Finest Servant

Chapter 518 Disagreement

As the leader of the merchant caravan had said, the army searched the city all night and found no fewer than a hundred Turks, but not a single one was a woman. As for the beautiful Turkic girl "Yueya'er," it seemed she had indeed left the city.

Unable to avenge the sisters of the Great Hua, Gao Qiu was naturally discontent. He wandered around the city for a day, eventually returning disheartened. Lin Wanrong, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered. To him, "Yueya'er" was just a beautiful episode on their journey beyond the frontier—a serendipity, like the spring beyond the Great Wall, both as elusive as they were wonderful.

However, there was another matter that left him rather disappointed. After returning to camp, Hu Bugui spent several hours discreetly counting the number of soldiers in each battalion, finding nothing out of the ordinary. There were indeed many good-looking soldiers, but none were the person Lin Wanrong was seeking.

If Fairy Ning was truly by his side, why didn't she reveal herself? Could it be that the one who took action last night was not her? Holding the cold silver needle in his hand, Lin Wanrong's doubts only multiplied, a subtle sense of loss lingering in his heart.

The army rested in Xingqing for a day, replenishing their supplies and rations. The unsettling elements within and around the city also significantly diminished. Early on the third day, aside from the fifty thousand soldiers left in Li Tai's central camp, the armies on the left, center, and right all departed, marching majestically beyond the frontier, crossing the Helan Mountains, and heading directly for Wuyuan.

At that time, it was early spring. While the willows in the south were sprouting new branches, beyond the Great Wall the wind and sand were ruthless. The dust in the sky blurred one's vision, making not just walking difficult for humans but also for the mules and horses.

"Look here. According to the scouts from the front, the vanguard of the Turks is now only about 300 miles away from Wuyuan. Given the speed of their horses, they will arrive by dusk tomorrow at the latest," Xu Zhiqing pointed out on her meticulously crafted map, marking the location of Wuyuan with a tiny red dot. The rivers, mountains, roads, and cities on the map were all drawn in different colors and labeled distinctly, quite simply and clearly. The young Miss Xu had clearly spent a lot of effort on this single map.

"So that means the first battle between Great Hua and the Turks will erupt around this time tomorrow?" Lin Wanrong hummed in agreement, subconsciously shaking his armor. The whistling wind outside the tent entered his ears, leaving him a little anxious yet excited. In the past, when fighting together with Xu Wei against the White Lotus Sect, they had the advantage of numbers. It was essentially the strong bullying the weak, and the outcome was predictable.

Now facing the Turks, the feeling was entirely different. It was a war with an uncertain outcome. In terms of individual combat strength and numbers, Great Hua was even at a disadvantage. What would happen in tomorrow's battle was anyone's guess. Holding the lives of sixty to seventy thousand soldiers in his hands, Lin Wanrong felt the weight of responsibility suddenly become much heavier, both emotionally and logically allowing no room for error.

The army arrived at Wuyuan [Modern Bayannur, Inner Mongolia] at sunset. Lin Wanrong's first impression of Wuyuan was indescribable. Calling it a fortress was far from accurate; it was more like an abandoned earthen fort rising out of the endless sands. Its four sides were surrounded by dilapidated walls only about a man's height. A horseman could easily leap over them. The sand inside the city was ankle-deep, littered with rusted swords, rotten uniforms, and withered bones. This decrepit fort was shrouded in an eerie atmosphere, offering no defensible advantage whatsoever.

Lin Wanrong took several deep, cold breaths. No wonder even the fierce Turkic warriors retreated disheartenedly to the plains after capturing Wuyuan. This was simply an uninhabited city of sand—how could anyone sustain life here?

"General, General, the advisor is speaking to you." Lost in thought, Lin Wanrong was gently nudged on his sleeve by Du Xiuyuan, who stood beside him and whispered.

"Oh, is that so?" Lin Wanrong snapped back to reality, seeing Xu Zhiqing glaring at him with gritted teeth, unsure what she had been saying.

From the other side, Hu Bugui spoke softly, "Miss Xu was asking if all the troops on our right wing are settled in place and whether we've suffered any casualties."

