Chapter 84: Moving Like The Wind
Wu Fei was preparing for the long march. Within the month of preparations in the main camp, edicts were repeatedly transmitted and confirmed in each camp, with fast horses relaying messages between command flag holders. On the desks of the officers in charge of orders (non-commissioned officers), those paper messengers serving as command carriers automatically dipped into the inkstone, then flew to the bamboo slips. These paper people left ink marks on the slips just like a 21st-century inkjet printer. After the non-commissioned officers reviewed these “printed documents” (bamboo slips), they stored them in boxes, completing the filing of military information records.
As for whether bamboo slips could record so much information? The characters left by these Daoist arts objects, the paper messengers, after inking the bamboo slips, were smaller than a needle’s tip.
First large team, Wu Ling holds the flag, Sun Aoling in charge of orders; second large team, Wu Sihao holds the flag, Bai Ya in charge of orders; third large team, Wu Da Mu holds the flag, Wang Feihao in charge of orders.
……
In Wu Fei’s current army system: “command flag holder” is responsible for supervising combat as the personal soldier team; while “officer in charge of orders” is responsible for military formation command and implementing drill manual standards. This is a dual commander system. One is the old army system, and one is the new army system.
About to transition the old army toward modern troops.
Wu Fei requested one month of time, conducted related scheduling and debugging, letting the “officers in charge of orders” instill doctrinal principles regarding the main camp’s marching discipline into every squad leader.
Within twenty days, Wu Fei issued over a hundred commands to each large team daily, while the central army carefully verified every feedback; any incomplete execution or understanding was reviewed, as Wu Fei’s new system underwent integration.
A most rudimentary version of infantry drill manual, under Wu Fei’s will, was technically handled by a group of non-commissioned officers and quickly covered the troops along the Wu Family clan’s execution team.
During this period of troop integration, Wu Fei shuttled between several large teams, frequently going back and forth to handle issues. At this moment, the distance between each large team was very close; in wartime, with each large team ten li apart, it couldn’t be handled remotely.
For any Wu Family disciples who did not obey the officer in charge of orders, Wu Fei gave advance warning: first time warn, second time directly strip squad leader position and make them his personal soldiers. If still disrespectful to orders and careless with drill manual rules, third time directly kick back to the old home.
…To manage his own disciples well, the Wu Family’s various branches authorized the old ancestor’s command flag to Wu Fei, which he also brought out.…
Regarding these family members, Wu Fei held a meeting with them to clear the air. Wu Fei placed the command flag inserted behind him, and earnestly advised these people: “Merit won’t be shorted to you, but don’t talk to me about insiders and outsiders. Family not united? Unity is listening to me; if you get clever on your own, don’t blame outsiders for laughing.”
After Wu Fei brought out his direct line authority, the Wu Family disciples sitting on both sides of him nodded and said “yes.”
Joking aside! They could be somewhat negligent with military orders, because military orders were held by Wu Hanluan, who could show favoritism; most times death penalty could be spared, only living punishment. But Wu Fei’s old ancestor command flag could kick people out of the Wu Family ancestral hall.
Wu Fei continued the big brother instructing little brothers process: “The instructors I assigned to you, the rules they teach are all my rules.”
Wu Family disciples continued nodding: “Big brother, you are the rule, we are the square and circle you draw!”
Wu Fei continued advising: “The ones I brought are all Southern Border people, so don’t talk to me now about this surname or that surname; their ancestors three generations back might all have sworn brotherhood with our family by slaughtering a chicken; now I’ve set the military oath, whoever delays me, I won’t consider closeness.”
Wu Fei saying this directly pointed out that he knew about their conflicts with the non-Wu generals under Wu Hengyu.
Of course Wu Fei did not intervene in this conflict, but guided them: since already mutually displeased with that poor family faction, don’t offend even the fellow villagers from home with the same accent.
