Chapter 69: A Sudden Illness
In the 31st year of the Shu Tian Calendar, in September, as the rainy season had just ended, flags fluttered in Yongji Pass.
In a short few days, the over ten thousand soldiers recruited from various places inside the pass had already completed assembly.
This time’s mobilization scale was smaller than the previous one, with a number of twelve thousand, but all the soldiers exiting closed-door cultivation felt it was much stricter in every aspect.
After exiting, eight hundred formed one camp; the daily marching situation, how many kilometers walked, where to camp, was sent to each camp three days in advance.
Even soldiers discovered that the daily marching distance was always a very fixed forty to sixty li, just right at about seventy percent physical consumption. Camping all followed the rules, curfew started on time every day, sentries at the camp entrance took turns on duty; all soldiers’ daily exiting tents for meals, getting up to relieve themselves, had to follow fixed routes; without orders, the rest stayed in their military tents.
This evaluation was overly harsh, so camp soldiers were tacitly allowed to play poker cards daily using “beans” and “peanuts” as bets to relax their spirits. A cuju match was arranged each month to divert attention, to prevent them from getting too bored and causing camp unrest at night.
For the team leaders in the camps, they could even feel that the surrounding friendly camps always maintained a stable distance from themselves, each camp like a row of people, stepping left leg together, then right leg together, each camp like a leg!
The dedicated communication camps between each camp conducted information transmission and confirmation between camps at fixed points and times every day.
This mutual message reporting was also at fixed points and times; if the time was off, or for temporary reports, special personnel were needed to connect.
In the central military tent, a map with contour lines was placed in the center of the table, marked with bodies of water and various ferry crossings, and Wu Fei had promoted fifteen brigadier generals as joint staff officers.
This mobilization’s scale and numbers were smaller than last time, but it had built a proper army corps command framework, simulating the system of a fifty to sixty thousand strong army.
…Homework paper dividing line…
Xuan Chong was unclear about what modern troops were like, only glimpsing a bit from scattered words, such as the warlord jokes he had heard.
Among them, one about the Fengtian warlords made him think deeply multiple times: Japanese instructors said Fengtian warlords’ non-commissioned officers were extremely rigid, daily marching distances stuck exactly to the drill manual distance, unwilling to walk even one extra step; camping ignored terrain, clearly there was a better high ground for camping just a few hundred meters away in view, yet stubbornly camping on the low ground at the fixed distance per the drill manual.
Correct, back then Fengtian troops were famously the most numerous, best equipped, but worst in combat effectiveness, getting rubbed on the ground several times when entering the pass.
But they had a drill manual, and this drill manual covered marching distances and corresponding camping. —This was the point that made Xuan Chong think deeply later.
Based on Xuan Chong’s work experience after adulthood, seemingly rigid regulations all required matching systems. Without understanding the system, just memorizing regulations blindly would seem rigid.
For example now, Xuan Chong needed his over ten thousand troops under command to be disciplined, assemble and disperse as usual, pincers encirclement, hard to time perfectly. So needed a messenger system, and each camp to follow marching rules.
Now Xuan Chong was consciously compiling a set of non-commissioned officer drill manual.
…Trial and error dividing line…
With Uncle urging him north, Wu Fei felt he might face famous Central Plains generals. Unlike these Southern Border barbarians, Central Plains opponents also had inherited military strategist systems.
Night raids, multi-route containment, passionate mutual raids on logistics lines, yes, all would be encountered.
Wu Fei: As for the current Central Plains military strategist inheritors, how much of the advanced cultivation can they comprehend from the subtle profound meanings in the mid and high chapters beyond the basic military strategy chapter? —Count that they’ve read and comprehended it. But bet on it, they haven’t actually practiced it hands-on.
Wu Fei in the past led an army alone, so hadn’t applied the “advanced chapter” military system theory, because no need.
Communication between his led troops and friendly forces were all family brothers, verifying info reliability with tokens. No need for dedicated communication camps.
As for info transmission priority, also based on intensity, by feel.
If commander judged enemy movements suspicious, then contact more, agree on more slogans; if enemy had no anomalies, mutual communication casual, report safety every two or three days. At least when Wu Hanluan led him in the Crimson Serpent Mountain campaign, it was like this. These key details were handled consciously, no custom rules.
Several years ago, the evaluation Wu Fei got from Wu Hanluan was: Given time, sufficiently seasoned, can stand alone.
Today Wu Fei’s self-evaluation is! Too immature.
Historically those military strategists’ high-end games involved tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands in troop strength.
If the commanding general’s ability only covered the few best-fighting camps in the army, attention to enemy only on the most prominent acting corps, ignoring enemy’s other legions, thinking these second-rate troops would spectate like anime minions; then, if the ignored “minions” were enemy’s reserved “hand of god,” it would be a fatal misstep.
