Chapter 1143 Covering everything

Chapter 1143 Covering everything
The dice have been cast and the decision has been made.

Huan Wen looked at the transport officers who had followed him and said, "You followed me from Hezhou, but you only served as ordinary soldiers. I feel guilty about this."

"Although transporting soldiers does not require worrying about food and clothing, it is extremely hard and tiring, and there is no chance of promotion or reward. It is really not a good job."

"Most of you have already started families, and your children will also have to work as transport soldiers when they grow up, farming, fishing, and training in transportation. It seems that the future of your descendants can be seen at a glance."

"Today is a good opportunity to change your fate. Are you willing to take a gamble? To be honest, I have bad luck in gambling and rarely get lucky. Now all five of my cards are black. Maybe it's God's will."

Having said that, he looked quietly at his military academies.

"Captain, we followed you from Longxi for wealth and fame, not to be troop transports. It's just one life, it's totally worth the risk." As soon as Huan Wen finished speaking, someone spoke up.

"If I were in Longxi, I would have been starving and fighting with the Qifu Xianbei. There is less grass in winter and the competition is fierce. If I died on a riverbank, it would be in vain, and I wouldn't even have a chance to gamble on my future." After the first person finished speaking, someone else laughed and said, "The lieutenant got Lu Cai, what else can we say? Just gamble."

"Haha, Captain. I'm also putting my life on the line to see what the thief throws. Is it a mixed lottery?"

"I still have the old skill of killing people, what am I afraid of? I heard that Li Te led the young men of the six counties to defeat the Shu people and founded a country. We are also the people of Longxi, so are we afraid of the Shu people?"

"Captain, if I die, just give me a pension. My son is still young and can't farm or fish."

Everyone expressed their opinions one by one, which made Huan Wen very pleased.

Most of these people were county soldiers he led when he was under Wen Qiao's command. They had fought in many battles, and his proudest battle was the one in which he killed the Jincheng prefect Dou Tao in the eastern battle of Hehui City.

The rest of the people were either recruited warriors from Longxi or prisoners captured when attacking Liangzhou. They were a mixture of Hu and Han people, and he had led them for several years.

"If you die on the battlefield, the court will provide compensation. Don't worry, this is my order, and you are just following it. Even if I am defeated and the court investigates, I will be the only one to be punished, and it has nothing to do with you. Compensation is indispensable." Huan Wen said, "I will write a letter back to Xiangyang and ask Princess Jingfu to give her a bonus in addition to the court's compensation."

After saying that, he stood up and looked at everyone, saying: "I have made up my mind. I will take this gamble."

"bet!"

"As ordered!"

"Captain, I listen to you."

"I have been waiting for a long time to achieve success."

The military cadets talked at once.

Everyone expressed their attitudes and listened to Huan Wen, only subconsciously ignoring Shao Shen, the Prince of Julu. Theoretically, for a military operation of this magnitude, would it be necessary to obtain Shao Shen's permission? Otherwise, how could they mobilize troops?

Of course, Huan Wen was still politically sensitive and knew that he could not bypass his superiors.

However, it is not necessary to find Shao Shen. He ran too fast. It is said that he caught up with the front army and may have passed Zhi County and headed towards Yangguan.

If you can't find Shao Shen, it's the same to find He Lun. He is the commander of the rear army, and he is still between Nanpu and Quren.

He Lun had the power to act at his own discretion and make independent military decisions. One could ask for his permission and even get some reinforcements by going to him.

Thinking of this, he immediately left the cabin and said, "You guys prepare your equipment and troops first, and talk to the soldiers. I'll go see the military advisor."

After saying this, he stepped onto the gangplank and went ashore. Then he fetched two horses and galloped away with several of his followers.

******
The wind whistled past his ears as Huan Wen and several of his followers galloped on the narrow post road.

There is a mountain on one side of the post road, and the foot of the mountain is full of withered and yellow bushes, as well as occasional orchards, farmlands and salt wells.

On the other side is the muddy river beach.

Many people were squatting or standing on the beach, repairing damaged vehicles or taking care of exhausted draft animals.

