The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The sun had risen high, and the sunlight fell on Shui Rong’s central military tent.

The White Lotus flag on the flagpole has been replaced with a large flag with the word "Shun" on it, fluttering in the wind!
In front of the big tent, Li Hu sat with his eyes closed on a chair that might have been moved from Shui Rong's central army tent, letting the morning sunlight shine on him.

Wang Daniu stood behind Li Hu, holding the hilt of the knife. Dozens of personal soldiers in front of Li Hu and around him stood like boulders, motionless.

There was a sound of horse hooves, and a group of more than twenty riders galloped towards the central army tent.

Wang Daniu looked over and saw Huang Jinzhong.

Huang Jinzhong and the other soldiers galloped to the flagpole, pulled the reins to stop, and dismounted together.

"God is blind and let the traitor Shui Rong escape!"

Huang Jinzhong threw the reins to a guard beside him and walked over cursing.

Two bodyguards stepped forward and stopped Huang Jinzhong.

Huang Jinzhong was stunned for a moment, then walked closer to the guards and said, "I have something important to discuss with you, Marshal."

A personal soldier turned around and walked to Wang Daniu and whispered something.

Wang Daniu looked at Huang Jinzhong and then said softly, "Marshal."

Li Hu still closed his eyes: "What's the matter?"

Wang Daniu lowered his voice and said, "The mangy dog ​​is here."

Li Hu: “Yeah.”

Wang Daniu said to the guard, "Let him come over."

The soldier responded and went back.

Then, Huang Jinzhong walked over quickly and silently, and said softly, "Marshal."

Li Hu still closed his eyes: "What's the matter?"

Huang Jinzhong: "Shui Rong escaped."

Li Hu just said "hmm" and didn't say anything.

Huang Jinzhong was anxious: "We can't let Shui Rong escape! As long as we catch Shui Rong, this rebellion can be quickly quelled!"

Li Hu: "Tell the military supervisor."

Wang Daniu: "Yes. The scouts sent a message an hour ago that the firearms battalion set up an ambush on the way, and the White Lotus rebels led by Shui Rong walked into the ambush circle. Fire guns were fired all around, and more than a thousand Mongolian cavalrymen rushed back and forth. Shui Rong led the remnants to flee in a panic again."

Huang Jinzhong: "He let Shui Rong escape again?" He suddenly realized what was happening and asked anxiously: "Where are the Hetao cavalry? Did they also ambush Shui Rong along the way?"

Wang Daniu said unhappily: "I haven't finished yet."

Huang Jinzhong looked at him and thought, if he didn't know that you are one of his own, he would have made things difficult for you a long time ago.

Wang Daniu: "Not only are the Hetao Cavalry waiting for Shui Rong on the way, but the 10,000 elite troops led by Chen Qiang have also joined the Firearm Battalion and are on their way to pursue Shui Rong. Just half an hour ago, the Marshal transferred another 8,000 elite troops from the Fifth Army Battalion."

Huang Jinzhong was silent. He was not an idiot who knew nothing. Among the three groups of people, only the Hetao Cavalry could possibly capture Shui Rong. But could the Hetao Cavalry capture Shui Rong? Looking at Li Hu's arrangement, he had no intention of killing all of them. He just wanted to drive Shui Rong south. Could it be that he wanted to keep the enemy at bay? !

That's not right. If they were to keep the enemy at bay, they wouldn't have fought this battle. Li Hu has already proved his ability to the court. Even if he loses next, it's because of the disparity in military strength between the two sides. If the court wants to find fault, it can only be blamed on King Zhongshun. In addition, according to his observations over the past year or so, Li Hu is not that kind of person.

Thinking of this, an idea suddenly occurred to him, and he blurted out: "Is the Marshal doing this for the people?"

Only then did Li Hu open his eyes.

Huang Jinzhong's eyes flashed, it was indeed so!

Li Hu: "What do you think, Military Supervisor?" Huang Jinzhong: "I don't think you have any advice, but as a Military Supervisor, I have a few words to say to the Marshal."

Li Hu: "Please speak."

