Chapter 743 - 27: The Bloody Battle at Juyong Pass, Countermeasures and Surprise Attack!

Wang Yingchen just calmly waved his hand.

Everyone silently lowered their heads and then slowly walked out.

The entire main tent instantly fell silent.

Wang Yingchen remained seated, staring intently at the maps in front of him and various transmitted messages.

His brow was furrowed, seemingly deep in thought.

After a moment, he summoned someone again.

"Send someone to strictly monitor Kaijing. Do not let anyone affect the matters of Kaijing!"

—He must keep an eye on the inner workings of the court.

The Gu Clan is skilled at psychological warfare.

This fact has been proven countless times over the millennia.

According to Wang Yingchen’s assessment, as long as he can withstand the Song Kingdom’s first wave of attacks, this crisis will essentially be resolved.

And this, he believed, was Liao’s biggest breakthrough point!

"Including—"

"The people of the court."

"No matter who it is, if there’s any disturbance, you should immediately put them to death, without reporting to me!"

The Imperial Censorate is extremely useful.

Being half a Legalist himself, how could Wang Yingchen not apply what he learned?

Except, the Imperial Censorate under him was not overt.

But rather hidden!.....

.....

Juyong Pass.

As the throat leading from the northwest of Youzhou to the borders, this place holds a very strategic position.

—Completely differs from Zhao Guangyi and others’ original historical route to attack the Sixteen States of Yan Yun.

In the original history.

Zhao Guangyi attempted several times to attack the Sixteen States of Yan Yun, almost always pushing forward from the Pingyuan in Hebei.

This was due to numerous considerations.

But the fundamental reason was that Juyong Pass was too difficult to cross, and at that time, the strength of the Great Song was far from sufficient to support a prolonged campaign.

But now it’s different.

In fact, if the Song Army can seize Juyong Pass, there are many benefits.

Firstly, it can completely cut off the direct connection between Youzhou and Liao’s Central Capital and Shangjing.

Making Youzhou an isolated stronghold, difficult to obtain reinforcements and supplies from the grasslands.

Additionally, it can prevent Liao’s elite cavalry from launching attacks from the flanks and rear, completing a strategic encirclement of Youzhou.

This is one of the reasons why Gu Jin chose to attack Juyong Pass!

At this moment, under Juyong Pass, clouds of war hover densely.

This is entirely a battle of wills.

When Liao’s army constantly retreated, Gu Jin had already discerned Wang Yingchen’s intention, and precisely for this reason, led his forces straight to Juyong Pass.

He couldn’t let Song Army’s morale be expended by Liao’s forces for nothing.

The sounds of shouts and killings are deafening.

Song Army’s attack surged like waves crashing against the rocks.

Improved giant siege engines roared deeply, hurling hundred-pound stone projectiles fiercely against the pass’s walls, each impact causing the earth to shake, stones to fly, leaving horrifying dents on the thick walls.

Furthermore, pots filled with fierce oil exploded into flames on the walls.

Cries of agony continuously sounded.

But to imagine breaking through Juyong Pass, this natural fortress, with just this, is clearly delusional.

Wang Yingchen surely wanted to deplete Song Army’s morale, but he absolutely wouldn’t concede control of such a critical stronghold like Juyong Pass!

On the wall of the pass, arrows poured down like a dense swarm of locusts.

Whoosh....whoosh....whoosh....

The sound of arrows piercing the air continually rang out.

Shields penetrated, armor torn apart, soldiers constantly fell, howling.

Such is the nature of war.

Especially in such a fierce offensive and defensive struggle as this.

But for Song and Liao, it is a burden they can’t avoid.

The Sixteen States of Yan Yun are not that easy to seize!

In the original history.

Throughout the entire Southern and Northern Song, the Sixteen States of Yan Yun always remained a coveted yet unattainable goal!

Not to mention Liao now has someone like Wang Yingchen.

Gu Jin is preparing, so is he.

For both sides—

This battle, only a bloody fight will do!

War continues.

Both sides around Juyong Pass threw almost all their elite forces into the fray.

This is destined to be a war of great stalemate.

But the good news is, Gu Jin has prepared thoroughly!

Only Gu Yi, constantly paying attention, can understand the extent of preparation Gu Jin made for such a battle.

Daily studied maps.

His understanding of the world’s geography is almost embedded in Gu Jin’s bones.

This is unimaginable to others!

Including Wang Yingchen, it is the same.

Wang Yingchen is indeed talented, but even so, he has deficiencies in ability and weaknesses in personality.

His personality’s flaw is overconfidence!

As for ability, it is in military tactics!

Song Army’s camp.

Main tent.

The atmosphere inside the tent was extremely heavy; nearly every general wore an expression of exhaustion.

—Assault!

For them, this was an exceedingly difficult war.

The burden they carried was nothing small.

If it weren’t for Gu Jin, Song Army’s morale would surely have been in chaos.

As their casualties were indeed tremendous!

Moreover, the results were minimal!

Yet for Gu Jin, the soldiers have complete trust, though this heaviness still could not disperse.

"Wang Yingchen is certainly a remarkable talent." Gu Jin sat in the commander’s position, scanning the tent’s generals with his gaze, "His mind is meticulous, skilled in administration, and understands how to rally people, lift their spirits. In peaceful times, he would be a capable minister."

"However, war is characterized by deception." Just as the expressions of the soldiers grew increasingly grim, Gu Jin suddenly shifted his tone, "He views using troops as a form of courtly maneuver, overly reliant on calculation and gauging hearts, losing the essential force on the battlefield."