Mr. Yuan Zhi returned the bow, turned, and walked out of the commander’s tent, but after just a few steps, his wrist was firmly grasped by a hand with tremendous strength. The young strategist was taken aback and turned to see the young general advance a step with sparkling eyes, his right hand already pressing down on his own shoulder.
"Sir, please don’t leave yet," the conditions today are still too vague."
"Come, let’s talk it through in detail."
Yuan Zhi was stunned; during the time he had evaded arrest after killing a man, he had developed an outwardly carefree but inwardly vigilant disposition, and he reflexively declined, "No, I haven’t eaten..."
Li Guanyi turned his head and shouted, "Mr. Lei Laomeng!"
A rough voice answered, "Boss, what’s up!"
The young general dragged Yuan Zhi back, and the young Confucian scholar was no match for a battlefield general like Li Guanyi. He was pulled back, as Li Guanyi shouted, "The sir hasn’t eaten yet, didn’t you hear?!"
"Bring a bucket of rice over here, with a few dishes, a bowl of braised pork, a bowl of stewed ribs, and some vegetables, quickly!"
"Is there any more Monkey Wine?"
Yuan Zhi, caught between laughter and tears, simply sat back down.
That day, the young general talked strategy with Yuan Zhi all through the night.
Yuan Zhi witnessed firsthand the discipline of the Qilin Army, as well as their principle of not harming civilians and not mistreating prisoners. Li Guanyi’s attitude was so favorable that Yuan Zhi unconsciously laid out all his strategies, including how to maneuver, which city to attack first, how to attack it, and how to march the troops.
The keyword was speed!
The essence of military tactics is to appear where the enemy least expects, at the most vital and deadly spot, at an unforeseen time. The so-called knowledge of oneself and the enemy, to secure victory after victory, is exactly this principle.
Based on the past decade or so of the situation,
Chen Country and Ying Country had never anticipated that the Murong Family would dare to counterattack. The cities of both countries shared a characteristic: strong offense but weak defense. Their only objective was to train troops on the vast lands of the Eighteen States in Jiangnan.
Before everyone else had a chance to react, they were already at the gates!
The plan was to rapidly overcome their defenses and garrisons without expending too much force, so that they could take control of the cities quickly. The focus was on quick, strategic moves, because without complete control over the waterways, even if they captured the cities, they could be lost to the continuous reinforcements from the two countries.
Seven thousand men couldn’t hold onto anything!
But with full control over the transportation on waterways, they could fight with the strength of ten times their number.
The deterrent power of these seven thousand men was no less than that of seventy thousand.
In warfare, especially in this region, waterway transport was crucial, akin to the bones and meridians of the human body.
Whether it’s a Qilin or not, earning the right to vie for supremacy in all four directions is what counted.
The next day, Li Guanyi, as if he had no concept of fatigue, immediately went to discuss Yuan Zhi’s strategy with the many leaders of the Qilin Army. General Yuwen Tianxian remained silent for a long time without voicing his opinion.
Others, like Ling Pingyang, were full of praise.
In the afternoon of the following day, the Qilin Army was once again readying itself, with commanders such as Ling Pingyang, Fan Qing, Changsun Wuchou, Yuwen Tianxian, Yuwen Hua, Mr. Lei Laomeng, all leading their troops in solemnity. Li Guanyi, following the usual tradition, individually commended them before suddenly saying, "Gentlemen, today, we have gathered here."
"But there is another matter, sir, please step forward."
Yuan Zhi, who found himself idle and was still longing for the taste of yesterday’s braised pork, was shocked.
He had a carefree temperament, so he casually walked to the front.
Even waved nonchalantly to the more than ten thousand soldiers of the Qilin Army.
He smiled carefreely and casually.
As a young man, he killed someone and fled over three thousand miles. He met Gongyang Su Wang, who admired his gutsy nature, and was brought into the Academy. In three years, he became the most outstanding disciple of Confucianism, and later studied the Military School tactics, making him a core member of the Academy.
His experiences were already legendary in the eyes of ordinary people.
Even faced with such circumstances, he could still wave and laugh lightheartedly.
He even thought to himself, it’s no wonder the old saying goes, ’Beyond the myriad, boundless and vast.’
The seven thousand warriors of the Qilin Army and the six thousand five hundred logistics troops were all arrayed in formation.
The crimson battle flags fluttered, radiating an imposing and chilling atmosphere, something that could not be felt in a sand table simulation. The captured enemy troops were also there, alongside the sword forces of the Murong Family and the commoners from East Crossing City, all watching from a distance.
Yuan Zhi thought to himself.
There stood the young general, adorned in military armor, inviting Yuan Zhi onto the platform constructed the day before. He then turned around and suddenly produced a seal wrapped in scarlet silk, cradling it with both hands.
The young strategist was stunned, his face still smiling, but his mind buzzed.
He watched as the general, who seemed as majestic as a Qilin under all eyes, approached with deliberate steps, holding that item.
He said solemnly, "Today may not be an official military appointment ceremony, but I still ask you to accept this."
Li Guanyi bowed and placed the Seal into Yuan Zhi’s hands.
Then he presented a weapon-level longsword, "This sword was forged by myself, under my ancestor’s guidance, amidst veins of ore while on campaign. There were only five made, and this one is named Jun Feng."
"Sir, please take this sword."
The young strategist, who was merely a Ranger, was stunned, his mouth agape, feeling somewhat bewildered. Almost instinctively holding the Seal, he accepted the sword personally crafted by Li Guanyi. Then the renowned young general turned and announced to the more than ten thousand soldiers of the Qilin Army in front of him:
"From this day forth, Mr. Yuan Zhi will serve as the strategist for our Qilin Army."