Chapter 29: It is easy to resist those who come in the open, but it is hard to guard against those w

Chapter 29: It is easy to resist those who come in the open, but it is hard to guard against those w

Chapter 29: It is easy to resist those who come in the open, but it is hard to guard against those who come in the dark

The next day, the army continued to train, and the sky became increasingly gloomy.

Wang Shen, who was in charge of separate military affairs, was busy running around. Whenever he had free time, he walked around and observed signs of possible rain.

As the chief officer, Lu Yunyi also raised his eyebrows and looked up at the sky from time to time.

I hope it will rain soon so we can leave the camp as soon as possible.

Early in the morning, Guo Quan brought the accountant to the camp, signed a contract, and established a new business.

The production method of dried apricots was also transferred to the new business, which was jointly owned by Liu Huaipu and Guo Quan.
The newly established business naturally took on the responsibility of supplying goods to the army.

Although he has to face layers of selection, Lu Yunyi is not worried at all with Guo Quan around.

It's just that things went so smoothly that he felt like it was a dream.

At this moment, he stood on the high platform, exercising his body while watching the soldiers training.

A huge stone fell from his heart, making him feel relieved.

Next, they had to go out to perform meritorious deeds and conduct field training for the soldiers.

Prior to this, Lu Yunyi wanted to install the modified stirrups on the new army's war horses.

But this is a matter of great importance, and the barracks craftsmen need the general's order to build them.

So he planned to go to the central military tent after today's training was over.

As time passed, the shouts of the soldiers became weaker and weaker.

From the excitement of the morning to the listlessness of the end,
Lu Yunyi saw it all, but he did not urge him. After all, it is normal for people to be tired.

After the training, on the way back to the camp, he saw Liu Heiying, who was also sweating profusely.

He held a booklet in his hand and handed it over excitedly:

"Brother Yun'er, take a look."

"What?" Lu Yunyi took it suspiciously.

Liu Heiying was excited: "Guo Quan is really a capable man. This is the military supply list my father sent.
Guo Quan's intention is to let Brother Yuner take a look at what can and cannot be done here."

Lu Yunyi's eyes turned cold, and he quickly opened the booklet and glanced through it. The more he looked, the more frightened he became.
He quickly closed the book, dragged Liu Heiying aside, and shouted in a low voice:

"Guo Quan is crazy, is your father crazy too? Can we take this thing? This is a military secret!!!"

Liu Heiying looked puzzled and took the booklet and looked at it again.

It only records the types and quantities of military supplies needed by the army.

"What's the matter? Isn't it just a booklet?"

Lu Yunyi was already regretting it at this moment. He had praised Guo Quan for being straightforward this morning.
Now it seems that he is just a dandy boy who is ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth and can never accomplish anything!
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi looked solemn:
"Listen, the military roster is top secret no matter which dynasty or army it is in.

Although inconspicuous, it can be used to infer the number of soldiers, territory, combat power, marching route, and ultimate purpose.
So this thing is the same as the food and fodder register and the military household register.
They are all top secret and the family may be beheaded or their relatives may be implicated!
I don't know what Guo Quan is like. He may be all-powerful or he may have been plotted against.
In any case, you should go find him now, and don't touch anything on this military roster, and just pretend you didn't see this roster!"

After these words came out, Liu Heiying's face turned pale.
The fat on his face trembled, he kept swallowing saliva, his throat moved,

"I know, I'll do it right away."

Liu Heiying ran away for just two steps before turning back and asking hurriedly:
"What if he doesn't listen?"

"If he doesn't listen, we won't give him that part.

Being so audacious, sooner or later you will implicate us." Lu Yunyi said with a dark face.

Liu Heiying nodded repeatedly, without caring about the money, and ran away in a hurry.

Lu Yunyi stood there with a dark face. If he could get the list of Yuanting military supplies,

He could calculate the location of Yuan Ting's garrison and the combat strength of its troops.

