This Yu Xiangyang was not part of Jiang Ye's army, but rather someone who had incorporated local troops.
He was originally an officer in the Le Liu region, rising to the rank of regimental commander. Later, after offending a superior, he was demoted to company commander.
After being incorporated, he was transferred to the Kui Feichi Base and promoted back to regimental commander.
In the preceding days, the Gante army had launched continuous attacks on military bases, causing widespread panic among the major bases. Every night was like a game of werewolf, with everyone wondering which base would be unlucky enough to suffer a fierce assault.
Yu Xiangyang was the first to propose to the base's overall commander, Kui Feichi, that they abandon the idea of a static defense of the military base and instead scatter their troops into the rainforest surrounding the base, "fighting guerrilla warfare with guerrilla warfare."
Yu Xiangyang also quoted an ancient saying: "If you preserve people and lose territory, both people and territory will survive; if you preserve territory and lose people, both people and territory will be lost."
Commander Kui Feichi initially disagreed, as this approach went against conventional wisdom.
However, Yu Xiangyang volunteered to lead his regiment out to engage in guerrilla warfare, serving as an outer outpost for the base. If the Gante army attacked, his troops would bear the brunt of the casualties, buying time for the base's forces.
Kui Feichi, a man of loyalty, was deeply moved. After careful consideration, he agreed to Yu Xiangyang's strategy, dispersing most of the troops outside the base.
However, Kui Feichi remained too conservative, only agreeing to disperse the troops but not to scatter them too far. This resulted in nearly half of the casualties. Post-war sand table simulations proved that if Yu Xiangyang's strategy had been fully implemented, the total casualties could have been halved, and it would have been highly probable to annihilate all seven divisions of the Gante army, achieving an incredibly terrifying exchange ratio and a legendary victory.
After the fighting began, Kui Feichi initially commanded the troop movements according to his own ideas. However, Yu Xiangyang contacted him and accurately predicted the enemy's further movements.
After half an hour of verification, Kui Feichi discovered that Yu Xiangyang's predictions were almost entirely correct.
Thus, Kui Feichi made an extremely risky decision: he handed over command of all units to Yu Xiangyang. This bold decision saved at least fifteen thousand defending soldiers.
Yu Xiangyang did not hesitate. As soon as he took over the command channel, he began furiously deploying and maneuvering troops, quickly gaining overall control and successfully turning the tide. He used the flexible movement of a smaller force to relentlessly pressure and attack the vast Gante army, stunning the enemy within hours. This led to the intricate battle map that Jiang Ye saw.
Jiang Ye and his division commanders studied the combat process of the Kui Feichi base.
The division commanders were unanimous in their opinion: Yu Xiangyang was an absolute powerhouse.
His fighting style was extremely risky, his command was highly skilled, and his results were brilliant.
Many division commanders felt that they themselves could not have executed such audacious maneuvers.
"Get me the Kui Feichi base on the phone," Jiang Ye said to Secretary Su.
Su Yueming quickly connected the call and handed the phone to Jiang Ye.
"This is Jiang Ye," Jiang Ye said with a smile.
"Greetings, Commander! I am Kui Feichi, the overall commander of the defending forces! We are currently building defensive fortifications in the mountains!"
A gruff voice boomed from the other end of the phone, accompanied by the rumbling of construction machinery, indicating a busy scene.
"You've worked hard!" Jiang Ye said. "I've seen the battle reports from your base. Your contribution in holding off eight divisions is invaluable. We will celebrate your achievements after the war."
"Thank you, Commander! But I am ashamed to say that it was Yu Xiangyang who commanded the battle; I didn't do much!" Kui Feichi exclaimed loudly. "I request disciplinary action!"
"Your contribution lies in allowing Yu Xiangyang to command! Anyone else in your position would have stubbornly sacrificed everyone in vain! You have done well, and you will still be commended!" Jiang Ye said. "I am calling specifically to speak with Yu Xiangyang. Is he with you?"
"He is not with me; he is three hundred kilometers away! Commander, what is it you need?"
"I wish to meet him as soon as possible to discuss an important matter!"
"I will try to contact him and will call you back if I succeed!"
"You are his superior, and he has so many soldiers under him. How can you not be able to contact each other?" Jiang Ye asked, surprised. "Can't you get through to him immediately? If you can't even make a phone call, how can you fight a war?"
"Yu Xiangyang stated that it's possible there are high-level Gante spies within our defending forces, so our units must remain dispersed and avoid frequent contact, maintaining a certain distance and secrecy!" Kui Feichi replied. "Yu Xiangyang's intention is that if we ourselves don't know our own deployments, the enemy will know even less!"
Jiang Ye was astonished. "So, are you fighting independently?"
"Once the fighting starts, we get in touch! That's how we did it last night!" Kui Feichi said.
"Then please contact him and convey my desire to meet him," Jiang Ye said. "It would be best if he could speak with me directly."
"Yes! I will contact him immediately!"
The call ended.
Jiang Ye waited for a few minutes, and Kui Feichi's call came again.
"Commander, he is asking what the matter is. He cannot leave his post temporarily because he believes the Gante army will launch a fierce attack again tonight, and he must command the operation. If he leaves his position to meet you, it could lead to double the casualties," Kui Feichi said.
"Then he should not come over for now. Wait until I dispatch the mechanical troop reinforcements, and then he can return to see me," Jiang Ye said. "Kui Feichi, can you temporarily transfer your command authority to Yu Xiangyang?"
"I have already transferred it to him!" Kui Feichi said. "This man is more capable than I am! I am not power-hungry; I request that he take my position! I can handle logistics, and I am quite skilled at logistics!"
"Convey my orders to him: I grant him full autonomy. All the soldiers of your base are under his command. If nearby bases are routed, and he can organize the deserters, they will also be under his command. As for captured prisoners, if he wants to transport them to the rear, he should report it; if he wants to keep them as laborers, he can!" Jiang Ye said. "His mission is to hold the current base. If he wishes to attack, he may attack! If he needs support, I can provide it! I want to see what he can achieve!"
"Understood! I will relay your message to him! However, I request that you issue a formal document. With your signature on the document, everyone will recognize his authority one hundred percent!"
"First, get on the bus, then buy the ticket. You convey the order first, and the formal document will follow!" Jiang Ye said.
The call ended.
Jiang Ye smiled. "Interesting, this man is truly interesting."
That evening, Jiang Ye and his officers were all in the combat command room, waiting.
After several hours, there was no news.
Unexpectedly, the continuous attacks by the Gante army ceased.
Perhaps they also needed to rest and recuperate, tend to their wounded, and replenish their ammunition.
Or perhaps they were preparing a surprise attack, gathering heavy forces for a larger engagement.
Jiang Ye felt a sense of relief.
However, the strategy decided upon the previous night was no longer applicable.
The original plan was that if the Gante army attacked again and they couldn't hold, they would execute a strategic large-scale retreat according to Che Zhen's plan.
But the Gante army did not attack. Should they still retreat?
Jiang Ye decided not to retreat.
But there should be some changes.
He would replicate Yu Xiangyang's tactics across all military bases, abandoning the previous rigid static defense. All troops would move into the rainforest and mountains, preparing for guerrilla warfare.