Zhang Liao's Domain Expansion -2
Ma Liang and I argued for over two full hours. I wanted to use the cavalry for guerrilla tactics, but we clashed over the enemy's skill level—or lack thereof. I saw them as a ragtag mob, while Ma Liang insisted they weren't.
"Stack the square formation thick and brace spears against the cavalry charge... You really think the enemy can pull that off?"
The skills of freshly trained rabble are pitiful.
Just look at the Yellow Turbans. Zhang Jue's personally trained elites racked up victory after victory against the imperial army, but after his death, the rest of those ragtag mobs got utterly crushed.
"Wait a second..."
"What's on your mind?"
Xu Shu replied as if wondering what was bothering me, but my thoughts were elsewhere.
The rest of those ragtag mobs got utterly crushed...?
...!!!!
Why was I only thinking about defending?
Guerrilla tactics...?
Is that really the way?
A bolt of insight flashed through my mind.
That had to be it. Confirmation bias.
I'd gotten fixated on the impressive Hefei cavalry Zhang Liao had shown me...!
"Hold on a sec. Let me think this over."
"Finally coming around?"
Ma Liang's retort didn't even register.
We can't just hunker down on defense. It'll end in disaster—the worst possible outcome.
The morale-busting strategy to make them flee is still valid.
But I've got the board all wrong.
We need to seize the advantageous high ground first.
After more than two hours of going in circles, it was time to put an end to it.
"Let's march out. How about hitting them where they're most vulnerable? We've got plenty of boats, after all."
I tossed out a bold new option no one had suggested.
Defending Jiangxia hands the initiative to the enemy.
Defense is usually advantageous, but we're in a special situation here.
I'd overlooked that.
With their overwhelming numbers right now, a siege is a bad move.
We have... far too much territory to protect.
Defend one spot, and they'll just maintain the encirclement while gobbling up the rest.
We can't yield anywhere.
So we march out.
We need to preemptively claim key points. My eyes drifted to the map. One spot jumped out.
A plain right in front of Changsha.
Nahyeon Plains. Perfect for our decisive battleground.
Use the boats to rush the cavalry into position upfront.
Tough operation, but with prep, we can make it in time.
Main army camps near the river by Yangyang, checking their river crossing.
From Jiangxia, boats to Changsha for the push.
That was my strategy. Having pieced it together, I laid it out slowly.
"We can't stick to defense. Too much land to hold."
Time to pivot to offense fast.
Let's build the premise.
Not all armies of 20,000 are equal. Treat it as a loose coalition.
Look at the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance. Crush one side, and cracks form in the whole thing.
Thus...
I reached the conclusion.
I tapped the table.
"We grab our chance in one battle."
My initial guerrilla idea.
Terrain makes it tricky. I'd imagined scattering cavalry units everywhere.
Those scattered riders enveloping our defenders at Jiangxia.
But no. That's not the picture.
Why? Why play defense at all? Because their army's huge?
Think bigger.
Send Zhang Liao to a bigger board.
"We go on the offensive. Any objections? Of course there are—I've just convinced myself. We'll preemptively position the cavalry."
As expected, Ma Liang asked with a worried tone.
"Why go on the offensive, as you say? Their numbers overwhelm us, don't they?"
"They do. But I see a path to victory. Strike like lightning before they form ranks and solidify command."
From watching their light cavalry at Baman and Hefei, I'd realized something.
They're no good in prolonged melee.
Like bullets. Fire once, no take-backs. Save 'em for the critical shot—bang!
This is an era where you use men like ammo. Cavalry vs. infantry charge is like an automatic pistol versus a revolver in firepower.
"Horses tire surprisingly fast. Speed is key—disrupt their lines, feint to sow chaos. That's the forward deployment plan, not a head-on slugfest."
"Hmm... Doubtful if it'll yield real gains."
"Probe their strengths and weaknesses, dent their morale—that's gain enough."
Ma Liang nodded.
"Gains, you say? Offense with cavalry recon? Tactically, it feels like the worst of the worst."