Some sick or injured conscripts also set up tents on the river beach and cooked their meals shivering in the cold wind.

Further away, more than ten new graves were erected. They were the graves of the warriors who died of illness or exhaustion.

It is called a grave, but it is just a small mound of earth, with no tombstone and no one to worship. Once the person who buried him left, no one knew who had "lived" here.

Overturned vehicles were everywhere.

Yellow corn was scattered on the side of the road. Birds circled in the air. After the people collecting the corn had gone far away, they swooped down quickly and pecked at the rice grains remaining in the grass and among the gravel.

After riding for a while, Huan Wen and others had to dismount and walk.

The roads were so congested, filled with grain wagons, baggage carts, mule trains, and seemingly endless armies.

Huan Wen deeply suspected that when Chengdu was finally captured, the troops at the rear might not have had time to engage the enemy.

The soldiers passing by just glanced at Huan Wen and others casually and continued on their way.

At this time, there was only one type of people going against them: the messengers.

But there were usually only two or three messengers, and sometimes even alone. Huan Wen's group had seven or eight people, which was a bit too many.

But who cares? The road is difficult to travel, and the people are uncomfortable. The Bashan Mountains in winter are even more cold and biting, and even cotton clothes can't stand it.

Every time they camped, they would try to sit around the firewood pile or the brazier as much as possible. After all, when the winter fog came, the chill penetrated into the bones, making it more uncomfortable than a heavy snowy day in the north. A brazier was necessary to drive away the dampness.

"Most of the elite troops have already left..." Huan Wen couldn't help but say as he looked at a large banner that read "Puyang Mountain Town General Bu" that just passed by. "Bu" should be a Chinese surname changed from "Xu Bu". Puyang Mountain Town was also a military town rebuilt by the surrendered Xiongnu people in Hebei. It has existed for many years. This time, about 2,000 people were dispatched.

Most of the palace soldiers and imperial guards walked in front, and those left behind were mostly local troops and militiamen. The former were guarding, and the latter were transporting supplies, and they moved forward slowly.

If the river is safe, sometimes ships are used to transport supplies, which can free up some manpower to rush forward and catch up with the main elite forces.

It seems that organizing a large-scale logistics transfer is not easy, and the complexity is almost exhausting.

Not everyone can manage it.

Or even if they know how to manage, it is different from managing well and the results are very different.

Most of the middle and lower-level clerks who organized the logistics and transportation were seconded from the manors of the aristocratic families, or they originally brought the staff from their own manors to transport supplies.

These people have accumulated rich experience in transportation during the past thirty years of war, and after a little running-in, they can operate efficiently. In fact, this is also talent, which may not be available in peacetime.

After sighing for a while, the road ahead became a little wider, so Huan Wen ordered his men to mount their horses and continue galloping.

That evening, He Lun's general flag finally appeared on the eastern horizon.

"Xiangyang Duzhi Captain Huan Wen wants to see the military advisor and has urgent military information to report." When he saw the cavalry coming to intercept them, Huan Wen dismounted immediately and shouted.

******
He Lun decided to meet Huan Wen without any hesitation, and the location was in an orange orchard.

Huan Wen did not waste any words. He reported the news on the spot and expressed his own judgment: "The royal army has nearly 60,000 people. We can divide several thousand people to take a small road to attack Xuanhan and Dangqu. The Bandun barbarians have come out in full force, and the rear is empty. There are only the elderly, the weak, women and children. It will not be difficult to capture them. Once they are captured, Jiangzhou and Yangguan will be greatly shaken, and the generals will lose their morale and the soldiers will lose their will to fight. Shao will urge the army to fight hard, and we will definitely be able to defeat the enemy and capture Ba County."

"After the three attacks, the enemy lost most of their troops. The king's army can use the surrendered soldiers as the vanguard and march straight to Chengdu to fight the enemy outside the city. As long as we act quickly and don't give Li Xiong a chance to win over the people, we have a great chance of capturing Chengdu."

"Besides, after we invade the heartland of Shu, some of the local clans may turn to the royal army. At that time, we can collect food and fodder and pacify the Chengdu garrison, which will increase our chances of victory."

