Yang Fan wasn't sure if his guess was correct or not. In a field that he wasn't good at, it was inevitable that he wasn't confident. But if his guess was correct, then the consequences would be too severe. So he didn't dare to hide it, even if his idea was too ridiculous and would be ridiculed by others.
He coughed and gathered his courage to speak, but Ma Qiao suddenly jumped up like a toad that had been poked in the butt and shouted, "I've got it! I've got it! We can directly send troops to attack their 'nest', Ping Jia Ao!"
With a swoosh, everyone's eyes were focused on him. They completely ignored Yang Fan's cough. Yang Fan's right foot that had stretched out quietly retracted.
Li Duozuo said, "Attack Ping Jia Ao?"
"That's right!"
Maqiao rushed to the map and pointed. "Great General, please take a look. From here to Ping Jia Ao, there's another path that doesn't need to go through the road to Horse City. If they want to attack the city, we'll let them attack. If they want to ambush, we'll let them ambush. We'll directly cut off their retreat route! "
Maqiao said excitedly, "We'll first attack Ping Jia Ao and burn all their rations. Then we'll immediately return to defend the city. Without rations, they won't have the mood to attack Horse City anymore. Even if we break the city, they won't have enough supplies. Under such circumstances, their only choice is to leave."
After Maqiao finished, he looked at Li Duozuo excitedly and asked, "What does Great General think?"
Li Duozuo's expression was wooden. He only lightly shook his head.
Maqiao was greatly disappointed. He said anxiously, "It won't work? I think we can try this method!"
Li Mulan explained, "Commander Ma, the Khitan ambush at Sunset River is a cavalry. They're located between Horse City and Ping Jia Ao. It'll be very easy for them to reinforce Ping Jia Ao. Ping Jia Ao may only have three thousand men, but they're guarding the valley. Three thousand men guarding a narrow mountain pass. It'll be very difficult for us to quickly break through. "
Chu Yi said, "That's right! Ping Jia Ao isn't close to here. If we want to launch a surprise attack on Ping Jia Ao, we'll have to use cavalry. Right now, we have more than eight thousand cavalry. If we can't quickly break through the mountain pass and the Khitan ambushers return in time, we'll be trapped at the mountain pass of Ping Jia Ao. That will be dangerous. "
When Ma Qiao heard that, he couldn't help feeling a bit dispirited. However, the knowledge of battle formations was something that could only be accumulated bit by bit. After their explanations, Ma Qiao would be much more careful and meticulous the next time he came up with a strategy or tactic. He would be much more rash and impulsive.
The tent fell silent again. Yang Fan coughed again. Li Duozuo looked up at him with a questioning expression.
Yang Fan said somewhat bashfully, "This general's time in the army is really too short. My ability to lead troops into battle is not only inferior to that of General Li, but also far inferior to my colleagues. Perhaps my train of thought is not correct, but I still want to say it. Even if it can serve as a starting point for General and my colleagues, it's good enough. "
Li Duozuo smiled and encouraged him, "Yang Xiaowei, you're too humble. When marching and fighting, as generals, we should work together. No one dares to say that their ideas are definitely correct or foolproof! Commander Ma did very well just now. If you have any ideas, feel free to say them. "
Yang Fan nodded and smiled at everyone. Stepping forward, he said, "What I want to say is not just the siege of Ma City. But … "
Yang Fan tapped on the map three times, respectively at Kun Yang River, Xia La Mountain and Ma City. He said in a loud voice, "This general has some doubts. The Khitans are good at riding and shooting. They are adept at mobility. Unless it's like the Yellow Deer Valley, where they can ambush us and take advantage of the terrain to annihilate us, they will rarely engage us in a head-on battle. Instead, they will drag our troops around and wait for an opportunity to swallow us up. In that case … "
Yang Fan turned around, his gaze sweeping past Li Duozuo, Chu Yi and Li Mulan. As for his own brother, he was automatically ignored.
He was not good at tactics. Although Maqiao was stronger than him, there was a limit to how strong he was. But in terms of strategy, what was needed was meticulous thinking and a higher vision. A brilliant strategist was not necessarily a general who was good at leading troops in battle. That was why there were often commoner scholars who could devise strategies. Although Yang Fan did not know if his estimation was correct, he knew that in this aspect, with Maqiao's current ability, it was impossible for him to raise any doubts or ideas.
Yang Fan said, "Great General, colleagues, please think about it. Why did the Khitans act out of character and adopt the tactic of confronting and blocking Great General Lou and Great General Wu's troops? There is nothing in their rear that they need to guard. They should be dragging our troops around and waiting for an opportunity to swallow up every single unit that is left behind!
And this group of people attacking Horse City, we all know that Horse City does not have many things they need. So why did they go through so much trouble to attack Horse City? They have stockpiled so much food at Ping Jia Ao. Instead of taking advantage of the other two main forces restraining the imperial army to hurry to their nest in Ying Prefecture, they stopped here to attack Horse City. What are they trying to do? "
Chu Yi and Li Mulan frowned in thought. Li Duozuo's eyes flashed and he asked urgently, "You mean … their various abnormalities are for a greater purpose?"
