Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

The night of the seventy-third day of the Great Chaos.

Chen Mo led the army to Qinyang County. That night, without resting, the army established defensive fortifications around Qinyang County.

He then ordered Feng Ji and Bai Yongtao to lead thirty thousand infantry each to Luan Mountain County and Ta Town to set up defenses, preventing the enemy from bypassing Qinyang County and occupying Luan Mountain County and Ta Town, thus encircling Qinyang County like dumplings.

This way, the three counties form a triangular position and can support each other.

Originally, Chen Mo intended to send Feng Ji and Feng Jing to defend because having these few surveillance people around was somewhat bothersome.

However, doing so would be too obvious.

Moreover, Chen Mo also needed an experienced general to offer advice, so he kept Feng Ji and sent Feng Jing out, making it hard for Li Yang to complain, as Luan Mountain County and Ta Town indeed needed troops stationed.

In the commander’s tent, Chen Mo examined the map of the Qinyang County surroundings by lamplight.

Qinyang County’s left side has a thousand-foot cliff providing a geographical advantage, making it difficult for the enemy to attack from the left, at most sending Innate Martial Artists to harass Qinyang County from this side.

But in the midst of large-scale battles, such actions are akin to giving away troops.

So Chen Mo doesn’t worry about the defense of the left west gate, mainly focusing on defending the east gate to the right and the south gate in front.

Due to the disparity in forces, Chen Mo adopts a defensive approach, refraining from taking the initiative.

Xiao Yunqi has already sent messages for reinforcements from Huangfu Hao going to Western Shu and various other provincial armies under Imperial Court orders, and only once they arrive will it be time to launch an offensive.

However, this is the ideal scenario. Zhao Jiang will surely not wait for these reinforcements but seek a quick win to defeat Chen Mo, then directly attack the Capital to capture Bianliang City.

In this way, the reinforcements from everywhere would break without being attacked.

After assigning tasks to the subordinates, the generals left the commander’s tent.

Jiang Ruoqing entered, still wearing a set of sturdy light armor. She looked at Chen Mo sitting on the bed reviewing the map and hesitated for a moment before speaking, ”Will the battle begin tomorrow?”

Chen Mo didn’t raise his head: ”We just arrived here, and nothing is ready. The enemy won’t give us a chance to breathe; they’ll seize the moment and attack.”

In the simulation, the enemy’s vanguard army will arrive at Qinyang County early tomorrow morning.

However, they won’t directly attack the city but will test our defenses, while on the other side, they’ll set up camp a few dozen miles outside Qinyang County, waiting for the main force to arrive, at which point they will launch a full-scale assault.

”Are you confident?” Jiang Ruoqing’s face showed some gravity, for the enemy numbered two million, while their side only numbered one-tenth of that.

”The art of war says: surround if you are ten times the enemy’s strength, attack if you’re five times stronger, divide if you’re twice their strength, fight if you’re equal, defend if you’re weaker, evade if you’re inferior. Evading is impossible for us, so we must defend. As for the assurance in defense...”

Chen Mo smiled. In previous simulations, he was able to hold for ten days.

However, based on the enemy’s troop movements in the simulation, as long as no significant changes occur, by taking risky measures, it’s not impossible to break the stalemate in defense.

For example...

Ambush the enemy’s vanguard army.

Charged one hundred and twenty-eight thousand taels.

Chen Mo shifted his focus to ambushing this vanguard army and began simulating.

[Day seventy-four of the Great Chaos: Before dawn, you lead fifty thousand troops out of the city to ambush the enemy’s one hundred thousand strong vanguard army thirty miles away at Niu Shan.

You eliminated the enemy vanguard’s scout team and had your men disguise themselves as the enemy’s scouts. To avoid detection, you had Thousand Faces disguise you as the scout team leader, then returned to report that the way ahead was safe. The enemy vanguard’s general believed the report.

You defeated sixty thousand of the enemy at Niu Shan and killed the vanguard’s general.

The victory at the start of the war significantly boosted your troops’ morale, and the entire army was in awe of your foresight.

In the afternoon, the enemy’s main forces approached Qinyang County.]

[Day seventy-five of the Great Chaos: Despite various challenges from the enemy, you refused all battles.]

[Day seventy-six of the Great Chaos: The enemy generals Zhou Da, Zhou Er, and Zhou San challenged one by one, taunting to fight you, aiming to probe your strength.

You leaped out of the city, overpowered the three in less than three rounds, slaying two while Zhou Da fled alone.]

[Day seventy-seven of the Great Chaos: The enemy launched a full assault, determined to take Qinyang County.

The upgraded high-explosive Fire Bottle Bombs exhibited their might, causing the enemy’s siege to fail, resulting in twenty thousand casualties.]

[Day seventy-eight of the Great Chaos: Zhao Jiang attempted to bribe you with money and seduction, but you refused.]

[Day seventy-nine of the Great Chaos: Seeing that Qinyang County could not be breached for the time being, Zhao Jiang redirected his forces to attack Luan Mountain County.

Your generals urged you to send reinforcements. You dispatched Dai Xishan with fifty thousand troops, but they encountered an enemy ambush, suffering significant losses. Only Dai Xishan returned with a battered remnant.]

[Day eighty of the Great Chaos: Without reinforcements, Feng Jing abandoned the city and fled, leading to the fall of Luan Mountain County.]

...

[Day eighty-four of the Great Chaos: Rumors spread in Bianliang that you were bought off by King Yan, leading to the fall of Luan Mountain County. Many ministers believed it, demanding your replacement and return for trial.]

[Day eighty-five of the Great Chaos: With the mediation of Empress Dowager Xiao Yunxi from the Eastern Palace, Xiao Yunqi chose to trust you, sending fifty thousand reinforcements.]

[Simulation ends, you may retain one of the following options.]

[One, ten days of Martial Art experience.]

[Two, ten days of Heart Method Realm experience.]

[Three, ten days of combat experience.]

As he temporarily didn’t want to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Chen Mo chose option three.

He frowned slightly.

Even though he had a simulator, the disparity in strength, despite foresight, was still insurmountable in the face of absolute power.

For instance, Zhao Jiang’s decision to redirect forces to attack Luan Mountain County is a straightforward and open strategy.

Whether or not he sends reinforcements, Luan Mountain County would eventually fall, and if he did, they would encounter an ambush.

”What’s wrong?” Seeing Chen Mo frown, Jiang Ruoqing, who had just removed her armor and was preparing for bed, asked.

Chen Mo thought for a moment and asked, ”Ruoqing, let me ask you a question. If a city is besieged and needs reinforcement, but there’s an ambush on the way, would you still send aid?”

Jiang Ruoqing thought for a moment: ”I would kill those ambushing us.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo was taken aback and smiled.

If the enemy chose to ambush, they would naturally select a location with geographical advantages, and given their numbers, even if he personally led the troops, they couldn’t break through. Moreover, if he dared to leave, Qinyang County would be lost again.

”Why are you laughing?” Jiang Ruoqing furrowed her brows.

”I laugh because you’re so adorable.” Chen Mo carried Jiang Ruoqing to bed, then pulled her feet over, cleansing them with True Qi, gently massaging them.

Jiang Ruoqing tried to pull her feet back: ”You’re just saying I’m stupid.”

”I did not.” Chen Mo kissed her snow-white, glistening foot, then continued, ”Sleep.”