The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 324 Accident
Before we knew it, more than a month had passed.

It was late October.

The weather has gotten a little colder.

However, many people paid no attention to this and instead focused on the changes on the battlefield.

“You are the people I trust. Tell me, how powerful is the Western Army of Datong?”

Zhang Wenjin summoned Li Qi, Jiang Wanhua, and Wei Yi.

Li Qi and Jiang Wanhua were assistant commanders of the Yongxing Right Route Army. The Right Route Army did not have a general, so the two should have been vying for the position and were hostile to each other. However, they had known each other for many years and did not quarrel over the position of general.

Zhang Wenjin admired them greatly and regarded them as his trusted confidants.

Wei Yi held the lowest rank, but he was deeply loved by the soldiers below him and had a great reputation in the Yongxing Army. Many people often said that he was a smaller version of Wang Xin.

Because Wang Xin and this person have many similarities.

The reason why Wei Yi is referred to as a "smaller" figure is not entirely because he held a lower official position than Wang Xin, but because Wang Xin took bigger steps and went further.

Li Qi and Jiang Wanhua exchanged a glance.

Recently, while major battles have not yet begun, minor skirmishes have been ongoing, with each side experiencing victories and defeats.

This joint operation of the three armies was originally the responsibility of the Datong Western Army, and the other two armies were not involved. However, due to Wei Yi's initiative, many generals followed suit, indicating that Wang Xin had indeed rallied a group of generals.

Those in power turned a blind eye; the Yongxing Army made the most moves, while the Tiancheng Army made the fewest.

Then some things came out.

The initial claims were exaggerated about the Datong Western Army, which was said to have won many victories with great success and few casualties, thus making the Datong Western Army seem formidable.

For every person who praises it, there is someone who opposes it.

There were also comments harshly criticizing the Datong Western Army.

The Datong Western Army claimed to be saving the people, but instead of dividing their elite troops, they concentrated their forces. Although the opposing Hu cavalry was numerous, they were scattered. Therefore, the Datong Western Army used its superior numbers to defeat the smaller force, achieving great results while suffering few casualties.

However, the cost of doing so is that many ordinary people are not protected, and the efficiency is too low.

On the contrary, the generals who were inspired by Wang Xin often had similar advantages to the Hu people when they went out on their own, so they not only suffered more casualties, but also often suffered losses.

It wasn't that the various armies were less capable than the Western Army of Datong, but rather that the Western Army of Datong was too cunning.

There are different opinions.

Zhang Wenjin is very concerned about these debates.

Things have come to this point, not only concerning the safety of Datong, but also my own future. In the upcoming battle, should I rely on Wang Xin? Is Wang Xin reliable?
Zhang Wenjin didn't believe what others said.

There are only three people in front of me.

As Zhang Wenjin's confidants, the group knew the general manager's thoughts and none of them dared to speak out.

"You tell me first."

Li Qi pointed at Wei Yi and used his status to suppress him.

Wei Yi was helpless.

Once the decision was made, there was no more hesitation.

"Your Excellency, this is just my personal opinion, and I am afraid it may be laughable. Please just take it with a grain of salt."

"Hurry up and tell me, don't keep me in suspense."

Zhang Wenjin waved his robe.

Although he was a civil official, he was very generous to his subordinates, which won him popular support. Wei Yi was not annoyed; on the contrary, he felt more relaxed.

"The combat effectiveness of an army is mainly reflected in field battles, and an army that is combat-effective in field battles must be an elite force. Therefore, whether an army is strong enough depends on how many elite forces it has."

Instead of directly stating whether the Western Army of Datong could fight, it started from the beginning.

Zhang Wenjin had always wanted to learn more about the military, so he listened very carefully and became even more satisfied with Wei Yi.

Seeing that Li Qi and Jiang Wanhua did not refute him, Wei Yi breathed a sigh of relief and continued.

"If there are many elite troops, the army's field combat strength will be stronger, and it can take the initiative to attack and look for opportunities to fight. As long as the enemy shows a weakness, it will be easy to seize it and defeat the enemy."

Similarly, if an army lacks elite troops, it can only be forced to defend.

Always on the defensive, always on the defensive.

In the long run, it's easy for the enemy to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

If we agree with this reasoning, then looking at the Datong Western Army, with its three thousand elite troops plus nine thousand militia, the ratio is quite high, stronger than most armies. That's my opinion.

