amaotonovel Chapter 708 This went too smoothly
Chapter 708 This went too smoothly
Besides territory, wealth, and population, another important indicator that determines a country's strength is its organizational capacity.
Because the territory, wealth, and population are all dispersed, it is impossible to form an effective offensive or defensive force and to inflict a fatal blow on the enemy.
To unleash one's full potential and deliver a fatal blow to the enemy, one must unite scattered forces into a cohesive force, which requires strong organizational skills.
This is especially true in wars between two countries. If a country has a vast territory and a large population but lacks the ability to organize and manage them, then the territory is meaningless and the population will crumble at the slightest provocation.
Conversely, if one possesses organizational capabilities far exceeding those of the enemy, and can concentrate one's national strength as if commanding an extension of one's own arm, then even if one's national strength is inferior to that of the enemy, one can remain invincible and even achieve victory.
In other words, organizational ability is the key factor for victory. In this respect, the Han Dynasty has an overwhelming advantage over Parthia because the two countries have different systems.
The Han Dynasty was a centralized system of government. From the time of Yu the Great's flood control, the imperial court continuously consolidated local power. After the unification under Qin Shi Huang and the reforms under Emperor Wu of Han, the country was unified, and centralized power had become the core ideology, deeply ingrained in the very marrow of every Han citizen.
The Parthian Empire and the Roman Empire, however, were tribal federations, a feudal system where "the vassal of my vassal is not my vassal."
The differences between the two systems are very obvious. At the national level, the difference lies in organizational capacity. A centralized system can extend its reach to county towns and even remote villages, while a federal system can only extend its reach to the city it governs, and the resources it can mobilize are naturally very limited.
If the difference between the two systems at the national level is reflected in the quantity and speed of resource mobilization, then the difference at the individual level is discipline.
The common people of the Han Dynasty have a strong sense of the big picture and will obey orders and follow rules. When they join the army, they will strictly abide by military discipline, and will carry it out without hesitation, even if the military discipline is somewhat inhumane.
The people of Parthia lack this awareness; they act as they please and are self-centered, making it difficult for them to sacrifice their own interests for the greater good.
Take the garrison of Tambe City for example. Tambe City is located on the front line of the battle between the two armies. If it were a disciplined Han soldier, he would try his best to stay awake on night watch, no matter how cold or sleepy he was. He would even self-harm to keep himself awake and prevent the enemy from suddenly attacking the camp.
But the Sassanid garrison had no such awareness and had long since gone off to rest somewhere.
Ma Chao led two hundred elite soldiers carrying siege ladders to the walls of Tanbei. Looking up, he was astonished to find that none of the garrison that had been on high alert during the day could be seen. He removed the twig from his mouth and whispered, "What's going on? Could the enemy have known we were attacking the city and deliberately retreated to ambush us?"
This is highly unusual. Based on Ma Chao's extensive experience in battle, there's a strong possibility that something is amiss with the garrison acting so strangely.
Tu Lin said in a low voice, "No, the Parthian army isn't as shrewd as you Han people. They couldn't come up with such a brilliant plan. They're probably just slacking off. Besides, we don't have any other choice. Even if there's an ambush, we have to try it. After all, we've come this far, how can we just retreat without doing anything?"
After a moment's thought, Ma Chao nodded in agreement and said, "That makes sense. Let's attack then."
After giving his orders, he commanded his army to place ladders against the city wall, and then led the charge, quickly scaling the city walls with one hand holding a spear and the other gripping a ladder.
Ma Chao was extra vigilant as he climbed the wall, fearing an attack along the way. He gripped his spear and kept a close watch on the wall, ready to parry and counterattack at any moment. As a result, he did not encounter any attacks after climbing the wall.
Ma Chao stood on the city wall and looked up, only to find that there was no one on the wall, nor on the rooftops inside the city.
This sight alarmed Ma Chaoyue, who asked again, "Could it be that all the Tanbei garrison have gone back to their camp to sleep? This is too easy, it's making me a little uneasy!"
