Chapter 112
"The rebel army is strictly controlling the food and fodder in Tongzhou, which likely means they have estimated that the imperial troops are lacking in provisions. They haven't dared to counterattack, probably because they aren't entirely convinced yet."
"If we want to achieve victory in one move, we might as well seize this opportunity to make a move."
Several generals were discussing how to achieve a clever victory in front of the sand table. Although each had their own suggestions, they all generally agreed on exploiting the issue of military provisions.
"In that case, we should send people to spread rumors. Wait for the rebel army to counterattack and正好 fall into our defenses."
The Sixth Prince did not express an opinion. He looked towards Huo Shu, who had been standing to the side without saying a word, and suddenly spoke: "Huo Shu, what do you think?"
Everyone followed his gaze and looked over.
"I agree."
"However, merely sending people to spread rumors恐怕 won't be enough to convince the rebel army that our imperial troops have truly exhausted our supplies."
The Sixth Prince said: "Then what do you suggest?"
"Take a squad and raid the rebel army's grain depot."
The people in the room paused slightly upon hearing this, then looked at each other and smiled, acknowledging the suggestion without needing to say it aloud.
The rebel army had more than one grain depot. To ensure safety, they had set up four depots.
The closest one was in Chengxi County, a hundred li away.
Huo Shu led a team of elite soldiers to infiltrate this camp. Although he hadn't fought in several years, the instincts engraved in his bones since youth couldn't be easily worn away by time.
His precise and sharp deployment immediately won over the subordinates who had been dissatisfied with this leader who appeared halfway.
When it came to night raids on camps, Huo Shu had done it no less than eight or ten times.
These rebel soldiers were far less difficult to deal with than the brave and battle-hardened Rongdi from the Northern Frontier. Huo Shu easily lured them with a feint, setting the rebel camp on fire.
"Fire! Fire!"
In the middle of the night, the camp suddenly erupted with chaotic footsteps and urgent shouts.
The autumn wind sweeping through the woods that night proved highly effective, fanning the flames and causing them to spread rapidly.
Watching the fire spread through the camp, the rebel army panicked and rushed to put out the flames. Huo Shu, concealed by bushes and a grass hat, seized the moment and raised his hand: "Into the grain depot!"
In just a quarter of an hour, the team fought and seized several carts of grain.
The soldiers were elated. Their original mission had been merely to stage a raid for supplies, yet they had unexpectedly succeeded in capturing real provisions. Their joy was unmistakable.
But Huo Shu stared deeply at the transported grain. Seeing the quantity was already considerable, he immediately summoned his men to retreat.
Half the rebel soldiers fought the fire while the other half gave chase. During the pursuit and escape, Huo Shu deliberately slowed down, allowing some to catch up first, and they clashed.
Weapons clashed, their iron blades ringing out. Firelight danced across the scene, and the glow from countless torches lit the sky, creating an illusion of approaching dawn.
"Retreat!"
Just as the battle was heating up, Huo Shu suddenly shouted: "Their main force is coming, everyone withdraw!"
"But the provisions..."
"Leave them! Retreat!"
Though the soldiers were deeply reluctant to abandon the provisions they had fought so hard to secure, Huo Shu's command was clear. Seeing the advancing wall of fire from the rebel reinforcements, they had no choice but to retreat despite their frustration.
The squad of soldiers quickly retreated on horseback. The rebel army, perhaps seeing the provisions had been left behind and not taken, and with the rear camp on fire, did not pursue.
Thus, Huo Shu and his men managed to escape smoothly.
"It's just a pity about those provisions. If only we could have brought them back."
Seeing his subordinates' regretful expressions, Huo Shu said: "What was the purpose of this mission? Have you forgotten?"
His subordinates didn't understand: "If it was to create the illusion of seizing grain, why did we need to pull the provisions so far away, only to leave them behind for them in the end?"
"If we didn't deliberately go easy, how could we highlight their capability? How could we make the act complete?"
This operation was more than just a display of desperation due to supply shortages; it deliberately included the pretense of failing to capture the grain and retreating in defeat.
A single act might not be convincing, but a second layer of deception eliminated any room for doubt.
Immediately after, the Sixth Prince, according to the original plan, spread the news that the provisions for the imperial reinforcement army had been lost.
All the effort was not in vain. No matter how suspicious the rebel army was, seeing this, they couldn't help but believe that the imperial troops were truly short on provisions.
Moreover, they had nearly lost their food but recovered it. When engaging with the grain-stealing troops, they found these soldiers much weaker than before, which actually boosted their morale, making them think the imperial army was indeed weakened due to lack of provisions.
This potent strategy, like strong medicine taken with hot broth, produced remarkably fast results.
The rebel army, seeing the imperial troops at their weakest, they actually thought the same as the Sixth Prince: they wanted to deliver a crushing blow before the imperial forces could recover their supplies.
Overconfident, they thought it was like during the turmoil in Hailin Prefecture, when the court had to temporarily move Tongzhou's garrison troops south in an emergency, and they could exploit the loophole again.
The Sixth Prince was greatly pleased, praising Huo Shu for putting on a thorough act.
At the end of the ninth lunar month, the rebel army mobilized all their forces and engaged the imperial troops in a battle at Chengxi County.
The imperial army was well-prepared. The rebel army, careless and underestimating the enemy, fell into the imperial army's ambush. The battle lasted a day and a night, and the rebel army was utterly defeated, almost entirely annihilated by the imperial troops.
Witnessing the rebel army's inevitable defeat, the conscripted soldiers from Tongzhou who had been coerced into battle promptly surrendered. This provided the imperial forces with additional manpower. Among the three main rebel leaders, two perished in combat while the third was taken captive.
Consequently, Tongzhou Prefecture, previously under rebel control, was formally restored to imperial rule in the tenth month of the lunar calendar.
The main imperial forces began clearing the battlefield in preparation for their return to the capital in the middle of the tenth lunar month.
Huo Shu also stayed to help clear the battlefield. Wanting to ensure lasting stability in the region, he aimed to help secure the area completely while taking the opportunity to return to Tongzhou city.
Thank you for the update!!
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