Lord Xinling received communications from Qin and Han and had close ties with him, so he discussed with Lieutenant Daliang. The result was that if they could not fight, they should ask for peace. Then he discussed with Jin Bi. Jin Bi believed that since the peace agreement had not been decided, the front line should of course focus on preparing for war. Don't be moved by the news of the peace agreement or lose the morale of the army. Lord Xinling then sent Wei Daliang to the court to hold a meeting and encouraged Jin Bi to actively seek war.
The next day, Daliang Wei left with some of his retainers, and assigned a hundred soldiers from each of the left and right battalions to accompany him: they were all raised by Liang Wei from Daliang with money. Daliang Wei promised that after returning to Daliang, they could choose to resume their status as military soldiers and receive salaries; they could also leave the military soldiers, and Daliang Wei's Mansion would guarantee their food and clothing. No matter which one you choose, Mr. Liang Wei will definitely give him the ten dollars he promised.
Lord Xinling discussed further actions with the disciples. Everyone sorted things out and divided them into three categories of operations: logistics management, which mainly includes the collection and distribution of grain, barracks management, storage of winter supplies, etc., all under the responsibility of Mr. Zhong Yue; intelligence reconnaissance, including coordination with army sentries, Mr. Guo is in charge of the overall affairs; the military management, including the military soldiers and the civilian army, is in charge of Zhang Noi.
Mr. Zhongyue hopes to requisition all the surrounding vacant houses as barracks for the army within ten days. As for the grain supplies, in addition to purchasing them from surrounding farmers, he will also contact Dr. Xu Jia to obtain support from South Korea as soon as possible. If that doesn't work, expand the scope of grain purchases to the gates of Zheng Guocheng.
Mr. Guo summoned more than a hundred people and set off in batches, from near to far, to understand the surrounding situation. For ten days, he wanted to expand the scope of exploration to the inside of Qifeng. The disciples discussed the detailed reconnaissance procedures, personnel, and time arrangements.
Zhang Ye's task sounds the most complicated, but is actually the easiest. Because each ministry has its own troop commander, he only needs to manage these troop leaders well. As for the specific matters, not only Zhang Nou, but also few of the diners probably understood.
Everyone also discussed the issue of meeting Chen Zhen. Lord Xinling thought about Jin Bi's advice that Daliang could be active in this matter, but he could not, otherwise the morale of the army would be shaken and the situation would be unimaginable. Therefore, everyone agreed not to take the initiative and just wait for Chen Zhen to come to the door.
After breakfast, Mr. Liang Wei came with a group of retainers. After meeting with Lord Xinling and others, Lord Xinling announced that Mr. Liang Wei would officially lead the entire army. Mr. Liang Wei said that his father gave instructions before leaving to manage the soldiers well. The basic rule was to inspect each camp every evening after dinner. He also explained to him very detailed inspection essentials and methods. Lord Xinling said: "Since Captain Daliang has told me, I should do it myself." He wondered why he had to let his son do it when he couldn't do it himself. Mr. Zhongyue did not continue to arrange for Mr. Liang Wei to live in the barracks where Daliang Wei lived. Instead, he arranged for him to live in a camp mansion opposite Si Mang.
At noon, Zuoying came to report that there was Chen Si, claiming to be a general and sent to the camp to serve. Zhang Ye went to Zuoying in person, picked up Chen Si, met Lord Xinling, and handed him over to Mr. Guo to accompany him when he went out for reconnaissance so that he could draw maps.
Today, the Qin army still has not left the camp...
Mr. Guo originally arranged for Chen Si to rest today, but Chen Si walked around Huayang City and drew the floor plan of Huayang City during dinner, which surprised Mr. Guo.
Another day passed in peace.
The next day, as usual, drumming was used to gather the crowd, roll call, reporting, issuing instructions, and breakfast. After eating, Mr. Guo sent out the first batch of reconnaissance personnel, with Chen Si among them. After the people dispersed, the drums of the array sounded louder and louder: the Qin army came out of the camp again.
