Chapter 009: Long Editorial Warfare, Desiring to Ignite Fire Attacks

However, there is one point with which I cannot agree. Although our department will face over one hundred thousand Yellow Turban bandits in the coming period, it is not without means for us to resolve this issue.

After listening to the objective factors presented by Wei Xu and observing the war simulation before him, Zhang Liao squinted his eyes slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "Meng Tian is correct."

In light of the current situation in Changsha City, any act of mercy on our part will lead to a tactical failure in our efforts to rescue the predicament of Changsha City

The Han army currently defending Changshe City, in the face of such a brutal and tense battlefield situation, will inevitably see a continuous decline in the morale of its troops

At this point, Zhang Liao's gaze became sharp and intense

Otherwise, once this strategy of fire attack is employed, it is very likely that it will not achieve the intended effect of dealing with the Yellow Turban bandits; instead, it may adversely affect the Han army in Changshe City

Wei Xu meticulously enumerated the strengths and weaknesses of the Changsha City Han army, the Yellow Turban rebels, and his own faction. This was not indicative of any intention to shy away from battle; rather, it was a reflection of the truly dire situation they were currently facing in the conflict.

However, this does not mean that our department has no opportunities. Meng Tian, do not forget that we are already in the midst of summer, and the winds of this season are inherently changeable

Lu Bu pointed at the war table in front of him, his expression calm as he looked at Generals Zhang Liao and Wei Xu, and said: "Although this Bo Cai comes from a humble background, he is renowned for his boldness and meticulousness. His seemingly violent and aggressive demeanor is, in fact, a disguise to confuse outsiders."

As Meng Tian just mentioned, the Yellow Turban bandits currently besieging Changshe City have under their command the common people and refugees who have been coerced by the Yellow Turbans. In a state of desperation due to hunger, these individuals are capable of committing any act.

To become a great general who commands the three armies, decisiveness and resilience are essential qualities to possess

To say that one is not anxious in their heart would undoubtedly be a falsehood

Let us set aside the distant matters for the time being

If any unforeseen events were to occur during this process, it is feared that the heavens of the Han dynasty would truly be pierced by the overwhelming momentum of the Yellow Turban Rebellion

As the commander of this army, Lü Bu's directive is military orders; since it is a military order, both generals Zhang Liao and Wei Xu must obey and act accordingly

However, for highly qualified generals and talented commanders, even if there are no immediate opportunities for battle in Changshacheng, they will still spare no effort to create opportunities that can actively change the situation of the war

Facing the vast army of over 100,000 Yellow Turban rebels, commoners, and displaced people, which formed a formidable force surrounding Changsha City from all directions

For military generals of moderate qualifications, given the current state of warfare faced by Changshe City, this indeed presents a situation that is difficult to tackle

Since the rapid march from Xinzheng, it took just over two hours for Lü Bu's troops to arrive within the borders of Changshe

To be a good general during the late Han Dynasty is not merely about fighting on the battlefield; it requires the acquisition of extensive knowledge, including the observation of weather conditions

Since the strategy of using fire attacks, which cleverly takes advantage of the timing, is filled with uncontrollable factors, what if this fire attack strategy could be controlled by human intervention

Outstanding talent creates opportunities where none exist

However, regarding the current situation in Changshe City, although I and the *Tu* Book Department can indeed implement this strategy of fire attack, it cannot affect the entire Yellow Turban rebel army

Ordinary people tend to complain about external factors when faced with opportunities

Lü Bu still did not believe in his heart that the Yellow Turban army besieging Changsha City could not be completely defeated by his forces

At this point, Zhang Liao's youthful face was filled with determination, and he exuded a fierce aura of battle.

If it is said that during this campaign to pacify the Yellow Turbans in Yingchuan, the Han army sent to suppress the Yellow Turban bandits was completely annihilated at Changshe City, or was decisively defeated by the Yellow Turban bandits of Yingchuan, then the impact on the Han dynasty would be tremendous

In order to resolve the current situation, if we wish to decisively eliminate the Yellow Turban bandit leader Bo Cai and his forces besieging Changshe City, we can only employ this fire attack; only then can we achieve a single battle that determines the fate of the world

Although it is said that Zhang Liao is still young, his innate talent is something that cannot be concealed in any way

Just as the current wind direction in Changshe City predominantly blows towards the interior of the city, even if our forces have the opportunity to launch a fire attack, if this wind direction inadvertently aids the Yellow Turban bandits, then...

During the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, the most frequently employed tactic was the use of fire attacks

Wei Xu furrowed his brows and said: "General, at the current stage, the Yellow Turban bandits besieging Changshe City number nearly 150,000 in scale."

In this way, there is no need to fight this battle anymore

Merely employing a tactic of overwhelming numbers can render an already dire situation even more unfavorable

Furthermore, the defense of Changshe City by Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun is crucial to whether our Han dynasty can swiftly pacify Yingchuan. After all, if this vital region of Yingchuan falls into the hands of the Yellow Turban bandits, the next step will undoubtedly be to threaten our Han imperial capital, Luoyang.

