Chapter 97
Although the shortage of food and fodder was concealed, the soldiers couldn't help but feel worried when they saw that the rice had turned into porridge, the steamed buns had become smaller, and the firewood distributed for heating at night was not enough. Especially for the veterans who had stayed in the northwest last year, they still vividly remembered the pain of having to go to the battlefield on an empty stomach due to a food shortage. Even if they are not afraid of death, they don't want to die too miserably. At least they don't want to die at the hands of their former subordinates because they don't have enough food to eat and can't exert their strength.
Among the generals, Shi Pei had the best relationship with ordinary soldiers. When someone asked him if he was going to run out of food again, he could only bring out the excuse he had prepared in advance: "Don't worry, everyone. There is always enough food, but the weather is getting colder and colder. The general is worried that it will be like last year, with heavy snow blocking the roads and preventing the transportation of food. That's why he wants to prepare for a rainy day and use it sparingly now."
However, this rhetoric may be fine if used once or twice, but if used too much, it will only make the soldiers complain more.
"Since there is enough food and fodder, why don't you give it to the brothers? Two meals of bland soup a day are not enough to fill the gaps between our teeth. How can we train without enough food?"
"It was very cold at night. After being on guard for half the night, my face was as stiff as a rock."
"Let alone people, even horses won't be able to run if this continues."
…
Seeing the army's morale weakening day by day, Wu Youyuan could no longer sit still: "If we continue to fight like this, we will exhaust ourselves! In ancient times, people only brought three days' worth of food to a war. If it was not enough, they would fight. If they won, they would rob. Losing the battle was better than starving to death. We have more than three days' worth of food, so why can't we fight!"
There was a small pot of firewood burning in the tent, and the only area around it was warm. Gu Fuzhou sat by the firewood for a long time. His hands became warm, but his armor was still as cold as snow. He held his chin with his hand and looked at the flickering flames, and in his ears he could hear the words that Wu Youyuan and Shi Pei had repeated countless times over the past few days.
Shi Pei shook his head and disagreed: "General Xiaowu, you also said that it was in ancient times. For a city as big as Yongliang, if you want to capture it, you need at least ten times the number of troops as the defenders."
"But General Shi, have you ever thought that Xixia must be in a worse situation than us after being consumed by us for so long? In the past few months, our army has built fortifications, surrounded the enemy and attacked the reinforcements. We are ready. If we delay any further, the days will get colder. If the road is blocked by heavy snow like last year, won't we become an isolated army?"
"But in the current situation, even if we can capture Yongliang, I'm afraid there will be countless casualties..."
"There are always casualties in war." Wu Youyuan said in a hurry, "General Shi is too afraid of death."
"Youyuan." Gu Fuzhou said, "Watch your words."
Wu Youyuan was startled, as if he had just remembered that Gu Fuzhou was sitting behind him: "The general is actually listening to us?"
Gu Fuzhou raised his eyes to look at him: "Or else?"
"You were so silent that I thought you were thinking about something."
"Thinking about something doesn't prevent me from listening to you. Multitasking is a necessary skill for a general." Gu Fuzhou added some firewood to the fire. "What you said just now was too much. Go and apologize to General Shi."
Just as Wu Youyuan was about to apologize, he saw Shi Pei smile bitterly and said, "I am indeed afraid of death. What I am afraid of is that my brothers will die in vain. Whether they are generals or cooks, they are all born by their parents, and they are all living lives..."
Wu Youyuan immediately forgot about apologizing and retorted, "But if no one dies now, more people will die in the future!"
Wu Youyuan and Shi Pei were both people who didn't care about trivial matters. They also had a life-long friendship, so they usually quarreled inside the tent and made up outside. As long as they don't go too far, Gu Fuzhou doesn't bother to care about them.
Shi Wu and the other man were arguing so heatedly that they didn't even notice Gu Fuzhou had left. It was lunch time in the army, and there was a long queue in front of the kitchen that stretched as far as the eye could see. Gu Fuzhou stopped behind the tent and observed secretly, and saw that everyone received only a bowl of porridge and a steamed bun about the size of Lin Qingyu's fist. It was not enough to eat even in the summer, let alone in this snowy and icy place.
A tall and strong man received the steamed bun, but instead of wolfing it down like the others, he put it into his iron clothes. Gu Fuzhou felt a little strange, so he followed the man quietly, walked around the tents, and came to the stable.
The man called out, "Xiao Linzi!"
The young man who was feeding the horse turned around, a smile on his handsome face: "Brother Jiang!"
The man stuffed the steamed bun he had been carrying in his arms into the boy's hand and said, "Hurry, eat this while it's hot."
The boy glared at him and said, "One steamed bun per person. I'll eat it. What are you going to eat? Take it back quickly."
The man refused to take the call. "If I'm not hungry, what can I eat? I told you before, General Shi and I are from the same hometown. He takes special care of me. I just ate the two meat patties he gave me as a reward. I'm already full."
"You're lying. I heard your stomach growling..."
Gu Fuzhou was watching with great interest when a voice suddenly came from behind him: "General."
There is no one else in the army who has such ghostly body movements except Shen Huaishi. Shen Huaishi's injury has not yet fully healed, but he is restless. As soon as he can get out of bed, he starts doing things within his ability.
Gu Fuzhou did not disturb Xiao Linzi and Brother Jiang, and left quietly with Shen Huaishi. "What's the matter, Xiao Shenzi?"
Shen Huaishi was stunned for a moment, and said, "According to the front, the grain road from Guangyang to Yongliang has been blocked by heavy snow, and grain trucks cannot be transported in. They can only be transported by people carrying loads one by one."
Gu Fuzhou looked back at the two people in the stable, chuckled, and said helplessly: "Unlucky, I...seem to have no other choice."
