Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 122 Pony Crossing the River
About half a month after the Dongshi army arrived in Bojun, another 4,000 able-bodied men continued to arrive at Lujiao City to join the core troops in building the city's defenses. Everything proceeded smoothly.

Some of the strongest and most capable men were selected and issued spears and halberds for training in formation and signaling, thus establishing the military discipline of the army.

After finishing all this, Wu Fei sent Gong Qian to contact the wealthy families in Bo Di who had fled to the mountains.

Wu Fei handed the token to Gong Qian with both hands: In order to restore our country, we must contact the righteous people here.

Two years ago, Gong Qian never imagined he would one day help Wu Fei overstep his bounds and collude with powerful local clans. However, he saw Wu Fei stepping onto a path of self-destruction, all for the sake of national righteousness. As a scholar, Gong Qian could no longer refuse his request.

There was no other way; the locals they had previously kidnapped were quite united and refused to reveal their ancestral home. Wu Fei insisted that torture be avoided. Therefore, they had no choice but to swallow their pride and trouble the well-traveled Gong Qian.

As a top diplomat, Gong Qian has an extraordinary ability to find people. After spending a day with the local youths "invited" by Wu Fei, Gong Qian chatted with them in the Bohai accent and easily found the right way to invite these "reclusive" representatives of prominent families over.

These representatives of prominent surnames are mostly elderly people. Among them, the Li surname, when traced back to its origins, is related to the Li family to which Wu Fei was betrothed. Some of their direct descendants migrated south, while others submitted to the pseudo-King, and of course, some collateral branches remained in their hometowns, truly a case of hedging their bets from all sides.

As a 21st-century person, Wu Fei firmly believes that once ethnic groups are separated and belong to different interest groups, class contradictions will exist. When the pseudo-Hao regime invaded Bo County, it did choose to cooperate with some of the powerful clans, but they also seized some of the means of production from those who were unwilling to cooperate, and this is the contradiction.

Under the locust tree, Wu Fei met with the elderly people and drank the well water from the earthenware bowls as if it were wine. He then started asking them inappropriate questions: "How are you doing in the mountains?", "Do you have clothes for this winter?", "Do you remember your old village?"

Having fled to the mountains and forests, these orphans, now neglected by their parents, were overwhelmed with grief.

Especially as they talked, Wu Fei became very enthusiastic and said, "My home is on the southern slope of the Yanling Mountains, where there are deer, pigs, fish, and shrimp. There are also millet, wheat, elm, and willow trees covering the mountains and plains."

After singing a song, Wu Fei addressed the grieving people: "Fellow villagers, our army has come from afar and wants some local brothers to guide us. I don't ask for much. For every ten households, send me one able-bodied man; I will give each man thirty taels of silver as a settlement allowance. If you work with me, you are my brother."

The elders nodded to each other, and then one of them said tremblingly, "Sir, we have nowhere to spend our money. If you can let us return to our homeland (Bojun Estate), we'll take one-tenth of the profits, let alone one-fifty."

Wu Fei was deeply moved by their patriotic fervor, his eyes welling with tears. Of course, moved as he was, he then took out paper and pen and signed a pact with these village elders, meaning that the "accounts" still needed to be settled.

In the following days, Wu Fei visited about a dozen towns in the mountains where prominent families lived, checking rice bins and salt bags. He confirmed that some of these families, who had fled to the mountains to avoid trouble, were destitute, living in poverty with only a single piece of cloth for their families. He then learned how to win people's hearts.

Therefore, on the third day after the army was stationed, they received the first batch of two hundred people.

On the first day, instead of subjecting them to strict beatings and scoldings, the focus was on bestowing favors. The local militia were simply divided into teams and groups, and then these local teams were sent to the mountains in carts and horses, carrying salt and cloth, to settle a portion of the "settlement fee" bill.

The army couldn't solve the food shortage in the mountains, but salt could alleviate the food crisis to some extent, as it could preserve meat for a period of time.

After all this was done, Wu Fei dispatched his capable subordinates to begin rigorous training of these "local soldiers".

We don't expect them to fight, but we hope these local soldiers can act as living maps. Large-scale infiltration will be useful.

...leaping down from a distance to gather strength...

In April of the 36th year of the Tianli calendar, Wu Fei's troop arriving at the camp grew larger and larger, and the muskets and supplies distributed by Da Yao also arrived.

Food supplies at the camp were constantly being stockpiled. Everything edible, including the manatees hunted from the coastal reefs, had their thick layers of fat boiled into a paste and sealed in wooden barrels for preservation.

