Chapter 183: The Art of Praising and Killing
Chapter 183: The Art of Praising and Killing
Although the military tent was simple, it was filled with a thick atmosphere of embarrassment.
Liu Heiying, Wu Fuliu and Zhang Yujiang lowered their heads in shame, not knowing what to say.
Xu Zengshou and Guo Quan were laughing on the side and winking at Lu Yunyi.
Lu Yunyi was also speechless for a while, and after a long while, he slowly spoke:
"General, I think we can transfer some soldiers from the northern expedition army to the southwest.
Although there may be some discomfort in the early stage, I believe that the soldiers are determined and strong.
Although there are difficulties, we will definitely overcome them!
As for scout experience and how to collect terrain intelligence information,
It can be taught by soldiers in the front scout department, and at most it can be slightly improved. "
Hearing Lu Yunyi's words, Lan Yu nodded slightly, with a hint of a smile on his face:
"Then send Yu Tongyuan's soldiers. He is eager to make achievements, and his direct subordinates are all southerners, so they can adapt well.
Your unit will be responsible for teaching the scout method, and it must be able to advance a single force of more than a few thousand people."
what?
Lu Yunyi's eyes suddenly widened, his face full of astonishment.
Liu Heiying and others who had just lowered their heads suddenly raised their heads with strange expressions.
Xu Zengshou and Guo Quan, who were standing nearby and laughing, suddenly lost their smiles and turned serious.
The atmosphere in the military tent suddenly became solemn.
Lan Yu looked around sideways, with a smile in the corners of her eyes, and finally stopped at Lu Yunyi:
"What? Don't want to?"
Lu Yunyi didn't know what to say, and he stammered in a low voice:
"General, I have some unpleasantness with Commander Yu.
The incident in the royal court last time has not been resolved yet, and Governor Yu still regards me as an enemy, which is not a good thing."
"After spending so much effort to make something, wouldn't it be a shame if there is no scout tactics?"
Lan Yu stood there with his hands behind his back, and saw Lu Yunyi's expression changing back and forth with a strange look on his face.
With a cold snort, he turned around and walked away quickly: "Follow Ben in the future."
"okay."
Lu Yunyi's face lit up with joy, he grabbed the backpack on the table and rushed over.
The thirty-jin weight seemed like nothing in his hands.
After the two of them left, Wu Fuliu looked at Zhang Yu thoughtfully:
"Can we join the war in the southwest this time?"
Zhang Yu frowned slightly and looked thoughtful, then nodded with a hint of hesitation:
"Judging from the general's performance, it is very likely.
I just don't know how the court will decide, and whether Lord Mu is willing to use our tactics."
Liu Heiying was not as entangled as the other two.
He chuckled and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It's okay if we don't go to the southwest. The weather in Nanzhili is already so hot. How hot will it be in the southwest?"
After hearing this, everyone present felt irritated, some wiped their sweat, some lifted their clothes.
It is September now, and the sky in the south is like a furnace.
The night was like a curtain, with stars in the sky and moonlight mingling together and pouring down, covering the entire military camp with a layer of silver curtain.
Lu Yunyi followed Lan Yu as they walked through the army, looking around.
At any time, you can see soldiers lifting their clothes outside the military tent to seek a little coolness.
Seeing Lan Yu coming, they didn't care whether they were sitting or lying down.
They all stood up immediately and respectfully called out "General".
Lan Yu would sometimes nod in response and sometimes ignore it.
Lan Yu walked for a long time before he stopped in front of him and turned to look at Lu Yunyi.
She looked back and forth at the backpack in his hand, and couldn't help but sigh:
"He is really young and strong."
I walked for a long time with a 30-pound backpack in one hand, without blushing or getting nervous.
Lan Yu had a more intuitive feeling of Lu Yunyi's strength.
He stood still with his hands on his hips and spoke in a deep voice:
"Whether we can go to the southwest to fight is still up to the court to decide. Now we are just beginning preparations.
