Chapter 60: Enhancing Military Tactics
After the twelfth month in the Southern Border, all tribes in Southern Ling River knew that Wu Xiao Que was like a migratory bird, coming and going on schedule.
And this time, Wu Xiao Que extended his time showing off his power north of Ling River by ten days. As a result, some inner sect disciples of Li Huo Sect in the Southern Region were cursing: Are the Yao People not going home for the New Year? In fact, the retreat had already started early. Most camps in the rear began withdrawing in the eleventh month, and over ten thousand laborers had quietly returned home.
When the Li Huo Sect ancestor was distracted by the cross-river special forces team, thinking that Wu Fei was playing this move against him. In reality, Zhao Xian Zhong was the one finally responsible for receiving the special forces returning across the river surface.
Wu Fei, on his side, was worrying about filling the experience gap in his growth from “general” to “marshal.”
……
In the Black Tide War the year before last, Wu Fei knew that he had only achieved independence on the defensive level.
Organizing thousands of people to defend a fortified village was overall static. Even mobilizing a small elite troop out of the village to harass was only at the level of a few hundred people. The supplies carried by these few hundred on their strikes were very limited. No need for complex considerations. Wu Fei at the time was like operating a palm: left palm swings out, right palm gathers strength; right palm swings out, left palm retracts.
But in an offensive state, it was much more complex. Tens of thousands striking out simultaneously, every thousand as one large team. Each large team had to be considered as going on a far trip for a month long. Each large team had to consider camping, and regularly scout and report between each other to understand their team’s situation within the whole force. At the same time, based on the whole force’s deployment, carry out the next march, neither too prominent nor too lagging.
Just the considerations needed for a single queue’s long-distance combat preparation were complex enough.
In the military treatises Wu Fei read, the content stated that various camp teams should advance alternately: when marching leisurely, slowly unfold like a forest; when sieging cities and seizing land, fierce like flames; when stationed for defense, immovable like a great mountain; when concealing military situation, like dark clouds covering the sun; when the great army mobilizes, like thunderous might.
It sounded very impressive, but when it came to specific operations, Wu Fei got headaches.
Because the above required maintaining a good and effective command transmission system between the large camps (thousand-man level) of each army.
When Wu Fei got hands-on with practical operation, he found that during action, command transmission between various large camps was very chaotic. Subordinate troops when executing orders often didn’t just listen to their own, but also mutually transmitted chaotically to each other.
For example, when Camp A (thousand-man level) had conflicting information between intelligence from neighboring friendly army Camp B and another friendly army Camp C, then Camp A would likely act on its own initiative. Where is the limit for this self-initiated action? Are there standard constraints?
Note: The 74th Division at Menglianggu acted on its own like this, resulting in the main force having too large gaps, getting caught and completely annihilated.
During this Southern Expedition, Wu Fei discovered this problem and set up a dedicated “communications camp.”
And established rules: for this campaign, all large teams must maintain radio silence. Only messenger cavalry and between camp teams could loudly transmit and respond orders. The communications camp internally had a strict cipher book comparison table. To prevent enemies from faking orders and infiltrating.
Note: From Shu Han to the Three Kingdoms, many battle examples were like this. In key campaigns of hundreds of thousands confronting, one troop penetrated deep into enemy-controlled areas, using flags and tokens to directly trick open the gates, ultimately capturing key strategic nodes, causing miraculous great victories.
Actually, even into the twentieth century, there were similar battle examples, but only appearing in platoon-level infiltration activities around that scale: capturing enemy platoon-level communications soldiers to pry open the cipher book, then infiltrating before the enemy realized the leak.
As for forging identities to infiltrate and penetrate with thousands or more like in ancient times, it was already very rare.
As for these low-civilization local barbarians in the Southern Border wanting to break through Wu Fei’s currently explored communications soldier battle tactics to pull off infiltration, it was impossible. Hmm, even on the Da Yao side, it was difficult.
…From learning to surpassing dividing line…
In this large-scale corps command, Wu Fei found the core principle of leading troops to break through ten thousand plus in “tactics and techniques.”
The “communications camp” system Wu Fei was now pondering had vigorous development prospects. With era progress, messenger cavalry evolved into telegraph soldiers, and telegraph soldiers in the information age became comprehensive information command centers.
Worth mentioning is that the military strategist tactics and techniques Wu Fei was now pondering were already beyond Wu Hanluan’s ability range.