Although it had only been a few days, Lord Xinling no longer looked as green as when he first went out into battle. With a calm and composed expression on his face, he climbed up the tower to watch the battle surrounded by his disciples. The military soldiers and civilian troops of the rear army also lined up in their respective positions. After the formation was completed, the third division and the rear army went up to the tower on the right side. ——Let the civilian army form an array and move to the right to go to the city to wait for orders. This is a new decision made by Lord Xinling in the past two days. Because the mission these days is mainly to train troops, naturally everything must be practiced according to wartime. You cannot not participate in training just because the rear army will not be attacked.
The dust in the distance rolled up into the sky again, blocking the sun for half the sky...
The drums beat for a long time, and there was also a faint sound of shouting, as if the Qin people were about to do something serious. The people in the city began to get nervous, and someone whispered: "How dare more than ten thousand Qin people attack a hundred thousand Wei troops?" No one paid attention to him, and he shut up.
Suddenly, the rhythm of the drums in front changed. Mr. Liang Wei said: "The front army is recruiting crossbows." The third division also confirmed the meaning of the drums. Lord Xinling said: "May all the battalions follow the order." Then the drums on Huayang City also sounded. The three divisions quickly returned to their camps. Each battalion assigned a hundred soldiers and appointed leaders. Soon, the military envoy galloped and shouted loudly: "Each camp has a hundred bows and crossbows, and the forward army is waiting for orders." The prepared soldiers followed the military envoy and headed towards the forward army.
The situation in front was completely unclear, and there seemed to be a faint sound of bowstrings. Drums and shouts came in waves, indicating the fierce fighting. Lord Xinling couldn't bear it anymore and loudly asked the lookout post on the tower: "What did you see?"
The lookout replied: "No sight!"
In the anxious atmosphere, the bell finally sounded, prompting the Qin army to start retreating. Everyone began to feel relaxed: it was another day of near misses.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that the Wei army rang the bell and the troops gathered into the camp. Soon, the military envoy who rushed over reported that the former army and the Qin army exchanged fire, and both sides suffered damage. The Qin army failed to break through the Wei army's defense and retreated.
Lord Xinling asked, "What's wrong with the former army?"
The military envoy said: "Report is awaited!"
Lord Xinling said: "Doctor Lao and all the officers and soldiers." The military envoy saluted and left.
Mr. Liang Wei said: "I would like to go on an inspection tour immediately to help the troops."
Lord Xinling said: "Good! If there is any injury, please express my condolences on behalf of the orphan!" Mr. Liang Wei took several retainers and drove away in two cars.
Lord Xinling expressed his condolences to the three divisions and told the soldiers who supported the front army to come back and immediately ask the leader to bring them to the mansion for a reply. The three divisions returned to their respective camps. Among the retainers and those who followed Lord Xinling back to the mansion, some also resigned in advance. Lord Xinling did not discuss anything with the guests and went directly back to the East Pavilion to rest.
It wasn't until Lord Xinling woke up from his nap that the soldiers heading to the front line were led over by Si Mang. Lord Xinling invited them to sit down, toasted them, and then asked what happened. Their experiences were surprisingly consistent: they followed the envoys to the front army. Before they arrived, they heard the bells of the Qin army. After arriving at the front army, the bells of the Wei army's retreat had also sounded: in fact, they did not participate in the war, or even I saw the two sides fighting. Asked them about the casualties of the former army, they had no idea. Lord Xinling had no choice but to send them away.
Young Master Liang Wei did not return until the sun set in the west. After meeting with Lord Xinling, Lord Xinling asked urgently: "How is the war going?"
Mr. Liang Wei replied: "I first pay homage to the doctor to know what happened in the battle. The Qin people marched in from the left camp again, and when they reached the ditch, they fired arrows. The arrows rained down like rain, and most of the soldiers behind the wall were injured. The doctor then mobilized all the soldiers. The archers from the camp went to help, and the right camp was mobilized to fight. The Qin people retreated after two shots."
