bullyxtreme Chapter 18: Questioning and Answering, the Beginning of Strategy
Chapter 18: Questioning and Answering, the Beginning of Strategy
Yang Yan was now ready to go all out.
This is a high-stakes gamble concerning the fate of the Sui Dynasty, and the stakes are Yang Yan's battered and bruised body, as well as the lives and fortunes of the entire Eastern Palace.
If this battle with Goguryeo is unavoidable, then Go Hyeong must be saved.
As long as Gao Jiong doesn't fall, the Eastern Palace, this dilapidated ship, can hold on for a few more years; but if those 300,000 troops are sent to wallow in the quagmire of Liaodong, the wheels of history will mercilessly crush everything.
He had to make it clear that if they went to war recklessly without any preparation, defeat was inevitable.
"I'm saying all this just to remind you of one point."
"Our Great Sui Dynasty may appear prosperous, with overflowing granaries, but in reality, we have needs everywhere, and simply don't have enough grain to sustain our extravagant spending in that bottomless pit of Liaodong!"
"The people of Liaodong cannot withstand such torment! If the forced requisitioning goes too far, public resentment will boil over. If a peasant uprising occurs due to the requisitioning of grain, and the supply lines are cut off, the army at the front will instantly become lambs to the slaughter, and this battle will surely be lost!"
"At that time, the foundation of the Sui Dynasty in the north will be shaken!"
Every word of these remarks refers to provisions and fodder.
But in reality, every word struck Yang Jian's most sensitive nerve: the very foundation of the nation.
For this founding emperor, the submission of Goguryeo was the icing on the cake, the final piece of the puzzle in the grand picture of all nations paying tribute.
But the foundation of the Sui Dynasty was his lifeblood, the legacy he wanted to pass down for ten thousand generations.
Yang Jian stood on the imperial steps, his chest heaving violently.
His eyes were fixed on Yang Yan.
He was well aware of the Sui army's food shortage.
He wanted to fight, but he wasn't going to go to war immediately; he needed to consult with others first.
I just hadn't thought that much about it before.
At this moment, Yang Yan tightly bound the people's livelihood to the foundation of the Sui Dynasty, and the victory or defeat at the front line to the supply lines in the rear.
It was to clearly tell Yang Jian one thing.
If this battle is fought using the old method of overwhelming the enemy with a large army, defeat is inevitable and it will also shake the foundation of the nation.
a long time.
Yang Jian silently sat back down on the dragon throne.
He couldn't refute it.
Because that's the reality, the arithmetic problem that he, as the emperor, had to face.
"call……"
Yang Jian exhaled a long breath, which seemed to carry away most of his violence and killing intent, leaving only a calm and composed demeanor as a leader facing the storm.
He slowly sat back down on the dragon throne.
"Get up. You were originally discussing military matters, and since you have pointed out the crux of the matter, you are innocent."
"It seems you've been quite scheming about these 'unorthodox methods' while you were in the Eastern Palace."
The phrase "unorthodox methods" now seems to have lost some of its derogatory connotation and gained more complex meaning.
Yang Jian's gaze was deep and unfathomable as he lightly tapped the back of his chair with his fingers: "Since you've criticized the drawbacks of this large-scale military campaign to the point of being utterly useless, then I'd like to ask you, in your opinion, how should this battle be fought?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Yan, who was kneeling on the ground, finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.
Just now, he felt like he was dancing on a tightrope over a precipice.
The slightest mistake could result in utter destruction.
Fortunately, he made the right bet.
Although Yang Jian was stubborn, he still retained a degree of rationality when faced with the true interests of the nation.
Yang Yan took a deep breath, supported himself with his hands on the ground, and slowly got up.
His knees were already numb from kneeling, and the injury on his back made it extremely difficult and awkward for him to get up, but he dared not slack off in the slightest.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yang Yan straightened up, adjusted his breathing, and made his voice sound more steady and powerful.
"The number of soldiers has its advantages and disadvantages. Today, I will not discuss military strategy and doctrines, but only practical results."
"Your grandson dares to ask Your Majesty to recall a person and a battle."
Seeing that the time was right, Yang Yan stopped beating around the bush and immediately changed the subject.
He threw out that name that could most touch the hearts of all emperors and most ignite the passion of Han men in the grand hall of the Sui Dynasty.