Wu Hanluan these past few years, when going north to camp, was still in that “large camp” form: bringing the army and cannon fodder to settle locally, then fighting. This is called forming camp for stationary battles.
Wu Fei’s current new round of offense in the Southern Border belonged to connected camps. When stationed, slowly like a forest; any external force trying to touch would cause the overall dozen large camps to collectively act like a forest swaying uniformly in the wind.
And when attacking, large camps would alternately advance between each other. Once encountering enemy main force, all camps take turns charging, tuning up all camp teams in the shortest time to hit one route, while enemy troops even if more numerous couldn’t timely mobilize all their troops; the front teams getting rotated too much would collapse, this is called “fierce assault like fire.”
The military strategist application Wu Fei was now studying was already more advanced than Wu Hanluan’s.
Because Wu Fei rummaged through family-related military classics and found only a scant hundred or so characters usable, and without even a single annotation!
This showed that when family ancestors reached this point, they already couldn’t understand, treating the later content of this military treatise as “bragging” conclusion. However now, Wu Fei was dissecting word by word, speculating what similar situations the predecessors recorded encountering.
At the same time, Wu Fei also knew why Wu Hanluan and his family ancestors didn’t read to this point.
Sunzi’s Art of War said that fighting wars is an extremely consumptive activity, and great wars even more so. This led to very few military strategists able to practice to this step. Since ancient times, how many could truly command battles of over a hundred thousand?
In history, how many generals’ first time taking on a great war were forced into it.
Take Qin as example: Hu Yang in the Battle of Anyi, Li Xin who boasted of annihilating Chu, both because lacking experience handling corps of this scale, couldn’t consider everything comprehensively, directly caught by opponents exploiting weaknesses and collapsing in one move! Qin had deep national reserves, and Hangu Pass as strategic backing, could afford failures, so ultimately nurtured the strongest military strategist. Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Qi defeated once, got pushed to their heartlands, vital energy greatly injured and directly gone.
It could be said that now Da Yao north side was fighting heaven-shaking earth-shattering in the monster room. Wu Fei belonged to crazily farming experience in the newbie village.
Although the Southern Border newbie zone had tribal leaders’ tactics and techniques near zero. To the point that here, Wu Hanluan’s level could handle it, but Wu Xiao Que was the ambitious striving type, taking a chicken-testing knife to try killing an ox, solidly commanding military operations of over twenty thousand, and equipped to operate as large as possible.
That is, in these half years, military protection sheltered over three hundred merchant caravans in various directions of Southern Border for “trade,” army built fifty-four stations in the control area. Across the river at ferry points and against shore tribal alliances, over a hundred large and small confrontational attacks.
Whether in numbers or campaign span duration, this was a fifty-thousand-man level decisive battle. It could be said within two hundred years of Da Yao advancing, those who could hands-on campaigns of this level numbered no more than two hands!
Actually, what virtue or ability does one Southern Border have to let Wu Fei do this! Because Wu Fei (Xuan Chong) when setting imaginary enemies, always aimed at the first-rate direction he could see.
…South of Ling River the fish are anxiously waiting, the fishhook has already dropped…
Shu Tian Calendar year 30 early, after completing military supplies packing, Wu Fei found Zhao Tu.
Wu Fei: “Heard the Southern Region are all waiting for me to leave.”
Zhao Tu: “Yes, sir, your prestige has always been in their ears. Of course, they are getting less familiar with your blade.”
Wu Fei nodded: “Good, I think it’s time to set up a trap for them.”
Zhao Tu and his subordinate generals all raised their heads.
Wu Fei walked slowly to the map and said: “In their eyes, we should have left long ago. And according to intelligence, Li Huo Sect side is getting angrier, deploying many people by the river water. If we show a bit of ‘collapse sign’…”
Zhao Tu and other generals: “Everything as General commands.”
Wu Fei nodded. Retreat is a profound study. During Chu-Han Contention at Honggou armistice, invincible Xiang Yu fell at this retreat node, completely declining after Battle of Guling. — If Xiang Yu could defend against that sneak attack, at his vigorous thirty years old, he absolutely could outlast Liu Bang.
Wu Fei eyed the Southern Region Li Huo Sect, silently thinking: “I’m not Xiang Yu, and you’re not Liu Bang with the Three Heroes of Early Han.”
