Chapter 840 Taking the Initiative (First Update)
In the wounded soldiers' camp in Quyang City, Gu Jiao had just finished distributing anti-inflammatory and wound medicines to the medical officers. Judging from her experience in several battles, the demand for these two medicines was enormous.
The small medicine box provided a considerable amount of medicine. Before they came, the Imperial Preceptor's Palace also gave them a large number of homemade pills and ointments. In addition, Gu Jiao also collected a lot of herbs on the way.
Thirty medics were extremely busy at the wounded soldiers' camp. Although they did not directly participate in the battle, they were actually always behind the battlefield, sending a steady stream of wounded soldiers there. Like all the cavalry, they had experienced an exhausting day and night.
Some medical officers couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground to sleep, while others dozed off on the table. Those who were still able to hold on, with huge dark circles under their eyes, changed dressings, examined patients, and performed surgeries on the wounded.
"Go to the city and summon some doctors."
After leaving the wounded soldiers' camp, Gu Jiao gave instructions to Master Hu.
Master Hu replied, "Yes."
The military camp is a highly efficient place. Some things that might take ten days or half a month to accomplish in local government offices can be done in the military camp, where orders are always obeyed and tasks are always completed.
On the first night, Master Hu went to the city and summoned more than thirty doctors. In addition, the new city lord was also chosen.
His surname was Qian and his given name was Wang. He had served as the local prefect and was considered to be upright, but he was not a trusted confidant of the Nangong family and therefore was never valued.
The Nangong family abandoned the city this time without taking him with them.
Gu Jiao temporarily appointed him as the new city lord of Quyang City.
Around 9 PM, Mu Qingchen dragged her weary body back to the camp.
I thought it would be easy without killing anyone, but dealing with a group of neighbors (mostly women and children) turned out to be a very mentally taxing task.
His throat was burning.
Gu Jiao leaned against a big tree at the entrance of the camp, crossed her arms and looked at him: "Well done, Director Mu, let's continue tomorrow."
"What master?" Mu Qingchen asked in a hoarse voice.
"Yes, Director." Gu Jiao added in her mind, looking at him with bright eyes, "It's alright, you can go and rest."
Your eyes always give off a bad vibe.
But Mu Qingchen was too tired to care about Gu Jiao's wicked schemes. He returned to his tent dejectedly and fell asleep instantly.
For the past two days, Gu Jiao had not issued any orders, only allowing the soldiers to fully recover from their injuries and rest.
On the night of the second day, she summoned the six commanders and Mu Qingchen to her tent to discuss strategies for dealing with the enemy.
On the table in the center of the tent was a sand table with small wooden plaques representing troop strength and city defenses.
Gu Jiao pointed to a valley at the border between the two countries: "This is Yanmen Pass. Originally, there was a camp and checkpoints set up in the valley. To facilitate the invasion of the Liang army, the Nangong family removed the checkpoints and destroyed all the defenses of the camp. It is no longer possible to defend here. Therefore, Quyang City has become the first line of defense against the Liang army. No matter what, we must defend Quyang."
Everyone agreed with the young commander's statement.
Cheng Fugui had his arm in a sling around his neck. He gritted his teeth and said, "Those bastards from the Nangong family! They're capable of such treasonous acts! Don't let me catch them again! Otherwise, I'll kill them all!"
Li Jin was the most composed of the group. After looking at the sand table and pondering for a while, he asked, "They are scheduled to arrive at Yanmen Pass tomorrow."
“That’s right,” Gu Jiao said. “However, like us, their army is exhausted after a long march and will not immediately launch an attack plan. They need at least a day to rest. This is our opportunity.”
Li Jin asked, "What does the commander mean...?"
Gu Jiao said, "We cannot sit idly by and wait to die. The most optimistic scenario is that Chang Wei is willing to lead tens of thousands of prisoners in the city to fight alongside us. The worst outcome is that we will fight at the city gates and the city will catch fire."
Cheng Fugui frowned: "Will Chang Wei take this opportunity to rebel?"
Li Jin said, "We cannot rule out that possibility."
Cheng Fugui hurriedly said, "Why don't we just kill him?"
Everyone looked at Gu Jiao, and they also felt that Chang Wei was a huge hidden danger, so it would be better to kill him to eliminate the future trouble.
Gu Jiao said solemnly, "If it really comes to that point and we need the entire army to fight, then I will definitely kill him before we set out."
Hearing Gu Jiao say this, everyone felt relieved.
Everyone has witnessed how fierce the young commander is on the battlefield; he would never go back on his word or be swayed by sentimentality.
Li Jin then asked, "The commander just said that we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. Does he already have some plan?"
Gu Jiao said, "The imperial army will not arrive for more than ten days. We must delay the Liang army's attack plan."
Zhang Shiyong, the left commander of the reserve battalion, slapped his thigh and said, "I understand! Burn their grain supplies!"
Zhou Ren, the right commander of the reserve battalion who was with him, glared at him: "All you do all day is burn grain and fodder? Who's going to burn it? You?"
