally not interfere with your orders. I have already ordered the siege troops to be reinforced according to your methods!"

"Thank you, Great Khan!"

"Although I won't interfere with your military orders, I still have to remind you that you want to protect the people of Western Xia, but they won't immediately pledge their loyalty and fight for you! On the contrary, they will still be loyal to their former masters. If they stab you in the back, it will be fatal! So, it's best to kill them!"

Genghis Khan spoke calmly, truly like an elder giving advice to a younger person.

"Furthermore, Zhongxingfu is the capital of the Western Xia Kingdom. Even if you cut off their supply lines, they can hold out for several months. If the Jin Kingdom reacts at this point and sends troops to reinforce them, then all our efforts will be in vain!"

Guo Liqing nodded repeatedly, saying, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, it won't take that long."

"What are you planning to do?"

Guo Liqing smiled wickedly and said, "Infiltrate the Western Xia palace and kill the Western Xia royal family. At that time, Zhongxing Prefecture will naturally fall without a fight!"

"To catch the thief, first catch the king!" Genghis Khan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you confident?"

Guo Liqing pondered for a moment. The five greatest masters in the world today should be his match.

Qiu Qianren of the Iron Palm Clan is one of them, but even if he can't suppress him, he can't do anything to him either.

"Rest assured, Great Khan, even if I am no match for you, I will escape unscathed!"

"Alright!" Genghis Khan nodded first, then said, "If there is any danger, come back immediately. Anyway, the Western Xia capital is already trapped, so it's not worth risking yourselves to save a few soldiers."

Upon hearing this, Guo Liqing realized that Genghis Khan truly regarded Guo Jing as one of his own. He would rather have more low-ranking soldiers die than see Guo Jing put in danger.

At this moment, Guo Liqing was also filled with mixed feelings.

After leaving Genghis Khan's royal tent, Guo Liqing returned to his own camp and summoned Lu Youjiao and other Beggar Clan disciples.

The Beggars' Sect disciples did not charge into battle in this campaign, but were doing another, more important task.

Lu Youjiao sat opposite Guo Liqing and said, "Marshal, we have followed your instructions and spread the word about the brutality of the Western Xia royal family to the people along the way. However, most Western Xia people believe that the Mongols are even more brutal!"

Guo Liqing asked, "After entering the pass, did the Mongol army strictly enforce my military orders and refrain from harming the people of Western Xia in the slightest?"

"Two or three out of ten soldiers failed to do so."

"Whose unit is this?"

"Most of them are Chagatai's troops. As for Jebe and Chilaun's troops, because they are on good terms with you, Marshal, their subordinates occasionally commit offenses, but they are always restrained in time."

"I understand." Guo Liqing instructed, "Continue to spread the word among the people of Xixia that we are only targeting the nobles of Xixia, and have nothing to do with the common people. Let them know that the common people are the common people, and the nobles are the nobles. In addition, we should also distribute the grain and wealth we plunder to the people of Xixia, and tell them that we only rob the nobles, not the common people."

"yes!"

"Also, send men to infiltrate the capital of Western Xia and gather intelligence on the city's forces, including any experts!"

Lu Youjiao accepted the order and led his men out of the camp.

Guo Liqing sat alone in the tent for a moment, then got up and left.

Today, the power of the Mongol army is mainly concentrated in the hands of the four princes and the four heroes of Mongolia.

Guo Jing was on good terms with the Four Heroes, serving as both teacher and friend, and he even became sworn brothers with the Fourth Prince, Tolui.

Of the other three princes, Zhu Chi was aloof and rarely interacted with Guo Jing. Ögedei was tactful and his relationship with Guo Jing was neither good nor bad.

Chagatai, however, was tyrannical and looked down on Guo Jing from the bottom of his heart.

Right now, Chagatai has become a major problem for Guo Liqing.

Guo Liqing carried a jar of wine and slowly walked into Chagatai's camp.

At that moment, Chagatai was drinking and making merry with his men in his tent.

The guards at the door saw Guo Liqing walking straight towards them and reached out to stop him.

Guo Liqing glared angrily and asked sharply, "What are you doing? Don't you recognize me?"

"I have seen the Prince Consort, but the Prince has decreed that no one is allowed to trespass..."

"I am the Grand Marshal of the Western Xia Expedition, personally appointed by the Great Khan. In this military camp, what should you address me by?"

The two guards looked at each other. Those who could serve as guards were not from the lower classes, so they naturally knew the rules.

As guards of Chagatai, they were used to being arrogant and looked down on everyone.

The original Guo Jing was honest and simple, so the guards of Chagatai naturally didn't take him seriously.

But the Guo Jing before him seemed to have a murderous look in his eyes.

The guards were stunned and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Marshal!"

"Go and report it immediately!" Guo Liqing said in an unquestionable tone.

The guards didn't even have the courage to ask a question, and slunk into their tents.

A moment later, the guard returned, lifted the curtain, and gestured for them to enter.

Guo Liqing strode inside.

Inside the tent, Chagatai sat in the main seat, with his four trusted generals in the rest.

Each of them had a roasted lamb on their table, and each was holding a woman in their arms.

Judging from the woman's appearance and clothing, she should be a local Western Xia girl.

Each girl had tear stains on her face; they were clearly kidnapped.

After entering the tent, Guo Liqing immediately changed his demeanor, smiling broadly as he said, "Second Brother, why didn't you invite me to the banquet today? I happen to have a jar of fine wine here; would you like to try some?"

Chagatai sat in the main seat, looking somewhat bewildered. He didn't understand why Guo Jing would come to him on his own initiative, since he had always bullied him.

Chagatai, as usual, sneered, "Look who's here, our Golden Knife Prince Consort! Guo Jing, what brings you here?"

Guo Liqing picked up the wine jar and laughed, "Didn't I already say I came to have a drink with my second brother?"

"Oh?" Chagatai didn't understand what Guo Liqing was going to do, but he still gave him face and said, "Let me try it."

Guo Liqing walked over and poured wine for Chagatai. After pouring the wine, he stood aside.

He wasn't embarrassed at all, and just looked at Chagatai with a smile.

Chagatai picked up his wine cup, about to drink, when he noticed Guo Liqing staring at him.

Chagatai suddenly shouted angrily to those around him, "What are you all standing there for! Aren't you going to offer the prince consort a seat?"

His men immediately brought over a table, intending to place it at the end of the table.

Guo Liqing waved to them and said, "Move over here, I want to sit closer to my second brother!"

The servants didn't understand many of the intricacies; they only knew that Guo Liqing was a high-ranking official, so they moved the table over there.

Chagatai said nothing, but simply drank the bowl of wine by himself!

"puff!"

Chagatai had just taken a sip when he immediately spat it out.