…Forever need to cherish experience pack…
That evening, Wu Fei had Zhao Tu dispatch a mixed barbarian team and armored soldiers to the south shore, and used “ghost path” magic to make these troops invisible, but didn’t order them to destroy anything. Instead, after crossing the river, wait for orders.
After they crossed and lurked for ten hours, Zhao Tu on griffin, dragon horse cavalry, crow people and other air troops repeatedly pulled maneuvers over the river surface airspace, confirmed the enemy barbarian teams’ positions on the opposite south shore, then suddenly ordered this infiltration troop lurking on the south shore edge to reveal themselves. However, the order given wasn’t to destroy, but to retreat back to the river edge.
This infiltration troop after reaching the south carefully lurked one night, suffered quite a few mosquito bites, finally waited for sky fireworks flames; the signal fireworks color however told them to immediately retreat.
The infiltration troop felt baffled, muttering inwardly: “Turns out lurking here one night wasn’t for some big deed, just to feed mosquitoes?”
At the same time, Zhao Tu’s griffin quickly fleeing also made the over two hundred executing the infiltration task feel like maybe something big happened at the main camp.
During Yao Army retreat process, they also discovered many other tribes in the surrounding jungle; this sudden encounter startled both sides. Yao Army didn’t want to entangle, chose quick withdrawal.
And Southern Border tribes suddenly saw such a troop appear. After a heart-pounding moment, discovered this troop seemed to be fleeing in panic, instinctively began gathering.
South shore tribes after reacting from retreat, this infiltration troop was fleeing.
The Da Yao officer of the infiltration troop across the rolling river surface didn’t see any receiving troops, only bamboo rafts hung on stones, and killing shouts coming from the rear jungle.
In the sky, crow people and Zhao Tu riding griffin had long fled. While one team of crow people landed in front of this infiltration troop, ordering them to discard all equipment and armor, directly swim across Ling River. What made them even more speechless was, the north shore Wu Family Army main camp had already started smoking and firing, signs of the camp being burned.
The Da Yao soldier captain in charge of leading felt the sky collapsing: fighting so well, how did their own general suddenly rout? Holding survival obsession, he began swimming across Ling River.
Thus, when Southern Border various tribes arrived at the shore, they immediately saw the infiltration troop’s wretched river crossing scene, and the burning smoke from all north shore camps being abandoned.
A Southern Border tribal leader, a big horned person, saw this scene, thought with his brain, felt it was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, then also began preparing to cross the river and pursue.
As this horned people tribe successfully crossed without any resistance, other tribes also successively crossed. Since these Southern Border tribes also successively saw Wu Family Army large camps on fire and smoking, they all became very excited.
Shu Tian Calendar 30 year January 2nd. This was Wu Fei’s practice “retreat ambush” battle.
Wu Fei after arranging most of his main force’s food and grass military supplies to rear safe places, waited for the south shore tribal alliance’s pursuit. On the shore river beach, densely packed Southern Region tribes just landed, not yet completed effective formation; noisy whistles between different tribes were like twenty-first century elementary students on a field trip.
Originally, Wu Fei really wanted to leave, could leave like a gust of wind, wouldn’t give opponent pursuit chance at all. But Wu Fei wanted to gain this wave of “tactical practical” experience. Emulating Marquis of Zhuge pitting Zhang He, to give these southern barbarians a hand.
Thus, when Southern Border troops all landed, and chaotically gathered into one big mass, charging toward the Wu Family abandoned large camp, but on their road to the large camp, twenty-four wooden ox and flowing horse war chariots raising sails suddenly emerged from the roadside.
These war chariots on the main road arrayed by flags, quickly deployed into three rows, every chariot spaced thirty meters, thus front width fully two hundred paces. The tribal rabble suddenly felt the wind and clouds change; a strong north wind blew, immediately all wooden ox and flowing horse sails bulged like water pouches filled.
Then these war chariots charged into the battle formation, like a rake, each row of war chariots a rake tooth, leaving deep blood marks on the enemy formation.
The tribal alliance originally somewhat “each to their teams” various tribes were violently stirred and mixed together; these varying heights, inconsistent dialects, besides before this battle never left their tribal force range Southern Border youths, when fleeing, ran without a common direction.
How to put it, originally each tribe was “uniquely colored” modeling clay, now stirred into one mass.
After war chariot assault finished, subsequent four hundred knife and axe soldiers charged up. Since this wasn’t large field battle, crossbowmen with enemy already chaotic, cost-effectiveness not high, hence this assault, knife and axe hand carried remote weapons were three javelins.
