Chapter 275: A 9% Winning Battle
Chapter 275: A % Victory Battle
Inside the Tianbao Carriage and Horse Trading Company, old lady Zhuo Mulan had been helped up by Li Jinglong.
Three people sat around a long table. Three bowls of tea were placed on the table, emitting a faint warmth.
Zhuo Mulan was a little excited. She looked at the badge placed in front of her tremblingly and examined it carefully.
"It has been many years. I haven't seen such a badge in at least five years. I wonder who is here and what orders he has?"
Zhuo Mulan looked at them obscurely, lingering on their cheeks.
He nodded slightly, showing signs of wealth and status.
Li Jinglong took out his badge and placed it on the table, then said calmly:
"I am Li Jinglong."
Zhuo Mulan's eyes froze, his pupils slightly dilated, and his gaze suddenly fixed on the badge.
The next moment, she fell to her knees with a plop and pressed her forehead against the ground!
"Your humble servant Zhuo Mulan has met Duke Cao. I am sorry that I failed to greet you in person. I hope Duke Cao will forgive me."
"Get up, I have something to tell you today."
Zhuo Mulan stood up and stood respectfully to one side:
"Please give me your orders, Lord Cao. I will do my best and will not shirk my responsibilities."
Li Jinglong's voice was cold and inquiring:
"I want to ask you, do you know anything about Luchuan's topography, terrain, customs and people?"
Zhuo Mulan's slightly cloudy eyes revealed a hint of complexity:
"Reporting to Lord Cao, I have been hiding my identity in Yunlongzhou since six years ago, so I naturally know a little about Luchuan.
I dare not deceive Duke Cao. In recent years, the carriage and horse business has done some business.
We relied on traveling merchants to explore the terrain, and also bribed some Luchuan people to collect information."
Li Jinglong and Lu Yunyi looked at each other, with surprise flashing in their eyes
"I need someone familiar with Luchuan to lead the way.
I also want to know where the secret agents in Luchuan are."
Zhuo Mulan's mind sank, and a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes:
"Reporting to Duke Cao, I have a son.
Since arriving in Yunnan, I have been engaged in business and can serve as a guide.
As for the spies, most of them are from various tribes in Luchuan. As long as I pay them enough silver, they should be able to be used by me."
"should?"
Lu Yunyi keenly caught this word.
This is the word that should never appear in an undercover operation.
Li Jinglong winked, signaling Lu Yunyi to speak directly.
"Master Zhuo, you just said it should be? The people in Luchuan are unreliable?"
Zhuo Mulan looked puzzled: "Who is this?"
Li Jinglong replied: "It belongs to the Beijing Army, the commander of the front army scout Lu Yunyi."
"It turns out to be Lord Lu. I have heard of your great name for a long time."
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhuo Mulan's eyes. She had heard this name before in the official newspaper.
"Sir Lu, the Luchuan spies were recruited by us with money.
On weekdays, it only buys and sells some information. If it is to be used for other things, it will take some effort. "
Lu Yunyi frowned:
"Master Zhuo didn't arrange for my subordinates to enter Luchuan?"
For some reason, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became solemn.
Zhuo Mulan's expression became a little stiff, and her originally straight back bent down a little bit, becoming slightly hunched.
He no longer looked as energetic as before, but rather looked a little depressed.
After a long while, he said with a complicated tone:
“It was also arranged that my other two sons died in Luchuan.
From the moment he first arrived in Yunnan, his superiors ordered an infiltration into Luchuan.
My husband was one of the first people to enter Luchuan.
At that time, a caravan of more than 100 people, carrying goods and armed with weapons, entered Luchuan to engage in smuggling.
I want to try to connect with a few tribal leaders to make things easier in the future.
But I didn't expect the people of Luchuan to be so barbaric.
The business was not done and the person did not come back.
More than a hundred people were trapped in the village, and all their goods were looted.
When I found them, their bones were almost eaten by insects.
Lu Yunyi's face was calm, but Li Jinglong frowned. He underestimated the cost of the Jinyiwei taking root in Yunnan.
"and after?"
"My husband died and my son continued to run. Sometimes it went well, sometimes it didn't. When it didn't go well, he died."
Zhuo Mulan's slightly hoarse voice echoed in the house.
