The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1621: Each Has Their Own Strategy

"Aye... Aye."

"Aye."

Everyone kept saying, fearing Ye Shikai would again take their heads to make an example. Ye Shikai had traversed to this era from nowhere, and among these generals, just by experience, he could only count as a minor and obscure figure, having been enlisted for less than two years. If counted from when he joined the uprising army, it had only been a few months, and many soldiers had even served for several years. Mi Wen appointing him as commander predictably caused dissatisfaction among these generals—it was inevitable. This was Mi Wen’s first challenge to him: how to "manage" these people.

Fortunately, Ye Shikai overcame this challenge. Through this act of execution to assert power, although he couldn’t ensure these generals were sincerely convinced, at least they dared not act recklessly anymore, especially since Ye Shikai held the power over life and death. If they were to be insubordinate, they risked losing their heads.

"I heard a few days ago Wang Li’s forces attacked our frontline, causing us to lose two camps and three thousand troops. Is that true?"

"Cough, cough, reporting to General Ye, it is indeed true. Wang Li deployed his elites, came fiercely, and our frontline troops couldn’t withstand them. Please forgive us, General." A general stepped forward to report to him.

"There’s no need for such nervousness; victory or defeat is common in warfare. With Wang Li’s twenty thousand elites attacking, it’s hard to deal with. You lost the battle, I don’t blame you." Ye Shikai waved his hand.

"Thank you, General."

"I am carrying out the orders of our lord to conquer the Qin army led by Wang Li. So during this period, I hope all generals can unite sincerely."

"Aye."

"Aye."

"Alright, I’ll arrange it like this: today, General Huo Ziqing brings twenty thousand troops from the rear to support us. Now our army has a total strength of one hundred and ten thousand, including twenty thousand garrisoned at Wan City and the garrison forces from various towns totaling thirty thousand. The remaining sixty thousand are all under my command."

"We shall comply with General Ye’s orders."

"We shall comply with General Ye’s orders."

"Wang Li is now leading his forces in the north, menacingly eyeing us. I predict his goal this time is to conquer Wan City—this is his minimum aim. If possible, he even plans to counterattack us and recover all the territory we have taken."

"Why so, General Ye?"

"Because he is Wang Jian’s grandson, a confidant of Emperor Qin. He bears too much responsibility on his shoulders." Ye Shikai spoke with firmness. Throughout history, such sons of generals are destined to have some arrogance; they carry too many halos, though their abilities are not weak, but often lose due to this part of ’arrogance.’

"We, with six thousand men, will center around Wan City, supporting each other on both sides. The south of Wan City has a river which the Qin army cannot cross—this is our advantage." Ye Shikai laid out the terrain on the sand table, using the lives of those four generals as a demonstration of power; the remaining people dare not voice anything out of ’fear,’ only nodding repeatedly.

If deploying troops on the plains, engaging in a military array battle, the Qin and Chu forces are roughly 70-30 in favor. Firstly, the Chu army’s strength is not as great as the Qin army; nearly half are garrison forces that can’t be mobilized. Ye Shikai can command only sixty thousand troops while Wang Li commands one hundred thousand of the Qin army. Secondly, the weapons and armor of the Chu army are inferior to those of the Qin army. Having been a general in the Qin army, he was very aware of the Qin army’s combat power. Even the garrison forces are better equipped than the Chu army.

In this situation, recklessly engaging Wang Li in decisive battle is courting death, so Ye Shikai’s strategy is to delay the Qin army, taking advantage of fatigue, best to delay until they lack provisions and are forced to retreat; thus, their opportunity would arrive.

"We must not passively defend; at the necessary moment, we can seize the opportunity to attack the Qin army. Wang Li is not a god; he too has weaknesses." Ye Shikai pointed out on the map.

"Wang Li has arranged his forces in the north but exposed their supply route."

"But... General Ye, this place is only twenty miles from the Qin army camp. If we raid here, I’m afraid we won’t retreat in time, and the Qin army will catch up to us."

"So we need to employ a little trick."

.................................

Qin Army camp.

In the tent, a Qin general sat in the center, wiping the sword in his hand, his eyes filled with murderous intent. It was clear this was a battle-hardened general.

"Report to the general, the Chu army has stationed their main force on the two sides of Wan City, with deep trenches and high fortresses, apparently intending to defend centered around Wan City."

"I anticipated this. The Chu army has fewer troops and isn’t as strong as our army; naturally, their strategy is to preserve strength, focusing on defending city fortifications and camps. Moreover, although our army is strong, we lack provisions. If the opposing general isn’t a useless figure, they must have already realized this and will exploit it to delay our attack momentum." Wang Li placed his sword on the table, speaking lightly.

As a Qin General, Wang Li also possessed a tall and commanding presence, exuding an aura of authority, seemingly born to be a leader.

"Speaking of the Chu commander, I have some doubts."

"Speak freely."

"Logically, this is a life-and-death confrontation between us and the Chu army. The Chu army should exert all efforts to protect Wan City, yet Mi Wen this time appointed a surrendered general as commander and had him lead all the Chu troops, which makes me quite puzzled." As he spoke, Wang Li’s eyes gleamed, and he bore a proud expression.

"I have heard of this person. If you calculate, he only joined the Qin army last year, using less than a year to become a general commanding ten thousand soldiers, and was granted the title ’General Yi’ by the court. Last year, he fought the Wolf Clan on the border, winning against all odds and saving General Meng Tian, thus being highly valued. General Meng Tian even specifically allowed him to go to Xianyang to meet the Emperor."

"In just one year, he became a general—a really unbelievable feat." Wang Li’s deputy general exclaimed with admiration.

"Indeed, I am quite surprised too. This young man has no background in the court, nor is he from a general’s family, even in the local counties he was merely an obscure junior, yet within a year he achieved so many military merits. Truly unbelievable." Wang Li displayed a puzzled expression.

"Moreover, as a surrendered general, how he earned Mi Wen’s deep trust is really baffling."

"General, I have a strategy, but I don’t know whether I should say it."

"Go ahead."

"Since he has received favor from the court, why not, before the battle, find a way to meet him and attempt to persuade him to surrender? Thus, first diplomacy then military action. Secondly, if he truly is willing to defect, our army could reclaim the entirety of Nanyang without losing a single soldier and potentially eradicate all remnants of Chu."