Chapter 634

Xu Zengyi evaluated each of the officers currently in the army one by one.

After hearing him speak, Chen Wuji had no objection.

It wasn't that he was completely convinced, just that he trusted Xu Zengyi's opinion more.

In warfare, Chen Wuji often doubts even his own ideas.

But he would believe Xu Zengyi's words a bit more.

"Then let Lu Halberd Unit guard Wuyang City, and divide the rest of the troops into how many routes?" Chen Wuji asked.

The troops he brought this time now total nearly fifty thousand.

But aside from Chen Li, there are only three usable commanders at present.

Lu Halberd Unit, Xie Fengxian, and Tang Yu.

Chen Baoja had already gone ahead to Liulin.

Chen Ruoshui's forces under his command are truly too few, utterly unable to support any major operation.

As the main commander of the central army, Chen Li should not lightly leave Chen Wuji's side.

The remaining Chen clan officers like Chen Lang are quite many, but none are really suitable.

"Three-Round Attack, divide the troops into twelve routes!" Xu Zengyi said.

"Indeed not few; specifically how should we subdivide?"

"Tang Yu and Xie Fengxian's infantry and cavalry respectively form two and four routes. The convicted troops form one route, and the remaining central army divides into five routes." Xu Zengyi said, "In broad terms it's three routes of troops, subdivided into twelve; these twelve troops must always be able to split and combine."

Chen Wuji nodded, "After the Dingzhou Conscripts are added, each route will have about three to four thousand troops—not few—but these conscripts lack coordination; I don't know how effective they'll be."

"Now there's no time to manage these matters; we can only fight this first battle first, then see how things go. If it really doesn't work, we may have only to wage a war of attrition with them, then draw troops from Hezhou and Qingzhou."

"A bunch of dogs, I now command a hundred thousand troops myself—I'm not afraid of them."

The Qiang People have dispatched a hundred thousand troops, which is indeed many.

But Dingzhou now is no longer what it was half a month ago.

As long as we delay half a month, Chen Wuji can muster nearly 150,000 troops!

If we don't consider protecting the civilians on this land, Chen Wuji could hold off fifty thousand against the Qiang People's hundred thousand; not even half a month, even three months or longer would not be a big problem.

Hu Bu Gui Gan stood to the side, his expression like constipation.

He had a line stuck in his throat for a while, not knowing how to say it, making his mood quite complicated; though a hundred thousand Qiang People were right before him, he could only bring a few hundred men forward.

This... this is really agonizing.

"General Hu, do you have something to say?" Xu Zengyi noticed Hu Bu Gui Gan's strange expression and asked.

Hu Bu Gui Gan shook his head. "Nothing."

Chen Wuji smiled, "I know what you're thinking, but I can't change orders day to day; the Dingzhou Conscripts have already been assigned to each unit, I can't pull them out to put under your command."

"For this battle, just bring those few hundred to make up the numbers. If you want to fight the Qiang People, there will be plenty of chances later; in the prime of your life, there's no need to rush."

Hu Bu Gui Gan gave a dry smile and nodded.

He understands the reasoning, but having finally encountered such a grand scene, to participate only in this way makes him truly distressed inside.

"Someone, beat the drum to summon the commanders!" Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

Xie Fengxian and the others had just settled the Dingzhou Conscripts, were about to take off their heavy armor to rest properly, when suddenly they heard the summoning drum; a crowd rushed again to the Zhongjun Camp.

They now fear that Chen Wuji might suddenly order a nighttime camp break, which would truly be the death of them.

Fortunately, that dreadful outcome did not occur.

The purpose of summoning the commanders is merely to assign tasks and decide how to fight the next battle.

……

Next day, Yin hour.

After cooking the rice, the army set out again.

At this point, the distance to Wuyang Pass is only half a day's journey.

As the army had just set out, Chen Wuji dispatched a large number of scouts.

Unable to bear the boredom, Hu Bu Gui Gan also volunteered as a scout, taking his three hundred men ahead to gather military intelligence; his zeal to fight the Qiang People matched his patriotic fervor.

Mao hour.

The first batch, who had merely gone to roughly scout the Qiang People's movements, returned.

"Reporting to the Commander, the Qiang People have already descended Wuyang Pass; they have set up their main camp at the foot of Wuyang Mountain, divided troops into multiple routes, plundered surrounding villages and forts, and... they have even erected a memorial mound."

The scout knelt on one knee, his voice low and hoarse as he reported.

On this mountainside where the wind brings a slight chill, yet wildflowers bloom profusely and countless chicken-leg mushrooms grow, Chen Wuji heard the first heart-wrenching news.

The Qiang People's slaughter and razing of settlements is commonplace; whenever they raid, they carry out total extermination, leaving no living soul in their wake unless hidden sufficiently.

But they rarely erect a memorial mound.

Chen Wuji had a premonition that Zhong Qiang seemed to be coming specifically for him.

"How far are we from Wuyang Pass now?" Chen Wuji asked those nearby.

"Less than twenty li!" Chen Li said.

Chen Wuji looked at Xu Zengyi, "Sir, let's camp here and divide the troops; the Qiang People are currently raiding everywhere; once the scouts ascertain their movements, our army can first launch a small-scale probing attack."

"Your lordship's insight is lofty!" Xu Zengyi came out with his usual stiff flattery.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Someone, convey my orders: have Lu Halberd Unit rush to Wuyang City, while the remaining troops camp here, dig deep trenches, build high walls, and establish a stockade."

"Yes!"

Wuyang City lies to the right-front of their current position, only four or five li away.

After the orders were arranged, Chen Wuji begged a piece of cloth from the soldiers, spread it flat on the grass, then began plucking the white, fluffy chicken-leg mushrooms growing there.

He had craved this thing his whole childhood; it's something you can encounter but not seek, yet here it's everywhere across the mountains and fields.

Even if his mood was terrible, he would eat this meal of mushrooms.

Sir, the Qiang people are coming for me, right? Chen Wuji said while busily picking mushrooms, asking Xu Zengyi, who was following him step by step at his side.

I find it hard to say yes or no, but going by my feeling, the Qiang people seem to have the intention of provoking my lord." Xu Zengyi said, "The Qiang people love killing and are fond of slaughter, but as far as I know, they rarely undertake the act of establishing a capital observatory."

It's fine, let them come for me; a hundred thousand heads should be enough to add another peak to Mount Wuyang." Chen Wuji shook his head and said, "Those who kill my people will have to pay the price."

At this point, Chen Wuji suddenly looked up and said, "Sir, if I invade Qiang Land and level the chariot wheels, you wouldn't stop me, would you?"

My lord, if I were that merciful, how could I be called the Poisonist?" Xu Zengyi chuckled, "However, I wouldn't advise my lord to cut down all those young ones after leveling the chariot wheels."

Sir, why are your words contradictory?

General Hu Bu Gui's previous approach was actually quite good; it could earn Silver.

Chen Wuji hesitated a moment, "It seems I have to choose between Silver and revenge."