Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 102 Pre-Battle Strategy

The detailed intelligence of the Black Mountain Army's three-pronged advance was like a giant, ever-tightening net, tightly enveloping Starfire Fortress. However, at the heart of this net, in the brightly lit council hall of the Starfire Fortress lord's mansion, the atmosphere was not one of despair and panic, but rather one of almost icy focus and boiling battle intent. The charcoal brazier dispelled the chill of the early summer night, casting flickering light on the solemn faces before the massive map on the wall.

Chen Xing, Wu Xuejiu, Chen Wei, Murong Mingyue, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Li Shu, along with the thousand-man commander of the Southern Outpost who had been urgently recalled and several captains of the Xinghuo Battalion responsible for key defensive sections, were gathered together. Spread out on the table were not only maps, but also enemy situation summaries compiled by Li Shu's intelligence department and marked with various symbols and annotations, defensive deployment sketches drawn overnight by Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue, and a list of city defense equipment and material reserves submitted by Zhou Dashan.

"The enemy situation is clear, and our army is also retreating and implementing a scorched-earth policy." Chen Xing's voice broke the brief silence. He walked to the map, picked up a thin charcoal stick, and said, "Zhang Kuang's plan is very clear: a heavy force with weapons in the center will press forward and force our main force to hold their ground; the flanks will outflank, burning and looting our grain fields, cutting off our retreat, disrupting our morale, and forcing us to divide our forces. Once we show a weakness, or are worn down to a certain extent, their main force, which has been conserving its strength, will launch a fatal blow."

Charcoal Rod drew a circle around the location of Starfire Fortress on the map. "Therefore, the core of our strategy can be summarized in eight words: 'Relax on the outside, tighten on the inside; use stillness to control movement.'"

He first looked at Chen Wei: "Chen Wei, you are in charge of the overall city defense. Our forces are insufficient, and we absolutely cannot divide our troops to engage the enemy in open battle. All combat troops, including the main force of the Xinghuo Battalion, the elite garrison, and even some of the most reliable able-bodied men from the Guihua Battalion, must be concentrated in the main fortress and the key sections of the adjacent walls. Abandon all outer field fortifications, and even the chevaux-de-frise outside the trenches should only be partially retained to delay the enemy vanguard. The focus should be on the city walls themselves!"

Chen Wei nodded solemnly, pointing to the defensive sketch he had drawn: "The defense of the city wall has been clearly divided into sections. The north and west walls are under the greatest pressure, each with two thousand-man squads, to be led by me and two captains respectively. The east and south walls each have one reinforced thousand-man squad. As instructed by the fortress lord, we have begun to build hiding places and supply points on the inner side of each section of the city wall, so that the defenders can take turns resting and reducing the time exposed to enemy long-range fire. The defensive supplies such as logs, boulders, oil, and barbed wire are being transported to the walls at an accelerated pace."

"How should the crossbowmen be deployed?" Chen Xing asked.

"Archers and crossbowmen should be concentrated and not evenly distributed," Chen Weidao said. "Three hundred archers and two hundred crossbowmen should be stationed on each of the north and west walls, under the unified command of experienced officers, specifically to kill enemy infantry approaching the city walls and suppress their archers. One hundred and fifty archers and one hundred crossbowmen should be stationed on each of the east and south walls. In addition, a mobile crossbow unit of two hundred men should be set up, equipped with crossbows and improved crossbows, directly under the command of a junior officer, to reinforce key areas or snipe enemy commanders and siege operators at any time."

"Very good." Chen Xing turned to Murong Mingyue. "Mingyue, the eyes and ears of the fortress and all harassment are on your shoulders. You will personally lead the Vanguard Battalion and half of the Winged Cavalry Battalion on patrols. I want you to be like a pack of wolves on the grasslands, constantly watching the three routes of the Black Mountain Army, especially their supply trains, artisans, and catapults. Daily intelligence must be accurate and timely. Harassment should focus on delaying, exhausting, and creating panic. You are absolutely not allowed to engage in close combat with the enemy's main force, and you are absolutely not allowed to waste battles and lose elite troops. Your goal is to make the Black Mountain Army sleep restlessly, walk cautiously, and advance at a snail's pace!"

A fierce glint flashed in Murong Mingyue's eyes: "Understood. I will let 'One-Eyed Leopard' and 'Mountain Wind' know what it means to be unable to move an inch."

"The other half of the Winged Cavalry Battalion and the Sharpening Edge Battalion will serve as the general reserve force within the fortress," Chen Xing added. "They will be commanded by a capable deputy you appoint, stationed inside the west and north gates, with the gates wide open, ready to be deployed at any time. If the enemy's offensive falters, shows signs of fatigue or weakness, or if their flanking harassment forces penetrate too deeply, these will be the daggers we strike!"

Zhao Tiezhu and Zhou Dashan were equally burdened with logistical and fortification responsibilities. Zhao Tiezhu was tasked with ensuring the granaries remained intact, the water supply remained uncontaminated, and the city's security and basic living order were maintained, all while the war could potentially last for months. He also had to organize laborers to transport supplies to the city walls and assist medical personnel in transporting the wounded. Zhou Dashan, on the other hand, was responsible for ensuring the continuous supply and maintenance of defensive equipment, especially countermeasures against the dozens of enemy catapults. He proposed adding wheeled, adjustable-angle "barriers" and "protective canopies" to the city walls, which, while not completely blocking the stones, would reduce casualties and damage to the battlements. Meanwhile, the firearms research and development team was required to be ready for combat at any time, and two additional squads of guards were deployed outside their independent warehouse storing hazardous materials.