In contrast, the soldiers under my command number no more than one thousand. If we wish to rely solely on our forces to resolve the predicament of Changsha, it is certainly not an easy task

It is precisely for this reason that the Right General Zhu Jun, while leading his troops to advance into Yingchuan, encountered a significant loss at the hands of the Yellow Turban bandit leader Bo Cai, resulting in the complete depletion of the initial advantages held by our Han army

After listening to what Zhang Liao had said, Lü Bu instinctively nodded and praised in his heart: "Truly worthy of being the great general Zhang Liao, who would later shake the world, and truly worthy of being one of the few talents of the Three Kingdoms period"

For a leader, the greatest taboo is to be constrained by the compassion in one's heart

I would like to remind you of one thing: the refugees and common people who are being coerced by the Yellow Turban rebels are currently being lured by food due to their hunger. If a person becomes desperate from hunger, they are capable of committing any act.

The ability to articulate such broad-minded statements without any guidance in itself represents a certain level of capability

However, through the conversation between Zhang Liao and Wei Xu, it also reflects the gap between outstanding talents and ordinary individuals from a different perspective

However, from the perspective of the current battlefield situation in Changshe City, traditional guerrilla warfare cannot single-handedly resolve the siege posed by the over one hundred thousand Yellow Turban bandits surrounding Changshe City

If a significant change in the battlefield that can quickly boost the morale of the Han army under the command of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun is not achieved, it is feared that they will not be able to hold out much longer in Changshe City

According to the intelligence gathered by the scouts, the Yellow Turban bandits besieging Changshe City this time are direct disciples of Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turbans, and are commanded by Bo Cai, the leader of the Yellow Turbans in Yingchuan

If one attempts to break through solely by brute force, it is absolutely impossible to win this battle

As for how this battle will commence, I already have a definite plan in mind, and the situations that Meng Tian just mentioned will certainly not occur. At this point, a confident smile appeared on Lü Bu's face

If such a situation truly arises, then all our previous plans will be completely thwarted. Since this countermeasure has already been discussed, our department must quickly ascertain the strength and camp deployment of the Yellow Turban bandits besieging Changshe City, and during this time, prepare enough tung oil needed for the fire attack

Listening to the exchange between Zhang Liao and Wei Xu, Lü Bu smiled and said: "What Wen Yuan has articulated resonates deeply with me. Given the current situation, our forces must take bold risks in this battle"

Despite the presence of eight strongholds on the outskirts of Luoyang, did the Han dynasty truly possess the capability to withstand the overwhelming assault of the Yellow Turban bandits at that time

Regarding the situation of the Battle of Changsha, Lü Bu was clearer than anyone else in his heart, but for the two generals Zhang Liao and Wei Xu, their understanding of it was rather limited

Otherwise, if the situation described by Wen Yuan truly occurs, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to my Han dynasty. Furthermore, the two divisions of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, who are besieged in Changshe City, must be rescued at all costs

Changshe North, Weishui

If the recent battle of Changsha allows the Yellow Turban leader Bo Cai and his army to seize the territory of Yingchuan, then the important region of Sili, with Luoyang as its center, will be completely exposed to the military might of the Yellow Turbans

Zhang Liao said with a slight smile: "Meng Tian's reminder is indeed very accurate. Although the current wind direction in Changshe City is quite unfavorable for our troops, it is also extremely disadvantageous for the Han army that is retreating to Changshe City."

However, in order to employ the strategy of fire attack, it is essential to take many factors into consideration in the process

If it is said that one's reckless behavior led to changes in the Battle of Changsha, then it is certainly an unforgivable matter

Therefore, in order to break the deadlock of Changshe City, our department must seek alternative paths. At this point, Lü Bu's eyes sparkled with brilliance

Wei Xu did not finish his words, for he was well aware that Zhang Liao could not have overlooked this point

Even if we exclude the fact that the elite Yellow Turban bandits were compelled to participate under the leadership of the Yellow Turban rebel leader, Bo, there were also the displaced people and common folk who were forced into this situation.

Never before had I experienced a battle of this scale. Although I have a system by my side, this battle of Changshe is by no means a simple engagement that can be easily resolved by merely triggering a few combat skills.

Therefore, regardless of the considerations from any aspect, the Han army retreating to Changshe City must not experience the slightest mishap, not even a trace of an accident

To resolve the predicament of Changshe City in one battle, it seems that only an arson attack can achieve this

Therefore, for our department, if we cannot take action promptly, the Han army besieged in Changshe City will inevitably suffer a significant decline in morale due to the fierce offensive of the Yellow Turban rebels

Therefore, there are bound to be variables in this trend of wind direction. If we can investigate the strength and camp deployment of the Yellow Turban rebels in advance and formulate a detailed combat plan, we will undoubtedly be able to take advantage of the situation and completely eliminate the forces led by the Yellow Turban leader, Bo Cai.

As I arrived at the end of the Han Dynasty, this was the first battle I commanded in the true sense. Although I was well aware of the various details of the Battle of Changsha, I did not dare to be the slightest bit careless in my heart