Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 639 War is Coming!
As the saying goes, "an army marches on its stomach." The grain is easy to understand; it's what people and horses eat. But the grass is something else entirely.

In addition to fodder for livestock, a lot of long-stemmed rice straw or other thatch is also needed. These straws are both raw materials for starting fires and necessities for soldiers to keep warm.

It's the dead of winter right now, and it's even snowing in Nanjing. The cold front came from the north, so you can imagine how cold it must be in Hebei right now—it's practically freezing to death.

Of the 400,000 troops assembled, more than 60 percent were logistics personnel, leaving only about 120,000 to 130,000 who were actually capable of fighting.

This is a common usage. Just like Cao Cao's 800,000-strong army, if you include all the people along the route from north to south, the number could indeed be 800,000, but in reality, the number of people actually participating in the battle was probably at most 200,000.

Otherwise, what would the soldiers eat and drink? And now, because of the need for warmth, Yang Ying's troops are under great pressure in terms of transportation. Under such circumstances, he still has to send 200,000 men to deal with the Po Lu Army that is cutting in from the Jingzhou region.

He was well aware of the pressure he was under, because he still couldn't figure out whether the tens of thousands of troops the enemy reported were the actual number or included logistical support.

Standing atop the city wall, Yang Ying watched as the heavy oxen slowly moved carts of supplies. His heart was bleeding. The Green Forest Army was known as the Flying Army, able to cover 120 li in a day and night. Meanwhile, his own infantry could only march 40 li a day, and his light cavalry could only cover 70 li a day.

The problem lies in the speed of logistical support. They have even witnessed firsthand how sometimes the logistics convoys would be cooking at the designated location before the main army even arrived, so that the troops could eat as soon as they arrived, leave immediately after eating, fight as soon as they arrived, and then turn around and withdraw.

They truly achieved the feat of appearing and disappearing without a trace. To this day, after thousands of years of studying military strategy, no army has ever appeared with such a fast marching and logistical speed.

In most people's eyes, the Green Forest Army was just a hastily established ragtag army. Although it had made great achievements in the Western Regions, most people thought that the Turks were too weak and insignificant and that there was nothing remarkable about it.

But the problem is, how could an iron army that can advance 120 miles a day not have combat power? Yang Ying didn't even dare to imagine such combat power.

Just as Yang Ying was anxiously watching his oxcart slowly pull its load forward, the camp in Xuzhou made a move.

They advanced in three groups. The vanguard had begun heading towards the Hebei Province area, while the central army maintained a steady pace, deploying defenses and carrying out other operations along the way. The last force was the light cavalry, who were also advancing at a slow pace. However, on the appointed day, they would suddenly accelerate, catch up with the vanguard, and replace the exhausted vanguard with their own men, turning themselves into the vanguard so that the weary troops and horses could get sufficient rest before continuing their advance.

Wang Shichong was also standing outside Xuzhou, watching the surging army. He couldn't help but sigh. As someone who had led troops all his life, this was the first time he had seen such a disciplined, spirited, and well-disciplined army.

When the army marched, there was only the sound of their uniform footsteps, without any noise or chaos. During their stay in Xuzhou, they were able to avoid disputes and disturbances to the people, and even the camps they stayed in were kept spotless.

This may seem to have no impact on combat effectiveness, but only an expert like him would know that this is what true obedience to orders means. Soldiers do not need any other skills; they only need to obey orders. Unconditional obedience to orders is enough to make them invincible.

He felt both envy and admiration. He envied that such a force was not under his control, thinking that if he had such a large army, he would be invincible.

What he admired most was that his son was a key player in the team, and what his father had failed to accomplish had been achieved by his son.

Just then, Emperor Jingtai rode past him on horseback. Wang Shichong quickly withdrew the look of amazement from his eyes, bowed and said, "May Your Majesty be invincible in battle."

Tuoba Jing reined in his horse and stopped in front of Wang Shichong, looking down at the slippery old man with a smile on his face.

He knew perfectly well that Wang Shichong's respect for him was not because he was the emperor, but because he revered the army before him, this iron-willed force. "My dear Wang, when I return in triumph, I will surely share a drink with you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am humbled. When Your Majesty returns in triumph, I will certainly bathe and fast to await Your Majesty's grace."

Emperor Jingtai laughed heartily and rode away. Wang Shichong watched his retreating figure and noticed something different about this playful and willful emperor; he had indeed grown up.

Of course, it doesn't matter whether he grows up or not. The most important thing is that the army he leads is so enviable and intimidating that people dare not look directly at its sharp edge.

At this moment, the Green Forest Army's Shenji Battalion made its appearance at the rear. This was a military system that Wang Shichong had never seen before. They were not many in number, but they had a frightening amount of equipment. Unlike other soldiers, the Shenji Battalion soldiers carried a lot of long and short poles on their bodies. They did not appear to be lethal, but they exuded a faint killing intent.

On their supply wagons were also loaded something covered with oilcloth that emitted a strange smell, like gunpowder, but not entirely. Wang Shichong couldn't see anything, but as a man with extensive battlefield experience, he knew that what lay beneath the heavy oilcloth was terrifying, and that this Shenji Battalion was probably the core of the entire army.

"Eh!"

Finally, Wang Shichong couldn't hold back any longer and called out to a captain in the Shenji Battalion. The captain, seeing that it was the Grand Commander of Xuzhou who was calling him, dared not be negligent and quickly ran forward: "Grand Commander, you called me?"

"How many people are in your Shenji Battalion?"

"Prepare five thousand."

"Oh... five thousand men. Then let me ask you, how will these five thousand men defend themselves if they encounter cavalry?"

"cavalry?"

The captain was taken aback at first, then a slightly mocking smile appeared on his face. He almost subconsciously turned around to look at the guy on his shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Grand Commander. It would be a blatant lie to say that we were dealing with 100,000 cavalry in a hurry. But if you can get us to set up a battle formation... hehe."

He stopped there and quickly clasped his hands in apology: "Grand Commander, I apologize. The procession has gone too far, I must catch up."

"Go."

Wang Shichong nodded and let him leave, but as he watched the Shenji Battalion's departing figures, he fell into deep thought, because this was beyond his comprehension. What did it mean... If it could make us set up battle formation, hehe?

In other words, their Divine Machine Battalion can fight against 100,000 people with only 5,000 men? What a load of bull! Are those 5,000 men some kind of celestial warriors serving the Heavenly Emperor?

Yes, it's a good army, but the arrogance of the young soldiers needs to be curbed. But it's alright, the battlefield will teach them to be humble. After a few defeats, they'll naturally learn to be modest.

(End of this chapter)