Zhu Mo smiled gently, thinking: While you are adept at military strategy, you only understand warfare, not strategic planning. Even Sun Tzu's Art of War discusses strategic planning, which you surely cannot comprehend…
After a moment of thought, feeling it was time to reveal a long-considered brilliant maneuver, he immediately said:
“Everyone, Sun Tzu also said, ‘He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.’ What is strategic planning? Simply put, it is the overall situation!
Now, Mang Yinglong acts rebelliously, invading the superior nation, having already lost popular support; furthermore, this is the season of late autumn, and in the miasmic lands, residual epidemics still linger, making the timing unfavorable, further losing heavenly advantage… As for the loss of earthly advantage, the Duke has already explained it clearly… Therefore, I believe that Mang Yinglong's move against the trend is doomed to failure! We only need to hold our passes, and we can naturally defend against the enemy.”
Hiss!
Everyone immediately began to exchange whispers and murmurs.
Mu Chaobi, however, was utterly astonished—
Why did this man become so pedantic when it came to actual combat?
Such grand pronouncements were purely theoretical, mere armchair generalship. Was this the extent of his capability? Did that mean his so-called Battle of Huating was mere fiction?
He carefully observed Zhu Mo. Zhu Mo appeared relaxed and elegant, his eyes deep and profound, as if he were not hiding anything. Yet, why did these words sound so bizarre?
At this moment,
Of the entire assembly, only You Juxing and Li Zhi grasped the situation—
He knew that Yu Dayou's fleet had likely arrived, and news might arrive soon, perhaps in just over a month. What was his intention in saying this?
The two immediately fell silent.
The dozen or so commanders, however, exchanged glances—
If they fought like this, what would be the point of fighting at all?
The Duke’s strategy was sound! Such open terrain was ideal for setting ambushes; to be trapped in a besieged city was the path to ruin…
He An immediately spoke up:
“Your subordinate believes the Duke’s strategy is feasible, and the strategist’s words are also reasonable, but we must fight first! Who can’t engage in theoretical discussions!”
Hiss!
Gasps!
Theoretical discussions?
He actually said it out loud?
On this journey, the generals’ attitude towards Zhu Mo had shifted from complete contempt to slight contempt. Their successful recruitment of soldiers in the past few days had changed their minds, and now, the contempt resurfaced, yet they vaguely felt that this quirky Zhu Mo might not be so foolish…
The generals then turned their gaze towards Mu Chaobi.
“Does he have any further plans? It doesn’t seem like it…”
“Or, is he truly a theorist? Were the anti-Japanese campaigns fought by Qi and Yu alone?”
Mu Chaobi’s mind raced with thoughts, still uncertain.
Zhu Mo, seeing the varied expressions on their faces, thought: You will surely want to send troops to test them, but you are unaware of the power of firearms. You are already outdated, yet you do not realize it. If you don’t suffer a setback, you will never understand… If I don’t warn you, you will later say I didn’t care about you rushing to your deaths…
With this thought,
He immediately said:
“Everyone, whether you call it theoretical discussion or pedantry, I only wish to remind you: Mang Yinglong is leading the firearms corps!
You may have seen them or clashed with them sporadically, but you have likely never faced an army of several thousand matchlock soldiers! I can tell you plainly, with over a thousand matchlock soldiers, the situation is entirely different! All notions of ‘nine terrains and nine attacks’ are useless! The most urgent matter now is to construct fortifications in Shunning and Lujiang!”
He stood up abruptly and added:
“The reason I dispatched my personal guards to garrison the two passes is because they understand how to defend against firearms! If you wish to launch a rash attack, then do not say I did not warn you!”
This?
Seeing his solemn pronouncement, the generals became half-believing—
Indeed,
In recent years, although they had fought the Burmese several times and seen firearms, they had indeed been sporadic engagements, and they had never encountered a formation of thousands of matchlock soldiers. His words might have some logic? What would happen if they encountered such a force? Of firearms, they were aware of their power.
Thus,
The atmosphere in the main hall became somewhat awkward.
Mu Chaobi, however, was not one to be easily swayed. Throughout history, warfare had relied on localized advantages. On open terrain, the enemy advancing into our dangerous territory, how could they still have an advantage? Setting an ambush in the vicinity of Shunning and Lujiang now, how could it be disadvantageous?
With this thought,
He said sternly, “Firearms are indeed powerful, but precisely because the enemy’s firearms are sharp, we must rely on advantageous terrain. Relying on city walls would only tie our hands! Strategist, Lord You, my intention is for two teams of volunteers to guard the passes, while the卫军 (Guard Army) will set an ambush beforehand! The strategist’s firearms will also be divided into two teams, accompanying the volunteers to guard the passes.”
With these words, there was no room for further discussion.
