First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 57
Chapter 57: Map Opening
Lian Sheng patted the mud off her feet and said, "Right now, the gap between us and the enemy doesn't seem large, but the situation is actually quite dire. If we can't resolve the disparity between the two sides, it will directly determine the outcome. If you don't take risks, defeat is already certain."
The commander said, "Stop spreading alarmist talk here."
Lian Sheng replied, "Then think about what I'm saying. Suppose the enemy does exactly this—can you come up with a countermeasure?"
The commander fell silent.
A lieutenant said, "Never mind her identity for now. She's made her point, and it makes sense. Under normal circumstances, shouldn't we at least consider it?"
The commander asked, "Then what do you propose?"
Lian Sheng said, "I need a cavalry unit."
"We can't spare any cavalry. And you just said yourself that we're already short on troops," the commander retorted. "If your guess is wrong and you take away a cavalry unit, our Chu team will be completely finished."
Lian Sheng rubbed her face vigorously.
The commander added, "And there might not even be anyone willing to follow you!"
Lian Sheng turned to the infantry lieutenant beside her and said, "You can earn points. Trust me."
Their infantry squad had barely scored any points so far. Their performance hadn't been outstanding, so they couldn't expect extra points from the professors—their only hope was the reward for winning.
The infantry lieutenant thus supported her: "Personally, I'm willing. I won't give up any chance or possibility of victory, nor will I ignore the risks and hidden dangers. My academic evaluation depends on this, so thank you."
The commander shouted irritably, "But we can't spare a cavalry unit! Where are we supposed to get one?"
Lian Sheng said, "If it's not cavalry, we'll have to go on foot. By the time we reach the enemy, it'll be too late."
Before she could continue negotiating, the frontline scouts reported, "Situation update—the Liu team is attacking head-on! Numbers unknown, but the momentum is strong. Prepare accordingly."
The commander took off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Arguing about this now is pointless! The Liu team is already at our doorstep!"
"This is the crux of the matter—this is your strategy!" Lian Sheng shot back. "So what if they're here? You're panicking! On the eve of battle, you still haven't decided on your strategy and just want to charge in? Even primitive people didn't fight like that!"
The commander said, "My strategy was decided long ago!"
The others sighed wearily. They couldn't persuade each other, fundamentally disagreeing at heart.
The scout continued reporting, "The enemy is getting closer, commanders. How should we arrange our formation?"
Further arguing would yield no results. They were wasting precious time.
Now, they could only fight head-on, scrape together a few pitiful kills, and call it their final harvest.
Lian Sheng walked back to the team and said, "Fine. Stick to your tactics. Deploy the troops."
The commander closed his eyes, running through his thoughts.
By rejecting Lian Sheng, he was rejecting a group from Alliance University. But he couldn't guarantee she was wrong either—part of him even thought her reasoning made sense. Lian Sheng's confident and decisive predictions and plans had indeed influenced him.
The Alliance University students watched quietly, faint smiles on their faces.
Perfect. They'd missed their best opportunity—this had become a fatal mistake.
The facts had already proven Lian Sheng's guess correct.
If the commander agreed now but they still lost, it would be because they'd missed the critical moment. The new commander's indecisiveness and delay would be an inescapable blame.
If the commander agreed and they somehow won, the credit would go to Lian Sheng for turning the tide.
Given the current situation, if the Chu team commander stuck to his guns, the Chu team would likely lose. Then they could mercilessly mock the First Military Academy guys.
A pro was willing to carry them, but they chose to wallow in mediocrity. Why bother?
Thinking it over, the last scenario was the most satisfying.
The Chu team commander said, "If you can gather the people, then take them. I won't allocate troops to you."
Lian Sheng raised an eyebrow. "You're saying I should recruit my own soldiers?"
The commander snorted. "You have less than five minutes. If no one's willing to go with you, or if you can't gather at least a hundred, fall back into formation. I won't let you waste troops for nothing."
Lian Sheng ran to one side and announced over the public channel, "Attention all Chu team members—this is Lian Sheng from Alliance University. Anyone willing to join me in raiding the enemy's flag, assemble on the left side of the camp now! I repeat, those willing to come with me, gather on the left side of the camp. Quickly!"
The soldiers heard the order but were baffled. Willing to go with her? What did that mean?
Then the commander's voice followed: "All other soldiers, listen up! Except for those guarding the flag and supply depot, everyone assemble at the front of the camp to prepare for battle! Lian Sheng's group is a strike team—participation is voluntary. They are not under my command, and I will not provide support no matter what happens!"
A soldier asked, "Are we splitting up?"
The lieutenants nodded. "Yes."
A few scattered soldiers stepped out and headed left. The rest formed ranks and prepared for battle.
Lian Sheng stood to the side, counting the time. In the end, fewer than three hundred showed up—mostly Alliance University students supporting their schoolmate.
They didn't know the details or why the commander had split the forces. They stood waiting for Lian Sheng to explain.
Lian Sheng had the ragtag group form up and moved through the crowd. Spotting a familiar face, she exclaimed, "Cheng Ze? What are you doing here?"
Cheng Ze replied, "...What do you think?"
This was a randomly assigned battlefield—no one could control their assigned roles.
Lian Sheng sighed. "Seeing you as a grunt puts my mind at ease." The camaraderie of war truly existed.
