Chapter 98: Liu Yuanfu Seeks an Audience
“General, the main force of the Hu tribe is currently camped twenty miles northeast of here!” Song Dashan rushed to Yang Zhengshan’s side to report.
Yang Zhengshan’s heart skipped a beat at the news. “How many soldiers do they have?”
“It’s hard to say, but their camp is enormous. There must be at least fifty thousand men!” Yang Mingwu replied.
Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment. “How many scouts do they have?”
“Many!” Song Dashan’s expression turned serious. “We encountered four groups of scouts on our way here.”
Yang Zhengshan glanced at the bloodstains on Song Dashan’s body. “Then let’s use this opportunity to train our scouts.”
Since it was the main force of the Hu tribe, Yang Zhengshan didn’t have anything to worry about. The Hu tribe wouldn’t come to attack the Guan Cheng Fortress, which was just a small garrison, and attacking it would serve no strategic purpose.
However, Yang Zhengshan didn’t plan to just sit back and do nothing. Since the enemy had arrived, they would naturally take advantage of the situation to gain something.
Every enemy head was a tangible war achievement, and Yang Zhengshan wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
On that cold winter night, the scouts wrapped in thick armor still felt like their bodies were frozen stiff. The desolate and empty wilderness was swept by waves of cold wind, as if trying to freeze everything in sight.
Under the bright moonlight, the sound of horse hooves echoed, accompanied by the shadows of figures moving slowly forward.
Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the cold and deathly still night.
Shadows collided and intersected in the ice-cold moonlight. The sound of metal clashing and angry shouts filled the air.
The commotion lasted for a few breaths before subsiding.
Song Dashan looked down at the corpses at his feet, their faces stained red by blood in the moonlight, like evil spirits crawling out of the ground.
“Let’s clean up and leave!”
“Yes, sir!”
This was their third group of scouts to be eliminated. Each group of Hu tribe scouts had five to ten men, and they were scattered around the camp to keep watch.
Meanwhile, Song Dashan’s group was operating in small units, taking advantage of the night to hunt down the enemy scouts.
This was a hunting game belonging to the night.
Song Dashan’s group was both the hunter and the prey. Ultimately, it depended on who was stronger and more patient.
When dawn broke, Song Dashan’s group returned to the Guan Cheng Fortress with 132 enemy heads.
“How was the harvest?”
Yang Zhengshan, who had just woken up from a short nap, asked Song Dashan, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“Not bad, we got 132 enemy heads!” Song Dashan replied proudly.
“And our casualties?” Yang Zhengshan asked calmly, his expression unreadable.
Song Dashan’s smile faltered. “Thirteen dead, eight wounded!”
Yang Zhengshan nodded silently. Although the casualty ratio was acceptable, it was still because the Hu tribe didn’t expect them to launch a sneak attack on their scouts.
Yang Zhengshan had never underestimated the combat power of the Hu tribe, especially in a head-on battle.
In yesterday’s battle at the Guan Cheng Fortress, they had almost gained the upper hand, but their casualties still approached half of their total force.
However, Yang Zhengshan was no longer as sensitive to life and death as before.
One general’s success was worth countless soldiers’ lives.
Yang Zhengshan had grown accustomed to the deaths and injuries of his soldiers. Perhaps in the future, these casualties would just be numbers to him.
Of course, he still had to show concern and make arrangements for their treatment.
He had already prepared the Spirit Spring water for the wounded soldiers and invited Dr. Niu to treat them.
“You can rest now,” Yang Zhengshan said to Song Dashan.
Song Dashan’s group had been awake for a day and a night, and they were exhausted.
“Yes, sir!”
After they left, Yang Zhengshan summoned Yang Mingwu and Yang Mingzhi. “Mingwu, go to the Jia Ning Guard and ask if General Zhou has any orders!”
“Mingzhi, immediately gather two hundred soldiers from each of the garrisons, fire beacon towers, and signal towers!”
Yang Zhengshan had ten battalion commanders under him, with three cavalry battalions and two infantry battalions stationed at the Guan Cheng Fortress. The remaining two battalions were scattered among the twenty-plus fire beacon towers and signal towers.