Zhang Shiyong puffed out his chest and said, "I'll go! You're all fighting on the front lines, while I'm stuck guarding the prisoners in the reserve battalion. I've been wanting to have a big fight with them for a long time!"
Gu Jiao picked up a small wooden plaque and planted it on the north side of Quyang City, saying, "This is Xincheng. It recently surrendered to the Nangong family. After leaving Quyang City, the Nangong family should have gone here. There aren't many troops guarding Xincheng. If the Liang army's supplies are burned, they will definitely go to Xincheng to plunder them. Whether the Nangong family cooperates voluntarily or is forced to pay tribute, they won't use the military supplies."
Li Jin suddenly realized something and said with a solemn expression, "They will exploit the people and plunder their wealth!"
Gu Jiao nodded.
Zhang Shiyong understood as well. He scratched his head and said, "It seems we can't burn the Liang army's supplies for now. But if we don't burn the supplies, how can we delay their attack?"
Gu Jiao's gaze fell on the sand table: "Destroy their siege weapons."
The Liang Kingdom's chariots were incredibly powerful, and their siege ladders were swift and powerful. But if these important weapons were gone, what would they use to besiege the city? To pry it open with knives? To climb it by hand?
Of course, they could go to the new city to "borrow" weapons from the Nangong family, or reassemble new weapons, but the former would not be powerful enough, and the latter would take too long. In short, both would be detrimental to Liang's siege plan.
Cheng Fugui exclaimed, "Wonderful! I've only ever heard of burning grain and fodder before, this is the first time I've heard of destroying military equipment."
The main problem was that the weapons were difficult to destroy; they burned slowly and couldn't be cut easily, so often they would alert the enemy after only a couple of cuts.
But now they have a secret weapon that can destroy military equipment—Snowy Heavenly Silkworm Silk, which can absolutely cut through weapons without leaving a trace.
There are five strands of Snowfield Heavenly Silkworm Silk in total, one for each of the two people, plus the scouts, making a total of eleven people.
This is a suicide squad.
Because it's too dangerous, there's always the possibility of not being able to come back.
“I’ll go!” Cheng Fugui stood up and said.
Gu Jiao looked at his sling arm and said, "None of you are going tonight. Zhou Ren, Zhang Shiyong, go and call Wenren Chong, Zhao Dengfeng, and Li Shen here."
Afterwards, Gu Jiao selected several cavalrymen who were skilled in light-footed movements and had not been injured in the battle.
"I'll go too."
As she stepped out of the tent, she encountered Mu Qingchen walking towards her.
Gu Jiao's gaze passed over Mu Qingchen and landed on Master Hu behind Mu Qingchen.
Master Hu touched his nose: "Her Highness the Crown Princess has ordered that Young Master Mu must personally protect Your Excellency's safety."
This is a case of mistaking a trivial matter for a grand order; the truth is, he was worried about his master, so he secretly summoned Mu Qingchen.
Judging from any perspective, Mu Qingchen's martial arts skills are the best among these people, so she's definitely reliable enough to block a blow.
"Okay." Gu Jiao did not refuse.
However, before setting off, Gu Jiao also invited another person.
With her hands behind her back, Gu Jiao looked calmly at Chang Wei on the hospital bed and said, "I see you're recovering well; it's time for you to go out and get some exercise."
Chang Wei turned around: "I won't work for you!"
Gu Jiao spread her hands: "You don't have to work for me, but I can't just raise so many rebel prisoners for nothing. Food is very precious. How about I kill a hundred or eighty a day to save some food for my cavalry?"
Chang Wei looked at her coldly: "You're despicable!"
Gu Jiao smiled faintly: "You are most familiar with the terrain of Yanmen Pass. You lead the way. If you don't, I'll kill your men right now!"
Chang Wei knew very well that he was dealing with a ruthless young man who would kill without blinking an eye. Trying to awaken him with his conscience or restrain him with his reputation would all be ineffective!
Chang Wei finally gritted his teeth, endured the pain of his wounds, and humiliatingly accepted Gu Jiao's coercion.
"I want my own horse!"
“Give it to him,” Gu Jiao said.
Zhou Ren ordered his men to bring his warhorse over.
Watching Chang Wei's nimble and heroic figure as he mounted his horse, Gu Jiao narrowed her eyes.
He can still be so fierce right after surgery; that's Chang Wei for you.
To reduce the noise from the friction of their armor and to better conceal their figures, they all changed into night clothes.
The group rode out of Quyang City and headed west towards Yanmen Pass.
According to reports from scouts, the Liang army will be encamped in the valley outside Yanmen Pass tonight. Their horses must not get too close, otherwise the sound of their hooves will reach the camp.
"The horse can't go any further." When they reached a mountain range, Chang Wei tightened the reins.
The group dismounted.
Chang Wei tied his horse to a large tree. Seeing that Gu Jiao and her group hadn't moved, he said strangely, "Tie your horse up, or it'll run away. You call yourselves cavalry? Don't you even understand this basic principle?"
Gu Jiao said "Oh," and then said seriously, "But the Black Wind Riders don't need to be tethered."
They are very disciplined and never wander off.
Chang Wei: "..." Why does my face suddenly hurt a little?
(End of this chapter)
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