Lin Wanrong quickly composed himself, "All soldiers of my right-wing army are present and accounted for. We are currently resting outside the city of Wuyuan."

Xu Zhiqing gave a slight nod, "Very well. Among our three divisions, the morale of the troops on the right is the highest. They are also the most diligent and disciplined. General Lin, your guidance has been invaluable. Just one thing—please focus during our meetings and refrain from drifting into thought."

‘What is she talking about? Where else could I possibly be thinking of?’ Lin Wanrong shrugged helplessly. Yu Zongcai, the deputy vanguard of the Left Wing army standing beside Zuo Qiu, looked at him with a smile but said nothing.

Among the three divisions, Zuo Qiu's Left Wing army was the largest, with Deputy Vanguards and more than ten lieutenants, totaling over ninety thousand soldiers. In contrast, Lin Wanrong's right-wing army had only about sixty to seventy percent of that number. His key officers were only Du Xiuyuan, Hu Bugui, and Li Sheng. But most of his troops were veteran soldiers from Shandong, trained in strategies set by Lin Wanrong himself. They worked in harmony, their fighting strength not necessarily inferior. Xu Zhiqing personally led the central division with nearly one hundred thousand soldiers.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Advisor Xu, how many of these invading nomads are we expecting?" Zuo Qiu looked intently at the map, his expression solemn.

Xu Zhiqing answered leisurely, "At least sixty thousand elite cavalry, led by one of the three top generals under Turkic Prince Batur—Nurzhan. It's said that he ate wolf meat as a child and has the strength to shatter a wild horse's skull with a single punch. He's so ferocious that even a dozen Turkic warriors can't get near him."

‘Nurzhan? Turkic names are really a mouthful. So what if he ate raw wolf meat [Similar sound]? I've eaten bloody steaks myself and am no worse for wear.’ Lin Wanrong laughed offhandedly, "Miss Xu, there's no need to exaggerate. These so-called fearsome Turkic warriors are made of flesh and blood just like us. I firmly believe that if they're meant to die, they will. There won't be any exceptions."

Zuo Qiu found his words amusing and burst into laughter, "Brother Lin truly has insightful views. I'm impressed."

Xu Zhiqing shook her head with a smile, "Such flattering words are unnecessary. Wuyuan is right in front of us and the enemy will arrive within a few hours. How should we fight this first battle? Do we hold the city or set up camp outside? I'd like to hear the generals' opinions."

This was the crux of today's meeting. The significance of the first battle against the nomads to both sides was self-evident. It would also greatly influence the trajectory of future military engagements, which was why Miss Xu was so cautious in her deliberations. Ṝ

Lin Wanrong glanced at Hu Bugui and Du Xiuyuan, both of whom were deep in thought, evidently considering strategies for the first battle. Yu Zongcai, the deputy general of the left wing, seemed quite confident. With a clenched fist, he exclaimed, "In my opinion, our army should station itself in Wuyuan."

"Oh?" Miss Xu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Please elaborate, Brother Yu."

Yu Zongcai spoke confidently, "As we all know, the nomads excel at mounted archery, but their skills in fixed-position warfare are lacking. By stationing our army within the city, with the support of our artillery and expert archers, we can maximize our strengths. The invading vanguard of the Turkic forces numbers only around 60,000. We have full confidence in holding the city. Once the enemy cavalry approaches, we will release a volley of artillery and arrows, effectively keeping them outside the city gates."

Hold the city? Lin Wanrong looked at the crumbling walls surrounding Wuyuan. Weathered by years of wind, sand, and war, the walls were dilapidated. In most areas, they were less than a man's height. Considering the Turks rode tall horses, a flick of a whip would send them leaping into the city. How could this city be defended?

"Brother Hu, do you have any suggestions?" Seeing that Hu Bugui seemed to be muttering to himself, Lin Wanrong encouraged him.

Hu Bugui spoke urgently, "General, Military Advisor, I believe Deputy General Yu's strategy is impractical. Indeed, holding a city is our strength, but that applies to the tall walls of Xingqing. Wuyuan is a different matter altogether. These walls can easily be leaped over by horses, offering little defensive advantage. The nomads once attacked Xingqing and failed, falling back to Wuyuan, only to quickly withdraw. The easy-to-attack, hard-to-defend nature of Wuyuan is the reason. Being stationed in the city would limit us, making us sitting ducks for enemy attacks. It's truly a poor strategy."