Li Shu's intelligence and internal surveillance network was also operating at maximum capacity. They not only continued to receive and analyze information transmitted from the "eyes" outside the fortress, but also closely monitored the interior, especially areas where newly recruited personnel were concentrated and corners with potential connections to the outside world, to prevent sabotage or incitement by spies. Wu Xuejiu was responsible for public opinion and morale, organizing propaganda teams to repeatedly explain the brutality of the Black Mountain Army and the righteousness and necessity of the Xinghuo Fortress battle. He also promulgated the "Special Regulations for Wartime Rewards and Punishments" to boost morale, while simultaneously comforting the elderly and weak and maintaining the operation of key public facilities such as schools and hospitals.

"Gentlemen, the key to this battle lies in the word 'wear and burn'," Chen Xing concluded, slamming his charcoal stick heavily on the spot where Xinghuo Fortress stood. "We must rely on this wall to keep the 15,000 Black Mountain Army soldiers firmly pinned down here! We must wear down their food supplies, their morale, their stamina, and their overconfident patience!"

"Zhang Kuang wants a quick victory, but we're determined to wage a protracted war against him! His army is suffering enormous losses every day, both men and horses are fed, and they're far from their stronghold, with long supply lines. With each passing day, his advantage diminishes, while our walls become stronger, and the unity of the soldiers and civilians within the fortress grows stronger!"

His sharp gaze swept over the crowd: "Of course, holding out and wearing down the enemy isn't about passively taking hits. The Mingyue cavalry harassing from the outside is one factor. The city wall defenses must be proactive! Archers must dare to expose themselves and fire, aiming for precise kills! The defending soldiers must bravely use rolling logs and stones to strike the enemy climbing the walls, and burn their ladders and battering rams with oil! Chen Wei, you must organize daredevils to launch small-scale counterattacks at night or when the enemy is exhausted, burning their camp equipment. We don't aim to annihilate many, but rather to keep them in constant fear and unease!"

"As for their left and right flanks," Chen Xing sneered, "'Over the Mountain Wind' wants to attack our outpost? We've already fortified our defenses and cleared the fields. At most, they'll burn a few empty houses and end up with a mouthful of mud! Once they penetrate deeper and their morale is low, Mingyue's cavalry and the reserves inside the fortress can seize the opportunity to deliver a heavy blow! 'Grasshopper' wants to collude with Iron Rock Fortress? That old fox Sun Han won't act until he sees the rabbit. He wouldn't dare to make a move before the Black Mountain Army shows absolute dominance! We only need to strengthen our vigilance on the east side, and at the same time... we can let some 'news' get to Iron Rock Fortress, such as the Black Mountain Army running out of food and supplies, the soldiers complaining, or... our army still has some killer moves yet to be revealed."

He concluded by mentioning the most sensitive and unpredictable point: "Those 'firearms' are our last trump card, and also the biggest variable. Zhou Dashan and Chen Wei, you must ensure their safety and secrecy. The timing of their use is crucial; they must be used at the critical moment when they can most severely damage the enemy's morale and turn the tide of the battle. As for how to use them, you will be under my command at that time."

The strategic plan is now clear: consolidate and hold, wear down the enemy, and wait for an opportunity to counterattack, combining orthodox and unorthodox tactics. Although it is still a case of fighting against overwhelming odds and being on the defensive, the entire plan is full of proactive calculation and resilience.

The meeting lasted from late at night until the first light of dawn. When everyone received their orders and dispersed to their respective posts, their faces showed fatigue, but their eyes were more determined and bright than when they arrived. They knew what they were facing and how they were supposed to do it.

Chen Xing stood alone on the fortress wall as dawn broke, gazing at the gradually brightening gray-white sky to the north. Murong Mingyue, draped in morning dew, quietly approached him.

"Is everything arranged?" she asked softly.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate," Chen Xing said slowly. "No, we cannot leave the rest to fate. In this battle, we must take fate into our own hands."

"You just said that there is 'news' to be sent to Iron Rock Fortress?" Murong Mingyue keenly caught the deeper meaning in his words.

Chen Xing's lips curled into a cold smile: "Isn't Zhang Kuang boasting of 30,000? Let's 'confirm' that for him. Have Li Shu's men spread the word among refugees and merchants: the Black Mountain Army has come out in full force, leaving their rear vulnerable, and other forces are already stirring, eager to raid their stronghold. Also, tell them that Xinghuo Fortress's walls are strong, its defenders fierce, and its provisions plentiful enough to hold out for a year. And... vaguely mention that we have some 'defense weapons from the Western Regions that can unleash thunder and flames,' though we're not going to go into details. The more you can't understand someone like Sun Han, the more suspicious he becomes, and the less likely he is to make a bet."

Murong Mingyue understood: "It's a feint."

"It's not just a feint." Chen Xing's gaze was far-reaching. "It's also sowing the seeds for a possible counterattack in the future. If... we can severely damage or even repel the Black Mountain Army here, then a weak and fearful Iron Rock Fortress, and a Gray Valley Fortress that has already shown signs of betrayal... this land should be reshaped."

Murong Mingyue gazed at his cold and calculating profile, a complex mix of emotions surging within her. This man, in dire straits, was thinking not only of survival, but also of how to turn crisis into opportunity, how to play a game that would determine the future.

"I believe you," she finally said softly, placing her hand back into his warm palm.

The morning light completely dispelled the darkness of night, illuminating a bustling yet orderly scene of war preparations inside and outside Xinghuo Fortress. On the city walls, the garrison began its final defensive drills; inside the fortress, patrol teams and supply transport teams each went their own way; in the artisan workshops, the sounds of furnaces and hammering filled the air; in the fields, the last wave of vehicles transferring supplies was heading into the fortress.