Zhang Liang had once served as a personal guard under Qing Huai, so he instinctively felt some awe towards the Qing family.
Without waiting for Qing Xinyao to initiate the courtesy, he bowed slightly and said, “Zhang Liang pays respects to Lord Qing!”
“There is no need for such formality, brave warrior!”
Qing Xinyao quickly helped Zhang Liang up, his face full of admiration as he said, “On my way here, I saw corpses all along the north road and was wondering what had happened. It turns out it was your doing. Impressive!”
Being praised by Qing Huai’s cousin made Zhang Liang quite happy inside, but he humbly replied, “It was all thanks to Mr Jin’s fine armour!”
The Ninth Princess noticed Qing Muluan was about to introduce Da Liu next and stepped forward to say,
“Enough. Danzhu is still alive, so save the pleasantries until after the war. Now that everyone knows each other, let us discuss how to take down Danzhu as quickly as possible.”
Hearing this, Jin Feng and the others all grew serious.
The Ninth Princess was right. Although Danzhu had been repelled, his main camp remained, and he likely still had considerable forces.
This battle was over, but the war was not.
Since Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess were both uncomfortable, the group did not descend the mountain. They had several stones brought over and sat around the boulder.
Only then did Qing Xinyao notice something unusual about Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess, but after a moment’s thought, he asked nothing and obediently sat on a stone.
“Mr Jin, you make the arrangements.”
The Ninth Princess looked first at Jin Feng.
“Me?”
Jin Feng pointed at his own nose.
In terms of status, there was the Ninth Princess here. In terms of actual power, there was Qing Xinyao.
Yet the Ninth Princess wanted him to coordinate the follow-up operations?
Perhaps the battles at Qingshui Valley and today had convinced her he was skilled in warfare.
But one knows one’s own affairs best. Jin Feng was clear that coordinating the entire battlefield was truly beyond him.
Yet seeing the Ninth Princess, Qing Xinyao, and the others all looking at him seriously, Jin Feng quickly waved his hand.
“Your Highness, it is not that I am shirking or being modest. I only understand some principles of weapon-making, then find suitable terrain to maximise their power. Fighting localised battles is fine, but coordinating the overall battlefield, I truly am not skilled.”
Jin Feng said, “To avoid making everyone laugh, even now I cannot remember how many branches the Weisheng Army has or who reports to whom.”
“Then what should we do?”
The Ninth Princess frowned. “This palace is merely a woman and knows nothing of military formations. Brother Xinyao and Meng Tianhai are both so muddled…”
Qing Xinyao blushed at the Ninth Princess’s words but could offer no rebuttal.
Xichuan City’s performance this time had indeed been disgraceful. Being criticised by the Ninth Princess, he could only endure it.
“If Your Highness and Lord Qing have no objections, I would like to recommend Liang.”
Jin Feng said, “Liang has great talent in the art of war. I believe he can do it!”
Zhang Liang had not sat down, standing behind Jin Feng like Da Liu.
Suddenly hearing Jin Feng recommend him, he was stunned.
“That’s right! How did we forget Liang?”
Qing Muluan slapped her thigh. “Brother, you do not know how formidable Liang is in battle. You know the state of the Qingyuan Army and Changxin Army. When I led them to suppress bandits, I nearly exhausted myself to death yet barely cleared a few nests. After Liang took over, in just one month, he swept away all the bandits in Guangyuan.”
Qing Xinyao’s informants were spread throughout Xichuan, so he naturally knew of this. After thinking for a moment, he nodded. “I have no objections.”
“This palace agrees too.” The Ninth Princess nodded as well.
“Liang, what about you?” Jin Feng looked up at Zhang Liang.
“I…” Zhang Liang hesitated somewhat. “Can I do it?”
This battle was too important. He worried that any mishap would bring trouble to Jin Feng.
“Chief Escort Zhang, just proceed boldly. This palace will bear full responsibility for any consequences!”
The Ninth Princess had nearly called him Liang like Qing Muluan but ultimately could not bring herself to. Remembering he was the chief escort of Zhenyuan Escort Bureau, she addressed him formally.
“Chief Escort Zhang, this is my token!”
Seeing the Ninth Princess speak thus, Qing Xinyao also took out a token from his bosom.
With this token, Zhang Liang temporarily held part of Qing Xinyao’s authority, making actions much more convenient.
Seeing the two express their support one after another, Jin Feng quickly encouraged, “Liang, it is fine. Just proceed boldly!”
He naturally knew that losing this war would have severe consequences.
But proper warfare differed from bandit suppression.
Especially large-scale war like this tested a commander’s abilities in every aspect.
Danzhu had now suffered heavy losses, with low morale and no cavalry left, yet he was experienced. He was the perfect opponent for Zhang Liang to gain practice.
Moreover, with the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao sharing the risk, the opportunity was even rarer.
“Then I will boldly give it a try?” Zhang Liang was actually somewhat eager.
“That is the spirit!” Jin Feng pulled Zhang Liang’s arm, making him sit beside him.
This also signified that Zhang Liang now had the chance to speak as an equal with the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao.
Zhang Liang knew Jin Feng was helping him maintain face and glanced at him gratefully.
Then his expression grew serious. “Since everyone trusts me, I will presume to act.”
He first looked at the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao. “Your Highness, Lord Qing, besides the Qingyuan Army, Changxin Army, and Mianzhu’s Anxing Army, I need to know how many more reinforcements you have arranged and how long until they reach Xichuan City.”
“Besides those you mentioned, there are three Grade A armies and four Grade B armies from Jianzhou and Suizhou, totalling around forty-five thousand men!”
The Ninth Princess said, “One Grade A army and one Grade B army will arrive in at most two days, totalling about fourteen thousand five hundred men! The rest will likely take four or five days.”
“Within the city, including the prefectural troops, I can still mobilise thirty-five thousand men!” Qing Xinyao added.
Hiss!
Jin Feng drew in a sharp breath.
The Ninth Princess was truly ruthless!
Without a word, she had mobilised nearly fifty thousand more men.
Adding the Qingyuan Army, Changxin Army, Anxing Army, and Qing Xinyao’s forces, that was at least over one hundred thousand.
Such massive mobilisation was completely a do-or-die commitment, fight to the death!
On Dakang territory, if the Ninth Princess was truly determined, even if Danzhu captured Xichuan City, he would likely find it hard to leave alive.
“Thirty-five thousand in the city alone?”
Zhang Liang’s eyes lit up. “While ensuring the city’s safety, Lord Qing, how many men can you spare to encircle Danzhu?”
Qing Xinyao thought for a moment. “Fifteen thousand is no problem. If needed, another five thousand can be drawn!”
“Fifteen thousand is enough!”
Zhang Liang had originally planned to have the Changxin Army and Qingyuan Army temporarily abandon their positions and come to assist.
That way, he was confident of taking Danzhu.
Now hearing Qing Xinyao could mobilise fifteen thousand at any time, he felt even more assured.
“To the south of Xichuan City lie the confluence of two rivers, and to the west the Jinma River. For Danzhu, both are dead ends. So if he breaks out, he will certainly head north or east, then scatter into the mountains. Catching and exterminating him then would be difficult!”
Zhang Liang pointed heavily on the map. “Therefore, to capture Danzhu, we must lock him completely within his camp!”
Jin Feng, the Ninth Princess, and Qing Muluan all nodded simultaneously.
Strategies are used when outnumbered and forced, but when one’s side holds the advantage, the most reliable approach is still a straightforward frontal confrontation!
