klisemfg Chapter 263: We still need to block the enemy in batches
Chapter 263: We still need to block the enemy in batches
"what?"
The ministers were suddenly furious.
The Queen continued,
"Nie Bei submitted a memorial to the court, asking whether he should proceed to Ziyang County to stop the Yan army, or allow the Yan army to bypass Fenglu County and attack the Yan army from both the north and the south together with the Shengjing garrison."
All the ministers were horrified, as if they had lost their parents, and started to talk about it.
In the end, no one could come up with an idea, so they could only turn their attention to the general.
The general sighed, stood up and said,
"Your Majesty, there are three counties along the way between Shengjing and Yaoguan, which is the shortest route. If the Yan army wants to attack Shengjing, they must ensure logistical supplies. Nie Bei's defense in Qiuxin County is very complete and will definitely be able to stop the Yan army.
But the Yan army was so reckless that they were not afraid of their logistics supply lines being cut off. They actually took a detour and came here directly, intending to attack Shengjing directly, making a desperate bet.
We must stop them. Even if it takes a year or two, the Yan army's logistics will not be able to keep up.
The Yan army already had a small territory and few people, and insufficient food production. Even if they brought all the food in the country with them on this expedition, there would not be much left.
We can give orders to Nie Bei to split his troops into two groups, sending a small number of troops on each group to attack the Yan army's logistics supply lines and seize supplies.
The main force will head to Ziyang County to engage in a decisive battle with the Yan army."
The Taiwei still knows something about military affairs, and according to conventional tactics, this approach is indeed the most correct one.
Since the enemy has handed over the logistics supply line to them, they must take it. On the other hand, they just need to defend well and delay the enemy until they are defeated.
but……
Can it really be defended?
The queen was not so optimistic.
"Sir, the Yan army has that divine thunder that can fire very far. What's it called? The Red Cannon, right?
In Yangbei County, Han Xuan's 200,000 elite central army troops, with the county city as their defense, were still captured by the Yan army in one day.
Nie Bei only has 400,000 local troops, all of whom are new recruits. Even if they arrive in Ziyang County, how can they withstand the offensive of the Yan army?
Even if we defend the city, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold it.
The 500,000 elite Yan troops are all skilled warriors. I'm afraid it won't be enough for us to just send new recruits."
The general sighed,
"Your Majesty, there's nothing we can do about this. We only have these troops in the north of our country. If we can't stop the enemy, they'll march straight into Shengjing.
By then, even the 300,000-strong army of Shengjing would be hard to resist."
The Queen thought for a moment and said,
“I don’t understand military affairs, but I do know some arithmetic. Whether we have 400,000 or 300,000 men, we cannot defeat the enemy’s 500,000 men.
But if we were to assemble, we would have 700,000 men.
Can 700,000 people defeat their 500,000 people?
How about just following Nie Bei's suggestion and letting the Yan army enter Fenglu County? Our Shengjing army and his 400,000 men will attack the Yan army from both the north and the south."
The general smiled bitterly and said,
"My Lady, fighting a war is not a simple arithmetic. There are differences in weather, location, people, army strength, weapons and equipment, etc.
These 300,000 people are our last remaining military force and the last barrier of Shengjing.
If too few troops are deployed, we will be defeated one by one by the enemy.
If too many people are withdrawn, and all of them are transferred away, Shengjing will be empty. I am afraid that the enemy will launch a surprise attack on Shengjing, and then both Your Majesty and I will be beheaded.
Moreover, the local troops' combat effectiveness is indeed not strong, and their fighting spirit is not high. If they are asked to fight side by side with the central army, they will be defeated and their troops will be crushed, and they will also attack the central army.
If we are completely defeated by then, Shengjing will be in danger."
The Queen frowned slightly and said,
"But you also said that the local army's combat effectiveness is not strong. If we only send the local army to guard Ziyang County, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold it, right?"
"We have to defend it even if we can't. We now order Nie Bei to lead the army immediately and march quickly to Ziyang County to continue digging trenches and setting up defense lines. Dig as much as you can.
Since the city walls are useless, we will not defend the city, but fight them in a field battle, a legion battle.
The two armies were fighting in chaos. It was impossible for the Yan army to fire at their own people, right?
Without artillery, our 400,000 men should be able to kill at least half of them, right?"
After the general finished speaking, he turned to look at the ministers, as if he wanted to see if anyone else had any different opinions, which also exposed his lack of confidence.
Few of the civil and military officials in the court had ever fought in a war. They were all armchair strategists. In their eyes, war was just a rough change in strength and numbers.
As the saying goes, one man's desperate efforts are enough to defeat ten.
Indeed, if 400,000 people fought desperately, they could kill at least half of the Yan army.
But they forgot that their new recruits were human beings, people who had never been to the battlefield and who truly sought good fortune and avoided danger.
The queen wanted to fight a decisive battle with the Yan army, but she was a woman after all. She was good at assisting in the government, but when it came to making a decision that concerned the fate of the entire country, she was undecided.
"Wait a moment, I'll go ask His Majesty."
After saying this, the queen stood up and walked outside.
The ministers could understand. After all, it was the Queen's first day in charge of government affairs, and it was such an important matter, so it was normal for her to be undecided.
The queen was indeed undecided, but she didn't want to take the blame and didn't want to make this decision.
She went to ask the emperor, and then whether she won or lost, it would have nothing to do with her.
I arrived at the Yangxin Palace and saw His Majesty the Emperor lying in bed recuperating.
"His Majesty."
"I'm back...Did the meeting go well?"
Emperor Kun asked weakly.
"Your Majesty, the court meeting has not yet ended."
The Queen sat down beside the bed.
"What? Someone is dissatisfied with you?"
"No, our ministers in Dakun are all excellent. During this time of national crisis, everyone is working together.
However, something happened and the Yan army changed their route."
"Change the route? Bypass Nie Bei's defenses?"
"Yes."
The queen told everything that happened in the court, including Nie Bei's plan and the general's plan.
Emperor Kun sighed and said,
"We must not let the Yan army reach the gates of Shengjing. We must stop them. If the Yan army reaches the gates of the city, won't our lives be in jeopardy?
I can't die, I absolutely can't die.
Queen, give orders that Nie Bei must stop the Yan army at all costs and force them to die in Ziyang County. Do not be ashamed of the kindness I have shown him."
"The army of Shengjing..."
"Shengjing cannot be moved. Let the local army consume the number and physical strength of the Yan army. By the time the Yan army reaches Shengjing, they will be exhausted and vulnerable.
When the time comes, our army will attack again and will surely defeat the enemy."
"I understand, Your Majesty, please take care of your health."
The queen stood up and walked outside.
Emperor Kun's short-sightedness once again caused the Kun Kingdom to lose the opportunity to defeat the Yan army.