You Juxing couldn't help but lament: This man is indeed a skilled warrior, but this time, he is likely to suffer a loss… In comparison, Zhu Mo is more prudent…
Zhu Mo smiled and cupped his fists:
“Duke, my words are as far as they go. Furthermore, in any battle, no one can predetermine victory or defeat… With the army in the field, everything is at the Duke’s discretion!”
Excellent!
Mu Chaobi immediately assigned his officers.
In the afternoon,
The remaining forty thousand卫军 (Guard Army) departed in two divisions. Zhu Mo also divided his firearms into two teams and, with nearly twenty thousand volunteers, set off. Liu Zhangkuan continued to recruit volunteers and gather provisions in Yongchang Prefecture.
…
Zhu Mo, You Juxing, and Mu Chaobi traveled together to Shunning; Li Zhi, with another contingent of volunteers and firearms soldiers, rushed to the Lujiang River and rendezvoused with An Xiaoliang.
Yongchang was very close to Shunning, and the main road was clear. The next morning, the army crossed the Lancang River and arrived at Shunning City. Wang Fu was stationed at the pass in the southern mountain hollow.
This pass, named You Dian, relying on the perilous Sanjian Mountain, was the necessary route for entering the city from the south. Mu Chaobi inspected the route, praised Wang Fu a few times, and then said:
“Wang Fu, you know one aspect but not the other. You Dian is indeed a necessary route, but the Stone Quarry on the other side, though a treacherous mountain path, can still accommodate an army. How can we not guard it?”
He seemed to be deliberately speaking to Zhu Mo to display his extraordinary military prowess. Zhu Mo, naturally, smiled and remained silent, chatting with You Juxing along the way. Seeing his smug expression now, he couldn’t help but ask:
“Duke, where have you set your ambush?”
Mu Chaobi pointed to the mountains in front of the pass and said:
“Sanjian Mountain is very treacherous. Mang Yinglong, relying on his firearms, will most likely advance directly along the official road… I will set up my ambush on the mountainside ahead, where there are springs and caves, sufficient to station troops. After the enemy passes, my ambushing troops will descend from the mountain paths to cut them off, and then use large timbers and stones to block the rear. Thus, Mang Yinglong will face a strong city in front and an ambush behind. Even with sharp firearms, he will be severely weakened.”
Mm-hmm,
You Juxing, also often involved in battles, felt that Mu Chaobi was indeed a capable commander and couldn’t help but admire him, saying: “Duke, your deployment of troops is steady, and your familiarity with the terrain is something I truly admire!”
Zhu Mo also felt that it was quite an achievement to be familiar with the forest terrain outside a small border town. If he hadn’t traversed it several times, it would have been impossible. This showed that the man was dedicated to border affairs. At this moment, he couldn’t help but develop some good feelings towards him and reminded him:
“Duke, Mang Yinglong’s Franji matchlocks, I clashed with them in Jiangnan. Although their range was not far, and reloading was slow, within twenty to thirty zhang, they were unerring. A hit would pierce deep into flesh and bone to a depth of an inch. If a thousand matchlocks were fired simultaneously, even an army of ten thousand would fall instantly… Duke, you must devise a solution.”
These words came from the heart, and Mu Chaobi couldn't help but be moved, thinking: You don’t wish for my defeat, but rather, you prioritize the greater good and offer warnings. This shows you are indeed a minister of the court. While the rumors might be exaggerated, on this point, there is not a single word of falsehood…
He immediately felt three parts more favorably towards Zhu Mo and smiled, saying, “Scholar Zhu, since ancient times, battles have also depended on fortune. If it weren’t for risking one’s life, it wouldn’t be worldly contention…”
Mm-hmm,
Zhu Mo felt that this man indeed possessed some outstanding qualities. Since he thought this way, he let him be and said no more.
Entering You Dian again, Zhu Mo casually called two of his personal guards and asked:
“What do the卫军 (Guard Army) say about firearms? Do they know fear?”
One of them replied:
“Scholar Zhu, most of these soldiers have never seen firearms. Initially, they didn’t take them seriously. We fired them to show them, but they quickly became terrified and trembled. The veteran soldiers were even more afraid, as if they had seen ghosts. Their morale is now quite uneasy.”
You Juxing heard this and urgently asked, “What should we do? With the enemy at the gates, if the enemy unleashes a thousand matchlocks, won’t they be petrified?”
Zhu Mo thought for a moment and felt a headache coming on, regretting once again why he hadn’t brought more men with him…
But then he thought, even bringing two thousand men wouldn’t be particularly useful here. This was not a plain after all. In such terrain, there were forests everywhere, and as long as they could hide in them, firearms would be difficult to aim. These卫军 (Guard Army) soldiers, having never seen them, were naturally very afraid. It was primarily a psychological issue. But psychological issues were precisely the biggest problem in warfare…
Sigh…
He let out a long sigh and murmured, “We must still think of a foolproof plan to make these卫军 (Guard Army) soldiers no longer fear firearms. When the enemy presses forward, they will dare to counterattack, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable. Once the morale collapses, there will be no more opportunities.”