Chapter 753 - Han Xin vs. Li Mu
Jingchu Province, Pill Sun City.
When he received the news, Chun Shenjun was furious, breaking out, "Useless!"
The two City-States' flirtatious attitude was something that Chun Shenjun could not stand. The reconciliation message that Shanhai City sent out to the two City-States was what he felt uneasy about.
One must know that Xiangnan City-State was the last barrier between Pill Sun City and Shanhai City. The moment Xiangnan City-State reconciled with Shanhai City and engaged in trade, it would be a pretty awkward situation for Pill Sun City.
This chess move by Shanhai City was totally unexpected.
Chun Shenjun did not believe that Qiyue Wuyi truly desired reconciliation. It was just his plan to slow down the situation.
However, the Lords in the two City-States seemed to not notice this point and willingly jumped into the trap. Obviously, Chun Shenjun would be furious about it.
"No, we definitely cannot let Shanhai City get away with this!" Chun Shenjun's expression was really dark, "Men!"
"Lord!"
The one who came was the head of the Pill Sun City intel organization, Chun Xiao, his codename was Xiao.
"Activate all our hidden pieces in Xiangnan City-State, and try your best to prevent Xiangnan City-State from handing over Guilin Prefecture." Chun Shenjun ordered.
When Xiao heard this request, he hesitated, "Lord, the intel organizations of Shanhai City have been active in Xiangnan City-State. The moment we activate our hidden chess pieces, our entire plan there would be exposed."
Xiangnan City-State was an important guest of Pill Sun City, so it had been one of the focuses of Xiao. To bury and hide these hidden chess pieces, Xiao had spent a lot of manpower and money.
Occasionally, they would have some blood conflict with the Shanhai City intel organizations. The battle in the darkness was always incredibly cold and merciless. As everyone was nameless, it was even crueler.
Now, the Lord wanted to activate all of these hidden chess pieces, so Xiao was naturally worried about it.
Chun Shenjun sighed, "We are only doing this as we have no choice. If we do not do it, we cannot succeed."
In truth, even if he activated all of them, Chun Shenjun still was not confident about winning.
"Since we are going to try, let's go all out." Chun Shenjun was not a person who did not dare to take a gamble.
Xiao nodded his head with a serious expression.
"I understand; I will prepare everything well." Intel was a strategic goal of the territory. Since the Lord had already made his decision, Xiao would naturally follow it resolutely.
During the next three days, with the workings of Chun Xiao, the two City-States, especially the number of voices in Xiangnan City-State that opposed giving up Guilin Prefecture, suddenly became more louder and much more common.
The situation became blurrier and blurrier.
With that, Caiyun Zinan was all the more unwilling to take a stand, and even West Gate Big Official and the others became uncertain.
Because of Xiao, the situation that was slowly becoming clear was becoming more uncertain. A layer of fog hovered over these two City-States, making it hard for one to see what was going on within.
The huge show in Nanjiang slowly attracted the attention of everyone in China.
Players that understood what was going on in the inside knew that this was a battle between Shanhai City and Pill Sun City. However, the two City-States that were a part of the situation did not know that they were the chess pieces.
Only the outcome would reveal the superior party.
It seemed like Pill Sun City had the advantage but everyone knew that Shanhai City was yet to strike out.
The truth was exactly that.
10th month, 28th day, Guiping Pass.
Shanhai City was prepared to give them some medicine to cure the uncertainty of the Xiangnan City-State.
The following were the words of Leopard Legion Corps Marshal Han Xin, "The enemies are a group of worthless creatures. If we do not hit them where it hurts, they would not know the situation that they are facing."
On this day, the 1st legion of the Leopard Legion Corps officially moved toward Guiping Pass.
The P1 Type Cannons that were used to attack Xuanwu Pass had already been transported over. The huge army did not even bother to hide their tracks, traveling casually on the mountain path.
The ones defending Guiping Pass was the Alliance Army of the Xiangnan City-State; they had a total of 50 thousand troops. The defending general was the overall commander of the Guiping Prefecture Alliance Army; it was the warring states General Li Mu.
And within Guiping Prefecture, behind the Guiping Pass, Li Mu also planned 30 thousand reserve troops to help out at any moment. The number of troops in the three passes and the 30 thousand reserve forces added up to 150 thousand.
When Li Mu received the news, he sent out big words that he was going to bury the Leopard Legion Corps in the valley.
Speaking of which, Li Mu was one of the heaviest contributors to them taking down Guilin Prefecture. To the Shanhai City Army, especially to the Leopard Legion Corps, he was definitely a sworn enemy.
The pinnacle battle between Han Xin and Li Mu attracted the eyes of everyone.
It would be much harder for Shanhai City to take down Guiping Pass compared to Xuanwu Pass.
It was not because of how dangerous the pass was, or how majestic or how well built it was. It was only because Guiping Pass had a mountain path that could not be considered large and a large army could not fit on it.
This was the epitome of a land that was easy to defend and hard to attack.
To the attacking side, this was a land of death. Even if one sent many troops over, if the defenders took a rational and smart defense route, all of the attacking side's attempts would fall.
