stonecrandall Chapter 1048 Gao Yao's Several Requirements!
Chapter 1048 Gao Yao's Several Requirements!
The study was deathly silent. The only sound was the faint rustling of wisps of smoke rising from the bronze crane-shaped incense burner.
Fine beads of cold sweat had already formed on Xiao He's forehead. All his previous energy had been focused on stabilizing the court and finding the king. While he had paid attention to the borders, especially the seemingly peaceful north and the standoff with the Chu army, he had never imagined the situation had deteriorated to such a perilous degree! Gao Yao's revelation instantly connected all the clues—the princes' struggle for the throne had destabilized the central government, the Qiang tribe's unrest was a diversionary tactic, and the Chu army's menacing presence was a potential fatal blow! This was a massive, interconnected conspiracy!
"Your Majesty's judgment is impeccable! I...I almost ruined a great undertaking!" Xiao He's voice trembled with lingering fear. "If that had been the case, our dynasty would have been in grave danger!"
"Now you know fear?" Gao Yao's tone was chilling. "If I hadn't managed to escape and received the secret report in time, by the time you realized something was wrong, the Qiang cavalry and Xiang Ji's Chu army would already be at the city gates!"
"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to take immediate action!" Xiao He quickly forced himself to calm down, his mind racing. His decisiveness as the Empire's chief minister was on full display. "The western border defenses must be strengthened immediately. The counties of Longxi must enter a state of war, stockpile grain and fortify city defenses. At the same time, a capable general must be dispatched to oversee and command the western front!"
"What about the candidate?" Gao Yao asked.
“Sending General Erniu is sufficient!” Xiao He said without hesitation. “General Erniu is now a seasoned veteran, renowned throughout the western frontier. He is extremely familiar with the Qiang people’s tactics and is utterly loyal to His Majesty. He is the best candidate!”
Gao Yao nodded: "I have the same thought. Two oxen are usable. However, relying solely on two oxen is probably not enough. The Chu army is the real threat."
"The north..." Xiao He pondered, "Currently, the Chu army is severely lacking in troops and supplies, so they may not be willing to launch a full-scale attack. As long as our army defends the city to the death, we can easily win. Therefore, in my opinion, the Chu army's alliance with the Qiang is a pretense; their true intention is to exploit the Qiang."
“Therefore, I cannot openly reveal myself now,” Gao Yao said in a deep voice, a calculating glint in his eyes. “Since the news of my disappearance has already been used by the Chu army and the Qiang tribe, we might as well turn the tables on them!”
"Does Your Majesty mean...?"
"I will continue to disappear." Gao Yao's lips curled into a cold smile. "Let those clowns keep jumping around! Let the Chu army and the Qiang tribes come with confidence! I want to see how many people in the court still support me, and how many have already harbored rebellious intentions! At the same time, I will be in the shadows, orchestrating the whole situation, and catching them off guard!"
He walked back to his seat, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao He: "Xiao He, do you know why I summoned you first in secret?"
Xiao He solemnly replied, "His Majesty trusts his trusted ministers and entrusts them with his innermost thoughts."
“Indeed!” Gao Yao said emphatically, “Because I know that no matter how difficult the situation, you, Xiao He, will always be loyal to me. Now, I need you to cooperate with me and play this role well!”
"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty! I would gladly die for you!"
“First,” Gao Yao held up a finger, “after you return, everything will proceed as usual. Maintain a balance regarding the children’s infighting; neither suppress them excessively nor explicitly support either side. Make them feel that you, the Grand Secretary, are still observing and powerless. The operation of the court will continue as before, but matters of national importance, especially military reports from the western border, must be secretly reported to me through Gao Qun immediately!”
"I understand!"
"Second," Gao Yao held up his second finger, "secretly prepare provisions and weapons, and transport them to strategic locations in the west and north. You have trusted people in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. Use all reliable resources to complete the strategic reserves without making a sound. The action must be swift, but discreet; you must not alert the enemy!"
"Here!"
Gao Yao pointed his finger firmly at the two points representing the Qiang people's territory and the Chu army's sphere of influence. His voice was steady and cold, carrying an undeniable, iron-fisted tone.
"Third, I want the Qiang tribe to attack, and at the same time, to lure the Chu army into launching an attack. This is the best outcome! Ideally, we should find this opportunity to completely annihilate the Chu army in one fell swoop!"
These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm pond. This was Gao Yao's true, long-hidden purpose! If it were merely to defend against the seemingly fierce but actually poorly equipped Qiang tribes' border raids, there would be no need for him, the King of the Southern Border, to go to such lengths, mobilize troops, and devise such a far-reaching plan.
Conquering the Chu army is not impossible. The Chu army is like a thorn in their side, and it needs to be removed sooner or later. However, the problem lies in the fact that for the current Southern Border army, launching a proactive expedition would inevitably result in enormous losses. Most of the soldiers are newly recruited, and their training and cohesion still require time; they lack the tempering of blood and fire. Rashly throwing themselves into a decisive battle, even if victorious, would certainly be a Pyrrhic victory, severely depleting the Southern Border's hard-won strength.
Moreover, the current court is still in a critical period of digesting the newly occupied territories and consolidating its internal rule. Everything needs to be rebuilt, government orders need to be implemented smoothly, the people's hearts need to be appeased, and a new order needs to be established.
At this juncture, initiating a substantial foreign war against an opponent primarily composed of highly mobile cavalry would be an extremely risky and disadvantageous undertaking, from a military, political, and economic perspective. Such radical ideas should naturally be temporarily abandoned, and patience and waiting for the right opportunity should be adopted.
However, if the Chu army launches an attack on its own initiative, that would be a completely different story!
Gao Yao's concern was never about a direct confrontation. His worry was that the Chu army would exploit the city's strategic advantages, holding its ground and indefinitely prolonging the war. The Southern Border Army excelled in positional and weaponry warfare, but a prolonged siege would place immense logistical strain on them and give other forces an opportunity to exploit. The Chu cavalry's mobility would also allow them to harass supply lines during sieges, keeping the Southern Border Army constantly on the move and potentially resulting in a net loss for them.
Conversely, if the Chu army were to leave their fortresses and enter the battlefield pre-planned by Gao Yao, the situation would instantly reverse. The Southern Army could then wait in ambush, fully utilizing its advantages in equipment, formation, and discipline. In open battle, even if the Chu cavalry were valiant, they would have no chance against the well-organized Southern Army, equipped with numerous weapons effective against cavalry. Gao Yao was confident that in a direct confrontation, the current Chu army would be no match for the Southern Army!