"General Zhong," Wang Han asked Zhong Shidao after dinner that night, "I'm only taking 100,000 troops with me on this expedition. Of the remaining 100,000, 40,000 will stay here, and the other 60,000 will be responsible for receiving Han civilians and prisoners along the way, as well as supplying the army's logistics. Who do you think is the most suitable to handle this?" Wang Han didn't want to fight with hundreds of thousands of civilians and prisoners, especially since the logistics wouldn't be adequate.
"General, please don't make things difficult for me," Zhong Shidao said with a wry smile. Wang Han clearly wanted to keep him here, but he was there to supervise Wang Han, so naturally he had to go with Wang Han on military campaigns. The imperial decree had already been issued, and he had to go even if it was just for show.
In fact, according to the original plan, out of the 200,000 troops, at most 20,000 to 30,000 would be left here, and the rest would all be going to the expedition. Moreover, these 20,000 to 30,000 would also be responsible for the logistics and transportation of food and supplies for the main army. The issue of rescuing too many Han people and capturing a large number of prisoners was not taken into consideration.
Wang Han now wants to leave 100,000 troops behind, and he knows why. At least 50,000 soldiers are needed to be responsible for receiving, escorting, and protecting at least 100,000 Song Dynasty civilians and captured Western Xia soldiers, and even civilians from Western Xia. In addition, these 50,000 soldiers are also responsible for supplying the logistics of the 100,000 troops led by Wang Han. The troops left to guard the city must prevent the rescued civilians and prisoners from causing trouble or chaos, so their numbers are also considerable, requiring 40,000 to 50,000. This means that he has to command 100,000 troops. Ordinary generals cannot handle this task or lead so many soldiers. So who will stay behind? He, as the deputy commander-in-chief and supervisor, is the most qualified.
“I’m not asking you, the supervising officer, to stay behind,” Wang Han said with a smile. “You didn’t understand what I meant. I meant that the generals who should stay behind are responsible for these matters. They should be specifically assigned to guard the city, watch over the city, escort the rescued civilians, escort prisoners, and escort supplies. Then, just issue military orders to them. They only need to do their assigned tasks. Whoever makes a mistake will be executed. You know these generals better than I do, so you can make the arrangements.”
"Phew!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Shidao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I will follow the General's arrangements."
"You'll all follow my orders? Well, then you'll be in charge of making those arrangements," Wang Han said with a smile. "You know I don't like the bureaucratic stuff. I just need to lead 100,000 men into battle."
"Yes, General." Upon hearing this, Zhong Shidao said with a wry smile. Although he wasn't made things difficult for himself, all the troublesome matters had been dumped on him again.
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As promised, Wang Han led his 150,000-strong army on their journey that night, long trails of fire emerging from the city gate towers like a dragon, heading towards a city more than 300 kilometers away.
"Listen up, everyone. The enemy troops of Western Xia are under the watch of the Grand General. Your main task this time is to find the Han Chinese wandering in Western Xia. For every one you find, bring them back. That will count as military merit for the three of you. If anyone is mistakenly killed, one life for one life."
"Listen up, everyone. The General has given the order: once you arrive at your destination, search for Han Chinese civilians in Western Xia in small teams of ten. The General will award you merit for rescuing Han Chinese civilians, which is equivalent to three heads. However, you can only search during the day. You must all return to the main force before sunset. Those who return late will have their merits deducted. Anyone who accidentally kills Han Chinese civilians will have their life taken."
"Those who want to become officials, during the day you must work hard to find Han compatriots in Western Xia and bring them back to the army. They must all be back to assemble before sunset at night."
"Anyone who fails to help someone in distress will be given fifty strokes of the cane and have six heads deducted from their personal military merit. Keep fighting and get back."
At night, in the marching column carrying torches, the generals, both high and low, rode their horses and loudly proclaimed Wang Hanxin's orders to their respective ranks, eliciting cheers from the crowds. No one had expected that their first campaign would be a chance to gain military merit.
"Listen up, everyone. The General has given his orders. Our only task is to stay with the troops and wait to receive the Han Chinese compatriots we find. No one is allowed to leave the troops without permission, or they will be punished according to military law."
At the rear of the column, among the soldiers responsible for escorting and transporting prisoners, generals of all ranks were constantly proclaiming Wang Han's orders.
"Does that mean we, who are responsible for escorting them this time, will miss out on military merit?" one soldier said discontentedly. "We also want to rescue our compatriots and win battle credits."
"You dare disobey military orders?" Upon hearing this, the propaganda general glared at the soldier and said, "The General hasn't forgotten us. He said that as long as we escort a fellow countryman back, we'll receive one head's worth of military merit; escorting a prisoner back will earn us half a head's worth of merit. These merits will be divided equally among those escorting. However, the General also said that rewards and punishments are clear. If a fellow countryman is lost, three head's worth of military merit will be deducted. If a fellow countryman dies, nine head's worth of military merit will be deducted; if a prisoner is lost, two head's worth of military merit will be deducted; if a prisoner dies, one head's worth of military merit will be deducted. Whether it's a prisoner or a civilian, anyone who makes a mistake will be handed over to the county government for punishment, with double the penalty. Do you all understand?"
"Understood!" Upon hearing this, the soldiers immediately shouted, their morale soaring. This war had come far too easily; they could earn merit simply by escorting prisoners and protecting civilians.
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"General, is this really a good idea?" At the head of the long marching column, Zhong Shidao said to Wang Han with some concern, "The merits of war are too easy to obtain. I'm afraid we won't be able to fight tough battles in the future."
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