"Those rebels from Mount Liang broke into your homes, plundered your property, persecuted your fellow villagers, and even forced you to become rebels and bear their names! Have you ever thought about revenge?"
"You may not have had this ability before, but if a real opportunity were presented to you, would you have the courage?"
"Although you have now abandoned darkness and embraced the light, the name of traitor on your bodies has not been completely washed away. Only by truly facing those Mount Liang rebels on the battlefield and shedding their blood can you cleanse your sins!"
Guo Jiwang's words resonated with the local militia leaders and powerful clansmen throughout Rong Province.
Now that they heard Wu Shuangren explain his plan, they finally understood what Guo Jiwang meant by "opportunity".
Wu Shuangren's gaze swept over everyone present, and he continued, "Our initiative allows us to catch the Mount Liang rebels off guard, which is our first advantage."
Mount Liang only has a little over 6,000 men chasing us, while we have over 10,000 in total, almost twice the size of theirs. This is our second advantage.
We have just dealt a heavy blow to their vanguard. Their pursuing forces came charging in with great momentum, but they couldn't gain any advantage over us and could only watch helplessly as we calmly withdrew. Their morale has plummeted and their fighting spirit is low; this is our third advantage.
The other battalions of the Yi Province Militia volunteered to return and help, demonstrating unity and high morale – this is the fourth advantage!
Outside the camp, the night wind made the large banner bearing the character 'Wu' of the Yi Province Militia flutter loudly.
As Wu Shuangren recounted his story, many people's anxious hearts gradually calmed down.
Wu Shuangren turned to look at the two battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders of Rong Province Battalion:
"This battle is to protect the people of Yi Province, and it seems to have nothing to do with Rong Province. It seems unreasonable to ask you people of Rong Province to contribute. But I can promise you that as long as we can defeat these Mount Liang rebels in this battle, I will definitely lead my men into Rong Province in the future, drive out these Mount Liang bandits for you, and restore peace to your hometown!"
His words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the hearts of several Rong Province people!
Even Guo Jiwang was surprised that Wu Shuangren would make such a promise, and looked at him with astonishment.
However, Guo Jiwang quickly regained his senses, and a different look appeared in his eyes.
"Militia Commander Wu!"
A Rong Province Battalion stared wide-eyed at Wu Shuangren, his voice trembling slightly, "Are you... serious about this?"
The other Rong Province men also stared intently at Wu Shuangren.
Wu Shuangren met their gazes calmly. "I always keep my word and do what I say!"
If Wu Shuangren had made such a guarantee a few days ago, the local militia leaders and powerful clansmen of Rong Province present would not have believed a word of it and would have thought he was just talking nonsense.
But now, they have witnessed firsthand how Wu Shuangren led his troops to rescue the people of Linwen County, and how he won over the local militias and powerful clans in other parts of Yi Province.
Heaven knows how many people in the two Rong Province Battalion have been secretly envious these past two days!
When the Mount Liang forces attacked their hometown, Rong Province did not have anyone like Wu Shuangren to step forward and save them from their predicament.
Over the past two days, these Rong Province residents present have thought about this countless times, and shared their feelings with others.
If only Wu Shuangren were a hero of Rong Province!
In that case, what is happening in Yi Province now might also happen in Rong Province.
In that case, everything might be different.
However, Wu Shuangren has now personally promised that they will lead people to Rong Province in the future, just like they rescued the people of Linwen County, to rescue their hometown people!
Forced into becoming rebels, and now forced to leave their homes and unable to return, the more than two thousand men in Rong Province Battalion think of their families most of all these days and nights.
If Mount Liang hadn't threatened them with the lives of their families, many people would never have joined the rebels.
Guo Jiwang attempted to use hatred and the people's fear of the imperial court to clear his name as a traitor, thereby inspiring the two Rong Province Battalion Militia Private to participate in tomorrow's battle.
But all that he said combined was far less useful than the promise Wu Shuangren made at that moment!
With a bang, a Rong Province Battalion suddenly knelt down on one knee before Wu Shuangren, performing a grand salute that he had never performed even when he was awarded his rank!
His eyes were slightly red as he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wu Shuangren and said, "Huang Cheng, the First Battalion commander of the Rong Province Battalion, swears on behalf of all my brothers that as long as Militia Commander Wu can lead his troops to drive out the Mount Liang rebels and save our hometown, we are willing to die for Militia Commander Wu!"