Similarly, if this list is obtained by Yuan court spies, then this northern expedition army will no longer be a secret to the Yuan court.

Taking a deep breath and calming his mind, Lu Yunyi slowly shook his head and returned to the military tent.

Every failure is a learning experience. It is better to avoid such hasty decisions on cooperation in the future.
Those playboys are good-for-nothings and we can't expect too much from them.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong and there was still time to remedy the situation.

After a quick wash, Lu Yunyi walked out of the military camp, facing the moonlight, and headed straight for the central military tent.

As December was approaching, the atmosphere in the military tent became more solemn, but the soldiers had a smile on their faces.
Because the New Year is not far away, the general has clearly informed the soldiers,
Not sending troops to the grasslands before the New Year gave the soldiers peace of mind.
Have a good new year in the Ming Dynasty, perhaps the last year.

Soon, Lu Yunyi arrived at the central military camp.
It was Shi Zhengyu, an acquaintance, who was on duty. When he saw Lu Yunyi, his expression became much warmer and he greeted him with a smile:
"Brother Yun, your fame is different now than it was before.

I can hear the scouts' drills from the front even from the central military camp."

"No, Brother Shi praised you."

Shi Zhengyu tilted his head slightly and whispered:
"To be honest, the general has praised you several times for your good command of the army. He doesn't like sickly soldiers the most."

Lu Yunyi quickly expressed his gratitude to Shi Zhengyu:
"Thank you, Brother Shi. I have made such achievements thanks to you all. I dare not take all the credit for myself."

"You're welcome. You're a good trainer and everyone respects you.

If you have no ability and still lead the soldiers to make a fuss, everyone will be annoyed with you.

Several thousand soldiers in the rear army also wanted to train like you, but after a few days of training, it was like putting ox horns on a donkey's head - a mess."

After these words came out, the two smiled knowingly, but Lu Yunyi noticed that
Shi Zhengyu talked a lot today. He glanced at the military tent and had an idea in his mind.

As expected, after exchanging a few pleasantries, Shi Zhengyu whispered:

"Marquis Changxing and several lieutenants are discussing military matters in the military tent. Wait here for a while."

"Thank you, Brother Shi, for letting me know. Yi's matter is not urgent. Just wait for a moment."

Lu Yunyi stood silently at one side, his back straight. Even when the cold wind blew, he remained calm.

Shi Zhengyu nodded silently.

A general at such a young age can be so calm and composed, his reputation is truly worthy of its reputation.

Having stayed in Qingzhou for a long time, I have heard a lot about Lu Yunyi.
He had followed the general on his travels for many years, and he could not help but sigh that this was a good candidate for military service.
Be strict in discipline, be strict with yourself and be lenient with others.

Thinking of this, Shi Zhengyu pondered for a moment and said softly:

"Brother Yun, what is your previous Shangguan Yan San's daily style like?"

A hint of darkness flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes. He thought for a moment and said:
"Lord Yan is cautious in his work and strict in his military discipline. During his years in Qingzhou, he managed the Houqianhu Division in an orderly manner. He is a rare good superior."

"Really?" Shi Zhengyu nodded:

"I heard that he was a little too cautious. Yesterday, the commander of Qingzhou Guard came here and was scolded by the general.
"What do you think of the commander?"

Lu Yunyi shook his head and laughed:
"Brother Shi, if the general hadn't come, I would have been a general flag bearer and wouldn't have been able to see the commander-in-chief."

"Look at my head. I was wrong." Shi Zhengyu smiled and patted his head, and continued:

"Brother Yun is so capable, but he has been in the army for many years and is only a general. This commander is indeed a figurehead, and the general scolded him well."

Lu Yunyi could only smile softly and not comment.
The more you talk, the more mistakes you make. It’s better not to say anything, especially when it comes to gossip.