How to fight? How big a fight? How many people to send?
The court has not yet reached a decision, so we need to wait until we return to the court to discuss it.
Although you have done a good job in the Liaodong mission and have made great contributions, if you want to go to the southwest again, it depends on Mu Ying's opinion.
The Ming Dynasty fought in so many places, so we have to give some credit to others.
If we were to dominate the market, we would inevitably end up looking ugly.”
After hearing what Lan Yu said, Lu Yunyi finally felt relieved.
"General, we traveled from north to south.
As I look at the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty, I have some understanding in my heart.
The war on the border must end soon, so that the court can devote all its efforts to demolishing and rebuilding the Ming Dynasty.
The Luchuan Silunfa in the southwest is disrespectful to the Ming Dynasty and wants to compete with the Ming Dynasty.
Then the Ming Dynasty will not be timid. I think it is better to fight quickly rather than slowly.
If there are scouts outside to investigate the enemy situation and collect battle reports, it will be worth it if the war can go a little bit more smoothly. "
Lan Yu's expression became serious after hearing this, and he nodded slightly:
"You are too modest. The five thousand soldiers under your command can be scouts or vanguards.
It can be used immediately in any army of the Ming Dynasty, and it will greatly help the war.
But you have to understand the difficulties of the court. Sometimes, even though you know that the war will go smoothly by doing this, you can't do it.
If the front-line scouts are involved in any battle, they will sooner or later become the target of public criticism."
At this point, the atmosphere between the two of them became a little tense.
Lu Yunyi sighed slightly in his heart. Although he had expected this, he still felt a little regretful after hearing it.
In every dynasty, military merit is the most valuable merit.
The Ming Dynasty had over a million soldiers stationed there, and many of them had never fought in a war since they joined the army.
Seeing other soldiers getting rich and changing their lives because of the war, they were impatient.
Lu Yunyi spoke in a deep voice:
"Thank you for your support, General. I only learned about the Liaodong incident after returning to Gyeongju."
"It doesn't matter. The crying child gets the milk. No matter who goes to the battle, they will always quarrel with me. At least they have to make their attitude clear."
Lan Yu waved his hand casually, not caring at all.
Suddenly he seemed to remember something and looked at Lu Yunyi with a half-smile:
"Yu Tongyuan submitted a memorial a few days ago, which is related to you."
Lu Yunyi was stunned, his brows furrowed, and for some reason a sense of crisis arose in his heart.
"Please enlighten me, General."
Lan Yu smiled, but her eyes were extremely cold, and her whole body exuded a sharpness:
"He asked for a knighthood for you."
Huh? Lu Yunyi was surprised.
But soon, what he and Lan Yu had said in the military tent that day came flooding back to him, drowning him in an instant.
It left him freezing cold, almost unable to breathe.
This is flattery!
In all dynasties, being granted a title at a young age is not a good thing, but a disaster!
The names of the young nobles flashed through Lu Yunyi's mind, and then disappeared quickly.
It turned out to be their miserable end.
Lu Yunyi's expression changed back and forth, sometimes dark and sometimes bright, and murderous aura surged all over his body.
Yu Tongyuan hadn't taken action in the past few months, which almost made Lu Yunyi think that he had given up on revenge.
But he did not expect that when he arrived in Yingtian, the scouts of the vanguard army returned with success, so he decided to take decisive action.
This move can be described as sinister and vicious. Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or not, it only needs to cooperate with the public to spread the word.
Then his name, Lu Yunyi, will be known throughout the Ming army, and he will become the target of public criticism.
People are afraid of being famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat. This is not an empty statement.
Once you become famous, there is no way back. If you fail in a war when your reputation is not high, you can rely on your background to survive and make up for it later.
But if he becomes famous and everyone knows about it, then this failure will be enough to push him into the abyss.
A trace of cold sweat appeared on Lu Yunyi's forehead, mixed with the sweat caused by the hot weather, and it was impossible to distinguish them.