He always faced tough challenges in battles during the Han Dynasty, and he also put in a lot of effort when attacking the various kingdoms of the Western Regions. But here he swaggered into the city.
The sudden smooth sailing made Ma Chao, who had endured many hardships and setbacks, very uncomfortable. He was very worried that this was a trap set by the Tanbei garrison.
Upon hearing this, Tu Lin also felt a little nervous and asked weakly, "Then what should we do?"
The reaction of the Tambe garrison was too abnormal, so abnormal that it made people wary!
Ma Chao struggled for a long time before finally making up his mind. He gritted his teeth and said, "I don't care anymore. We've got the city walls, and the city gates are open. Why should I be afraid of him? So what if there's an ambush? Once we're inside, do you think I can't fight my way out?"
"Go down and open the city gates, then send a signal for Pan Jun to enter the city immediately. Proceed according to the original plan."
The hardest part of a siege is capturing the city walls and opening the gates. Now that the walls are in our hands and the gates are open, if we retreat now out of fear of an ambush, Ma Chao might as well give up.
Tu Lin personally went down into the city to open the city gates, lit a torch, raised it high, and waved it vigorously in the direction of Pan Jun.
Pan Jun was waiting three miles away. Upon seeing the firelight, he immediately threw away the twig in his mouth, mounted his horse, brandished his sword, and roared, "Soldiers, General Ma has opened the city gates for us! Everyone, follow me and charge!"
Under Pan Jun's command, 30,000 cavalrymen mounted their horses and charged toward Tambe at top speed.
Thirty thousand cavalrymen galloped at the same time, the rapid hoofbeats shaking the earth. This tremor was especially noticeable in the quiet night, and soon it awakened the city's garrison.
The city of Tambe was guarded by Hostu, the younger brother of the Sassanid chieftain Ardashir, a direct descendant of the Sassanid family.
At this hour, Hoss was already fast asleep, having a sweet dream, when he was suddenly awakened by the rapid sound of horses' hooves. He sat up abruptly and asked, "What's going on? Why is there such a rapid sound of horses' hooves in the middle of the night?"
The guards at the door rushed in upon hearing the question, but replied with confusion, "I don't know. The sound seems to be coming from the east, not like a Parthian army launching a sneak attack."
Hoss didn't dare to delay and quickly got up and went out. Many soldiers who had been awakened also went out with him. They were all yawning and looking blankly at each other, not knowing who was acting crazy in the middle of the night, or what had happened.
On the other side, the three-mile distance was covered in the blink of an eye for cavalry, and Pan Jun rushed into the city gate the instant Hostu stood up.
Upon seeing him enter, Ma Chao immediately roared, "Charge! Kill them! But be careful not to set fires, lest you burn my supplies!"
The cavalrymen below the city were busy charging, so who had the time to listen to his rambling? After entering the city, they rushed in like madmen, and without saying a word, they killed any of the guards who came out to ask questions.
Tambe was a military fortress, and the city was almost entirely populated by soldiers, so Pan Jun killed them without any scruples.
As the fighting intensified and screams rang out, Hos finally realized it was an enemy attack and hurriedly organized his army to resist, but it was too late.
The combined forces of the Han, Qiang, and Xiongnu were already formidable, and having gained the upper hand, they naturally wouldn't give the Tanbei garrison a chance to resist. Under Pan Jun's command, they launched a frenzied massacre against the garrison.
In the end, Pan Jun was no longer satisfied with commanding from the front lines. He began to personally charge into battle, hacking and slashing at the defenders of Tambe, venting his anger at being exiled by Liu Bei and the frustration he had accumulated along the way.
Pan Jun was fighting with great gusto, but Hostu on the other side had a different feeling. Seeing that the enemy was so brave that he could not resist them at all, and that he could not understand their language and could not communicate with them, he had no choice but to lead his personal guards to flee in panic.
However, his escape was too commotion, and the flag he carried was too conspicuous, which quickly attracted the attention of Poon Jun.
Pan Jun, mounted on his horse, watched the flag disappear and immediately shouted, "There must be a big fish under the flag! Follow me..."