I embezzled 100,000 taels at the beginning, and the empress begged me to be more greedy

The next day.

Chenshi.

Today is a nice day, it's a great time to visit East Lake with your beloved.

Jiang Zuogang got up and left the house, waiting for Chen Qingyun to wake up.

But Chen Qingyun couldn't wait, but brought an order.

"Master Jiang, the Governor has ordered us to go to the barracks immediately."

The soldiers came to report.

Jiang Zuo sighed helplessly, changed his clothes, and rode to the barracks.

In the Anding County military camp, all the soldiers were walking in a hurry, as if they were preparing for a big battle.

If Jiang Zuo remembered correctly, the Battle of Deep Valley mentioned by the Six Garrison Army would take place five days later.

Do I need to prepare in advance?

With some doubts, Jiang Zuo came to Yan Kang's tent, stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Greetings, Governor-General, General Wang."

Many generals from the Six Garrisons Army gathered in the camp, and it seemed that they were really going to discuss something important.

Wang Yingjie still had a gloomy expression on his face, and said unhappily, "Master Jiang, could you come earlier next time? Don't you feel ashamed of making us wait for you every time?"

Nonsense, you guys living in the military camp will definitely be there at any time.

Jiang Zuo didn't want to pay attention to this person's repeated embarrassment.

"No need to be polite." Yan Kang said, "I have called you all here today for the battle tomorrow."

"tomorrow?"

Jiang Zuo was slightly puzzled and asked, "Governor, won't the northern barbarians move south in large numbers in a few days?"

Before Yan Kang could answer, Wang Yingjie rushed to say, "Master Jiang, you really don't care about military affairs. The Mobei barbarians have already started to gather troops two days ago, and they will invade the south as early as tomorrow. Master Jiang has been missing all day, so don't you care about suppressing the bandits?"

I really didn't take it to heart.

Jiang Zuo raised his eyebrows but did not answer.

Wang Yingjie was deeply displeased with Jiang Zuo's "arrogance".

Seeing that the situation was a bit awkward, Yan Kang tried to smooth things over, "The movements of the Mobei barbarians are strange. Our Six Towns Army has just received news that the Northern Barbarians will definitely move south from Deep You Valley between noon and 3 p.m. tomorrow. At that time, the Six Towns Army will ambush under Deep You Valley to stop the Northern Barbarians and prevent them from approaching Iron Horse Pass."

Tiemaguan Pass is the gateway to Daizhou, and Daizhou is the front line of the northern border against the northern barbarians. If Tiemaguan Pass is lost, I am afraid that the entire Daizhou will still be invaded by the northern barbarians.

In the past, the northern barbarians rarely launched a full-scale attack on Tiemaguan Pass. They often went south to plunder on a small scale, mostly passing through the north of Anding County.

Jiang Zuo was very familiar with this. He had fought with the barbarians from Mobei many times, and his business and trade were often plundered by the barbarians from the north. That was why he had to develop powerful weapons to protect his business.

Now, hearing that the Six Garrison Army is going to have a decisive battle with the Northern Barbarians, Jiang Zuo does not quite agree with this plan.

"At that time, Wang Yingjie will lead 40,000 troops and deploy them in Deep Valley in advance to fight the Northern Barbarians head-on. Song Teng, you will lead 20,000 troops to prepare on the flanks and be ready to outflank at any time. Guan Zhen will lead 15,000 reserve troops to stay in the rear and be ready to reinforce at any time. As for Jiang Zuo, you will lead 10,000 troops to defend Lanshan Road to prevent the Northern Barbarians from making a detour and attacking us."

Yan Kang's plan was very simple and clear.

But Jiang Zuo was quite suspicious about one thing, and asked, "Governor, are you going to divide the troops into multiple groups?"

Yan Kang nodded and said, "That's right."

"The Northern Barbarian Army seems to have 30,000 soldiers. I wonder if they can withstand the first wave of attack with only 40,000 soldiers deployed on the front line."