After he finished speaking, the remaining Rong Province Battalion all knelt down on one knee before Wu Shuangren and said in unison:
"As long as Militia Commander Wu drives away the Mount Liang rebels and saves our hometown, we are willing to die for Militia Commander Wu!!!"
The battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders of the Yi Province Militia present felt a surge of pride upon witnessing this scene!
Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu exchanged a glance, both filled with emotion.
Both of them recalled what Wu Shuangren had told them before, "Bo County is too small, West River Market is not big enough either. One day, Mist Hidden Mountain will be nothing more than a mountain we have stepped on."
It now seems that the entire Yi Province is not big enough in the eyes of the other side!
Chen Tie watched Wu Shuangren from the side, and also recalled what the other party had said to him before.
Wu Shuangren told him to broaden his horizons and not limit himself to Yi Province, and not to always treat the two thousand-plus people in Rong Province as outsiders and be unwilling to train them properly.
Now, Wu Shuangren has shown Chen Tie what it means to have a long-term vision through his actions.
If you can embrace Yi Province in your heart, Yi Province will become your own domain.
When your heart can hold more space, the world around you will naturally become more expansive!
Chen Tie involuntarily clenched his fists, feeling a surge of hot blood rushing to his head.
He suddenly knelt down on one knee before Wu Shuangren, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and roared:
"I am willing to follow Militia Commander Wu to kill the traitors!"
As he made this gesture, the battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders of the other battalions present were initially taken aback, then successively knelt down on one knee before Wu Shuangren, shouting again and again:
"I am willing to follow Militia Commander Wu to kill the traitors!"
"I am willing to follow Militia Commander Wu to kill the traitors!"
"I am willing to follow Militia Commander Wu to kill the traitors!"
Under the cover of night, inside the small camp tent.
A murderous aura surged into the sky!
Requesting monthly votes~
165 Instead of retreating, they advanced and opened the city gates to engage in battle.
The next day, around 5:00 AM.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Smoke rose from the camp Yi Prefecture City Militia Private ate their meals in turn, according to their respective battalions and platoons.
No one spoke; everyone ate their dry biscuits, pickled vegetables, and hot porridge in silence.
The contents of last night's military meeting in the camp have been relayed down through the ranks at Wu Shuangren's request, and almost everyone in the Yi Province Militia knows that war is about to begin today!
In fact, including Xu Jing, Guo Jiwang, Wu Dongrong, and others, no one understood why Wu Shuangren insisted on conveying the contents of the military discussions held by the higher-ups to every rank-and-file Militia Private.
In these situations, once the higher-ups decide to fight, the lower-ranking soldiers simply need to obey.
However, when Wu Shuangren led the Yi Province Militia to rescue the people of Linwen County last time, he required the captains of each battalion and team to clearly explain to all the Militia Private why they were going to rescue people.
This time was no different. He required each team captain to tell everyone the advantages they had mentioned, as well as their promises to Rong Province and the fact that the two Rong Province Battalion in the city were genuinely willing to help.
The requirements for both Rong Province Battalion were the same: to ensure that all two thousand men in the Rong Province Battalion were clear about their commitments and the advantages they had in this battle.
Throughout history, no general has ever had such a habit; at most, they would just shout slogans during pre-battle mobilization.
Firstly, there is a distinction between superiors and inferiors, and those in higher positions do not feel the need to inform those below them of everything.
Secondly, the lower-ranking soldiers have limited cultural and cognitive abilities, so even if they are told something, they may not understand it.
Thirdly, it was for the sake of secrecy; it concerned military intelligence, so how could too many people know about it?
As long as rewards and punishments are clearly defined, retreats are bound by military law, and advances are incentivized by military merit, all the lower-ranking soldiers will obey orders.
But Wu Shuangren insisted on doing so.
So much so that the Yi Province Militia and the city were very lively last night, and some Militia Private didn't fall asleep until late at night.
After everyone had eaten breakfast, Wu Shuangren led the Yi Province Militia out of the camp.
As the command flags waved and the drums sounded, more than seven thousand people began to line up outside the city!
Once the formation was initially established, the drawbridge at the North Gate, not far behind the group, was slowly lowered.
Immediately afterwards, the city gate was pushed open.