Gu Fuzhou was clearly smiling, but Shen Huaishi's chest was inexplicably tight: "General?"
"Let's go." Gu Fuzhou said, "Let's go see if Wu Youyuan and Shi Pei have finished arguing."
In the tent, the argument between Wu Youyuan and Shi Pei was indeed not over yet. Gu Fuzhou picked up the Xiqin he brought from the capital and played it casually, and the Xiqin made a harsh sound. The two finally shut up and looked at Gu Fuzhou.
Gu Fuzhou said in his usual tone: "Let the soldiers eat heartily for two days. After two days, we will attack the city."
Wu Youyuan and Shi Pei had two completely different expressions on their faces. Wu Youyuan was overjoyed and left in a hurry after saying "I'll prepare it right away". Shi Pei hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Gu Fuzhou guessed what he was going to say and said, "Wu Youyuan is right. The city must be attacked. If we continue to delay, the casualties will be even greater."
Shi Pei said in a deep voice: "Since the general has made up his mind, I will obey your orders."
"Don't worry too much." Gu Fuzhou comforted him, "I have a way. Maybe we can minimize casualties while recovering Yongliang."
Shi Pei's eyes lit up: "What's your plan, General?"
"It's not a good calculation." Gu Fuzhou kept it a secret. "We'll know when the time comes. I hope I don't have to use it."
On this day, the snow that had been falling for several days finally stopped. Under the bright moonlight, the military camp seemed no different than usual, yet seemed even quieter.
Gu Fuzhou lay on the bed, and in the dim firelight, he read the letter that Lin Qingyu wrote to him for the one hundred and eighth time. A large part of Lin Qingyu's letters home described the situation in the capital, and occasionally he would respond to the love words in his letters.
He wrote to Lin Qingyu: I miss you so much, do you know the secret of my love for you? ①
Lin Qingyu replied: I know. Everything is relatively stable in the capital, but Xiao Jie is so stupid that it makes me upset.
He wrote to Lin Qingyu: Then replace him - No, Doctor Lin, I have been waiting for your reply for a month, and you just replied with "I know"? At least you can say you miss me directly.
Lin Qingyu replied to him: I don’t want to touch these two people for the time being before Yongliang is recovered. I miss you so much.
He started to act naughty: Where are you thinking about me? What do you want to do with me? Dr. Lin, please say more. I would like to hear it.
Lin Qingyu replied to him: Xi Rong is dissatisfied with being controlled and has repeatedly provoked me. I can no longer tolerate it.
He replied depressedly: Why do you have to endure it? Just do it and it's done. I left so many people for you, not to let them see you being wronged. Also, baby, you didn’t reply to my love words in the last letter I wrote home. If you don’t reply this time, I will make a fuss.
Lin Qingyu: I want to sleep with you. Are you satisfied? - Of course I endured it for you and Xibei, but Xi Rong has secretly won over the Prime Minister and Prince Heng, and the Tianji Camp is also under his control. I'm afraid it's not my turn to make the first move. These two are such idiots.
…
Looking back at Lin Qingyu's neat and elegant handwriting, Gu Fuzhou could see a beautiful woman who was clearly extremely angry but had to remain calm. Without him around, no matter how unhappy Lin Qingyu was, there would be no one to comfort him. I don’t know how pitiful and helpless he would feel. Then, feeling pitiful and helpless, he starts to do bad things, making those who offend him even more pitiful and helpless.
It’s a pity that he can’t see it, what a pity. If we continue the long-distance relationship, he will get his first kiss back.
“Great General!” Wu Youyuan’s voice came before his body arrived. “I have developed a brand new formation. It is unprecedented and will never be surpassed. Even that Xixia military advisor may not be able to break it!”
Gu Fuzhou stuffed the letter under his pillow and said perfunctorily, "Great, great. You came just in time. Come with me to enjoy the moon."
Wu Youyuan couldn't understand: "It's already this time, General, you still have the mood to appreciate the moon? In the face of a great war, the right thing to do is to look at the battle formation."
"You are too nervous, Youyuan." Gu Fuzhou smiled, "Even the moonlight before the war should not be wasted by us." He walked out of the tent, sat down at the door, patted the empty seat beside him, "Come and sit, watch the moon with me, and then I will look at your formation."
Wu Youyuan was about to refuse, but Gu Fuzhou said, "This is a military order."
Wu Youyuan sat down next to Gu Fuzhou reluctantly. Gu Fuzhou asked him, "How does the bright moon in the northwest compare to the moon in the capital?"
Wu Youyuan looked up and said, "Aren't they the same?"
Gu Fuzhou shook his head and sighed, "What a boring straight man." He quietly admired the moon for a while, and suddenly said, "Youyuan, if I am unfortunately captured..."
Wu Youyuan interrupted immediately: "General, please don't say such things. General, you have made every possible plan. Our army will win this battle!"
"Don't get excited," Gu Fuzhou said with a smile, "I mean, just in case..."
Wu Youyuan said firmly: "It won't happen."
When Zhao Mingwei was defeated in Yongliang and captured by the enemy, he committed suicide without saying a word. Those who are worshipped as generals can be killed but not humiliated. General Gu must have thought so too. Once we fall into the hands of the enemy, we will never give them the opportunity to humiliate us.
Gu Fuzhou said slowly: "I just want to say that if I am unfortunately captured... you must come to rescue me."
Wu Youyuan was stunned: "Ah?"
"I promised Doctor Lin that I would not die. I wrote him a letter of guarantee." Gu Fuzhou stretched out his hand, looked at the clear light falling on his palm, and curled his lips. "So, no matter what happens, please find a way to save me - please."
The author has something to say: ① Er Zhuang said it wrong on purpose.
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