Chapter 177: Cutting Off the Rear

After sending out the organized victory report, the army, which had rested for a day, set off on the journey again.

Now it is a race against time.

The news of the rebel army's defeat is constantly spreading to the outside world.

Once they receive the news of the Xunzhou front army's collapse, the rebels in the Nanning direction will likely choose to run away.

"Commander Li, marching so urgently, I'm afraid the soldiers can't take it!"

Jia Bo tactfully persuaded.

To save time, this expedition was light and simple, carrying only seven days of dry rations.

In just one morning, the army advanced thirty li.

Whether the soldiers below could bear it, Jia Bo didn't know, but he, the Army Supervisor, was tossed enough.

There was no way; encountering a forced march, no one wanted special treatment.

Even the Army Supervisor could only ride a horse himself.

For military generals, riding a horse for thirty li in one morning was like playing.

But for a civil official who was pampered, this was already challenging the limit.

What's worse is that this intensity of rushing on the road is not just one morning, but needs to last for several days.

The imperial army has no ability to block the transmission of news; the only way to intercept the rebels is to march faster than them.

Catch them on the road before they return to Nanning City and annihilate them.

If they could force the rebels to split up and flee, and then pursue the routed soldiers from behind, that would be even better.

"Lord Jia, don't worry!

If they can't even eat this bit of bitterness, then what kind of soldiers are they.

To save time, we didn't even bring heavy artillery.

If we can't do seventy li a day with light equipment, what qualifications do we have to be called elite troops?"

Li Mu said with feigned disdain.

Undoubtedly, such a marching arrangement was intentional.

If there were no accidents, the rebels in the Nanning direction had already received the news of the Xunzhou collapse.

The distance between the two armies was a full hundred li; relying purely on infantry to catch up and pursue, the day lily would be cold.

The cavalry is truly responsible for intercepting the rebels.

As long as they are bitten by the cavalry, the enemy cannot easily withdraw.

The infantry's task is to go over and annihilate the enemy.

Choosing seventy li a day, besides the needs of war, is also complaining to the Army Supervisor.

Many things, without personal experience, are hard to understand the bitterness of the soldiers just by looking at the data on paper.

Taking the Army Supervisor for a walk is more useful than complaining a thousand times.

"Commander Li, truly good at training troops!"

Jia Bo said, biting the bullet and praising.

As a literati, he wants face.

The soldiers were walking on the ground with two legs without complaining, and he, the Army Supervisor on horseback, shouting tired, was too shameful.

If it got out, it would damage his clean name.

Deep down, regarding the indicators for elite troops, on the basis of being able to fight, he added another one: can walk seventy li a day.

In fact, seventy li a day for

Historically, there have even been troops that could cover a hundred li in a day, but that was a temporary burst of energy that could not be sustained.

Being able to maintain a speed of sixty li during a continuous march is considered elite.

To train such troops, the soldiers' nutrition must keep up, and the intensity of their daily training cannot be low.

One cannot expect a troop that eats chaff and swallows vegetables to become an elite force.

Without a doubt, more than ninety-five percent of the Great Dayu Dynasty's troops cannot satisfy any of these conditions.

"Haha...

This is the standard for recruited troops; the garrison troops certainly cannot achieve this.

For ordinary troops, being able to cover fifty li a day is already considered well-trained."

In order not to harm his colleagues, Li Mu added another sentence.

If this Army Supervisor were to rise rapidly in the future and oversee a region, it would be disastrous to measure local armed forces by the standards of the Yangzhou Camp and the Two Huai'an Camp.

One must know that in order to maintain a speed of seventy li, he did not even bring the newly organized garrison troops this time.

Do not look down on the several guards under his command; although the soldiers have only been enlisted for a few months, their true level still exceeds ninety-five percent of garrison soldiers.

Not only is the training intensity on par with the main force, but the soldiers' daily meals are also strictly executed according to the standards set by the imperial court.

The poor quality of soldiers' meals in the eyes of the outside world is purely caused by the corruption of the administration.

Since the Great Dayu was able to seize the world by force, it is impossible for them to let the soldiers go hungry.

At least in the early years of the founding of the dynasty, the living standards of soldiers were far higher than those of commoners.

Official standard: each soldier is supplied with 2.5 jin of brown rice per day as a staple food, plus three fen of silver for side dishes.

Although the imperial court does not actually issue this much, Li Mu still makes purchases according to the standard.

As for the difference, it is recovered by reporting more battle damage and requesting more pension funds.

Spoils of war are also a good supplement.

As long as one can win battles, the increased expenses can all be recovered through various means.

If there are no accidents, by the time the Among Guangxi Campaign ends, the troops under his command will be able to receive seventy percent of their pay.

