I shook my head and said, "No, if the country finds out, they might think we're planning something to damage the country's reputation overseas." You might not notice if you buy a few hundred national flags, but Fei Sankou's colleagues will definitely investigate you.
Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I said, "How about this, bring me a hundred copies of Yucai School Flag."
Wang Yin scratched his head and asked, "Is this appropriate?"
I secretly glanced at everyone's expressions and saw that they didn't react much. After all, their leader had ordered them to help me fight, so no one objected to what I said. I said to Wang Yin, "That's fine, let's do it this way."
After a midday of preparation, everything was ready. We selected a group of people from each country to hold a military parade and drill. The location was right at the gate of the Jin army camp. The triangular flags representing the Allied forces had been distributed, and I specially carried my tallest flagpole from Liangshan Mountain to stand less than a mile outside the Jin camp gate. Wires were connected to batteries, and a large loudspeaker was mounted on top of them.
At 2:30 p.m., everything was ready, and I sat on the makeshift stage with several deputy commanders of the army groups. A red tablecloth was laid on the table, and we each had a bottle of Wahaha mineral water. Xiuxiu and Maosui were to co-host the meeting.
Seeing that everything was ready, Xiuxiu brought the stand-up microphone to me. I cleared my throat, put my mouth to the microphone and blew a breath, and a series of grating noises immediately echoed throughout the area within a 10-mile radius: "Squeak—" Xiuxiu hurriedly shouted to Huarong: "Turn down the battery!"
I tried a few more times, nodded in satisfaction, and then said, "Today is a special day. Our multinational forces are conducting a far-reaching military exercise here. This exercise aims to improve our coalition's joint combat and counter-terrorism capabilities, multi-service coordination, rapid response, and modernization..." Wu Yong whispered to me, "Say less, or if you bring up hostage rescue or something, we'll be in a passive position next."
I realized what was happening and quickly said, "...Now, the exercise begins!"
The background music, "The Athletes' March," began to play. Amidst the stirring music, Xiuxiu took the microphone and passionately began her narration: "First, we see the Qin Dynasty's cavalry. They were high-spirited and invigorated. They were exemplary among the earliest outstanding soldiers, fighting tirelessly for their country and finally achieving unification. In their hands was the famous Qin crossbow, which played an indispensable role in the unification wars and later in the war against the Xiongnu..."
As Xiuxiu narrated, 5,000 Qin Dynasty soldiers rode on horses without stirrups—most of them had mastered the use and manufacture of stirrups through contact with the Mongols, but to maintain authenticity, they retained their old habits. Accompanying Xiuxiu's explanation, the 5,000 Qin soldiers first saluted the platform, then in unison raised their crossbows at countless scarecrows standing 300 meters away, shouting "Great wind! Great wind! Great wind!" Immediately afterward, with a "whoosh," a swarm of crossbow bolts, like locusts, streaked across the scarecrows in sharp arcs. Thousands of scarecrows were riddled with arrows, a chilling sight. The Qin army again shouted "Great wind!" and slowly retreated. The Jin soldiers, who had initially huddled around the fence as if watching a spectacle, suddenly panicked and turned to hide under what they considered safe cover—through observation, they had also realized that the Qin crossbows could indeed hit them.
As the Qin army retreated, Mao Sui took the microphone and said in a deep male voice, "Following closely behind the Qin warriors are 5,000 invincible Chu soldiers. They once burned their boats and fought against a hundred men, creating the most dazzling achievements in history. They are destined to be remembered forever!"
Five thousand Chu soldiers saluted the rostrum, shouted "The mighty Chu will surely win," and then left the stage.
Xiuxiu promptly took the microphone, and a mixed Tang Dynasty army of 5,000 men, clad in bright armor and wielding numerous weapons, passed before us. Through long campaigns against the Turks, the Tang army possessed considerable experience in mixed warfare, hence the presence of both cavalry and infantry. These men, raised in the inclusive and open-minded Tang Dynasty, knew that such occasions didn't need to be overly formal; in fact, it better showcased the might of a powerful nation. Therefore, the soldiers were completely at ease, smiling and waving to us. Some even greeted acquaintances in the crowds on either side. Luo Cheng and Li Yuanba were also riding in the ranks, their familiar faces often eliciting cheers from the allied soldiers. It's a pity I didn't have many pretty girls around; otherwise, how spectacular it would have been if they all wore white dresses, linked arms, and danced to welcome us!
Moved by the Tang army's cheerful atmosphere, Xiuxiu said in a lighthearted tone, "Those waving to the reviewing stand now are the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty was a renowned cultural, military, and economic powerhouse, once leading the world's trends. At that time, all the surrounding countries sent students to the Tang Dynasty to learn advanced production technologies and culture, which played a crucial role in their future development..."
Mao Sui leaned closer and exclaimed, "Yes, it's hard for us to imagine whether these foreign tribes would still be living a primitive life without the influence of Tang Dynasty culture."