This javelin three feet long, slightly larger than bow and arrow, using long pole swing throw, within thirty paces kinetic energy could pierce cowhide armor. Hmm, actually these south barbarians crossing river currently didn’t wear much armor, because bamboo rafts waver, wearing too solid would fall into water; those big physique tribal strongmen after jumping on bamboo rafts were like Li Kui boarding Langli Baitiao’s boat.
After war chariots flung one round of javelins, the chariot formation rolled forward, like a rake sweeping the Southern Border tribes’ “pursuit” cluster.
Under war chariot tracks flesh and bone to mud, and war chariot both sides also trampled everywhere, cries of woe everywhere, while those few “huddled small teams” left in “rake” gaps became best targets for javelin throwers.
Knife and axe hands after completing javelin throw, then holding axes began swinging chops. Almost instantly, blood qi thick to choking levels.
Southern Border tribes lacked defense tools, completely countered by axe chops from war chariots; under war chariots not heavenly spirit cover shattered, or shoulders chopped off at root. While soldiers on war chariots except few armor plates scratched, just splattered full of blood from barbarians’ death looks below.
Yao People on war chariots high above, borrowing the extra ten percent impact force from war chariots, even a soldier using axe chop power could clash against those daily strength-training squad leaders’ mountain-splitting sabers.
As chariot formation impacted open the crowd, subsequent Da Yao infantry charged in, joining the trampling of Southern Border barbarians.
For infantry, great sabers more suited than axes for slashing formation and close combat elements, blade longer, swinging slash wound area more. Mountain-splitting saber almost enters flesh to bone then hooks meat back.
Great saber whistling with wind, fear brought no less than war chariot charge; leading Zhao Xian Zhong, left swing, right chop kill, enemy blood splattered full face, like blood-colored whirlwind scraping back and forth.
His body knotted muscles, after soaked full of blood, like red-hot iron blocks, emitting rolling heat; white heat with muscles explosive shock blood mist, like erupting volcano. — After chopping over a hundred, not seeing him exhausted but charging toward bigger stronger enemies.
This not, a Southern Border tiger beast caught his eye. This tiger beast nearly eight hundred jin, not counting tail, body length nearly one zhang, height six chi, war horse head only to its shoulder.
Tiger beast originally also wanted to run, preparing to jump into river southbound; Zhao Xian Zhong rushed up, grabbed tiger tail, dragged it to shore edge. This tiger ferociousness burst, began fierce yank, but head-on one axe blinded eyes, then another axe toward tiger claws; left right swings between, tiger roar turned wail, chopped blood flesh blur, back against ground, both claws skyward preparing desperate resistance.
Just then, Zhao Tu hit on forehead by a bamboo token, restrained killing intent; this bamboo token from Wu Fei this Military Master, bamboo material clear spirit bamboo made, a type of dao artifact, specially issued by Wu Fei at key times to flag team captains.
“Xian Zhong! Stop!” Wu Fei’s shout of full name let Zhao Tu regain clarity. (Most times Wu Fei calls Zhao Tu by name directly, but formal speech uses courtesy name. Like parents, usually call kid nickname, but full name means something’s up.)
Zhao Xian Zhong unwillingly glanced at tiger, then charged to kill elsewhere.
And this tiger before it could rejoice, caught by cavalry flung big net; after five horses dragging, tiger back against ground, feet to sky, thoroughly bound by net, unable to escape.
Facing surrounding pressing long halberd Yao soldiers, tiger struggled a few times like cat in sack, half-pushing half-accepting exposed belly to surrender, dragged onto wooden ox and flowing horse and taken away.
Wu Fei glanced at slit under this tiger, thinking inwardly: Uncle’s Winged Tiger should like this. Someday breed tiger cubs all good mounts.
Chopping and killing lasted full two hours.
South of Ling River, tribes seemed unwilling so many chopped to this state, felt Wu Family Army already routed, left only remnants; came back and forth probing four hundred more. While wind-boosting wooden ox and flowing horse charged back and forth six rounds; result river edge soaked red, fishy smell drew countless big fish pythons in waves rolling feeding.
Fully heavy armored Wu Family Army confirmed enemies not coming, returned to camp, after removing armor, nearly exhausted.
Of course, Zhao Xian Zhong this brute still full of spirit, waist hanging human heads, look of not killed enough.
