Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 179 Selecting a forward and reading the letter 1
  With more than 2,000 people digging, in just two or three days, many trenches were excavated on the left and right sides of the fort and on the front.

The trench was several to ten feet long, eight feet wide, and eight feet deep. Sharp bamboo sticks were inserted all over the bottom, exuding a stench, and the top was covered with branches and sand.

With these traps in place, no matter whether the Tatars make a sneak attack or directly attack the city, they will never be able to reach the city easily and set up their positions.

The four teams here also determined their directions and dug two backup tunnels from outside the city into the city at the same time. The exits were located in remote places in the mountains and forests outside the city.

Jia Cong, Wang Jin, You, and two thousand households were patrolling the city wall. They saw that the fortifications outside the city had been completed, and all the equipment on the wall were properly placed. The soldiers were all full of energy and stood as tall as pine trees. They saw a few people coming, but Silent and solemn salute.

Jia Cong nodded and said: "The temperament of the border troops is indeed unparalleled by the soldiers from the inland guards."

You Jia said with a smile: "Sir, although there has been no war in Jiubian for decades, in which year did the Tatars not raid grass and valleys? On weekdays, they still have to exterminate some bandits and bandits. Although there are no big wars, there are still small fights. Yes, so the soldiers are a bit ruthless. Unlike the young soldiers in the mainland, who cannot draw their bows or travel the road after a long period of peace."

Jia Cong deeply believed that he had seen the cowardly soldiers in the Yangzhou Guard Station. Not to mention dealing with the ferocious Tatars, even if he could barely deal with a few water bandits, he was still outnumbered. If If you put it here, before the Tatars come to attack, I'm afraid they will have already run away.

"Instructor Wang, I remember you once said that soldiers who are tired and brave should not be confused as one. If a warrior does not persuade, a tired soldier will be defeated because of his tolerance. Therefore, it is said: The soldiers have no choice of front and say that the north is the enemy. ." Jia Cong looked at Wang Jin and said.

Wang Jin nodded and said, "That's true. What's your opinion?"

"Although the frontier troops are brave and brave, they are not considered tired troops, but after all, they are strong and weak. They must choose the front so that they can make full use of their talents." Jia Cong said.

Everyone nodded in agreement, the secret defense master was going to build his own team. But this is understandable, as it is common practice in the military.

Wang Jin smiled and said: "What you said is absolutely true. In the past, Qi used tricks to defeat the strong, Wei used soldiers to fight hard, Qin used sharp men to win, Han had Sanhe knights, swordsmen and wizards. Wu called them relief, Qi called them decisive, and Tang called them "Tiaodang" is another name for "Xiang Feng"!

You Jiaxi and Yu Hong said hurriedly: "Since your Excellency wants to choose a vanguard, we will immediately gather the soldiers for your selection."

When Jia Cong nodded, the two of them went out to gather the crowd while beating drums.

"Master, how many do you think is appropriate?" Jia Cong said with a smile.

Wang Jin said: "Since we are choosing a vanguard, we should choose one from ten, or a thousand from ten thousand people. When we choose a few people, we must be responsible for it, and we must choose a strong and trustworthy general to lead the charge!"

Jia Cong nodded and said: "What the master said is very good, but the military is different, and the number of front picks must also vary from person to person. If it is the Yangzhou Guards' bunch of trash, let alone one in ten, even if one in a hundred is chosen, they may not be able to choose. , if it is a strong force in the frontier army, maybe two or three out of ten can be selected."

Wang Jin said: "Brother Cong, now you are the general of the city. You can make your own decisions. There is no need to look forward and backward. Your subordinates will follow your orders."

Jia Cong said: "What Master taught me is that with Master by his side, Cong will inevitably feel a little dependent."

Wang Jin smiled and said: "Brother Cong, after this battle, you will grow up and become the support of millions of people. You will no longer have to rely on others."

Jia Cong nodded, the battlefield is the best school.
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  Jia Cong gave the order and the school grounds were quickly prepared.