Food supplies were increasingly plentiful, but the army remained inactive, leading to whispers and rumors circulating in the rear. However, in the next phase of the campaign, their marching system was extending increasingly longer distances, crossing bridges and rivers in a single advance.

On April 12, Wu Fei stationed his troops at Lujiao City and began sending scouts to probe the enemy in Bo County.

Outside Lujiao City, a troop of musketeers began their raid. Their target was the military link between the Haotian Camp in Bo County and Gushou Pass, a hundred miles away.

The sounds of horses' hooves and whips began to rage across the Bohai Land.

The cavalrymen were carrying short muskets with large revolvers, which were repeating firearms. These were percussion caps. Each chamber of the cylinder was loaded with gunpowder and a bullet, and each of the metal tubes at the bottom, resembling pen refills, was fitted with a percussion cap. By manually rotating the cylinder and pulling the trigger to strike the percussion cap, they could fire continuously.

As early as the beginning of April, Wu Fei learned through local informants that Gu Shouguan needed a batch of ironware to be sent to the land outside the pass for land reclamation and development. Wu Fei decided to deliberately create a "minor incident" to provoke the Hao army in Bohai.

This is similar to certain strategies in real-time strategy games: "first attack the mining cart, then lure the enemy out, and then pin them down by making them swing left and right."

In other words, the side with operational advantage first makes the enemy feel that their military deployment is not so "comfortable" by making small operations, and wants to move their position. Then, while the side with operational disadvantage is moving their position, the side with operational advantage suddenly concentrates its forces to wipe out the exposed part of the enemy and form a local advantage.

Wu Fei: We must first "scratch" them to lure these clumsy bears out of their den. They're all coiled up on the other side, making them difficult for me to gnaw on.

…The mining cart has started…

At Mengjia'ao, the puppet emperor's vassal soldiers were laboriously pushing the wheels of a cart. The local soldiers recruited from Bo County complained, "Why is this road so muddy?"

However, on the high ground nearby, a malevolent aura suddenly appeared, and correspondingly, the birds around the transport team, sensing that the malevolent aura was targeting them, collectively took flight.

The Haotian troops, when attacked, were somewhat disciplined and attempted to form a vehicle formation to block the attack, but that was about it.

As the East City cavalry charged in one after another, the first round of gunfire rang out, and then the city collapsed.

The morale of these peasants (actually imperial collaborators) brought out by Guo Taila was so low that they didn't even fully load their crossbows or fire a volley. Faced with a volley of musket fire from their own side, they collapsed and fled with one of the three sides missing.

Wu Fei's cavalry did not pursue them excessively, but simply dispersed the pseudo-Hao's forces at a distance.

As the cavalry drove away, the logistics soldiers waiting on the hillside immediately came down with their wagons and horses. These logistics soldiers were all able-bodied men who, after training, served as auxiliary personnel to quickly clean up the battlefield.

After searching the battlefield, all twenty cartloads of ironware and medicinal herbs left behind by the pseudo-Hao were taken away.

Ten hours later, the Hao Kingdom's rescue force arrived, and all the ironware was hauled to the riverbank, loaded onto boats, and left. Clearly, transporting this cargo across the border would be a long journey, but getting it to the riverbank and finding a temporary hiding place was very easy.

When the pseudo-military envoy Hao arrived at the scene of the ambush with his 500 men, he looked at the messy cart tracks and the hoofprints left by the ambushing troops and came to the obvious conclusion: this was no ordinary bandit.

Nonsense. A typical robbery gang that plans a major heist usually has only about twenty people at most, but this is a gang of over a thousand robbers with a well-organized division of labor.

…More plans are underway…

These were certainly not ordinary robbers; in the following days, numerous robberies occurred throughout the southeastern part of Bo County.

Just three days after the robbery at Mengjia'ao, the Ironclad Manor under the control of the pseudo-Hao was also targeted. The robbers clearly had an inside accomplice. After blowing open the manor with explosives, they rushed in and suppressed the manor in a short time, kidnapping forty blacksmiths and 50,000 catties of refined iron.

This major case was premeditated. All that iron was transported to the riverbank and then taken away by boat. At the same time, Wu Fei's criminal team arrested all the blacksmiths, leaving none alive, and they were arrested according to a list.

Two days later, more than a hundred mules and horses needed by the Hao army to protect the city of Bodi were also stolen.

The series of major robberies was enough to enrage the officials stationed there by the Hao Kingdom.

