Chapter 54: Geng Bingwen Decides the Strategy! Suppressing the Yan Rebel!

Zhending Prefecture!
Within the borders of Hejian Prefecture!
Pingshan City, located closest to Beiping Prefecture.
An imperial army of two hundred thousand soldiers had gathered here, their martial might solemn and awe-inspiring.
Inside the city, within the administrative hall of the prefectural government.
Numerous imperial generals were assembled.
Geng Bingwen sat squarely in the primary seat, clad in the full armor and military attire of a grand general. Now advanced in age, donning his armor only added to his majestic presence.
Below him, rows of warriors stood clad in battle gear.
This time.
To suppress Zhu Di, the imperial court had spared no effort, dispatching a multitude of formidable commanders.
Li Jian, the commander of the First Guard Army.
Ning Zhong, the commander of the Second Guard Army.
Along with four regional commanders equivalent in rank to Guard Command-In-Chief.
The lineup was formidable indeed.

"Everyone has arrived."
Geng Bingwen glanced across the generals gathered in the hall, then said, "Let us begin our military council."
"We await the Grand General's commands," the generals replied in unison.
"Before we discuss military strategy, let us first have Lord Zhang, who has retreated from Beiping Prefecture, provide a detailed account of the current situation regarding the Yan rebel," Geng Bingwen said in a booming voice.
At the summons.
From the rear hall.
A civil official clad in court robes stepped forth. He was none other than Zhang Xian, the son of Zhang Bing—the official previously appointed by the Jianwen Emperor to Beiping City to keep watch over Zhu Di.
Like his father before him, he had previously served within Beiping Prefecture, though he had managed to escape relatively quickly, and could be said to have witnessed the months of upheaval in Beiping Prefecture firsthand.

"Respected generals."
"The Yan rebel is rampant and lawless."
"Ever since he raised the banner of rebellion, he has gathered no small number of followers."
"To my knowledge, the many officials dispatched by the current Emperor, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Personnel have all been put to death by the Yan rebel."
"Within the Beiping army, those officers who remained loyal to the Emperor have likewise been entirely purged and implicated by the Yan rebel."
"By now, the Yan rebel has thoroughly purged Beiping Prefecture of everyone who refused to submit to him with a bloodbath," Zhang Xian stepped forward and said with an expression of righteous indignation.
"The Yan rebel is utterly unfilial and rebellious. This time, our imperial righteous army comes precisely to suppress the Yan rebel once and for all."
"Lord Zhang."
"You previously served within Beiping Prefecture. Tell this general: are the grain supplies and military provisions of Beiping Prefecture still sufficient?"
"And furthermore, what is the exact size of their military forces now?"
Geng Bingwen had no desire to listen to Zhang Xian recount how many people Zhu Di had killed.
After all, now that a full-scale war had broken out, it would be strange if Zhu Di were not killing people.

What he wanted to learn from Zhang Xian were the specific and detailed conditions of Beiping Prefecture: grain provisions, military supplies, and troop strength. These were the things he actually cared about.
Only once he knew these could he proceed with his next steps.
"Replying to the Grand General."
"The Yan rebel has harbored rebellious intentions for a long time."
"According to what your humble servant knows."
"At present, the grain and provisions within Beiping Prefecture remain abundant. The imperial court's blockade of Beiping Prefecture has not yielded the desired effect. Not only for military use, but also for civilian livelihoods, the Yan rebel is maintaining a normal supply."
"As for the forces of the Yan rebel."
"Originally, when our imperial court garrisoned Beiping Prefecture, the troops brought from other prefectures did not exceed twenty thousand. The rest were entirely the Beiping army, which originally belonged to the Yan rebel's own subordinates. Through the battles of these past months, the Yan rebel has reorganized the troops of Beiping Prefecture. Right now, his armed forces number at least eighty to ninety thousand, if not a full hundred thousand."
"Moreover, the Yan rebel has been actively conscripting soldiers within Beiping Prefecture," Zhang Xian said promptly, laying out everything he knew.

