Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 396: Chapter 381 General, What to Do If There Is No Wind?

Just as Yang Mingzhi handed the letter to Liang Chu, the soldiers at Guanshan Pass were also bustling with activity.

Yang Zhenshan issued more than a dozen commands in succession, mobilizing all his troops under his command. Not only the soldiers but also the engineers and the tens of thousands of civilian laborers received orders.

The soldiers and civilian laborers carried the already prepared straw cages and fire oil up the hillside.

Large and small straw cages nearly covered the back side of the hillside at both sides of Guanshan Pass.

Such a large movement naturally could not be concealed from the Wuliang army in the valley.

Wu Tuo, watching the busily working soldiers on the hillside, frowned and asked, ”What are they doing?”

”Not sure, it seems like they’re constructing fortifications!” a Wuliang general said.

Although standing in the valley one could see the hillside on both sides of Guanshan Pass, one could not see the back of the hillside, and naturally, the straw cages on the back were also out of sight.

”Could they know that we are launching a full-scale attack tomorrow?” Wu Tuo said with some doubt.

According to his thinking, tomorrow would be the best opportunity to launch a full-scale attack.

The imperial guard, led by Liang Chu, had just arrived at Xiling City and surely would not launch an attack on them in a short time.

As long as they attacked before the imperial guard did, they would avoid being caught in a pincer attack from both sides.

Therefore, Wu Tuo set the time for the full-scale attack for tomorrow. As for why not to launch a full-scale attack earlier, it was because he also needed time to prepare.

Currently, under his command, he still had nearly seventy thousand Northern barbarian cavalry and Cui Liang’s twenty thousand troops, and they were also carrying thousands of carts of supplies.

To launch a full-scale attack, to completely withdraw from the valley, just the preparations alone would take several days.

In fact, attacking tomorrow was already very rushed. If possible, Wu Tuo wanted to stay a few more days before launching the full-scale attack.

Talking about this now was pointless, Wu Tuo looked at the opposite hillside, momentarily somewhat unable to make a decision.

Should he launch a full-scale attack now?

It’s too rushed!

The orders had already been sent down, suddenly changing the orders might lead to a chaotic situation.

Waiting one more night should be okay, right?

Wu Tuo fell into hesitation.

And what he didn’t know was that at this moment, on the hillside opposite, Yang Zhenshan was observing him with a telescope.

The distance between the two sides was not far, just over three miles.

With the naked eye alone, it was definitely not clear, but with the use of the telescope, Yang Zhenshan could see Wu Tuo’s figure clearly.

Actually, at this time, Yang Zhenshan was also gambling, betting on Wu Tuo’s caution.

From Wu Tuo’s previous actions and behaviors, he felt that Wu Tuo was a very cautious person.

As soon as the imperial guard left the capital, Wu Tuo decided to retreat.

When the imperial guard entered Jizhou, Wu Tuo retreated to Huade Prefecture.

And after he occupied Guanshan Pass, Wu Tuo first let Cui Liang come to test, then launched multiple probing attacks on Guanshan Pass.

All these showed that Wu Tuo was a cautious person.

For a commander, being cautious is not wrong.

But if one always maintains a cautious attitude, it can become a fatal weakness.

Yang Zhenshan was unsure if Wu Tuo would always maintain a cautious attitude, so he gambled, betting that today Wu Tuo would not launch an all-out attack on Guanshan Pass.

The result was that he bet correctly. Until the sun set in the west, Wu Tuo did not order an attack; instead, he had his troops tighten their defense, preparing against a surprise attack.

The night grew darker, and the New Moon began to rise, a slender crescent hanging in the star-filled night sky.

The faint moonlight could not dispel the darkness of the land, making the entire valley seem to have sunk into an endless abyss of pitch black.

In the silent and dark night, a large number of infantry and civilian laborers quietly spread across the entire back of the hillside.

Then one by one, the straw cages soaked in fire oil were thrown down the southern slope of the hill.

The cages rolled down the hillside and didn’t go very far before being caught by rocks or plants, although some luckier ones rolled down to the bottom of the slope.

At the same time, the clearing at the mouth of the valley was also covered with straw cages.

Yang Zhenshan rode on Red Cloud, standing quietly outside the entrance of the valley, looking at the dark valley.

Niu Zhuang and Tang Feihu looked at the straw cages, then looked up at the still flags above, looking at each other with confusion.

”General, are we waiting for the northwest wind?” Niu Zhuang couldn’t help but ask.

Although Yang Zhenshan had not explained the next plan to them until now, seeing the scene in front of them, they had guessed what Yang Zhenshan wanted to do.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his long beard and smiled, ”Correct!”

”Is there really going to be a northwest wind tonight?” Niu Zhuang felt somewhat dubious.

Everyone knew that northwest winds would come to Chongshan Town after entering autumn and winter, but when exactly these winds would arrive and how strong they’d be, who could say for sure?

