It snowed heavily, and the Tang army's offensive against Goguryeo on the eastern and southern fronts, which had invested 300,000 troops, was in vain and could only be postponed until next year. Goguryeo was able to free up its hands to contain the Silla people, making it difficult for them to send troops to support the Tang army. The Japanese also took the opportunity to intervene in the peninsula. The small Tang army left in Sixian City suddenly found itself alone, surrounded by enemies on all sides, and with no connection with the motherland. There is a vast sea separating them.
Wang Wenzuo envisioned changing places with Emperor Gaozong. There were only two choices he could make: send a fleet to evacuate the city's defenders, and leave the remaining mess to the Silla people. The Taoist friends would die rather than the poor Taoists; Bring reinforcements and continue the fight. The latter is fine, but the former means that all the blood and sweat Wang Wenzuo has shed in the past six months has been in vain, and he still owes Cao Ye a thousand gu, which is a bottomless pit for him. The better Liu Renyuan fought in Baekje, the more favorable the situation, and the higher the probability that Gaozong would make the second choice. After all, this was just the "second battlefield" for the Tang Dynasty. It only had a containment effect. If it affected It definitely won't work on a frontal battlefield. So instead of staying in Sixian City for the winter and letting fate take its course, it is better to take a risk and win glory and wealth but lose a small life.
"Old Zhang Cao! Old Zhang Cao!" Wang Wenzuo's voice echoed over the yard. Mr. Cao, who was counting the goods, hurriedly crossed the aisle and walked towards the front of the hall: "Captain Wang? What's the matter?"
"How much money are there on the books right now?" Wang Wenzuo asked directly.
"How much?" Mr. Cao was stunned. He scratched the back of his head: "This old man doesn't know for a while. He will find out after checking the accounts!"
"Then check it quickly. I need money before tonight, and I need to hurry up about the rice balls!" Wang Wenzuo flicked his sleeves: "Also, call me a smarter guy, I can be useful!"
"Hey!" Mr. Cao responded, and he stretched out his hand to call a young man: "This is Mr. Cao's nephew, his name is Cao She'er. He usually does things well!"
Wang Wenzuo looked at the young man. He was about sixteen or seventeen years old. He seemed to be quite smart. He nodded: "Okay, it's you. Pack up and follow me out of the city!"
Cao Sheer responded and ran away. Mr. Cao looked at his nephew's back and asked cautiously: "Captain Wang, are you going to——"
"Send out the troops to do a big thing!" Wang Wenzuo smiled widely, but his face was full of cold murderous intent: "There is nothing I can do. I owe your master a thousand guan. If I don't give it a try, I'm afraid You’re in it for the rest of your life!”
Erzhagang, military tent.
"What, just three hundred people? Sanlang, are you crazy?" Liu An asked in shock, with anger in his words and more confusion.
"I'm not crazy! I plan to make up for the remaining shortfall from the three Koreans raised!" Wang Wenzuo replied.
"Why use Sanhan people?" Master Shen stood up and said, "Are they more trustworthy than our own Paoze?"
"Because their lives are worthless!" Wang Wenzuo replied: "If three hundred soldiers of the Tang Dynasty died, Liu Duhu would feel distressed all morning. If a thousand Sanhan people died, Liu Duhu would just say "Oh!" If you want to This is the only way to get his approval!"
"Then how many people are you planning to take on the expedition?" Liu An asked.
"Eight hundred people! The Protector has agreed. The deficiencies in armor can be made up in Baekje's arsenal!"
"Eight hundred people? What are these people enough for?"
"It's enough. There are not too many soldiers if you have good skills. As long as you use them in the right place, eight hundred people are enough!" Wang Wenzuo said solemnly: "Besides, in this weather, no matter how many people there are, it is a bad thing!"
"A ragtag group of people recruited at short notice can be said to be elite soldiers. Aren't you contradicting yourself?" Shen Faseng interjected.
"We have to practice for more than ten days before departure. It is still okay to fight in formation at that time!" Wang Wenzuo stood up: "Everyone, I will not force this matter. If you are willing to go with me, you can go. If you don't want to go, you can go. Staying is all of your own free will!"
"I do!" Master Shen was the first to stand up: "I want to see how you, Sanlang, trained a group of newly recruited people in just ten days!"
"Count me in!" Cui Hongdu stood up and patted the bow bag on his waist: "Without Cui's bow and arrow, Sanlang, you may not be able to sleep or eat well!"
"And I!"
"And I!"
…
As he spoke, everyone in the room stood up to respond. More than a dozen burly men stood up and crowded the general tent. In the end, only Liu An was left sitting. His face turned red and white, and finally he shook his head dejectedly: " Sanlang, I’m afraid I can’t go with you, it’s not that I’m afraid of death, it’s just that with so many people coming from the countryside, someone has to take them back!”
"Brother Liu, there is no need to explain, I understand everything!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "You and I have not known each other for only three or five days, and Liu Wu is not a person who is afraid of death. I feel at ease as long as you stay!"
Liu An nodded excitedly, and asked in a low voice: "When do you plan to send troops?"
"It depends on the weather, but it will take at least ten days to train the rookies." Wang Wenzuo whispered: "Everything else will be troublesome to you, Wulang!"
"This arsenal is so majestic!" Looking at the building in front of him, Master Shen took a breath of cold air.
Wang Wenzuo nodded. Shen Faseng's exclamation was not surprising. The arsenal of Sixian City is composed of four square, ugly but solid buildings. The gray-black walls are entirely made of granite of the same color. The buildings are connected by suspended compound roads, with perforations, watchtowers, parapets, and iron walls. Gates and trenches are all available. It is more like a heavily guarded fortress than a warehouse.
"This is the talisman letter from the Protectorate!" Wang Wenzuo took out the letter of receipt for receiving the armor and handed it to the school captain guarding the gate: "Please count it!"
"Oh, Wang Wenzuo, get the armor needed for five hundred people. They have the marks of Du Changshi and Du Hu. Hmm, come in!" The captain guarding the gate is a thin man, with a long and narrow face that looks like... A fox, with a cunning expression unique to foxes on his face: "Are you Wang Wenzuo?"
"That's right!"
"Wang Sanlang, I've heard about his name for a long time!" The captain gestured to his subordinates to open the door for Wang Wenzuo and raised his thumb: "Last time, the whole army returned from the rescue of Zhenxian City. This time, we set up a fence outside the east gate and attacked again. It’s a good man who will defeat the Baekje thieves!”
"I don't dare!" Wang Wenzuoqian thanked him: "It's just luck!"
"That's even more incredible! Nothing can be better than good luck!" The captain was a talkative man. He gestured to his men to open the door and said with a smile: "No matter how great your achievements are, you must have your destiny." You can enjoy it, right? If anyone else had fought these two battles, at least 30% of them would have been killed or wounded. How could he be as good as you! Even Yang Dayan (a famous general in the Northern Wei Dynasty, famous for his bravery), Gao Aocao (a famous general in the Eastern Wei Dynasty, famous for his bravery) The envoy Changshang (also known as the minister of the world), in the end..."