This point is the 20th-century political tactic of “seeking common ground while reserving differences” with other objects when in conflict with the main opponent.
…Bystander perspective…
At the slightly idle military camp, Wu Hanluan brought Wu Hengyu out, looking at the bustling military camp manipulated by Wu Fei. After Wu Fei immersed in professional research, his daily hundreds of commands made each large team execute mechanically like repeating martial arts movements. Its seriousness made the veteran Wu Family Army generals click their tongues.
Wu Hanluan raised his hand, pointed to the uniformed sequences in the military camp every day: “Look closely.” (How he united family and non-family)
Wu Hengyu: “Not bad?” — Though not admitting verbally, clearly already memorized.
As for Wu Hanluan coming here was also on the way; about a cup of tea later, a personal soldier at a small door handle beside Wu Fei’s military tent pulled open the wooden fence, and the Winged Tiger quietly slipped out like a cat. In Wu Fei’s strictly disciplined military fortress, someone specially opened the back door.
But just as the Winged Tiger wanted to leave, it bumped into Wu Hanluan at the corner, its majestic ears becoming airplane ears. Wu Hanluan showed a “hehe” smile, but did not pursue.
…Last-minute cramming dividing line…
After twenty days of repeated drill manual practice, Sun Aoling and other officers in charge of orders specially came to Wu Fei’s main camp to accept Wu Fei’s final inspection.
Wu Fei reviewed everyone’s merit in the tent.
Wu Fei: “Sun Aoling.”
Sun Aoling: “Here!” His voice was hoarse, clearly from getting inflamed these days repeatedly emphasizing commands to idiots in the team.
Wu Fei nodded to him, then called another person’s name.
Then a row of people stood straight; just as these honest non-commissioned officers prepared to accept Wu Fei’s approval, Wu Fei clapped his hands, and suddenly twenty-seven beautiful maidservants all came out; these were the women confiscated by Wu Fei from the Prince of Langya.
Wu Fei: “One for each officer in charge of orders. You have one day to exert yourselves, then rest one day before departure; as for them, afterward they will be settled in a town undisturbed, waiting for you to return and take them home.”
With that Wu Fei left; as for the flag-holding Wu Family disciples waiting eagerly beside the officers in charge of orders, Wu Fei glared: “Irrelevant people all leave.”
Afterward, Wu Fei took people away. Leaving behind a group of embarrassed, blushing non-family non-commissioned officers.
This set of operations has historical precedent…
Xuan Chong flipped through history: Crown Prince Dan invited Jing Ke, receiving him with brocade robes, beautiful maidservants, delicacies. As for doing it in front of Wu Family disciples, it indicated this was their special treatment; he did not share this treatment just because others in the army were his own family.
Sun Aoling and others originally had dry mouths and sore throats these few days; that bit of resentment toward the stupid Wu disciples who were not as good as themselves yet assigned as partners, instantly vanished like smoke.
They even suddenly felt magnanimous looking at those “avoiding partners.”
They had already changed their minds, proactively finding excuses for those previously deemed foolish Wu Family people: first time learning, being slow is normal.
These professional non-commissioned officers under Wu Fei began “last-minute cramming,” content (omitted).
…Continuing miscellaneous matters…
Just as Wu Fei prepared to set out, a fight appeared in Wu Hengyu’s main camp. This fight was not between people, but between the Guiche he brought and the birds and beasts in the main camp.
Two batches of Guiche divided into two camps, crimson flames and goose green toxic smoke breaths interweaving, dozens of bird heads unyielding to each other. Nearby trainers were affected and had to retreat aside.
Wu Fei had no choice but to run over. Seeing the Guiche trained by Wu Hanluan, Wu Fei stood in a clean spot on the ground, looking at these Guiche, involuntarily covering his nose.
Though he had long felt a strange smell in the main camp, Wu Fei endured it; but now with the Guiche, this filthy stench still gave Wu Fei a feeling like facing Ganges River water, very overwhelming.
