Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 266 You Don't Understand

Chapter 266 You Don't Understand
North Midtown.

The sun was high in the sky when the troops from the six garrisons outside the city retreated like the tide, leaving behind a scene of devastation.

Outside the city walls, several damaged mobile fortifications remained, destroyed by the Liang army's incendiary bombs, and were now emitting thick smoke.

Chen Qingzhi moved along the city wall, observing the situation on the battlefield.

As a general, Chen Qingzhi had a keen sense of the changes on the battlefield.

The Northern Army had attacked more than once or twice, and Chen Qingzhi's feeling for it wasn't strong before, but after this attack, looking at the condition of the soldiers on the city wall, he could finally be sure.

The Union Army is getting stronger!
This strength is a gradual change that occurs after adapting to the battlefield.

The troops of the Six Garrisons were stationed in the northern border region, facing the cruel and cunning barbarians and harsh environment on the grasslands. They always guarded the front line and developed a special and powerful military quality.

This level of military skill is something that ordinary Liang soldiers lack. Simply put, these soldiers from the Six Garrisons are born warriors. They live and die on the battlefield, and they learn constantly on the battlefield.

Perhaps because it was the first time they had encountered such a formidable enemy as the White-Robed Army, the Six Garrisons were initially not used to the pace of siege warfare. However, after several sieges, the Six Garrisons learned from their experience and were able to skillfully build and use siege equipment to cope with the situation.

"General, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but this Northern army seems to have changed!"

Chen Qingzhi's deputy, Ma Fonian, spoke up, his face still showing a hint of confusion.

Ma Fonian was originally a scholar, but later abandoned his studies to join the army. As a subordinate and military advisor of Chen Qingzhi, he participated in the Northern Expedition.

Chen Qingzhi looked at Ma Fonian and said:
"It's not an illusion; this Northern army is stronger than before."

Upon hearing this, Ma Fonian gave a bitter laugh and murmured:
"I have followed the general across the north and south and have seen many Wei armies, but this army is different. They are truly elite troops!"

Chen Qingzhi nodded. Although he had gathered enough intelligence before the Northern Expedition and knew about the deeds of the Six Garrisons, he was still somewhat surprised to actually encounter them.

To some extent, the Six Garrisons were indeed a rare elite force, and a product of an extremely special period.

Why did Emperor Wu of Han lose money in the Battle of Mobei against the Xiongnu, while Emperor Tuoba Tao of Northern Wei not only did not lose money in his battles against the Rouran and Gaoche, but also greatly enhanced the country's strength?

Because the Xianbei and Rouran were essentially one of their own, the Xianbei soldiers not only had a similar internal military operating mechanism to the Rouran, enabling them to launch northern expeditions at low cost, but also to absorb and transform the results of these expeditions.

After the Northern Wei Dynasty adopted Han Chinese customs, the Tuoba clan became the Yuan clan.

The old military system remained in the north. As time went by, the Six Garrisons could neither be absorbed into the Yuan Dynasty's Northern Wei as "one of their own" nor could they be transformed back into nomadic tribes on the grasslands.

The Six Garrisons were able to wage war using the low-cost military operation mechanism of the nomadic tribes of the grasslands, while also absorbing advanced tactics from the Central Plains and equipping themselves with weapons that were difficult for the soldiers of the grassland tribes to match.

From the impoverished north to the prosperous Hebei, the fighting prowess of the Six Garrisons is beyond question.

"Elite troops are elite troops, and strong troops are strong troops!"

Chen Qingzhi looked at the camp faintly visible in the mist in the distance, grabbed a piece of debris from the city wall, and carefully rubbed it.

On this day, on the north bank of the Yellow River, atop Beizhong City, a white-robed general, his slender frame unable to draw his powerful bow, faced a horde of fierce soldiers from the Six Garrisons. He lightly waved his sleeve, his white robe fluttering in the wind.

"Unfortunately, it's not strong enough!"
-
Changan.

"Qimitou, why are you still here? Hebagong is already urging us to hurry up."

Dugu Ruyuan stayed in Chang'an for a long time without returning, which puzzled Hebasheng in Jingzhou, so he sent an envoy to him.

The person who came was an old acquaintance of Dugu Ruyuan, the one who had attacked and killed Wei Kegu with him back then.

Nianxian!

Dugu Ruyuan was writing on the table when she saw the visitor and said:

"The King of Qin gave me several bolts of silk in Chang'an. I couldn't refuse his kindness, so I kept them for a while."

Nianxian and Dugu Ruyuan were both from Wuchuan, so they were practically neighbors. Nianxian knew Dugu Ruyuan's ambitions and that he was not someone who could be swayed by money or beauty.

But seeing Dugu Ruyuan like this, Nianxian couldn't help but frown.

"Could it be that Dugu Lang has grown tired of the chaos and poverty in Jingbei and has become enamored with the prosperity of Chang'an?"

Dugu Ruyuan had finished writing on the paper. On the white paper, the word "letter" was left in ink.
Why do you say that?

"Otherwise, why would you abandon your troops still in Jingzhou and stay in Chang'an for a few bolts of silk?"

Dugu Ruyuan shook his head and sighed:
It's so hard to find a true friend in life!

Nianxian, filled with doubt, asked:
"what for?"

"General Tianzhu gave me a lot of silk and satin, and Duke Heba also gave me some, but only what the King of Qin gave me was somewhat different."

"Aren't they all made of fine silk and satin?"

Dugu Ruyuan shook his head and said, "Two bolts of silk of the same material will have different origins and textures. Not to mention, the weavers who made them are different, and the details are even more different. Even the same bolt of silk can make different dresses. The overall feeling of wearing them is also different."

Seeing Nianxian, who seemed a little dizzy from what he was being said, Dugu Ruyuan said:

“You don’t understand!”

"Even if we don't understand, Ohno Sawa does?"

Dugu Ruyuan nodded and said:

"He understands!"

"..."

Nianxian felt a little dizzy from what he was being said and couldn't help but ask:

"Just tell me directly how long you intend to keep this up, so I can report back to Hebagong."

Seeing Nianxian's somewhat angry expression, Dugu Ruyuan said:

"I'll go back with you in the next couple of days."

Upon hearing this, Nianxian felt relieved and said:

“That’s more like it. You’ve learned too many useless things from those Han Chinese, that’s why you’re acting so mystical.”

Just then, a burst of laughter came from outside the door.

Dugu Ruyuan bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for the poor hospitality. I will go and prepare some fruits and vegetables immediately."

Li Shuang waved his hand and said:

"No need for such formalities. And who is this gentleman?"

"This is my fellow townsman, Nianxian!"

Dugu Ruyuan walked out of the room to prepare fruits and vegetables, leaving Li Shuang and Nianxian alone in the room, where the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

"Your name is Nianxian?"

"Exactly!"

"What a fate!"

……

Jingzhou.

Hebasheng looked at Nianxian in front of him and felt that he was a different person than before he went to Chang'an.

"Has Qi Mitou returned?"

"He's already on his way. He's changed his name to Xin (信)!"

"Why?"

Nianxian replied:

"Hasn't Qi Mitou always wanted to have a Chinese name?"

Hebasheng's expression was unfriendly as he asked: