Information Gap

"Her Highness has ordered that, starting now, we rest where we are for fifteen minutes, and then resume our march!"

Once the atmosphere had eased, Gu Chengyin naturally spoke up to issue the new command.

These fifteen minutes were not only for the soldiers to recover their physical strength and true qi, but also to allow the spirit of the previous speech to be quickly and effectively spread to every corner through the high-ranking commanders attending the meeting.

By now, whether it was the female official faction of the Internal Affairs Bureau or the high-ranking commanders of the Golden Feather Guards, everyone had grown accustomed to Gu Chengyin issuing orders on behalf of Her Highness.

No one raised any objections. After everyone bowed in unison to the 'Fake Luo Zhao' seated in the position of honor, they filed out of the main tent in an orderly manner.

Soon, only Gu Chengyin, the 'Fake Luo Zhao', Shangguan Yunying, and Chen Busha remained in the main tent.

However, even though the 'Fake Luo Zhao' was merely sitting in silence, her natural pressure and aura still made Shangguan Yunying and Chen Busha appear quite reserved, their breathing unconsciously growing lighter.

Seeing this situation, Gu Chengyin simply issued a command to the 'Fake Luo Zhao' through the system.

"Go wait by yourself."

The next second, the 'Fake Luo Zhao' slowly stood up and spoke with an indifferent expression:

"I am tired. You may continue your discussion. If there are any matters, Manager Gu can make the final decision on my behalf."

Having said that, she walked straight out and left, accompanied by a female official waiting outside the tent.

It was not until her figure completely disappeared from sight that Shangguan Yunying and Chen Busha both let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.

Loyalty was one thing, but the pressure of accompanying a ruler, which was like accompanying a tiger, was very real.

"Alright, let's get down to business."

Gu Chengyin drew their attention back to the military map spread out before them, lightly tapping it with his finger.

"So the rebel forces from the three cities of Shuanghe, Huangzhong, and Liming are currently brewing an alliance to encircle us?"

Speaking of serious matters, Shangguan Yunying immediately gathered her thoughts, her expression solemn:

"To report to Your High..."

Because Gu Chengyin's role as a spokesperson was too deeply ingrained, she habitually addressed him as Her Highness.

The words abruptly stopped at the tip of her tongue. Realizing that Her Highness was no longer in the tent, a trace of embarrassment flashed across her face, and she quickly corrected herself:

"Yes, Manager Gu. According to the latest intelligence, after we suddenly turned east and their pincer attack plan failed, the two rebel armies from Shuanghe and Huangzhong..."

"...did not pursue us blindly. Instead, they chose to rest on the spot at Liming City and contacted Yang Yufeng, the chief commander of Liming City, to form an allied army of the three cities to facilitate unified command."

Beside them, Chen Busha shot a surprised glance at Shangguan Yunying. To think that this usually rigorous and thorough chief female official would make such a low-level slip of the tongue!

Gu Chengyin, however, thought nothing of Shangguan Yunying's slip of the tongue. His eyes remained locked on the map as he quickly analyzed the situation:

"Shuanghe and Huangzhong originally had eighty thousand troops stationed there. They each sent out forty thousand elite soldiers, which means there are still forty thousand defenders left in each city."

"After the ten thousand light cavalry of Liming City returned to defend, their total troop strength recovered to eighty thousand. Therefore, since it is an alliance of the three cities this time, Liming City will inevitably send troops as well."

"Yunying, can you estimate how many troops Liming City will send to join the allied army?"

"I can," Shangguan Yunying nodded without hesitation.

"Although there is no exact news, based on Liming City's troop deployment, the movement of provisions, and the style of Chief Commander Yang Yufeng..."

"...the number of troops Liming City will ultimately dispatch will most likely be around forty-five thousand."

She traced a line over the map with her fingertip: "As such, the total strength of the three-city allied army is expected to reach a massive one hundred and twenty-five thousand."

One hundred and twenty-five thousand.

This number did not exceed Gu Chengyin's expectations. He nodded slightly, his mind rapidly running through deductions.

Chen Busha then chimed in:

"If the numbers of this three-city allied army are as Lady Shangguan predicts, then they won't just follow closely behind us in pursuit."

"They will inevitably adopt a strategy of advancing along multiple routes, casting a net to encircle us. When the time comes, as long as they reach their designated positions and coordinate with the defenders holding Shuanghe City from both the front and rear, they will be able to completely surround us."

He paused, his brows furrowed tightly. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, a glimmer of light abruptly burst from his eyes:

"The best way to break out of this encirclement is to rely on our faster mobility to preemptively thrust right through and escape before the net closes!"

Chen Busha suddenly lifted his head and looked at Gu Chengyin, his eyes filled with unconcealable astonishment and sudden realization:

"Manager Gu... could it be that when you first ordered us to abandon our heavy equipment, you had already foreseen this step?"

"Did you calculate all along that we would rely on our speed advantage to maneuver and cut through the enemy's encirclement?"

Gu Chengyin did not respond to Chen Busha. His gaze remained focused on the map as he pondered aloud:

"Traveling light is indeed our advantage, but it cannot be translated into a decisive victory."

"After all, we can march swiftly with light gear, but the three-city allied army can also pursue us with light gear."

"In fact, when they discover that we lack heavy equipment, they will act even more unscrupulously and directly crush us with their numerical superiority."

The atmosphere inside the tent chilled slightly at his words.

However, the corners of Gu Chengyin's mouth curled into a slight smile at this moment:

"So the real key to playing a decisive role and turning our advantage into victory is..."

His voice suddenly became sharp and clear:

"An information gap!"

"Traveling light isn't the key. The fact that the three-city allied army doesn't know we are traveling light—that is the key!"

"As long as, in their eyes, the Golden Feather Guards are still that invincible golden torrent equipped with heavy armor,"

"they will always be constrained and hesitant, and the time window we carve out will be all the larger!"

Gu Chengyin's gaze suddenly shifted to Shangguan Yunying, as sharp as the blade of an unsheathed sword:

"Yunying, I want you to immediately activate all the spies hidden within the rebel army and carry out the highest level of a misinformation campaign."

His speaking pace quickened, brief and clear:

"The misleading information is this: the Golden Feather Guards are overdrawing their cultivation to force a rapid march."

"Go do it immediately!"

Shangguan Yunying nodded with a solemn expression. As soon as Gu Chengyin's words fell, she immediately stood up and left the main tent.

"General Chen."

Gu Chengyin looked at Chen Busha, his tone solemn: "Her Highness now has only one requirement for the Golden Feather Guards."

He leaned forward slightly, enunciating every word clearly:

"Abandon armor and blade confrontation; embrace the integration of information and firepower."

"These words must be ingrained into the very marrow of every Golden Feather Guard!"

Gu Chengyin's tone was extremely grave:

"Her Highness does not wish to hear any more rumors, nor does she need meaningless sacrifices to prove your loyalty."

"Only children make choices. Her Highness wants both the present and the future!"

After hearing these words, which served as both a demand and a warning, not only did Chen Busha feel no resentment in his heart,

but instead, a heavy sense of responsibility and a sudden, clear enlightenment welled up within him.

Without hesitation, he cupped his fists and replied in a deep voice:

"This general receives the order! Please, Your High..."

His words paused as Chen Busha corrected himself just in time, but the firmness in his tone did not diminish in the slightest.

"Please, Manager Gu, inform Her Highness that this general will certainly not fail this entrusted task."

"I will definitely ensure that all the Golden Feather Guards ingrain it into their very marrow!"