“Chapter 86: The Drama of War”

"Chapter 86: The Drama of War"

"Under the vast sky, the crescent moon hung like a hook, the heavy frost resembling snow."

"Chuishi sat beside the campfire outside his tent, warming himself with a grey fox fur coat. His servant, frustrated and helpless upon seeing Chuishi leave again after preparing the medicine, could only place the medicine bowl on a wooden tray, kneeling to present it."

"Master Cui, it's time for your medicine."

Cui Shizi looked at the dark herbal concoction, tucked his hand-warmer into his sleeve, then picked up the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp. The familiar bitterness numbed his tongue, prompting a chuckle from the servant who then took a dried peach from his side pouch and placed it on the tray.

Cui Shizi nibbled on the dried peach, its faint sweetness nicely dispelling the bitterness in his mouth. The long fur of his grey fox fur coat tickled his cheek in the wind. He touched the fine stitches at his sleeve, exhaling a breath that turned into a faint mist. His elder sister had labored over his clothes, making warm garments for winter, each stitch a testament to familial love and care.

"The lady of the house left you more than half a bag of these dried peaches. I guess they'll be finished by the time we return," the servant said, patting the small pouch, tidying up the medicine bowl, and preparing to leave. He heard Cui Shizi cough again and went to his side, patting his back gently, puzzled, "Master Cui, why don't you go inside the tent?"

After a bout of severe coughing, Cui Shizi removed his handkerchief, smiling, "The beauty of the moon and the boundless night sky, it would be a pity not to admire such a scene."

The servant curled his lip. Being half a doctor, he couldn't appreciate the scholarly elegance of Master Cui, who, despite being frail and ill, still ventured out to admire the moon at night.

In his view, one should rest indoors when sick, not exert oneself. But Master Cui was born weak and susceptible to cold; his ailment, carried from the womb, was incurable. He was kept alive by expensive medicines and now had to endure the hardships of military campaigns. The servant deeply respected his resilience and zest for life.

The servant left with the tray, soon encountering a hunchbacked old man near the army camp, resting against the base of the large 'You' banner, seemingly asleep. This mysterious old man, surprisingly strong despite his hunched and deformed back, could lift the heavy banner single-handedly. Though odd in appearance when carrying the flag, his presence was impressive and commanding, sometimes envied by the servant. He walked past simple tents, encountering Daturagula, a surviving member of the Gulun House tribe. Most captives bore injuries, but the servant chose to ignore their wounds and cries of pain.

"Big Strength Brother, still eating?" the servant asked, squatting next to Hu Dali, who was guarding the captives.

Hu Dali wiped his mouth, drank some water, and swallowed the dried meat. When they first arrived outside the fortress, they had meat soup, but now only dry bread and jerky remained. These foods, easy to preserve but tough and dry, were all they had. Hu Dali, content with his meal, patted his belly, his cold armor clanking.

"A full stomach keeps the heart at ease," Hu Dali said with a simple, honest smile to the young servant, a stark contrast to his ferocious and cruel demeanor towards the captives.

Though talking to the servant, Hu Dali's eyes constantly patrolled the captives. An attack could happen at any time, and these prisoners were doomed. In life-threatening situations, people often act irrationally, like lashing out in their final moments.

Hu Dali gripped his custom-made long spear, heavy and suited to his strength. In his hands, the spear, still stained with fresh blood at its tip, moved effortlessly, intimidating the increasingly restless captives.

"Be careful not to overeat and get indigestion," the servant muttered.

"Hu Dali chuckled sheepishly, at a loss for how to respond to the young servant's concern. Having known hunger since childhood, he could eat and drink just about anything."

"The young servant had mentioned this to him a few days earlier, even bringing him soup to treat indigestion. Hu Dali had guzzled down three bowls like water, leaving the servant stunned and thereafter, he stopped bringing any more."

"The servant continued on his way. He had come to the military camp with his master, dedicated solely to treating Master Cui. His master was a renowned healer who had been in Youzhou for several years to attend to Master Cui's illness, and they had settled in Langge."

"Perhaps it was the long stay, but the young servant had gradually grown fond of Youzhou."

"Lost in aimless thoughts, the servant was startled by a sudden glimpse of a ghastly ghost mask."

"The old doctor had already noticed his absent-minded apprentice and quickly pulled him aside as the wearer of the ghost mask approached, smacking him on the head for his distraction."

"The servant turned to watch the man with the ghost mask walk away."

"Master, who is that man?" he asked."

"Ghost Butcher. Stay away from him," the old doctor replied tersely."

"The old doctor had seen Ghost Butcher's real face a few times at Master Cui's, and always felt that someone who could so ruthlessly slaughter their own kind was exceptionally cruel and heartless."

"Jin Ben, Yi Fan, and several cavalry leaders, including Ghost Butcher, arrived at the Xuanjia Camp."

"Upon seeing Jin Ben and the others, Cui Shizi stood up and said, 'Gentlemen, please come in. The lord has been waiting for some time.'"

"Yi Fan, seeing Master Cui personally lifting the tent flap, hurried forward to take over his task."

"Jin Ben nodded gently at Master Cui, a subtle greeting."

