270: It hurts, so I learn my lesson

Inside General Meng Tian’s main tent.

Lin Yue followed She Jian into the tent. Two months later, the Generals of the Great Wall Legion gathered once again.

There were four major legions, four Titled Generals, with each legion commanding six armies. Including Lin Yue, a total of twenty-five Generals were now present in the main tent!

“Great General, everyone is here,” Luo Xi, a commandant, whispered to General Meng Tian.

“Good, then let’s begin,” General Meng Tian said in a deep voice. He then glanced at Fusu before addressing the Generals, “Touman has arrived.”

At this moment, the Generals in the tent all showed a jolt of emotion, with excitement on every face! But no one made a sound.

Zhao Ben, in particular, was the most agitated, having broken the armrest of his seat.

It was as if Touman wasn't coming, but rather a fat sheep!

“Touman will probably arrive here in about half a month.

I have already notified the fortress-building artisans. The original one-month construction period must be completed within half a month.

And the reason I’ve called you all here this time is to discuss how we should entertain Touman, and the ten million-strong Army arriving with him,” General Meng Tian said with a smile, leaning back slightly, awaiting the Generals’ replies.

Lin Yue felt that something was amiss. This didn't look like the prelude to a major war at all; it was more like a host discussing with his chef what dishes to prepare for a good friend.

And the Deputy Commander of the Great Wall Legion, the third generation of Great Qin’s strongest Army, Marquis of Wucheng Wang Li, was the first to speak:

“If Touman comes, we will wait patiently for him, setting up defenses along the river.

If he attempts to cross, we will attack him halfway!

Just with the river, This humble general is confident we can make him leave a million cavalry behind!

Half a month is enough time for us to set up layers of defenses. If they want to reach the city after crossing the river, they will lose another one-third of their cavalry.

Once the city is completed, we will rely on it, forming a pincer movement. They will find it even harder to attack the city. After some attrition, our Army can counterattack and send them home!”

General Meng Tian nodded slightly after hearing this. Xiongnu Soldiers were not good at siege warfare, and what Wang Li said was indeed a viable method. He then scanned the Generals and asked, “What do you all think?”

The Generals all pondered in silence, waiting for one person to speak.

Sure enough, Dong Zhuo, the sworn enemy of the Great Wall Legion’s Deputy Commander, the third generation of Great Qin’s strongest Army, Marquis of Wucheng Wang Li, let out a harsh sneer in the silent main tent:

“Marquis of Wucheng has a good plan!

It’s just that these layers of attrition are all infantry work—oh no, they’re all archer work.

Or rather, all this work will be done by your Hundred-Battle Armor-Piercing Army, so what do we do?

Are our Flying Bear Army supposed to abandon their horses and stand on the city walls to shoot arrows?

Whether your plan is good or not, I won’t comment, but I do not agree with it.” Dong Zhuo shook his head, looking dismissive.

“The Great Wall Legion’s infantry makes up the majority. Where would the Flying Bear Army be used in defending the city? Besides, during the counterattack, your cavalry will be plenty busy!” Wang Li immediately retorted.

“Deputy Commander has a good idea. You get to eat the main course, and you want us to eat your leftovers?

I, Dong Zhuo, would rather starve than eat what others have left behind.” Dong Zhuo patted his belly and sneered.

Lin Yue had originally agreed with Wang Li’s strategy. It could be said to be the method with the fewest casualties. Simply put, it was a strategy of delay, delaying until winter, when the Xiongnu people cavalry couldn't endure the severe cold, and Touman would naturally retreat.

But after Dong Zhuo’s words, Lin Yue realized that his own command consisted of 300,000 cavalry. This would leave him with absolutely nothing to do!

It couldn't be said that he had nothing to do, as over half of his 300,000-strong Army were Xiongnu people, so any arduous or tiring tasks would definitely fall to him.

If there were a surprise attack at night, Lin Yue would certainly be at the forefront! When 300,000 Soldiers exited the city, they would form a single line. He might already be engaged in battle while the cavalry at the back hadn't even emerged from the city!

No, no, this task is too dangerous, and the benefits are not great. Lin Yue shook his head.

“Then what do you propose?” Wang Li sneered.

“I am uneducated, and I don’t know how to fight, but if I were Touman, I would just stare at you across the river, neither crossing nor retreating. How would you deal with that?” Dong Zhuo laughed.

“When winter comes, Touman will naturally retreat,” Wang Li said somewhat impatiently.

“Then I will come again next year. How will Deputy Commander deal with that?” Dong Zhuo laughed.

“You are being unreasonable,” Wang Li’s face darkened.

This was not child’s play; assembling an Army of ten million was incredibly difficult, costing countless resources. How could one simply say retreat and then come back next year? It was impossible.

It could be said that if Touman missed this opportunity, there wouldn't be another battle of this scale for three to five years.

Therefore, even if Touman knew there would be casualties, he would definitely choose to attack.

“Regardless of whether it’s unreasonable or not, are our Great Wall Legion’s ten million Soldiers supposed to stay here and keep wasting time with him?

They can drive their cattle and sheep, eating wherever they go. We, however, mostly rely on grain transport from the rear.

Or is Deputy Commander going to learn from them and herd sheep to gather food for our Army?” Dong Zhuo sneered, glancing at Wang Li with even deeper disdain in his eyes.

“Alright, Dong Pangzi, stop talking. What do others think?” General Meng Tian interjected.

At this, Yang Wengzi spoke, “This humble general believes that waiting patiently is indeed not a good method, but This humble general is of limited talent and currently has no other ideas.”

Yang Wengzi still maintained an attitude of detachment. Although he also disliked Dong Zhuo, what Dong Zhuo said was right: since they had come, they couldn't just stand by and watch.

His own Army was fairly balanced, with cavalry, infantry, and even archers, but it was clear that Wang Li’s Hundred-Battle Armor-Piercing Army would reap all the benefits. If his own troops lost a city, it would be attributed to his poor combat performance, and he disliked such a passive situation.

“What about you?” General Meng Tian asked, looking at Zhao Ben.

“This humble general believes it’s better to take the initiative and attack.

Although Touman claims to have ten million Soldiers, the number that can actually be deployed on the battlefield will certainly not be that many.

This means the disparity between us and the enemy is not significant, and our Army, riding on the momentum of a great victory, is fully capable of engaging them in open battle.

This humble general believes that only by inflicting severe pain upon them can we achieve a lasting solution!” Zhao Ben said in a deep voice.