Chapter 162: Courage Needs High-end Weapons To Cultivate
Under Iron Enclosure Pass, more than eight hundred warriors automatically came to guard the Great Han man.
Qin Shu only selected eight hundred men.
These eight hundred men, like him, were unwilling to leave Iron Enclosure Pass and did not want to continue staying here wasting their years in vain. They had long wanted to fight the devils in a straightforward and hearty battle, to give an account to their ideals of many years, regardless of victory or defeat.
Unfortunately, they were too poor.
When Yun Ce saw Qin Shu, he saw Qin Shu gazing very affectionately at the materials sent by the Cao Clan. That longing gaze almost made Yun Ce have an illusion, feeling that this guy would suddenly erupt and rob in the next moment.
He threw him a wine pot, wanting to ease his thoughts of robbery. Unexpectedly, after getting the fine wine, Qin Shu did not drink it, but returned it to Yun Ce, hoping Yun Ce could send the wine to Iron Enclosure Pass where supplies were more needed.
These words had already made it very clear: he craved supplies and provisions, and not for himself.
Not for himself, then, for whom?
After Yun Ce looked at the shantytown area outside Iron Enclosure Pass, he understood that Qin Shu very likely needed materials and provisions to support a team.
Qin Shu was very poor and could not support a team, and this team seemed to already exist. As an outstanding disciple from a top family, how could Yun Ce pass up this opportunity to rob? Moreover, poor people have no money to do things; he provides the money, poor people do the work, and he takes the greatest benefits—this was simply a matter of course.
1 This logic seemed very reasonable and self-consistent; whether it was fair or not, only heaven knew.
1 Seeing Qin Shu’s predicament was not only Yun Ce; Cao Kun beside Yun Ce also saw it. Unfortunately, he was one step slower. At the moment Yun Ce threw out the wine pot, Cao Kun could only dry swallow his saliva and help Yun Ce as support.
1 Taking the best resources they have mobilized from poor people is itself something that nobles and rich people like to do most.
1 Just like Yun Ce at this moment, facing eight hundred iron-boned men standing with legs apart, he once felt like he was in a dream, especially when he was most lacking in assistance. Suddenly having eight hundred good men at his disposal was exactly the same luck as a pie falling from the sky and smashing on his head.
1 Although the little person conjured in Yun Ce’s mind was already jumping, rolling, doing handstands and urinating, his face remained calm.
1 “For this expedition, life and death are unpredictable. Those unwilling to participate, step back one step.”
1 After Yun Ce’s voice fell, the eight hundred Great Han men did not move a muscle.
1 “For this expedition, I am the general. There are three reasons: first, I am brave; second, I am wise; third, I will be the first to step onto the battlefield and the last to leave. I will not abandon any brother in peril, nor any brother still alive.
1 Now, anyone who doubts my martial prowess can step forward and challenge me.”
1 After Yun Ce spoke, he took the initiative to step back, leaving an open space in front of the team.
2 At this time, Qin Shu brought Zuo Chong, He Qingfang, and several core figures forward. They carried devils’ heads in their hands. Without speaking, they placed ten heads at Yun Ce’s feet and then cupped hands and withdrew.
2 Yun Ce stepped over the piled-up head tower and said loudly: “These are kills from today and don’t count. Military merit will only count from kills starting tomorrow.”
2 When Yun Ce spoke earlier, these people just looked at him coldly. When he said that only enemies killed from tomorrow would count as military merit, several cheering voices arose in the originally quiet team.
2 Seeing this, the Cao Clan old butler in the horse carriage sighed and had warrior leader Cao Ling drive the carriage back to Iron Enclosure Pass.
2 “Yun Ce’s harvest on this trip may be greater than our Cao Clan’s harvest at Iron Enclosure Pass,” Cao Ling said softly from the driver’s seat.
2 “This world always produces some enviable heroes.”
2 “Uncle, I mean since the supplies and provisions all come from the Cao Clan, isn’t it…”
2 “I’m glad you can have this thought, but you need to see the root of this matter clearly. Up to now, the Eldest Son’s approach is still the best.”
2 “Giving away so many supplies and provisions for free. Just to gain Yun Ce’s gratitude?”
2 The old butler said with exasperation: “Let me ask you, what do these eight hundred men want to do? What is the purpose of them gathering?”
3 Cao Ling said: “Kill devils.”
3 The old butler cast his gaze toward the Gobi Desert outside the window and said leisurely: “If I were twenty years younger, I would compete with Yun Ce for the position of general of this army.
3 Leading this army full of resolve to die in a great battle against the Gui Fang people on this Gobi Desert… regardless of victory or defeat, it would be the most exhilarating experience for a person, a warrior.
3 Unfortunately, I’m old. What a pity.”
3 “Uncle, aren’t I still here? I can do it too.” Seeing the old butler say he was old and couldn’t go, Cao Ling, who had long harbored this thought, quickly recommended himself.
3 “You won’t do. You’re too lacking.”
3 Hearing the old butler’s evaluation that left him no face at all, Cao Ling was somewhat unconvinced.
3 “Don’t be unconvinced. These eight hundred men are now eight hundred fierce beasts. Since they are fierce beasts, then the leader of the fierce beasts must be the fiercest one among them. On this point alone, you cannot be their leader.
