Chapter 118 Veteran Strategy
"General Tian, ​​the Marshal wants to see you."

When Tianxuan stepped out of the military tent and was about to inspect the army, suddenly one of Wang Jian's personal soldiers ran up to him and whispered in his ear.

"I'll go right away."

Since Wang Jian met him, he had always treated Tianxuan well, and taught Tianxuan many things intentionally or unintentionally. The military discipline was strict, and Wang Jian, as the commander-in-chief, wanted to see Tianxuan. Even if Tianxuan had the courage, Tianxuan would not dare to put on airs. After responding, Tianxuan quickly walked towards Wang Jian's tent.

"I, General Tian Xuanzi, pay my respects to the Marshal."

The treatment that the Qin army could enjoy was closely related to their status. Even if the lowest-ranking public servants wanted to have a full meal, it was difficult to do so. When they reached the tenth level of Zuo Shuzhang or above, they could not only enjoy good meat, but sometimes even drink some wine. As the first general of the Qin army since Bai Qi, Wang Jian's tent was naturally luxurious.

The military tent covers an area of ​​ten feet, and the floor is covered with sheepskin. In addition to the desk for handling military affairs and the bed for rest, there are also wooden tables, wooden chairs and other decorations, which is almost the same as a wooden house.

Stepping into the military tent, Tian Xuanchong saluted the old general Wang Jian who was sitting behind the desk. He had snow-white hair and beard and his eyes were filled with a bright light.

"No gift."

The veteran Wang Jian looked at the young man who was approaching him with admiration and waved his hand, indicating that Tianxuan did not need to be polite.

"Thank you, Marshal." Tian Xuan stood up obediently, stood in the general's tent, and looked at Wang Jian on the throne with burning eyes.

"Just now, Yan Fei secretly left the military camp." Wang Jian did not let Tian Xuan wait too long. He slowly stood up from the commander's chair and revealed the matter.

Tian Xuan said in a deep voice: "I will ask her to go to Jicheng and kill Yan Wangxi's brother, Yan Chunjun. Now, Yan Dan is leading the troops in the front. If Yan Chunjun, who has always been at odds with Yan Dan, is killed, it will surely arouse Yan Wangxi's suspicion. It would be best if Yan Wangxi could change his generals before the battle."

Although the Yishui River is turbulent and most of the places where one can cross the river are controlled by the Yan-Dai coalition forces, with Yan Fei's ability, it is easy for her to cross the Yishui River.

"Not bad." Wang Jian was very satisfied with Tian Xuan's arrangement. "I believe that good news will come soon. However, the enemy is numerous and we are few. In order to increase the chances of victory, I have a task for you."

"Please give your orders, Marshal." Tianxuan bowed and clasped his hands, waiting for Wang Jian's military order.

Behind Wang Jian, there was a very clear military map drawn on sheepskin. This was the map of Dukang in Yan State that Yan Dan gave to Zheng Ge. After Jing Ke failed in his attempt to assassinate Qin, in order to conquer Yan State, Zheng Ge directly gave the Dukang map to Wang Jian, which became the military map used by the Qin army to attack Yan State.

On the map, a winding river is clearly visible, which is the Yishui River.

"Tian Xuanzi, this is Longkou Ferry, which was once one of the most important ferry crossings in Yan State. Due to years of disrepair and constant wars, it has gradually been abandoned. This time, our Great Qin and Yan-Dai coalition forces are facing off at Yishui. Although the people of Yan State know that there is such a place, it is hundreds of miles away from the battlefield, so there are not many soldiers stationed there."

"I order you to lead 5,000 cavalrymen to seize Longkou Ferry, and then go around to the rear of the Yan-Dai coalition army. When the Yan-Dai coalition army is defeated by me and leaves by boat, attack them halfway across the river!"

"Here."

After hearing Wang Jian's order, Tian Xuan's handsome face was filled with deep excitement from the bottom of his heart.

"Marshal, why did you ask me to go around the Yan-Dai coalition army and attack them halfway across the river?" Tian Xuan, who had adapted to the battlefield, thought of something. "Could it be that among the refugees from Yan State that you drove away, there were no troops from the Great Qin?"

"They are just some scouts." Wang Jian answered Tian Xuan's confusion. "The people of Yan and Zhao are not fools. How could they not know that there are my Qin troops among them? When crossing the river, they will definitely be checked. Therefore, I only deployed about a hundred scouts. Their mission is to explore the terrain on the other side of the river for you. When you cross the river, they will join you." "Marshal, you are wise."

After hearing what Wang Jian said, Tianxuan was convinced and bowed his head repeatedly.

………………

The Qin army had 100,000 troops, but in reality they had only 200,000, while the Yan-Dai coalition army claimed to have 300,000 troops!
The two sides had a total of 300,000 troops, facing each other on the banks of the Yi River. Although a large-scale decisive battle had not yet begun, small-scale battles were common. Once the scattered scouts and small groups of cavalry met in the wilderness, there was no need to say more, they would start a war.

However, no matter how fierce the small-scale battle was, neither side had the intention of an immediate decisive battle.

As for the Yan-Dai coalition, Wang Jian was too famous and had few rivals among the contemporary military strategists. Even though the number of the Yan-Dai coalition forces far exceeded that of Wang Jian's army, most of the soldiers were farmers who had just been pulled out of the fields. How could they compare with Wang Jian's elite troops who had experienced many battles? Therefore, the main strategy of the Yan-Dai coalition was to delay the war, intending to drag it until autumn and winter, and use the cold weather to make the ferocious Qin army collapse without a fight.

On the contrary, Wang Jian's talent was far superior to that of Wang Jia and Yan Dan. How could Wang Jian not know the simple truth that if he killed one thousand enemies, he would lose eight hundred of his own? The Qin army had come from afar, and the soldiers were inevitably tired. Wang Jian also wanted to delay time, so that his men could finish their rest and the ambush would take effect, and then fight a decisive battle.

In this way, the two sides, with a total of 300,000 troops, maintained a strange balance in minor fights.

This night, Longkou Ferry.

The night wind is bleak and the cold wind penetrates into the bones.

A waning moon was looming in the sky against the backdrop of endless black clouds. Coupled with the cold wind whistling from the Yishui River, it really reminded people of a saying: A dark and windy night is a murderous night!

"so cold!"

"Little Stone, don't stand there, come over here and warm yourself by the fire."

"This is a place that even the locals have almost forgotten about. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince actually allowed us brothers to stay here."

……

In the cold wind, some of the hundreds of Yan soldiers wearing armor made of bamboo strips could not bear the cold, so they gathered in groups of three or five, lit dry firewood, and ignited piles of blazing flames. The fish and shrimp caught from the river, along with wild fruits, dry food and the like, were roasted on the campfire.

More than a hundred soldiers were talking by the fire. Some of the hot-blooded ones complained when they thought about their brothers fighting the Qin army on the battlefield while they could only stay here.

Creak!
The water here used to flow fast, the water was several feet deep, and the river was as wide as ten feet. However, in recent years, most of the fast-flowing water has been intercepted by people upstream, and the water flow has become increasingly sparse. As a result, the wooden bridge across the river has been eaten by rats and insects due to lack of maintenance. As the soldiers who were ordered to guard this place were talking, a cold wind blew on the wooden bridge not far from them.

The harsh sound fell into everyone's ears, as if the wooden bridge that was about to collapse also agreed with their words.

call out!call out!call out!
Everything seemed to be extremely calm and normal. However, the accident happened as expected.

(End of this chapter)