Upon hearing this situation.
Geng Bingwen's brows instantly locked tightly together.
After a brief silence.
Geng Bingwen cast his gaze toward the generals in the hall: "Honored generals."
"You have all heard the detailed situation of Beiping Prefecture as described by Lord Zhang."
"What are your thoughts?"
At these words!
The generals looked among themselves, hesitant and unsure of how to speak.
At this moment!
Li Jian spoke up, asking: "I wonder what strategy the Grand General has for troop deployment?"
"In my view."
"Dealing with the Yan rebel boils down to two words: stall, and trap."
"By relying on our imperial court's absolute superiority in grain and provisions supply, combined with a total blockade, we can simply drag the Yan rebel down until he perishes," Geng Bingwen said in a deep voice.
"Grand General."
"What the Emperor desires is a swift victory—to suppress the Yan rebel in the shortest possible time."
"If we adopt this strategy of blockade and attrition, I fear the Emperor will fly into a rage, and the lords of the imperial court will also be deeply dissatisfied," Ning Zhong said gravely, carrying a strong note of warning.
Geng Bingwen nodded, a look of helplessness crossing his face.

If he were to follow his own military doctrine, a war of attrition and encirclement was naturally the safest strategy, and also offered the greatest chance of resolving Zhu Di once and for all.
However, launching a direct frontal assault would incur heavy casualties, and would mean clashing head-on with the Yan army.
"Indeed."
"The Yan rebel's uprising has stirred the entire realm into turmoil, and various feudal princes are also casting covetous glances. If we do not suppress and pacify the Yan rebel as quickly as possible, unforeseen changes may indeed arise."
"For our Great Ming, that would be extremely disadvantageous," Geng Bingwen sighed as well, speaking in a low voice.
"Grand General."
"At present."
"Our imperial court commands an army of two hundred thousand, and we can even continue to mobilize troops from various prefectures."
"The advantage lies with our army."
"Whereas the Yan rebel has only a blockaded Beiping Prefecture, with weak troops and few generals. With our military might and the power of the various firearms we carry, within four months at most, we shall certainly pacify the Yan rebel."
"Right now, only a single path lies before our army: to use the force of our military might to forcefully crush the Yan rebel," Li Jian said loudly.

"Very well."
Geng Bingwen nodded, and after a moment of reflection, he commanded: "Zhuozhou City! We shall first shatter this city, gradually conquer the fortified cities of Beiping Prefecture, and advance step by step."
Just at that moment!
"Report!"
A voice echoed from outside the hall, and a scout commander hurried into the hall.
Dropping quickly to one knee, he reported respectfully to Geng Bingwen: "Reporting to the Grand General."
"Just now, the vanguard scout camp conducted multiple investigations."
"The Yan rebel has abandoned several cities such as Linzhou and retreated to Juyong Pass."
"However, the Yan army within Zhuozhou City has not withdrawn; instead, they have reinforced their troops."

Upon hearing this report.
Geng Bingwen stood up immediately, walked briskly over to the prepared sand table of Beiping Prefecture, and studied it intently for a moment.
"The Yan rebel."
"What immense daring."
"Abandoning several cities to lure our main force into attacking Juyong Pass, while Zhuozhou City serves as yet another bait."
"He wishes to split our army into two parts. If we wish to launch a primary assault on Juyong Pass, we must first capture Zhuozhou City and detach a portion of our forces, otherwise our rear guard will be compromised." After all, Geng Bingwen was a veteran of the battlefield; with a single glance, he instantly saw through Zhu Di's intentions.
"Grand General."
"The Yan rebel has already made his move."
"How should our army respond?" Ning Zhong asked in a deep voice.
The generals in the hall also turned their gazes toward Geng Bingwen.
"Since the Yan rebel has laid out his path, our army has no choice at all."
"Zhuozhou City and Juyong Pass must both be taken."
"Once these two critical strategic points are breached, the Yan rebel's defeat will be certain," Geng Bingwen said in a solemn voice.
"This general requests to lead the vanguard!"
The generals stood up one after another, speaking in unison.
"General Li Jian, I order you to lead the ten thousand troops under your command to attack Zhuozhou City."
"General Ning Zhong, I order you to lead the ten thousand troops under your command to attack Juyong Pass."
"This pass is the barrier of Beiping Prefecture; I shall command it personally."
"We must break the city in a single battle and suppress the Yan rebel," Geng Bingwen commanded on the spot.
"This general obeys the command!"
The two imperial commanders immediately acknowledged the order.
For them at this moment, possessing an absolute advantage in troop numbers and firearms, they naturally felt confident of certain victory.