Chen Ping's Sword

Even though Guangyun Ferry’s terrain is vast, making it the most suitable place for an attack within several hundred miles of the Wenjiang River...

Could it be that Yan Beifei is so astute, knowing that our entire army is gathered here and will inevitably confront his ten-mile joint defense forces?"

This is indeed a question.

"Have you seen anything?"

Chen Ping’s expression shifted slightly; Feng Yuantu was indeed meticulous in thought and unique in vision.

While all the generals and advisors focused on how to win this battle, he was not concerned with how to fight, but rather why fight this way?

In this current scenario of two armies facing off, is it a coincidence, or is it intentional by the other side?

Moreover, Chen Ping speculated that Feng Yuantu might have already quietly started to suspect Zhang Ce and Zhang Yuanhe.

After the military meeting, he would immediately send someone to investigate Zhang Ce’s origins in Beijing and his relationships to see with whom he is close. Is there any ulterior motive behind this strategy?

’No wonder the True Martial King holds him in such high regard...

In the history of the previous life, some civil servants and advisors all left a significant mark for a reason.

Having a brilliant strategist by your side, as a lord, saves many brain cells.

Not only can they fill gaps and address deficiencies, but they can also proactively solve problems, making things much easier and more convenient.’

Chen Ping had a feeling that he didn’t need to think too much anymore.

Unlike in the past, when faced with difficult problems, he was always weighing options, meticulously calculating, and working incredibly hard.

Now, to fight this battle, just waiting for a good suggestion from Feng Yuantu and others is quite enjoyable.

As expected, Feng Yuantu didn’t even need prompting; he directly stated his judgment: "The only explanation is that the enemy army has practitioners of deviant arts who can sense qi...

Or they understand astrology and can deduce where our main attack point is?"

"Impossible."

"If so, can we still fight this battle? If they can calculate it, they’d secure victory while we’d be restrained at every turn."

"It’s not impossible. As far as I know, the Jiangzuo Situ Family had been entangled with Yan Beifei early on. When Fenglin City fell, we couldn’t find a single direct descendant of the Situ Family.

This family has deep scholarly roots and is reputed to have mastered the fate of all beings.

If Yan Beifei knows how to use talent, he wouldn’t forget to bring the old man Situ Wang into the army."

"Moreover, Yan Beifei hails from the Shenxiao Sword Sect, and his teacher, Venerable Yuxiao, has unfathomable cultivation, truly an immortal among men.

Although it’s rumored that those in the Venerable Divine Martial Realm won’t intervene in dynastic struggles or worldly battles,

it’s very possible that the other side might employ some miraculous means through the hands of a disciple, so such things cannot be ignored."

Once Feng Yuantu finished speaking,

seven or eight voices arose in the tent.

Some were worried, some agreed, some were skeptical... Each had their stance.

Indeed, being a leader is no easy task.

Truly, it’s a case of having plausible arguments from all sides, and once thoughts start to storm, if you lack discernment, you immediately get led astray.

Failing to see through the fog of war could lead to falling into a trap with one misstep.

Nevertheless, just from the recent analysis, Chen Ping noticed that the one who sees the farthest and calculates the deepest remains Feng Yuantu.

A great reputation comes from true talent.

"Continue speaking. Since the opponent likely has the aid of practitioners of deviant arts, what excellent strategy can break this stalemate?"

Clearly, Chen Ping had realized something crucial.

That is, since the opponent set up a ten-mile joint defense to blockade the river,

there is definitely a reason behind it.

It’s not just about openly taking advantage of the terrain for superiority.

Rather, the opponent doesn’t want a direct battle; they fear our ’Heaven and Earth Realm’ formations.

In other words, if we don’t lead an army or arrange formations but cross the river alone with a sword, it’s very likely we’d be eliminated.

This form of combat is unthreatened by the opponent, or rather, it’s something they desire.

Such strict defensive measures are hardly a bait to lure us into a trap.

So, based on the principle of not doing what the enemy wants you to do,

this time, a decapitation strike is absolutely inadvisable.

Otherwise, it would be extremely dangerous.

Whether Feng Yuantu has seen this point or not, let’s hear his suggestions.

"Throughout history, in military conflicts, timing isn’t as vital as geographical advantage, and geographical advantage isn’t as critical as harmony among people.

For now, we won’t speak of timing, but in terms of geographical advantage, the opponent holds it.

And in terms of harmony among people?"

Feng Yuantu glanced at Chen Ping, his expression slightly awkward.

The situation wasn’t purely unfavorable.

King Ping’s Army, moving eastward, conquered fifty-two cities in succession, directing its might towards the sixty-three cities west of the Wenjiang River, appearing overwhelmingly mighty and hard to resist.

Indeed, on the frontal battlefield, no one dared to challenge Chen Ping, and those who did were basically sent to their deaths.

Yet, every advantage comes with a drawback.

In this campaign, they’ve offended countless local elites, noble families, sects, and court officials.

Furthermore, since King Ping’s Army hasn’t truly taken root in the countryside yet, and the banner of land equalization and lighter taxes hasn’t been deeply ingrained in people’s hearts,

after being slandered by those elites and intellectuals, apart from a small portion of the population that couldn’t survive otherwise, even ordinary villagers view King Ping’s Army as rebels, as bandits.

This perspective has formed gradually over three hundred years. Though the Great Li Dynasty is on the brink of collapse, it still holds prestige in people’s hearts.

In a short time, these fifty-two cities can’t possibly support King Ping’s Army like the Xingqing Prefecture territories.

Let alone secretly helping them.

If they refrain from secretly gathering forces and causing trouble, it’d already be a great help from their timid nature.