Hao Kingdom's Military Commissioner, Su Dong, said: "The newly arrived Yao army is utterly lacking in martial ethics! Instead of attacking and conquering, they've come to plunder? If they can do it, why can't we?"

However, a few days later, after Su Dong's squad determined the area checkpoints and patrol density along the river in Lujiao City, they "very consciously" believed that they should not retaliate with such despicable means.

Wu Xiaoque's camps were heavily patrolled, making infiltration impossible. ...The perspective shifts to the Yao army's side...

Wu Fei was in the camp, looking at the map and thinking.

Sun Tzu's Art of War is a classic of warfare, but because it contains so many insightful quotes, each general finds different initial "concepts" in the book, which creates the unique characteristics of each successful general.

Wu Fei's current decision-making focus is on "the more you calculate, the more you win." He aims to seize the initiative by taking advantage of situations where the opponent cannot out-calculate him.

For example, in later generations' discussions of public security, the terms "juvenile delinquency" and "technologically advanced methods" are frequently mentioned. Why the concern? Because juvenile delinquency and technological advancement suggest a strong capacity for criminal planning. Planning a crime with twenty men—how to begin, how much to steal, how to conceal it, how to escape, and how to dispose of the stolen goods—is far more complex than planning a crime with only two clumsy, uneducated thieves who can't even properly cover their faces.

The advantage of Wufei's unit is that it has many non-commissioned officers! They are also highly capable of using their brains and making plans.

Each major operation was planned by three to five sergeants. After setting the objectives, they would have fifty to seventy key personnel (the boatmen's corps) execute the crucial steps, mobilizing hundreds of able-bodied men to cooperate.

First, these thugs from the East Market Army would lead forty men to suddenly infiltrate the rear according to tactical manuals, disrupting the victim group's judgment. Once the victim group's attention was diverted, the main force, which had been lying in ambush, would launch a surprise attack. After eliminating all the resisters, they would signal the cleaning team, which had been waiting on the sidelines, to come and haul away the goods. This kind of "criminal capability," if it involved fewer than twenty people, would require a heavy-handed military strike to eradicate in later generations.

And now, this armed robbery is not only large-scale, but it is also protected by a large military organization system? This goes beyond the scope of crime and belongs to the real "guerrilla warfare".

Wu Fei observed on the silk map that Guotai's flags had shown some reaction, seemingly provoked and ready to launch an attack.

Wu Fei used a red pen to mark the various garrison points of the pseudo-Ha in Bo County, beginning to consider the perspective of "the enemy's attack." — He discovered that the enemy's command system was scattered and disjointed, consisting of at least four separate systems; of course, it was also possible that although the enemy had a single command system, the highest-ranking general was too incompetent, leaving the various subordinate units stationed below to act independently.

But what about their arrangement? According to Wu Fei's standards, this is like a paralyzed old lady coming to challenge him to a duel with her cane.

This feudal army, having remained stagnant for so long, is like someone who has been squatting for a long time trying to suddenly stand up; their muscles become numb, making it difficult to maintain balance. They can't even walk properly (on a march).

…Wu Fei identified the enemy, then turned to check on his allies…

On April 15th, Wu Fei rushed to Zhu Shuai's tent, his face beaming and his mouth full of honey as he babbled: "Big brother, I've gotten myself into trouble because of my greed for money."

On Zhu Dashuai's side, seeing Wu Fei in this state, he was also helpless. He temporarily believed that Wu Fei had led this absurd Dongshi Army to rob Hao Kingdom in various villages in the north, but now he could not withstand the retaliation and had gone too far.

Of course, Commander Zhu assured him that he would not stand idly by and watch Lujiao City fall. As long as you (the Dongshi Army) hold firm, our (Zhu Family Army's) reinforcements will arrive within ten days.

Wu Fei appeared relieved, then asked, "I've heard that the Hao Kingdom possesses aerial patrol capabilities?"

Wu Fei's bottom line was that as long as Commander Zhu didn't hold them back and the Hao army didn't raid their stronghold, cutting off his supply chain for the southern caravans heading north, he would be fine.

Wu Fei instructed Zhu's army to be on high alert during his military operations. The cricket fighting and other games in the camp were to cease. They were to conduct thorough patrols within their assigned areas. However, he emphasized that the instruction should not be delivered in a commanding tone.

Commander Zhu gave Wu Fei a meaningful look, then smiled and said, "In previous years at this time, Bo County would send out a large number of sky lanterns. Hmm, the sandstorm might be too strong today, so we won't see any. If you're worried, I have a dragon-horse elite cavalryman under my command who can lend you his services."

