War was not something you could start simply because you wanted to.
Troop movements, replenishing supplies, attack routes, and the allocation of forces were all troublesome matters, especially in the unbearable heat of summer... because of the heat, many units had a third to half their men taking turns on leave. Also because of the heat, medicines against heatstroke had to be prepared. And still because of the heat, when war drew away large numbers of auxiliary troops, civilian laborers, and supplies, it would inevitably affect the drought relief work already underway.
Not to mention that old subject-grain.
Before soldiers and horses moved, provisions had to go ahead. They had already endured two lean years. If they fought another war and delayed drought relief as well, who knew what the next year would bring?
And this was what people called a time that tested one's mettle.
In fact, no sooner had the deliberations ended and everyone returned to the city than the commanding generals and Langjiang, the commandery governors, and the newly appointed administrators and deputy administrators swiftly fell into arguments over these very issues. As local officials, several governors had already directly opposed going to war, while the military commanders could hardly wait. The administrators and deputies responsible for coordination were caught in an even more intractable mess.
Before long, they could no longer keep themselves from shouting.
Zhang Xing did not go to cool them down. He was speaking with Li Shu, Wei Xuanding, Xiong Bonan, Bai Yousi, and Wang Zhuo in a side courtyard of the Commandery Governor's Office.
"Can you be sure?" Seated beneath the covered walkway, Zhang Xing phrased it as a question, but his expression and tone were calm.
"Eight or nine chances out of ten." Wang Zhuo, who had initiated this small discussion,