"Why?"
"Loading cavalry on boats for a crossing is near-suicide. And charging into the teeth of superior forces? That's throwing men into the fire. Where's the gain?"
Spot on, every word. Big bro Ma Su lives up to the name—wait, no, Ma Liang.
"Vanguard and rearguard stretch out long. Move fast, and we hit their lead before they bunch up. They haven't even mobilized yet. Now's the moment."
I said it smoothly, but how do I convince them concretely?
Nothing but conviction will do. I pressed on with confidence.
"They'd never dream we're going on the offensive. We'll drive deep into Xunan."
Boats for the crossing are ready.
Use 'em for this op.
"Look here."
I pointed to a spot on the map.
"Changsha. Plains here. Check this route. Straight path from Changsha to Yangyang. This becomes the kill zone."
Xu Shu, who'd been studying the map, shot to his feet.
"Listening to this... You're saying 8,000 against 20,000? On the offensive?"
"No—make it 5,000. Reserve 3,000 garrison Jiangxia for threats and security. Our force: Jiangxia defenders plus select Jingzhou elites, total 4,000 out. Non-cavalry camps by the river before Yangyang, on standby."
I pointed to the river on the map.
"See here: west side slow current, east hills. We camp riverside, block the flanks—they have to funnel through this narrow front."
This battle never happened in history.
Han Xuan surrendered the moment Liu Bei moved on the four Xunan commanderies.
But... Romance of the Three Kingdoms has a fight.
With Huang Zhong.
Unaware of my thoughts, Xu Shu scanned the map and replied.
"Even with their numbers, the frontline stays narrow for close combat. Rear troops just watch."
"Exactly. Or they'll try flanking through hills or forcing a crossing."
Xu Shu nodded.
"If we assume rabble, they won't pull it off. No idea why you think that, though."
Easy answer to Xu Shu's point. Has Sun Quan holding Jiangxia exposed Changsha to threats before? No. This place has been too peaceful.
"Simple—they've got no war experience."
Xu Shu could only nod at Chen Soyoung's words.
We'd already shown it at Yushugou.
At Baman too.
Time to show something again.
"Eyes on this plain."
The plain where newly appointed Changsha prefect Sun Jian supposedly crushed the rebels.
Nahyeon Plains.
History says Sun Jian swiftly and boldly quelled the uprising.
"Any objections?"
Ma Liang raised his hand cautiously.
"Plains favor cavalry... but if the horses tire out and fail when it matters, won't that be a fatal mistake?"
"Good point."
I nodded and continued.
"It's to shatter their command from the start. Think: we can't even unify a dozen opinions here—imagine with 20,000."
"Understood. But I must ask again: why send cavalry into the meat grinder?"
"If they halt at our riverside camp or split to flank, it'll hurt... but we're not sending them to die."
I glanced at Zhang Liao.
"I'll boldly charge the cavalry into the hot zone."
Ma Liang bristled at "hot zone."
"You're underestimating them. What if even one competent commander forms a spear wall? How do you handle the aftermath?"
Han Xuan's ace Huang Zhong is there.
Personally, I see Huang Zhong as a human weapon—terrifying to face.
But.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
We've got our own Hefei-made human weapon.
"But... who?"
"This defeated general."
An awkward tension rippled between them.
If Zhang Liao and Ma Liang started bantering, the meeting would descend into chaos, so I jumped in quick.
"To sum up: 1,000 cavalry cross first, sow chaos. We camp riverside to block their crossing, meet them head-on. If they force it, drown 'em. If they hesitate, cavalry strikes again."
"But who takes that role?"
"The man in front of you, Ma Liang. He's got it."
*
We mobilized faster than Han Xuan's main force, thanks to intel arriving early.
As expected, the enemy showed signs of heading through Nahyeon, then boating in.
"Chilly."
This spot, facing Nahyeon across the biting river wind. "Trust you with it." Up front: Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, Cheonma.
We dropped the cavalry in the hills, then reboarded for near Yangyang.
No seasickness today.
