An expert's move reveals all

Ren Tianye stood up abruptly.

Tong Pass had been breached?

Tong Pass was the gateway to the capital, its treacherous terrain akin to a natural moat.

He had been continuously keeping a close eye on Lin Zixiao's army. According to intelligence, they were still quite a long distance from the capital. How could they...

Reach Tong Pass all of a sudden?

And manage to breach Tong Pass in an instant?

One must know that ever since he took control of the capital, he immediately fortified the surrounding defenses. The generals he had stationed at strategic locations like Tong Pass were all elites he had brought from the northern borders.

They were absolutely loyal to him. How could it be breached?

Report, Lord Duke!

The messenger said, It is said that the deputy envoy inside the city was persuaded by someone sent by Lin Zixiao. He assassinated the defending general and surrendered Tong Pass.

Lin Zixiao's grand army was originally very far from here, but this was clearly premeditated. Thus, they accelerated their march, bypassed several major cities, and charged straight here.

Ren Tianye suddenly understood.

Although what this messenger said was mostly speculation, judging from the actual situation, it should not be too far off.

He did not expect Lin Zixiao to have such methods!

This caused Ren Tianye's current situation to instantly become critical.

After all, Tong Pass was the gateway to the capital. Now that Tong Pass had fallen, the capital's doors were wide open. Lin Zixiao's men could charge to the walls of the capital at any time, posing a threat to him.

This matter was truly of extreme urgency.

Ren Tianye did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent. He immediately sent down orders to summon military generals like Wei Shuo, Wang Ming, and Shi Hu, as well as civil officials like Su Pengcheng, to the Duke's estate to discuss this major event.

Su Jin originally had matters to report.

To her, it was a matter of utmost importance.

But seeing the current situation, she swallowed her words. The letter given to her by her second uncle, Su Hong, in her embrace had to be put aside, waiting for an appropriate opportunity to be brought out again.

She bid her leave and slowly withdrew.

Just as she withdrew, Wang Ming, Wei Shuo, and the others arrived at the tent one after another. Accompanied by report after report from the scouts, the crowd became clearer about the situation of Lin Zixiao's army.

After taking down Tong Pass, Lin Zixiao's army did not rest much, but rushed straight towards the capital at extreme speed.

They want to fight a quick battle!

Ren Tianye instantly saw through Lin Zixiao's thoughts.

After discussing with the generals, he decided not to sit and wait for death.

Although, with his current strength, plus the high and thick walls of the capital, he had every opportunity to sit in the city and watch Lin Zixiao arrive, turning the capital into an impregnable fortress.

However,

How could he hand over the initiative of the war?

One must know that any battle was not just about frontal clashes; morale and the overall situation were more often the deciding factors.

Thus, Ren Tianye ordered, Where is Wei Shuo?

Wei Shuo instantly shivered with excitement.

Was it his turn again?

Hahaha, to think that in his old age, he still had the chance to perform meritorious deeds for the new dynasty.

He immediately stepped forward, This general is here.

I order you to lead fifty thousand elites no, that is too inflexible lie in ambush at the abandoned post station thirty miles outside the capital. But remember, I am not asking you to fight to the death with the rebel army. Your focus is to harass the enemy's supply lines, harvest their vanguard stragglers, and take turns harassing them at night.

Drain their sharp spirit!

If there is a chance, you must find ways to cut off their supply route.

Hearing this, Wei Shuo was somewhat disappointed.

He thought the Lord Duke was going to let him lead the elites to directly carry out a decapitation strike. He did not expect the operation to be so conservative.

However, he also knew that the Lord Duke bore the responsibility of defending the capital and definitely could not, like him, lead light cavalry to charge forward and fight a fast, lightning war.

He immediately bowed and accepted the order.

Ren Tianye then gave instructions to the others one by one.

Comparatively speaking, they were more conventional.

Nothing more than layered defense, internal control, and other methods.

All were strategies of seeking stability first, then victory.

Everyone accepted their orders one by one.

Only then did Ren Tianye stand up and say, Lin Zixiao, son of Lin Yi, to avenge his father, rose up in the south, gathering heroes and brave men along the way. Right now, they have seven brothers who call themselves the Seven Righteous of Chifeng, and every one of them is extraordinary.

In this battle, you all must do your utmost.

Guard your duties well and wait quietly for the right opportunity.

The crowd responded with a resounding Yes!

Soon after, they each went to carry out their respective tasks according to their missions.

Ren Tianye, on the one hand, paid attention to the major military affairs, and at the same time, sent someone to deliver a message to the palace to ask about the current situation of the female emperor Xiao Mingzhao.

After all, Lin Zixiao raised his army because the female emperor Xiao Mingzhao killed his father. He raised his army under the slogan The Emperor is faint and kills the loyal, raise an army to pacify the disaster.

The target was the female emperor Xiao Mingzhao.

If Xiao Mingzhao could be awakened, then he would have the opportunity to make an issue out of this.

Of course, Ren Tianye was also clear.

A slogan was just a slogan. Once the army set out, conquered cities and seized land, and now that they had almost reached the capital, the slogan was actually no longer important.

After all, no one could refuse the supreme throne.

Lin Zixiao's subordinates were even less likely to refuse the merit of establishing a new emperor.

But...

The necessary operations still had to be carried out.

Any effect that could be achieved was better than nothing.

...

The sky was turning to night.

Among the rolling mountains, Wei Shuo led his men to lie in ambush here.

As a master who dared to lead light cavalry deep into the desert back in the day, Wei Shuo's use of men was in itself quite extraordinary.

Ren Tianye had given him fifty thousand elites, but he did not send all fifty thousand out. Instead, he only selected three thousand of the most elite among them.

These three thousand men wore no heavy armor, and their horses carried no extra equipment. During the day, they hid in the deep mountain forests, completely concealing their tracks, and only planned to act at night.

However, the geographical location they occupied was quite good. They could clearly see Lin Zixiao's two hundred thousand strong army, which had now set up camp.

As the saying goes, as soon as an expert makes a move, one knows if they have what it takes.

Just by looking at Lin Zixiao's troop formation, Wei Shuo knew that Lin Zixiao had definitely received the true teachings of Lin Yi, the commander of the Chifeng Army.

The camping ground of Lin Zixiao's two hundred thousand strong army was only thirty miles from the capital, leaning against the mountains and bordering the water. The front and rear four camps guarded the center, flags were divided into five colors, the units were distinct, and the discipline was strict.

From afar, it looked like a boulder resting on the field; from up close, it looked like an iron chain across the river.

Every move and stance had a method.

Just looking at it made one's heart palpitate.

What a formidable Lin Zixiao! Even Wei Shuo could not help but let out a sigh of admiration. A natural general, and able to command an army of two hundred thousand. He has the makings of an emperor!

Unfortunately, he ran into the Lord Duke.

If it were not for the Lord Duke, the world of Great Yu would definitely belong to this Lin Zixiao in the future.

But now...

He has to take a blow from me first!

Wei Shuo had already made up his mind.

Lin Zixiao's army had just arrived, so he had to make Lin Zixiao suffer a setback, dampen their sharp spirit, and wear down the morale of their grand army.

Of course, Wei Shuo strictly followed Ren Tianye's military orders.

He would not really launch a sudden attack according to his usual routine. What he had to do was to follow Ren Tianye's arrangement and harass Lin Zixiao's supply lines.

He had already investigated Lin Zixiao's supply lines clearly.

The grain and forage were transported from various southern provinces, Jingxiang, Jianghuai, and other places. Thus, they had to pass through a main official road, plus at most some auxiliary mountain paths.

And these places were exactly where Wei Shuo was going to strike.

...