Yang Fan nodded solemnly. "This general indeed thinks so. Great General, please look here! "
Yang Fan turned back to the map and pointed at Horse City and Thousand Gold Smelting City. "Other than these two cities, the surroundings are all mountains and uninhabited. If these two cities fall into the enemy's hands, then …"
Yang Fan's finger traced along the stone valleys of the east and west gorges, all the way to Lulong. "Not only can they obtain a large amount of ironware from Thousand Gold Smelting City to forge weapons, but more importantly, these two cities are the only two cities south of Yellow Deer Valley. If they defend these two cities, they will be able to block Lulong's path to the south.
The Khitans have already started building their foundation in Ying Prefecture. All the fortified cities in the northwest are garrisoned by their armies. It will be difficult for them to break through. Other than that, the only path to the south is Lulong, which is close to the east. This city is the furthest from the cities in the northwest and will not be easy to reinforce. Once Thousand Gold Smelting City and Horse City fall into their hands, Lulong will become an isolated city. At that time, they will be able to uproot Lulong, then … "
Chu Yi blurted out, "In that case, they would have grasped a path to the south, connecting Yingzhou, Lulong, and then Yellow Deer Valley to Qian Jin Ye and Ma Cheng."
Yang Fan said, "That's right. This is what this one is thinking of. Considering that they are trying to form an alliance with the Turks, as long as they are not stupid, they have even more reason to do so. Once they form an alliance, the Turks will be in the west, the Xi in the middle, and the Khitans will be in the east. They will form a steel fork, pushing southward step by step. By doing so, they will be able to work closely with the Turks and respond to each other. At the same time, they will be able to avoid being eaten up by the capricious Turks. At the same time, they will have ample space to grow stronger. If that's what they're after, then there's a good reason for their series of abnormal actions! "
Finishing, Yang Fan smiled modestly at the crowd. "This is what this one is thinking, I don't know if it is correct …"
Li Duozuo walked forward step by step, his eyes fixed on the map. He stared at the two points of Xia La Mountain and Kun Yang River for a long time, then moved his eyes to Ma Cheng, Qian Jin Ye, Lulong, and finally Yingzhou. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I'm afraid … unfortunately, you are right. This is probably their plan!"
Li Duozuo said, "If that's the case, then their strange actions of confronting the northern and southern armies at Chenbing Gorge and Kun Yang River can be explained. Attacking Horse City also makes sense. After taking Horse City, they will cut off our communication with the outside world. Then, taking down Thousand Gold Smelting is only a matter of time.
If they can use Horse City as bait to eat our reinforcements when attacking Horse City, it will be easier to take down Thousand Gold Smelting. Even if we are not willing to send troops, they can cut off our escape route and rely on the rations they have stored at Ping Jia Ao to drag us down. Lulong can't even protect himself and won't dare to send troops to support us.
At that time, with Horse City in hand, they can use its geographical advantage to repel the army of the court. With Thousand Gold Smelting in hand, they can rely on its ironware to supply their armors. Horse City, Thousand Gold Smelting, and the East and West Valleys will become their first line of defense against the army of the court. After that … "
Li Duozuo let out a long sigh and said no more, but everyone in the tent understood what he meant. Even Ma Qiao understood. At that time, Lulong would certainly not be safe, and the Khitans would link up the strategic points and establish a deep base. It would be even more difficult for the imperial court to exterminate them.
Seeing that Li Duozuo agreed with his judgment, Yang Fan's confidence grew. He said, "So, we must solve the siege of Horse City. If we do not send troops, after Horse City changes hands, it will be Thousand Gold Smelting. We will be exterminated sooner or later. Solving the siege of Horse City is the same as solving our own siege! "
Li Mulan frowned and said, "But, how will we go to help? Even if we already know that there is an ambush by the Khitans at the Setting Sun River and the ambush is no longer effective, it will still be enough to stop us from going to help. The Khitans besieging Horse City can support them at any time. With our inferior military strength and low morale, it is impossible to solve the siege of Horse City. "
Yang Fan asked, "If we can first take out the Khitan ambush, can we change the balance of power between us and the enemy?"
Li Mulan's eyes brightened. He said, "Of course we can, but how can we take out this ambush?"
Yang Fan slowly said, "There are not many methods we can use. If we go to solve the siege of Horse City, regardless of whether we know that the Khitans are lying in ambush or not, it will be a tough battle. It will be difficult for us to win. But other than this, there are too few methods we can use. Perhaps there is only one way, and that is to burn their rations! "
Hearing this, Maqiao became spirited. He thought that Yang Fan also agreed with his strategy, but this strategy has already been rejected by Great General Li Duozuo. Yang Fan brought it up again. Could it be that he has a way to solve the problem of ambushing Ping Jia Ao?
Chu Yi said impatiently, "Officer Yang, in the end, isn't it still back to this problem? Ambushing Ping Jia Ao is simply impossible. The ambush is between Ping Jia Ao and Horse City. As long as we attack Ping Jia Ao, the garrison in the valley will set fire as a warning, and the enemy will immediately return to help. Before we can break through the mountain pass, we will be blocked by the Khitans' reinforcements! "
Yang Fan revealed his bashful expression again. "This general's time in the army is too short. I have never led an army or fought a battle. This is just a random idea, but I don't know if it will work. But this general still wants to say it, even if it can serve as a bait for Great General..."
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