"Not only Jiujiang Xuanjia, but also the White Feather Army that defended Xin'an, Zhuangdu, was dispatched this time. Zhuang Gaoxian personally took command and led the three armies. General Huangfu Duanming was the vanguard, and Prime Minister Du Ruhui was the accompanying military advisor. Vice Prime Minister Dong Sitting in Xin'an City, dispatching the rear..."
Ye Qingyu said with emotion: "This time the Zhuang Kingdom can be said to be fighting for the whole country. It is by no means a small fight. It is a life and death battle with the Yong Kingdom."
"What's going on at Qinghe Water Mansion?" Jiang Wang asked.
Ye Qingyu frowned: "I don't know about this, I haven't heard any news yet."
But Jiang Wang already understood that there was no other choice. Since Zhuang Gaoxian is determined to fight with his country, Qinghe Water Mansion will naturally fight against Lanhe again. If Qinghe Water Mansion had any other choice, it should have been razed before the war started.
Based on Jiang Wang's understanding, Zhuang State must advance by land and water this time. The main front is to cross the Qichang Mountains, tear through the national border defense line, and go straight into the hinterland of Yong State. And passing through the waterway from the Qingjiang River to the Lanhe River is bound to happen.
I just don’t know what happened in Qinghe Water Mansion from becoming increasingly alienated and refusing to cooperate, to now fighting to the death with all its strength. Zhuang Gaoxian, who has become a real person, has too many ways to suppress Qinghe Water Mansion...
"Where is the Criminal Investigation Department?" Jiang Wang asked again.
Ji Xuanji, the chief of Qinghe County's Criminal Investigation Department, left a deep impression on him at first.
"There is no more intelligence information at the moment. I think they should have come out in full force." Ye Qingyu shook his head: "Although Zhuang Gaoxian has the momentum to destroy Yong in this battle, the gap in strength between the two countries is obvious, and Zhuang Guo has no room for reservation."
Obviously she didn't understand Zhuang Gaoxian's decision.
It's not just her who doesn't understand.
Even Ye Lingxiao and all the large and small forces in the Western Territory, including Yong Kingdom himself, did not expect to be conquered by Zhuang Kingdom in advance.
Zhuang Gaoxian raised his troops in anger, which made people feel reckless.
Jiang Wang has always known that Zhuang's soldiers never lacked bravery. When Maple Forest City was destroyed, the city guard's independent generals, including Fang Dabeard and below, including one general, two side generals, and five deputy generals... were all killed in battle. Among them were Zhao Lang and Wei Yan, whom Jiang Wang was familiar with. Even the people in the Criminal Investigation Department who usually have unclean hands and feet, from Si Dan Cha and below, died in disasters or at the hands of the demons of the White Bone Dao. Everyone fought to the death.
Even the city lord Wei Quji himself died in the battle above the city lord's mansion.
But nothing can save the deaths of those soldiers in Maplewood City...
Jiang Wang was inevitably touched when he suddenly heard that Zhuang's border troops were crying and begging for battle. But when you calm down and think about it, there are a lot of strange things about this matter.
In this national war brazenly launched by Zhuang Guo, Jiang Wang smelled something similar to the Maple Forest City incident. It was as if there was an invisible hand pushing everything in the dark.
On the 21st of the twelfth lunar month, when Jiang Wang and the others ended their battle for Yunding Immortal Palace and left Chiyun Mountain, Zhuang and Yong's border troops were still facing off in the Qichang Mountains.
The order to evacuate should have been issued on the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month. By the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the Zhuangguo border troops had already evacuated under forced orders.
That day Jiang Wang only saw the flag of the Yongguo frontier army, but no one was seen from the Zhuangguo frontier army. Presumably at that time, Yong Guo also believed that Zhuang Guo had given in.
On the same day, he met Du Ruhui above the Qichang Mountains. Du Ruhui also warned him, "You can't fight." He also sent him all the way back to Lingxiao Pavilion to communicate with Ye Lingxiao in person. It is said that it is to test the attitude of the surrounding forces, fearing that all parties will have any bad thoughts about Zhuang Guo's show of weakness.
