Chapter 498 – Assault on Fengyi County (Part 6)
The sky had already darkened, thick dark clouds surged in from all directions, piling up densely together, shrouding the heavens.
Looking up, it resembled an inverted black pot looming over the earth; the howling winds swept through the grass, bringing with them a hint of earthy fragrance mingled with dampness. Recently, heavy rains had left the bumpy muddy ground filled with unreleased puddles.
“Report—traces of military movement detected ahead, suspected enemy.”
Several scouts reported one by one, and Meng Hunyun’s expression darkened. Beside him, Li Yun’s eyes glinted coldly, “Have we exposed our trail?”
Meng Hunyun frowned and scoffed, “Not necessarily us being exposed; it’s possible the enemy has other intentions. Send out more scouts!”
One by one, scouts were dispatched, and news returned gradually, easing the expressions of Meng Hunyun and Li Yun.
“From our assessment, the traces were from half a day ago. Given this route, they likely haven’t discovered us…” Meng Hunyun, still perched on his horse after days of marching without a proper wash, looked a bit rugged, deep wrinkles forming between his brows.
Li Yun, however, fared a bit better. Being a fresh young lad, even a bit rough around the edges only added to his charm.
Now serving as the Vice Commander of the Vanguard Battalion, Li Yun had grown a bit aloof and serious.
“The Green Garment Army lacks complete logistical support and relies on plundering local common people to sustain military expenses.” Li Yun’s eyes sparkled with fervent battle spirit; if this truly was the latest supply convoy from the Green Garment Army, they would be hitting the jackpot and start with a bang.
He licked his dry, chapped lips and continued, “Currently, we don’t know the situation in Cheng’an County, but supplies are the lifeblood of any army. If we cut off the Green Garment Army’s supply lines to Cheng’an County, we could take it even if we only besiege it…”
Fengyi County comprised four sub-counties: Xiangyang County, under the domain of Jiang Pengji, and Cheng’an County, Maolin County, and Jiao Ping County, occupied by the Green Garment Army. Among them, Xiangyang County is remote but the largest, while Cheng’an County is the most prosperous.
Cheng’an County has a unique geography, capable of both attacking and defending. It has always been the center of Fengyi County, and for various reasons, it’s also the juicy target most coveted by the Green Garment Army, currently housing over twenty thousand troops.
Although the exact conditions of the Green Garment Army were unknown, previous reports indicated they had been grappling with the Red Lotus Sect through the entire winter, leaving their resources severely strained. If they could sever their grain and supplies, it would greatly facilitate the main army’s assault.
Upon hearing this proposal, Meng Hunyun was tempted. As the Vice Commander of the Vanguard Battalion, whether to chase and attack was within his power.
The Vanguard Battalion had the crucial task of scouting for the entire army, not only surveying enemy terrain but also watching their movements, disrupting their plans, and engaging with the enemy’s forward units when conditions permitted, maximizing their gains.
Now that they had detected the Green Garment Army’s supply convoy, if they didn’t seize this opportunity, once the supplies reached Cheng’an County, it would only incur more trouble.
It wasn’t that these supplies were magical, able to send the Green Garment Army soaring; it was about morale.
If their lord commanded an assault on the city and the Green Garment Army received this batch of supplies, their morale would remain at a relatively high level. Engaging in a drawn-out war of attrition with them would only prolong the situation, giving time for their reinforcements to arrive, which would be unfavorable for them.
If that supply line were cut off, the Green Garment Army would be exhausted, and after just a few days of besiegement, their morale would plummet.
With morale down, the city capture would go much more smoothly.
Meng Hunyun had great faith in the siege weapons crafted by his lord and looked forward to their explosive effectiveness in the first battle, but casualties were inevitable in siege warfare. Reducing the number of soldiers lost was a good thing. He quickly made his decision.
“Chase them!”
As he ordered the pursuit, he also sent scouts to relay this command to the main army.
Although the Vanguard Battalion could roam freely, they couldn’t just wander aimlessly. If they lost all contact with the main army, it would be like a worm cut in half, leaving both ends short. If they encountered the enemy during this, they wouldn’t be able to attend to both sides and would surely end up crying.
Fact proved that Meng Hunyun was more cautious and conservative than Jiang Pengji.
If Jiang Pengji led the Vanguard Battalion, the scene would probably be whatever direction allowed for fun, where the enemy was, that would be her target. Even a tiny mosquito could be bit down, attacking one here, another there… As for what the main army was doing, who cared?
When the enemy arrives, she would just take it head-on!
Thus, Wei Ci often couldn’t understand how this recklessly wild character became one of the world’s rulers.
Until his former lord was slain by her, and upon joining Jiang Pengji’s camp, he finally grasped the intricacies of it all.
The Vanguard Battalion was akin to a rabid dog, while the main army and logistics were also a pack of battle-crazed wolves, ready to ambush without a care, inevitably falling into traps.
Later, they even captured a few strategists to serve as caretakers, which improved the situation a lot.
However, the scholarly strategists were still diligent caretakers, while the military generals were still like unbridled mad dogs running rampant everywhere.
Those in front fought while expanding their gains, while the caretakers behind scrambled to clean up the mess.
It’s like a grandmother desperately trying to get her mischievous grandson to drink milk while he always wears a “not listening, not listening” expression.
What could they do?
They were equally despairing!
Wei Ci couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jiang Pengji’s previous civilian advisers… Oh, it seemed her current team wasn’t any better off.
He secretly glanced at Jiang Pengji, who showed a look of regret and envy upon hearing the scouts’ news.
“The lord needs to stay at the main army, it’s not safe to move around.”
Wei Ci reminded her as if reciting a spell.
“I haven’t even said anything yet.” Jiang Pengji, after sending the scout away, turned to Wei Ci and rolled her eyes.
【Old Driver Alliance】: Indeed, the streamer hasn’t said a word, but your eyes are so obvious they spill your thoughts!
【Starting Today】: Hahaha, the streamer just had that envious expression, and suddenly looked a bit soft-hearted.
【Double Monthly Votes】: Forcing the battle-hungry streamer to stay with the main army, think about how scary these scholars are too.
【Monthly Vote Request】: I believe the streamer isn’t the easy-to-restrain type. She can’t lead the Vanguard Battalion, but she can actively assault the city, right? Who else is as eager as me to see the streamer leading the charge and slashing down the enemy general?
Wei Ci was quite annoying, bringing up old stories.
But both he and the audience in the live stream had sharp eyes.
Wei Ci said, “It’s impossible for the lord to lead the Vanguard Battalion.”
If that lord were to lead the Vanguard Battalion, Wei Ci truly had no confidence in being able to find her location with the main army.
Jiang Pengji smiled and said, “How can we know it’s impossible if we don’t try?”
Wei Ci pursed his lips and replied, “I believe the lord wouldn’t be so capricious.”
