Chapter 122 Choices

The red-haired barbarians were extremely ruthless. With the cooperation of the Zhou king, they occupied those two cities.

They did not kill and set fires to the city's residents as everyone thought.

Instead, they kept everyone on the premises.

They organized those people into squads, and every now and then they would march them up the city wall to show off their power.

They know that people from Chongqing value loyalty and friendship.

Don't you govern the country with filial piety?

Okay, when you see your own mothers hanging from the city wall, can your cannons still fire down?

The cannons of Dayu were very powerful and were excellent weapons for attacking cities.

But many people couldn't bring themselves to point those cannons at their own loved ones and bombard them.

Moreover, many of those people were family members of the Weiyuan Army...

"The red-haired barbarians are ruthless; their move is truly to kill the heart and destroy the soul."

They forced the people of Dayu to kill their own relatives, psychologically destroying everyone.

Back then, many in the Weiyuan Army knew that all of this was caused by King Zhou, and many were already dissatisfied with His Majesty.

If we force them to use artillery to besiege the city...

I suspect that many soldiers in the Weiyuan Army will harbor resentment.

That is why His Majesty has never forced the Weiyuan Army to retake those two cities.

I heard my maternal grandfather say that His Majesty used to have a temper that meant he would take back any city in Dayu, even if it was bombed into an empty city.

But His Majesty cannot do that regarding those two cities.

My maternal grandfather said that His Majesty was afraid of hurting the feelings of the soldiers in the north.

They were afraid of hurting the feelings of the Weiyuan Army.

The Weiyuan Army has already had a hard time; we can't force them to harm their own relatives.

That's why those two cities were never taken.

"My maternal grandfather said that many soldiers in the north would look towards those two cities whenever they had free time, because their families were there, and they were still alive," Princess Yongxin whispered.

Song Zhimian didn't know what to say.

Those red-haired barbarians... that's a truly vicious trick!

"So His Majesty's personal expedition this time... does he already have a plan?" Song Zhimian asked softly.

"I don't know! Anyway, my grandmother told me during our casual chat the other day that His Majesty will be under a lot of pressure this time."

My grandmother said that His Majesty's visit was actually to reassure General Shen.

When necessary, he would help General Shen finalize the siege plan.

There are some things... His Majesty doesn't want General Shen to shoulder. My grandmother said that this is probably the reason why His Majesty wants to personally lead the expedition.

My grandmother also said that the artillery of Dayu should not be used against our own people.

"The Weiyuan Army will likely use lives to fill the gaps, in order to save as many of the remaining people in the city as possible," Princess Yongxin continued.

Song Zhimian felt very uncomfortable after hearing this.

Often, the choices made by soldiers cannot be explained simply by the concept of national righteousness.

When Emperor Xiao Xuan left, he took on a lot of responsibilities.

No matter what method of attack is used, General Shen will not take responsibility, and the Weiyuan Army will still worship General Shen as a god.

Even if they harbor resentment, it shouldn't be directed at General Shen.

"It seems the situation in the north isn't so simple either!" Song Zhimian sighed.

Princess Yongxin and Xiao Ruanruan both sighed.

"Actually, things aren't that complicated."

It's just that making that decision is very difficult! Even His Majesty has to make this decision for the Weiyuan Army.

"I hope everything goes well in the North!" Xiao Ruanruan sighed.

Song Zhimian didn't speak, but just looked in the north direction.

Forsythia also followed to the northern lands.

Although she didn't know why Lian Qiao wanted to go to the North, Song Zhimian could sense it.

When Lianqiao returns from the north, she will definitely be different from before.

Having witnessed the cruelty of the battlefield and seen so many soldiers fighting for the north, anyone would be deeply moved!

With something on her mind, Song Zhimian's appetite wasn't as good as before.

She hadn't rested or eaten well for several days in a row.

To Song Zhimian's surprise, the situation in the North was more complicated than anyone had imagined.

The shock Lian Qiao experienced was far greater than Song Zhimian had imagined.

...

Lianqiao arrived in the north in less than ten days, following the imperial expedition team.

Because she was a female physician, she rode in the carriage with the other imperial physicians and female physicians.

Although the journey was bumpy, Lianqiao only felt a little tired and didn't have any other symptoms.

When they arrived at the Weiyuan Army camp, Lian Qiao was somewhat surprised by what she saw.

Emperor Xiao Xuan and Prince Zhao were welcomed to the main camp by General Shen.

These imperial physicians and female physicians were taken to the military camp by the military doctors of Weiyuan Army.

The Weiyuan Army had special accommodations for wounded soldiers.

Those who live here are soldiers who were wounded after clashing with small groups of the red-haired barbarians.

Many of the soldiers were seriously injured.

When Lianqiao and her group arrived at the wounded soldiers' camp, they saw a number of wounded soldiers surrounding a military doctor.

"Mr. Lan, we're almost fully recovered and ready to go to the battlefield. Please stamp this seal for me!"

"That's right, I only injured one arm, the other arm is still usable."

Going to the battlefield won't be a problem.

"Mr. Lan, please just give me your stamp! It will be fine."

"Mr. Lan, I'm really not in pain anymore! I can go to the battlefield!"

...

Surrounded by everyone, Mr. Lan looked serious, glancing occasionally at the wounded soldiers who had gathered around him.

"You all better behave yourselves!"

The commander said that the wounded cannot go to the battlefield. Are you forcing me to disobey military orders?

"Don't cause any trouble, go back and recover from your injuries! You can only go back to the battlefield when you're fully healed!" Mr. Lan said, waving his hand to signal the wounded soldiers to go back.

"But...we've waited all these years for this very opportunity!"

"Since His Majesty has come, this battle is definitely going to break out."

"Yes, we've waited twenty years! Regardless of whether our families are still alive or not, we must go and kill a few barbarians to avenge them!"

"Mr. Lan..."

"If you dare to cause trouble again, I'll make sure none of you can go to the battlefield."

Take good care of your injuries first! The Tian family has just arrived at Weiyuan Army; they will definitely give everyone an explanation.

"What? You dare to disobey the imperial decree?" Mr. Lan's face darkened.

The wounded soldiers immediately shrank back and left.

For wounded soldiers to leave the wounded soldiers' camp and join the war, they must obtain Mr. Lan's consent.

Anyone who returns to the main camp before their injuries have healed will be beaten with a military rod and then sent back to the wounded soldiers' camp.

...

Mr. Lan soon spotted Lian Qiao and her group, and he quickly came over to greet them.

"We've sent out a lot of scouts these past two days, which has increased the chances of encountering enemies, resulting in a slightly higher number of wounded soldiers."

These must be female healers! You've come at the right time; that's the women's soldiers' camp over there. Go and help them out!