Huang Jinzhong: "We are here to suppress the rebellion. We only need to wipe out the White Lotus rebels. The rest has nothing to do with us."

Li Hu: "What about the people of Hefei? Let them die?"

Huang Jinzhong was a little anxious: "Many people have died in this rebellion. Even if another 100,000 or 200,000 people die, it will only be a few more numbers! As long as this rebellion can be quickly quelled, even if all the people in Luzhou Prefecture are killed..."

Li Hu's eyes suddenly became sharp, staring at Huang Jinzhong like two knives.

Huang Jinzhong realized that he had spoken out of turn, and immediately said, "The White Lotus Sect drove them away, and they could escape, or even resist and rush towards the army. They are traitors, and killing them is not only innocent, but also meritorious."

Li Hu snorted coldly: "Then what's the difference between us and the rebels!"

Huang Jinzhong was a little embarrassed when he heard this, and he stammered, "I know that the Marshal loves his people like his own children."

Li Hu interrupted him directly: "It's not that I love the people like my own children. The country of Dashun belongs to the emperor and the prince. We have to think ahead and leave a world that wins the hearts of the people for the emperor and the prince! The White Lotus Sect can slaughter the people at will, but we can't. We can't lose the hearts of the people!"

After hearing what Li Hu said, Huang Jinzhong became serious, and shame appeared in his eyes.

Li Hu no longer looked at him: "If the court asks for punishment, I will bear it all and will not implicate anyone else."

Huang Jinzhong was moved: "You are so loyal to your country! Don't worry, Marshal, I will report this matter directly to the emperor. Let all the civil and military officials in the court see who is the most loyal minister of our Dashun Dynasty!"

Li Hu: "Thank you very much, General Huang."

Huang Jinzhong: “It’s my job.”

At this time, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came over, and everyone looked over.

A scout came riding a horse, galloped to the flagpole, pulled the reins hard, jumped off the horse, and shouted, "Great victory!" while running towards Li Hufei.

Li Hu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that these idiots had killed Shui Rong?
Huang Jinzhong looked expectant. What Li Hu said made sense, but if the rebellion could be quelled as soon as possible, he would not care about the lives of the people.

The scout ran to Li Hu and reported loudly: "General, the Hetao cavalry defeated the remnants of the White Lotus Sect, and Shui Rong led thousands of remnants to flee in panic."

After hearing this, Huang Jinzhong showed obvious disappointment on his face.

Li Hu saw this and asked the scout, "Where are the reinforcements?"

The scout said: "The reinforcements led by General Chen Qiang should have already met up with the Hetao Cavalry by now. The troops of the Fifth Army Camp should still be 20 to 30 miles away."

At this moment, a lieutenant general came riding up and reported to Li Hu: "General, the army has been assembled!"

Li Hu stood up and said to Huang Jinzhong, "I'll leave this to the military supervisor."

Huang Jinzhong was shocked: "So many prisoners"

Li Hu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will take those 10,000 spearmen with me."

Huang Jinzhong felt relieved when he heard this, but he also felt that something was wrong, so he advised: "Those spearmen have never been on the battlefield, so they should be from the Fifth Army Camp."

Li Hu raised his hand and said, "We have captured a White Lotus leader alive. According to him, he accidentally wiped out several elite troops under Shui Rong last night. Shui Rong was seriously injured in this battle. As long as he is not blinded by hatred, he will definitely use the people of Hefei who were dragged into the camp as a cover and retreat to rest. I am leading these 10,000 spearmen to put pressure on Shui Rong."

Huang Jinzhong nodded: "What's next?"

Li Hu was silent for a moment: "They need to rest, and we don't have enough troops to fight them head-on. You know, these people are the last strength of the court in Anhui. If they are killed because of greed and recklessness, you and I will be sinners of Dashun."

Huang Jinzhong sighed. The two sides were in a stalemate, but this stalemate could not last long and would not allow Shui Rong to recover. I hope the emperor's edict will arrive soon, so that we can quickly expand our army and fight a decisive battle as soon as possible! (End of this chapter)