326
However, Sun Yuanrang didn't share these thoughts with anyone. He simply looked around the city and discussed military affairs with the Red Flag Gang. Although he knew a lot of information and did his best to explain the situation of the rebels and the tactics adopted by the Suoyi Gang, it seemed that he still couldn't satisfy Cheng Xi.
"The boss asked too many detailed questions. There are some things I really can't explain clearly." Sun Yuanrang felt a little helpless. He considered himself a smart person, and with Fang Tianxi checking for omissions behind the scenes, he was rarely speechless when asked questions. To be honest, there were some things he had never thought about before. Just listening to Cheng Xi's questions and he benefited a lot. However, now was not the time to show admiration. This was a matter of life and death. How could he be vague?
Knowing that he had already drained Sun Yuan, and honestly speaking, this man's intelligence awareness was outstanding in this era, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "That's fine. What Brother Sun said is very useful to us. We can think of other ways later. However, you and the Tianding Army must agree on the time of the expedition with us in advance, and it is best to leave a trusted confidant to pass on the message."
This is also reasonable. After all, the expedition has to be held after the autumn harvest, and the Red Flag Army is a surprise force, so even the step of joining forces is omitted, and the opportunity must be grasped accurately.
Therefore, Sun Yuanrang simply nodded and said, "Of course. I will send someone to deliver the letter here. If Military Advisor Fang has any suggestions, they will be delivered as soon as possible."
The distance between the two sides is not close, so it will take a lot of effort. Cheng Xi nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Sun."
After handling the contact matters and carefully examining the various tactics of the Red Flag Gang, it was time to leave. Sun Yuanrang was quite straightforward and said, "I have to rush back to arrange the deployment. The next time we meet will probably be at the top of Luling City."
This meant wishing them a great victory. Cheng Xi also smiled: "With such achievements, Brother Sun will probably be promoted again."
Sun Yuanrang's status in the Suoyi Gang has risen rapidly. After all, he personally rescued Leader Chang, and when the rebels started, he was the first to lead his troops to protect Gang Leader Pan. It was probably because of this that he was able to become the coordinator of this three-way war.
This was also good advice, and Sun Yuanrang naturally accepted it with a smile, but he couldn't help but remind him: "These are turbulent times, and the swords and spears on the battlefield are even more brutal. Gang leader, you'd better be careful. As the saying goes, a son of a wealthy family should not sit idle in the hall. Don't be like Tingzhou again."
He had personally experienced the events of Tingzhou. They attacked and killed people in the street, then changed their clothes and walked out of the city without hesitation. Such audacity had astonished him for a long time. The things he heard afterwards were all worthy of being written into a storybook. However, with such a huge fortune now, how could he risk his life for the sake of a momentary pleasure?
Sun Yuanrang actually has a decent appearance, with a straight nose and a wide mouth, and is quite pleasing to the eye. Now that he holds a high position, he exudes a convincing heroic spirit. He spoke these words with concern, and did not make people feel offended.
Cheng Xi just smiled and said, "Don't worry, Brother Sun. I will be careful."
Such a conversation brought a smile to Sun Yuanrang's face. Without saying anything else, he bowed and left with his confidant.
Sun Yuanrang left, but the others continued the meeting and discussed some future arrangements. When the meeting was over, almost everyone in the General Staff had left. Cheng Xi suddenly asked the people around him, "Why, you won't give any advice this time?"
Cheng Xi had often heard Sun Yuanrang's words. Even when some people stopped mentioning them, he still had a look of worry on his face, Yan Yuan being the most concerned. But now, even though everyone else was talking about it, he hadn't mentioned a single word, which made him curious.
Yan Yuan was silent for a moment, then whispered, "The gang leader doesn't really like taking risks. It's precisely because he's confident that he can make decisions quickly. So, why should I worry?"
This was Yan Yuan's sincere words. He was actually concerned about all of Cheng Xi's adventurous behavior. However, he was able to distinguish between the parts of his worry that were involuntary and the parts that were inappropriate and taboo.
When it comes to serious matters, Cheng Xi isn't prone to rash advances, and rarely fights unprepared battles. Just like this newly established General Staff, the Red Flag Gang doesn't have many capable generals, but through rehearsals and simulations, these mid-level officers are mastering the essence of military tactics and beginning to understand which battles should and shouldn't be fought. These are no longer ordinary generals, and when they gather together to brainstorm, the resulting effect is more effective than one or two brilliant military advisors or counselors.
How could someone who thought of this and planned for the future be reckless? In that case, subordinates should have followed orders or raised appropriate questions, rather than acting on their emotions.
Yan Yuan spoke simply and did not express so many complicated emotions. Cheng Xi chuckled and said no more.
