The group of people were both strong and weak. The stronger ones used thick sticks to turn up the mud at the bottom of the ditch. Others put the turned up mud into various baskets and then lifted it to the people on the edge of the ditch. The people on the edge of the ditch dragged it. Pick up the basket, pour the mud on the wall, and then have one person smooth it with his hands and pat it firmly until it is chest high. After a day's hard work, each team made about a hundred steps. Although it was late autumn, the afternoon was far from warm, but it was not too cold either. These people were all naked and sweating from the cold wind. It seems that only the elder is still wearing short brown clothes. Seeing a group of unknown people walking over in full costume, they seemed a little shy, but they couldn't avoid it, so they had to pretend not to notice, turned around slightly, and went about their own work, ignoring them.
Lord Xinling said to the elder: "Respect the hard work of our neighbors! Is there any fire in the camp?"
The elder said: "We are short of steamers and urns, so we can only light a fire to keep warm and boil some boiling soup."
Lord Xinling said: "Now that the ditch has been dredged, the water should be clearer. You can boil more boiling soup and eat it with glutinous rice soaked in it to warm your stomach. Eat less cold food, as it will cause disease in the stomach."
The elder said: "Young master reminded me, I will ask them to bring more water back to the camp to make soup when they are young."
Lord Xinling said: "I hope that my father will supervise the neighbors and build more forts while the weather is still warm. When the Qin army arrives, they can meet the enemy and the villagers will be less injured."
The elder said: "Exactly, please rest assured, young master, I will never miss anything!"
As Lord Xinling walked, he talked with the elders of the fortification civilian army he saw, giving similar instructions. The diners led the carriage and followed from a distance, with only a few close ones surrounding them. Lord Xinling walked along and saw that all ditches and fortresses were nearly completed. The uneasiness and injustice in his heart became more and more uncontrollable: If the Qin army attacks when our camp is complete, what a spectacular military exploit it will be! The famous Qin army fell in large numbers in front of the camp; the remaining ones jumped into the ditch desperately and were stoned to death by the soldiers behind the wall; the few who climbed up the wall had their chests pierced by halberds and spears. Abdomen... And he, Lord Xinling Wei Wuji, will become the terminator of the Qin army.
While walking, thinking, and talking like this, he saw Mr. Jin.
Mr. Jin also stripped naked and covered himself with mud. He directed a group of people to build a fort beside the ditch: "The bottom must be two feet wide, otherwise the wall will collapse and crush himself... Don't build it too high." It's high. If it's not tall enough, people can sit down. If it's too high and you can't reach out, it's more troublesome... If the base is thin and high, it's like lighting a lamp in a manhole - looking for shit!" The people around laughed and agreed. "No mistake!"
Then he saw Mr. Xinling and his entourage, and quickly jumped into the ditch. While pouring water on himself, he urged the people next to him: "Quickly rub it for me, the lord is here!" He washed the mud off his body slightly, He climbed out of the ditch and wanted to put on his own clothes. Lord Xinling had already come over. Mr. Jin had no choice but to stop and salute: "Sir, you are polite!"
Lord Xinling returned the gift, then took his hand, walked to Mr. Jin's clothes together, and handed them to Mr. Jin to put on one by one. Then he asked in a low voice: "Do you think Mr. Cao has returned?"
Mr. Jin was a little surprised and said, "Never. Is there any news?"
"No. Let's wait here for Mr. Cao and his party, and we can ask him for advice."
"I don't dare!"
After Mr. Jin got dressed, Mr. Xinling continued to patrol forward. Zhong Yue pulled Mr. Jin behind and quietly introduced to him the current situation and the decisions of Jin Bi and other generals in the camp. "It is impossible to ask Mr. Xinlao to go out to investigate again!" he said at last.
After hearing these words, Mr. Jin was silent for a while and replied: "I dare not quit after hard work, but the Qin army may have entered the pass now and the sentinels will not be able to reach it."
When Lord Xinling heard this, he turned around and asked, "How do you say this?"
