84: Chapter 0084 Where is the Zhenbei Army?

"Wushan Commandery... there are actually only five thousand of Prince Bai's troops?"

This number was far lower than Lin Xiao's estimate.

He felt that with Prince Bai's three hundred thousand troops, he should have stationed at least ten or twenty thousand in Cang Province.

"My Lord, it is actually not strange."

Wei Dongxue analyzed, "Although coal mines are useful, they are not as critical as iron or salt."

"Prince Bai's main focus is still on guarding against Prince Qing and Prince Yan; to him, our Zhenbei Army is not considered a major threat."

"Hmph! If they dare to underestimate us, we should let the White King's Army taste our might!" Wang Chong said indignantly.

"General, give me ten thousand troops, and I will definitely take Wushan Commandery within three days!"

General Wu Jinzhe cupped his fists and knelt on one knee to request the order.

Lin Xiao did not answer immediately; instead, he took out the topographical map sent by the scouts and studied it carefully for a while.

"This coal mountain in Wushan Commandery is thirty li from outside the city?"

"That's correct. The place is called Heiya Village. The entire village makes a living by mining coal, and it is guarded by several hundred soldiers from the White King's Army," General Zhao Kuan nodded and said.

"This place is not bad. Five li to the north, there is a river. The terrain is flat, and the water supply can also be resolved."

Lin Xiao asked the group in return, "Since the coal mine is not within Wushan City, why must we attack the city?"

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Wei Dongxue shook his head and said, "Lin Xiao, if we only take the coal mine, how should we deal with the enemy sending troops to harass us?"

"Furthermore, we have no defensive fortifications there, and stored grain and fodder would easily be burned."

"If we don't take Wushan City, we won't be able to mine coal with peace of mind."

Several generals nodded one after another, feeling that there was reason in his words.

"Brother, in taking cities and seizing territory, taking the city is the priority. If Wushan City is not taken, it will ultimately be a hidden danger!" General Zhao Kuan also advised.

Lin Xiao smiled, "If I send five thousand troops over, they will certainly take action."

"But if we send an army of twenty thousand, do you think they will still come to harass us?"

Everyone was dumbfounded!

"Twenty thousand?"

"General, are you serious?"

"The enemy only has five thousand people. If we send twenty thousand over, wouldn't it be better to just attack the city directly?"

Lin Xiao asked in return, "Attacking a city, doesn't it require people to die?"

Everyone was stunned, and each of them felt somewhat speechless.

Fighting a war definitely involves casualties, especially the most difficult task of attacking a city.

"General, your subordinate knows that you cherish the lives of the soldiers, but since they receive military pay, they naturally cannot fear battle!" Wei Dongxue said.

Lin Xiao shook his head, "I am not asking you to be cowardly and fear death, but there is no need to sacrifice lives in vain!"

"General Wu Jinzhe, you just asked for ten thousand troops. Let me ask you, if you take Wushan Commandery, how many people will you have left?"

General Wu Jinzhe thought carefully and replied, "Your subordinate is confident that at most seven thousand will die!"

In a siege battle, unless broken from within, the defender has the advantage, and the attacker will inevitably suffer more casualties.

"Seven thousand!! Do you know that our Stone Fortress Border Army, in total, had less than three thousand left at the beginning!!"

Lin Xiao said loudly, "These soldiers of ours, regardless of whether they come from the Border Army, garrison troops, or the Cangzhou Army, have all fought the barbarians with real blades and guns!!"

"They are certainly willing to attack the city and will not fear battle, but the question is, is it worth it!?"

"Prince Bai cutting off our coal and our official salt is precisely because he wants me to attack the city, to disperse my troops, and to cause me to lose soldiers and generals!!"

"Does he not know how many troops my Zhenbei Army has?"

"Why not leave ten thousand or twenty thousand, but specifically leave only five thousand in Wushan Commandery?"

"Because that is the 'bait'! If there were more people, he would worry that we wouldn't be willing to attack the city, so he only left five thousand!!"