Hu Bugui was straightforward, and not just in opposing Yu Zongcai’s opinion. His last remark of it being "a poor strategy" evidently struck a nerve with General Yu. Coming from a family of military leaders, and holding a high position at a young age, Yu Zongcai was naturally arrogant. His face changed, and he huffed, "Tall walls have their merits, as do low ones. Even if the nomads can jump over the walls, how can they be faster than our artillery and arrows? General Hu, your comments suggest you've been scared witless by the Turks! I heard that you've fought against them for over a decade without a single victory. No wonder you—"

"What did you say? Say that again—" Hu Bugui's sore spot had been hit, making him react like a lion whose tail had been stepped on. He had been fighting the nomads for twenty years and indeed, victories had been rare. But back then, he was just a low-ranking officer; could he have changed anything?

Lin Wanrong stepped in, halting the incensed Hu Bugui and coldly snorted, "Brother Hu, there's no shame in not defeating the nomads over the last twenty years. The moment you stood here, you became a hero of our great nation. Every scar on your body, every drop of blood you've shed is a badge of honor, worth a thousand times more than someone who only knows how to talk. What do you have to fear?"

The deputy general overseeing the left flank and the fierce commander of the right were in a heated disagreement. Xu Zhiqing couldn't help but slightly furrow her brows, "Brother Yu, General Hu, both of you are the left and right arms of our grand army. Although you have strategic differences, you are both working for the good of our Great Hua. Do not rashly speak and harm the harmony between brothers. This is the first time, so I will make a note of it. Should there be any further disrespectful remarks, I will report to the Marshal and you will be dealt with according to military law."

Her tone was calm, but her expression was incredibly serious. Hu Bugui and Yu Zongcai dared not say another word.

Miss Xu resolved the dispute and then turned to Lin Wanrong, asking, "General Lin, you've heard the suggestions of these two gentlemen. What do you think?"

Lin Wanrong replied with a solemn expression, "I agree with Brother Hu. This method of defending the city is simply tying our own hands, it's more harm than good—"

Yu Zongcai snorted softly, visibly discontented. However, Lin Wanrong was the commander of the right flank, a rank higher than him. Additionally, with Miss Xu's prior warning, Yu Zongcai did not dare to act rashly. He reluctantly clenched his fists and said, "General Lin, during the defense, our army's firearms and bows can be far more effective, causing greater casualties to the enemy. What do you mean by tying our own hands and it being more harm than good? I would like to hear the details."

Lin Wanrong indifferently said, "Brother Yu, while firearms and bows can indeed be powerful, they must be used correctly. If misused, they can become a burden. Our army has over twenty cannons and five thousand archers, but the first wave of attackers from the enemy numbers over sixty thousand. I don’t need to describe the fierceness of the Turkic fighters to you. Moreover, Wuyuan City has no natural defenses, and the enemy can enter by merely leaping on their horses. Once a breach occurs, it will be like a dam bursting—everywhere will be broken. At that point, our artillery will lose all its effectiveness, and our archers will be exposed to the enemy cavalry. The heavy artillery and supplies would become burdens that we can neither abandon nor withdraw. Imagine what a horrific scene that would be!"

He sighed deeply, as if that tragic scene had already appeared before his eyes. Yu Zongcai felt his heart tremble and hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Zuo Qiu also found himself agreeing and nodded.

Miss Xu glanced at him and softly said, "You make a good point. But according to your view, what should we do? Should we leave Wuyuan City and face the enemy in the open desert? Wouldn't that be exactly what the enemy desires?"

"A decisive battle is inevitable, but it will not be according to the enemy's wishes," Lin Wanrong said, locking his eyes on Xu Zhiqing's charming cheeks and smiling mysteriously. Miss Xu found it difficult to meet his gaze and quickly lowered her head, annoyed, "What are you smirking at? Speak up! How exactly should we fight?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "Leaving Wuyuan City is a must. But not forward. On the contrary, in my view, we should retreat and leave Wuyuan to the Turkic invaders!"

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