Chapter 1119

This selection of commanders has completely left Chen Wuji in a state of withdrawal.

Previously serving as the rear wing, responsible for strategic support and rapid reinforcement, as well as battlefield cleanup, they have now become the main force.

Conversely, the true main force has become the rear wing, with offensive and defensive roles reversed.

But the words have already been spoken; he cannot possibly abolish this result and reappoint commanders again.

If he were to do so, his prestige would instantly lose a layer of skin.

"Having confidence is a good thing, and I naturally believe you can certainly accomplish this. However, the situation in Shangfang Commandery is complex; I entrust the battlefield to you. As long as there are no major mistakes, I won't say more on how to fight—I only look at the results! Especially since you've chosen two cities, you must proceed with caution!" Chen Wuji said in a deep voice.

"Affirmation!"

"The Vanguard Troops will march out tomorrow; the remaining units must decide their own departure time within five days." Chen Wuji ordered, "Lv Ji will garrison Zhangye City; aside from Lv Ji, all other armies will shift to the rear wing and follow me on campaign."

"Affirmation!"

……

After the meeting in the Central Army Big Tent concluded.

The officers who should have returned to their respective camps instead turned about furtively and sneaked into Qian Fugui's camp.

Inside the camp tent, the officers casually sat on the wool blankets, and Qian Fugui, with a self-satisfied expression, said to everyone: "How is my idea?"

"How the hell, your idea hasn't even been put to use yet." Feng Linchuan laughed and scolded.

"But we've carried out the matter, haven't we?" Qian Fugui said, "You don't care if it's a black cat or a white cat—as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat. The result is right here before us! Just as the lord said earlier, results are what matter most."

Feng Linchuan shook his head with a speechless expression, laughing and scolding: "Your cheek, you—it's thicker than the walls of Zhangye City. I admit your idea has no real flaw, but this time's result has nothing to do with you— not even a few copper coins' worth. The lord let us choose for ourselves."

"Exactly, if we few were to stand up, what would we have to do with their affairs!" Qian Fugui laughed, "So, actually…… it's still our merit."

"That statement, indeed correct."

Feng Linchuan nodded, but suddenly felt something was strangely off.

Chen Ruoshui rose, clasped her hands in salute to those around her, and said, "Thank you, everyone!"

Qian Fugui sat on the ground, propping himself up sideways and waving his hand, "Great kindness needs no thanks—don't be overly polite. We haven't done anything. But, some harsh words truly need to be said upfront: this opportunity is rare, and whether you can seize it depends on you yourselves."

"You and Old Hu each chose two cities—this is no easy task. Siege warfare is inherently difficult; perhaps there is strength and weakness here, but perhaps all are tough bones to crack."

Chen Ruoshui nodded, "I understand."

"I said this before: this battle is Chen Wují's Prestige Battle!" Chen Lang said, "The lord intends to use this battle to shock Shangfang and Jiannan's other forces; this battle must not only be won, but won quickly, cleanly, and with overwhelming suppression!"

"If you cannot take them within a month, I suspect the lord will change commanders mid-battle; by then, others will have to step up. I believe my judgment should not be wrong—this matter must not be taken lightly."

Chen Ruoshui and Hu Bugui, along with the third person, all nodded.

Qian Fugui relaxed, laughing carelessly: "On the battlefield, we want to help but can't; the rest is up to you yourselves."

"In this battle, Old Hu should be the most at ease; you two will likely need to put in extra thought." Chen Lang said, "Especially General Wu—this seems to be your first time bearing such a heavy burden, right?"

"Yes, I've always been in the rear wing, not cleaning battlefields, but stabilizing internal order." Wu Bu Yong said with a light laugh.

He is one of the earliest officers to follow Chen Wuji; in seniority, he's roughly equal to Chen Lang, and his authority is not insignificant, yet for so long he has rarely had the chance to engage in frontline combat.

His duties have not been battlefield cleanup, organizing prisoners of war, or temporarily garrisoning a city or locality—always rear-echelon cleanup tasks.

Although his rear units have always stood ready with a taut string for immediate support, after so long, they've never used a single opportunity. With time passing, problems have begun to emerge.

Wu Bu Yong has constantly tried every method to boost his unit's combat power; he's nearly exhausted all tactics, but compared to Feng Linchuan's subordinates, his troops' morale and spirit still lack that driving edge.

The soldiers feel they have no connection to the front lines, so their fighting spirit naturally cannot rise.

And this is also why these few people privately sought out Qian Fugui and others to discuss and arrive at this result.

These several camps of troops, if they don't seize a bit of hope now, fear they will truly fall into rear-echelon units and never reach the front lines again.

Since this year began, competition within the army and the comparison of strength have grown increasingly clear: the strong grow stronger, the weak grow weaker, especially as the effects of martial training begin to gradually appear among the soldiers.

The subordinates of Chen Ruoshui and her two companions have not fallen far behind in martial training progress, yet when they spar on the drill field as martial artists, their clashes are fundamentally two different things.

Chen Baojia's forces can leap neatly into the air and unleash a terrifying arrow rain from midair, while their subordinates leap up like a lump of batter flung into the sky—there is simply no comparability.

They rarely get the chance to fight on the front lines; their battlefield experience and momentum fall far behind Chen Baojia's elite troops, and the gap continues to widen.

No opportunity means no experience and no military merit; without these two, soldiers' growth becomes slow, they fall behind the army's pace, and what they gain naturally diminishes.

This is fundamentally a vicious cycle.

Faced with this situation, Chen Ruoshui and her companions could no longer sit still.

All are veteran officers who have fought alongside Chen Wuji for so long; none are willing to fall completely into rear-echelon or auxiliary units due to lack of strength.

They must go to the battlefield, wield real swords and spears to hone their skills, and lift morale and strength.

"Three, this opportunity is rare—you must achieve a splendid result!" Chen Lang said.

……

Central Army Big Tent.

Chen Wuji stared intently at the map of Shangfang Commandery on the wall, muttering to himself, "Really seen a ghost—why did Qian Fugui's bunch go mute today? Is there something going on in here?"

He couldn't figure it out, and now he's also a bit worried.

Chen Ruoshui and Hu Bugui—actually, only Hu Bugui has experience independently leading an army to attack a region; Chen Ruoshui and Wu Bu Yong have only fought on the outskirts. Letting these three fight on the front lines—can they really do it?

"Family residence, there really are some things here." Chen Li said with a bitter smile.

Chen Wuji snapped around, "These guys wouldn't have privately discussed things behind our backs, would they?"

"Yes!" Chen Li nodded, "Earlier, the Jinwei Camp soldiers reported: several generals, after returning to their camps, all went to Qian Fugui's tent, held a long secret discussion, then left!"