If Grand Secretary Xu needs them to continue risking their lives, they might even get seventy-five or eighty percent of their pay.

This is the prestige of an elite force; the more capable a troop is at fighting, the stronger its bargaining power.

Those guys in the Ministry of Revenue also judge people by their appearance.

However, these good days are mainly during wartime.

According to the Great Dayu Law, garrison troops need to farm their own land to support themselves and also bear a portion of the military expenses.

The situation in Among Guangxi is special; the original garrison troops were wiped out, so the newly formed troops naturally need the imperial court to pay for their upkeep.

For the sake of the war, they managed to obtain the treatment of recruited troops for a short period.

Once the war is over, they will return to the treatment of garrison soldiers.

Theoretically speaking, the Among Guangxi Provincial Governor's Yamen should provide financial and grain support.

Judging from the reality, Li Mu does not believe that the Among Guangxi Provincial Governor's Yamen after the war will be able to produce money and grain.

Unlike the Yangzhou Prefecture, where ownerless properties and land are put up for sale and the local gentry rush to snatch them up.

Among Guangxi relies heavily on financial allocations, and local industries and land cannot be sold for a good price.

The local gentry have been ravaged by the rebel army, and even if they were given land, gentry from other places would not be willing to migrate here.

Except for a few gentry families engaged in commerce who are willing to purchase some mineral assets, they simply cannot raise much capital.

The Provincial Governor's Yamen itself is having a hard time, let alone supporting the subordinates below.

If one counts on the imperial court's allocations, then just wait to eat chaff and swallow vegetables!

Taking advantage of the current opportunity to quickly request more money and grain is the right path.

Nanning Front Army Camp.

"Just received news that the Holy Dynasty's main army unfortunately suffered defeat in Pubei while engaging the pseudo-dynasty's troops, and the Marquis of Marquis Zhongxiao has heroically died for his country.

If there are no accidents, the main force of the pseudo-dynasty's official army is already rushing toward us at this moment.

Let's discuss whether to fight or surrender!"

Su Su Laoda said with a gloomy expression.

The Marquis of Marquis Zhongxiao is not only the Regional Commander of this campaign but also the highest-ranking general to have sacrificed himself since the establishment of the White Lotus Holy Kingdom.

Although the specific battle situation is unknown, since the Regional Commander has fallen, the main army must have suffered devastating casualties.

Total annihilation is not impossible.

Most of the White Lotus Holy Kingdom's main force is placed on the Xunzhou front, and the troops here are mainly composed of Guangxi Tusi armies.

Once the news spreads, military morale will inevitably be affected.

"General, these are just a few stragglers; their words are not to be trusted.

If this is an enemy conspiracy and we rashly withdraw our troops, it will be troublesome if it affects the war effort.

In this subordinate's view, we might as well wait and see.

If the Marquis of Marquis Zhongxiao has truly been defeated, the Holy Kingdom will certainly issue an order to withdraw.

At this moment, the enemy army is still over a hundred li away from us and cannot rush over in a short while.

Let's send people to keep an eye on them first; if we truly discover them closing in on us, it won't be too late to take action then."

Central Army Captain Cai Xiao Liu spoke up to persuade.

His worries are not without foundation.

Although the White Lotus Holy Kingdom is newly founded, it has also established basic operating rules.

According to the Holy Kingdom's rules, those who withdraw without authorization—behead!

Not only will the main general lose his head, but they, these high-ranking generals, will also have to be buried with him.

Before obtaining confirmed news, it is very difficult for people to make up their minds to withdraw based solely on the information brought by stragglers.

"Captain Cai, the pseudo-dynasty's official army has cavalry; they love hunting down scouts the most, and ordinary scouts simply cannot bring the news back.

If we truly verify the news, it might be that the enemy has already killed their way to our front.

By the time the Holy Kingdom issues an order, it will be too late in terms of time.

The distance from the Holy Capital to the front line is not closer than it is to us.

If Xunzhou were in the hands of the Holy Kingdom, it would be fine to report the news immediately.

I am afraid that Xunzhou has also fallen into the hands of the pseudo-dynasty, delaying the transmission of the news."

Vanguard Captain Hua Er instinctively retorted.

As Cai Xiao Liu's mortal enemy, he would take the lead in opposing anything the other supported.

"Hua Lao Er, stop putting on an act here.

Even if the Marquis of Marquis Zhongxiao suffered a defeat, he would send people to notify the Holy Capital immediately.

If everything goes smoothly, we will be able to receive the Holy Capital's order by tomorrow at the latest.

Withdrawing according to the Holy Emperor's order is much more reliable than withdrawing on one's own authority.

If the Holy Dynasty has dispatched reinforcements and requires us to continue fighting, withdrawing without authorization is a capital offense.

It doesn't matter if you lose your life, but don't implicate everyone else!"

