Who understands? He traveled through time with a high-spec spatial ability.

Chapter 319 Taking the Initiative

After much deliberation, she felt that wasting time here and waiting for an unknown outcome was not a wise move.

The enemy was exhausted and lacked sufficient supplies, a stark contrast to the situation on her side.

Tantai Zhou's gaze flickered, clearly he was also pondering this question. After some careful consideration, he finally nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "You are absolutely right. Taking the initiative might disrupt their plans."

Having said that, he made a decisive decision and immediately issued an order to summon all officers of the fifth rank and above from the capital region to the main tent to discuss important matters and devise a strategy.

The generals arrived one after another, and the atmosphere inside the tent was serious and tense. Tantai Zhou stood up and informed everyone of the current situation and his idea of ​​taking the initiative.

After listening, the generals were silent for a moment, then began to discuss it heatedly. Some worried that although the enemy was exhausted, they would fight like cornered beasts, and that a hasty attack might be risky; others believed that this was the perfect opportunity to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop.

Tantai Zhou asked, "How many men does the Yan army have this time?"

After a moment's thought, Zhao Xin replied, "According to the scouts, the number of Yan troops pressing on our border this time is definitely no less than 10."

Upon hearing this number, Tantai Zhou's heart sank. One hundred thousand… this was more than he had originally imagined. It seemed that the Yan Kingdom had likely mobilized its entire nation's resources this time, coming with a do-or-die determination!

“Map,” Tantai Zhou said in a deep voice.

Zhang Han quickly pushed the map screen over. The oil lamp inside the tent was dim, and it was too difficult to stare at the screen.

Qiao Jingjing couldn't bear the hardship, but because there were so many people, she could only take out several candles from her sleeve and light them all at once, instantly brightening the tent by several degrees.

Tantai Zhou frowned as he looked at the map and carefully analyzed the situation. The Blackwater River was frozen over, making it unsuitable for a large army to travel at the same time.

Furthermore, the fact that Tuoba Zheng was able to appear at Tongguan so quickly, despite having almost completely seized the Yan army's supplies by him and Jingjing, suggests that his rear supply train was still en route.

Based on the timeline, if the Yan army wanted to get the supplies to the border as quickly as possible, they would have to pass through the One Line Sky Gorge in the Tianlang Mountain range.

He moved his finger towards the canyon and pointed.

"Gentlemen, please look, the Yan army camp is set up with its back to the frozen surface of the Blackwater River." Tantai Zhou drew a cold light on the map with the scabbard of his sword. "General Wang just said that even a cornered beast will fight, but this cornered beast has cut off its own retreat."

At this moment, Qiao Jingjing understood his meaning and said, "The enemy's supplies are insufficient, and their morale will surely collapse. We can split our forces into two groups: one group can launch a feigned attack from the front to attract their main force; the other group can bypass them and burn their rear supply lines. In this way, the enemy will collapse without a fight."

After saying that, she leaned closer to the map and pointed to a spot, adding, "There is a narrow valley here, with cliffs on both sides. We can set up an ambush here. We can have the troops that are feigning an attack from the front pretend to retreat, luring the enemy into the valley, and then have the troops that have circled around to the rear cut off their retreat, attacking them from both sides."

Zhang Han suddenly stood up and knocked over a candlestick: "This humble general believes that flanking and burning the grain is too dangerous! Not to mention whether the ice can withstand heavily armored cavalry, simply dividing the troops is a cardinal sin in military strategy!"

Ignoring the wax stains on his sleeves, he pointed his finger at the winding Blackwater River on the screen, "Last winter training, my personal guards lost eight warhorses on this frozen surface!"

"Commander Zhang is absolutely right," Wang Meng said, stroking the scar on his chin. "The Yan army's commander-in-chief, Tuoba Zheng, is most adept at luring the enemy deep into his territory. Wasn't General Zhao at Tongguan last month..."

"Wang Meng!" Zhao Xin slammed his hand on the table, the bronze wrist guard rattling the teacups. "The defeat at Tongshan was due to my misjudgment of the weather; how can it be equated with today's battle? The county princess's move to undermine our foundation..."

Suddenly, the sound of metal clashing rang out inside the tent, as Tantai Zhou slammed his scabbard heavily onto the map screen. The flickering candlelight illuminated his cold, stern brow, casting a shadow on the screen like that of a giant eagle spreading its wings.

"Shut up, all of you." He tapped a spot on the upper reaches of the Blackwater River with his finger.

"Tuoba Zheng is indeed adept at using the strategy of luring the enemy, but look closely, everyone—the Yan army scouts have been frequently drilling holes in the ice to get water these past two days, and the scouts have reported that the ice layer is already seven feet thick."

The silver-patterned scabbard suddenly turned to the southeast corner. "Zhao Xin, you just said that their grain carts were last seen here?"

"Reporting to the General, this is indeed Wolf Head Ridge!" Zhao Xin's eyes lit up. "This humble general is willing to lead a light cavalry..."

"Wolf Head Ridge is eighty li from here, and it would take six hours to march there quickly." Tantai Zhou suddenly drew his sword and pointed to three places on the map with the tip of the sword, interrupting Zhao Xin: "If Tuoba Zheng really wants to hold the position, why not store the grain and fodder at Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is closer?"

He whirled around, his black cloak billowing as it flickered through half the candlelight. "Because he's waiting! Waiting for us to think we have a chance—"

Qiao Jingjing suddenly interjected: "Your Highness means... the grain is bait?"

“Not entirely.” Tantai Zhou traced a cross on the ice with his fingertip. “The Yan army’s real killing move is here. Tuoba Zheng anticipated that we would divide our forces, so he secretly hid oil under the ice. Once half of our army had crossed the river, he blew up the ice…”

Zhang Han gasped: "Wouldn't that flanking force be in great danger?"

“Therefore, I will do the opposite.” Tantai Zhou grabbed the candle representing the central army and pressed it heavily onto Wolf Head Ridge on the sand table. “Tomorrow at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), Wang Meng will lead 20,000 heavily armored soldiers to launch a feigned attack on the front, but remember—for every hundred paces advanced, retreat thirty paces to create the illusion that the siege is protracted.”

He then drew two more red candles: "Zhao Xin led five thousand light cavalry along the western official road, raising many banners along the way to make the Yan army believe this was their main force. Wait until Tuoba Zheng mobilizes troops to intercept them..."

Suddenly, a candle tear dripped onto the ice. "Zhang Han, you will lead eight hundred elite soldiers, lightly armed and simple, to cross the Blackwater River using the ice spike boots specially made by the county magistrate!"

Qiao Jingjing exclaimed, "But what are you planning to do about the kerosene under the ice?"

"There will surely be a north wind tonight." Tantai Zhou pushed open the tent door, and the cold wind carrying snowflakes howled in. "Order the engineering battalion to immediately set up three hundred Kongming lanterns on the southeast slope—I want to use heavenly fire to burn away Yuwen Lie's oil!"