The flooding brought by the typhoon had finally receded, but not many places were as lucky as Yuezhou. Not every place had a Red Flag Gang in charge, and not every force that rose up to claim supremacy would regard human life with such care.
The area near Jinghu Lake was particularly devastated by years of war; another natural disaster could turn it into a wasteland. At this point, everyone was reckless, only thinking of escaping to a safe haven. Whether it was the Suoyi Gang, the Tianding Army, or even those chanting mantras, who cared about the gods and Buddhas as long as they could save lives?
By the time the autumn harvest arrived, this restlessness had become an unstoppable torrent. As long as they could seize someone else's territory, they would gain both money and food, and be able to feed countless people. Even if they couldn't win, they could still consume the population, making the winter less difficult.
In such a context, naturally everyone is a "righteous soldier" and everyone claims to be righteous. After all, there is nothing more just than staying alive.
In just a few days, wars broke out in various places, making the people who were exiled on the road even more anxious and uneasy.
"The ferry is just ahead. If we don't hurry, we'll be in trouble." The old man said to the young man beside him while pounding his legs with difficulty.
He was a young man of about thirteen or fourteen, his voice still the same, but he was tall and dressed in clean clothes, clearly the son of a wealthy family. Seeing that he seemed quite distinguished, and surrounded by a number of men who looked like servants, the old man deliberately showed his interest in making friends.
After all, they are in the wilderness, and it would definitely be better to have someone to accompany them. A team of them alone cannot protect against bandits.
Hearing the old man say this, the young man showed a look of surprise: "Old man, didn't you say you didn't see any bandits when you came here? Why are you still chasing them? We should be able to cross the river before dark, right?"
The old man sighed softly, "You simply haven't had enough experience. As soon as it gets a little dark, you're not safe on the river. The boatman might get wicked and sink you into the river. Spending the night by the river isn't a good idea either. What if a boat sneaks up from the surface after you fall asleep? You'd die without even knowing how you died."
The young man was surprised by this and hesitated, "Didn't they say there weren't many bandits in the Suoyi Gang?"
The old man seemed to have heard something funny: "Little brother, do you really think the Straw Clothes Gang are good people? The water is shallow here, and there are not many Straw Clothes Gang boats. If we were to go out on the big river, life and death would depend on their words."
How could ordinary people distinguish between the Straw Clothes Army and the rebels? They just thought they were all bandits. Whether they could survive if they encountered them depended on luck. It was because they could no longer stay in their hometown that they traveled thousands of miles to seek refuge with their relatives. Otherwise, who would be willing to travel in such a chaotic world?
But there is no need to say these words to a child. Just say a few words and be able to go the same way as this group of people.
Perhaps he was stunned by these words, or perhaps they aroused the young man's spirit, but when they set out again, the young man actually walked a lot faster, making it difficult for the old man to keep up.
Fortunately, the group hurried and finally reached the river. After another quarter of an hour of anxious waiting, they finally saw the boat. The group of ten or so people were divided into three boats. As they boarded, almost everyone was on edge. Although the river wasn't deep, there were still places where people could drown. If the boatman was unscrupulous, they would probably die without a burial place.
Fortunately, the boatman, perhaps frightened by the people brought by the young man, had no intention of doing anything bad. The group reached the other side of the river safely, paid the ferry fare, and then they all breathed a sigh of relief.
There was still some time before nightfall, so it was a good time to hurry back. Feeling he had rested enough on the boat, the old man said to the young man, "Young man, the post station is still five miles away. If you're going to Luling, you'd better hurry."
Unexpectedly, the young man shook his head and said, "My uncle doesn't live in Luling City. I'm afraid I can't go with him."
Hearing this, the old man was somewhat disappointed, but since anyone could live outside the city, they must be wealthy, so he couldn't say anything. So he could only force a smile and say, "I'm glad you can go home. Don't walk such a long way next time."
The old man pretended not to notice the servants' identities, and the young man naturally didn't expose them, simply nodding in agreement. The two groups gradually separated, until the group's backs could no longer be seen clearly. The servant following the young man said, "Young Master, that boat on the river just now was ours."
Hearing this, the young man smiled and said, "That's right. Tell them to keep an eye out. If they see the enemy using their troops, report it as soon as possible."
In fact, there were more than just two or three boats on the river pretending to be fishermen. For two months, Cheng Xi had already sent several scouts to thoroughly survey the area surrounding Luling. She only set out when the battle was imminent. The next two thousand elite troops would also disguise themselves as refugees, gathering in batches, and then, unnoticed, they would sneak into the enemy's heartland.
Without stopping or further conversation, the group moved forward quickly and soon disappeared at the end of the path.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