Targets for measuring archery, stone locks for measuring strength, horses for testing riding skills, etc. were all set up one by one.

Jia Cong stood on the high platform and said: "Brothers, we are summoned here today just for one thing, to select the front! What is the selection of the front? It is to select those of you who are willing to die and enjoy injury, who are brave and courageous, and form an independent army. , led by me personally. From then on, I will be armed and strong, and roam the battlefield, with enemies but no one.

All the corresponding pensions and rewards are of a higher level. Eat first when you have food, wear first when you have clothes, go first when you have battles, and promote first when you have merit. If you are not afraid of death, come and give it a try. "

"My lord, my lord, I'd like to join." "I'm willing too."

……

The sergeants were all jealous, and they raised their hands and shouted. The stimulation of glory is sometimes more exciting than material stimulation.

Jia Cong stepped down from the stage, gathered all the generals together, and said: "This time, I want to choose three hundred infantry and three hundred cavalry for the vanguard. Veterans who have seen blood and have made meritorious service will be given priority. You decide what to do."

"I humbly obey my orders." Everyone said in unison.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "I plan to let the three hundred cavalry be commanded by Wang Jiaotong, assisted by Lao Deng and Lao Zhang. The three hundred infantry will be commanded by A Can, assisted by Wuji and Lingkong. Each of you, please be more careful. The selection will be useless. Yes, when the time comes and a joke is made, it will be your people who will be lost."

Everyone agreed and ran over in a swarm, looking at the soldiers being inspected one by one, more seriously than choosing a wife.

Jia Cong went back to his room to rest for half a day, and then Shen Zheng got up, dressed neatly and returned to the school grounds. I saw that the school field was full of people, shouting and shouting, and dozens of soldiers were being assessed at the same time.

Seeing Jia Cong approaching, Wang Jin came up to him and said, "This is the last batch. The results will be available after the test."

Jia Cong nodded and looked at dozens of sergeants each carrying a pair of stone locks, which probably weighed less than three or four hundred kilograms, and were walking forward step by step with difficulty. The most walked more than thirty steps, and the few only walked ten steps. Yubu.

Next to him, Fan Xiucai and several military Chinese documents were registered one by one.

Fan Xiucai was worthy of being a scholar, with a good memory and a sharp mind. In just a moment, he selected the 600 people with the best overall scores and presented them to Jia Cong: "Your Excellency, the selection of forwards has been completed. Here is the roster. Please show me." "

Jia Cong took it and said casually: "What have you done in the past two days?"

Fan Ming hurriedly replied: "Thanks to you all for taking care of me, I have been weak in the past two days. I have only been writing calculations in the house. Now I have compiled the list of guards and prisoners in the city. My name, place of origin, age, resume, etc. have all been checked." clear.

In addition, the materials stored in the city were liquidated, including 4,000 kilograms of rice and grain, more than 47,500 kilograms of pork, beef, and mutton, more than 23,000 kilograms of fruits and vegetables, new cotton-padded clothes, 1,000 sets of cotton-padded shoes, and 10 arrows. Fifty thousand sticks, as well as gunpowder, kerosene, etc..."

"Okay, you know better than me." Jia Cong waved his hand and said, "These are military secrets. How dare you reveal even a word..."

Fan Ming hurriedly bowed and said: "This villain has not only read the Four Books and the Five Classics, but also some military books. How can he not know the importance of military affairs? I absolutely dare not reveal it."

Jia Cong nodded with satisfaction and said to Wang Jin: "So it is better for scholars to understand the truth and there is no need to waste words."

Wang Jin smiled slightly and said: "Fan Xiucai, you are a capable person. As long as you fulfill your duties under my command, you will benefit from this battle."

"The adults know rewards and punishments clearly, and they love their soldiers like their own children. Although Han Xin and Li Guang in ancient times were not as good as them, I don't want any benefits. I am only willing to do my best for the adults." Fan Ming said respectfully.

Jia Cong laughed. Being educated is different. Even flattering makes people feel more comfortable.

Suddenly I heard a quarrel coming from the side of the school field.

(End of this chapter)