This is what Jiang Zuo is most worried about.

If they lose the main battle, their flanks will not be safe either.

The Deep Valley is not a strategically important place. If we were to have a decisive battle with the Northern Barbarians here, I'm afraid our chances of winning would be slim.

Hearing Jiang Zuo's words, Wang Yingjie was immediately displeased and said, "You mean, you doubt that this general is not capable of stopping the first wave of the Northern Barbarians' attack?"

"Don't get me wrong, that's not what I meant." Jiang Zuo explained calmly, "It's just that I have a better plan, I wonder if the Governor-General can take it as a reference."

"please say."

Yan Kang is all ears.

Jiang Zuo stepped forward and said, "In fact, we can just give up engaging in a large-scale battle with the Northern Barbarians. If the enemy attacks, our army will retreat. As long as we can hold the key roads and use the terrain advantage to block the cavalry, we can keep the Northern Barbarians out of the Iron Horse Pass. As long as these Northern Barbarians cannot harass the people, there is no need for our army to engage in direct battle with them. If the enemy advances, we retreat; if the enemy stays, we harass; if the enemy is tired..."

"You mean to make the Six Towns Army cowards?"

Wang Yingjie interrupted Jiang Zuo's words, and then came to the map and said disdainfully: "Your strategy is a completely cowardly act. This battle is to annihilate the main force of the Northern Barbarians. How can you avoid the battle?"

"In fact, if you want to completely destroy the main force of the Northern Barbarians, you don't necessarily have to fight a war."

Jiang Zuo said it calmly indeed.

"If we don't fight, will those northern barbarians surrender of their own accord?"

Song Teng also shook his head and laughed, quite dissatisfied with Jiang Zuo's "nonsense".

"Open up trade with the various tribes in the north, and provoke internal strife among them. Naturally, they will have no intention of invading the south. The best strategy is to defeat the enemy without fighting."

This is Jiang Zuo’s real thought.

If we gather our main forces to fight against the Northern Barbarians, it is very likely that they will unite. It would be better to use economic warfare to instigate a war among their tribes, and let Dayan reap the benefits.

Hearing this, the other generals in the tent, led by Wang Yingjie, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Doing business? Haha, we are the Six Garrisons of Great Yan. Do you think we are Jiangnan merchants?"

"Lord Jiang, it's easy to say. These people from the Mobei grasslands are barbaric by nature. As Yan people, it is impossible for us to interact with them. Only by killing them one by one can we completely eliminate the hidden dangers in Mobei."

As a military general, Song Teng was dismissive of Jiang Zuo's suggestion.

Wang Yingjie also said with a bit of mockery: "After all, Lord Jiang was just a county magistrate before this, so don't expect too much."

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright, be quiet."

Yan Kang remained serious and continued, "Everything should proceed according to the plan. Jiang Zuo, your plan is not bad, but it is not what we need now. Today, the governor will dispatch 16,000 garrison troops and put them under your command. You just need to hold Lanshan Road firmly."

At this time, Jiang Zuo said: "Sir, I don't need the reinforcements from the Six Garrisons. Please deploy these troops to the front."

Hearing this, everyone was surprised.

He doesn't even want the command of the army?

Wang Yingjie said in a low voice: "There is no joking in the army, so don't let Jiang Zuo implicate the entire Six Towns Army because of you."

Jiang Zuo was confident and said, "Don't worry. My Anding County's main force has been fighting for many years. It is more than enough for us to defend Lanshan Road. However, I need your support of 3,000 war horses and 4,000 sets of armor..."

"This one……"

Yan Kang was a little hesitant.

If these supplies were handed over to Jiang Zuo, it is not known whether he would obey the command of the Six Garrison Army.

Compared with the second time, he would rather send troops to Jiangzuo, because no matter what, the Six Garrison Army would obey his Yan Kang's orders.

"Well, the Six Garrison Army doesn't have enough war horses and armor. Jiang Zuo, you can only find a way on your own..."