"Five thousand people are insignificant to Prince Bai's three hundred thousand troops!!"

"But seven thousand people would be a major blow to the vitality of our Zhenbei Army!!"

Wei Dongxue, General Zhao Kuan, and the others had complex expressions. They realized that Lin Xiao's analysis was highly likely to be correct!!

If they were Prince Bai, they would do the same thing!!

"General, then you want to send an army of twenty thousand, but not attack the city. Are you just going to come back after mining?" General Wu Jinzhe asked.

Lin Xiao smiled playfully, "Let me put it this way: I want the coal mine, and I also want Wushan Commandery!"

"Prince Bai wants to play a war of attrition with me? Dream on!!"

Immediately, Lin Xiao issued a series of orders.

After hearing them, the soldiers and officers only felt it was inconceivable.

But Lin Xiao had created too many miracles; although they didn't quite understand, they dared not question him.

One day later.

The Zhenbei Army grandly dispatched an army of twenty thousand and marched towards Wushan Commandery.

Xiao Qingxuan remained in charge of Baishui, while Mu Wanying followed on the expedition.

When leaving the city, Lin Xiao saw Su Wansha bidding a reluctant farewell on the city wall.

Lin Xiao waved at the woman, causing Su Wansha, whose feelings had just begun to sprout, to have tears streaming down her face.

And just the next day.

In the Prefect's Mansion of Wushan Commandery.

General Du Lun, the defending general of the White King's Army, was drinking with Prefect Guo Baoyun.

After receiving an intelligence report, General Du Lun grinned and sneered.

"The Prince really calculated it correctly; this Lin Xiao is coming towards Wushan Commandery!!"

"What!?"

Prefect Guo Baoyun was shocked, and the wine cup in his hand trembled.

"General, how can you still laugh!? This Lin Xiao is a god of slaughter!!"

General Du Lun sipped some wine, "What is there to panic about? This general has long studied the style of this boy, Lin Xiao."

"He likes to take shortcuts, catch people off guard, infiltrate enemy lines, and find opportunities from the rear to behead commanders; only in this way can he win with fewer troops."

"Now, the entire Wushan City is heavily guarded, with secret codes used for shift changes. It is an iron bucket; not even a fly can fly in!!"

"Our grain and fodder are enough to last through this winter!!"

"If Lin Xiao dares to attack the city, the fire oil our army has prepared will be enough for him to suffer!!"

"Once the casualties are significant enough, the Prince will send a large army to strike directly at their rear base, Baishui!!"

"At that time, the Great General of the North appointed by the dog emperor will have nowhere to hide and will be nothing but a ghost under our Prince's blade?"

Prefect Guo Baoyun suddenly realized and immediately flattered him: "The Prince is brilliant! General Du Lun leads troops like a god!! Then our Wushan Commandery will rely entirely on you!!"

"Haha... Someone! Let the garrison at the coal mine all return!!"

"Starting tomorrow, the entire army will prepare to defend the city!!"

With General Du Lun's order, the entire Wushan Commandery entered a state of preparation for war.

The common people of the entire city fell into anxiety and unease.

One day passed...

Two days passed...

Three days passed, and still nothing happened!!

The common people were confused; wasn't it said that the Zhenbei Army's god of slaughter, Lin Xiao, was coming to attack the city?

Where were they?

The White King's Army defending the city also felt nervous.

They looked until their eyes were weary, but they didn't see anyone!!

Inside the military camp, General Du Lun fell into deep self-doubt; could the intelligence be false?

"General, should we move the fire oil back to the warehouse first?" a military advisor nearby asked in a low voice.

General Du Lun glared at him and was about to curse when he heard a scout coming to deliver a message.

"General!! Our men have discovered the Zhenbei Army near Heiya Village!!"

General Du Lun's spirits lifted: "What are they doing? Are they coming this way?"

The scout's expression looked like he was constipated: "They have set up camp. We saw a lot of smoke; it seems... they are making fire to cook?"