novelhk Chapter 809: One wants to defend, the other wants to attack!
Chapter 809: One wants to defend, the other wants to attack!
Yi Xiaochuan nodded vigorously, his eyes blazing. "That's right! Brother Yu, you're right! Xianyang City is high and the moat is deep. Although the defenders are only 30,000, relying on the strong city to hold out, our army will pay a heavy price for a strong attack, and it will be protracted, which is exactly what Gao Yao wants. But Yangping Pass is different! Although it is a natural barrier, it is the only gateway in and out of Hanzhong! As long as Gao Yao's main force is held back by Wu Rui, his rear will be empty. The defenders of Yangping Pass will definitely not be numerous, and they will never expect our army to go to such a long distance to attack here!"
He strode over to the map, his finger jabbing at the location representing Yangping Pass, his voice growing increasingly passionate. "Capture Yangping Pass, and the gateway to the Hanzhong Plain will be wide open! Hanzhong is a land of abundance, rich in food and fodder. It's a strategic hub for advancing westward toward Bashu, straddling Guanzhong to the north, and linking up with Chu to the east! More importantly, it's a place we must rescue if we attack the enemy! If Gao Yao knew Hanzhong's gateway was breached and his backyard was on fire, would he still be able to stay in the south and fight Wu Rui with peace of mind? He would definitely have to send troops back to reinforce him! This would significantly ease Wu Rui's pressure, and might even force him to hastily negotiate a peace agreement with Wu Rui, thus disrupting his entire southern expedition plan! This kills several birds with one stone!"
Yi Xiaochuan's analysis was a barrage of strategic imagination and immense allure. Bypassing the fortified city of Xianyang and going straight for the relatively vulnerable yet priceless strategic hub was indeed a risky move, but also a brilliant one!
Xiang Yu's blood boiled, his breathing becoming heavy. His eyes burned with fighting spirit, as if he could already see the cavalry crushing the Yangping Pass. He glanced at Fan Zeng fiercely, "Father! What do you think of Xiaochuan's plan? Attack them when they're least prepared, and strike at their vital points! If we can capture Hanzhong, the foundation of our Great Chu will be as solid as a rock!"
Fan Zeng sank deeper into silence. He stared at the tiny mark on the map at Yangping Pass, his bony fingers unconsciously twirling his beard. With eyes as sharp as a hawk's, he quickly weighed the pros and cons of this strategy: Risks—the long march, the long supply routes, if blocked or unable to capture the city, a lone force advancing deep into the enemy's territory would be disastrous; Timing—the crucial juncture where Gaoyao's main force was being held back by Wu Rui was crucial; the slightest mistake would be a trap; Benefits—the strategic value of capturing Hanzhong was immeasurable, enough to change the entire landscape of the conflict... Yi Xiaochuan's idea was like a double-edged sword, gleaming with both alluring brilliance and a deadly coldness.
Fan Zeng slowly raised his head. His aged but still sharp eyes first swept over the eager Xiang Yu, then finally fixed on Yi Xiaochuan's face. He spoke in a low and slow voice, "This plan... is a risky move, an unconventional one. The advantages are great, but the disadvantages are also extremely dangerous. Xiaochuan, please explain in detail. How will we ensure the concealment of the attack? How will we ensure the smooth flow of food supplies? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Yangping Pass defenses? If Gao Yao reacts quickly and sends elite troops to support us, how will our army respond?"
A series of sharp and pragmatic questions, like ice water, poured on the newly ignited flames, but also marked the beginning of the serious consideration of this bold and almost crazy plan by this shrewd military strategist.
Fan Zeng listened silently to Yi Xiaochuan's passionate analysis, his heart weighing heavily as if a huge rock were pressing down on him. He acknowledged that Yi Xiaochuan's strategic vision for Yangping Pass was indeed imaginative, and its potential strategic value—opening the gateway to Hanzhong, threatening Gaoyao's heartland, and perhaps even forcing Gaoyao to send troops back to reinforce—was extremely tempting. The allure was so great that even Fan Zeng, who always preferred stability, had to acknowledge its theoretical appeal.
For Fan Zeng, the hidden risks behind this temptation were enough to send a chill down his spine. His deeply ingrained strategic thinking still prioritized stability. Yi Xiaochuan's strategy, while sounding impressive, was not a surefire way to win.
It was filled with countless "what ifs" and "maybes": What if Gao Yao's spies discovered the raid's route? What if the defenders of Yangping Pass proved more tenacious than expected, preventing the siege? How would Gao Yao react faster than expected, quickly mobilizing elite troops to reinforce and encircle the elite Chu troops deep behind enemy lines? Any mistake in any link could lead to a catastrophic failure.
The consequence of this defeat was something Fan Zeng could never bear—the destruction of the core elite troops on which the Chu army depended for survival! The Chu army, seemingly gaining momentum under Xiang Yu's leadership and recruiting many new soldiers, still had the veterans who had followed Xiang Liang in his uprising and survived many bloody battles.
They were the backbone of the army, the source of morale, and an extension of Xiang Yu's command system. If these elite troops, honed through countless battles, were decimated during a thousand-mile assault, during a difficult attack, or while trapped in a tight encirclement, the Chu army would be severely weakened and potentially even unable to recover. For the Chu army, currently in a critical period of growth and surrounded by powerful enemies, this price would be tantamount to destroying its own Great Wall. The fruits of victory were certainly tempting, but the abyss of defeat was even more devastating.
Fan Zeng's gaze passed over the excited commander and counselors before him, as if penetrating the military tent, and he saw the seemingly thriving, yet in fact unstable, state of the Chu-controlled territory. To quickly amass enough strength to rival Gao Yao's vast power, the Chu army had adopted a nearly exhausting strategy.
All energy and resources were madly channeled into the military. To expand the army, conscription orders became increasingly stringent. Almost all young and middle-aged men, whether voluntarily or by force, were drafted into the ranks. In the fields, villages, and countryside, the only people left were white-haired elders, frail women, and ignorant children. The labor force was severely drained, causing a sharp decline in local productivity.
Despite the astonishing yields of sweet potatoes and potatoes—the "magic crops" Yi Xiaochuan brought with him—which alleviated the food crisis to a certain extent and prevented widespread famine, Fan Zeng knew this was not a long-term solution, nor could it mask the deeper crisis. He remembered that when Yi Xiaochuan promoted these two crops, he had not concealed their shortcomings.
As someone from the future, Yi Xiaochuan clearly pointed out that sweet potatoes and potatoes primarily provide starchy energy, and long-term staple foods can lead to serious nutritional imbalances. Eating only these foods for a long time can lead to sallow complexion, poor physical fitness, and increased susceptibility to various illnesses caused by protein, fat, and vitamin deficiencies, such as severe malnutrition, edema, night blindness, and excruciating chronic constipation. These hidden dangers were quietly manifesting themselves among the people of Chu.
A more acute conflict arose over resource allocation. To maintain the army's combat effectiveness and ensure soldiers had the strength to train, march, and fight, limited high-value nutritious foods such as refined rice, meat, and oil were prioritized for the barracks.