Hence, Li Mu's big words were not without reason.
In truth, if he did not have P1 Type Cannons, Han Xin pretty much would not have any confidence in taking down Guiping Pass. The Leopard Legion Corps had been housed in Withered Flower Stronghold for close to a year, yet they did not even think about attacking Guiping Pass. Their lack of action was not without reason.
Han Xin's title of War Immortal meant that he was good at grasping the situation and definitely was not a reckless person.
Apart from the P1 Type Cannon, Han Xin had made other preparations.
Taking down Guilin Prefecture was part of the military strategy for the second half of the 3rd year. It was a strategic goal that Shanhai City definitely must accomplish.
Regarding this matter, the various departments of the Military Affairs Bureau all wrote various plans to solve the scenarios that could crop up.
In the words of the Monarch, "It's best if Guilin Prefecture could be taken back peacefully. If it cannot, we can just start war. Hence, the Leopard Legion Corps has to make preparations to start a war."
To take down Guiping Pass, Han Xin had spent a lot of effort and time thinking of ideas.
...
At 10 AM, the 1st legion of the Leopard Legion Corps proceeded on the mountain path.
Walking at the front of the Leopard Legion Corps 1st legion was their 1st division, which was the Heavy Armored Mountain Barbarian Infantry Division.
In terms of hatred toward Li Mu, nobody could compare to the mountain barbarian soldiers.
During the battle at the pass a year ago, the ones defending Xuanwu Pass and Guiping Pass was the 1st independent Mountain Barbarian Division led by the young mountain barbarian general, Shihu.
In that battle, the entire independent division was nearly wiped out, and they did not even get a call sign for their division.
Hence, the mountain barbarian soldiers held a deep hatred toward Li Mu and the Alliance Army that he led. Not being able to join in the Battle of Xuanwu Pass already made the mountain barbarian soldiers feel extremely unhappy.
Now that they finally had a chance to face off against Li Mu's Alliance Army, the blood of all the mountain barbarian soldiers boiled.
Just at this moment, the sounds of horse hooves rang in front of them.
Turning a corner, a cavalry appeared. Upon closer inspection, it was the vanguard sent to scout ahead.
"Emergency report, the enemy is sneak attacking!"
The cavalry was panicking; he swung the flag that represented danger in his hand.
When the 1st division Major General Liao Kai saw this signal, he immediately ordered, "Stop the advance!"
Before Liao Kai could step up to ask him what exactly was happening, a sharp arrow shot through the air and pierced the chest of the vanguard. He fell off his horse, seemingly devoid of life.
Along with the sharp arrow were even louder horse hooves sounds.
The rumbling caused the ground to shake, dust flew up, and the stones on the ground jumped up.
"Enemy sneak attack, form up!"
Instinctively, Liao Kai gave emergency orders.
The well trained mountain barbarian warriors immediately formed up on the mountain path, pointing their shields forward.
Before they could stabilize their footing, the enemy cavalry swept toward them like a hurricane.
"What a Li Mu!"
He truly was special, sending troops to attack when the Leopard Legion Corps was still travelling. Such a strategy where the defending troops started the attack was totally unheard of.
Li Mu's plan was rather simple; he wanted to destroy the enemy cannons while they were still transporting them.
His actions were also to send a warning to the enemy.
Regarding the fall of Xuanwu Pass, Li Mu had conducted some rather detailed research. He had been thinking of ways to break the cannons in the enemy's hand.
Such a sneak attack was just one of his bold ideas.
As for the outcome, only time would tell.
For Li Mu to destroy the cannon whilst they were travelling was pretty much an impossible task. With Han Xin's ability, he naturally would place the cannons in the safest center of the troops. How would he give the Alliance Army a chance?
But the warning did succeed.
Even Han Xin did not expect that the Alliance Army would attack at such a time.
When the 1st division stopped, the troops behind them were shocked and confused.
Just at this moment, killing shouts spread out from the front.
"What's happening?"
In the middle of the troops, Han Xin called over the messenger.
"Commander, the front troops have suffered a sneak attacked by the enemy cavalry, and they are defending with their lives."
"Sneak attack?" Han Xin was astonished, but he could roughly guess the enemy's intentions, "What a guy, he probably is here to show his superiority."
"Send orders to the 1st division, take down the enemy." Han Xin ordered decisively.
Han Xin naturally had a lot of confidence in the Mountain Barbarian Division.
Luckily, the 1st division was at the forefront. If it was a normal Infantry Division, they would definitely be in chaos.
Han Xin knew some things about Li Mu.
Speaking of which, Li Mu could be considered Han Xin's senior. This Warring States general had gotten famous during the war against Xiongnu. In the end, he conquered the land and became one of the top generals of the Zhao State.
Li Mu's cavalry army was one of the top 10 armies in history.
Hence, Li Mu was extremely familiar and proficient with cavalry tactics. Based on the intel from the Military Intelligence Division, the cavalry forces under him now had the style of the Zhao Country cavalry and were exceedingly strong.
Even their weapons were the crescent knives from that time.
Within the territory, probably only Huo Qubing, that god of cavalry, could compete against Li Mu.