After a moment of silence, Shi Zhengyu spoke again:
"You may not know this yet, but since you left, Yan San and his men have not gained anything.
Recently, a team of 100 people lost their way and froze to death on the grassland.

Although the other thousand households were not so absurd, they did not gain much either, far less than Brother Yun."

It was only at this moment that Lu Yunyi showed some realization:
"So it's because of this?"

"exactly."

"Thank you, Brother Shi."

Shi Zhengyu nodded and stopped talking.

After waiting for two quarters of an hour, heavy footsteps were heard in the military tent.
The generals in the army, led by Marquis Changxing, walked out with the gait of a dragon or a tiger, all of them looked ferocious and the atmosphere suddenly became depressing.

Marquis Changxing looked around and saw Lu Yunyi standing to one side.
He waved his hand gently, letting the other lieutenants leave first, and then he walked over.

Geng Bingwen, the Marquis of Changxing, is now fifty-four years old, not tall, and thin.
But his eyes were bright and full of the courage and bravery that only men on the battlefield can have.
Lu Yunyi is tall, but at this moment, he feels his momentum is weakened in front of Geng Bingwen, who is not as tall as him.

"Your subordinate Lu Yunyi pays homage to Lord Changxing."

Geng Bingwen looked at Lu Yunyi and said, "You must have been waiting for a long time."

"Reporting to the Marquis, not long."

Geng Bingwen's serious face showed a dry smile:

"Your trumpet has been polished and remade by craftsmen and now weighs one pound.

The sound is not as strong as before, but it is enough.
You were able to hand this thing over to the army in time, which shows that you are a man of integrity. I will remember your merit. You can come to me if you encounter any problems in the future."

Lu Yunyi showed a look of joy, but with a bit of restraint on his face, he quickly bowed and saluted:
"Thank you, Lord Changxing. I also copied that thing, so I don't dare to take credit for it." Lord Changxing Geng Bingwen waved his hand.
"The copper trumpet has been in the army for who knows how many years. How come others haven't discovered that it has other uses?
If it’s your credit, it’s yours, you can’t escape it.

But for those of us in the military, tricks and gimmicks are only minor matters.
Military merit gained from fighting in battles is real merit, and it will make you feel more confident when you talk about it later."

"Thank you Lord Changxing for your guidance. I came here to ask for instructions from the general. My troops will leave the country and go to the grassland to explore."

Geng Bingwen's expression eased a little, he nodded gently, looked Lu Yunyi up and down, and said meaningfully:
"Do you have anything else to present to the army?

Although strange and cunning skills are minor, our Ming Dynasty attaches great importance to craftsmanship and military affairs.

As long as you can improve the strength of the army, I will reward you generously."

As soon as these words came out, Lu Yunyi's heart skipped a beat, and his heartbeat uncontrollably accelerated.
The knuckles of his fists, which were clenched to the side, turned white, and he felt a wave of uneasiness in his head.

After a pause, Lu Yunyi gritted his teeth, looked cautious, and spoke in a deep voice:
"Lord Changxing, please look at this."

Lu Yunyi put his hand into his arms, but this action made the guards beside him look fierce.
The long sword was three inches out of the sheath, and when he took his hand out, the guards returned to normal.

Before Lu Yunyi could speak, Changxing Hou sneered.
He reached out and picked up a dried apricot, threw it into his mouth, chewed it and said:

"Not only can this be used in military emergencies, it is also very delicious to eat on a daily basis.
It’s just that I have bad teeth, so I can’t eat much, but it’s a good thing.”

While Lu Yunyi was stunned, Changxing Hou took two more from him:

"I know about this matter, and I will also credit you for your contribution. Do your job well, and the court will not let down those who have made contributions."

Then, Geng Bingwen, the Marquis of Changxing, left in a leisurely manner. His personal guards looked at him strangely and left as well.

Leaving Lu Yunyi standing there with a frown on his face.
At this time, Shi Zhengyu came out of the military tent and said with a smile:
"Brother Yun, you can go in now."