Lord Xinling said: "Why does the drum sound last so long?"
Liang Wei Gongzi said: "The Qin people fought in the corner and retreated in the middle of the day, but it was only for a while. Then they retreated again."
Lord Xinling said: "How many people are injured?"
Liang Wei Gongzi said: "There are two hundred soldiers in the front of the left camp, all of them are wounded; there are three hundred soldiers in the rear, and there are more than a hundred injured. Only the wall armor guards are not fatal. However, the Qin people's arrows cover the sky and block the sun. be terrified."
Lord Xinling said: "With more than 300 wounded in one battalion, it is difficult for us to fight again."
Mr. Liang Wei said: "The doctor has already replenished a battalion of the Chinese Army to replace him, so there is no need to worry."
Lord Xinling said: "There are casualties in each of the remaining camps?"
Mr. Liang Wei said: "The reinforcements have not arrived and the Qin people have retreated, so there are no casualties."
Lord Xinling asked: "Where can the injured be placed?"
Mr. Liang Wei said: "We have arrived in front of the Chinese army tent, and there are medical officers administering medicine. The ministers have also arrived, comforting them one by one, and expressing their condolences. Everyone is cheering up."
Lord Xinling said: "After eating, I should go and see it in person."
Mr. Liang Wei said: "Young master, you can't do it. The place is filthy and there are things that cannot be described."
Lord Xinling said: "Why is there such filth in front of the Chinese army's tent?"
Mr. Liang Wei said: "The river is stained with blood, and flies and mosquitoes are flying around. In addition, it is difficult to move and excrement and urination are the result of this."
Lord Xinling did not argue with him, but changed the subject and asked, "What lessons did the doctor learn from the war?"
Liang Wei Gongzi said: "In this battle, the Qin people's arrow victory is better than usual. They can kill all the guards with one shot. If we take the opportunity to attack the stronghold, the defense will be difficult."
Lord Xinling said: "Why didn't the Qin people attack?"
Mr. Liang Wei said: "This is unknown, but I heard about it from the doctor."
Lord Xinling said: "How will the doctor respond?"
Mr. Liang Wei said: "I see that the doctor is in the middle of a mature period, and it is very difficult to calm down."
Lord Xinling asked about the injured person's injury in detail, such as the injured part, how far the arrow penetrated, and whether the bleeding could be stopped... Young Master Liang Wei answered as best he could, but it can be seen that he was concerned about the injured person's injury. No careful observation was made, and perhaps no visit was made to the injured person at all, but a casual visit to express condolences. This further strengthened Lord Xinling's determination to go there in person.
When the porridge in the tripod was ready, Lord Xinling wanted to invite Young Master Liang Wei to have dinner with him, but Young Master Liang Wei quickly resigned. Out-of-town customers came in one after another. Lord Xinling found Mr. Zhongyue and explained to Mr. Liang Wei that he knew the situation, and told him that he wanted to visit the wounded after dinner. Mr. Zhongyue thought for a while, called his disciples, and asked them to go out of the city to collect some wild chrysanthemums and humulus, and rinse them in the ditch. I quickly drank a bowl of porridge, left in a hurry, and instructed my disciples to arrange the two kinds of grass properly, find an old piece of clothing and wrap them up to form a bundle.
After Lord Xinling finished waiting for the meal, Mr. Zhongyue had already prepared three carriages, put his baggage on the carriage, called several of his disciples, and headed for the Central Army together.
When the car arrived at the Central Army, the guards checked the festival talismans and announced the entry. The general of the Chinese army came out to greet him and informed him that Doctor Jin Bi was still in the front army and had not returned. The place where the wounded were staying was very dirty, so the young master had better not go. Seeing the embarrassment on his face, Lord Xinling was very reluctant to accompany him to visit the wounded, so he said: "General, just send one person to lead the way, you can do it yourself." The Chinese general went down the slope and called a donkey. The retainers led Lord Xinling and his entourage out of the middle camp and around to a temporary camp where the wounded soldiers were lying on the ground.
