aircannonsinc Chapter 821 The real purpose of the Chu army, Yangping Pass!
Chapter 821 The real purpose of the Chu army, Yangping Pass!
"Black powder...military standard..." Gao Yao muttered to himself, his eyes sharp as a knife, "Do you think you can handle it just by knowing 'one nitre, two sulfur, three charcoal'?"
In ancient times, without sophisticated instruments, every step of raw material purification was a test of patience and skill; every mixing and matching process was like dancing on a knife's edge; storage and transportation were even more of a nightmare, threatening to explode at any moment. Gao Yao understood the hardships involved, having weathered the storms step by step. Even if his opponents had the "manuscript" in hand, replicating usable military-grade gunpowder and establishing effective combat effectiveness would require a similar expenditure of time, resources, and blood. This time difference, along with his more sophisticated, powerful, and numerous gunpowder weapons, was his trump card for victory.
Therefore, the news that Xiang Yu might have gunpowder was worthy of vigilance and needed to be taken seriously, but it was by no means enough to make Gao Yao feel frightened.
Gao Yao's voice echoed in the quiet study, with a calmness that penetrated the fog: "Even if the Chu army is really lucky and has discovered black powder, what is there to worry about?"
Gao Yao walked over to the giant sand table and pointed his finger firmly at the spot representing Xianyang. "It's no secret that the Southern Border Army has been equipped with gunpowder. Why does Xiang Yu think that this newly developed, questionable, and limited 'stuff' in his possession can offset the advantages our army has built up over the years, and even give him the confidence to storm the fortress of Hangu Pass?"
He turned around, his eyes piercing, staring directly at Xiao He: "This 'coincidence' itself is full of evil! What kind of place is Xianyang! The Chu army was able to capture Xianyang the first time only because of the combined forces, and because Xianyang had no more soldiers available."
"Our army is now fully prepared. We have reinforced our defenses and manpower. As the Art of War says, 'A spent crossbow cannot penetrate a thin silken cloth.' Xiang Yu may be reckless, but he's no fool, and Fan Zeng is even more shrewd and calculating! They know the opportunity has been lost, yet they're still forcing Hangu Pass. Their chances of success are slim, and casualties are bound to be heavy. This defies any strategic logic! It certainly doesn't align with the choices of a warlord whose goal is to preserve his power and conquer the world!"
Gao Yao's question was like a key, instantly unlocking the map-bound door in Xiao He's mind. All his previous deductions had been based on the assumption that the Chu army's target was Xianyang and the Hangu Pass. Now, with Gao Yao's revelation, he felt a strong sense of dissatisfaction.
Yes, this is truly bizarre! Xiao He had heard of Fan Zeng's reputation. He was renowned for his cunning and strategic thinking from a young age. After Qin Shi Huang's unification, he and Xiang Liang were considered serious threats by the imperial court. Despite being wanted for years, they managed to survive and protect themselves. His strategic thinking was truly remarkable. With him by Xiang Yu's side, how could he have devised such a nearly suicidal attack plan?
Xiao He's brow furrowed, practically twisted into a knot, his gaze fixed once again on the meticulously detailed defensive map of Xianyang's perimeter that covered his desk. He scrutinized the markings for Hangu Pass, the nearby rivers, mountains, roads... every detail, searching for any flaws he'd overlooked, or any alternate routes the Chu army might have exploited. Everything on the map pointed to the same conclusion: even with the availability of black powder, a forced attack on Xianyang would be prohibitively costly and the odds of success extremely low.
The long period of concentration and the anxiety within him left him thirsty. He straightened up, somewhat wearily, and walked away from the edge of the map. He walked to the nearby table, picked up a cup of tea that had long since cooled, and drank it all in one gulp. The cool liquid slid down his throat, bringing a brief sense of clarity.
Just as he put down his teacup and subconsciously raised his head again, his gaze passing over the desk and returning to the map—
It was like a silent thunder exploding in my mind!
The perspective has changed!
Previously, he and Gao Yao had been clinging to the edge of the map, their vision fixed firmly on Xianyang and the surrounding area of dozens of miles, as if the entire world consisted of only that one battlefield. Now, standing a few steps away, commanding a commanding view, the entire map—especially the area at the very bottom, usually overlooked by peripheral vision—came into clear view!
His body suddenly stiffened, as if struck by an invisible electric current! The hand holding the empty teacup trembled uncontrollably, and his face instantly lost all color, turning pale!
"Your Majesty!" Xiao He's voice was filled with uncontrollable horror and trembling. He almost staggered back to the desk, his knuckles turning white from excessive force. With an almost uncontrollable urgency, he fiercely stabbed at a seemingly inconspicuous pass mark at the southernmost end of the map, which was guarding the throat of the Hanzhong Basin!
"Yangping Pass! It's Yangping Pass! What if... what if the Chu army's target... isn't Xianyang, but... Yangping Pass?!"
"Yangping Pass?" Gao Yao was a bit unresponsive at first, his brow furrowed as he repeated the question subconsciously. While the name was familiar, in the tense atmosphere, it seemed too distant, seemingly unrelated to the crisis at Hangu Pass. Following Xiao He's trembling finger, his gaze rapidly moved across the map, from Xianyang down, past the markings representing the Qinling Mountains, and finally settled on the pass marked with the three small characters "Yangping Pass," which Xiao He's fingertips had firmly pressed against.
In an instant, it was like being poured over by a basin of ice water!
Gao Yao felt a chill running from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head! The relaxed and calm expression on his face froze instantly, and his pupils suddenly contracted in extreme shock!
"Yangping Pass?! How could he...his target be Yangping Pass?!"
In a flash, all the "irrationalities" instantly found the most reasonable explanation!
Feinting an attack on Hangu Pass, making a feint to the east and attacking in the west! The Chu army's large-scale deployment outside Xianyang, perhaps even deliberately leaking the news of their possession of "black powder," was all intended to create a huge smokescreen! They would draw all of Gao Yao's elite troops and their full attention to the Hangu Pass front line, pinning them down!
The real killer move lies in the south! Yangping Pass! While not as renowned as Hangu Pass, it holds the only strategic passage from the Guanzhong Plain to the Hanzhong Basin, and further into Bashu! If Yangping Pass falls, Xiang Yu's main force of the Chu army will be able to march straight into the Hanzhong Basin!
The Hanzhong Basin holds crucial significance! Hanzhong is a natural granary and a strategic hub connecting Guanzhong and Bashu! With Hanzhong, the gateway to Bashu opens wide! Xiang Yu will then not only secure a stable and prosperous rear base, but also use Hanzhong as a springboard to either attack Longxi from Qishan or penetrate the heart of Bashu through the Daba Mountains! The entire southwestern half of the Qin Empire will be exposed to the Chu army's onslaught!
This is not the most critical point. The most critical point is Xianyang. Once the Chu army takes Xianyang, it will become an isolated city, which is the most fatal.