Cheng Ze said, "But I'm still cavalry."
Lian Sheng said, "So you've just got an extra horse between your legs."
She circled halfway and saw another familiar face—Ye Buqing.
So this tournament really had many experts. Even the grunts couldn't be underestimated.
They eventually gathered sixty-one cavalry, thanks largely to Cheng Ze and Ye Buqing rallying their comrades. The rest were infantry.
Lian Sheng asked, "How many people can fit on a cavalry horse?"
Cheng Ze said, "Two, and it'll slow the horse down."
"Still better than running," Lian Sheng said, pointing to the front row. "First row of infantry, step forward and ride with the cavalry. The rest, advance on foot! Pass the checkpoint, switch to the central route, and wait for my orders at the green point."
Lian Sheng mounted Cheng Ze's horse and split their meager forces into two groups, heading for the enemy camp.
They took side paths to avoid the main force on the central road.
Before long, they could hear the sounds of battle nearby.
Truly, the fate of two armies—of a nation—hung on a single general.
Lian Sheng's ears were filled with urgent reports from the lieutenants. The commander was deploying troops and trying to boost morale, but the strain was evident.
They still hadn't touched the supply depot's forces, keeping their best soldiers near the flag.
The Liu team's reinforcements kept coming, and the pressure would only grow. Once the numbers gap became obvious, panic would set in, leading to an unstoppable rout.
After passing the central checkpoint, Lian Sheng led her troops onto the wide middle road.
Cheng Ze and the others had been worried, but they encountered no resistance along the way.
Cheng Ze looked around. "The central checkpoint—I thought they'd taken it. Why isn't anyone here?"
Lian Sheng said, "The Chu team commander fell, morale is low. If they don't seize this chance to decide the battle, are they just giving us time to recover?"
Her group was a ragtag bunch with no time to adjust squad channels. Plans had to be explained face-to-face, drastically reducing flexibility.
After ten minutes on horseback, they reached the previous side path. Lian Sheng called a halt.
The first group of 122: twenty-five heavy cavalry, thirty-nine light cavalry, thirty heavy infantry. The rest were archers.
She'd brought all the archers.
"Heavy infantry, spread out!" Lian Sheng had only one order. "Everyone hold here. Don't let anyone through!"
A soldier asked, confused, "Just hold? Not attack? What's in there?"
Lian Sheng said, "Probably the supply depot."
The soldiers grew excited. "Then why not attack? We've found the enemy's supplies—why bring so few people?"
"You can't win. They outnumber you," Lian Sheng said bluntly. "We'll pick the narrowest path and hold it. Heavy infantry shields can form five or six rows, with heavy cavalry supporting from behind. Archers, fire on command. The goal isn't kills—just stop anyone trying to get out. Cheng Ze, you're in charge here."
Cheng Ze asked directly, "How many are inside?"
Lian Sheng said, "I estimate no more than three hundred."
Cheng Ze agreed readily. "Then it's doable, but not for long. If they attack in force, I can buy twenty minutes at most. After that, see you outside."
A soldier said, "What if they just stay inside? With troops so tight, is this all we came here for?"
Lian Sheng had no time to explain. She turned, leaning on her sword. "Since you've chosen to trust me, follow my orders. I can say without shame that the outcome of this battle rests in our hands."
She opened the map. "If you don't believe me, look at the kill counts."
Current kills:
Chu Team (1785) : Liu Team (2019)
Both sides were losing troops fast. In just over ten minutes of fighting, about five hundred had fallen. With such large numbers, the decline wasn't obvious yet, but the Chu team's disproportionate losses couldn't be ignored.
Lian Sheng said, "If this continues, our flag will fall sooner or later. The only way is to strike the Liu team's camp before they strike ours."
A cavalryman said, "How? There are so few of us!"
Lian Sheng said, "That's the commander's job. A commander must ensure no soldier's sacrifice is in vain."
She stepped back and bowed deeply.
"Right now, I can't make any promises. I'll do everything I can for victory, but this heavy task falls to you! Soldiers, shoulder this burden and press forward without retreat. This is our only choice."
She raised her hand and shouted, "Light cavalry, with me!"
Ye Buqing led the remaining light cavalry to meet up with the infantry further back.
They waited at the designated spot for a few minutes before the main group arrived.
Ye Buqing relayed Lian Sheng's plan.
"What? Storm the flag?" The infantry exchanged glances, hesitant. "There are less than two hundred of us! All infantry, charging the enemy camp?"
Ye Buqing said, "The goal is just to take the flag—break through at one point, ignore everything else. I'll take command then."
A soldier said, "That won't work! That's the Liu team's flag—we won't even get close!"
Ye Buqing said, "They don't have many people."
The soldiers protested, "That's just a guess. The map isn't even open—how do you know how many are there?"
One soldier said awkwardly, "It's not that we don't trust you, but can you at least explain properly? This is a mess—where's Lian Sheng?"
Such a bold, aggressive strategy wasn't for everyone.
They weren't truly commander and subordinates—everyone had the right to question. But they had no time for debates.
The Chu commander's experience told Lian Sheng that the most convincing argument was facts.
Ye Buqing said, "Wait for the map to open. Then you'll see how many are inside."
A soldier asked, "Who's opening it?"
Ye Buqing said, "Lian Sheng."
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