Lu Yunyi finally got rid of his astonishment and put the remaining dried apricots back into his arms.
He gathered his thoughts and walked into the military tent with steady steps.

Entering the military tent, it was as clean and simple as usual.
Lan Yu seemed to have grown on the desk, always piled with military newspapers and documents, with only half of his forehead still exposed.

He slowly raised his head and roughly piled the documents in front of him to one side.
Then he picked up the teacup beside him and glanced quietly at Lu Yunyi.

Lu Yunyi was very tactful. Without any greeting, he took out the stirrup from his arms and said in a deep voice:

"General, according to the observations of our soldiers,

It will rain within three days and snow within seven days. We, the vanguard scouts, will take this opportunity to enter the grassland."

After hearing this, Lan Yu looked around the table, picked up a document, gently opened it and read it, and nodded after a while:
"Indeed, you can make up your mind about going to the grassland to investigate.
I can't help you much, but you can always check the military reports about the grassland spies to infer the location of the Yuan people, which will be easier."

Lu Yunyi's face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed and saluted:

"Thank you, General."

"What's in your hand?"

Lu Yunyi raised his head and smiled, then quickly approached, placed the stirrup on the blue jade table, and said slowly:
"Sir, this is the stirrup I improved.
I found that after a long journey, the stirrups were rubbing my feet. I even found that the stirrups didn't fit my feet.

Many short soldiers would suffer from thigh pain during long marches, which was very uncomfortable, so I made some improvements."

Lan Yu picked up the stirrup and examined it carefully.

Originally, the stirrup was a whole, consisting of two parts, the upper and the lower.
But the stirrup in front of me was divided into two parts, front and back, with some space in the middle.

He frowned slightly, grasped both sides of the stirrup, and pulled gently, making a clicking sound.
The stirrup, which was originally smaller than the palm of your hand, suddenly stretched out to the size of a palm.

"General, this is made so that the stirrup will fit better.

This will prevent the soldiers from wasting too much energy on their lower bodies, so they can focus on killing with all their strength."

Lan Yu stared at the stirrup, looked left and right, and pulled it back and forth twice, frowning slightly:

"It is more like a windlass for drawing water, which can be made longer or shorter.
But... ordinary stirrups are enough. This thing is a bit useless. It can improve the combat effectiveness of soldiers, but it is limited."

"The general has a keen eye. The production process of this item is complicated and its price is more expensive than ordinary stirrups." Lu Yunyi said honestly.

Lan Yu said nothing and waited quietly.

Lu Yunyi continued:
"General, although this item is not very helpful to ordinary soldiers, it is very useful for scouts in the front line.
The last time I went deep into the grassland, I felt fine at first, but after running a thousand miles, I felt pain in my feet.

After a careful inspection, I found that the stirrups had been in one position for a long time, which was a bit rubbing against my feet.

But if you move your feet away, you will feel extremely tired.

Helplessly, the subordinate had to endure it with all his heart, and a small part of his mind was on his lower body.
As a result, his mind was unable to concentrate, his head was confused, and he missed many opportunities to kill the enemies.

Since then, I decided to modify the stirrup.

At least it makes the soldiers feel comfortable and does not affect their combat effectiveness, so this thing was invented."

Lan Yu fumbled with her hand, picked up the stirrup and examined it carefully, saying as she looked at it:

"I followed the commander in chief in his campaigns, and was tortured by the saddle and stirrups at first.

But it will be fine when thick calluses form on your feet and legs.

I'm not as delicate as you, who even wants to modify a stirrup."

Lan Yu glanced at him, put down the stirrup, and folded his hands across his chest:
"Tell me, what do you want?"

Lu Yunyi's mouth suddenly showed a hint of smile:
"General, you are very observant. I do have something to ask of you.
I want to replace the stirrups of the scouts before the expedition.

