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

Chapter 321 The Yan Army's Defeat

Tantai Zhou stood atop the highest point of the southeast slope, his posture upright, as imposing as a mountain. His dark cloak fluttered in the heat, blending seamlessly with the raging flames.

His gaze was fixed on the ground below, watching the phosphorescent powder explode the moment it touched the earth, bursting forth with a bluish-purple flame. The flame spread rapidly along the fuses buried beneath the ice.

Wherever it passed, the ice melted instantly, and the Blackwater River suddenly turned into a burning Milky Way, with flames licking the wooden fences of the Yan army camp.

"Report! Commander Zhang has broken through the west bank!" The messenger's voice rang in Tantai Zhou's ears, but his gaze did not waver; it remained fixed on the sea of ​​fire.

No sooner had the messenger finished speaking than the second wave of Kongming lanterns were launched into the sky. Tantai Zhou suddenly pressed his hand to the sword at his waist, his voice low and powerful: "Have Zhao Xin's light cavalry change course to Eagle Beak Cliff, and tell him to stick to the ridge."

Qiao Jingjing, holding a map, leaned closer, her hair still damp with fine snow: "The ice-oil formation has been broken, but Tuoba Zheng's grain carts..."

Tantai Zhou smiled slightly, his smile appearing somewhat cold in the firelight.

“That’s bait within bait.” His voice was calm and confident, as if everything was under his control. He gently brushed away the ice crystals at Qiao Jingjing’s temple with his slender fingers, then drew an arc on the map.

&34; Zhao Xin must have encountered an empty wagon; the real grain convoy should be... &34; His sword sheath suddenly struck an unnamed valley twenty miles southwest of Wolf Head Ridge.

Qiao Jingjing stared at him, watching him confidently analyze the situation, each word like a sharp sword, precise and incisive.

She couldn't help but feel a little dazed. This was the real Tantai Zhou! The dashing young man who was once spirited and dashing on the battlefield had finally revealed his brilliance again.

As if confirming his judgment, at that moment, three green arrows suddenly rose into the southeastern night sky, like shooting stars streaking across the heavens.

Qiao Jingjing's heart tightened; she remembered that this was the ambush signal they had agreed upon beforehand.

However, to her surprise, Tantai Zhou showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a smile: "Finally, he's taken the bait."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Zhang Han had just cut down his third sentry when his boots slipped in the pool of blood, nearly causing him to fall.

The assassins had silently reached the perimeter of the granary, but when they discovered that the camp, which should have been heavily guarded, was completely deserted, an ominous premonition immediately arose in their hearts.

As the clapper sounded, torches were lit simultaneously in the surrounding watchtowers.

"We've fallen into a trap!" the lieutenant cried out in alarm, just as he was about to order a retreat.

Zhang Han suddenly smelled the tung oil scent permeating the air.

The image of Qiao Jingjing's specially made phosphorescent fireballs immediately flashed through his mind—an extremely dangerous weapon. He instantly tore open the leather pouch at his waist and threw it towards the arrow tower: "Close your eyes!"

A dazzling white light exploded in the night sky, instantly piercing the darkness. This sudden light caught the Yan archers off guard; they screamed and covered their eyes, stinging from the intense light.

Zhang Han seized the opportunity and led his men into the granary, only to find that the torches illuminating the mountain of straw stacks wrapped in burlap!

"Retreat immediately!" Upon seeing this, Zhang Han's expression changed drastically. He made a snap decision and prepared to issue the order to retreat.

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden, muffled thunderous tremor shook the ground, as if the earth itself were shaking and the entire Wolf Head Ridge was trembling.

It turned out that Tantai Zhou had already planted a large amount of explosives on the western official road, and Zhao Xin's light cavalry cleverly detonated these explosives.

This series of explosions triggered a massive shockwave, which not only trapped the Yan army's heavy cavalry in the nameless valley but also caused a landslide.

The Yan heavy cavalry, who were originally lying in ambush in the valley, had their path blocked by the rolling rocks before they could even launch an attack.

As dawn broke, in the dim light of morning, Tantai Zhou's central banner had already been planted on the Yan army's main camp.

Wang Meng's heavy infantry were cleaning up the battlefield, while Zhao Xin's light cavalry were pursuing the remnants.

Covered in blood, Zhang Han knelt before the tent to beg for forgiveness, only to be met with a wine sack thrown by Tantai Zhou: "You burned down seventeen fake granaries, which meant Tuoba Zheng lost seventeen ambush points. What crime have you committed?"

"But I failed to complete the task you assigned me and even let Tuoba Zheng escape. I am truly ashamed."

Tantai Zhou smiled and said, "You followed orders, so what is there to be ashamed of? Go down."

Qiao Jingjing lifted the curtain and came out, holding a steaming pot of medicine in her hands.

Looking at the still-burning ice in the distance, she suddenly noticed that the remains of the Kongming lanterns formed a strange formation on the snow, which was the tactical route that Tantai Zhou had drawn on the map last night.

Qiao Jingjing was staring intently at the formation of the Kongming lantern wreckage when Tantai Zhou walked to her side and said softly, "This battle owes a lot to your ingenious firearms. Jingjing, I'm becoming more and more dependent on you these days."

Qiao Jingjing blushed slightly and lowered her head, saying, "It was all thanks to your excellent planning. I only contributed a little."

At this moment, a soldier rushed over and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness, we have captured a spy from the Yan army. He says he has important intelligence to share with you."

Tantai Zhou frowned. "Bring him up."

A moment later, the spy was brought in. He knelt on the ground in fear, saying, "General, spare my life! I have some confidential military intelligence from Tuoba Zheng to tell you. He still has an elite cavalry force on the southwestern border, and he plans to take advantage of your unpreparedness to launch a surprise attack on your rear cities."

Tantai Zhou's eyes sharpened, and after a moment's thought, he decisively said, "Zhang Han, you take 10,000 elite troops and rush back to defend the rear cities. Zhao Xin, you lead light cavalry to the southwestern border to investigate the situation."

After the two left, Tantai Zhou summoned Zhou Mian and instructed him: "Go immediately and tell Lin Xiao of the Changlin Tiger Camp and Fu Qiming of the Leopard Camp to guard their garrisons well. They are not allowed to engage the enemy without my order. If there is any situation, report to me immediately."

He is now worried that Tuoba Zheng will make a desperate gamble and target two other military towns with relatively weak forces.

Now, not knowing how many elite troops the enemy had, Tantai Zhou pondered whether to allocate some of his forces to the enemy. He also considered how to deal with the surviving prisoners of war from the Yan army.

Regardless, the outcome of the battle is now decided. The Liang army won with almost no casualties, and the morale of the soldiers is higher than ever before.

Tantai Zhou and Qiao Jingjing exchanged a glance, and the latter nodded with a smile. Tantai Zhou immediately ordered: "Xuanyi, issue an order to the entire army that everyone who has made a contribution should be rewarded. Tomorrow, the King and the County Princess will reward the entire army."