Wu Fei nodded, thanked Commander Zhu for the information, and readily lent the troops.

After Wu Fei left, Zhu Chong, the son of Commander Zhu, cursed, "These spoiled brats, they can't even clean up the mess they've made!"

However, with a "smack," Zhu Dashuai slapped him on the forehead, leaving the young Zhu Shaoshuai completely bewildered.

Commander Zhu stared at him and said, "If you have no brains, don't talk nonsense."

Commander Zhu then advised his son: "They're not here to ask us for anything, but to remind us that they're about to start working, and to warn us to be vigilant so that this 'fake Hao' won't be cornered and steal our chickens!"

Zhu Chong looked incredulous. Commander Zhu: "You don't think that just because someone comes from the capital, they have to talk like the Zhanlu Army with their noses in the air, do you? This guy can manage a bunch of Beijing locals smoothly. Besides being efficient, he's also very good at talking. And don't underestimate his abilities just because he's easy to talk to. In the past month, he's managed to arrange about ten thousand people from the south to the north perfectly. This skill is something he'll use to make a name for himself here."

Zhu Chong: "Then, Father, should we follow?"

Zhu Shuai frowned and said, "The generals of the pseudo-Hao are mostly cunning. General Wu is new here and eager to make a name for himself. We can just stay behind and provide support." — Over the years, as a general who directly resisted Hao, he had developed a serious psychological aversion to Zhao Cheng.

Although King Zhuli greatly admired Wu Fei, he dared not act rashly in battle, only lending Wu Fei a batch of elite dragon horses. If the Hao Kingdom suffered a setback at his hands and the war went smoothly, he would send several hundred elite soldiers to assist. In this way, even if a major battle ensued, a defeat would be understandable to Emperor Shu, and a victory could be attributed to his contribution in assisting the war.

…The veteran has vision but lacks courage…

Back at camp, Wu Fei turned on the oil lamp and assessed the situation in the northern border. Supplies, morale, and all preparations were at their peak; fighting was inevitable. However, when it came time to place the bet, he still felt a pang of unease.

Wu Fei finally understood the feeling the great man described before the decisive battle in the Huaihai Campaign: "My heart was pounding like a deer's."

This is because the more a party calculates, the more worried they are about what aspects they might have overlooked, which could lead to disastrous consequences for the entire situation.

On the contrary, those commanders who did not do much calculation, after seeing that "the battle force is 800,000 to 600,000," felt that they had calculated everything and then had the confidence that "the advantage is on my side."

The scenario was repeatedly rehearsed in the staff headquarters. Wu Fei suddenly smiled and whispered, "Like a little horse crossing a river, you'll never know unless you try."

Wu Fei looked at the assembled generals and said, “The battlefield is full of treacherous schemes, and I'm sure you're all feeling quite apprehensive! It's like facing a river. The horse says it's shallow, while the rabbit says it's bottomless. But we have to cross it eventually. Let's not worry about others; let's test the waters and see how deep they are. Let's also test ourselves! Let's see if we're any good!”

The drums in the army began to beat, and the bamboo tokens, sensing the atmosphere, began to transform into black birds, ready to take flight.

Wu Fei: "Zhang Wang!"

Zhang Wang: "Here!"

Wu Fei: "You will lead the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Battalions seventy li ahead and set up camp at Konglan Bridge to await further orders!"

Wu Fei: "Li Xiaorong!"

Li Xiaorong: "Here!"

Wu Fei: "The Second Mobile Cavalry Battalion is entrusted to you. Take the crossbowmen and advance to the Aoshan area. Use smoke signals to harass or pursue the enemy. You can decide for yourself."

Wu Fei: "Jupiter language!"

A young man immediately stood up.

Wu Fei instructed, "This grain depot may be attacked by the enemy. Between the 15th and the 19th, you must lock down the eastern front and prevent enemy scouts from clearing away their fog of war they have laid here."

Jupiter nodded.

Batch after batch of sergeants were assigned to this mission, while Wu Fei stared at the eighteen sergeants below.

Wu Fei waved the flag forward on the map: "The rest of you, follow me." The horses outside the main tent began to neigh, and the clatter of hooves gradually faded into the distance. The communications soldiers had already begun their advance deployment.

On the sand table, this is a surprise attack that suddenly leaps to a distance of seventy kilometers within three days.

(End of this chapter)