Chapter 869: Dragon Rising (I)
The Daoist Order’s main headquarters in Qizhou and the Xiujing field camp clearly outlined five strategic objectives for the February offensive:
To completely seize control of Ise Province and establish effective occupation.
To use the conquest of Ise Province to create a strategic threat to the Heian Capital, thereby shifting the overall situation from defense to offense.
To besiege and isolate the Sonno-joi faction forces in Ise Province, luring reinforcements from other regions, and then ambushing them to effectively weaken the enemy’s active forces.
To destroy the Ise-jingu and deal a severe blow to the reputation of the Tenmon Sect, shaking its foundations.
To simultaneously clear a direct corridor through the adjacent districts and provinces, turning isolated outposts into connected lines, and those lines into controlled zones, thereby ending the chaotic patchwork state.
This February offensive, named Dragon Rising, marked the first large-scale campaign launched by the Daoist Order’s rebel-suppression forces after landing on Fenglin.
It was evident that the Ise battlefield was the linchpin of Dragon Rising, which could be divided into three phases: besieging Ise Province, striking reinforcements, and eventual occupation. This was precisely why Sage Qingwei had instructed Qi Xuansu to immediately take over from the Tsuchimikado Onmyoji and persuade Suzuka Gozen to surrender. At a critical moment, the Daoist Order needed a strategic “nail” embedded deep within Ise Province.
The logic was simple. An army was not like an arrow shot from a bow but like a kite let loose. Its flight was limited by the length of the string, which was the logistics supply line. An advancing army must conquer cities and could not afford to bypass them. Skipping a city meant planting a nail behind one’s own lines. At best, it could cut supply lines. At worst, it could sever retreat routes or block reinforcements. Hence, bypassing cities was not an option.
As the Daoist army pushed westward, it conquered all the frontline cities along the way, removing every nail and ensuring smooth logistics.
At the same time, the Daoist Order aimed to plant a nail inside Ise Province.
If the Daoist Order succeeded in winning over Suzuka Gozen, it would be as if a new, unconquered stronghold under Daoist control had suddenly appeared in Ise Province. The Sonno-joi faction would constantly need to guard against Mount Suzuka’s forces. The Daoists could even air-drop troops directly into Mount Suzuka using their aerial superiority. The strategic value was immense.