69novels Chapter 913: A small victory, this is just the beginning!
Chapter 913: A small victory, this is just the beginning!
Targeting Yi Xiaochuan was no easy task. Gao Yao knew this "old acquaintance," also from the modern era, all too well—smart, perceptive, and possessing the unique logic and vigilance of modern man. If this deadly thorn forest had been laid bare from the outset, Yi Xiaochuan would undoubtedly have harbored suspicions. His suspicious nature would have immediately kicked in, leading him to either consider it an obvious trap and avoid it, or he would have devoted considerable time and meticulous investigation to uncover the true dangers of the thorn forest's depths. Therefore, the core of the entire plan lay not in "setting a trap" but in "leading him into the trap," allowing Yi Xiaochuan to "choose" to enter.
This requires subtle preparation and progressive psychological hints.
The first step was to show the enemy caution. During the previous days of confrontation, Gao Yao had deliberately ordered his troops to reinforce their barracks, increase patrols, and double the frequency and scope of their scouts, projecting a prudent posture of all-out defense and vigilance against surprise attacks. This stance was both logical and subtly conveyed to Yi Xiaochuan: I, Gao Yao, fear your cavalry. I am on the defensive; I am afraid of you. Once this perception was formed, it quietly fostered Yi Xiaochuan's underestimation of the enemy, leading him to believe that Gao Yao had no alternative but to passively defend, thus lowering his guard.
The second step was to "act out" the retreat, and to make it believable. The retreat couldn't resemble a rout; that would be too contrived, and Yi Xiaochuan wouldn't believe it. He chose to build a fire and cook at nightfall, feeding the entire army and preserving their strength for the long march. During the retreat, the troops maintained their basic structure, appearing hurried but orderly. They even deliberately abandoned some old and damaged baggage, creating the convincing effect of a strategic shift intended to preserve strength and retreat to the nearest stronghold, Yangping Pass.
Gao Yao knew that Yi Xiaochuan, with his wisdom, would undoubtedly be able to deduce the strategic situation of Xiang Yu's impending reinforcements and the imminent encirclement of the north and south. Therefore, as the weaker party, Gao Yao's "decisive" abandonment of the field battle and retreat to the nearest fortress, Yangping Pass, would be the most logical and irreproachable choice. He wanted to convince Yi Xiaochuan that his actions were completely within the enemy's expectations.
The finishing touch to the entire plan was the use of the night. Gao Yao's lips curled up in a cold arc. Yi Xiaochuan was right to understand that the night was an obstacle for both sides, but this was precisely the key thing Gao Yao could exploit. He was betting that Yi Xiaochuan would be more convinced of the "truth" of his retreat due to this "common disadvantage," and would therefore underestimate the extreme dangers that the darkness could conceal. The night perfectly concealed the true terror deep in the thorn forest - the overly dense, continuous, and hideous interlaced vegetation that would alert people from a distance in the daytime sunlight would be mistaken for just ordinary, slightly denser roadside bushes in the limited, flickering light of the torches.
Only when the cavalry, relying on their speed, plunged headfirst into the quagmire did they discover they were mired in it, their path mired in a quandary. By then, it was too late. During the day, Yi Xiaochuan's scouts would have likely observed the unusually dense vegetation and unique terrain of the area from afar, potentially thwarting his plan. Night was the perfect backdrop for this psychological game.
The battlefield situation shifted rapidly. His original plan was to confront the mighty Xiang Yu, a king who favored direct confrontation. He employed a ruthless strategy of provoking, luring, and exhausting the enemy. But facing the more meticulous Yi Xiaochuan, who also possessed a modern mindset, all plans required careful adjustments. Confronting Yi Xiaochuan required deeper psychological warfare and more ingenious exploitation of the environment. This thorny forest was a blind spot and a graveyard of steel, tailor-made for this "old acquaintance."
He had studied the terrain thoroughly. This place was absolutely impossible to "hold." If he had deployed his army there from the outset, he would have trapped himself in a dead end, handing the initiative to the enemy. The enemy only needed to fire a barrage of rockets from a distance. The dry autumn weather would easily ignite this natural fuel reservoir. Once the forest blazes, his 20,000-strong army would be reduced to charcoal in an instant, with nowhere to escape.
The true value of this hell lies in its "dynamic counterattack" and "tactical interdiction." Only when the enemy actively intrudes, their formation disrupted, and their opponent in a quandary, can it transform into the most terrifying killing field, completely depriving the cavalry of their speed, impact, and maneuvering space, while infinitely magnifying their greatest weaknesses—disorder, congestion, and vulnerability.
All of this strategic prowess didn't come out of thin air. From a humble cook to his current position as King of the Southern Territory, he'd undergone a transformation unimaginable to most. Especially since he was surrounded by such extraordinary talents as Xiao He, Cao Shen, Han Xin, and Zhang Liang, learning from them day and night, even debating and arguing with them, his strategic vision and tactical thinking had long since transcended the ordinary.
He learned to think about overall logistics and popular support like Xiao He, to emphasize strict laws and efficient execution like Cao Shen, to skillfully utilize terrain like Han Xin, "putting himself in a desperate situation to survive," and to accurately gauge his opponent's psychology like Zhang Liang. These accumulated wisdoms finally merged perfectly in this duel with Yi Xiaochuan, unleashing a deadly brilliance.
"Stop the pursuit!"
Gao Yao's voice was calm and clear, piercing the frenzied atmosphere of victory and pouring cold water on the somewhat overheated generals. The troops had just emerged from the thorn forest, pursuing their enemies for less than two miles, achieving considerable gains and their morale was at its peak.
Many middle and lower-ranking officers were furious, their faces filled with confusion and eagerness, eager to continue expanding their gains. Some even thought they could strike back at the remnants of Yi Xiaochuan's army, which had been defeated. But Gao Yao's order was firm and unquestionable.
"Sound the retreat! All units halt immediately, maintain alert, count casualties, and gather formation! Anyone disobeying this order will be executed!"
He was well aware of the ancient adage, "Don't pursue a desperate enemy," especially at night when his own troops were equally exhausted and their ranks were beginning to fall apart. Although Yi Xiaochuan had suffered heavy losses, his main force had not been completely annihilated, and the Chu army still had its foundation. Xiang Yu's army was lurking covetously from nowhere. If he blindly pursued them, his troops would easily become disconnected and dispersed in the darkness, and his command would fail.
If the defeated generals organized an effective counterattack, or if they ran headfirst into Xiang Yu's main cavalry, which had rushed to support them upon hearing the news, the newly won victory would be shattered in an instant, or even catastrophically reversed. The wisest course for a commander is to withdraw while the gains are made, consolidate the gains, clean up the battlefield, and reorganize the troops. Rashness and recklessness are often the root of failure.