Generally speaking, both warring parties will often send out their own scouts during the war to get as close as possible to or penetrate the opponent's camp to conduct reconnaissance of military intelligence in order to find out the true and false status of the opponent for their own commander to direct operations.
The scouts of both sides are usually hidden in the darkness of the battlefield, and their respective positions and movement routes are very intertwined. Naturally, encounters are inevitable sometimes.
In a major battle, there are countless small-scale scout encounters. But no matter how big or small the loss is, both warring parties will regard it as a normal thing and don't take it to heart.
There is only one exception.
That is, when a certain party is about to launch a large-scale military operation, or prepares to conduct some secret deployments, it often adopts the approach of clarifying the warning range.
Specifically, it means dispatching a large number of armed scouts, or a large number of main troops, to carry out carpet sweeps within a certain range around oneself, and simply eliminate or expel enemy scouts and sentries.
This has only one purpose - to cover the other party's ears and eyes in a short period of time.
Once the clearing operation begins, the eliminated enemy scouts will have only two choices left: either run for their lives quickly, or stay where they are and wait to die.
It can be said that no matter how confident the scout is, he cannot insist on staying and completing his mission under such circumstances. If a large area of space needs to be sealed off for a long time, it is impossible for any army to do it. Over time, there will inevitably be loopholes to exploit. But if you want to carry out a sweep and clarification in the short term, there is no problem at all. One side concentrates superior forces, while the other side uses scattered sentinels. If they fight, the results will be self-evident.
Therefore, facing the menacing and roaring white robe army, the scouts of the Western Xinjiang Coalition Army did not hesitate and almost all turned around and left.
In less than an hour, there was no longer a coalition spy within a radius of twenty miles near Metasequoia City. The officers and soldiers of the Zhenjiang Army were stationed at commanding heights everywhere, vigilantly monitoring all the disturbances around them.
The Silk Road Avenue from Metasequoia City to Pansong Ferry of the Ulundu River was also controlled by the white-robed cavalry at this time. Every observation point with excellent views on the left and right sides of the road temporarily fell into the hands of the Zhenjiang Army.
The scouts of the Western Xinjiang Allied Forces could only squat pitifully further away, stretching their necks, widening their eyes, and using all their strength to look at the movement here.
After the clearing operation was completed in the entire battlefield area, Metasequoia City suddenly began to become bustling with people and war horses. Not long after, groups of soldiers and horses came out of the city one after another and advanced along the road towards the Ulundu River.
The scale of the entire team was astonishing. It took a full hour for them to leave the city and lay out on the Silk Road. It stretched for several miles and was magnificent. Especially the hundreds of flags flying above the team, fluttering in the wind and making noise, looked like the main force of tens of thousands of people from a distance.
However, because the distance was too far, the Western Xinjiang coalition scouts could barely see an astonishing number of military flags, but failed to discover in time that in that large and majestic forest of flags, except for dozens of real flags, In addition to the banners of the Zhenjiang Army, most of them are the signature flags of Metasequoia City businessmen, such as "Hetian Zhai Jade Carving Big Offer", "Maji Silk Embroidery Workshop 20% off", "Buy one and get one free on Wangjia old wine". It's hard to describe them all.
Du Jian stood on horseback in the forest on the hill, looking at the teams passing by him, he couldn't help but frown and said: "Sir, do you think you can really frighten the enemy with only these rags and flags? "
Lin Feng, who was next to him, also had the same worries, and continued what Du Jian said: "General Xu and the others took away the large army, and we only have more than 10,000 troops left. Is it too risky to blatantly provoke the Western Xinjiang Middle Route Army like this? ?”
"What can we do without taking some risks?" Li Jiangyao sat on the horse, picking his ears with a straw stick, and said in a relaxed tone: "At this time, the only way to lure Durham is to stage a scene of soldiers pressing into the border. He and Alik Jiang hurriedly mobilized Mohadi to return to the army in order to raid the retreat of our lone army leaving the city..."
Du Jian couldn't help but interrupt: "Well, that's the truth, but..."
Li Jiangyao turned around: "But what?"
Du Jian muttered in a low voice: "But it's too hasty now. You think 10,000 regular troops are not enough, and you want to bring a bunch of ordinary people who have never been on the battlefield with you, and let them hold hundreds of broken flags, and you dare to pretend to be the main force The legion provokes the enemy. What if the other party takes it seriously and sends troops out to fight?"
Li Jiangyao shrugged: "What else can we do? Just run away."
Lin Feng knew he was joking, and couldn't help but frowning slightly: "Sir, how can a battle between two armies be a piece of cake? Although it is common for military strategists to lure the enemy, it is rare for them to be so ridiculous."
Li Jiangyao laughed dumbly: "Hey, hey, Xiaolin, it seems a bit inappropriate for you to use the word "ridiculous" to evaluate the coach, right?"
It's okay if he didn't say that, but saying that really aroused the temper of the upright young man Lin Feng. Lin Feng has been following Li Jiangyao for the longest time. He is usually gentle and soft-spoken, typical of Jiangnan people. Coupled with his handsome appearance, he often gives people a feeling of being easy to get along with. But in fact, Lin Feng is a man of character and has the courage to speak out whenever he encounters injustice or violation of taboos. Even his immediate boss showed no mercy.
At this time, Lin Feng raised his sword eyebrows slightly and said in a serious voice: "Your Majesty, what you said is wrong. As your military staff, I am responsible for questioning and admonishing the coach's decision-making. Your current deployment method is really... It’s an extreme risk, and it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s ridiculous. If you feel offended by your humble position, please feel free to punish me!”
