"Your Majesty, I feel that Minister Wu’s words are not without merit, but somehow it seems that it’s not entirely as it appears.

Based on my understanding of Yan Country, they are quite cunning, and this time Zhao Country is surely involved.

It indicates that this mobilization must be a collaboration between the two countries.

After all, from the previous battle at Shanhaiguan, it is evident that Shanhaiguan is one of the key routes they aim to open, to allow a large number of Zhao’s soldiers to enter from there.

However, I sense that not all Zhao soldiers intend to take this route exclusively, and it seems some of Zhao’s soldiers have already infiltrated our Great Yan Country’s troops.

This means that among the forces attacking our eleven cities, at least half are Zhao’s soldiers.

The reason for such a situation, I feel, is to divert our attention."

These words left everyone present in a state of confusion, unsure of what they meant, thinking it might not differ from what Minister Wu had previously stated.

Why are there differing views, then?

For a moment, everyone looked at Leng Yu with questioning eyes, eager to understand what he truly meant.

However, facing everyone’s inquiries and puzzled looks, Leng Yu calmly continued to speak:

"The reason for these troops splitting into two paths, or more accurately, why Zhao splits their forces, is to create a diversion.

According to my intuition, all the cities under attack are fake targets.

They do not intend to take these ten cities by storm, but rather use these ten cities to hold our attention.

Then, taking advantage of the opportunity, allow a large number of Zhao’s soldiers to pass through Shanhaiguan directly into our interior, seizing our Capital City in one fell swoop."

A collective gasp was heard.

With Leng Yu’s words, the hall plunged into a state of commotion.

Everyone was stunned, then started glancing at one another, whispering amongst themselves continuously.

No one had considered this possibility; they only believed among these ten cities, some must be decoys, and the real target would be just a few key cities.

But they never thought that potentially all the attacked cities were decoys, with no intention of capturing any of them.

Their ultimate goal turned out to be the Capital City.

After all, those cities, although in the heartland of the nation,

are still quite distant from the Capital City.

One could say, even if they capture those places, they may gain a granary but still can’t get near the Capital City.

Because between those areas and the Capital City, there are still more than a dozen cities.

The idea of breaking through to here all at once is mere wishful thinking.

Even if they possess strong combat power, advancing unimpeded, so many cities could deplete their forces substantially.

That’s exactly why no one considered that their target might be the Capital City, especially Minister Wu, after hearing these words, furrowed his brows and was the first to rebut:

"General Leng, I feel you are being alarmist here.

Our Capital City, although closer to Zhao compared to other places, still has numerous cities in between.

Moreover, most of our garrison is concentrated here; how would they dare suddenly attack our Capital City?

Do they really not fear a one-way trip?"

The garrison near our Capital City amount to nearly 200,000 people.

With an army of 200,000 gathered here, who dares to provoke us?

Let alone Yan or Zhao, even if they combined their forces, completely capturing our Capital City would still be difficult, potentially ending in mutual destruction."

Just as Minister Wu stated, there are indeed 200,000 troops stationed around the Capital City.

If two powers decided with determination to summon all their forces to attack, maybe they could muster 200-300,000 troops, but they would be fighting away from home.

Moreover, leaving aside whether logistics could keep up, in a siege, even 300,000 troops wouldn’t guarantee victory over 200,000 defenders.

Therefore, Minister Wu reasoned, Leng Yu’s analysis was irrational in his mind.

After all, no one would be foolish enough to attack a city defended by 200,000 troops with 300,000 soldiers.

Additionally, if they aimed at our Capital City, our 200,000 wouldn’t stand alone; reinforcements could be drawn from nearby cities, forming 300,000 easily.

With an inner-outer pincer movement, wouldn’t they be beaten handily?

Our forces might turn the tide and invade their lands in retaliation.

As Minister Wu finished, everyone nodded in agreement, believing Minister Wu had it right, with no trust in Leng Yu’s claims.

None presumed the opponent foolish enough to strike the Capital City.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi, throughout, watched, smiling at the proceedings, observing each person, wearing a faint smile without refuting either side.

He waited for the discussion to conclude before looking at Leng Yu, smiling as he spoke:

"Heh, it seems quite a few people disagree with this perspective. However, General Leng, please share your thoughts with everyone, helping them understand your reasoning."

Evidently, with Lin Yi’s statement, the crowd sensed that Lin Yi believed in Leng Yu’s views.

Otherwise, against so many ministers’ objections, Lin Yi would have dismissed it outright.

But, instead, inviting Leng Yu to clarify, suggested that weights of many gathered here couldn’t match the significance of Leng Yu in Lin Yi’s eyes.

Some felt indignant initially, but upon seeing Leng Yu’s enchanting visage, they silently shook their heads.

[To be continued...]

PS: Wishing the nation ever stronger and wishing everyone a happy July 1st!