Wei Yi spoke more and more fluently, finishing in one breath, and his expression calmed down.

Zhang Wenjin's eyes lit up.

Wei Yi's explanation was exactly what he needed, allowing him to understand it theoretically, rather than receiving an empty reply.

Although he trusted Wei Yi, Zhang Wenjin still confirmed with Li Qi and Jiang Wanhua again.

"Is Wei Yi right?"

Li Qi and Jiang Wanhua had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Zhang Wenjin frowned.

Seeing this, Li Qi quickly smiled and said, "Wang Xin's approach is different from ours, so we can't compare them. We can't draw conclusions about many things casually."

"wrong?"

"Not exactly," Li Qi shook his head, "but it's generally good."

The higher your position, the more careful you should be with what you say.

Zhang Wenjin didn't pay much attention and pressed further, "What's the difference in their methods? Is Wang Xin's method better?"

Li Qi could only say, "Wang Xin did not follow the traditional border army practice, which is the household guard system that is rumored among the people. However, there must be ordinary soldiers and elite soldiers in the army. Wang Xin also understands this principle, so he adopted a promotion system."

Zhang Wenjin became even more curious.

"After Wang Xin arrived in Datong, he mainly recruited soldiers from the militia, unless they were exceptionally outstanding. As long as the militia members were willing to abide by military regulations and strengthen their training, and their basic skills were not bad, they all had the opportunity to join the Datong Western Army."

"This method is indeed good."

Zhang Wenjin hesitated.

Although I didn't quite understand it, I subconsciously sensed a problem.

Li Qi's smile became even more unsightly.

Jiang Wanhua remained silent, while Wei Yi lowered his head.

No one is without selfish motives.

Wang Xin's method was quite ordinary; it was simply about being fair, just, and open.

The advantage is that it can train more elite soldiers.

However, compared to generals promoting their own people and selecting elites from among their own to serve as personal guards, this method of selection naturally produces elite soldiers who obey their own generals.

Seeing the expressions on his men's faces, he realized something was wrong.

Zhang Wenjin thought for a moment and quickly figured out where the problem lay.

The same applies to civil officials.

Whoever promotes their subordinates is promoting their own cronies.
Trust is the most important thing; ability is the second most important thing.

This is especially true for generals.

Training elite troops requires resources, and regardless of where those resources come from, they are ultimately distributed by the generals and will inevitably be used to cultivate their own confidants.

"Actually, it's more than that."

Wei Yi suddenly spoke up, saying with emotion, "The more elite troops we have, the more food and supplies we need. Many people can't afford to feed them, but General Wang can. It is because General Wang can feed more elite troops that he was able to come up with this method."

The rest is self-explanatory.

Zhang Wenjin understood as well.

How many people can achieve the same level of integrity as Wang Xin?

This method is very simple, yet it is also the most difficult.

But Zhang Wenjin saw an opportunity.

Since the selection process is fair, just, and transparent, and does not prioritize personal loyalty, it doesn't matter how capable the selected individuals are, as many of them are inevitably susceptible to being won over by others.

"Take a look, but don't tell anyone."

Zhang Wenjin took out a secret letter.

The group was shocked upon seeing the document, then overjoyed, and all looked at their own leader.

"It's Heaven's help. You've done your jobs well, and you'll be rewarded in due time," Zhang Wenjin said calmly.

"Do you want?"

Jiang Wanhua was somewhat excited.

If I can lead a single route, then I will accept a lateral transfer rather than vying for the position of general.

Li Qi glanced at Jiang Wanhua with annoyance, realizing he had been a step too slow.

While the position of general is tempting, a deputy general who leads a large army is no less capable than an ordinary general in his own town, and may even have a better future.

"It's not urgent."

Zhang Wenjin refused. He didn't want to offend Wang Xin too much.

"Wang Xin is only twenty-eight years old, but he is already a deputy general leading a single route. If he were not too young and had less experience, he would have been a general long ago, with a position no lower than Hu Liyong's. His future prospects are limitless."

"How dare you offend someone like that so badly? Aren't you afraid of their future revenge?"

Zhang Wenjin offered a reminder.

Jiang Wanhua regained consciousness and felt a chill.

This person's performance was so dazzling that we almost forgot about the connections behind him. Even the Grand Master was wary of him, let alone them.

I couldn't help but sigh.