Li Jinglong's brows became more and more furrowed.
"Revenge?"
Zhuo Mulan was stunned, and then laughed dryly:
"Duke Cao, you are joking. We are all smugglers. We are all engaged in a business that can get us killed. How can we seek revenge?"
Li Jinglong suddenly realized that the Jinyiwei had to hide their identities when they acted.
It is possible that the Yunlongzhou government office did not know that this was the base of the Jinyiwei.
"Is this matter over?"
Zhuo Mulan smiled:
"Of course I can't just let it go like this. If the imperial court attacks Luchuan, I can get my revenge."
Zhuo Mulan's face showed joy:
"I dare not lie to Duke Cao. The tribe that killed my husband was completely wiped out in the battle with the Youyu tribe in the 17th year of Hongwu.
You have no idea how happy I was when I heard the news.
Unfortunately, my two sons also died at the hands of the Youyu Tribe."
The joy that had just surged in Li Jinglong's heart disappeared in an instant and his face froze.
Zhuo Mulan began to explain, and the slightly dim sunlight squeezed in through the gap, illuminating a glimmer in her eyes.
"The tribal leaders of Luchuan often change, whoever has the biggest fist is the boss.
Both of my sons were killed during the power transition.
The business was going well before, but the next time I went, the owner of the fishing club changed.
The Luchuan people are stupid. They not only want to purge the power of the old clan leader,
Even the caravan that was friendly with him would be killed.
The Yuyu Tribe is getting weaker and weaker. Do you think they are stupid?"
"It's indeed a bit silly." Li Jinglong wanted to laugh, but couldn't.
"What kind of force is the Youyu tribe? Where is it located?" Lu Yunyi's face was calm and his voice was flat.
Zhuo Mulan nodded gently:
"It is on the east bank of the Lujiang River in the west, more than 60 miles away from Yunlongzhou.
The Yuyu tribe has two to three thousand men, including more than a thousand young and strong men.
They have some Dian horses, swords, and armor. They are the largest tribe nearby.
Compared to before, the Fishing Department is much more desolate.
In the 17th year of Hongwu, the Youyu tribe had nearly 10,000 people.
At that time, Silunfa was fighting in the west to capture slaves, and the area near Dali was under the overall control of the Youyu Department.
The newly established Golden Tooth Guards were often harassed by the Yuyu Tribe."
Gold tooth guard?
Li Jinglong suddenly felt sad. This was originally a bridgehead set up by the Ming Dynasty to penetrate into Luchuan.
But now, due to the corruption caused by the war, it has been occupied by Luchuan.
Putting away his thoughts, Li Jinglong spoke in a deep voice:
"Tell me about the secret agent."
Zhuo Mulan thought for a moment and replied:
"There is a spy who has been in contact with me for two years. He is the commander of a guard.
If you want to contact him, you can let my son take you there."
"No need."
Lu Yunyi spoke in a deep voice:
"We only need a guide to the mountains and forests, and some maps of the west side of Yunlongzhou. Lord Zhuo can provide these to us."
Zhuo Mulan looked at Li Jinglong and found that he nodded as well, then she spoke softly:
"Okay, when my son comes back, I'll have him go to the military camp to find Duke Cao."
Li Jinglong was about to agree when Lu Yunyi spoke first:
"It's sunny and peaceful today, so it won't hurt to wait a while."
"I have been here for many years and have never spoken to anyone.
It would be great if the two adults are willing to stay here."
About half an hour later, the squeaking sound of wheels was heard, and there was a slight movement in the quiet Tianbao Carriage Lane.
"It must be my son who has returned."
Zhuo Mulan smiled, stood up tremblingly, and walked out with a cane.
Lu Yunyi and Li Jinglong also followed.
Soon, the two saw a burly man in a slightly dilapidated courtyard.
He was about 1.80 meters tall, of sturdy build, in his late twenties, with an extremely obvious scar on his face, which made him look rather sinister.
It is December now, but he is still wearing a sweatshirt.
Two dark and strong arms were exposed, with knotted muscles on them.
"Son, you're back. Are you tired from today's work?"
Zhuo Mulan came forward with an unstoppable smile on her face.
The big man smiled and said in a silly voice:
"Just delivering some wine, went well, are they?"
