Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 210 Feint to the East, Attack in the West

The decision made by the Wude Hall was like a blazing key thrown into the heart of the empire's war machine, instantly igniting the massive engine that had been prepared for so long. Encrypted military orders, carrying the emperor's imperial approval and the dual seals of the Grand Council and the Ministry of War, were sent day and night to their designated locations through the official road post system and secret messenger channels.

Several days later, fifty li north of Chang'an, on the banks of the Wei River, in an inconspicuous temporary camp, about 20,000 imperial infantry and 5,000 auxiliary laborers were gathered. The camp stretched out in a continuous line, heavily guarded, yet there was no fanfare or commotion as with any ordinary expedition. Inside the commander's tent, the atmosphere was heavy.

Commander of this western detachment was not the renowned bravery of Dian Xiong, but a seasoned general known for his steadiness, resourcefulness, and military prowess—General Zhang Liao, the Guardian of the North. Zhang Liao was about fifty years old, with a lean face, piercing eyes, and a meticulously trimmed three-strand beard. Originally a border general in the north, he had long fought on the frontier, making significant contributions to pacifying the northern frontier and intimidating the various tribes of the grasslands, before being transferred to the Imperial Guard. At this moment, he, along with his deputy and military advisors, was conducting a final tactical simulation on a massive sand table depicting the Jingxiang-Xiakou region.

"His Majesty has decreed that our unit be a 'feint force,' tasked with a feigned attack on Xiakou, creating the appearance of a large army advancing westward and striking directly into the heart of Jingzhou and Xiangyang. We must ensure that the attention of King Xiao Jingyan of Chu and the main force of the allied army is firmly drawn to the western front!" Zhang Liao's voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable decisiveness. He pointed to the complex network of rivers and lakes surrounding Xiakou on the sand table. "However, the feint must be convincing and ruthless! We must make Xiao Jingyan believe that this is not a feint, but one of the true main attack directions of our Xingqi royal army's southern expedition, forcing him to withdraw elite troops from Caishiji and Guazhou on the eastern front to reinforce the western front!"

The lieutenant asked, "General, Xiao Jingyan is no ordinary man. How can we make him completely trust us? Although our army has 25,000 men, we do not have an absolute advantage over the allied forces defending near Xiakou."

Zhang Liao's lips curled into a confident, cold smile: "Warfare is based on deception. Advantage lies not in numbers, but in overwhelming force and unpredictability." He pointed to several key points on the sand table. "First, naval coordination. Marquis Jinghai has already dispatched a detachment, led by the Deputy Commander, with eighty warships of various sizes, up the Yangtze River. They will soon reach the waters flanking our forces. Our river crossings, bridge-building, and even small-scale landing exercises all require naval support. We must make a grand display, with banners waving and drums beating, to create the impression that we are advancing by land and sea, an unstoppable force!"

"Secondly, we will create a false impression. Starting tomorrow, we will send out multiple scouts to infiltrate the opposite bank and flanks of Xiakou, survey the terrain, capture prisoners, and deliberately leak false information such as 'our main force of 200,000 will arrive soon' and 'our target is Jiangling.' We will place many flags in the camps, increase the number of cooking fires at night, and have the laborers disguised as troops move frequently, ensuring that our 'troop strength' appears to the enemy scouts to be far greater than it actually is!"

"Thirdly, let's strike hard!" Zhang Liao's eyes flashed with a cold light. "A mere show of force isn't enough. Once the navy is in position and the weather is suitable, select one or two secondary crossings or shallows where the enemy's defenses are relatively weak, and organize elite troops to launch several probing attacks by forceful crossings! The goal isn't to conquer, but to strike hard and convincingly! Let the defenders bleed, let them feel the pressure, and send urgent reports of 'Xingqi's army fiercely attacking Xiakou' to Xiao Jingyan's desk like snowflakes!"

The military advisor added, "General, the secret agents of the Jiangnan West Station of the Inspectorate have also been activated. They will spread rumors in Jingzhou and Xiangyang and try to influence the judgment of the Jingzhou-Xiangyang faction generals in the Allied Forces, exaggerating the threat of our Western Route Army."

Zhang Liao nodded: "Very good. Remember, our goal is not actually to capture Xiakou, but to create maximum momentum and pressure to disrupt Xiao Jingyan's judgment and force him to divide his forces! As long as he can transfer even 20,000 to 30,000 elite troops from the eastern front, His Majesty's main force will have a greater chance at Wulindu! The merit of this battle lies not in killing generals and capturing flags, but in the two words 'doubt' and 'deception'! Gentlemen, do you understand?"

"We understand!" the generals in the tent responded in unison, their eyes gleaming with excitement and understanding. To carry out such a large-scale, highly complex strategic deception mission was itself an honor and a challenge.

Almost simultaneously, on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the massive fleet of the Jinghai Navy also began to quietly split up. A detachment led by a seasoned and prudent deputy commander, consisting of over eighty warships of various sizes, including two smaller tower ships as its flagship, flew a conspicuous flag and sailed upstream in a mighty torrent, heading straight for the western front. Their route was not overly concealed; in fact, they deliberately made their presence known within the sights of several Southern Dynasty outposts. Masts stood like a forest, sails obscured the river, and their imposing presence was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, further east at the designated assembly point north of the river, the true main force for the crossing—a massive fleet including eight new-style warships, and the elite army of 20,000 elite troops under Dian Xiong's command—was maintaining extremely strict secrecy and disguise. The ships were scattered and concealed in the river bends and harbors, while the soldiers were stationed in camps far from the riverbank, operating only at night and avoiding any actions that might reveal their presence. Shen Qing and Chen Wei personally oversaw the final preparations for this "fatal blow" that would determine the fate of the empire.

Chang'an, a side hall of the Wude Hall. Chen Xing stood before a huge map of Jiangnan, his gaze slowly shifting between "Xiakou" on the western front and the hidden "Wulin Ferry" on the eastern front. Jia Wen stood beside him, holding a secret report he had just received regarding the movements of Zhang Liao's detachment and Shen Qing's naval detachment.

"General Zhang Liao has launched his operation as planned, creating a great spectacle. The naval flanking force has also advanced westward, and along the way, several warships have been 'accidentally' spotted on the south bank," Jia Wen reported in a low voice. "The western station of the Censorate reports that the garrison at Xiakou is clearly on edge, with frequent signal fires and a significant increase in patrols along the coast. The military governors of Jingzhou and Xiangyang also seem to be starting to get restless."

Chen Xing nodded slightly, his fingers lightly tapping the point marked "Wulin Ferry" on the map, his voice low: "Not enough. We need to make Xiao Jingyan feel that the threat from the western front is enough to shake his foundation, forcing him to squeeze out troops from between his teeth to plug this gap. Tell Zhang Liao that he can be even more 'aggressive,' but be careful to control casualties and maintain a good balance. Tell Shen Qing that the main force must be well concealed; not a single bird should be startled in advance."

"Yes," Jia Wen replied, then hesitated for a moment, "Your Majesty, Xiao Jingyan is a shrewd and suspicious man. If he sees through my feint attack..."

Chen Xing turned around, a mysterious smile on his face: "See through it? Perhaps there will be some doubts. But what I want is his doubt and hesitation. Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and surprise is even more important. While he is still weighing the strengths and weaknesses on the western front and hesitating whether to divide his forces, my thunderbolts have already struck his weak point on the eastern front. A feint to the east while attacking the west not only strikes his army, but also his judgment and determination."

He looked out to the southern sky outside the palace, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls and the vast rivers and mountains, seeing the surging river and the Allied camp on the opposite bank, which was gradually being shrouded in the "mystery of the western front".