3 Going to the wasteland this time, fighting on the Gui Fang people’s territory, facing their encirclement and interception—to survive in the gaps requires too much testing of a general’s wisdom. And I have never seen in you the wisdom unique to a commander.
3 Forget it, the sacrifice is too great. This opportunity belongs to the down-and-out; Yun Ce this down-and-out can bet everything to seize this opportunity, but we Cao Clan cannot.”
4 Yun Ce ordered the wine brought by Cao Kun to be filled into water flasks, one per person. Then, he lit a pile of fire in the open space. Under Qin Shu and others’ attention, he took some fodder grain, added saltwater and kneaded it. At this time, the fire pile had turned into charcoal fire.
4 He tore off a piece of dough, stretched it thin, threw it on the charcoal fire. In the blink of an eye, the dough began to expand. Yun Ce flipped the flatbread; when black spots appeared on the surface, he took it out, and a fodder grain flatbread was completed.
4 Yun Ce handed the freshly baked fodder grain flatbread to Qin Shu and said: “Did you learn? If you did, take people to make it. Ten jin of such dry rations per person.”
4 Qin Shu bit into the fodder grain flatbread, found the taste good, said no more nonsense, and took He Qingfang, Zuo Chong, and others to experiment on how to make this simple and convenient dry ration.
4 “Are you really setting off tomorrow?” Cao Kun asked while eating another flatbread baked by Yun Ce.
4 “Yeah, the courage that’s finally gathered up cannot be easily dispersed. Even if there are any improper places, they can be adjusted after entering the wasteland.”
4 “Adjusting at that time will probably require staking lives to adjust.”
4 “That’s inevitable.”
4 Cao Kun stood up, pressed on Yun Ce’s shoulder, and said: “You really are an interesting person. I hope you can come back alive. Remember, we have a lot of cooperation ahead.”
4 Yun Ce used a wooden stick to pick out a newly baked flatbread from the charcoal fire pile and said firmly to Cao Kun: “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t die.”
5 Watching Cao Kun leave, Yun Ce couldn’t help sighing. If only that old guy Yun Linchuan could establish merits on the Great Han side, he might be even more impressive than Cao Kun at this time.
5 Although everyone says ‘relying on heaven, relying on earth, relying on ancestors doesn’t make one a good man’, when truly striving hard, who wouldn’t want a family background like Cao Kun’s or an ancestor like Yun Linchuan?
5 “How to arrange tomorrow?”
5 With Cao Kun gone, Qin Shu came to Yun Ce’s side and began entering his role as deputy general.
5 “Today, I killed a devil scout squad twenty li north. If no accident, the devils will send out another larger scout squad tomorrow, focusing on probing that area. I think our first battle leaving Iron Enclosure Pass should be there, ambushing the scout team.”
5 Seeing Yun Ce already had a plan, Qin Shu did not object and continued: “The grain, side-box carriages, and other materials sent by the Cao Clan—I think should be left behind. We each carry ten days’ worth of dry rations and enter Gui Fang territory lightly equipped.”
5 Yun Ce smiled: “That’s how it should be, but cold-weather items cannot be discarded. Best if we can equip double horses per person.”
5 Qin Shu said: “We can use excess armor, provisions, materials to exchange with others for great horned horses, should be able to achieve one person two mounts.”
5 “If only these eight hundred could all be equipped with Thunder Smoke Beasts…”
5 Qin Shu looked at the fantasizing Yun Ce and said: “Do you know how much money, how many provisions it takes to raise a full Thunder Smoke Beast cavalry of eight hundred men?”
6 Yun Ce waved his hand: “I don’t care. In the future, I’ll get you eight hundred Thunder Smoke Beasts. How to support them is your business.”
6 Qin Shu believed Yun Ce could kill many devils, but clearly did not believe he could get him eight hundred Thunder Smoke Beasts. Wild Thunder Smoke Beasts had violent tempers, not to mention ran like the wind; even if intercepted, they couldn’t be beaten.
6 Domesticated Thunder Smoke Beasts… forget it, he had never aspired to such a thing. It simply shouldn’t exist in his life.
6 “We set off at dawn tomorrow, arrive at the battlefield early, first try an ambush battle to boost everyone’s morale. After getting familiar with the devils’ fighting methods, we advance steadily.”
6 “Good, I’ll notify everyone.”
6 “Are there many female warriors in the army?”
6 “Thirty-nine people.”
6 “How is their martial power?”
6 “Those who can come to Iron Enclosure Pass won’t have poor martial skills, but He Qingfang is the best. She uses crossbow bolts the best, and her skills are agile enough.
6 I suggest she serve as the female team captain.”
7 “I agree. Her it is.”
7 “I also equipped you with a ten-man guard team. How about Zuo Chong as captain?”
7 “I don’t need a guard team, but they can be reserves in the army—supplement where the battle is unfavorable. Additionally, I’ll equip them with a new weapon specially for breaking formations.”
7 As Yun Ce spoke, he pulled out a hand grenade the size of a head from the saddlebag of the red date horse and handed it to Qin Shu.
7 “Light the fuse, then throw it out. Throw it as far as you can, or it will kill you along with it.”
