152: Chapter 60 Strategic Deployment

May 29th, the first year of Yongan, outside Jinling City, the oath-taking ceremony.

The early morning sun shone onto the Parade Grounds, making the steel helmets of tens of thousands of soldiers glisten.

Fifty thousand elite troops stood in formation, their uniforms flapping in the morning breeze, the bayonets on their rifles glinting with a cold, sharp light under the sun.

Li Ling stood on the high platform, behind him were the marshals of the Five Armies Governor's Office, all clad in armor, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

He wore a crisp military uniform, a duty belt fastened around his waist, and polished leather boots on his feet.

There were no medals on his chest, no jade pendants at his waist, only a silver revolver tucked diagonally into his holster, the red silk on the grip fluttering gently in the wind.

"Brothers!" Li Ling's voice echoed throughout the entire Parade Grounds via loudspeakers. "Today is the day of the Northern Expedition!"

The fifty thousand people below shouted in unison, their voices shaking the clouds and startling the birds in the distant woods.

"Three years ago, when I first raised my Army, I only had three thousand new recruits, equipped with ancient, outdated rifles. Back then, the great powers looked down on us, Japan bullied us, and even bandits dared to trample on us. But what about now?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every young face below.

"I have an Army of five hundred thousand, the strongest fleet in the world, airplanes that can fly into the sky, and Radar that can see through the enemy! Warlord Yan Xishan, Yuan Shikai, and Zhang Zuolin—in my eyes, they are nothing more than worthless rabble!"

"In this battle, I want to display our might! Show our momentum! And prove the backbone of us Qingxia people!"

"Do you have confidence?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" the fifty thousand shouted in unison.

"Good!" Li Ling waved his hand. "All units, set off according to the plan!"

Drums and music blared, and horns sounded long and loud. The fifty thousand troops set off in order; infantry carried rifles, artillery dragged cannons, and cavalry galloped on their horses, the formation stretching for tens of miles, endless to the eye.

Li Ling did not leave with the main force. He stood on the high platform, watching the receding figures, and remained silent for a long time.

"System." He silently thought to himself.

"Yes?"

"Tell me, how many of them will come back alive?"

"Host, war always involves casualties. But what you can do is minimize them. The more fully you prepare, the fewer sacrifices there will be."

"I know." Li Ling turned around and walked down the high platform. "That is why I must do everything well, leaving no blind spots."

He returned to the Imperial Study, spread out the map, and began to study the operational details of the first phase.

Outside the window, the sun was bright, and the spring breeze brushed against his face. But Li Ling knew that in the north, a storm of war was about to descend.

Three days later, the first battle report arrived from the front line.

"Sir! The Special Forces have successfully infiltrated Taiyuan and paralyzed Warlord Yan Xishan's command system! His communication hubs have been destroyed, and his units cannot contact each other!"

"Good!" Li Ling slapped the table. "Air Force, deploy! Bomb Warlord Yan Xishan's supply lines and defensive fortifications!"

That afternoon, twelve biplanes took off from a temporary airfield, loaded with aerial bombs, and flew toward Shanxi. The pilots, wearing leather flight caps and goggles, flew into the north wind toward the battlefield.

By evening, the second battle report arrived.

"Sir! The Air Force successfully destroyed three of Warlord Yan Xishan's ammunition depots and two granaries! The Jin Army's front-line supply lines have been cut, and their morale has plummeted!"

"Well done!" Li Ling clenched his fist. "Order the Army to advance!"

The next day, three corps of the Second Army Group attacked from the direction of Hebei, and two corps of the Third Army Group attacked from the direction of Henan; the two armies, like two iron pincers, closed in on Taiyuan.

Although Warlord Yan Xishan's Jin Army had operated in Shanxi for over a decade, against Li Ling's modernized troops, their resistance was like paper.

The Heavy Combined Arms Brigade's artillery could bombard their positions from over ten kilometers away, and aircraft dropped bombs from the sky, riddling their bunkers and trenches with holes.

The soldiers of the Jin Army had never seen this kind of warfare; they were left dazed and confused by the bombardment, and their morale completely collapsed.

On the sixth day, Taiyuan City was surrounded.

On the seventh day, the city gates were blown open.

On the eighth day, Warlord Yan Xishan was captured at the Military Governor's Mansion.

When the news reached Jinling, Li Ling was in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials. He put down his pen, took the battle report, read it through, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"Very good. The first phase is complete."

"Host, the progress is faster than expected." The system's voice echoed in his mind. "At this rate, you can take Zhili within three months."

"I know." Li Ling put down the battle report. "But Yuan Shikai is not Warlord Yan Xishan; he will not admit defeat so easily. What comes next will be the toughest battle."

He walked to the map, his gaze landing on the location of Zhili.

"System, what is the movement on Yuan Shikai's side?"

"According to satellite reconnaissance, Yuan Shikai is contracting his forces and assembling toward Baoding. He seems to be preparing to fight a defensive war, using Baoding's fortifications to wear down your troops."

"A defensive war?" Li Ling sneered. "He wants to fight a war of attrition with me? In his dreams. I will not give him that chance."

He picked up a pen and drew a few lines on the map.