The big man took a step forward, trying to protect his mother behind him.
Seeing this, Zhuo Mulan hit him with some complaints:
"You stupid kid, they are guests introduced by old friends, so we have to show them respect. Come in quickly."
For some reason, the big man did not show any kindness on his face.
Instead, her expression was complicated, and her eyes were fierce as ever. "Come in quickly, I've prepared some hot tea for you."
Zhuo Mulan sensed that the atmosphere was not right, so she quickly pulled him away and gave the two of them an apologetic smile.
Looking at their backs, Li Jinglong muttered quietly:
"It seems that we are not easy to get along with."
Lu Yunyi couldn't help but mutter in his heart, his father and brothers were both dead, it would be strange if they could get along well with each other.
Inside the house, four people suddenly squeezed into the small room.
It seems a bit narrow, and the small wooden table seems a bit crowded.
After Zhuo Mulan introduced themselves, she explained the purpose of their trip.
Lu Yunyi and the others also knew roughly what was going on.
The big man's name was Liu Changshi, and he was the team leader of the chariot company.
On weekdays, he was active in Dali Prefecture.
Only after obtaining intelligence information will they enter Yunlu and transport goods.
"Son, when you get to the army, you must listen to your master and lead the way.
When the army wins, I will find you a good girl to marry."
Zhuo Mulan could see that her son did not want to go to Luchuan, so she tried to persuade him.
Li Jinglong, who was immersed in the court, could naturally see it.
His eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice:
"You have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty for so many years, but now you have been separated from your wives and children. The court has let you down.
As long as this battle is victorious, I will go and tell Mao Xiang,
Move you and your son away from the Yunnan frontier and bring them to Zhili or Jiangnan to enjoy a better life."
Zhuo Mulan was stunned, and Liu Changshi's eyes were shining, and his whole body revealed a desire.
"Are you serious?"
"Your Majesty will not treat meritorious officials unfairly."
Li Jinglong's voice was sonorous and powerful, as if he had returned to the powerful Duke Cao in the capital.
For a moment, the mother and son hugged each other and cried, then quickly knelt down and kowtowed heavily.
It was obvious that they no longer wanted to stay in Yunnan to conduct secret missions, but they just couldn't get away.
Liu Changshi kowtowed twice, and when he raised his head, his face was already covered with tears:
"All I want in my life is to take care of my old mother and see her to the end of her life.
When my mother is a hundred years old, I will go through fire and water for the court, even if it means my own death."
Li Jinglong smiled and waved his hand:
"Don't say these unlucky words. You will marry and have children in the future. You will have a family.
If he died so easily, how would his family and children survive?
Don't worry, I will find you a good job when the time comes."
"Thank you, Duke Cao, for your kindness. I don't know how to repay you!" Zhuo Mulan sobbed.
It was not until this moment that Li Jinglong felt that the vague gap had disappeared.
Li Jinglong looked at Lu Yunyi, made a look to tell him to leave, and asked,
Lu Yunyi nodded imperceptibly.
Li Jinglong felt relieved and spoke in a deep voice:
"In that case, come to the military camp to see me tomorrow."
As he spoke, Li Jinglong took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket, about a hundred taels of silver:
"Keep the flowers for now."
"Duke Cao, that's not possible. I have saved some money over the years." Zhuo Mulan quickly refused.
Li Jinglong ignored it and waved his hand casually:
"When the battle goes smoothly, I will reward you handsomely!"
Walking out of the street where Tianbao Coach and Horse Shop is located,
The guards, who had been impatient for a long time, rushed forward and surrounded the two of them tightly.
Lu Yunyi looked at Feng Yunfang, pulled him aside, and whispered:
"There is a treasure carriage in there. Go back and tell Liu Hei Ying to send someone to keep an eye on this place.
Any unusual movement must not be missed, and all people who come into contact with it must be recorded."
"Yes!" Feng Yunfang's face was solemn and he ran away quickly.
Soon, several guards broke away from the team and left quickly.
At this time, Li Jinglong, who had been checked by the guards to be fine, came over.
"Yun Yi, these people were treated unfairly by the imperial court.
When I return, I will definitely have a good talk with Mao Xiang."
Li Jinglong spoke confidently and heroically.