The famous Battle of Changping was like this; Zhao Kuo only saw Qin army vanguard retreating, but didn’t scout Qin army’s light cavalry reserves and rear main corps movements, so rashly pressed forward.
Really only explainable by “rashness”? Wu Fei now infers from military strategist perspective, Zhao Kuo probably hadn’t established feedback chains for his subordinate troops. Merely gained trust of a small portion of daring combat troops —later seen after encirclement, Zhao army didn’t collapse, still dared to fight and charge, meaning Zhao Kuo maintained command over that batch of best-fighting Zhao troops.
But Zhao Kuo was limited to that. War is about outnumbering, the more the commander can effectively maneuver, the greater the advantage. (Similar to some real-time strategy games, pro players’ multi-line operations can crush amateurs.)
Bai Qi’s command ability in Changping Battle was in comprehensive planning all Qin army combat camps, no missed operations on any unit. Such rank gap meant Bai Qi always had troops Zhao Kuo didn’t know about, i.e., in Changping Battle, thousands of elite cavalry, in Zhao Kuo’s brief mistake window, circled back to burn military supplies, seized key points, forming shut-the-door-to-beat-the-dog momentum.
As a 21st century person, Wu Fei comments: If you’re noob, practice more.
Even if Zhao Kuo consciously left some elite troops to rear guard, his main force pushed too far forward. Qin army just orderly retreated then confronted again, Zhao army either leave to confront, dragging longer supply line debuff standoff; or still withdraw. And withdraw? With Bai Qi’s operation ability, still chew off a big chunk, likely turning into rout battle.
…Practice more…
On the fifth day after the army entered Southern Border, Wu Fei divided troops into three routes, set up three-route camps, blade edge pointing at three directions of Ling River. Wu Fei had begun his first “divide forces” command operation. Previously in actual combat with Southern Border un-submissive forces, Wu Fei absolutely didn’t dare, so hadn’t practiced before.
Soon Wu Fei encountered various problems; on the central army map, during three-route divide forces process, info reported from each camp’s actions always had oversights caught by Wu Fei.
Wu Fei pointed at one mountain top, said to that brigadier general: “You passed inspection, did you check this mountain top high ground? What if enemy placed an ambush force there, what do you do?”
The brigadier general muttered: “Fifth camp sent hunting dogs to search after camping.”
Wu Fei’s voice thundered in reprimand: “That’s him following drill manual, did you give him command reminder? For such things, you arrange in advance; don’t want enemy one step ahead, you go one step first!”
Wu Fei waved hand to let this staff brigadier general go reflect.
Wu Fei then evaluated grain transport: “These stations’ grain deployment too scattered; here is enemy occupied area, safe for army passage on this main road; once our troops pass, enemy might raid rear stations, at that time, food and grass must concentrate here—”
Wu Fei took a chess piece pressed on silk book map, to the scolded non-commissioned officer: “Why no hundred households sent to scout high grounds around this ferry crossing! Think no ambush?”
Thus, in this large camp, Wu Fei was constantly in high-intensity work of discovering problems, pointing them out, teaching solutions, reprimanding subordinates for repeated mistakes.
With nonstop reprimands, Wu Fei grew parched, unknowingly his forehead was scorching hot. Rest time, Wu Fei slowly sat down, San Gu supported him, whispered: “Your complexion doesn’t look good now.”
Green onion-like fingers helped press Wu Fei’s temples, and on fingers not only blue light, but also golden lines.
Just as Wu Fei wanted to thank, system popped a window, then showed a hourglass countdown.
Wu Fei to system: “What’s up?”
System: “Nothing, partial program update, might get a bit hot.”
…Camp perspective…
In Wu Fei’s eyes, his three-route army’s march was full of oversights, constant small errors. But from external view, these three routes advanced in parallel.
Two of the routes swept like combs, and between comb teeth were Li Huo Sect scouts from south of Ling River —that is, Southern Border tribesmen implanted with fire talismans, life and death controlled by the sect. They crossed river to interact messages with north bank tribes, understand north route situation. And Ling River north bank tribes weren’t fully submissive, so retained these undercover networks.
These Li Huo Sect sent scouts in the past confidently evaded Da Yao troops, and before Wu Family Army formed absolute control locally, ran back south. But now, they were careless, before reacting, already pincers encircled.
Wu Fei’s three routes during infiltration constantly sent out scout formations on both flanks to probe situations.
So these guys south of Ling River, and tribes exchanging with them, were caught red-handed almost thunderously swift.
When Wu Family Army sent scouts sealing areas piece by piece, discovered anomalies, quickly sent crow people to confirm.
