Transmigration begins with archery training

"If that's the case..."

"Our situation doesn't seem as optimistic as we thought!"

His expression turned serious. "If we wait until the Qing Kingdom's reinforcements from outside Green Ridge Mountain arrive, and we are unable to spare enough troops to stop them, it means we may be forced to abandon the attack on Yongle Prefecture and choose another city to garrison."

"In this situation, the situation will change from the Great Sheng Dynasty besieging the enemy to a stalemate between the two sides."

"What was originally a hopeless situation for the Qing Kingdom in Laizhou has all come back to life."

"If we also add the Southern Xu Kingdom's reinforcements outside Hulao Pass, who knows when they might appear..."

"Everything the Great Sheng Dynasty has achieved in Laizhou may be in vain, and the recovery of the three prefectures may become a pipe dream."

side.

The other two Xuanjia Army captains, Xiao Zheng and You Jike, also looked serious after hearing this.

"You guys are still relatively sober."

Chen Sanshi continued, "Therefore, what we need to do is to race against time. Time is the key to victory. The faster we deal with the troops in various cities and gather the troops of our Great Sheng Dynasty scattered in various places, the better we can be prepared to deal with the changes that may occur next."

"The fastest way to attack a city is to force the enemy to surrender. If a battle breaks out, even the smallest city will take a lot of time and manpower. There are countless cities along the nearly 1,000-mile front. We simply cannot afford to waste the time that has accumulated."

"One pine forest is not enough, nor is one Zhaotong."

"What I want is for all thirty-six prefectures in Laizhou, except for Yongle Prefecture, to surrender without a second thought!"

All thirty-six prefectures surrendered without a second thought!

Xia Cong and the others looked at each other, clearly finding it hard to believe.

Moreover, it's on the pledge.

Is it really necessary to make such a big fuss just to ask them to handle Zhaotong Prefecture?

Xiao Zheng asked, puzzled, "My lord, if I may be so bold, isn't this a bit too difficult?"

"Yes, sir, I don't doubt you, it's just..."

You Jike chimed in, "Persuading one or two major cities to surrender is already extremely difficult. To persuade all thirty-six prefectures to surrender is almost... impossible, isn't it?"

"Hmph! Making a fuss over nothing!"

Zhu Tong scoffed, "Even I know that. Just do it this way first, then do it that way!"

"Old Zhu, stop causing trouble."

Zhuang Yi pulled him down: "Just listen to what the adults are saying, you don't know anything!"

However, the brothers from Poyang reacted rather calmly, because they had no doubt that their general could achieve the strategic goals he had stated.

"You Jike, there's something you're wrong about."

Chen Sanshi's gaze remained fixed on the map: "Sometimes, it is much easier to persuade many cities in a province to submit than to just one or two cities. This is the power of circumstances."

"Some say war is about deception, some say war is about the way of the king, and some say war is about first securing one's own invincibility and then waiting for the enemy to be defeated. The most important thing is a way to seek stability. But I say—"

After that pause, every word he uttered was like the resounding toll of a great bell: "Warfare is about momentum!"

"Is it power?"

Xia Cong was in a daze.

They almost simultaneously clasped their hands in greeting and said, "Please enlighten us, sir!"

"Everything in the world boils down to the word 'power'."

Since joining the army, Chen Sanshi has participated in many battles, both large and small, and has gained some insights: "There is a fearless spirit in attacking a city, a resolute spirit in defending a city, a spirit of charging into battle and seeking death, an unstoppable force in winning a decisive battle, and similarly, a rout can be a complete collapse, and even surrender can be a sign of utter despair and a willingness to submit at the first sign of trouble."

"Once this momentum is established, the enemy will be like a stray dog ​​or a defeated rooster, and will no longer have any thought of resistance. They will only have one thought left: surrender."

"What we need to do is create a general trend of 'surrender'."

"Warfare is all about momentum!"

Xia Cong was somewhat puzzled. He asked, "Then, sir, how should we build up our momentum next?"

"A total of five moves."

“I call this first step ‘leaving an opening when besieging an enemy.’”

Chen Sanshi gave the order: "Pass on my command that, except for Yongle Prefecture, all generals shall immediately cease their sieges and leave a small path for their scouts to exchange information."

"Xia Cong, write down the original words and then use the gyrfalcon to convey them to the various departments."

This time, he used his fourth senior brother's gyrfalcon.

"Then comes the second step, follow me!"

"drive--

The group moved forward at full speed.

It will arrive soon.

The nearest city where surrendered soldiers were being held.

Military officers and soldiers were each assigned to separate posts.

Among them, generals at the level of Refining the Internal Organs or above would often be controlled by having their collarbones and other parts pierced with black iron hooks and locks to prevent trouble from arising.

But soldiers don't need to.

Once the soldiers removed their armor and weapons, and their formations were disrupted, they were essentially a disorganized mob without a general to lead them, not much different from unarmed civilians.

Chen Sanshi reined in his horse and stopped, raised the token in his hand high, and asked loudly, "Who is the general guarding the surrendered soldiers here!"

"General Chen!"

A lieutenant general, who had received orders early on, went out of the city to greet them: "I am Zhu Qi. I am in charge of guarding the surrendered soldiers here. Does General Chen have any instructions?"

Chen Sanshi said calmly, "Map."

Xia Cong immediately did as instructed.

"Where are the brush and ink?"

Chen Sanshi added.

"This humble servant deserves to die! From now on, I will always keep pen and ink on hand!"

Xia Cong hurriedly went to prepare, and then handed over a brush dipped in ink.

Chen Sanshi picked up a brush and drew a route on the map, instructing, "General Zhu, when you release the surrendered soldiers, be sure to escort them along the route I have drawn, distribute them rations, and make as much noise as possible."

"These roads..."

Zhu Qi looked at the black lines and said, "Isn't this just making a scene? I understand. General Chen means that he wants everyone to see that we have released the surrendered soldiers, which will weaken the will of the garrison in the other cities to resist."

"Ah."

Chen Sanshi nodded: "In addition, select two thousand loud-voiced surrendered soldiers to keep and not release them for the time being, but to use them for other purposes."

"A loud voice?"

Zhu Qi didn't understand the significance of such an arrangement, but he still nodded and said, "I understand. General Chen, rest assured, I will carry it out accurately and ensure that there are no mistakes."

"If anything goes wrong, I'll take your head!"

Chen Sanshi reminded him.

"Leader!"

Zhu Qi turned around and did as instructed.

Chen Sanshi sat high on his horse: "Next, is the third step!"

……

Zhaotong Prefecture.

outside the city.

Cui Congyi stared at the latest order, remaining silent for a long time.

"General Cui."

Sha Wenlong asked, "Did that guy surnamed Chen give us some orders again?"