Looking closely, the Northern Army’s Guiche had simply become vultures, while his own Guiche had glossy fur; this breeding effect almost made them two species.
These glossy-furred Guiche, upon seeing Wu Fei arrive, ran over like roosters recognizing their master, nine heads with nine proud expressions. As for those vulture-like Guiche, they wanted to chase, but upon seeing Wu Fei, showed nine kinds of dejection.
Wu Hengyu also hurried over then, wearing a sachet to block nearby smells; clearly he too was puzzled by the military camp Guiche’s rotten stench.
Wu Hengyu’s face was somewhat embarrassed, but he still unceremoniously complained first: “The Guiche you gave me seem disobedient.”
Wu Fei paced sniffing: “Wait, seems like your Guiche here are sick.” — Not just sense of smell, Wu Fei’s physical test instrument standardized perception could hear their difficulty swallowing gas, and see that their wing flaps lacked grace, stiff with tremors.
Wu Hengyu looked at the Nine Phoenix sitting beside Wu Fei with its gorgeous plumage, nodded: “Sick? But they can eat anything. And recovery is very strong.”
Wu Fei glanced, then diagnosed: “They have worms in their stomachs.”
Wu Hengyu immediately asked back: “Can you cure?” Wu Fei nodded, took out gourd pills, walked in front of a vulture-turned Guiche; the Guiche’s huge head surprisingly showed a “self-abashed” expression.
But soon it quietly pecked at the gourd in Wu Fei’s hand to swallow with its beak, but pecked very carefully, not daring to touch Wu Fei’s hand, because the Nine Phoenix behind Wu Fei stared quietly like fur bristled.
A few minutes later, this medicated bald Guiche vomited green stinking smoke from several bird heads, with many charred mosquitoes among it. Black bird beaks emitted red light, tender yellow appeared, but soon covered by disease again.
Wu Fei paused slightly, recalling that the Guiche his uncle gave him also vomited ash-like bugs when first arriving. Wu Fei felt his ignited flame in this vulture Guiche’s abdomen, but inside the abdomen seemed an endless pollution source, very filthy, seemingly unignitable by him.
Wu Fei held his breath and said to Wu Hengyu: “How many Guiche does the Northern Army have total.”
Wu Hengyu gestured, total eight.
Wu Fei pondered, then said to Wu Hengyu: “Don’t mind if all these Guiche come under my control.”
Wu Hengyu looked at Wu Fei: “I don’t like what you say; you are the next military master, these giant beasts should be controlled by you.”
Wu Fei nodded. Then took out a shimmering golden paulownia leaf, said to him: “After I cure them, you can use this object to command them.”
Thus, after asking Wu Hengyu to step aside, Wu Fei under Nine Phoenix protection tuned his body to maximum combustion state, spat saliva into fire jade, put into stone mill and ground to powder. The eight Guiche rushed over eagerly, all heads wanting a bite, like feeding chickens with heads pecking nonstop.
…However, just like firecrackers exploding a methane pit…
In the main camp, suddenly all manure buckets erupted.
Wu Fei looked up, paused slightly, sensed something, slightly stunned, looked toward the main tent, a minute later slowly lowered his head.
At this time, after these Wu Family Army Guiche took the “Wu Fei version Jigong old mud pills,” that evil stinking disease source had been ignited; due to energy too powerful, ultimately severed the connection.
All vulture Guiche began emitting flames from their bodies, new down from pores.
On the other side, in the Wu Family Army main array’s spirit array, Wu Hengyu’s Immortal Sect disciples looked up at the pure fire energy in the Guiche camp!
Zhu Ranming: “This is Southern Ming Li Fire?” Then eyes showed fanaticism.
He wanted to sword control over to see, but was stopped by senior brother, Bai Renfeng: “Not me blocking your opportunity; look at the baleful intent in this strand of fire energy, it already has an owner.”
