After waiting for half a day, all they got was this insincere and polite remark. Mo Rong and Ji Su both lowered their heads, filled with immense disappointment. Mo Rong stared at her toes for a while, then suddenly said to Wei Zhan, "Mr. Wei, I have something to ask of you. Could you come with me for a moment?"
Wei Zhan glanced at Li Jun in surprise, and seeing that Li Jun also looked puzzled, he suddenly had a thought and vaguely understood what Mo Rong meant. He cursed himself for being out of touch with reality and hurriedly said, "Miss Mo, if you have any questions, just tell me. Wei Zhan will do his best to help."
"I want to make a piece of equipment, but I'm missing some minerals. As far as I know, Yunyang in Su Kingdom produces this kind of mineral. I'll bring you a sample of the minerals right now. Please come with me." The two talked as they left, leaving Li Jun and Ji Su behind in the tent.
After a long silence, Li Jun finally said, "Ji... Ji Su, my sister." This was the first time he had called Ji Su "my sister." Although a subtle feeling had formed between them deep in their hearts, they always argued more often than they were quiet when they were together.
"Hmm." Ji Su didn't argue with Li Jun as usual, and responded softly, gently twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, her gaze wandering aimlessly around the tent.
Seeing that the tent was empty, Li Jun suddenly mustered his courage and reached out to grab Ji Su's hand. But after only a brief grasp, he hurriedly released it as if he had held a branding iron. "Sister Ji Su, I won't say thank you. I'll be back in a year or two at most. Then, then..."
Ji Su's beautiful eyes were now at a loss for what to do, her face flushed, and her heart was pounding like a deer. She was just waiting for Li Jun to say what he was going to say next, but Li Jun hesitated for a long time, and Mo Rong's eyes came to mind again. He finally said, "When I fight with you again, don't be too weak. That would be because you were slacking off."
A sour and spicy sensation rose from the bridge of her nose, and Ji Su's eyes reddened. These were not the words she had longed for! She snorted heavily, flicked her sleeves, and strode out of the tent, leaving Li Jun alone inside. Li Jun now only regretted his clumsy tongue; in this arena of love, he was completely unlike the triumphant figure he had on the battlefield.
The march of a large army is no easy task; as the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach." After two years of recuperation, Yu Prefecture not only boasts a full treasury and abundant wealth, but also a well-trained army of 100,000. Li Jun left 30,000 men to guard the cities along with their garrisons, while he led 10,000 light cavalry, 5,000 iron cavalry, 20,000 armored infantry, and 35,000 lightly armored infantry on the expedition. Not only was the scale larger than the previous expedition against Chen, but the soldiers' equipment was also much more complete. Even small states like Bai and Zhongxing could not match this level of military strength when they mobilized their entire armies.
The larger the army, the greater the difficulty of logistical support. Li Jun entrusted this matter to Sima Hui, the lord of Yinhu City. Although Sima Hui had some hesitation regarding the rebellion of Peng Yuancheng and the noble families of Yuzhou, he ultimately sided with Li Jun and tied down the forces of Jiang Runqun and others. He was also quite cautious, which is why Li Jun entrusted him with this important task. He certainly lived up to Li Jun's expectations, managing the distribution of supplies efficiently. Furthermore, he advised Li Jun that relying solely on the Qionglu Grassland for supplies was problematic. Because the grassland was located on a plateau, even with the wooden oxen and flowing horses invented by Mo Rong, transporting supplies was prone to damage and delays. This might be manageable during the initial attack on Yunyang, but if they penetrated into the heart of the Su Kingdom, this lengthy supply process would require alternative methods.
"Therefore, after capturing Yunyang, Commander, please do not rush into the heart of Su State. Instead, attack Canghai County and seize Xizhou City, a good port in Canghai County. In that way, we can use the maritime advantage of Yuzhou to replenish our supplies." He suggested this, which was in line with the strategic intentions of Li Jun and Wei Zhan. Li Jun was greatly relieved and laughed, "With you, Sima, here, I, Li Jun, can rest easy about the matter of food."
Although he felt extremely reluctant to leave, Li Jun did not look back once the army set off, nor did he gaze at those two pairs of eager eyes again. Although the chances of victory on this expedition were extremely high, and there should not be a formidable figure like Liu Guang among the opponents, and he was extremely familiar with the fighting strength of the Su soldiers, if he did not have the belief that victory or death was the only option, and only kept looking back at the peaceful and tranquil Yuzhou, it would mean that he had a nine-out-of-ten chance of losing.
Li Jun consistently used the pretext of sending troops to Chen State to prepare for war with the soldiers and the people of Yuzhou. He also pointed out that this expedition would not take the same route from Dagu City to Huichang as before, but would instead detour through Yinhu City to Huichang. He also made a big show of preparing for the expedition in Huichang. Therefore, the soldiers and the people believed that the purpose of this expedition was still Chen State.
