26 Kowalski, Analysis (1/2)
This was a learning experience for everybody involved. Han Xin had learned that Baron was a lot craftier than he had imagined him to be. Baron learned that he had grossly underestimated Han Xin to a certain degree. He knew that Han Xin would be a difficult opponent, but what he didn't expect was the all out attack that Han Xin had launched. Yue Fei, Ban Chao, and Xu Da all learned that Han Xin was an extraordinary strategist, contrary to their beliefs that he was just an ordinary one.
After the simulation ending in Han Xin's victory, Baron called a team meeting with the three others.
(BM) ”Yue Fei, Ban Chao you saw just how well Han Xin handled me and Xu Da just now. What are your thoughts?”
(BC) ”The way he ordered that full scale retreat was downright flawless
even if I saw everything that he ordered his men to do, I dont think I could replicate such a strategy.” Ban Chao said with the utmost praise.
(YF) ”I dont know if you noticed, Ban Chao, but there was a couple of actions that Han Xin made that really caught my attention and had adverse effects after the initial impact it had on the battlefield. The retreat was indeed beautifully executed, but there are two other points that deserve even more praise.”
(BC) ”Even more praise?”
(YF) ”Yes, the first one is that Han Xin and his crusaders had even managed to evade the scouts that Baron had sent out to gather information on Han Xin's army. It isn't easy to hide an army as well as he did, the hidden advantage here was that this denied Baron the necessary information needed for him to prepare for the next attack. Information like this could've been the deciding factor for the simulation this time around.”
(BC) ”Now that you mention it, yea. I took a look at the map Baron and Han Xin received at the start of the simulation and took a look at where Han Xin stationed his army after the retreat. It is nearly impossible to pinpoint it on the map, Han Xin must've figured it out by just looking at the map. I dont think he ran into it by coincidence as he hadn't visited that place before during the week of preparation.”
(BM) ”That means he came up with this on the fly? He sure knows how to surprise people. What's the other point you mentioned Yue Fei?”
(YF) ”The other point would be that he decided to only use heavy ballistae attacks before sending his men in. This served as an attack on two fronts, one was an attack on the physical walls, and the other was the attack on the morale of the men. The Fatimid Caliphate didn't have much spirit left after the 24 hour demolition of their walls from afar, plus you guys didn't have any weapon that could counter these ballistae attacks.”
(BM) ”Precisely, this led to our army being effortlessly pushed back from the crusaders. I would also add another point that we should watch out for from Han Xin.”
(YF) ”Did I miss something?”
(BM) ”It's not that you missed something, it's that Han Xin has excellent reasoning, and he is quite decisive these are easily mistaken for common sense. He could think of a plan on the spot, and execute it to perfection with just a few orders. All of these factors that we talked about are what makes an excellent strategist, and a great ally if we can manage to make him willingly work with us.”
(YF) ”Wow, Han Xin is that incredible?”
(BM) ”Going by my estimates if we were to rank ourselves by who was the better strategist I'd say he is first, Yue Fei is second, and I would be third.”
(YF) ”You've been through quite a few simulations with me already, what do you think of the gap between me and him is then?”
(BM) ”I've only seen him in action once so I can't say for certain, but I'd say the gap is quite large.”
(BC) ”What about the gap between you and Yue Fei?”