Chapter 117: Truth Becomes Clearer Through Debate

County Magistrate Village was just a small village with limited supplies. If Lu Yao brought all one thousand four hundred people up the mountain, how would he solve the eating problem? Gnaw on tree bark?

God knows how long this meeting would last; at least they had to wait for the three parties to hold a few meetings, intrigue, decide who was big and small, set some rules, and then mobilize, encourage, and deploy the rebel masses again before they could consider ending it, right?

"That is to say, the number of people Wu and Pei brought up the mountain is also not many, similar to Lu Yao." Sure enough, truth becomes clearer through debate. "The three parties combined, the army meeting by County Magistrate Lake has at most seven or eight hundred people!" Lady Ying was confused: "Why only seven or eight hundred? Didn't the cannibal general bury seven hundred ambush troops under Suozi Rock?"

"Exactly!" He Chunhua interjected, his eyes shining. "The three parties must have agreed in advance to only bring two hundred people up the mountain. On one hand, the village's supplies are limited and can't carry more; on the other hand, they can check and balance each other to avoid fighting."

To prevent accidental discharge, right.

Saying this, everyone's heart settled.

Their side had three hundred combat power, and with the blessing of the Altar of State Order, they could exert the combat power of four or five hundred. The opponent had seven or eight hundred... although the number was twice as many, it wasn't an overwhelming advantage.

Moreover, the opponent was a fleeing army from Woling Pass, like a stray dog, their spirit had long been beaten away. As long as their side worked together and was brave, it wasn't impossible to break through the opponent!

Defeating a strong enemy two or three times their size on the battlefield wasn't a myth; there were many cases. He Chunhua even fought such battles himself in his early years.

"That is to say, these three forces have been guarding against each other, and we can make good use of this point. Lu Yao transferred seven hundred rebels from Desheng Town, although it was to scheme against us, the other two parties don't know." He Yue laughed. "Lu Yao didn't make a move on us at night, so these seven hundred people were of no use at all. So why were they transferred here, who can say for sure? Maybe he really wanted to intimidate the other two parties."

Everyone looked at each other and let out a breath.

He Chunhua's expression had greatly relaxed, and he said: "The three groups of fleeing troops meet, the three generals must decide the primary and secondary, thereby defining the ownership of military power, otherwise these thousands of people are just a pile of loose sand and won't be of much use in the future." In an army, there can only be one voice. "We can do some more tricks, or we can achieve the effect of four taels moving a thousand catties."

He added: "I heard that Wu Shaoyi and Lu Yao have a long-standing grudge. Wu Shaoyi snatched military merit several times, and Hong Xiangqian appreciated him more, which made Lu Yao extremely dissatisfied. Wu once liked a beauty and even wanted to marry her as his legal wife, but Lu Yao snatched her first and defiled her, and after the event, even cooked her and sent her to Wu Shaoyi. It is said that when Wu Shaoyi saw this beauty, she was even smiling."

He drank water to moisten his throat: "General Wu overturned the table on the spot and took people to fight Lu Yao. In the end, it was Hong Xiangqian who came forward personally, with his infinite prestige in the army, to settle the matter. But it is conceivable that the relationship between these two will never be good."

"There is such a grudge?" He Lingchuan asked in surprise. "Lu Yao is a cannibal, not a veteran of the uprising, why did Hong Xiangqian keep him?"

"This man is formidable in battle. After joining Hong Xiangqian's command, he achieved a brilliant record of seven consecutive victories. In one instance, he even smashed the eye of the 'Iron Barrel General' Zhao Ronglue, causing him to die of severe injuries, and Woling Pass was also seized by the rebel army." He Chunhua spoke as if reciting family treasures, "Whether soldiers or opponents, all have an instinctive fear of such a ferocious man-eater, and this point is also utilized by Hong Xiangqian."

A peerless fierce weapon, held in the right hands, might be a peerless divine weapon.

"But Hong Xiangqian is already dead." He Lingchuan realized. "Other rebels might just be disgusted rather than afraid of Lu Yao, why meet him here?" The one who held the ground was gone, wouldn't the people below be struggling hard?

"I don't know about that, perhaps they all have their own calculations."

He Yue thought for a while: "The point now is to find the other two rebel armies."

"If they meet tomorrow afternoon, they should be going up the mountain soon, or have already gone up." Mo Zhejingxuan said. "They aren't here for sightseeing; thieves have to step on the plate in advance, they have to come up and see the terrain in advance."

"There are only two roads up and down the mountain, both can reach County Magistrate Village. The night road is not easy to walk, they can't pick small paths." He Chunhua said to the personal guard. "Find the guide."

After some discussion, the prototype of the plan was quickly decided.

He Lingchuan only started it, and later everyone said a word, there was no room for him to play.

He went to fish for another apple; this one looked riper and shouldn't be so sour.

When the apple was almost finished, everyone had finished discussing, and He Lingchuan added: "Empty words are not proof, father, you have to gain the trust of Wu and Pei, otherwise the three of them will soon be reconciled and happy. Seeing is believing. It's best, hmm... it's best you let them see with their own eyes that you and Lu Yao are talking happily."

"See with their own eyes?" Mo Zhejingxuan was thoughtful.

He Chunhua ordered the personal guard to take paper and pen: "I will also write to the Hebei Zhe Chongfu and ask them to send troops, so that both approaches can be taken."

Lady Ying was worried: "Will they be willing?"

"If the rebels are weak." He Chunhua said meaningfully. "The defeated general dare not speak of bravery, our side holds the prestige of the great victory at Woling Pass, how can we not take down these rebels who are like frightened birds? It's another great military merit."

Mo Zhejingxuan coughed lightly: "The rebels intend to settle here, how can the local prefect tolerate it? We must take advantage of their unstable footing to pull out this tumor."

He Chunhua wrote quickly and finished in one go. Before loading the letter, He Lingchuan peeked and found that it was written "more than a thousand fleeing troops," which made him laugh.

The number of fleeing troops is too large, and the reinforcements might not be willing to come. These thousand people have their own reasoning; He Chunhua himself has three hundred elite soldiers, and if the Zhe Chongfu and local government troops only want to meet them, two or three hundred people are enough; but if they really want to suppress the bandits, they need at least two thousand people.

However, the number reported by He Chunhua can't be said to be wrong; the rebels who really climbed County Magistrate Village to meet are likely to be a little over a thousand.

Soon, he wrote everything down and handed them to the corresponding people to handle.

He Lingchuan watched from the side and admired it in his heart.

He Chunhua was an official in the frontier, but he had an understanding of things happening within the Yuan Nation. From the character and nature of the rebel leaders to the temper of the local prefect and the soldiers of the Zhe Chongfu, he could keep them in mind.

What kind of mind is this? You must know that the Yuan Nation's territory is very large, and if you don't use express mail, the post horse will take more than a month to go from east to west. He Chunhua guarded the most closed frontier, but could still understand the domestic situation, which really required energy, money, and connections.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 118 =====