"The group entered the tent."

"Zhou Xu gazed at the military map above the tent, a battle formation sketched out based on hourly reports from Youzhou scouts that afternoon."

"The military leaders, including Li Xun, Tuoba Agule, Tuoba Amu from the Zhou clan, and the elderly chief of the Tiele tribe, Chachawu, had already reviewed it."

"'General Jin Ben greets the Jiedushi. I have successfully beheaded over two thousand of the Buddhist cavalry from the Turkic rear and slaughtered over a thousand from other tribes, sparing only a few,' Jin Ben knelt, bowing deeply."

"Zhou Xu helped him up, patting his shoulder with a smile, 'No need for such formalities, you've done well on this mission.'"

"Under his mask, Jin Ben's face flushed with excitement. Rising, he bowed again, 'It's all thanks to your guidance, Master Cui's strategies, and the joint efforts of my comrades. I dare not take all the credit.'"

"'The Gulun House tribesmen we let escape must have reached Huiyi City by this morning. I also annihilated a small Si Jie tribe en route. I observed that the seven alliances have more or less stationed troops behind Huiyi City. I suspect there may be discord among them.'"

"Li Xun looked at the younger generation of officers, then at the familiar faces behind Jin Ben, his eyes showing subtle excitement and gratitude. He stroked his beard, thinking that Jin Ben was quite strategic."

"Upon hearing of the destruction of the Turkic cavalry, Zhou Xuan's face showed immense relief."

"Tuoba Agule listened intently to the conversation in the tent, while Tuoba Amu glanced at General Ghost Butcher wearing the ghost mask. He had heard of this general but was meeting him for the first time."

"Zhou Xu invited them to sit, saying, 'I have noted your contributions and will reward you based on your achievements after the war. However, we must not be complacent as the Huiyi rebels are not yet defeated, despite our minor victories.'"

"Everyone responded in unison, 'Understood!'"

"Cui Shizi coughed, standing in front of the military map, 'Generals Jin, Yi, and the cavalrymen of Ghost Butcher might not be aware, but this afternoon, the rebels set up a sharp wedge formation a kilometer outside Huiyi City.'"

"'Huiyi City is built against a mountain, surrounded by flat terrain, with no hills or forests to rely on for defense.'"

"'The sharp wedge formation is their most effective defensive tactic, requiring infantry inside. The cavalry and infantry are divided into stationed and battle troops. When the stationed troops guard the formation, the battle troops fight; when the battle troops guard, the stationed troops fight, rotating to maintain an unbroken defense.'"

"'The enemy's goal is clear; they aim primarily to defend and delay.'"

"Jin Ben nodded, quickly grasping the Turkic strategy, 'The Huiyi rebels are trying to drag this out until winter arrives.'"

"Indeed," Cui Shizi said with a smile, "this sharp wedge formation was once used by us against the Turks. It's definitely a formation that counters cavalry."

Li Xun remarked sarcastically, "Those Turks, having stolen many of our books in the past, now seem to have learned a thing or two."

"There are two ways to break the sharp wedge formation."

"One is to dig trenches and engage in infantry combat, attacking their frontline infantry first, then shooting with strong bows from behind. However, this method is time-consuming."

"The other involves skilled riders using grappling hooks."

Cui Shizi paused here to take a sip of tea.

Zhou Xu continued, "Both methods seem effective, but I believe the sharp wedge formation is merely a distraction."

Jin Ben looked towards the Jiedushi.

Li Xun, stroking his beard, added, "The Jiedushi is right. I've had similar thoughts."

"The sharp wedge formation is fundamentally defensive, with infantry and cavalry rotating. Both teams must have numerous horses because, in battle, immobility can be fatal," Zhou Xu measured the distance between Huiyi City and the sharp wedge formation with his hand.

"But now, the sharp wedge formation outside Huiyi City is only a little over a kilometer away."

"That's too close," Zhou Xu observed.

"If the enemy has large crossbows, that distance would be a death trap."

Zhou Xu always considered the worst-case scenario regarding the Wang family providing bows and crossbows to Huiyi.

After listening, Jin Ben pondered. It was an obvious strategy of delay. The enemy only needed to wait for winter, and if they wanted to attack the city, they had to get past the sharp wedge formation. If what the Jiedushi said was true, then a charge by the Xuanjia Camp would result in heavy casualties. With the enemy already having superior numbers, a significant loss on their side could lead to a counterattack.

However, they weren't completely without advantages.

Jin Ben looked at the Jiedushi, noticing his calm and composed demeanor.

"Cui Shizi coughed, just about to speak when a sergeant from the accompanying army reported from outside the tent."

"'Reporting to the Jiedushi, we've captured a spy.'"

"Zhou Xu ordered the man to be brought in."

"'Which tribe does he belong to?' Zhou Xuan inquired."

"The sergeant's expression was somewhat peculiar, 'He claims to be the Third Prince of Huiyi, seeking an audience with the Jiedushi.'"

"Zhou Xu asked, 'Is he alone?'"

"'Just him,' the sergeant replied."

"Zhou Xu laughed, 'Quite bold.'"

"Not fearing to be used as a sacrifice for the military banner."

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