Cai Xiao Liu retorted sarcastically.

At this point, it is not just a dispute over withdrawing troops, but more of a dispute over face for the two.

No matter who makes the concession, they will not be able to hold their heads high when they see the other person for a long time to come.

Seeing the two start their arguing mode, the various generals present turned into spectators.

There is little fun in the army, and spectating is a rare form of entertainment.

If the occasion were not inappropriate, they would all be unable to resist opening a gambling pool to guess who would win this round of arguing.

"Enough!"

"If you want to argue, get out and argue; this is not a place for you to be presumptuous!"

The main general Su Su Laoda could not help but reprimand.

The White Lotus Holy Kingdom is a mixed bag, and these generals under his command were doing all sorts of things before they rebelled.

The black-faced fatty on the left was originally a butcher, specializing in killing pigs and selling meat.

The scarred face on the right was a bouncer for a gambling den and also worked part-time as a loan shark.

Cai Xiao Liu and Hua Er, who were listed on the left and right seats, were both fishmongers; because they often fought over the market, the two became mortal enemies.

The bald man further down was a monk who was kicked out of the temple for violating the precepts.

The man with a fleshy face behind him had a side job as an executioner at the Yamen and a main job of selling human blood buns.

There was no other way; gentry children would hide far away when they heard the three words "White Lotus Sect," let alone join in the rebellion.

In the early stages of the uprising, as long as one was a person who dared to fight and kill, one could quickly make a name for themselves.

Those who worked in the underworld were much stronger and more robust than the general public.

In the early stages, the advantage was very obvious.

As long as their luck was not too bad, they could all find a position in the rebel army.

However, these people generally find it difficult to live to the end.

It is not that the monarch deliberately targets them, but purely because of the various bad habits they have, they can toss themselves to death.

"Report!"

"General, scouts discovered a large number of hoof prints twenty li away from us; it is suspected that a large force of cavalry has passed by."

The words of the personal guard captain caused the expressions of everyone in the room to change drastically.

Although the White Lotus Holy Kingdom has a cavalry establishment, they do not have one under their command!

If it were the Holy Kingdom's cavalry, being so close to them, they would certainly send people over to say hello.

If it is not one of our own, then it can only be the enemy.

"Bad!

The enemy cavalry has infiltrated our rear; I am afraid they want to cut off our retreat!

It seems that the news of the Marquis of Marquis Zhongxiao's defeat and death should be true."

The scarred-faced general could not help but exclaim.

The Nanning Front Army appears to have a force of seventy thousand, but in essence, it still plays the role of a side force.

The main force of this counter-offensive battle is still the southward army led by the Marquis of Marquis Zhongxiao.

Now that the main force has been defeated, the side force has to face the main force of the official army alone; anyone would be worried about this.

"Pass the order down, have the scouts expand the scope of reconnaissance; we must find the location of the enemy cavalry.

Gentlemen, the most dangerous moment has arrived; let's discuss how to bring the troops back intact!"

Su Su Laoda ordered with a grave expression.

On the battlefield, what one fears most is uncertainty.

The enemy cavalry is hidden in the dark and could deal them a fatal blow at any time.

No general can ignore this kind of threat.

If he does not find the enemy, he will not be able to sleep peacefully.

"General, Nanning is located on the west bank of the Dajiang; if our army wants to go back, we must cross the river.

As long as the bridges and the ships at the ferry crossings are destroyed, the enemy can delay our river-crossing time."

Once the monk's words were spoken, the originally tense atmosphere in the room suddenly became even more oppressive.

Knowing the enemy's motives does not mean they can change them.

Cavalry runs faster than infantry; even if they immediately send troops to defend the various ferry crossings now, it will be too late in terms of time.

Without bridges and ships, they can only build rafts to cross the river.

Not to mention how great the technical difficulty is, just the time wasted will be significant.

Before they are ready, the main force of the official army will have already killed their way over.

"Captain Cai, Captain Hua, you two originally made a living on the water and are most familiar with the situation of the Yujiang.

Are there any shallow water areas suitable for the main army to cross the river?"

Su Su Laoda asked with concern.

First the main force was defeated, then the retreat route was about to be cut off; at this moment, he no longer had the heart to fight a decisive battle with the enemy army.

If he could bring the troops back intact, he would be satisfied.

As for encircling and suppressing the enemy army and recapturing Lianzhou, that will be considered after the Holy Kingdom's reinforcements arrive.

"General, although it is the dry season now, the riverbed width is still tens of meters.

Nanning is in the middle and lower reaches of the Yujiang; even if it is a shallow water area, it is not something ordinary people can cross.

If you want to cross the river directly, I am afraid you can only go to the upper reaches."

Hua Er said first.

(End of chapter)