Yang He nodded.

Military strategy emphasizes understanding oneself and the enemy.

Before arriving, on this journey, he conducted extensive investigations, becoming quite knowledgeable about the affairs of Western Xia, King Jin.

The same was true for Yang Chenyi.

However, he focused his attention on the history of King Jin.

"King Jin was originally the younger brother of the King of Western Xia, yet he is valiant and skillful in warfare!"

"These years, he established distinguished service for the Royal Family!"

"For him to usurp the throne so easily is closely related to his past achievements and the reputation he built in the court!"

"This shows he excels at conducting military operations, deploying troops, and possesses extraordinary talent as a strategist!"

The others nodded in agreement.

Everyone discussed back and forth, finally reaching a conclusion:

This person is formidable, and must not be underestimated!

Underestimation is a major taboo in military operations.

As long as one is cautious and thoroughly analyzes, half the battle is won.

This is the truth.

...

Meanwhile.

Inside the Western Xia camp.

King Jin and his soldiers were also accounting for the opposing forces sent to meet them.

In a luxurious tent embroidered with silver threads.

King Jin donned a war armor made of wolf skin and held an unknown animal bone necklace around his neck, seated at the head.

On either side stood a few deputy generals and military advisors personally selected by him.

These were valiant warriors, one in a hundred.

The advisors were seasoned old veterans.

Everyone held their breath, studying the maps and enemy generals with King Jin.

"Leading the opposing force is Minister of War Yang He, quickly report any intelligence!"

No sooner said than done.

His maternal uncle Hastu, an advisor, stepped forward immediately.

"Emperor, it’s said Yang He has served as Minister of War for most of his life in Great Chu!"

"Being Minister of War in the Chu Dynasty is not a minor post, overseeing all military deployments in the Capital!"

"This person surely possesses excellent abilities and ample experience and courage!"

This type of person is particularly troublesome.

Hai Xiangjin’s expression indeed worsened, sharply glancing at the others.

"What else? We sent so many scouts in! And only gathered this paltry information?"

Then, another advisor stepped forward.

"Emperor, I heard that General Yang’s son also came along!"

Hai Xiangjin’s expression grew even more displeased.

"Damn it, what kind of intelligence is this?!"

"I want to know his capabilities, his weaknesses, his shortcomings!"

What do I care about his son?!

The advisor immediately dared not speak, and quickly shrank to the side.

Soon someone else came forward.

"Emperor, the information I received says there is also a General Xia among the enemy forces!"

"He seems to be a Marquis in the Great Chu Dynasty, his actual position is yet to be discovered!"

Marquis Zhongyong is a title, easily discovered.

But specific positions involving the Royal Family, especially the Emperor’s, are confidential!

Those serving beside the Emperor in the Imperial Forest Army.

Even their names must be confidential, let alone a Commander!

They could only discover it by luck! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Hai Xiangjin’s expression worsened further.

His fan-like palm smashed the table into pieces in a fit of anger.

"Damn!"

"War is imminent, and you show me this rubbish?!"

Incompetent fools who do not deserve to waste food and salary by staying by his side, better be slain clean!

The others turned pale and quickly knelt down to plead for mercy.

Hai Xiangjin impatiently waved them off.

"This time you are spared!!"

"Next time, if you don’t thoroughly investigate, I’ll take your lives!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Everyone pleaded until their lives were spared.

Faced with this life-threatening urgency, they finally worked hard to gather a wide range of intelligence reports for him.

"Commander Yang He is upright, receiving the most orthodox education all his life, an upright gentleman!"

"He is skilled in direct battles, attacks and defenses alike, extremely formidable!"

"But his weakness is: not skilled in employing deceptive tactics"

"There’s a saying in Chu Dynasty: ’All’s fair in war,’ a general who doesn’t use deception isn’t a good general..."

"His son is better than his father but lacks experience, insufficient to be a threat for now!"

"As for Xia Tingfeng, there is no trace of where he serves, no clues, speculated to be serving beside the Emperor of Great Chu!"

Otherwise, it would be impossible to have no clues!

After listening to this myriad of information, Hai Xiangjin finally nodded satisfactorily.

"This is more like it!"

"Reward!"

Everyone, as if granted amnesty, knelt and bowed.

"Thank you, Emperor!"

Hai Xiangjin waved for them to rise.

He took the map and the just-gathered intelligence, pondering deeply.

In matters of warfare, no one surpasses his expertise.

The most crucial aspect boils down to two words: "treat the right ailment!"

You excel at direct combat, but I definitely won’t engage you in direct combat!

Your father and son act jointly, and lack experience, then I will pinpoint the weaknesses and fiercely strike them.

Your martial skills are supreme, but it doesn’t matter!

Not surpassing you in direct combat, I’ll set traps and use all sorts of unscrupulous means I possess!

Additionally.

He spent two to three months in the Chu Dynasty.

Though he rarely interacted with those officials, he at least saw their appearance and demeanor, more or less understanding their temperaments and character.

These things are easy to overlook, yet not entirely useless.

On the contrary, they are quite important!

Who has a fiery temper and is impatient, who is calm and stable as Mount Tai, all tied to their military formation style.

King Jin focused on the map and research for quite a while,

not overlooking a single piece of information above.

He filtered all information through, picking those beneficial to him and those detrimental!

Like a patient fox guarding prey.

Seeking the right moment and waiting for the perfect hunting opportunity.

...

When opposing each other, you are strong, I am strong too!

You don’t underestimate the enemy, neither do I.

You tread carefully, I unravel the thread.

You understand me, I understand you too!

In such a situation, against such opponents, not daring to make a single mistake.

Everyone must give their utmost effort and concentration!

The first battle ignited one night.

King Jin sent forces to assault Yinshan City.

That Western Xia group like a swarm of hungry wolves climbed up and down the city walls in the silent night.

Hai Geli was already repelled by Great Chu’s hundred and ten thousand troops.

At present, the city was guarded by Great Chu’s commander Yang He, fortunate not to underestimate the enemy.

The sentinels he dispatched were everywhere, never stopping for a quarter-hour.

As the first Western Xia soldier came up in surprise attack.

In that moment, signal flares exploded across the sky.

Everyone gathered at an extreme speed.

"Go up! Slash them to hell!" Deputy General Cui exclaimed in fury!

"Attacking in the middle of the night, these bastards are tired of living!" Deputy General Qin said, enraged.

The two led their troops rushing up the city walls.

In less than half an hour, the Western Xia soldiers were mostly hacked down.

The remaining few discarded helmets and armor, fleeing in disarray.

The first battle achieved great success!