Chapter 1 Gaosen Banner's Decision

Gao Senqi knew that it was almost impossible to take down Ye Tao's forces in one fell swoop. On the opposite bank of the river, there was a large area of neat, albeit crude, but highly practical fortifications. The ground behind had been leveled, with clear positions for heavy infantry, light infantry, and archer battalions. Moreover, the transport routes were already set up, ensuring that reinforcements wouldn't be delayed due to road issues. This setup showed Ye Tao's complete confidence: the Blood Kirin Army would never be routed, and these passages, convenient for his own men, would never be used to facilitate the enemy's advance. Behind the archer battalion's position was a row of command tents. Although Gao Senqi couldn't understand some of the equipment installed, the Blood Kirin Army had too many incomprehensible things, so he didn't pay it much mind. Further back were the heavy weapons being installed, the ballistae inspiring dread. Gao Senqi knew that once the armies clashed, these ballistae, aimed at the troops crossing the river, would cause massive casualties. But now, he felt somewhat helpless. The vanguard of three thousand iron cavalry might have been able to take a bite if they had caught Ye Tao unprepared, but against the Blood Kirin Army, which was fully prepared, they wouldn't even be a decent snack. He sighed deeply, looking at the architectural framework that Ye Tao, both friend and foe, had seemingly created by magic. He truly was an engineering master, creating a defensive system in such a short time that made it feel impossible to attack.

Ye Tao was currently directing the hoisting of the heavy ballistae. Behind the front row of medium-sized ballistae were three heavy ballistae with a range capable of reaching the opposite bank. This wasn't just about range, but also about deterrence and tactical extension. Ye Tao saw Gao Senqi through his binoculars and could only purse his lips. Right now, he didn't have time to worry about the enemy's numerical advantage. The more he prepared, the more confident he would be in successfully blocking the enemy here.

The blocking action didn't keep Ye Tao waiting for long. Even before the Blood Kirin Army attacked Xiangning City, the first probing blocking battle had already begun. Gao Senqi didn't give Ye Tao any breathing room, knowing that if he gave Ye Tao even a little bit of respite, he would constantly fortify his position, making it increasingly difficult to conquer and allowing the Blood Kirin Army's advantages to be further amplified. Gao Senqi deployed 20,000 infantry to attack the Blood Kirin Army's camp, closely followed by another 20,000 infantry to clear various obstacles on the滩涂 (tāntú, mudflats) while simultaneously laying down a large number of pontoon bridges. This method of attack was undoubtedly extravagant.

When the first 20,000 infantrymen formed their ranks and sat down to prepare outside the range of the ballistae, Ye Tao was somewhat unimpressed. But when another 20,000 infantrymen began to deploy behind them, and large amounts of wood, bamboo, and ropes were brought up, Ye Tao began to feel that things were getting tricky. Due to the range and precision of the equipment, and also because of the unique terrain, Gao Senqi's forces completely lacked the possibility of engaging Ye Tao in a ranged offensive. But to defeat Ye Tao, he had to overcome the Blood Kirin Army's advantage in ranged attacks. Gao Senqi wasn't sure whether the mighty river could offset the devastating power of fire oil bombs. He had seen the unbelievable sight of fire oil bombs burning on the water's surface. However, he could use this multiple-choice question to minimize the advantage of ranged weapons. Ye Tao could either concentrate on wiping out the leading infantry or focus on attacking the forces laying the pontoon bridges. Spreading out his attacks would likely accomplish neither. Relatively speaking, building pontoon bridges might pose a greater threat to Ye Tao. Once the pontoon bridges were completed, the Northern Liao army could continuously assault the camp, and even if the Blood Kirin Army was elite, it would be a hopeless situation.

Moreover, although Gao Senqi still concentrated his main force to attack Ye Tao's forces, he also sent scout troops to both flanks to scout for other suitable places to cross the river. The armies on both flanks also moved accordingly to ensure that they could start crossing the river at the first opportunity. Gao Senqi said that it was to find an opportunity to strike Ye Tao's forces from the flanks and rear to ensure the success of the frontal assault, his determination to defeat Ye Tao head-on remained unchanged.

Because of the riverbank, Ye Tao's scouts were at a disadvantage in reconnaissance, and Gao Senqi's two wings made good progress. Although there was no suitable crossing point for the time being, this situation had already formed. Due to the mountains and forests on both sides of the river, and Gao Senqi's requirement that the troops on both wings act secretly, even airships found it difficult to detect the Northern Liao army on the march.

Gao Senqi's arrangement could be regarded as pushing his troops to the limit. Continuously guaranteeing attacks was not a simple matter. The rotation of a large number of troops was a difficult maneuver for such a large army.

In the battle at the front, Ye Tao predictably chose to attack the forces laying the pontoon bridges, allowing the infantry to get closer. Ye Tao had full confidence in the combat power of his troops. Especially now, when the Northern Liao infantry were crossing the river, they couldn't possibly wear heavy armor, turning them into targets for the longbowmen. The Northern Liao infantry armor didn't have much defense against the three-edged arrowheads produced in Dongping, let alone the heavy quenched cold steel three-edged arrowheads equipped by the Blood Kirin Army.