Mr. Jin came to a deserted place and squatted down. The surrounding disciples gathered around him in tacit understanding, with Zhong Yue and Lord Xinling standing on both sides of him. Mr. Jin picked up a straw stick and marked it on the ground: "Sixty miles south of the Great Wall, connect Han and Zheng. There is a beacon fire at Nanguan at noon, and the Qin army must have reached there. I sent a sentry to explore there, and traveled more than a hundred miles back and forth. It's too late. I conclude that the Qin army will go straight to Daliang after entering the pass. I am like following the sentinel, and there are already four or five places. Even if I know the details, it will take more time to get back and forth, and there is a risk that it will be beyond the reach of the whip."
"What do you think, sir?"
Mr. Jin still drew on the ground: "The best strategy is to enter the pass with a large army, which can be dealt with randomly according to the movement of the Qin army; the middle strategy is to withdraw the whole camp and follow the Qin army. Although the movement is controlled by others, it can still control the people without restraining them." As for others, the next best strategy is to stick to the local area. Although there are deep ditches and high fortresses, they will not move like mountains. If the Qin army abandons me and ignores me, our army's food will be scattered."
"Sir, I agree with you. General Wei Mang and Doctor Jin both insisted that the army stay here temporarily, waiting for the king's order. What can I do!"
"How many days can they hold on?"
"Never."
"Three or five days are good, as time goes by..."
Lord Xinling interrupted: "If you can stick to the law for three to five days without moving like a mountain, then something can be done."
Mr. Jin said: "This is not difficult. The Qin army has gone far away. Even if it comes back, it will take two or three days. It is easy to get there in three to five days."
Lord Xinling said: "In this case, I will leave the matter of building the fort to Sir. The fort must be tight and inviolable." Mr. Jin stood up and responded. The group left. Zhong Yue stretched out his feet and quickly erased the road map drawn on the ground.
After walking a few more places, the retainer sent by Zhong Yue to pick up Mr. Cao came over with Mr. Cao and his party. Lord Xinling saw these hundreds of elite soldiers one by one and ordered a retainer to take them back to the small town for resettlement, leaving only Mr. Cao to follow. The group of people walked leisurely along the avenue and also patrolled towards the small town. Every time I arrived at a camp, I would inspect it and say a few words of condolence. During the inspection, Zhong Yue also told Mr. Cao the plan for the lunch camp.
"What do you think, Mr. Cao?" Lord Xinling asked.
"I sent out troops at sunrise, but by the end of the day I had not met the Qin army. I knew that the Qin army had abandoned me, but I did not know that it was heading towards the South Pass."
"Sir, can you detect any clues about the Qin army along the way?"
"No. When I entered Xingxi, I saw no sign of the army advancing. I think the Qin army must not go south along the Ying River, but must go around the mountains."
"Mr. Fan sent his sentries as far as the Qin Army's old camp, but found nothing. Moreover, the Qin Army specially ordered people to clean up the traces."
"Hiding the head and leaving the tail behind does not seem to be the style of Ranghou or Wu'an!"
"Mr. Zhongyue also thinks so. But I don't know who can plan this."
"I am so lonely and ignorant that I cannot recognize you."
"The evil spirits of Ranghou and Wu'an have come from heaven, and now they have the help of wise and resourceful men. How can heaven alone be so kind to Qin?"
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. The soldiers know how fast they are, but they do not know how long they will last. Today, the Qin army has repeatedly avoided our front and moved thousands of miles to fight. I know that I have to avoid fighting as a last resort!"
"In this case, sir, you will definitely be able to teach me."
"Although the main camp has made plans to hold on, I can move one brigade to attack sideways. The enemy's baggage and supplies, as well as old and weak soldiers, will be taken advantage of by those who can take advantage of them. The enemy will be defeated before fighting."
"How many troops will you use for this trip, sir?"
"If there is a strong team from the second school, it can be worthy of it!"
Lord Xinling smiled bitterly and said: "I am only a teacher from the fifth school. I may not be able to choose a strong team from the second school to pay to you sir."