There are so many nobles who founded the Ming Dynasty, all of them are veterans who crawled out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
No one dares to claim that he has never been defeated. How could Lu Yunyi deserve such a great reputation?
How can we guarantee that we will not be defeated in the future?
The next moment, Lan Yu's voice made him feel even colder and he could hardly control himself.
"I think we can add fuel to the fire from behind. Even if it doesn't work out, it will still build up some momentum.
By the next time, the chances of success will be much greater.”
Lu Yunyi almost yelled in his heart, why did the traitor Lan Yu hurt me! But then he thought again, the political affairs of the court were far beyond his comprehension, Lan Yu might have a purpose for doing this,
Lu Yunyi breathed rapidly, trying to calm himself down, and then his face became serious and he spoke in a deep voice:
"General, this is a disaster, not a blessing. Commander Yu is trying to harm my subordinates!"
Lan Yu smiled and said softly:
"Last time you told me that the merit of destroying the Northern Yuan Dynasty was a blessing and a curse, how come it became a curse instead of a blessing when it came to me?"
Lu Yunyi didn't know how to answer, so Lan Yu continued:
"Please be patient. Whether or not to confer a title is still up to your Majesty and the Crown Prince to decide.
What's more, it is as difficult to be conferred a title nowadays as ascending to heaven, which is impossible.
If you can do something so easily that Yu Tongyuan has tried so hard to accomplish, he will be furious. "
"That being said, General
Statements are like wealth and money. Too much brings worry, too little brings peace.
I have only been in the army for a few years, and I am already nervous about being promoted to a high position.
If your reputation becomes more prominent, I am afraid that I will be burdened by your fame and end up with a bad ending."
Lu Yunyi's face was extremely solemn.
Reputation is the most useless thing for a general.
If your reputation spreads far and wide, the enemy will take it seriously when they first hear about it, and an easy battle will become much more difficult.
If possible, Lu Yunyi hopes to remain an unknown person.
It would be best if the enemy could despise and ignore him, as this would make it easiest for him to accomplish meritorious service.
Lan Yu didn't care about this:
"The court is replacing the old with the new, and it is a time of transition.
At this moment, you young people are waiting to take over, which can show the continuation of the inheritance of our Ming Dynasty.
It also proves that these outstanding generals of our Ming Dynasty are not a flash in the pan, and can inspire soldiers all over the world to make achievements.
Your fame may have disadvantages for you, but the advantages to the court outweigh the disadvantages."
Lu Yunyi fell into silence. If he was not mistaken,
He should be caught as a typical figure and widely publicized to boost the morale of the army.
This was naturally a good thing for the court, but it was a fatal thing for him.
Once this is accomplished, his title as a general under Lan Yu will be confirmed, and he will also be burdened by the reputation.
Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi couldn't help showing a trace of dejection and sighed softly, his frustration evident in his words.
Seeing him like this, Lan Yu put her hands on her hips and frowned.
He looked very disappointed with his friend, and his tone became more serious:
"Why do you always sigh? You are always charging in the front of the battle, sharp as a knife.
Why are you so timid after the war? I don't see any youthful spirit in you."
Lu Yunyi didn't want to talk and felt very confused.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Lan Yu said:
“It’s not a bad thing to become famous at a young age and attract more attention.
If the Front Army Scouting Department wants to participate in this Southwest War, it needs this reputation.
With a good reputation, things will be much easier to handle, and it won't be difficult for Your Majesty and the Crown Prince."
Lu Yunyi raised his head, blinked gently, and a sentence suddenly emerged in his mind.
The essence of politics is compromise and exchange.
As a senior official of the imperial court, Lan Yu was naturally well aware of this.
Obviously, this was telling him that if he wanted to go to the southwest to fight, he had to accept the arrangements of the court.
Every sip and every peck is a loss and a gain.
Lu Yunyi is really a little confused now.
