Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Li Jing stood up and walked to the huge hanging military sand table. He picked up a slender baton and pointed it at the Chu army's defense line:

"The Chu army's defense line is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, forming a horn-like formation."

"If we concentrate our forces to attack one point, the enemy at the other two points will surely come to the rescue, which could lead to a stalemate, or even allow them to take advantage of their rest and strike back."

Then, he used his baton to draw three huge arrows on the Tang Xie coalition camp:

"Therefore, I have decided not to use a desperate assault tactic. My army and the Scorpion Clan's coalition forces, totaling 300,000 troops, will be divided into three groups!"

The baton in his hand pointed heavily at three pre-set attack directions:

"The left wing army, 100,000 strong, led by General Wang Zhongsi, assisted by the Black Wolf Tribe of the Scorpion Clan, will advance along the foothills of Luoxia Mountain, attacking the right flank of the Chu army's defenses and tying down their forces!"

"The right wing army, 100,000 strong, led by General Gao Xianzhi, assisted by the Scorpion Clan's Blood Eagles, will cross the Canglang River and attack their left flank. We will also focus on containment and wait for an opportunity to break through!"

"The central army, 100,000 strong, will be led by me personally, assisted by the main force of the Scorpion Clan's Golden Scorpion Division. We will attack the core of the Chu Army's defenses—Zhennan Pass—from the front!"

"This route is the main attack direction, but it doesn't require a blind attack. We need support from both wings, applying steady pressure, looking for weaknesses, and striving to penetrate them in one fell swoop!"

Li Jing's strategy is clear: regardless of priority, three approaches will advance simultaneously and echo each other.

This way, we can fully utilize the advantage of military strength and exert comprehensive pressure, making it difficult for the Chu army to defend both ends, while also avoiding the risks caused by advancing rashly on a single route.

"Three armies, advance in unison, no more than fifty miles apart. Communications must be maintained to support each other!"

Li Jing's voice was firm and decisive: "If any of the routes discovers an opportunity or encounters a strong enemy, the other two routes must respond immediately, either by providing support, coordinating efforts, or taking advantage of the opportunity to attack!"

"We must use our upright army and the overwhelming force of Mount Tai to crush the Chu army's eastern defense!"

He put down his baton and looked around at the generals with a sharp gaze:

"This battle concerns the fate of our nation, and also your future! I hope you will obey my orders, fight bravely, and enhance the prestige of the Tang Dynasty!"

"I will follow the Marshal's orders!"

All the generals in the tent, including the one who was most enthusiastic about asking for battle, were now convinced and responded in unison.

They knew that Li Jing's deployment was the mature and prudent way to win.

Soon, the huge Tang Scorpion coalition army began to operate according to Li Jing's strategy like a sophisticated and efficient war machine.

An army of 300,000, divided into three groups, launched an unprecedented fierce attack on the east gate of Chu State with thunderous force!

The war on the Eastern Front suddenly escalated!

Two days later, at Zhennan Pass, the core hub of the eastern line of the Chu State.

This pass controls the vital throat of the country. Its walls are high and thick, and it is built against the mountain with steep terrain. It is the last and strongest barrier to prevent the Tang-Scorpion coalition forces from entering the heartland of the Chu State.

Inside the commander-in-chief's mansion, the atmosphere was solemn and murderous.

Feng Anguo, the Minister of War of the Chu State and commander of the eastern front, sat in the main seat.

He was about fifty years old, with a gaunt face. His eyes showed the wisdom of a civil servant, but also the calmness and perseverance that came from having experienced the baptism of war.

Although he was a civilian commander, his many years of military career had given him a deep understanding of war.

Below, strategist Jia Yu, as well as Han Xing, Guan Yun, Ma Chao and other senior generals on the eastern front stood on both sides.

Everyone had just finished their greetings, and their faces were exhausted, obviously having rushed back from various defense areas.