"In the past, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Han Dynasty was at its peak, but it was also hampered by logistical difficulties. The Xiongnu fled far to the northern desert, and the Han army suffered greatly."
"But there was one person who completely broke this deadlock—General Huo Qubing!"
Upon hearing this name, not only did Yang Jian's old eyes widen suddenly, but even Dugu Jialuo, who had been sitting upright to the side and came from a military family, couldn't help but brighten up and lean forward slightly.
That is the totem in the hearts of all martial artists.
Yang Yan's voice gradually became impassioned, as if imbued with the fierce and warlike spirit of battle, echoing throughout the hall: "In the second year of Yuan Shou, Huo Qubing conquered Hexi. How was he able to seal the Wolf-Dwelling Mountain and drink from the vast sea?"
"Is it because he has a large army? Is it because his supplies are piled up like mountains?"
"No! Quite the opposite!"
Yang Yan suddenly waved his hand: "He led only ten thousand elite light cavalry, abandoning heavy baggage and provisions, and like an arrow released from a bow, penetrated behind enemy lines!"
"He obtained supplies from the enemy and food from the bandits! He marched out of Longxi, crossed the Yanzhi Mountains, and conquered five kingdoms in six days!"
"They killed King Zhelan, beheaded King Luhou, and even seized the golden statue used by King Xiutu for sacrificial rites!"
"He never used the clumsy method of overwhelming force, but rather a surprise attack by elite troops! A swift and decisive strike!"
These words stirred Yang Jian's heart.
Throughout his life, he usurped the Zhou dynasty and established the Sui dynasty, and pacified the Chen dynasty in the south. Although he was a man of great military prowess, deep down, who wouldn't want to be the Han Wudi who swept across the northern deserts?
Yang Yan stepped forward, disregarding all etiquette and distance, and stared intently at Yang Jian, speaking rapidly: "Although Goguryeo is currently based in the mountains and has a complex terrain, its military forces are scattered."
"If our Great Sui were to send an army of 300,000 to invade our borders, it would be like a giant elephant hunting a rabbit—it would look impressive, but it would be cumbersome."
"With a large army, command becomes difficult. By the time a military order reaches the vanguard, half a day may have passed, and the opportunity to strike may be lost in an instant."
"The grain consumption is huge. Every day when we open our eyes, we find that we are short of 10,000 shi of grain. The longer this drags on, the emptier the national treasury will become."
"Furthermore, the soldiers are mostly conscripted temporarily from various prefectures, and their quality varies greatly. If they encounter continuous rain and food shortages, they could easily mutini at the slightest disturbance!"
Yang Yan bowed slightly and said.
"Although I have never been to the battlefield, I once heard an old soldier speak the truth after drinking in the Eastern Palace."
"Of these hundreds of thousands of troops, typically 30% are elite soldiers, specifically tasked with guarding provisions and supplies, maintaining discipline, and preventing desertion!"
"In other words, even if 300,000 men were sent, the number truly capable of fighting to the death might not be as high as 100,000 elite troops!"
"Since our imperial grandfather never wanted Goguryeo's territory, what's the point of sending so many troops?"
"If we want to conquer Goguryeo, we should only use a small, well-trained force, focusing on killing the enemy, and not seeking to win in one battle."
"Therefore, I dare to offer five strategies to my Imperial Grandfather!"
Yang Jian was still pondering the theory that "the quality of an army is more important than its quantity" when he heard the words "five strategies." He didn't speak, but leaned forward to see what other specific strategies this grandson had.
"The first strategy is to streamline the military and reduce administrative burden."
"From among the various armies of our Great Sui, select 80,000 elite soldiers originally from the north and send them ahead of time to Liaodong to acclimatize to the harsh cold. The Liao River will be blocked by heavy snow after November, and it is already mid-July; time is of the essence. The key to this strategy is speed!"
"With 80,000 elite troops, the pressure on the supply lines is greatly reduced, while our fighting strength can be concentrated. I've heard that large armies often need 30% of their elite troops to guard the supply lines and keep the soldiers in check. But with my 80,000 elite soldiers, every single one of them is ready to fight to the death, so there will be no such drain!"
"In this way, we can avoid the problem of a powerful and uncontrollable force, and also prevent Goguryeo from attacking our supply lines. This is the essence of 'streamlining the army and simplifying administration'!"
"Second strategy: elite surprise attack..."