Chapter 104 The Two-Front War

"How could this happen? Isn't the Leiyin Demon Sect's fighting power supposed to be superior?" asked the Xiling King anxiously. "It shouldn't have turned out like this, right?"

"This has nothing to do with the Leiyin Demon Sect. Armies based on religion are indeed prone to this kind of problem. Besides, they haven't lost yet," Ye Tao said calmly, taking it in stride.

The situation in Taizhou was indeed quite complex. After a major battle, the overall casualty rate on both sides exceeded sixty percent. Even the Benlang Plains cavalry, who had come from afar, were unconsciously drawn into the frenzied atmosphere of battle, launching attacks at all costs, disregarding their lives. After their two horses were exhausted, the remaining cavalry dismounted and fought as infantry, continuing to engage in combat. A major battle unfolded on a long front of over four hundred *li* (unit of distance, approximately 0.5 kilometers), and after nearly ten days of continuous fighting, when both sides finally stabilized their lines, the numbers that were tallied left the commanders on both sides at a loss. The Daoming Sect had committed a total of 750,000 troops of various kinds, with casualties reaching 550,000, including 220,000 killed in action. The Leiyin Demon Sect and the Zhenzhou allied forces had committed a total of 390,000 troops, with casualties reaching 240,000, but the Leiyin Demon Sect's battlefield rescue and logistics were much better than the Daoming Sect's, with fewer than 80,000 killed in action. The main difference in the number of deaths was not on the battlefield, but in the post-battle rescue efforts. The Daoming Sect, whose wound treatment was almost entirely left to fate, suffered the majority of their deaths from post-battle infections.

The consequence of this major battle was that neither side could organize offensive or defensive operations of any significant scale in the short term. They were all maintaining their current battle lines, licking their wounds. Of course, in terms of specific recovery, the Leiyin Demon Sect was in much better shape. Lei Huang's report stated that the Leiyin Demon Sect could reorganize its forces to the same scale within a month. At the same time, reinforcements from Zhenzhou would continue to arrive, and when the Leiyin Demon Sect launched another attack, their military strength would be more than thirty percent stronger than it was now. However, Lei Huang also frankly stated that in this month, he would probably not be able to exert enough pressure on the northern border of the Daoming Sect, and it was inevitable that the other side would concentrate some of their troops and then move south in force.

This conclusion would make the Yin family more nervous, but Ye Tao didn't think there was any problem. The various problems exposed by the Daoming Sect in that battle were too serious, and the loss of morale, both high and low, was enormous. Their forces were almost twice the size of the Leiyin Demon Sect, but they ended up like this, with three times as many deaths. Injuries, in the eyes of a commander, are a relative number. Once the injured recover and are reorganized into the troops, the combat power of a veteran is completely different from that of a new recruit who has not been tested by the flames of war. Lei Huang's estimate of combat power after a month could even be said to be conservative.

If the Daoming Sect were to amass a large number of troops in the north and prevent the specific numbers from leaking out, then perhaps they would still have a chance. Waiting for their combat power to recover as well, and then have another battle, then even if the military strength of the Leiyin Demon Sect and Zhenzhou were in place, it would be really hard to say with such a huge advantage in troop numbers. But it now seems that the Daoming Sect obviously doesn't have the ability to organize a large number of troops to move and still be well-organized. Just look at their mortality rate; their logistics are severely inadequate. In a month, they want to move hundreds of thousands of troops from the north of the controlled area to the south, carry out one or two decisive battles, and then move them back to the north to continue to confront the Leiyin Demon Sect-Zhenzhou allied forces? What a joke! Even the regular army of Dongping, the elite troops, the main general would have to think carefully about whether this would be too much of a burden on the troops. Let alone these rabble from the Daoming Sect?

Therefore, Ye Tao had to take action, forcing the other side to move a large number of troops south, and then find his own opportunity in the great chaos and fatigue. Considering the power in his hands, Ye Tao decided to take the initiative.

"This is my explanation for this major battle. I also hope everyone understands. The Leiyin Demon Sect and the Zhenzhou allied forces can't be considered defeated, right? I think they did a great job. To have done this well with limited forces has really exceeded my expectations. In fact, initially I thought that if they were to retreat a little, it wouldn't be a big deal, letting the Daoming Sect's large forces move to the north, which would win us time and space for our combat operations. The Daoming Sect operating on two fronts is their biggest disadvantage, and we have to fully magnify this disadvantage to the infinite," Ye Tao said slowly, allowing everyone present to recover from their previous tension and anxiety. Fortune lies within misfortune, and misfortune lurks within fortune. It's not just a matter of luck, but also depends on whether those standing at the highest level have the ability to operate and discover.

"Is there a chance to turn a two-front war into a three-front war?" Tan Weixin suddenly asked.