"Marshal Ye, the enemy has begun to cross the river." Seeing ships and rafts being launched, Jin Ze reminded Ye Tao, who was lost in thought.

Ye Tao shrugged and ordered, "Open fire when they're halfway across. The heavy ordnance battalion, free to fire."

The heavy ordnance battalion had been waiting for this order for a long time. Each of the firing elements had already been set, waiting for the moment to open fire. For targets that were scattered on a plane and relatively mobile, making it difficult to hit directly, they chose to attack by covering an area of water at a time, using a mix of fire oil bombs and stone bullets. They occasionally used extra-pound fire oil bombs to create a small area of burning water. This attack technique was first born in the escort fleets of the Seven Seas Trading Company and was the best way to deal with single ships with combat power lower than the Cangshui and Lianshui class ships. When the escort ships of an escort fleet opened fire at the same time, it was like a person taking a big bite out of a pancake, with little chance of escape. In response to this tactic, the Chunnan Navy was developing countermeasures, but they may not be effective. The Northern Liao originally lacked naval power, and they had never heard of this tactic. When the heavy ordnance battalion, with an order, smashed nine of the Northern Liao's leading ships into the water at once, leaving only a few whirlpools and a group of soldiers struggling in the currents and flames, the Northern Liao officers immediately realized that the battle might be more intense and difficult than expected. Gao Senqi, who always praised the Blood Kirin Army and would rather overestimate them than underestimate them, was truly right. Besides the Blood Kirin Army, who else could silently send hundreds of soldiers to their watery graves?

Gao Senqi's expression was calm, as if this was the result he had expected long ago. He sighed and said, "As expected, Ye Tao chose to attack the pontoon bridge crew." The people around him were puzzled. Gao Senqi then explained, "If he was really targeting these 20,000 people, he would have let them pass first, and then the longbow battalion and heavy ordnance battalion would have covered them in a round of fire. Taking advantage of the chaos, his light infantry and heavy infantry would charge, and the formation would completely collapse. I still don't know if Ye Tao has cavalry in his hands, or how much. If he does, he will definitely use it. Ye Tao's troops are the most patient, but their instantaneous burst power is also the strongest. The Blood Kirin Army... is the best army in the world after all."

Those around Gao Senqi were covered in goosebumps by what he said and fell silent. The Blood Kirin Army in front of them did indeed have this strength.

"Don't stop, just follow the plan. If 20,000 men fall, throw in another 20,000, batch by batch. In any case, Ye Tao only has so many men by his side. We... have ten times their number. If we still can't exhaust them, then we'll really have no face to show for it." Gao Senqi said as if nothing had happened. But the surrounding generals were somewhat indignant. A tall general stepped forward and said, "General, I am willing to lead these 20,000 men to charge and kill. Even if we can't break through the Blood Kirin Army's defense line, we can at least exhaust them a little more."

"Jiang Mo, you lead the next 20,000 men. The 40,000 men in front are just testing the waters, exhausting their sharpness. You lead the next 20,000 men, if you can break through the Blood Kirin Army's first line, I will reward you."

Jiang Mo accepted the order and left to organize the soldiers and prepare. Seeing that it was unlikely that the pontoon bridges could be built with the first batch of 40,000 men, and that they had also consumed a lot of ships and rafts, he had to make more thorough preparations.

As Gao Senqi had expected, the Northern Liao infantry suffered heavy losses in the water. Less than 12,000 of the 20,000 vanguard infantrymen were able to land. And the moment the first Northern Liao soldier landed on the mudflat, the heavy ordnance battalion immediately stopped firing. The soldiers of the heavy ordnance battalion busily worked around the ballistae, adjusting the range, preparing to attack the second wave of Northern Liao soldiers who were temporarily being used as engineers.

Ye Tao didn't say anything superfluous, but asked with great interest, "Let's... use that thing."

Liu Yong's face twitched, and he said, "My lord... what kind of way is this to fight a war?"

"It's alright, just listen to me. We're not afraid of anyone, and besides, our tactics haven't changed much. Let's just do it."

Ye Tao set the tone for the matter. The two guards behind Ye Tao immediately went to operate it happily. In less than two minutes, more than a dozen loudspeakers distributed throughout the battlefield sounded with a sharp whistle: "Sound test... sound test... The Blood Kirin Army's first battlefield broadcast begins."

"Heavy Ordnance Team One reports, as of now, we have fired fourteen rounds, directly hitting nine troop transport ships, for a total of forty-one enemy ships damaged or destroyed. The overall hit rate is thirty-two point two percent."

"Haha, Old Yang. Our Team Two's hit rate is thirty-four point three percent, just a little bit higher than yours."

The commanders of the two heavy ordnance battalions actually started arguing in the broadcast. They had been competing with each other during training and combat for several years, and they were clearly very interested in this kind of argument that the entire army could hear. The two men teased each other, with witty remarks, and for a time, the atmosphere on the position relaxed. This battle, which was bound to be fierce, seemed to have become an interesting competition, a competition worth risking one's life for.

——————

Trying to keep the weekly update…… -_-||