Taking the Initiative
Ten days.
The first batch of the Taiping Army reinforcements has appeared in Xifeng County, which is about 100 miles away from Changxin!
The number is five thousand!
This unit was only hastily assembled, so they dared not act rashly!
At the same time, Xifeng County was also regarded as the first line of defense to prevent the Great Li Army from continuing to advance south.
But it's clear that the Great Li Army doesn't want to fight the Taiping Army to the death right now!
Leng Qing's purpose is simple.
By taking Pengzhou, the Taiping Army's foundation was severed.
Even if Heavenly King Hong wanted to return to provide reinforcements, the fastest route would be back from Changxin!
From other places, the journey would take at least half a month, which is simply too late in terms of time.
Ye Yingshan's 60,000-strong army is sweeping through the lost territory with unstoppable momentum.
It is gradually eroding the foundation that Heavenly King Hong has painstakingly built.
Once Pengzhou is lost, the Taiping Army will be like a rootless duckweed!
The major southern prefectures will also respond to the imperial court's order and fight to the death.
At that time, the Taiping Army would no longer have a place to survive.
"General Ye has ordered us to hold Changxin for at least two months."
Qin Yan looked at the order that had been sent over and handed the envelope to Shi Xiong and Feng Yi.
What are your thoughts, Generals?
After receiving the envelope, Shi Xiong and his companion examined it carefully, their brows furrowing slightly.
"We are all cavalry; we are completely ineffective in defending the city."
"Good!"
Qin Yan nodded slightly. "If we want to defend Changxin, there is a huge gap in high-end combat power."
To hold out, we need to bring in more highly skilled warriors to assist us.
General Ye was probably afraid of a sudden attack by the Taiping Army, so he dared not easily send us away.
After all, we have the advantage now. As long as we hold on, the others will have more time to attack Pengzhou!
And eliminate Lang Futian!
However, I have already written a letter, preparing to ask General Ye to send someone to relieve the troops!
But before that, we can consider eating Xifeng!
"Eat up Xifeng!"
Shi Xiong and Feng Yi were immediately taken aback.
"Right now, I need to focus on protecting Changxin; there's no need to take too many risks." Shi Xiong frowned slightly, somewhat disapproving of the plan.
"The real danger will come when the Xifeng forces have amassed a sufficient number of personnel."
Qin Yan said in a low voice, "We have a total of eight thousand cavalry, while Xifeng currently only has five thousand second-rate ragtag troops. Their combat strength is simply no match for ours."
With my ability to breach cities, plus eight thousand cavalry, if we cannot defeat it, we can atone with our deaths.
The important thing is not just to annihilate this 5,000-strong force, but to destroy Xifeng City!
"What...!"
Shi Xiong was shocked. "Xifeng is the county seat of my Great Li!"
"But he's not in our hands."
Qin Yan said coldly, "Xifeng County is the only place within a hundred miles where the enemy can establish a defensive line."
Rather than let him become a threat to our safety, we should burn him down.
At that time, the Taiping Army will have no defensible terrain, and their operations will become much more cautious.
Shi Xiong and his companion dared not speak, constantly weighing the pros and cons in their minds.
"I know what you two are worried about. My men have already been deployed."
According to the latest intelligence, the second batch of the Taiping Army reinforcements, numbering 15,000, will arrive within three days!
That means we have three days.
Defeating Xifeng would not only weaken the enemy forces but also slow down their march!
It should be noted that this was an emergency relief effort by the Taiping Army, so they certainly wouldn't be bringing too much food and supplies!
Therefore, we should first break through the Xifeng, and then carry out a scorched earth policy.
With the mobility of my Red Shadow Army, we can completely disrupt the enemy's supply lines!
Without food, perhaps I still have a sliver of a chance to wipe out these 15,000 people!
With such merit, I believe the two generals deserve a generous reward.
Even if the plan fails, the task of delaying the Taiping Army can still be successfully completed.
Even to be transferred away from here to gain greater merit.
The two pondered the likelihood of Qin Yan's plan succeeding!
It wouldn't be difficult for them to eliminate the defenders of Xifeng, and their subsequent plans weren't impossible.
Their desire to follow Qin Yan was naturally driven by the hope of gaining greater merit.
They didn't get to share in the credit for capturing Changxin.
Even if they are credited for defending the city, the recognition they receive will not be significant.
But the other generals who followed Ye Yingshan in conquering cities and seizing territories must have earned considerable merit.
Weighing the pros and cons.
The two immediately gritted their teeth and nodded.
We are willing to follow the Count of Qinghe!
"Good!"
Qin Yan smiled immediately, "After breaking through Xifeng, I need the two of you to evacuate, and leave the people within a hundred miles!"
I'll find a way to sabotage their supplies!
"Your subordinate obeys."
Qin Yan and his men acted swiftly, leaving only a thousand men to guard the city while the rest went out in full force.
Seven thousand cavalrymen swiftly charged towards Xifeng!
That afternoon, they had already reached Xifeng County!
"Enemy attack!"
The Taiping Army defending the city were terrified when they saw the densely packed cavalry.
They never expected the Great Li Army to launch a sudden attack at this time.
Swish!
A beam of red light descended from the sky, and the heavy city gate was instantly blasted into pieces.
"General Qin's Archery are always incredibly impressive, no matter how many times I watch them."
Shi Xiong was amazed by what he saw!
There is absolutely no way to counter this kind of Archery.
Feng Yi, standing nearby, was equally full of praise, "General Qin's Archery are probably unparalleled in the world."
"Haha, you two don't need to praise me so much. Right now, we must break through Xifeng as quickly as possible and let the Taiping Army know the terror of my Great Li Iron Cavalry!"
Qin Yan smiled calmly as arrows relentlessly blasted away the Taiping garrison on the city gate.
The terrifying destructive power terrified the Taiping Army, preventing them from advancing.
The iron cavalry Xifeng County like a torrent!
Warhorses neighed and trampled!
Wherever their iron hooves passed, they stirred up a storm of blood and carnage.
Qin Yan immediately located the city's garrison commander, a Qi Refining Realm cultivator!
This man was frantically giving orders, instructing his men to defend against the cavalry charge!
Upon seeing this, Qin Yan immediately smiled.
An amateur directing a professional!
Standing atop the city wall, Qin Yan surveyed everything from his vantage point, and in an instant, his Ink Sun Bow unleashed a blood-red arrow!
Boom!
The enemy general, a kilometer away, was instantly blasted into a bloody pulp, and the area within dozens of meters of him was also blasted into a large crater.
Using his powerful perception, Qin Yan targeted and eliminated the most skilled warriors in the Taiping Army.
Terrifying ranged attack capability.
Those warriors didn't even have a chance to react before being taken down by a single arrow!
Furthermore, its terrifying destructive power terrified the Taiping Army, sending them into a panic.
Thinking it was divine punishment, the morale of the entire army plummeted to rock bottom.
Lei Tong, Shi Xiong, and Feng Yi charged to the front, their terrifying martial prowess tearing the Taiping Army apart like arrows!
Qin Yan coordinated remotely to suppress any signs of resistance.
Anyone who dared to organize a counterattack was met with a merciless arrow that blew them to pieces.
The entire battle was exceptionally smooth, and the Xifeng County was successfully captured with minimal losses!
The defending army of Xifeng was completely annihilated.