Mythical Three Kingdoms

When Li Yan realized this point after the merging of the two great talents, he had no time to ponder, so he just went ahead with it like pushing a duck onto a perch.

Even so, Li Yan swiftly relied on his command of the corps to select excellent tactics, which laid a solid foundation for victory.

Back then, the tactics were hastily crafted. If there had been more time, Li Yan would not have appeared so frantic. Now with time on his side, how could Li Yan not think more? Every extra bit of strength on the battlefield equates to an added chance of victory!

The battle on the Liaodong Peninsula was a clear enhancement of Li Yan’s abilities.

Apart from Zhou Yu’s rest and arrangements, after Liu Yu encountered Chen Xi and others, Chen Xi roughly estimated the current situation in the north and made a judgment on it.

”Zijian, I’m afraid you might need to go to another place with me first this time. As for the instructions Wen Ru left for you, I don’t think they are difficult to accomplish.” After pondering over the map for a long time, Chen Xi made his judgment.

”As long as I can confront the Northern Huns Guards, it doesn’t matter where we go,” Hua Xiong said calmly.

”Minister of Ceremonies, would you be willing to take a risk with me?” Seeing Hua Xiong’s victory, Chen Xi turned to Liu Yu, noting that sometimes he couldn’t achieve things alone.

”Seeing your expression makes me a bit unwilling to agree,” Liu Yu said with a headache, ”However, since I’m already on your carriage, I guess even if I don’t agree, I have no other choice.”

”Hahaha, it’s just a small matter.” Chen Xi laughed, ”Minister of Ceremonies, are you sure you can persuade the Wuhuan Chanyu Supuwan?”

”This matter will be very easy,” Liu Yu said confidently, a smile appearing on his face, ”Zichuan, it’s fine to call me Duke Bo’an. Even Grand Commandant Liu is called Xuande; as the Minister of Ceremonies, there’s no need for me to put on airs.”

When Liu Yu was in Youzhou before, he also met Liu Bei. Although they were not very familiar, Liu Yu, as the Minister of Ceremonies, could not ignore Liu Bei’s status. Meanwhile, during Liu Bei’s official tenure in Youzhou, Liu Yu was the Governor of Youzhou, so they had met before.

At that time, although Liu Yu’s fame spread across the Four Seas, Liu Bei was just a minor official. Now Liu Bei’s virtue is renowned across the land, and his strength is such that the united Feudal Lords of the world struggle to hinder him. Although Chen Xi is a young man just over twenty, as Liu Bei’s chief adviser, no one dares to underestimate him.

Chen Xi merely nodded and continued, ”Since the Wuhuan Chanyu Supuwan has submitted under Duke Bo’an’s command, why not proceed north directly?”

”Leaving aside the fact that we do not know the exact location of the Northern Huns’ encampment, even if we did know, we might be intercepted by the Northern Huns before we even get there,” Liu Yu shook his head.

”Although I haven’t received any reports from the north, I am willing to believe in Jia Wenhe’s capabilities. He’s likely created an opportunity for us on the battlefield. Even if there’s only a chance, he would be prepared to attempt it,” Chen Xi said proudly.

”I estimate that he has already drawn the main force of the Northern Huns towards the area near Bingzhou.” When Chen Xi said this, he showed immense confidence. Unlike others who sometimes misjudge the abilities of their teammates, Chen Xi always maintained immense confidence in certain teammates.

”In that case, how can you be sure we can find the Northern Huns’ encampment in a short time?” Liu Yu shook his head, not optimistic about Chen Xi’s plan.

”Back then, Yuan Gonglu dragged hundreds of experts in Feng Shui and geology from the Aristocratic Families Under Heaven to the north for surveys, so the maps they created couldn’t possibly lack the most suitable grasslands,” Chen Xi laughed. This was not merely the secret action of one aristocratic family!

”But even if that’s the case, there are so many suitable grasslands on this map. How can you be sure?” Liu Yu shook his head, unsure if he was unwilling to go or simply skeptical of Chen Xi’s idea.

”Heh, currently, the Northern Huns’ force cannot exceed 100,000. By calculating based on 100,000, at most only about 20% are males aged sixteen to forty,” Chen Xi sneered, ”and they cannot turn all the adult males into soldiers.”

Liu Yu looked at Chen Xi in surprise, while Chen Xi spoke calmly, ”The so-called concept of ’a nation in arms’ among the Hu People is equally applicable to the Northern Huns, but Duke Bo’an, you who have long been in the north should know how much water there is in this so-called universal conscription, right? Even if the Northern Huns are formidable, at most one-tenth will serve as soldiers!”

Liu Yu was amazed at Chen Xi, completely unexpecting this method to derive a rough estimate of the Northern Huns’ total population.

”These figures are essentially estimations. The Northern Huns may have some factors of enhancement, and according to my estimates, the Northern Huns should have a total population between 700,000 and 900,000,” Chen Xi said with a gentle smile, ”With such a large population, although the grasslands are fertile, only a few places can sustain over 100,000 people in one area.”

Instantly, on the map, there were less than ten grasslands capable of supporting such a large population.

”What if the Northern Huns divided into a dozen tribes, each with more than 10,000 people? Wouldn’t there be plenty of grasslands available?” Liu Yu shook his head, entirely unable to understand why Chen Xi was so confident.

”The main division of the Northern Huns cannot be too dispersed. The troops deployed ahead, plus those suppressing the Miscellaneous Hu and blockading Liaodong and Lelang, probably number forty to fifty thousand. Based on the approximate force we’ve detected and the Northern Huns’ performance this time, apart from those forces continuing to subdue the Miscellaneous Hu, a substantial portion must be garrisoned in the rear,” Chen Xi shook his head.

In past periods, the northern rear of the Huns was often devastated, largely because too many forces were stationed in the front, leaving the rear severely undermanned and unable to resist the Han Army.

This time, however, a considerable force was stationed in the rear. Since the Northern Huns soldiers stationed at the rear exist to protect their tribesmen, a bit of thought reveals the likely outcome.

With just 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers to protect a population of 600,000 to 800,000, how should they protect them? Let the tribes divide into separate units and then split the soldiers into separate groups and pair them to reside in resource-rich areas?

What a joke. With such a small force, if divided into ten parts, they might easily deter the Miscellaneous Hu, but when overrun by the elite Han Cavalry, the outcome would likely be total annihilation.

Thus, if the Northern Huns are wise, they would split into only three to four groups. If so, each tribe would naturally have a population of over 100,000, which means only a few grasslands would be suitable.

Moreover, for safety reasons, the grasslands should be close enough to allow mutual support. Combining these conditions, Chen Xi had essentially pinpointed the location because, after comprehensive consideration, there was only one area that met all the criteria...