After a brief rest in Yinhu City, the army continued its journey. Li Jun and his elite cavalry led the way. As they traveled, the soldiers familiar with the road sensed something was amiss. An officer came forward and asked, "Commander, a soldier who lives here said that this road leads to the Qionglu Grassland, not to Huichang. The way to Huichang should be the southwest route."
"Don't worry, we haven't gone the wrong way!" Li Jun laughed heartily. If the soldiers were fooled, then the spies and scouts who had infiltrated Yuzhou would naturally be fooled as well. He pointed north and shouted, "Listen up, soldiers! The enemy we are fighting this time is not in the west, but in the north, on the other side of the Qionglu Grassland. It is that tyrannical and treacherous emperor who unjustly killed Marshal Lu Xiang!"
The soldiers were taken aback at first, then erupted in a thunderous roar: "To punish the tyrannical emperor, to kill the treacherous ministers, and to avenge Commander Lu!"
Among the mid-level generals of the Ping Army, a considerable number had transferred from Lu Xiang's invincible army. It was common knowledge that Li Jun's military strategy was inherited from Lu Xiang. More importantly, Lu Xiang's name was almost a household name in Shenzhou, no less than a military god incarnate. Even the people of Lan Kingdom, his enemy country for many years, respected and loved him. Therefore, when Li Jun raised the banner of avenging Lu Xiang, the soldiers who were originally somewhat confused felt greatly encouraged.
When Dong Cheng received another report from his scouts that the force entering Yunyang territory did not resemble the iron cavalry of the Rong people, but rather a large army composed primarily of infantry with cavalry as a secondary force, Dong Cheng immediately understood: "It's Li Jun from Yuzhou! He's come to avenge Commander Lu!"
Bingran, just as Dong Cheng's secret envoy to the capital seeking reinforcements had left, Li Jun's messenger arrived at the city walls, and the garrison brought him over.
"Who are you? How dare you not kneel before this prefect?" Dong Cheng was not usually such a rigid person, but seeing the envoy's arrogant and seemingly disdainful demeanor, he couldn't help but have the idea of giving him a hard time.
"My name is Guo Yunfei. It is only right that I pay my respects to the Prefect." Guo Yunfei smiled slightly upon hearing Dong Cheng's words and indeed curtsied deeply. Ever since Peng Yuancheng's defeat and death, and his forced surrender to Li Jun, he considered himself a shameless person. Therefore, he disregarded the etiquette and dignity that others valued. It was precisely because Li Jun saw his ability to bend and stretch that he transferred him from his position as the lord of Yuyang City to the army as a military envoy.
Seeing that Li Jun was all bark and no bite, Dong Cheng's initial assessment of him lowered. Could it be that Li Jun truly lacked talented people under his command, given that he used such an incompetent person as an envoy? If so, then no matter how strong Li Jun was, he couldn't be that scary.
"Are all the men under Li Jun's command like you?" one of his advisors asked deliberately, knowing Dong Cheng's intentions well.
"Oh, under Commander Li's command are a hundred fierce generals with the courage of ten thousand men and a thousand strategists with the talent to manage the world. Someone like me is just a minor official."
"That means Li Jun doesn't know how to use people. Sending a mere minor official like you as an envoy will likely only lead to your death and disgrace." The advisor pressed further, seeing that Guo Yunfei's behavior was somewhat sleazy but his words were without flaws.
"This gentleman is greatly mistaken. Commander Li is well-versed in the art of employing people. He always uses people according to their talents. He assigns people with great talent to handle important matters, and people with less talent to handle minor matters. As for matters that are dispensable, he will send people like me who are dispensable." Guo Yunfei said slowly, seemingly not in a hurry at all.
"No need to say more. Li Jun sent you here, do you mean to use your sharp tongue to persuade me?" Dong Cheng was displeased. This kind of verbal battle could not decide anything, but these literati always loved to argue and win.
"I wouldn't dare. I've only come to convey Commander Li's greetings," Guo Yunfei said.
"Is that so? Li Jun invaded our homeland and harmed our people, just to come and pay his respects to me? What did he say?"
"Commander Li said, 'I have often heard that Prefect General Dong takes Marshal Lu as his role model, and that your wife also has the noble wish to enjoy the honors of mourning. Therefore, I have been sent to invite you to a hunt in Liuzhou, where we will use the heads of treacherous officials as cups and their hearts as delicacies, and plan to get drunk together. I wonder what you think, sir?'"
Dong Cheng's heart skipped a beat. Li Jun's message, relayed by Guo Yunfei, wasn't intended to persuade him to surrender; otherwise, he wouldn't be so arrogant. Li Jun dared to utter such boastful words because he didn't take Dong Cheng, the prefect of Yunyang, seriously. This didn't anger him; on the contrary, if the enemy underestimated him, he should feign weakness to embolden them. What stirred his unease was that Li Jun had directly targeted the treacherous minister Wu Shu in the court, a tempting offer for the people and soldiers of Su. Even he himself, unless determined to be as loyal as Lu Xiang, might sway by this temptation.