Li Jiangyao was stunned by Lin Feng, and he didn't know how to answer for a long time. Du Jian saw this and hurriedly came to the rescue: "I said Xiao Lin... ah no, Deputy Commander Lin, what are you so angry about? Our leader's methods, Don’t you understand? It’s always been about planning and planning, and the decisive victory...the decisive victory is thousands of miles away. Even if you want to speak out and give advice, you have to be measured."
Li Jiangyao grabbed Du Jian's hand on the steps before Lin Feng, and said with a smile: "Get the hell out of here, you're thousands of miles away? That's when you're strategizing, and you're winning thousands of miles away! I usually tell you to read, but you don't read. You just open your mouth." Just show your timidity.”
Du Jian scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.
At this time, Lin Feng also felt that what he just said was indeed a bit excessive. Now seeing that Li Jiangyao was deliberately teasing Du Jian and did not bother about his rudeness, he felt a little guilty and said softly: "Sir, I just made a mistake in my humble position. Please forgive me." forgive……"
Li Jiangyao interrupted him with a smile: "Hey, what are you talking about? Aren't we always like this when we were in the Pegasus Scout Camp? No one understands the other. Your worries are indeed justified. To be honest, I am not particularly confident in my current actions. It’s just that we have too few chips, so we have to take a risk. If there are other better choices, do you think I am willing to do stupid things? ?"
Hearing this, Lin Feng and Du Jian nodded in unison. Although neither of them spoke, there was a hint of complicated emotions in their eyes.
It is indeed not easy for the young coach in front of him.
It has been nearly three years since the fall of Gui Mo in Western Xinjiang. The royal master of the imperial court has disappeared. Looking around, there are powerful enemies like wolves and tigers. Among the thousands of miles of territory, they were the only one left struggling to hold on, and they were in danger of overturning at any time.
As the commander-in-chief, I'm afraid no one is qualified to comment on how heavy the burden is on Li Jiangyao's shoulders and how much pressure he feels in his heart.
Take this large-scale crusade by the Western Xinjiang coalition forces as an example. The enemy's total strength is several times that of the Metasequoia Army, and there are also more powerful Turks watching eagerly, waiting for opportunities. Li Jiangyao had very little combat power at his disposal, and he had to protect it with all his strength and use the best steel on the blade as much as possible.
If you don’t risk everything and take bold risks, how can you have any chance of winning?
"Hey, I told you two, don't just sit around in a daze!" Li Jiangyao smiled and scolded: "The vanguard of the army will be arriving soon. You guys should be a step ahead and rush over to organize the manpower and set up camp as soon as possible. The bigger the better! This time I am personally acting as the bait, so don’t be careless!”
-
Durham, Duolun and Alekjiang stood on the watchtower of the camp, watching the actions of the Suppression Army in the distance, with inexplicable expressions of astonishment on their faces.
An hour ago, they received news from spies at the front, saying that the Xinjiang Army in Metasequoia City suddenly began to drive away the Qing coalition scouts on a large scale, and that something big might happen.
Not long after, the report that the main force of the Zhenjiang Army came out in full force came back.
The information reported by several scouts and spies was somewhat unclear. But whether they were Western Xinjiang scouts or Turkic spies, they all described a scene in unison:
Army! An absolute army!
There are four to five hundred battle flags alone!
Duolun couldn't help but ask Alek Jiang: "Your Highness, you used to deal with the Shengtang army a lot. What do so many flags mean?"
Alike Jiang looked puzzled, chewed his teeth and said: "Tsk, well... To be honest with you two, I still have a certain understanding of the military system of the Holy Tang Dynasty. Not to mention the government soldiers in the Central Plains, just Zhenjiang Capital Guarding the government is a system of ten men and one armor, that is to say, ten people form a group and have a captain; a group of fifty people has a team leader; then there are three groups and a team, and five teams and a battalion. The highest commander of the battalion is the schoolmaster. Lieutenant...yes, that Li Jiangyao was originally the captain of the Zhenjiang Protectorate, with seven or eight hundred people under his command. Above the battalion is the brigade, above the brigade is the flag, and above the flag is the army. An army in the Duprotectorate is usually There were 12,500 to 20,000 people, mostly a mixture of infantry and cavalry, led by General Sanhao. Two to three armies were organized into a legion, and the deputy commander or deputy governor was in command. At that time, the Zhenjiang Protectorate At its peak, it had two legions and five armies under its command, totaling 100,000 elite soldiers."
Duolun nodded when he heard this and continued the question just now: "Then what kind of organization does the military flag represent?"
"If I remember correctly..." Alek Jiang thought: "There are rules for Shengtang's flags. Only troops above the battalion level will have military flags for identification. And the military flags of each unit are usually It is divided into three types: a battle flag indicating the unit number, a general flag representing the surname and official position of the commander-in-chief of the army, and a Protectorate flag of the same style."
Duolun couldn't help but take a breath of cold air: "According to what you said, each battalion of the Shengtang Army has three flags. Five hundred big flags means at least more than one hundred battalions. Excluding the overlapping superior flags, there are at least eight to An army of one hundred thousand?!"
Durham shouted from the side: "How is this possible?! Didn't I say before that the remnants of the Holy Tang who are entrenched in Metasequoia City are no more than 50,000 to 60,000 people?"
Alekjiang looked solemn and sighed quietly: "My Lord, think about everything that has happened before, what else is impossible for Metasequoia?"