"The emperor mobilized 300,000 men to destroy Cheng, and even condoned Murong Xianbei for this. He paid such a huge price, and he must put the villain to death. The military advisor is the emperor's original follower. If this feat is accomplished, it will bring infinite benefits to future generations."

As Huan Wen spoke, He Lun nodded repeatedly but did not give any comment.

When Huan Wen stopped, he just looked at him with a smile and said, "Yuanzi is eager to make achievements."

Huan Wen was choked. "That's true, but what do you mean by that?"
"Did Guanqiu Zongkuang reply?" He Lun asked.

"I have sent someone to look for the Lord." Huan Wen replied.

He Lun was silent for a moment, then asked, "I heard that on the first day of October, Guanqiu Shuyuan accompanied the emperor out of the city, and she was already pregnant at that time?"

"Yes." Huan Wen said, "This is true."

He Lun hummed and lowered his head in thought.

Huan Wen waited anxiously.

These founding heroes think too much before they speak or act. They take every aspect into consideration and calculate all kinds of interests. Alas!
A moment later, He Lun called someone over.

"Military Advisor." This was a young man who saluted as he came in.

"This is my son Fen. You can call him 'Wulang'. He used to be an official in Luoyang, and now he is an outer soldier of the Jiangling shogunate." He Lun introduced.

Huan Wen then met He Fen and exchanged greetings.

"Wulang." He Lun looked at his son and said, "Take your father's three hundred soldiers and head west to stop the Right Cavalry Guard."

"Yes." He Fen agreed straightforwardly.

The Right Cavalry Guard has 2,400 combat soldiers, and with their retainers a total of 4,800 people, which are capable of both infantry and cavalry, making them a very powerful force.

After instructing his son, He Lun summoned the military advisor (formerly the military consultant) and asked him to ride forward, find the soldiers stationed in Feilong Mountain, and ask them to assemble in Nanpu County.

The more Huan Wen listened, the more excited he became, but he also felt a little disappointed.

He only had 1,500 soldiers, so he couldn't get the lion's share. The credit was destined to go to He Lun, the Right Cavalry Guard, the Feilongshan Town Commander or someone else. He could only get a small share.

But on second thought, if he was not the consort of the emperor's favorite Princess Jingfu, would he be qualified to sit at the table for dinner?
What if He Lun is a little bit cruel and directly excludes you?
"If Guanqiu Zongkuang can confirm it, we will send troops to attack Dangqu." He Lun looked at Huan Wen again and said, "In this battle, Duan Liang, the general of the Right Cavalry Guard, will be the commander-in-chief, and Wu Lang, you, and Chen Chite will be his deputies. It would be best if Guanqiu Fujun also sent people to join us. We can't do without them."

Wow! He Lun's son and his personal soldiers, the Right Cavalry Guard of the Palace Army, the Feilongshan Town Army, the Badong County Army, and the Xiangyang Duzhi Transport Army, totaling tens of thousands of men and horses, actually took care of every aspect.

Is He Lun trying to build relationships or start a war?
However, Huan Wen also learned a lot.

Perhaps, sometimes favors are accumulated in this way. He could imagine that once the raid was successful and He Lun reported the victory, there would be some mystery in the list of meritorious service and rewards.

Huan Wen rushed back to Nanpu the next morning.

On the 15th, the Feilongshan garrison arrived at full speed.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Badong prefect Guanqiuao finally returned.

That afternoon, the Qiang chieftain Xu from Qunin County arrived with two thousand strong men, and Guanqiu Ao ordered his son Guanqiu Yin to join with one thousand county soldiers.

The General of the Right Cavalry Guard, who had been waiting impatiently, took 4,800 palace soldiers (including retainers), 3,000 Feilongshan garrison soldiers, 300 He Lun's personal soldiers, 1,200 Xiangyang transport soldiers, 2,000 Xu's Qiang soldiers, 1,000 Badong county soldiers, and a total of more than 12,000 auxiliary troops. He left Nanpu and headed north, driving a large number of mules and horses into the mountains.

(End of this chapter)