The situation kept changing.
And the atmosphere at the entire front line was becoming increasingly strange.
——Although neither side had engaged in a real battle from start to finish, there had been no shortage of covert strategic games.
This time, Temujin was clearly serious.
He would no longer underestimate Gu Yan, and this destined the whole front-line battle to become more complicated.
...
The seventh year of Shao Guang, early November.
General Yue led 2,500 elite cavalrymen out of the city on schedule, launching a swift "sweep" against the region of Mongolian cavalry activity northwest of Dingzhou State.
The battle proceeded as Gu Yan expected——the Song Army encountered and defeated several Mongolian light cavalry squads of about a hundred men each, capturing over a hundred heads with minimal losses of their own.
However, the Mongolian Cavalry retreated decisively, seeming to respond to each other, and swiftly melded into the complex terrain. General Yue’s troops could not catch their main forces, nor did they find any pre-set ambush signs.
Throughout the process, there was no response from the Mongolian Army’s camp.
As if they were completely unconcerned.
This move undoubtedly aggravated Gu Yan’s suspicions, yet there was no way to investigate thoroughly.
Interrogate the prisoners?
Not to mention that Temujin’s control over the steppe was terrifying, the prisoners might not speak.
Even if they did, they wouldn’t possibly know Temujin’s true intentions.
Meanwhile, messages from all around were constantly coming in over time.
"Report from Anping County, a wooden bridge at ten miles north on the official road was set on fire at night, suspected to be the work of bandits."
"The transfer warehouse in Raoyang caught fire, around three hundred stones of grain lost, warehouse guards claimed they saw shadows of dozens of riders escaping."
"The canal transport fleet on the Hutuo River segment was harassed by scattered arrows from the shore, no substantial damage, but the shipmen were alarmed."
"In villages south of Hejian Prefecture, there are rumors that a large Northern Horde detachment has maneuvered behind them, though officials have debunked this, it slightly disturbed the people’s minds."
"..."
Along the entire front line, nearly everywhere, there were various disturbances.
Of course, the troops Gu Yan dispatched also played their part, intercepting many troublemakers.
But Temujin’s strategy this time was straightforward.
If encountering enemy forces, they would retreat, then specifically choose places without enemy troops to create chaos. Coupled with the Mongolian Cavalry’s inherent flexibility, this scenario naturally unfolded.
The two sides were in a constant pursuit.
——Including the front line as well.
Gu Yan never ceased pressing the Mongolian Army camp, and Temujin retaliated timely, creating an intensely stalemated situation.
Temujin indeed executed his strategy excellently.
Almost no one could see through his true intentions, and interrogation yielded no results.
He used his immense prestige to mitigate everything.
However——
As time went on, from these various evolving scenarios, Gu Yan gradually discerned Temujin’s approach.
Night at Dingzhou Xingyuan.
The candlelight brightened the solemn faces of the generals.
Gu Yan stood before the Geomancy Map, his gaze piercing as he surveyed the generals below, his voice solemn: "What General Yue’s scouts observed, the cavalry avoided battle swiftly, dispersed and reconvened like wandering ghosts."
"Together with the rear areas of Anping, Raoyang, Hutuo River, etc., bridges were burned, warehouses caught fire, bread ships harassed, and rumors spread over recent days."
"Though these issues seem minor, their scattered distribution, timely occurrence, are no ordinary bandits or routed soldiers’ doings."
He heavily pressed his finger on the map, tracing a circle along the outer defense line of Dingzhou, Zhending, and Hejian, covering the inner territory: "Temujin’s military tactics always blend the real with the unreal."
"I predict this traitor has certainly dispatched elite light cavalry, sneaking past our lines, perhaps via mountain paths or under cover of night and fog, infiltrating our rear counties."
"The intent is not to seize cities or land, but to sever our supply lines, destroy our transfers, shake our people’s spirits, leaving us unable to attend to both ends, and exhaust our soldiers."
Zhang Jue bowed with clenched fists, face showing anger: "Commander, I am willing to lead a troop to sweep the rear and ensure these rats are completely eradicated!"
"No." Gu Yan shook his head decisively, "Hejian is vital and cannot be lost. Temujin is just waiting for us to split our forces."
He pondered briefly, turning his gaze to General Liu, "General Liu."
"I am here." Liu Qi rose.
"You have long governed this place, familiar with the geography and people’s conditions in Hebei."
"Now, we need to clear these specters in the rear without shaking the fundamental front lines," Gu Yan stated, "Immediately select skilled soldiers familiar with mountainous terrain, adept in raids and proficient in riding and archery from the troops in Ding, Zhen, and Hejian towns, five hundred from each, forming a group of fifteen hundred, and independently set up a camp."
"Grant you full authority to specifically clear out the infiltrating enemies."
"This camp will not be under the jurisdiction of states and counties, but directly connected to the command post."
"Equip with sufficient guides, fast horses, and light crossbows, operate along the banks of the Hutuo River, and within the hidden pathways between each prefecture and county, destroy any small groups encountered, and pursue any traces found."
"You can use my order to command local militia assistance."
"Ensure to comb through and pluck out these hidden nails one by one."
Liu Qi solemnly clasped his fists: "I accept the order!"
Gu Yan nodded, then turned to General Yue: "General Yue."
"I am here."
"The front-line posture must not be slackened."
"Your patrolling camps must be more agile."
"Send more elite scouts operating at night, expand surveillance range, and against Bolu’s harassing cavalry, you should not always hold position and await enemy; choose brave and battle-hardened small teams to pre-emptively ambush their usual paths, counter-attack their scouts, and cut their communications."
"Additionally," Gu Yan paused slightly, "from tomorrow onwards, every three to five days, gather several thousand soldiers and horses, raise many banners, spread drums and horns, and march to visible enemy camp areas, making a show as if preparing to attack their stronghold."
"Whether to engage or not, decide based on the situation, but ensure Subutai’s main camp feels pressure at all times, not daring to easily split forces elsewhere, and certainly not letting Temujin believe we are fully preoccupied with rear issues and ignore the frontal enemy."