He was born into a noble family, and the reason he was able to forge his own path was also because of his noble lineage.

If it were an ordinary person like myself, daring to be unconventional in the military, I would have been killed and sent to some unknown place long ago. How could I be qualified to ride the wave?

Wei Yi, being of low status, wasn't particularly concerned with anything else; he was more interested in the contents of the secret letter and asked worriedly, "How long will this be kept secret?"

"It can't be hidden for long."

Hu Liyong had fewer connections and probably found out later than Wang Xin.

"Given Wang Xin's connections and keen intelligence, it will probably only take three to five days. Your chances of making contributions are numbered. Take advantage of these few days to quickly grab as much credit as possible."

Zhang Wenjin smiled.

The group was overjoyed upon hearing this, knowing that the Grand Commander intended to promote them.

After his subordinates left, Zhang Wenjin remained listless for a long time.

What should be done with Wang Xin?

It is easy to ask God but difficult to send Him away.

When they initially agreed to let this person come to Datong, they didn't expect him to be able to bring down Fatty Feng. They were only interested in the person's background; his surname was Wang, so he was bound to be Fatty Feng's enemy.

Unexpectedly, this person is indeed capable.

How should we send him off now?

Zhang Wenjin was in a dilemma.

If Wang Xin were in his forties or fifties, he wouldn't be afraid, but he's only in his twenties.

Youth is an asset.

Zhang Wenjin sighed and decided to leave this matter to Zhang Jifu to deal with, since he was the one who sent him.
-
Wang Xin was unsure of Sheng Hu's fighting prowess.

What I fear most is the unknown.

Wang Xin had great confidence in the strength of his army because he had a standard for judgment.

For example, the army under Wu Sangui at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Wu Xiang once told Emperor Chongzhen frankly that of the 80,000 registered men, more than 30,000 had been verified, and only 3,000 were usable soldiers. These 3,000 soldiers were not ordinary soldiers, but his son, the brother of his son Wu Sangui.

“Since receiving the Emperor’s favor, I have only eaten coarse grains, while the three thousand people have eaten fine wine and fat mutton; I have only worn coarse cloth, while the three thousand people have worn fine silk and brocade, and thus I have been able to fight to the death.”

Wu Xiang's statement may be an exaggeration, but it is enough to show the high status of elite troops.

Although the method of training troops was not purely based on household servants, it still focused on elite soldiers.

Their own army is no less powerful than the Liaodong army.

So how strong is Sheng Hu in combat?

Having dealt with various departments of Osaka Sho over the years, Wang Xin has a good understanding of their situation.

The Hu people were not Tatars after all.

The rise of the Hu people was too short, their foundation too weak, and their roots too chaotic. Therefore, the elite of the Datong Western Army could fight three against one, meaning one Han could defeat three Hu.

A thousand elite soldiers can defeat three thousand barbarian soldiers.

Two thousand elite soldiers can defeat six thousand barbarian soldiers.

This is the source of Wang Xin's confidence in sending out two thousand elite troops. Even if they cannot achieve a great victory, at least they will not fail. What is worrying is a Pyrrhic victory.

The casualties are too great, and our own strength will also be greatly reduced.

However, compared to the purpose of protecting the country, these risks are worth taking.

Although the large-scale invasion of the Hu people caused huge losses to the herders, they were too scattered. Wang Xin did not believe that the Hu people could easily gather together. At most, they could only gather three to five thousand people in a short period of time.

If the two thousand elite soldiers I sent out are no stronger than the Hu people from Dabansheng, then there will be no danger; otherwise, there will be danger.

Good news kept pouring in.

Wang Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

With the strength of the Western Army in Datong, one Han Chinese could be worth five Hu (non-Han) soldiers.

His two thousand elite soldiers could match ten thousand Hu soldiers.

However, other armies cannot achieve this level of combat capability.

Some were evenly matched, some were slightly stronger, and some were a one-man army against three barbarians.

The best performer was Wei Yi of the Yongxing Army. Although he was an elite general of the Yongxing Army, he had a low rank and led a small number of troops, so he did not have a numerical advantage.

As for other places, it wasn't that the various armies were weak, but rather that Hu Liyong was keeping his personal guards under his control and hadn't released them. The Yongxing Army was the same; its two thousand armored cavalry hadn't moved an inch.

