CHAPTER 290: CHAPTER 6 SPEECH_2

Actually, while Zheng Fan was still at the Tian Residence helping Lord Jingnan’s family collect the corpses, the various military commanders in Yinlang County had already received orders from Lord Jingnan.

The order was simple: do everything in your power to harass Qian State!

Nanwang City was the first line of defense and also Yan State’s primary southern stronghold against Qian State. However, at this time, on the border between Yan and Qian, besides Hui Wenzu, there were eight other general officers.

They had been redeployed forward from their original defensive zones and garrisons. This meant that here, including Hui Wenzu, there were a total of nine general officers, and the number of subordinate commanders under them was even greater.

So, when Lord Jingnan’s order was issued, these numerous commanders swarmed out like hornets, stinging at Qian State’s border defenses.

The war, in fact, had already begun before Zheng Fan returned.

Then, after Zheng Fan brought back the penal conscripts, more than half a month passed, yet he still hadn’t responded to Lord Jingnan’s call to arms. Instead, he remained holed up in his fortress, relentlessly training his troops.

"This likely marks the beginning of the first phase of the war," Blind Bei said.

According to Blind Bei’s calculations, the first stage of Yan State’s war against Qian State relied on the strength of the Jingnan Army to eliminate the elite field troops of Qian State’s Northern Three Towns. This was to pave the way for the northern army’s involvement, which would join after completing its campaign against the noble clans in the second stage.

The purpose of the current harassment was to lure the Qian State court into moving all available nearby forces towards the three border regions, thereby compelling the Qian border army to engage the Yan Army in a field battle.

At the same time, since the various commanders had absorbed a large number of penal conscripts from noble families, they also needed these intensive military activities to integrate their new troops. Cynically speaking, it was also a way to wear down some of those resentful conscripts.

"Blind Bei, don’t you think that after hundreds of years fighting the Barbarians, Yan State’s way of waging war has become very similar to theirs?"

"Indeed."

When the Barbarians went to war, their main force was the Royal Court’s army, and they would call upon warriors from other tribes to join them, thus forming a large host.

On Yan State’s side, the Jingnan Army was akin to the Royal Court’s main force, while commanders like Zheng Fan were like the allied tribes providing warriors.

"The Qian people are certainly keeping their composure," Zheng Fan remarked.

Although Green Willow Fortress hadn’t joined the battle, Zheng Fan was somewhat aware of the situation with the other allied units. The Qian State forces, despite repeated incursions by small Yan Army cavalry units, maintained a defensive posture. Their elite troops from the Northern Three Towns never once sortied out, seemingly determined to cower behind their walls.

"Yes, not many of them have gained much of an advantage; quite a few have even suffered losses."

"Heh," Zheng Fan chuckled.

To be honest, Zheng Fan wasn’t anxious. After all, he had fired the first shot, thereby coming to Lord Jingnan’s notice. Now, with Hui Wenzu as his patron, he could afford to remain composed.

Although being stationed here, single-mindedly training troops, was indeed somewhat tedious, he didn’t feel the need to rush out frantically like a headless chicken, blundering about.

"My lord, news from the Sixth Prince. It seems Grand Commandant Yang of Qian State has submitted a memorial to the Qian court, requesting the transfer of their Southwest troops to the north for defense."

"In recent years, Qian State had only really fought against the tribal chieftains in the Southwest. Those troops are probably competent, but not a cause for major concern," Zheng Fan said.

"Indeed."

Qian State’s Southwest region is mountainous, while Yinlang County and Qian State’s three border counties are plains. Even if Qian State’s southwestern troops are formidable, their strength lies primarily in mountain warfare. On the plains, facing an armored cavalry charge, they would still be routed.

"That’s not the crucial part. The crux is the second point."

"Oh, the second point?"

"Yes, Grand Commandant Yang also suggested dismantling all border fortresses of Qian State. The troops are to be withdrawn into the major towns of the three counties."

Hearing this, Zheng Fan’s eyes narrowed.

They’re dead set on playing the turtle, then!

Although Qian State’s current border fortresses offered considerable defense against the raids by Yan commanders, that was only because the full-scale offensive hadn’t begun; these were just minor skirmishes.

Once the Jingnan Army mobilized, the warning function of these fortresses would be essentially meaningless. If Qian State were to withdraw its forces and cede the open field, it might appear cowardly, but defending a city and fighting a field battle are entirely different propositions.

You can’t seriously expect Yan State’s proudest cavalry to dismount and scale city walls, can you? That would be a criminal misuse of them!

If he actually succeeds in making them play the turtle, then the problem will be immense.

Yan State is pursuing a swift, decisive war. The ideal scenario is to annihilate Qian State’s northern elites in two or three major battles and then drive deep into their territory. But if they’re forced into a protracted campaign of siege warfare in northern Qian State... Zheng Fan licked his lips. Yan State can’t afford to get bogged down. The Yan Emperor and his key figures have already turned the kingdom into a wok of roiling oil; they need to toss in the ingredients for a quick, fierce stir-fry, not a slow simmer.

"This eunuch is no simpleton," Blind Bei remarked.

"Hmm, Lord Jingnan said something similar. However, that eunuch is supposed to be transferred out, isn’t he?"

"Submitting this memorial should hasten his removal."

"Let’s leave that eunuch for the Yan Emperor and Lord Jingnan to fret over. What I’m saying is, since the Spy Bureau has sent envoys to press us, and our troops have been training for a good while, isn’t it time we took them out to bloody their swords?"