"Three-front war? Xuanshan Pass?" Ye Tao understood. This side of Xuanshan Pass was already the Daoming Sect's controlled area.

"General Yu is in the First War Zone, and he also has to help defend Jinzhou. Juxian King is unwilling to use Chunnan troops against Chunnan troops..." Ye Tao slapped his head and suddenly understood, "I understand, you mean, let Juxian King lead his troops from Xuanshan Pass into Xiling?"

This idea caused an uproar in the entire court. Everyone argued and discussed enthusiastically, and then fell silent. Everyone looked at Ye Tao, who was thinking seriously, waiting for his conclusion.

"Immediately send a telegram to inquire about the possibility of this arrangement. There are several key points. First, is Chang Hongquan's unit willing to accept my direct command now and enter Xiling to fight? Second, how many days will it take them to start an attack? If it's within five days, then let Danyang send a coordination and liaison team to Xuanshan Pass to assemble," Ye Tao instructed the staff officers beside him. The staff officer knew that the matter was urgent, nodded, and immediately went out to send the telegram.

"Then, can you put together three to four thousand elite troops from the forces we currently have?" Ye Tao asked. He had always been vague in his address. It was obviously inappropriate to call the Xiling King "Your Majesty," but "Your Highness" or "Sir?" They haven't officially merged into Dongping yet, that would be too bullying. Both sides were aware of this and were dealing with it vaguely.

"Three thousand elite troops, what for?" asked the Xiling King.

"Since the other side is going to mobilize, there will inevitably be a considerable amount of chaos. I will order the airship squadrons to begin full-scale harassment. Now that most people know that our two sides have joined forces, it doesn't matter if we use Anqing as the airships' base of operations. It's just that supplies will be more difficult. I'll have the teams come fully loaded, but the supplies will only be enough for a few large-scale air raids. But if they are dispersed for harassment, they might play a bigger role. Although the north is unable to launch a large-scale offensive, I can order the Zhenzhou army to make some noise. Dai Yun has 100,000 troops, which is enough to carry out a large-scale attack operation. The important thing is to mobilize the Daoming Sect's core military forces. Let their entire base be full of soldiers, plunging into chaos. Then, I will use three thousand elite troops to directly insert into the Daoming Sect's headquarters in the chaos, and capture their highest leaders in one fell swoop. The remaining problems will be easy to solve," said Ye Tao.

"Do you know where the Daoming Sect's bishop and those around him are?"

"The inner court guards have discovered their location. Now we need several parties to conduct some more probing and confirmation. At that time, I will have at least a seventy percent certainty of finding the exact location. If not, I also have a second plan."

"I want to burn down the Daoming Sect's main altar, not just the Lao-Jun Hall, but the entire mountain." Ye Tao's tone was cold and indifferent, but the murderous aura it contained shocked everyone. Yes, Ye Tao was easy to talk to, but how could he have become the Northern Frontier Pacification Commissioner, the supreme commander who conquered Northern Liao, and even now the Grand Commandant of Dongping, nominally even Tan Xiaopei had to be assigned by him in combat? How many battles had he fought along the way, how many battles had he won? This could never be done by someone who wasn't iron-blooded. "It will be enough if it can be seen clearly for hundreds of *li* (unit of distance, approximately 0.5 kilometers) around. Armies bound by religion are fierce when fighting, but once the key is grasped, they can also scatter quickly."

"Pacification Commissioner Ye, isn't this kind of warfare a bit risky? I think His Majesty would not approve of you personally taking risks. Why don't you assign a general, or have one person from our side and one person from your side, with your side taking the lead?" asked the Xiling King.

"That's not impossible..." Ye Tao pondered for a moment, "It doesn't have to be our side taking the lead. To talk about familiarity with the terrain, understanding of the area, and making it as easy as possible for those who have been coerced to provide convenience, I would suggest that your side take the lead. But the requirements for this commander are very high. I'm not very familiar with the talents in the Xiling army, so I hope your side can propose someone."

With Ye Tao expressing his position, everyone continued to discuss. Since the Dongping side was not responsible for the main command responsibility, but more for liaison work, Ye Tao decided to let Dai 宆 (Dai Qiong) represent them. And after a period of discussion by the Xiling ministers, the commander of this surprise force was also a member of the Xiling royal family, Yin Bo, who was only twenty-two years old. Ye Tao had no objection to this. The Yin family gave him a good impression, and their control of the importance of advance and retreat was very good. They were indeed a family with very intelligent rule. Although Yin Bo was young, this young general was very calm, and after exchanging many precautions with Ye Tao, he had already developed some plans on how to complete this extremely dangerous task in a very short time. And he only vaguely stated that he might be able to find people within the enemy army who were willing to help him. Ye Tao was not interested in hearing other information, so he had no need to explain it. Ye Tao was very interested in promoting such a talented young general.