Ironclad cavalry had great advantages, but also great disadvantages. However, given the conditions of the Hu people, the ironclad cavalry in the hands of Yongxing Army was indeed a great weapon against them.

Since dispatching two thousand elite troops, Wang Xin has not dared to be careless. He has not slept well for several days and has been patrolling the camp to prevent any oversights.

Zhou Jun assembled and set up camp along the Xiaohuang River, not for defense, but for an offensive purpose.

An army that cannot fight in the field cannot leave the city. Such an army is easily surrounded by the enemy and cut off from supplies if it camps in the field. It will soon be defeated without a fight.

Therefore, the three armies of Datong were arranged in a triangular formation, indicating an offensive posture.

It can be seen as an army formation in the wild. Because the arrival of the enemy is unknown, they set up camp to guard against enemy attacks. Once the enemy arrives, the three armies can support each other and launch an attack.

Similarly, if the more than 10,000 men of the Western Army in Datong were to camp together, they would not only be unsuitable for attacking, but their movements would also be restricted.

Therefore, the Western Army of Datong set up a camp of 4,000 men with Wang Xin's main force, and set up smaller camps around Wang Xin's main tent, with some having 300-500 men, and others having more than 1,000 men.

The entire Datong military garrison had 60,000 troops, with the furthest point in the east and west separated by 20 li.

Hold firmly to the advantageous terrain, hinder the enemy at any time, and be ready to strike at any time.

As for the historical accounts of armies bypassing enemy cities, it was because the cities lacked elite troops, and the armies dared not leave the city, otherwise they would lose the city instead of gaining the upper hand.

The troops that the Great Zhou is sending now are border troops.

Even if Ou Yanhu really had 100,000 cavalry, he wouldn't dare to bypass the Zhou army in the Xiaohuang River area and head south.

Otherwise, if both the front and back are blocked, it's all over.

Moreover, he was known as the commander of 100,000 archers.

This is also why the wave of Hu people heading south this time wanted to break up into smaller groups. Their main purpose was not to fight against the Zhou army, but to contain the Zhou army, disrupt their deployment, and prevent them from having peace of mind.

“Ou Yanhu miscalculated the general.”

Yan Zhongzheng, who had also been working tirelessly without getting enough rest, had dark circles under his eyes, but he smiled with relief, knowing he could finally get a good night's sleep.

Wang Xin did not deny it.

When Ou Yanhu established the Datong Western Army, he had already left Dabansheng.

Datong did not have more than 10,000 soldiers; its own Datong Western Army was different from other armies.

The militia was quite powerful, and with his own 3,000 elite soldiers, the entire army numbered 12,000. In a desperate state, Wang Xin dared to say that they could withstand an attack by 30,000 Hu people.

So how many men does Ou Yanhu have left to deal with the 40,000 to 50,000 troops of Yongxing Army and Tiancheng Army?

With the same number of men, Ou Yanhu's raw beard was no match for the Datong military town.

Based on the information gathered and the current results, Wang Xin concluded that the chances of winning this battle were at least 70%, which was already very high.

"After pushing forward for so long, we've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. It hasn't been easy."

Wang Xin sighed.

He fought against the Japanese pirates in the south and annihilated the barbarian invaders in the north, delivering a satisfactory result. Both publicly and privately, he had a clear conscience.

"It's a little weird."

Wang Xin originally planned to rest, but he picked up a pile of unfinished official documents on the table. The documents were never finished, and they would be sent over for all sorts of matters, not only from the Western Army of Datong, but also from other armies.

They can only be divided into three classes based on their official duties.

Those documents that were not urgent and were unrelated to the Western Army of Datong were classified as third-class. Wang Xin would only look at the third-class documents after he had read the first and second-class documents.

Yan Zhongzheng was startled and quickly went over to check.

It turned out that the Yongxing Army had intelligence that several units were attacking the Shenghu, and the messenger in the central command tent sent it to inform the friendly forces to avoid any misunderstandings among the frontline soldiers. This kind of thing happened often, with everyone exchanging information.

"That is indeed strange."

Yan Zhongzheng rubbed his eyes and guessed, "Although the Commander-in-Chief does not forbid the Yongxing Army from attacking the Hu people, he does not support it either. Given the current situation, why has the Commander-in-Chief changed his mind?"

Wang Xin disliked surprises the most.

Nobody likes surprises.

Only children like hope, because children have too many fantasies.

(End of this chapter)