After yesterday’s battle, only about two hundred cavalrymen were still able to fight, while the infantry had suffered fewer casualties.
He was worried about the Lin Guan Fortress, which was too close to the city.
The Hu tribe army would soon arrive at the city, and although the Lin Guan Fortress wasn’t a strategic location, who knew if the Hu tribe army wouldn’t take it just for fun?
In the face of the Hu tribe army, the Lin Guan Fortress was at best a speed bump.
Just as Yang Mingwu and Yang Mingzhi were about to leave, Yang Minghao rushed in to report, “Father, Liu Yuanfu wants to see you!”
“Liu Yuanfu!” Yang Zhengshan was taken aback, momentarily forgetting who Liu Yuanfu was.
“Ah, that old stubborn man from the Liu family!” Yang Minghao chuckled.
Yang Zhengshan was curious about what Liu Yuanfu wanted, but since the old man was willing to come to him, he didn’t want to refuse him.
“Let him in!”
A moment later, Yang Minghao brought Liu Yuanfu to the study.
“Greetings, Liu Yuanfu!” Yang Zhengshan said with a hint of respect, trying to hide his disdain for the old man.
Although Yang Zhengshan didn’t like Liu Yuanfu’s stubbornness, he still had to maintain a respectful attitude. After all, Liu Yuanfu was a former high-ranking official who had experienced three cycles of rise and fall.
Liu Yuanfu looked up at Yang Zhengshan, then sat down at the tea table.
“I’ve come to ask if there’s anything I can help with,” Liu Yuanfu said, his voice dripping with sincerity.
Yang Zhengshan was taken aback by Liu Yuanfu’s sudden willingness to help. What could he possibly do to assist?
He thought for a moment, but couldn’t think of anything Liu Yuanfu could do.
Here wasn’t the imperial court, and Liu Yuanfu was just an ordinary old man.
Let him help with the military? That was even more ridiculous!
Just as Yang Zhengshan was about to refuse, Liu Yuanfu continued, “I’ll take care of the government office for you.”
Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment before responding, “I’ll be heading to the Lin Guan Fortress soon. Please take care of the Guan Cheng Fortress for me.”
Liu Yuanfu nodded, “I’ll keep an eye on it.”
Yang Zhengshan summoned Lu Wenchun, Lu Wenhua, and Old Li to meet Liu Yuanfu.
As they parted ways, Yang Zhengshan instructed, “Everything will be under Liu Yuanfu’s command after I leave. You must obey his orders!”
“Let’s go,” Yang Zhengshan said to Liu Yuanfu, and the old man nodded curtly.
In the afternoon, Yang Mingwu returned from the Jia Ning Guard with Zhou Lan’s orders.
It wasn’t a particularly important task, but Yang Zhengshan didn’t think much of it.
“How’s the situation at the Jia Ning Guard?” Yang Zhengshan asked.
“Everything’s fine. The Hu cavalry hasn’t attacked the city, but many have slipped through the gaps between the garrisons. General Zhou is deploying troops to encircle them!” Yang Mingwu replied.
Yang Zhengshan nodded, “You can rest for now. We’ll head to the Lin Guan Fortress tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir!”
Around sunset, Yang Mingzhi returned with two hundred infantrymen, who were gathered from the three garrisons and several fire beacon towers.
The arrival of these soldiers put a strain on the Guan Cheng Fortress.
As the night wore on, Yang Zhengshan instructed, “We’ll set up tents temporarily to accommodate them. We can’t let them freeze or starve.”
However, tomorrow they would head to the Lin Guan Fortress, which was much smaller and had fewer resources than the Guan Cheng Fortress.
So, they had to prepare thoroughly before departing.
The task of preparing supplies fell on Liu Yuanfu’s shoulders.
This old man still had some ability, and his spirit was high. Perhaps because he had been idle for too long, he was finally given something to do, and his enthusiasm was ignited. He commanded Lu Wenchun, Lu Wenhua, and the others to scurry about.
Yang Zhengshan confirmed that the old man wasn’t just pretending to work, then handed over the task of preparing supplies to him. He himself returned to the backyard to take a good rest.
(End of chapter)
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