"Generals, Mr. Jia, there's no need for formalities. This is an urgent matter. Please sit down and talk."

Feng Anguo's voice was calm, but it carried a hint of fatigue and solemnity that was difficult to conceal.

He motioned for everyone to take a seat.

After everyone was seated, Feng Anguo didn't exchange any pleasantries and went straight to the point with a serious expression:

"We just received a precise tip from the Jinyiwei behind enemy lines: the Tangxie coalition is making significant moves!"

One sentence made everyone's heart rise.

All eyes were focused on Feng Anguo.

Feng Anguo said in a deep voice, "Li Jing has divided his 300,000-strong army into three routes! Each route consists of 100,000 soldiers and horses, forming a triangular formation and pressing towards our Zhennan Pass and the two wing defense lines!"

"Wang Zhongsi on the left wing is assigned to the Black Wolf Tribe of the Scorpion Clan. His target is our right wing Luoxia Mountain defense line."

"Gao Xianzhi on the right, assigned to the Blood Eagle Division of the Scorpion Clan, intends to cross the Canglang River and attack our left wing."

"Li Jing will personally lead the central route, and with the main force of the Golden Scorpion, they will attack directly at the front of our Zhennan Pass!"

He clearly laid out the Tang army's deployment in front of everyone, and immediately there was a sound of gasps in shock from inside the tent.

An army of 300,000 strong, divided into three groups, advancing in unison, it was clear that they were about to launch a general attack!

The counselor Jia Yu, a middle-aged scholar with a thin face but unusually bright eyes, frowned upon hearing this and spoke first, his tone heavy:

"Feng Shuai, this matter... is not optimistic."

"Li Jing has always been cautious in deploying his troops, but this time he dared to divide his forces into three groups. It may seem that he has dispersed his forces, but in fact, that is not the case."

"These three armies must be not far apart, so they can support each other and serve as a support for each other."

"If we concentrate our forces to deal with one of these routes, the other two routes will be able to take advantage of the situation and advance straight into our heartland."

"If I also divide my forces to resist, each of my forces will face an enemy force of equal strength, which will put enormous pressure!"

He paused and looked at Feng Anguo: "Li Jing is plotting this! He wants to use his superior military strength to exert pressure from all sides, making it difficult for our army to defend both ends and keep us running for our lives!"

"It seems that the news of Liu Xiu's defeat has already spread. The Tang Dynasty is going to take advantage of the situation and launch an all-out attack!"

"For our army, this is an unprecedented crisis!"

Feng Anguo nodded slightly. Jia Yu's analysis coincided with his thoughts.

He said in a deep voice, "Mr. Jia is absolutely right. Li Jing's move is precisely because he sees that our main force may be transferred westward, leaving the eastern front empty. He wants to use the overwhelming force of Mount Tai to break through our defenses in one fell swoop."

"For now, our army can only...divide and conquer."

As soon as the word "divide the troops" was uttered, the faces of the generals in the tent became even more solemn.

Everyone knows that dividing troops when one is at a disadvantage in terms of military strength is extremely risky.

"General Feng! I am willing to go!"

A voice as loud as thunder suddenly rang out!

Among the generals' seats, a burly and fierce general with a face as red as a date suddenly stood up. It was Guan Yun, who was famous for his bravery.

He cupped his fists and bowed, his voice shaking the roof tiles: "Please, General Feng, allocate 50,000 troops to me. I am willing to garrison the right flank of Luoxia Mountain! I will make sure that Wang Zhongsi and the Scorpion barbarians never return!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another fierce general beside him stood up. This man was also tall and had a hot temper. It was Ma Chao.

He shouted bluntly, "Guan Yun! The terrain on the right wing is complex and suitable for ambushes and surprise attacks. You are too straightforward to use your power if you go there!"

"Let me go! I only need 40,000 men, and I'm sure to turn the Canglang River into a river of blood for the Tang army!"