mtlumby2d Chapter 296 Caution
Chapter 296 Caution
Guangning City.
Yan army camp.
All high-ranking generals gathered in the commander-in-chief's tent to formulate the next key battle plan.
They had already completed the discussion and only needed to confirm more combat details.
Chen Xiu said: "All the reinforcements from our rear have crossed the river and can take over the defense of Guangning City at any time. Now our army has sufficient food and grass, and morale is high. We should seize the opportunity to pursue the victory and continue to attack southward."
In Chen Xiu's opinion, their vanguard troops had been resting in Guangning City for several days, and everything in the army had been prepared. As long as the follow-up troops were responsible for defending Guangning, their vanguard troops could attack Zhucheng, or go west to besiege Changzhou.
"Should we transfer the troops outside Changzhou City and put them all into the attack on Zhu City?"
Huainan Army General Su Yingrui said.
At this time, Jiang Zuo said: "The main force outside Changzhou City cannot be transferred. We must use these troops to tie down the enemy's main force."
"If we transfer these troops that threaten Chen's army, then Chen's army will likely be free to attack Guangning City."
"I think the Chen army probably won't attack Guangning City. We don't need too many troops to garrison there. We should seize Zhu City as soon as possible and expand our victory."
Su Yingrui suggested.
In the eyes of a Huainan Army general like him, if they wait any longer, the Chen army will surely recover and the attack on the city at that time may not be as smooth as it is now.
Su Yingrui's words were also agreed by many people.
Facing these anxious generals, Jiang Zuo still said calmly: "The main force of our army will continue to garrison Guangning City and wait for the opportunity."
In Jiang Zuo's opinion, now is not a good time to attack southward.
The most important point is that because the new batch of ammunition from the Anding County Arsenal has not yet been fully delivered to the front line, Jiang Zuo decided to postpone the plan of attacking southwards for a while.
Once the port in Jiangzhou is completely built, perhaps the logistics supply capacity will be greatly improved.
The carrying capacity of land transportation cannot be compared with that of sea transportation. Jiang Zuo believes in the infrastructure capabilities of his subordinates and believes that the port will be completed within this month.
Only after all the logistics arrived did they continue to move south.
The Yan army had just stabilized the defense of Guangning City, so there was no need to rush into an attack. They could use the unique location of Guangning City to tie up the Yan army's troops.
It was not just because of logistics, but also because Jiangzuo had received a lot of intelligence about the Chen uprising army and discovered that Chen's capital army was being urgently mobilized.
The Capital Army of the Chen State was one of the main elite forces of the Chen State. It was unclear whether the goal of this troop mobilization was to encircle and suppress the rebel forces outside the Capital Army or to reinforce the front line.
Everything is still unknown, and given Jiang Zuo's cautious character, he decided to play it safe.
Only when all conditions are met will Jiang Zuo choose a radical and risky strategy...
"Then may I ask, Lord Jiang, how long do we have to wait?"
The generals of the Huainan Army didn't quite understand Jiang Zuo's meaning, but since they had seen Jiang Zuo's abilities, not many of them would question him.
Jiang Zuo said calmly: "When Chen Jun mobilizes a large number of troops, I will not move if the enemy does not move."
Seeing that their commander was so cautious, the other Huainan Army generals did not say much. They just did not understand why the Yan Army, which was in such high spirits, did not pursue the victory.
It is far from enough to occupy the city of Guangning.
But what they didn't know was that at this moment the main force of Chen's army was slowly moving towards Guangning City.
……
Chen Guo.
The capital, Jiankang City.
"Guangning City was breached by the Yan army! The Yan army is likely to reach Jiankang soon!"
The people in the teahouse were constantly discussing the national affairs of the country.
Even though they were just common people who could barely afford two meals a day, when they talked about national affairs, they were even more serious than some court officials.
"Guangning City has not been breached for a hundred years. The situation on the front line is not good this time."
The Yan army's attack on Guangning City was so powerful that the Chen court was unable to conceal the news. Ever since the Yan army began preparing to cross the river, almost the entire Chen court knew that the Yan army was about to go to war with Chen.
"Guangning City is not very far from the capital. I am afraid that the Yan army will attack all the way to Jiankang City like they did two hundred years ago..."
Someone said worriedly.
As early as two hundred years ago, the Yan army marched south to attack the State of Chen, and fought all the way from Guangning to the outskirts of Jiankang City. If the vassal kings' army had not entered the capital in time to defend the king, the State of Chen would probably have been destroyed by the Yan State two hundred years ago.
"What are you afraid of? Jiankang City is so strong, and with the great river as a barrier, I don't believe that the Yan army can come and kill us."
"Yes, if the Yan army dares to attack again, we will make them repeat the same mistake!"
Two hundred years ago, the Yan army was defeated in Jiankang City and suffered heavy losses. The situation of the war between the two countries reversed, and the Chen State even sent troops to slowly erode the three states in the east of the lake.
The two countries have a century-old feud and are fighting fiercely.
But times have changed, and the battlefield situation today is no longer the same as it was back then.
Faced with the overwhelming force of the Yan army, the defense line of the Chen army was already in jeopardy. Now the Yan army has not yet reached Jiankang City, not because the Chen army has blocked the Yan army's attack, but because the Yan army does not want to attack for the time being.
"Don't you know? The Yan army crossed the river and attacked Guangning City. The natural barrier of the river could not stop the Yan army's navy for long."
"The Yan army has a navy, don't our Chen army have one?"
Someone said unconvinced.
But others said: "Our Chen Kingdom Navy, haha, was ordered to be disbanded by certain people a long time ago."
Because of the imperial court's decree to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, many institutions have been disbanded.
However, the silver saved did not fall into the imperial treasury, but instead benefited many court officials.
Although the Chen army's navy was not very strong before, it was better than nothing. However, because it had not fought with the Yan army for many years, it was ordered to be disbanded, and even the navy's warships were abandoned.
"I heard that in the previous battle of Guangning City, the Yan army only suffered a thousand casualties. Even if they attacked Guangning City, which was guarded by tens of thousands of people, do you think this is reasonable?"
Someone sighed.
Ever since the battle of Guangning City, Jiangzuo had already sent people to Chen State to publicize the matter, so everyone in Chen State knew about it.
"Alas, the imperial army is so incompetent!"
"Now that the imperial court is controlled by a certain party, any talented civil servants and generals are persecuted. How can the imperial army fight a war?"
They chatted, but did not dare to say who that person was.
"These treacherous officials and villains are causing chaos in the government. They really deserve to be put to death!"
"Keep your voice down. If you want to die, don't let me get hurt."
The others looked panicked.
If the government heard this, they could throw all of them into death row at any time.
But even so, it could not regain the lost popular support of the Chen court.
There was turmoil in the capital.
Dark clouds covered the city, and it looked like a storm was about to come.