Yang Zhenshan smiled without a word. What others couldn’t predict, he was certain of.

He was uncertain whether it was due to the expansion of the Spiritual Spring or his advancing cultivation, but his perception of the seasonal timing became increasingly clear and precise.

A month ago, he knew that the northwest wind from the snowy plains would arrive these days; ten days ago, he could feel that today there would be a northwest wind; three days ago, he was certain of its arrival right down to 1 a.m., and now he knew that in another quarter hour the wind would begin.

”General, what if the wind doesn’t come?” Tang Feihu couldn’t help but ask.

Looking at the dimly lit camp in the valley, Yang Zhenshan indifferently replied, ”If the wind doesn’t come, we’ll retreat!”

”This...” Tang Feihu was somewhat skeptical.

Retreating wasn’t difficult, but the problem was how to explain it to the court afterwards?

If they failed to make any achievements in this battle and let the Wuliang army leave without hindrance, the court would undoubtedly be dissatisfied with them, and some might even jump out to impeach them for being cowardly in the face of the enemy.

”Just rest assured, this general has his own plans,” said Yang Zhenshan, offering a vague reassurance.

...

North of Xiling City.

Tens of thousands of imperial guards had already prepared to leave the camp for battle, ready to charge into the valley and launch a night attack on the Wuliang army at a moment’s notice from Liang Chu.

In front of the massive camp, Liang Chu was also waiting.

What they were waiting for was the time, 1 a.m.

Zhou Lan, Xue Ou, Lv Shizhi, and others did not have much doubt; they assumed Yang Zhenshan wanted to coordinate a joint night raid.

Although they did not know Yang Zhenshan’s plan, they understood that coordinating action was not unwarranted.

However, while they did not have many questions, most still felt some dissatisfaction with Yang Zhenshan.

They were imperial guards, noblemen of Da Rong.

To have them coordinate with Yang Zhenshan felt somewhat disrespectful towards them as Marquis.

In their view, even if it was coordination, it should have been Yang Zhenshan conforming to them.

Were it not for Liang Chu’s power and pressure, they would not have bothered with Yang Zhenshan’s request at all.

”Commander, why hasn’t General Yang acted yet? Could it be they’re waiting for me to take the lead?” Cao Can still couldn’t help but speak up.

Initiating a coordinated night attack presented a significant issue; who acts first?

Those who attack first would certainly face a stronger resistance, and if Yang Zhenshan let them attack first, it somewhat suggested that they were being used as cannon fodder.

Liang Chu turned and glanced at Cao Can, ”What? Is Marquis Wuxin afraid?”

”Not at all, how could this Marquis be afraid?” Cao Can rebutted anxiously.

”If you’re not scared, why ask so many questions?” Liang Chu withdrew his gaze, continuing to look toward the valley.

”This Marquis only fears that General Yang might harbor undue schemes!” Cao Can said gravely.

Hearing this, everyone cast an odd look at Cao Can.

Zhou Lan furrowed her brows even more, speaking coldly, ”Marquis Wuxin, do not project the scheming of the petty onto the hearts of the noble. We and the Commander understand General Yang far better than you do!”

At those words, a flash of annoyance crossed Cao Can’s eyes. By accusing him of projecting the bleakness in his heart onto others, they were effectively calling him petty.

However, he did not argue with Zhou Lan, primarily because he somewhat feared her.

Although Zhou Lan was a woman without a title, she was the young lady of Duke Ning Mansion, and her position there was not insignificant.

Following the death of Huaijiang Marquis Sui Yian, Duke Ning Mansion had ceased its plans to marry her off.

As long as Zhou Lan remained unmarried, she was an important figure in Duke Ning Mansion.

In fact, Duke Ning Mansion had now designated Zhou Lan as their new spokesperson; she could represent the stance of Duke Ning Mansion.

Unlike Changping Marquis Mansion, which seemed to stand somewhat apart from the circle of nobles, having little interaction with most of them, Cao Can and the others did not particularly fear Liang Chu.

Yet, Duke Ning Mansion was a leading figure among nobles, where Zhou Mao’s prestige was quite high.

Therefore, Cao Can was very wary of Duke Ning Mansion behind Zhou Lan.

Faced with Zhou Lan’s reprimand, even unsatisfied, he dared not express it.

”Heh, this Marquis also trusts General Yang’s character,” suddenly chuckled Lu Baishu.

”Oh? Is Marquis Nanyang familiar with General Yang?” Lv Shizhi asked curiously.

”Not familiar, merely an acquaintance,” Lu Baishu explained: ”We met once during the investigation of corruption in Liaodong Salt Transportation Department.”

”I see, then what does Marquis Nanyang think of General Yang?” Marquis Xuanping interjected.

And so, the atmosphere, which had been somewhat tense, relaxed a bit as several people started discussing Yang Zhenshan.