"Pass the order: the First Army Group and the Second Army Group are to advance simultaneously from Shandong and Shanxi, while the Third Army Group blocks any potential reinforcements from the Fengtian Army. The fleet is to blockade Bohai Bay and cut off Yuan Shikai's maritime supply lines. The Air Force is to bomb his logistics depots and transportation hubs with full force."

"Is the host planning to besiege a point to capture reinforcements?"

"Yes. Surround Yuan Shikai in Baoding, and when his food and ammunition are exhausted, launch a full-scale attack. If Zhang Zuolin sends troops to reinforce him, we will wipe out his reinforcements along the way."

"That is a ruthless move, Host."

"Ruthless?" Li Ling laughed. "This is called tactics. Fighting a war isn't about brute force; it's about using your brain."

Over the next half month, Li Ling's troops advanced according to the plan, and the Beiyang Army in the Zhili region was compressed around Baoding, unable to advance or retreat.

But just then, an accident occurred.

Meijian Country and the British jointly provided Yuan Shikai with a batch of weapons and ammunition, including the latest rifles and artillery. Although the quantity was not large, for the low-morale Beiyang Army, it was undoubtedly a shot in the arm.

"System, the great powers are indeed playing dirty in the shadows." Li Ling frowned.

"What does the Host intend to do?"

"What to do?" Li Ling sneered. "If they send weapons, I will cut off their route. Pass the order: the Submarine force is to deploy and ambush the Meijian Country and British transport fleets in Bohai Bay. I want them to know that acting wild on my turf comes with a price."

Two days later, six Submarines successfully ambushed a Meijian Country transport fleet in Bohai Bay, sinking three transport ships and capturing a large quantity of weapons and ammunition. After the news broke, Meijian Country and the British were furious, but they did not dare to make a public fuss—after all, they had been secretly aiding Yuan Shikai and were in the wrong to begin with.

"Well done!" After receiving the battle report, Li Ling paced around the study. "Let's see what tricks Yuan Shikai has left now."

"Host, although Yuan has lost the aid of the great powers, he still has over a hundred thousand troops in his hands, and the city fortifications are very sturdy. A direct assault would result in heavy casualties."

"That is why I do not intend to launch a direct assault." Li Ling walked to the map. "I plan to besiege him for another month, and when his food and ammunition are exhausted, then we will launch the full-scale attack."

"A month?"

"Yes. After a month, his morale will completely collapse. By then, I won't even need to fight; he will surrender on his own."

As it turned out, Li Ling's judgment was correct.

Twenty days into the siege, the food supply in Baoding ran out; the soldiers began killing horses to satisfy their hunger, and they could only eat one bowl of thin porridge a day. Yuan Shikai attempted to break out, but was repelled by Li Ling's troops, suffering heavy losses. His generals began to waver, and some even secretly contacted Li Ling's troops to discuss surrender terms.

On the twenty-eighth day, the gates of Baoding opened, and Yuan Shikai walked out carrying a white flag.

He wore a wrinkled military uniform, his face full of exhaustion, followed by a dozen equally disheveled generals. Seeing Li Ling's troops standing in formation, he sighed and handed over his sword.

"Lord Li, I have lost."

Li Ling rode forward and looked down at him: "General Yuan, you should have surrendered earlier. Why let so many brothers die in vain?"

Yuan Shikai lowered his head and said nothing.

"Pass the order." Li Ling turned to his adjutant. "Accept the surrender and properly settle the prisoners. General Yuan and his family are to be sent to Jinling for house arrest."

"Yes!"

After Zhili was pacified, the morale of Li Ling's troops was sky-high. Although the remaining Zhang Zuolin was still putting up a desperate struggle in the Northeast, he could no longer stir up any trouble.

Li Ling stood on the city walls of Baoding, watching the setting sun sinking in the distance, and let out a long sigh.

"System."

"Yes?"

"Tell me, after unifying the country, what is the first thing I should do?"

"What does the Host want to do?"

"I want to build roads." Li Ling said. "Build railways, build highways, and make the country's transportation smooth. With roads, supplies can circulate, troops can be mobilized, and the common people can prosper. I want to make this country strong from its roots."

"That is a very good idea, Host."

"Of course it is." Li Ling turned around. "I have been thinking about it for a long time."

He walked down the city wall, mounted his horse, and galloped toward the command headquarters.

Behind him, the afterglow of the setting sun fell upon him, stretching his shadow long and far.

In the distance, the outline of Beiping appeared faintly in the twilight. That was his next target and also his final destination.

Li Ling knew that the war was not over; Zhang Zuolin was still waiting for him in the Northeast, and the great powers were still watching him from the shadows. But he was not afraid, because he was already prepared.

Three years had passed, and he had finally reached this point.

Next, would be the final battle.

"System." He silently thought to himself.

"Yes?"

"I have decided."

"What has the Host decided?"

"After unifying the country, I am going to do one thing."

"What thing?"

"I am going to build a university." Li Ling said. "A real, modern university. Let everyone who wants to learn have the opportunity to learn. Let everyone who wants to succeed have the opportunity to succeed. Talent is the foundation of a country."

"Host, you are becoming more and more like a true emperor."

"Of course." Li Ling laughed. "I am, after all, the person who is going to be the founding emperor."