After enemy situations locked, nearby camps mobilized hundred-man troops to surround, then entire tribes with “disloyal hearts” caught red-handed, all escorted north.
Ling River north bank originally had no strength to resist. Such advance speed was storm-like sweep! Fierce as explosives.
South of Ling River, watching across the river, were intimidated. After all, this ferocious stance, not afraid of one wave surging over Ling River, breaking mountains and temples?
As for what if Wu Xiao Que attacks? Last year’s Jing Guan left on Ling River north bank already dispelled Southern Border hundred tribes’ courage to face this problem.
Consensus among tribes south of Ling River: No one can beat Wu Xiao Que, can only beg him to go easy before attacking.
Or rather, wait for Wu Xiao Que to have an accident, like falling in river and drowning.
…Panic panic panic…
Yun Qie Valley, in Li Huo Sect’s sacred ground hosting a bizarre human sacrifice, fully one hundred two people, stripped naked placed in red ash not extinguished like lit cigarette butts. Everyone’s crown had a wick inserted, flame lit on wick.
These already human-shaped candle sacrifices began circling a ring, center a paper figure written with “Southern Border evil enemy Wu Yuanchang” seven characters. Paper figure wrapped with allegedly hair cut from Wu Fei.
As for where this hair came from? Li Huo Sect bought at one hair for one tael gold from ignorant foolish merchants.
This from Wu Fei inspecting some place, helmet removed would have one or two strands stuck.
As for now, these one hundred two people all matched Wu Fei’s birth chart.
Because near Wu Fei there were “face readers,” through Yao calculation figured Wu Fei had full one hundred two years yang lifespan left.
Now, as these one hundred two bowed to paper figure, crown flames immediately extinguished, people thudded down.
As these one hundred two fell in a circle, the ritual host spat blood, stared deadly at paper figure! Paper figure didn’t burn.
Outside this ritual, over thousand Li Huo Sect disciples silent as cicadas in winter, unclear why ancestor’s method failed.
In sacred ground, Li Huo Sect’s ancestor “Wick” questioned another in the flame: “Why, Flame! Why didn’t my curse take effect. Did you really place the curse trigger by him?”
In large camp, by sand table accompanying Wu Fei, San Gu had an unusual smile at corner of mouth, lips slightly moving.
At Li Huo Sect, “Flame” calmly replied to “Wick”‘s mockery: “For this dark method curse kill, if caster skimps on sufficient ‘offerings,’ prepare for ritual failure.”
Stung back by “Flame,” “Wick” trembled, then painfully pulled out a red glow; after this red glow appeared, this Fire Ancestor’s originally waxy yellow face turned pitch black, just like candle wick touching external flame, original scorched yellow burned to pitch black.
This was one of Li Huo Sect’s strongest sacred objects, among Four Spirits, a wisp of Vermilion Bird remains left in world.
That is, before Li Huo Sect degenerated to evil sect, enshrined on desk as sacred object, and after Da Yao Li Crown Prince’s faction fled south, seized this item.
This object extremely precious; years ago when Ang Ri came demanding, this “Fire Ancestor” flatly denied having it, claimed: “Vermilion Bird Remains is ethereal unfound thing.”
……
In cave, this filament feather silk like incandescent lamp filament, no, stronger by hundreds of thousands times than filament, entire cave illuminated warm red.
Fire Ancestor’s curse kill array gathered bone flesh ash unstable under this scorch, seeming about to scatter to ash anytime. That curse kill paper figure even showed signs of imminent dispersal.
Not burning destruction, but directly turning to dust from edges.
This wisp feather silk had extreme high temperature, but seemed unwilling to ignite any mundane items, any mundane items should directly ashify before it.
And precisely this transcendent property, whenever Fire Ancestor from evil arts had uncontrolled twisting flesh blood, could use this sacred object to directly clear, restore to pure flame spiritual energy.
Fire Ancestor gritted teeth reached out, drove paper figure and this wisp feather silk to combine; just this brief operation burned away over half his body’s spiritual energy.
Just as he confirmed feather silk landed on paper figure, immediately prepared to activate curse method supplying a thread pure origin for sacrifice.
Abruptly, feather silk in curse method seemed to trigger something, with golden light flash, Vermilion Bird feather silk suddenly vanished! Entire cave’s red embers like lit cigarette butts all instantly dimmed.
Cave still residual heat. Outside mountain range all flames fully extinguished, myriad lamps dark together.
In darkness, Fire Ancestor dazed like dead, but immediately began pained groans, then bubbling sounds on his body. Wisps of smoke from bubbles turned to vengeful spirit heads, Fire Ancestor body showed burning ash, already unable to make sound.