"Please reply to Commander Li." Dong Cheng spoke with exceptional politeness, even bowing to Guo Yunfei. "Commander Li possesses the divine military strategies of Marshal Lu, and is unmatched throughout the land. I, Dong Cheng, should obey your orders, Commander Li. However, Marshal Lu would rather die than harbor any disloyalty. As Marshal Lu's disciple, you should also remain loyal to him to comfort his spirit in heaven. There are treacherous officials in the court. I am willing to join you in submitting a petition to the court, Commander Li, which will surely bring these villains to justice and make them retreat. Why resort to violence and fratricide, causing pain to our own people and pleasure to our enemies?"
Bing Yunfei smiled slightly. Li Jun had asked him to use a psychological warfare tactic, while Dong Cheng was using him to launch a counterattack against Li Jun. It seemed that invading the Su Kingdom was not so simple, and Li Jun was about to face another formidable opponent.
Section 03
Riding a fine horse, Lü Wubing looked at the vast procession before and behind him, feeling both excited and somewhat worried.
It's impossible for anyone to be unafraid of death in war. Lü Wubing, who had beheaded over fifty enemies on his first battle, was no exception. But beyond this fear, there was an even stronger excitement and courage supporting him. He glanced at Li Jun, who was silently marching forward. The excitement was the natural feeling of a soldier facing a major battle, and the courage came from his trust and respect for this commander who was only a few years older than him.
Su was originally the homeland of Lü Wubing, but born into poverty and enslaved for generations, he would likely still be a "slave of the armored men" if Lei Hun hadn't taken him away from his home. Despite his exceptional martial arts skills, he couldn't change his fate. Thinking of this, he secretly touched the faint brand on his right forehead—the mark of a "slave of the armored men." This indelible mark, which would be a symbol of shame in other military regions, was merely met with a slight smile by Li Jun upon first seeing it: "This is even better. It proves that in our Peace Army, regardless of birth, anyone with ability can become a general!"
The battle formation was as dense as a forest. After several small-scale skirmishes, the Peace Army had advanced to Wakou Pass, a strategic pass only sixty li from the capital of Yunyang. The pass was flanked by hills stretching for hundreds of li. Following the terrain, successive Yunyang commanders continuously raised the pass's walls, making Wakou Pass even taller and more imposing than the surrounding mountains. The thick brick walls repeatedly repelled the surging Rong troops, and countless warriors of the ancient grasslands became the piles of white bones beneath Wakou Pass. Dong Cheng, having ascertained that Li Jun's forces far outnumbered his own, chose the strategically advantageous Wakou Pass as the battleground.
“As expected, our forces are unable to be deployed.” Lü Wubing turned his head and saw that Li Jun seemed to be muttering to himself.
"As Yunfei said, Dong Cheng is indeed a rare military talent." Wei Zhan was the only one who refused to wear armor. Others had repeatedly advised him that it would be better to put on armor in battle, but he laughed and said, "If the enemy comes to me, what use would it be if I were wearing Commander Li's Crimson Dragon Armor and wielding his eighty-one-pound iron halberd?"
Li Jun's heart skipped a beat. Wei Zhan was an outstanding strategist he had obtained from the enemy's prison. If Dong Cheng could be used by him like Wei Zhan, it would be as if he had gained an extra arm.
He frowned slightly, turned his head and scanned the faces of the generals, then asked, "What do you all think we should do to break through this barrier?"
He avoided the question of how to subdue Dong Cheng. With the outcome of the stalemate still uncertain, deliberately trying to subdue the opponent would only hinder one's military operations. Wei Zhan naturally understood this, and he turned to look at the other generals.
In the Peace Army, it has always been a tradition to discuss tactical issues in the form of military conferences held on horseback.
"Attack, of course, is a full-scale assault!" Lan Qiao's eyes gleamed. Although he was jokingly called a "fool" by Mo Rong, Ji Su, and Zi Yu, he was an unstoppable warrior on the battlefield. While he couldn't lead an army independently due to a lack of tactical skill, he was perfectly suited to be the sharpest weapon to break through enemy lines.
Meng Yuan shook his head: "A frontal assault would be too costly. I think it would be better to use a clever approach. Our cavalry is elite, but it is not their forte for siege warfare. We should take advantage of the cavalry and circle around from behind Wakou Pass to cut off their retreat. This way, the enemy's morale will surely collapse."
“No, the enemy general Dong Cheng is a famous general from the State of Su. His soldiers are deeply grateful to him and are willing to die for him. If we cut off their retreat, they will surely fight like cornered beasts. I think we need to attack this city head-on to break through it,” Guo Yunfei said.
“Wu Bing, what do you think we should do?” Li Jun smiled and turned to Wu Bing. Lü Wu Bing was the youngest among the generals of the Peace Army. For the sake of his future, such a young man needed more training. As he thought this, he completely forgot that even in the Peace Army, where young people were the majority, his own age was not considered old at all.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lü Wubing's heart pounded, and a blush crept onto his face. "I don't know, let's just do whatever the commander says!"