After he served in the army and made outstanding contributions, he felt more confident than ever!
After saying this, he looked at the departing guard with some confusion and asked in a low voice:
"What have you been doing?"
Lu Yunyi smiled and said, "Find someone to keep an eye on them."
Li Jinglong was stunned: "Why?"
"We must be on guard against others. We must be on guard against anyone and not believe one side's words.
Especially in a place where intelligence information is so critical."
The sudden seriousness made Li Jinglong stunned.
But soon he felt that this made a lot of sense, and nodded repeatedly:
"Yun Yi, you are right. They have been in the borderland for many years.
The dead and wounded in the family may resent the imperial court."
"Duke Cao's previous words of comfort were already very good. A little more vigilance would be enough."
The two of them walked and talked, and they didn't know when they arrived at the restaurant.
Since I was already here, I walked straight in.
After a meal and a drink,
Lu Yunyi and Li Jinglong returned to the front army scout unit.
The sun is about to set, and the orange-red light shines on the earth.
The military camps on the west side of Yunlong Prefecture were covered with a layer of golden light.
Lu Yunyi and the other man stood in front of the camp, enjoying the sunshine.
Quietly watching the busy figures in front of me, I couldn't help but sigh.
"Yun Yi, do you think we can win this battle?"
"We will definitely return victorious."
Li Jinglong looked sideways, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
"Yun Yi, you look a lot like the general."
"Ok?"
"It's General Xu Da. When I was a kid, I always went to the palace to eat. The general was always there.
Every time he went out to fight, His Majesty would ask him if he could win, and he would say he would definitely win, and then His Majesty would laugh. "
The dusk-like light made Li Jinglong feel a little hesitant. He spoke softly:
"The victorious words spoken by other generals were mostly words of comfort. They didn't know whether they could win or not."
Lu Yunyi's face was calm, his eyes scanned the front and he smiled gently:
"Duke Cao is worrying too much. The Ming Dynasty has many brave generals and can win most battles."
Li Jinglong shook his head:
“There are always battles to lose, and I can feel their anxiety.
Yun Yi, you don't have that. It's as if you've never considered losing, just like the general. "
The two of them stood there quietly, and the anxious soldiers in the camp would always cast their eyes over when they passed by.
But they did not stop, but continued to move forward, busying themselves with pre-war preparations.
"Duke Cao, look at those soldiers.
They are all full of vigor, well-equipped with weapons and armor, and their soldiers are elite and brave enough to fight.
This already means we have a 70% chance of winning. If the general can command well, we will have another 20% chance of winning."
Li Jinglong looked a little strange.
"Duke Cao thinks that my command is inappropriate?" Lu Yunyi laughed.
Li Jinglong shook his head repeatedly:
"I think 20% is too little. In the previous battle in the forest, I felt that the commander-in-chief's command accounted for at least 50% of the credit."
"No matter how brilliant the command is, no matter how well-predicted the enemy is,
The real victory or defeat still depends on fighting on the battlefield.
If the soldiers are not brave, even the best situation created by the most ingenious command will be ruined.
Just like the Battle of Julu, the Qin army had the advantage in numbers.
However, due to the serious low morale within the
As a result, the soldiers lacked sufficient fighting spirit and courage on the battlefield, and were eventually defeated by the Chu army led by Xiang Yu with fewer troops.
Li Jinglong looked thoughtful as he considered the key points:
"If I lead an army in the future, each of my subordinates can fight ten of them at once. Even if I don't command well, we can still win easily?"
Lu Yunyi laughed:
"That's right. Now the 5,000 soldiers of the front scout unit are fighting against the Luchuan soldiers. It's almost like one against ten.
Even if you are surrounded by tens of thousands of people, you can still break through the encirclement without regard for your life.
How can we lose then?"
For some reason, Li Jinglong suddenly felt a strong sense of security.
The previous hesitation about entering Luchuan to fight disappeared.
Lu Yunyi turned his head to look at him, with a strong determination in his eyes:
"In this world today, the only army that can defeat the Ming army is the Ming army."
The firmness of the voice seemed to give Li Jinglong strength.
His breathing became a little rapid, his fists clenched slightly, and he nodded heavily!
"Okay, let's go and do some meritorious service!"
(End of this chapter)