Scouts from all around the city rode their horses into the distance, gazing into the distance.
A few miles away, on a hill, several figures moved about. One of them took out a long, thin firecracker from his pocket, lit it with a tinderbox, and tossed it into the air.
Whoosh!
A burst of fire exploded in the air, accompanied by a sharp sound that carried far across the morning sky.
At the nearby Mount Liang camp, all the troops had already eaten.
Upon hearing the sound of firecrackers, Lu Yulin suddenly stood up, walked out of the tent, and looked towards the Yi Prefecture City.
Two more bursts of fire exploded in the air in quick succession.
Three firecrackers rang out in succession, signifying that the enemy had opened the north gate of Yi Prefecture City!
"Guan Sheng!"
Lu Yulin shouted loudly.
Guan Sheng strode over upon hearing the sound, "Your subordinate is here."
Lu Yulin said in a deep voice, "You will lead the cavalry out immediately, waiting for an opportunity to strike, with harassment as the main objective!"
Guan Sheng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general obeys!"
He turned and strode towards the cavalry camp.
Soon, the sound of horses' hooves shattered the morning's tranquility, and the earth began to tremble!
Wu Yan had already reached Lu Yulin's side. "General Lu, the enemy is opening the city gates now, probably to retreat into the city before our reinforcements arrive. We don't need to rush in. Let's wait until nearly half of their men have retreated into the city before attacking. We'll definitely be able to crush them in one fell swoop!"
Lu Yulin nodded. He had also read military books and naturally understood that Wu Yan's tactic was based on the same principle as "attacking while the enemy is crossing the river."
He issued orders methodically, causing the Mount Liang troops to emerge from their camp and form ranks, ready to charge forward.
A moment later, the two received intelligence from the scouts:
"Report! The Yi Province Militia have not withdrawn into the city; on the contrary, a large number of soldiers inside the city have formed ranks and are rapidly leaving the city!"
"What?!"
Wu Yan stopped holding the goose feather fan.
He and Lu Yulin exchanged a glance, then he immediately ordered the scouts, "Investigate further and report back!"
Before long, after repeated confirmation by scouts, the two finally accepted the truth.
Wu Shuangren not only did not lead his troops to retreat into the city, but also sent out all the remaining troops in the city to fight a decisive battle with the Mount Liang army outside the city!
"Are they insane! Instead of defending a major city, they're going to launch a decisive battle outside?"
Lu Yulin found it incomprehensible.
Wu Yan's mind raced as he analyzed, "The enemy's forces inside the city are mainly composed of surrendered Rong Province soldiers. Those people are nothing more than defeated generals of Mount Liang, and were previously our prisoners. Even just seeing our Mount Liang banners from afar would probably make their legs go weak! What use would Wu Shuangren have in dragging these people out of the city?"
He had considered pursuing them all the way to the walls of Yi Prefecture City, where they could receive reinforcements from the city's garrison.
However, the garrison in Yi Prefecture City is currently mainly composed of Rong Province troops, and Wu Yan does not believe that these people have any fighting ability.
Relying on the city walls to defend the city is fine, but once it's deployed for open field battles, it will probably collapse in a single encounter!
"This Wu Shuangren is extremely arrogant. He thinks that having those spineless cowards from Rong Province will allow him to confront our army head-on. Well then, let's grant his wish!"
Having been repeatedly humiliated, Wu Yan was losing face and said to Lu Yulin, "In this battle, we can focus our breakthrough efforts on the direction where the enemy's Rong Province forces are located!"
Lu Yulin nodded, feeling angry as well, believing he had been looked down upon by the brat opposite him!
He ordered the Mount Liang troops to advance slowly.
On the other side, the two Rong Province Battalion that had left the city, along with more than 500 Yi Province Militia, had already lined up and entered their own battle formation.
Guo Jiwang returned to the city and led the remaining 500-plus militiamen to guard the city gate for Wu Shuangren.
Wu Shuangren, leading his personal guard and Command Flag Battalion, stood in the center of the formation, the large black banner representing the Yi Province Militia fluttering in the wind!
As the command flags waved and the orders were given, tens of thousands of people had already begun to form battle formations.
Although we've only practiced together for less than half a month, the speed at which we set up formations is already much faster than at the beginning, so that we don't have to wait until the enemy has already attacked before the formation is even set up.