However, since Yu Tongyuan's revenge has already begun, he will definitely not stop there, and it is useless for him to worry about it here.
He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, his expression becoming more serious:
"General, I understand clearly."
"Speak!" Lan Yu said briefly.
"Since my reputation will spread throughout the army, I will never be defeated in future battles.
No matter what, I will not pursue the reputation of the court and the general!"
Lu Yunyi's eyes were cold and sharp.
Like a long sword rising into the sky, the murderous aura emanating from it made Lan Yu frown slightly and narrow his eyes.
Soon, the seriousness on Lan Yu's face turned into a smile, and he shouted:
"Good, this is the sharpness that the court needs."
Lan Yu's voice was so loud that many soldiers around him poked their heads out of the tents, secretly checked and pointed at Lu Yunyi.
Even the soldiers patrolling the camp slowed down their pace and looked Lu Yunyi up and down.
In just a moment, Lu Yunyi felt a gaze he had never felt before.
But his expression remained serious. Since he had decided to face it, he would not back down.
Lan Yu changed the subject and his tone became softer:
"We must fight the war in the southwest well. Mu Ying is strict in his military discipline. Fighting him is a tough job. Don't lose face for me."
Hearing this, the matter of going to the southwest to fight should be decided.
Lu Yunyi no longer had the joy in his heart, but his face was solemn, and he spoke in a deep voice:
"Please rest assured, General. The 5,000 soldiers of the front scout unit will not let you down!"
Lan Yu smiled and waved her hand gently:
"You are indeed good at fighting, but you are still too young for other things."
A hint of doubt flashed across Lu Yunyi's eyes. He was a little confused. What went wrong?
"Please enlighten me, General."
Lan Yu did not keep the secret, but said frankly:
"Did the King of Liao, King Huining and others give you 100,000 taels of silver?"
Lu Yunyi was stunned and said quickly:
"Please forgive me, General. I haven't had time to tell you about this.
Of the 100,000 taels of silver, his subordinates withheld 30,000 taels to reward the soldiers, and now only 70,000 taels were left.
It is not far behind us, and I believe the army will arrive tomorrow."
For some reason, Lu Yunyi was stunned when he saw Lan Yu, and then he sneered:
"You are sincere."
"I see that the soldiers have been fighting hard and have traveled a long distance.
I just gave five taels of silver to each person to calm the soldiers, if it is not appropriate."
Lu Yunyi scratched his head lightly. The money had already been paid out and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't ask for it back.
Seeing him like this, Lan Yu slowly shook his head:
"I'm not blaming you for giving out money, I just think you're too stingy.
Since you want to give out rewards, only five taels per person, are you treating beggars like that?"
Ah. Lu Yunyi’s mouth opened and closed slightly, and he was completely stunned.
"Marching and fighting is the most expensive business in the world.
If the imperial court wants to buy the lives of soldiers, it has to pay a huge price.
In the garrison, salaries must be paid, silver for settling down must be given before going into battle, silver and money must be given to boost morale when the battle begins, rewards for military merits must be given when there are gains, and bonuses must be given when the battle is won. Soldiers who died in battle must be given pensions, and their families must be settled. Silver and money must be given from beginning to end.
In this way, the soldiers will have no worries, will work hard for you, and will become elite soldiers and generals.
You want the soldiers to fight for you by giving them only five taels of reward?
If they hadn't gained so much, the soldiers would have complained a lot.
But it’s not your fault. You were a garrison soldier before, and your superior died, so there was no one to teach you.”
"I also gave out a reward of one or two taels of silver in Liaodong."
Lu Yunyi remembered the reward money he had received from Sanwanwei and quickly asked for compensation.
Lan Yu's face darkened, and veins on his forehead throbbed wildly:
"The remaining 70,000 taels of silver were all distributed.
This is only twenty taels per person, which is nothing compared to winning the war.
Don't just hand over all the spoils you capture, give some more to the soldiers. What's the use of that little money for the court?"
(End of this chapter)