Xiuxiu rolled her eyes at him and whispered, "Pay attention to international impact—does your manuscript even contain that phrase?"
After the Tang army passed, there was a Song infantry square formation of 20,000 men. Zhao Kuangyin did have cavalry under his command, but this time he sent out mostly heavy infantry. He wanted to show the world that infantry was not incapable of fighting tough battles, and that a square formation of heavy infantry was a nightmare for cavalry.
Mao Sui exclaimed excitedly, "What we see below are the Song soldiers, who are practically half the hosts. They march past the reviewing stand with their neat steps and high spirits. The Song Dynasty was a milestone in the economic development of our country's history, and guarding her are a million iron-willed men who dare to fight tough battles. On their very first day of enlistment, they swore an oath in their blood: to annihilate all hostile forces that dare to challenge the dignity of our motherland!"
The 20,000 Song soldiers shouted in unison, "Our Emperor is mighty!"
The Jin soldiers hiding in their bunkers were in an uproar. They didn't know much about the armies of Qin and Chu, but they had defeated the Song army all the way through. Judging from their military appearance and morale, the troops in front of them were no pushovers and didn't seem like their old adversaries. However, their organization and uniforms were similar, so they were filled with curiosity mixed with a bit of apprehension.
Xu Delong led 300 men, following closely behind the main force. They jogged and chanted "One, two, one," disappearing as a mysterious and ambiguous special operations unit. Hu Yieryi, still waiting for his own team, stood up in surprise to salute them, muttering, "Why are these young men so close to me—did I know them before?"
To make the Song army appear imposing, we allocated 20,000 men, which took quite a while. Behind them came the ragged Mongols. Unlike the Song army, they only sent 1,000 representatives. Most of the Mongols didn't understand what we were talking about, so they ignored us and walked past the platform, chatting and laughing. In terms of equipment, the Mongols were far inferior to even the Qin army from over a thousand years ago, but the Jin soldiers who had fought them and survived knew the ferocity of these herders. In that battle, the Mongols lost 73 men and fewer than 200 wounded, yet they almost annihilated the Jin army. Although the Jin army was defeated with 5,000 against 10,000, the defeat was far too unusual…
Xiuxiu said gracefully, "What soars towards us is the eagle of the grassland, our Mongolian warriors. The vast grassland has given them a heart as vast as the sea and a spirit as vast as the sea..."
As Hasir approached the platform, he suddenly drew his scimitar and stood at attention. The Mongols immediately stopped laughing and joking, drew their swords, and focused their eyes on Hasir. This band of ragged soldiers was no less disciplined than regular troops; within seconds, they automatically fell silent and formed a charging formation. Hasir waved his hand towards the straw men who had just been shot at by the Qin army, and 1,000 Mongol cavalry charged forward with lightning speed. Wielding their scimitars, they swept past the straw men without slowing down. After the swift horses passed, nearly 10,000 straw men were all decapitated. At such speed, each soldier had to deal with five straw men on each side without missing, demonstrating their exceptional skill and speed in slashing. This stunned the Jin soldiers, who had always been arrogant about their cavalry; now they witnessed true horsemanship. In fact, the Jurchens living deep in the mountains and forests could not compare with the nomads of the vast grasslands in terms of riding and archery. This was determined by their living conditions and habits—riding a horse too fast in the forest could easily flatten your nose.
Following the Mongol army were the Ming army. Judging from their armor, the marks of their era were already quite obvious. The Ming army's armor was clearly of better quality and provided more comprehensive protection. However, for some reason, the Ming army's appearance was very low-key; they passed by us somewhat silently and hastily, as Mao Sui explained. I said to Hu Yieryi, "From now on, you should also start chanting 'One, Two, One,' it'll make you more spirited."
Hu Yier waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I wouldn't dare! You mean you want all the soldiers to call me by my name? Wouldn't the Emperor become suspicious?"
"..." That's true. Those generals have been almost all killed even without causing trouble. Breaking this taboo would mean the extermination of nine generations of their families. I said, "Then let's call for Left, Right, and Left."
Hu Yieryi pouted and said, "It's not as catchy as 'Yieryi'. How about I change my name for the sake of our Ming Dynasty's military development? I'll be called Hu Zuoyou from now on..."
Chapter 166 An Accidental Exercise
As is customary, the host Liangshan team was the last to appear. The bandits came up unattended, just themselves and Fang La's eight Heavenly Kings strolling casually. They started by waving to the audience, but then, in the middle of the procession, they actually gave the middle finger to the Jin camp.
Seeing the group's ambiguous gestures and smug expressions, the Jin soldiers, unsure of their meaning, some out of politeness and others not wanting to be taken advantage of, all raised their middle fingers in retaliation. Zhang Shun, his face dark, said, "Damn it, we miscalculated. They outnumber us!"
However, the military parade did not have a good effect. Apart from the loudspeakers we used causing some shock to the Jin army, Wanyan Wuzhu remained unmoved. Perhaps our initial strategy was flawed; this kind of display of military might had limited deterrent effect on his current state of indifference.
