Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 872: Guess the real purpose of the Chu army!

Despite his suspicions, Gao Yao remained calm and composed, commanding his troops to deploy a tight defense. He knew Xiao He's importance; this strategic prime minister was the cornerstone of the Southern Frontier regime and could not afford to lose him. Without hesitation, he urged him again, "Prime Minister, this place is dangerous and we cannot stay here for long. Please return to the government office and take charge of the food and fodder and military supplies!"

Xiao He was a man of common sense. He knew that as a scholar, staying on the city wall would be useless and would only distract Gao Yao. He bowed solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, please be careful. I will immediately oversee the logistics." With that, he quickly left, escorted by his personal guards.

With the battle underway, the southern border defenders atop the wall dared not slack off. Gao Yao's personal guards continued to display the demeanor of a veteran force, commanding with composure and responding with skill. Surprisingly, the previously trembling county troops and newly recruited soldiers, now that the Chu army's offensive was far less ferocious than in the previous few days, actually found a rare respite.

The rain of arrows was no longer as dense as locusts, and the charge of the ladders no longer carried the same desperate intensity. In this relatively "gentle" battle, the trembling hands of the new recruits gradually steadied, their arrows shooting from aimless to accurate; their movements of moving logs and rocks went from panicked stumbling to coordinated, orderly movement. The baptism of blood and fire, while still brutal, was just intense enough to wear away their immaturity and foster courage and proficiency—this ragtag army was undergoing a transformation at a visible pace, and this was unexpectedly a gift brought about by the Chu army's bizarre feint.

The battle unfolded just as Gao Yao and Xiao He had predicted. The Chu army's attack was all talk and no action. After symbolically leaving behind two or three hundred bodies, they retreated like the tide, a process that lasted no more than an hour. In the afternoon, the Chu army drums sounded again, launching a second, almost identical offensive. After suffering over a hundred casualties, they withdrew without hesitation and returned to camp.

Gao Yao stood behind the battlements, sword drawn, his brow furrowed, a strange feeling growing stronger within him. It was undoubtedly a feint, but the enemy's repeated, futile tactics meant no ulterior motive.

"It's almost like they're using the walls of Yangping Pass to train their infantry?" A thought crossed Gao Yao's mind, leaving him feeling apprehensive. Training troops through actual combat was not unusual, but using siege tactics was far too costly. Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng were both exceptionally talented; how could they have resorted to such an unwise move?

As his thoughts turned, Gao Yao combined the information he knew and re-examined the overall situation.

"The core of the Chu army lies in its cavalry," he pondered. "Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan both know that it's difficult to shake the foundation of our southern border through frontal assaults and a war of attrition. They must maximize their cavalry's advantages in mobility and impact!"

However, building and maintaining a powerful cavalry consumed a vast amount of resources, almost draining the potential of the Chu region. They had no spare capacity to build an equally powerful infantry corps.

"Recruiting soldiers is the primary concern," Gao Yao analyzed calmly. "The counties of Western Chu held by Xiang Yu, and the newly acquired territory of Yi Xiaochuan, are not densely populated or prosperous. Forcibly conscripting men might raise the numbers, but their quality is questionable; they're a motley crew."

"Secondly, equipment is an even more fatal shortcoming!" Gao Yao understood this point particularly well. "Soldiers need armor to protect their bodies and sharp blades to kill the enemy. However, the efficiency of mining and smelting in the world today is so low! From the mine to the finished product, a set of ordinary armor takes months and requires the combined efforts of several craftsmen! This is a painstaking process, not something that can be achieved overnight."

His ability to equip a sophisticated army in the southern border was based on years of management, systematic technological innovation, and continuous investment without sparing any effort. This was a solid foundation that could not be achieved overnight.

"Third, food and fodder logistics." Gao Yao's eyes narrowed. "The fact that we're planting potatoes and sweet potatoes extensively in the southern border might be a secret to the world, but it's impossible to hide it from Yi Xiaochuan, a fellow time traveler. They must know that we have ample food and fodder, which will be beneficial for a long battle."

As many clues converged, a startling theory gradually formed in Gao Yao's mind: "Could it be... Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan, knowing that their infantry system could not compete with ours in the short term, resorted to such extreme tactics? They paid such a high price under the guise of a feint attack. Their true purpose might not be to attack the city, nor simply to train their infantry, but..."

He suddenly looked up and looked at the Chu army's continuous camps in the distance, his eyes seemed to penetrate the thick fog.

"It's to conceal their true strategic intentions—where exactly is their main cavalry force at this moment? What are they planning to do?"

"These repeated feints consume our attention and wear us out. Could it be that... their cavalry has already made a circuitous attack elsewhere? Their target... is it the supply route? Reinforcements? Or... is it a direct attack on the even more weakly defended heartland of Hanzhong?"

At the thought of this possibility, Gao Yao felt a chill run down his spine. If this were true, then everything at Yangping Pass was just an elaborate hoax!

He immediately gave a stern order: "Send more scouts! Expand the reconnaissance area, especially the mountain trails in the northwest and northeast. Search carefully for any traces of the Su Chu cavalry for me! Send swift horses to report urgently to all parts of Hanzhong. Strengthen vigilance, especially in food storage areas and along the main roads leading to Xianyang. If you see any suspicious cavalry, immediately light beacons to warn them!"

"Yes!" The messenger beside him immediately took the order and left.

Gao Yao's heart, however, didn't relax; instead, it grew heavier. If his suspicions were true, then the present calm was merely a pretense before the storm. A true crisis might be approaching with the force of a thunderbolt, striking at his unguarded weak spot.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over the Chu army camp. After a day of bustle, an eerie tranquility descended upon Yangping Pass. Only crows circled above the battlefield, pecking at the uncollected corpses and emitting heart-wrenching cries.

Gao Yao still stood on the city wall, his cloak rustling in the evening breeze. Xiao He had returned with news of the complete supply of food and fodder, but he also sensed the heavy suspicion in Gao Yao's face.

"Your Majesty, are you still worried about the movements of the Chu army?" Xiao He asked softly.

Gao Yao revealed his speculation. After hearing this, Xiao He stroked his beard and pondered for a long time, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

"Your Majesty's concerns are not groundless," Xiao He said slowly. "Xiang Ji's military tactics have always emphasized the integration of the strange and the orthodox, accustomed to using thunderous momentum. Cutting flesh with a blunt knife like this is certainly not his style. If he truly uses infantry as a feint to tie down our main army here, while sending elite cavalry on a long-distance raid, attacking our rear, severing our supply lines, or even attacking Xianyang directly... the consequences will be disastrous."

"However," Xiao He changed the subject, "for a long-distance raid, especially for cavalry, supplies are of paramount importance. The daily consumption of food and fodder for tens of thousands of cavalry is staggering. If they are far from their base and penetrate deep into our territory, where will they get food and fodder? If they cannot find food locally or fight a quick battle, they will not last long. This is one of the reasons."