If Ye Lingxiao didn't deceive Ye Qingyu, then he was deceived by Du Ruhui.
Du Ruhui did want to test the surrounding forces, but he was probably testing whether the surrounding forces would affect this national war!
The border troops of Zhuang State broke away from the confrontation on the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month and stated that they wanted to settle the matter, but the national war was launched on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month.
There had been no waves before, and every movement was like thunder through the sky.
Jiang Wang could never believe that Zhuang Ting had not made preparations earlier.
The Book of War says: "The Lord must not raise an army in anger, and the general must not attack in anger." (1)
Zhuang Gaoxian is by no means the kind of person who raises an army out of anger.
Not long after he took the throne in his early years, he sent troops to conquer Yong. At the time, many people regarded him as a sign of political immaturity. But the facts proved that it was that battle that broke the bluff of Yong State and suppressed the Yong State military's imminent move. As a result, the Zhuang-Yong border remained peaceful for many years.
Zhuang State developed steadily.
Later, when he was hiding in the palace to recuperate from his injuries, no matter how provocative Yong Guo tried, he never responded?
The people of Qin took advantage of the border to ambush Zuo Guanglie, and the monks of Qin and Chu fought wantonly in the territory of the Zhuang Kingdom. How did the entire Zhuang Court make a sound? If Jiang Wang hadn't personally experienced this, I'm afraid he wouldn't have heard of it at all.
In Jiang Wang's view, the national war initiated by Zhuang Gaoxian himself was probably a plan.
Not only is it not about raising an army out of anger, but it is a very consistent military strategy: "move when it suits the interests, and stop when it doesn't."
If there is profit, fight it. If there is no profit to be gained, then endure it!
There were seven full days between the time Zhuang's border troops evacuated on the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month and the time when Zhuang Ting launched the national war on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month.
The 29th day of the Lunar New Year falls on New Year's Eve in the year 3918 in the Taoist calendar. It is no coincidence that this date was chosen. This day is precisely the day that is least considered. The soldiers and civilians of Zhuang and Yong countries must prepare to celebrate the New Year. This day should be the most peaceful, so it is the most unexpected.
A soldier committed suicide and rushed into battle, but there was no disturbance at the time. Later, public opinion suddenly exploded.
Chen Shikai committed suicide and rushed into the battle, but he actually left a suicide note. The suicide note he left behind was not confiscated immediately, but spread throughout the army so quickly.
From the suicide notes of the frontier soldiers to the tearful petitions of the frontier generals, there was a very obvious progression in public opinion.
Du Ruhui was good at controlling the people's hearts, saying that the people's hearts were like water, and he boasted that He Bo could manage them. This matter should undoubtedly be Du Ruhui's handiwork.
Zhuang Gaoxian used small things to see the big things and plotted against the Yong Kingdom. Du Ruhui helped him unite the hearts and minds of the army and the people, so that the three armies could be used. It can be said that the hero is able to help each other, and the monarch and his ministers are in harmony with each other.
Jiang Wang's guess was not told to Ye Qingyu. Most of the time, he takes it upon himself.
Seeing Jiang Wang's hand that had been subconsciously stroking the tea cup, Ye Qingyu said softly: "Let's go out for a walk. This year has passed, and the phoenix lanterns are beautiful."
Has this year already... passed?
Yes, today is the New Year's Eve.
Last year tonight, he and Jiang Anan were in a barren mountain. Although the world was huge at that time, there were only two of them, brother and sister, dependent on each other. That day, he set off fireworks for An all night long.
But now, he and An An have their own new friends. They all stay in the safe and peaceful secret land of Lingxiao, and they don't have to worry about the danger of following them at any time. Welcome the New Year in a happy and peaceful atmosphere...
What night is this evening? What year is this year?
Jiang Wang let go of the tea cup and raised the corner of his mouth: "Okay."
…
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Ps: "The Lord cannot be angry and raise an army, and the general cannot be angry and attack.", "Move when it suits the benefit, stop when it does not suit the benefit."
--"The Art of War"