Zhu paused, dejectedly said: “How did this heaven and earth spiritual object become a military strategist’s killing tool?”
…Other side…
Wu Fei’s expression was very bad, mood low, mumbled: “Military strategists controlling vicious beasts inherently override heavenly principles; uncle, you doing this harms heavenly harmony, too damaging to your own fortune.”
Recalling three days ago, when Wu Fei confirmed setting out, he earnestly reported to Wu Hanluan.
Compared to previously publicly setting military oath, this was private communication of ideas, informing his grasp of every step. Wu Fei vaguely remembered the scene.
Wu Hanluan stood silently behind the desk, Wu Fei holding oil lamp looking at map, drawing two lines with finger respectively on east and southwest of Chong Shui area, these were the two lines able to supply the army entering. East line along river, all water transport for army elites; as for west line, there was a road carved on the back of the mountain ridge, allowing seven or eight carts abreast. These two roads were Prince Lelang’s troop routes one year ago attacking Wei Guan to the north.
Wu Fei resolutely narrated, his troop use was to cut these two lines; this battle’s biggest problem was not fierce resistance taking the Five Prefectures of Chong Shui. Because according to current scouts, Prince Lelang had no popular support. The noble families in the five prefectures did not resist the Imperial Court. So after fighting, Prince Lelang’s army would have no food and grass, must exit city for decisive battle. Key problem: halfway through battle, northern Wei Guan intervenes to pick fruits, blocking these two roads to secure bag early.
Wu Fei was very attentive discussing his plan, but Wu Hanluan only reminded: must carry plenty of herbs when going out.
This already made Wu Fei suspicious, but he still did it, hiding the doubt.
However, one day ago, Wu Fei received scouts’ report, great plague appeared in Five Prefectures of Chong Shui. Various powerful clans, and robust youths among great merchants, had intestinal worms act up, rotting guts before medicine took effect. According to scouts’ description, in the area regardless of high or low people, wriggling live bugs in filth discharged into manure buckets.
So the day before yesterday, Wu Fei issued strict order, next march all soldiers must not eat raw food.
And where did this plague come from?
Now, after the nine-headed Guiche recovered, camp’s original stench became boiled shit smell. Wu Fei decided to shut up completely, never mention related matters; as for Wu Hengyu beside, playing with the regrown furry Guiche.
Wu Fei pursed lips: this fool doesn’t need to know.
…Before the Imperial Court once again urged troop deployment decree arrived. War chariots turn…
Shu Tian Calendar year 32, September, just as Prince Lelang carefree in his jurisdiction’s killing game reached late stage wanting to find more to fight, Wu Fei army began moving out.
Its twelve thousand troops, divided into eight camps, began rapidly advancing forward; entire march process like a gust of wind! Compared to Wu Hanluan’s overall main camp, advancing extremely fast.
High-speed march difficulty lies in obtaining stable grain during travel to next location.
First, march must follow principle that small villages can’t squeeze a thousand heavy cavalry.
If marching en route only forage within nearby ten kilometer area, then only some villages along way, which can’t supply army; so thousands troops marching must forage within hundred kilometers along way, and each stop requires searching nearby hundred kilometers, very time-consuming for army.
But if divide army into ten equal parts, each part only hundreds, each route spaced ten kilometers, then each route need not scout too far to obtain enough grain for army march.
In Southern Border’s last large-scale war, Wu Fei trained this linked camp ability; each camp during advance kept line abreast, and exchanged information per drill manual between each other.
Most core is, Wu Fei’s “gaps” investigated all surplus grain locations along way; surplus grain on each route just enough to allocate for army purchase sufficient quantity! Thus no need waste time on foraging. — And great plague to some extent aided army march; Wu Family Army during march could even exchange medicine for supplies.
Just like this, army commanded by Wu Fei like a gust of wind! Rapidly passed four cities in central Zhenzhou, directly pounced on its northern strategic key point.