This is more appropriate. After all, although those soldiers are elite, this is their first time to act as scouts."

"That's right."

"what?"

Lu Yunyi was somewhat caught off guard by Lan Yu's straightforwardness.
But then a surge of joy emerged in his heart, and he quickly bowed:

"Thank you, General. You are wise."

Lan Yu looked calm and composed as usual. He gently put down the teacup and asked calmly:

"Did Guo Quan go to your place yesterday?"

Lu Yunyi was stunned, his hand clasped on one side tensed up, and then he nodded:
"Reporting to the General, yes.

The father of one of my centurions is the owner of a business in the city;

He had something in his hand that could quench thirst, was easy to carry, and most importantly, was not easily damaged, making it extremely suitable for use in the army.
Guo Quan went to his subordinates to facilitate this matter."

"You agreed?"

"I agree. The object is mysterious only when it is not seen. Once you see it, it is very easy to make."

Lu Yunyi scratched his head embarrassedly and spoke stiffly:
"I dare not deceive the general. That thing can earn thousands of taels of silver a year.
My subordinate Liu Hei Ying and I have one share, and we can also get 100 taels, which is not much, but it is stable. "

Lan Yu sneered and stared at Lu Yunyi sinisterly:
"What a big mouth! The soldiers under my command fought hard for a year and earned only a little over ten taels.

You can earn a hundred taels just by talking. Is it so easy to make money from the Ming Dynasty?"

Lan Yu's voice became louder and louder, and finally he became so angry that he stood up with a bang, walked quickly over the table, and kicked it!
Lu Yunyi quickly relaxed his mind and muscles, and fell down.
But Lan Yu's brows furrowed even deeper, and he paced back and forth with his hands on his hips, chuckling softly:
"The military household register says that you are too scheming. I thought you were calm before, and now it seems that you are indeed the case!"

He thought about it and said sarcastically:
"Since you entered the army, you have fought sixty-seven battles and never lost.
I don’t even know when I gained this much strength!!!”

After hearing this, Lu Yunyi felt awkward. He quickly stood up and bowed:
"Please forgive me, General."

Lan Yu suddenly regained his composure, slowly walked back to the table, and spoke calmly:
"A fine of three months' salary will be imposed, and this will not happen again."

Lu Yunyi's face froze at first, then he was delighted:
"Thank you for your forgiveness, General. I am grateful."

"I will have the craftsmen work on the stirrups day and night. You must leave the camp within three days.
The soldiers were clamoring in their tents all day long, and many of them were dissatisfied.
Be careful not to fall when you are in the limelight.

Remember, if you are superior to others, people will criticize you. "

Lan Yu's cold voice echoed in the military tent, adding a bit of chilliness.

Lu Yunyi's pupils suddenly contracted, and he understood something, and bowed quickly:
"Thank you, General. I will keep it in mind."

No more sound came from the military tent, only the light footsteps of Lu Yunyi as he left.

The night was as dark as ink. The lights in the military tent flickered, illuminating Lan Yu's resolute face.

He was looking through the unfinished military newspaper.
Sometimes he frowned, sometimes he was deep in thought.

Whenever the candle flame flickered and staggered, he frowned.
He adjusted his posture and brought the military newspaper closer to his head, trying hard to see the words on it clearly.

After an unknown amount of time, Lan Yu opened a military newspaper.
After reading the words above, he sneered, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"There is a dried apricot in the city of Gyeongju that can quench thirst and is easy to store. It is hard to obtain in the army.

It was Lu Yunyi, the vanguard, who was in charge of it. However, he not only did not submit to the army,

Instead, he conspired with his close guard Guo Quan to engage in business and sell the army.
These actions are extremely treasonous, and I hope the general will punish them."

Lan Yu lightly stroked the paper to remember the name of the person who presented it, and then picked up the pen to write two big characters:

"Already punished."

(End of this chapter)