"My lord, would you like to have some fun?"
Blind Bei asked very bluntly, and Zheng Fan answered just as bluntly.
"It’s possible, actually. In terms of numbers, equipment, and the quality of our soldiers, Green Willow Fortress surpasses the other military leaders by a great deal. With so much armor, so many warhorses, and such good daily meal provisions, it’s high time the Sixth Prince saw the return on his investment."
"So you’re saying there are conditions?"
"Yes, this time I have conditions."
"The last time we went to Qian State, My lord brought A Cheng. This time, we all want to go."
The afternoon training was canceled, allowing everyone a rare half-day of rest. The evening meal was also much better than usual, with an abundance of meat—so much that one could eat their fill of meat alone.
In truth, the various units on the Yan State borderlands weren’t short of food. The terrifying reserves accumulated by the noble clans were such that the Yan court’s only concern regarding rations was one of abundance.
However, eating as well as those in Green Willow Fortress was almost unheard of. Zheng Fan was willing to spend generously on his men, especially since, of course, the money wasn’t his own.
Ji Chengjue in Yanjing might encounter the same problem I do: confusion. By spending a bit more of his money, I’d be giving him a purpose for his efforts to earn money, which, in a way, could be considered helping him.
The soldiers excitedly fetched their meal trays. Once seated, they began to devour the meat in large mouthfuls.
In front of the parade ground, several bonfires had been lit.
Huo Kuang sat there, slowly sipping the meat soup a kinsman had brought him.
On the other side, Zuo Jiqian was doing much the same.
One was experienced, and the other had previously served as a commander at Jitui Fort. These two men, still technically prisoner soldiers, possessed a keener intuition than the ordinary troops.
They guessed it: war was coming.
Although they had been eating well in the fortress these days and, aside from the strenuous training, faced little discomfort, what these men now craved wasn’t good food or lodging. They wanted military merits!
They needed to use the heads of Qian State soldiers to earn freedom from their slave status for their families.
Zheng Fan could wait with the composure of a mountain, but these prisoner soldiers were already burning with impatience.
When the evening meal concluded, and soldiers began lining up to receive rations, arrows, and other supplies, everyone finally realized what was about to happen.
An eager atmosphere began to permeate the parade ground.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, a map was spread out, and seven people were gathered around it, discussing their battle plan.
"If we’re going to play, let’s play big. I think Mianzhou City isn’t a bad target," Zheng Fan suggested, his finger tapping the mark for Mianzhou City on the map.
Mianzhou City wasn’t one of the three major strategic towns of Qian State, but it was still a considerable city. More importantly, it’s true that people rarely fall into the same pit twice, but they’ll bend down many times beside a pit where they’ve previously found money.
Zheng Fan liked this city.
"Actually, anywhere is fine," Blind Bei said, unconcerned. It wouldn’t be impossible to launch a surprise attack, perhaps learning from the strategy of the four crossings of the Red River.
"But wouldn’t they be on guard?" Xue Three asked, somewhat worried.
After all, Mianzhou City was the only city in Qian State that had fallen since the conflict between Yan and Qian began.
"These days, the constant harassment of the Qian State border by those minor chieftains will actually make Qian State more complacent. Their troops really don’t have much fighting strength," Liang Cheng explained.
Among the seven people present, he was the only one truly qualified to discuss warfare.
"Their numbers are small, and their equipment is poor. At most, they cause the fortresses along the Qian State border to light a few more signal fires. For us, this actually provides good cover."
The last time Liang Cheng and Zheng Fan had gone to Qian State, they only had four hundred barbarian cavalry. Although their achievements were plentiful, they were all accomplished by taking great risks.
This time, it was different. Green Willow Fortress was expected to dispatch fifteen hundred cavalry. Of course, what gave Liang Cheng even more confidence than these fifteen hundred cavalry was the fact that everyone—all of them—would be going this time!
As one of the Demon Kings, Liang Cheng was well aware of the terrifying capabilities his companions possessed.
The others didn’t really care where they went or how they fought; they just wanted a place to have some fun.
The eager soldiers on the training ground outside probably couldn’t imagine the "entertaining" spirit with which their leaders inside were devising their battle plans.
Finally, Zheng Fan summarized, "Our provisional target will be Mianzhou City. We’ll play it by ear. Once we’re on the road, Liang Cheng will be in command and give the orders. We’ll all listen to you then."
No one objected, and Liang Cheng nodded as well.
"So, we’re...deploying then?" Xue Three asked.
Blind Bei spoke up, "My lord, I feel this is a bit rash."
"Hmm," Zheng Fan nodded. "I feel the same way. Do you have anything to add or analyze?"
Blind Bei said very seriously, "I believe that before we depart, My lord should give a speech to the soldiers."
The soldiers waited anxiously. Then, they saw the Commander of Green Willow Fortress—their current military leader—appear.
In the past half-month, this was the first time these prisoner soldiers had seen their Commander in armor instead of his usual thick cotton coat. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝕟𝕖𝕥
This was, to all intents and purposes...an explicit signal.
The breathing of everyone on the parade ground grew heavy.
"Really? I can say whatever I want?" Zheng Fan asked Blind Bei, who was beside him.
"My lord, you may say whatever you wish."
Zheng Fan nodded and stepped forward. Everyone fell silent. Around them, there was no other sound except for the occasional soft crackling of wood in the bonfires.
AHEM.... His throat-clearing, a classic opening, was the equivalent of a modern "Testing, testing," into a microphone.
The soldiers on the parade ground were very deferential, all eyes fixed on Zheng Fan.
Zheng Fan began, "I’m sure you all understand that the Imperial Court had you escorted here, hoping you would die here to save them the trouble."
"..." A stunned silence fell over the entire field.