Given this situation, we decided to change our policy—it's simple: continue the siege without attacking. I simply don't believe his 800,000 people can solve their supply problems from 21st-century food factories.
That evening, several generals approached me and suggested that we conduct a confrontational military exercise, inspired by the theory I had proposed. Qin Qiong said, "I think a military exercise is a very good idea. Especially for the soldiers of the Central Plains, who have the least practical experience, they are naturally not as good as the foreign soldiers who hunt every day when it comes to actual combat."
Yuchi Jingde said, "Especially now that our countries have a full range of military branches, conducting a joint exercise can summarize a lot of practical experience, which is very meaningful for future coordinated operations. It will make our trip worthwhile."
I nodded and said, "Okay. But we need to be careful about the limits and the criteria for judging death. We can't let it actually kill someone."
Wang Ben said, "Don't worry, we will still fly the coalition flag during the exercise. The confrontation will only be symbolic."
I said, "That's good."
Wu Yong chimed in, "I also have a suggestion. Although everyone is now proficient in using telephones, please don't use them during the exercise. After all, we still have to live our lives as usual, and being too reliant on technological products is not a good thing."
After thinking for a moment, everyone nodded.
To give the soldiers a firsthand experience, although they were told it was an exercise, the specific time was not announced. This exercise was primarily aimed at improving the team's emergency response capabilities and observing the performance of new recruits.
After discussion, the leaders decided that at 2:30 AM, the Red Army, composed of Liangshan, Mongols, Chu troops, and Ming soldiers, would launch a surprise attack on the Blue Army, represented by the Tang, Song, and Qin allied forces. Neither side would have a commander-in-chief; instead, the various leaders would coordinate and issue orders on short notice. This approach would be much more difficult and would have significant implications for future operations.
At 2:30 sharp, the Mongol cavalry slowly approached the Blue Army camp. Only after being spotted by the sentries did they launch a rapid charge, shouting battle cries. The allied forces, though aware it was a drill, were genuinely unsure of the exact timing, causing a moment of panic. However, Qin Qiong and Wang Ben, seasoned commanders, quickly regained their footing. The Tang army, having "lost" 3,000 men, finally formed a shield wall, unleashing a barrage of arrows from the Qin crossbows. Mongols fell from their horses in droves. Behind the shields lay a massive, heavily armed Song heavy infantry formation. Hu Yier hurriedly negotiated with Muqali to have the Mongols withdraw, replaced by an equal number of Ming heavy infantry. Wang Ben selflessly assigned half his forces to Qin Qiong's command; tens of thousands of Qin soldiers provided cover fire from behind the Song lines, and large numbers of Ming soldiers were deemed dead and went to rest on the sidelines…
Meanwhile, the Liangshan army, familiar with the terrain, and the Chu army, skilled in flanking maneuvers, had secretly infiltrated the flanks of the main Tang army. With battle cries, the Mongols mounted again, completing an encirclement of the Blue army. Seeing this, Qin Qiong urgently ordered the Tang army to retreat. Liu Dongyang, far from being worried about the Tang army's retreat, tacitly pushed forward with the main Song army force. When the Red army, having suffered heavy losses, broke through the Song army's defenses, the Tang army's long, single-file formation was complete. Qin Qiong gratefully patted the "fallen" Liu Dongyang on the shoulder, saying, "Brother Liu, I will definitely avenge you!"
The Red Army, having entered the long, serpentine formation, was finally bewildered. They had no idea how many soldiers the enemy actually numbered; the enemy appeared and disappeared in an instant, sometimes in front, sometimes behind. They realized that all their arduous efforts had only led them into an encirclement. At this critical moment, a black-armored general calmly directed the leaders of the Liangshan and Fang La armies to break through the core of the serpentine formation one by one. This man was none other than Yuchi Gong, who knew the inner workings of the Tang army. This is also a small challenge we've set for Qin Qiong. The command center is eager to know how he will handle this difficult task: how to deal with the betrayal of a high-ranking general during war?
In an instant, the Eighteen Heroes, the One Hundred and Eight Heroes, and the Eight Heavenly Kings engaged in a massive melee. We even deliberately divided the generals, such as Wu Song, Fang Zhenjiang, Bao Jin, and Deng Yuanjue, into different camps, so at first glance, there were many people who looked exactly alike fighting...
At this point in the battle, it all comes down to which side has more powerful generals. In any conflict, each side has its strengths: you may be strong, I may be fast; you may have skillful formations, I may have a complete troop composition. But if everything is evenly matched, then it's up to fate.
In our exercise, each country only sent a portion of its forces, yet that still amounted to hundreds of thousands of people. The sounds of hundreds of thousands clashing echoed for miles around, some toppled torches, and fireworks we had specially arranged to simulate realism blazed into the sky (I even prepared a 10,000-strong firefighting team in reserve)...