Chapter 650: with translation of chapter title

"Daozhang, don't be angry, as the saying goes, when one's skills run out, what one thinks is always lacking; listening more to others' opinions is always good." Chen Wuji said.

Zhi Xu Daozhang naturally wasn't really angry, just meant it as a passing remark. "Speaking of this matter, the old Daoist just now actually thought of something. Qiang Land is extremely cold; days are warm, but nights are bitterly cold, especially at the end of winter and beginning of spring, so please, Brigade Commander, make preparations early."

Chen Wuji knew about this.

Although he didn't pay much attention in class when he was in school, this bit of knowledge is too basic in geography; even if he only occasionally heard a snippet, he still grasped the essence.

But Chen Wuji still sincerely thanked Zhi Xu Daozhang.

To him it was common sense, but in this world it isn't common sense; without personally having walked these places, or without possessing astronomical and geographical knowledge, no one would know these things.

"I hope the Brigade Commander remains calm, proceeds steadily; the situation of the world may perhaps lie in a single thought of the Brigade Commander." Zhi Xu Daozhang rose and made a Daoist bow, "Rest is about done; I'll go attend to my affairs first."

Chen Wuji rose and returned the salute with clasped hands.

Actually, the last line Zhi Xu Daozhang delivered as a retort, he didn't quite catch it, but the person had already left.

The other party obviously meant not to say more, so Chen Wuji gave up the idea of pressing further.

"How could the situation of the world hinge on my single thought? Could it be because I want to rebel?" Chen Wuji muttered, turned, went to the Luggage and Supplies Camp to grab a small basket, then left the camp and went down the hillside.

In the season when fresh produce is available to eat, one cannot be lazy, cannot waste the bounty of heaven and earth.

The whole army had an extra meal of chicken-leg mushroom soup, and nobody failed to praise it.

Those greedy little fellows, while on patrol outside, not only had to watch the surroundings but also keep an eye on the ground; upon seeing them, they would casually pluck them back and cook them for themselves.

As a result, Chen Wuji now wanting to eat a couple bites has to run far off to find them.

As for the whole army having an extra meal, that's basically impossible now.

The Huotou Army personnel shouldn't even think of finding any chicken-leg mushrooms near the main camp anymore.

As Chen Wuji carried the basket up and down the western slope of Mount Wuyang, Xu Zengyi came running up from behind, "My lord, Chen Baojia has brought a battle report."

"Read it out." Chen Wuji said.

The terrain here is fairly steep; he had to grab the small saplings on the slope with both hands, leaving no time to look at the letter.

Xu Zengyi slid down from above and slipped the battle report straight into his lap.

His complexion was very bad, and he remained silent for a while.

After Chen Wuji found a place where he could steady his footing, he asked strangely, "What's going on?"

"The two middle-army divisions we previously sent out have been completely wiped out." Xu Zengyi said in a muffled voice.

Chen Wuji's face sank abruptly, "What's going on?"

Xu Zengyi said in a muffled voice, "The Qiang people besieged the city for several days, unable to take it by prolonged assault, they drove the civilians they had captured to the front lines, forcing our army to surrender. They killed for two days, chopping to death hundreds of innocent civilians in front of the lines."

"The middle-army brigade commanders Han Miao and Jia Yixin, unable to bear such a grim sight, after drawing lots, Han Miao led a hundred men to withdraw from Liulin City and return to report, while Jia Yixin led his troops to forcefully sortie from the city to meet the enemy; the soldiers of both brigades fought to the death."

Chen Wuji's heart suddenly felt as if a huge stone had been lodged in it, "All fine men!"

"Yes!"

"These bastards are truly damn disgusting, fighting war is war, using civilians as shields. They pull it off so nicely, they seem rather pleased with themselves, employing this trick in every siege, as if to them it's a tried-and-true supreme tactic." Killing intent surged in Chen Wuji's deep eyes.

"Heaven's way cycles nicely; just wait, wait a bit longer, these things will come back to you—when that time comes, be sure not to cry!"

Xu Zengyi silently looked at Chen Wuji, he didn't try to persuade, merely gave a slight nod.

That was also his thought.

As a Poisonist, he never refuses a ruthless tactic.

"Eleventh Uncle, the troops you brought are truly splendid; do a proper accounting, send people to deliver their family letters and condolence money home as soon as possible." Chen Wuji raised his head and ordered.

After the main army returned to camp, Chen Li again became a pillar beside Chen Wuji, now standing on the upper side of the slope holding a knife.

Chen Li blinked hard twice, hiding the tears that had just welled up in his eyes, then gave a firm clasped-fist salute, saying, "I'll arrange it properly; I won't let them down."

Xu Zengyi said in a low voice, "Han Miao also died..."

"How could he die?!" Chen Wuji pressed.

Xu Zengyi took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, before saying, "When he met with Chen Baojia, after making clear the situation of Liulin City, he changed into clean clothes, handed over the letters he had written to his family and all the gold and silver he had saved these days to Chen Baojia, and then immediately committed suicide."

"He said his troops were all left in Liulin City; as a brigade commander, he couldn't live on alone. Chen Baojia didn't stop him, and he just died right before his eyes."

"However, he promptly brought under control the hundred soldiers Han Miao had brought; just a little more and those men would have followed Han Miao's fate. The loyalty and righteousness of the middle army..."

He couldn't finish the rest of his sentence; at this moment he could barely control his emotions.

The stone lodged in Chen Wuji's chest grew even larger...

He closed his eyes, lifted his head, drew in countless deep breaths, and finally managed to adjust his mindset somewhat: "Han Miao, Jia Yixin, and these two brigades' twenty-four hundred soldiers—what they did ought to be known to all under heaven; they should also become exemplars of loyalty and righteousness in this tumultuous age!"

"The things Da Yu lost, they guarded with their lives!"

"Issue an order to Chen Baojia: tell him that no matter the cost, he must keep the entire Qiang force of Liulin City intact there, not letting a single one escape."

Xu Zengyi nodded and said, "Chen Baojia is already doing that."

"After Jia Yixin's entire army was slain, the Qiang people occupied Liulin City; Chen Baojia split his forces into two prongs—one to besiege Liulin City, the other to raid into Qiang Land. In his battle report he said, however the Qiang people act, he will do the same; the Qiang also have civilians, so he can also seize and slaughter those below Liulin City."

Does this tactic violate Heavenly Harmony?

Certainly it does!

But Chen Wuji strongly supports Chen Baojia doing that.

The Qiang people are all soldiers; women and children can take up arms to form units, and Chen Wuji still feels it's a loss.

"Tell Chen Baojia, after capturing Liulin City, to erect a Jiang Jun Lin outside Liulin City, bury Han Miao, Jia Yixin, and these twenty-four hundred soldiers there, and also set up a General's Stele to record their achievements." Chen Wuji ordered in a deep voice.

"What they did ought to be made known to the world, and they ought to receive incense worship!"

"Yes!"

Chen Li clasped his fists, his voice tinged with a hint of choking, and shouted in a low voice.

Chen Wuji clenched his fists, turned his head, and asked Xu Zengyi, "How are the rewards and the pensions for the fallen soldiers coming along?"

He couldn't wait to go out on campaign.