Chapter 005: A Point That Remains Unresolved

Wang Hu and Ding Qiu were slightly taken aback, glancing at Xie Xing, yet they could not understand why he said that

Xie Xing drew the shape on the ground again and said: "You have seen the encampment of the Liujin Kingdom, right? Did you hear what the general said behind the oxen team? Our army will launch an attack here in the next few days, forcing the Liujin Kingdom's troops into the basin. We will then breach the dam to drown the Liujin Kingdom's forces. Our army is likely to choose to launch a surprise attack at night, as this would result in greater losses for the enemy in the water"

Xie Xing, however, said: "Since this is a plan, this aspect must have been taken into account. Although I do not yet know what methods others are using, it is certain that they have thought of it; this goes without saying."

Xie Wuleng let out a cold laugh, "If that is truly the case, I wouldn't drag you all into taking on this task. Wang Hu, take a look at where the Liujin Kingdom's garrison is located; it is a narrow valley entrance. Is the opposing general out of his mind? How could a general's army be stationed in such a place?"

You see, the location where our troops are stationed should be on high ground. If the waters of the Tongliu River had not been intercepted, perhaps there would be no issues. However, both sides are certainly intent on intercepting the waters of the Tongliu River, which will inevitably raise the water level. Once the dam breaks, our troops will have only one escape route, which is the rock-strewn beach. Look here..." As he spoke, Xie Xing drew another location on the ground..." As he spoke, Xie Xing drew another location on the ground.

Wang Hu suddenly realized, "Indeed, how did I not think of this? With this, our army is bound to win. Our general is truly wise, indeed wise."

Wang Hu opened his mouth wide and said, "Are you saying that the other party wants to seek death themselves?"

It is currently barren, but once a fire is set, it will no longer be barren. I can now be certain that the enemy's camp is densely packed in this narrow area, and there are not many people inside the camp. These camps are constructed from highly flammable materials, and even a single spark could ignite a widespread fire. How do you propose to set the fire?" Xie Xing pointed to the drawn location of the Liujin Kingdom's garrison on the ground.

Wang Hu, however, said: "Even if they can fly away in the water, we won't suffer any losses. A surprise attack on them would involve at most three to five thousand people, or even fewer. So, you are overthinking it."

Wang Hu and Ding Qiu said with a stern expression: "Isn't it like this?"

Wang Hu furrowed his brow and said, "I think perhaps the other party really did not anticipate this. This matter and the books are not something you mentioned; I also did not think of it."

Although Wang Hu and Ding Qiu are not particularly astute individuals, they are still aware of the obvious peril they are heading towards. Therefore, when Xie Xing pulled the two of them out, neither of them was in high spirits.

Xie Xing glanced at Wang Hu and Ding Qiu's expressions and immediately understood what they were thinking. He pulled the two of them aside and found a secluded spot to explain the situation, as it would be inappropriate to leave in a hurry later in the evening.

Xie Xing shook his head, "You are too naive. Is it possible that the Tongliu River has only one breach? Just because we can make it breach, does that mean the other side cannot breach as well?"

Ding Qiu, however, said: "So, does this mean that our strategy has already been discovered by the other party?"

This is nothing; the army of the Liujin Kingdom cannot defeat us, and in the end, they retreated here, leaving them with no options. Wang Hu clearly disagreed with Xie Xing's opinion

I have been there; it is all barren plains. How can one set fire to it?" Ding Qiu interjected.

If we don't escape, we can just hide in the barracks; after all, the terrain here is high, and the water won't reach us. Ding Qiu's words sound a bit childish

Wang Hu and Ding Qiu stared blankly at Xie Xing, and suddenly Ding Qiu said: "Xing Ge, I feel like you have changed a lot these past few days"

Xie Xing nodded again at m.hetushu.com. "This kind of idiotic strategy can still be considered a strategy. The most critical issue now is how the other party will prevent flooding; at least I haven't figured it out yet. However, I believe they must be preparing something, otherwise they wouldn't wait for us to launch a surprise attack before counterattacking; they could have released the water already."

It is fortunate that it is just like this; we have only lost a portion of our personnel. A surprise attack on this camp should require only two to three thousand troops. Wang Hu sighed, feeling somewhat concerned about the fate of his own army.

Xie Wu coldly smiled, "Looking for death? Of course, they will not seek death; instead, they will wait until our army enters their camp and then immediately flee into the basin"

Indeed, let us record the escape route; I remember it all clearly said Ding Qiu

"Xing Ge, are you saying that the other party retreated intentionally?" Ding Qiu, however, noticed it.

If we let the water flow like this, aren't they just asking for trouble? Ding Qiu also couldn't understand.

"How do you say, Brother Xing?" Ding Qiu seemed to find it quite mysterious, completely forgetting his surroundings.

Xie Xing gave a cold smile: "No loss? As they escape, they will choose to set fire. Look at their encampment; do you think the attacking army can escape if a fire is set here?"

He nodded at the illustrated book and said, "It should be like this."

Wang Hu only realized upon hearing Xie Xing's words that it seemed the other party really had not lost many people; each time they were defeated, they merely retreated a little. After all, this territory originally belonged to the central zone.

Xie Xing did not refute but instead asked: "Do you think our soldiers are stronger than the enemy, or have you seen how many of them have been lost?"

Xie Xing nodded and said, "It should be like this. I believe the other party wants our army to launch a surprise attack on them, and then drive them into the basin."

"Does Brother Wang Hu think that taking on this task is tantamount to certain death?" Xie Xing said to Wang Hu after noticing that there was no one else around.

"Xie Xing, do you mean that the other party will deploy heavy troops here?" Wang Hu is not a fool; he certainly understands what Xie Xing is saying so clearly

However, even if the enemy breaches the other side of the Tongliu River, it will not drown our army, as the terrain where we are stationed is elevated. Wang Hu, however, does not believe that our side would be drowned either; in his view, at most, we would lose a few thousand men in a surprise attack against the enemy.

Xie Xing shook his head and said: "Although retreating into the basin has resulted in being flooded, it is not a death wish. As for the reason, I have not figured it out yet. With one hundred thousand troops trapped in the basin, do they expect to fly? However, I am certain that the enemy is prepared, so staying here would only lead to our demise."

Wang Hu and Ding Qiu stared with their mouths agape, and after a long while, one of them said: "How ruthless! If they could escape, they would set the fire and wait for our people to release the water, then counterattack, leaving our people to suffer in the midst of fire and water"

Xie Xingqi said with frustration: "Is this really so hard to figure out? Anyone with a little bit of common sense could come up with it. I just can't understand how they plan to withstand the flood in the basin; this is a flaw." After saying this, he lowered his head in deep thought

Xie Xing smiled slightly, "If taking on this task is a matter of nine deaths and one life, then staying here is a matter of ten deaths and no life"

Xie Xing waved his hand and said, "It is precisely because our army believes that the place they are in is high enough to avoid drowning that they are destined to perish."

However, what Xie Xing did not notice was that at the moment he spoke these words, a lieutenant happened to walk nearby. Upon hearing Xie Xing's words, his first reaction was to capture and kill this troublemaker who was disturbing the morale of the troops. But he immediately realized that this was a deserted place, so he stopped in his tracks, wanting to know what this soldier was really trying to say.

Seeing the two people looking at him, Xie Xing spoke again: "You have all seen the sand table that Team Niu is showing us today, right?"