The fiercest soldier of the border army

Were the Xiongnu people difficult to kill?

Tang Shun stood in the center of the governor's mansion, the iron chains on his wrists had just been removed, and his skin still bore the red marks left by the metal.

He looked up at Li Qing'an, the military governor, who was seated in the main seat.

The other person's gaze was fixed on Tang Shun's face like a nail.

Li Qing'an did not ask about the details of the battle, the difficulties, or the methods of building the city.

Instead, the question is whether it's difficult to kill.

Tang Shun knew that this was a test of his courage, vision, and ambition.

Perhaps, Shi Hanshan had already told Xiushui about all the details of the battle before and after.

Tang Shun paused briefly, then said in a deep voice, "The Xiongnu are swift as the wind and have superb horsemanship. Our army is mostly composed of infantry, and it is often difficult to win when facing cavalry with infantry."

Li Qingan leaned back in his chair and did not interrupt.

Tang Shun continued, "However, the Xiongnu's weapons are not sharp and their armor is incomplete, so killing them is not difficult; the key lies in the method of attack."

Li Qingan's eyelids twitched slightly, but he still didn't speak.

Tang Shun continued, "Their cavalry is fast, swift as the wind, and specializes in attacking weak points."

"The Beiting garrison is accustomed to closing the city and holding out until the enemy comes to their door, which puts them at a disadvantage."

"By the time the arrows are used up, the logs are all thrown away, and sand is piled up in the corner to form a slope, it will be too late to retaliate."

He spoke plainly, without any fervor, yet every word resonated deeply.

"So?" Li Qingan finally spoke, his voice low and steady.

"So things have to change." Tang Shun took half a step forward. "We can't just defend the city; we also have to go out of the city."

"Squads of scouts patrolled the border day and night, specifically targeting the herders who transported grain and herded cattle and sheep."

"Cut off their supplies and exhaust their soldiers."

"To sum it up, it can be summed up in sixteen characters."

"When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue!"

The essence of guerrilla warfare from the previous era is equally applicable to the Xiongnu people.

Li Qingan stared at him, his gaze gradually changing.

"When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue..."

Li Qingan repeatedly pondered these words.

Shi Hanshan and Chen Sili, who were standing beside him, stared wide-eyed, as if they were seeing Tang Shun for the first time.

Such military insights came from the mouth of a mere squad leader?

"Brilliant, brilliant!" Li Qing'an exclaimed approvingly. "In this way, we can harass the Xiongnu with minimal cost."

"Sit down." He pointed to the small round stool next to him.

Tang Shun sat down, occupying only about a third of the stool.

"Your tactics are good, but the Xiongnu tribes are scattered, without horses or supplies, so how can you succeed?" Li Qing'an asked.

Tang Shun did not answer directly, "The night I guarded the pass, the Xiongnu cavalry threw sandbags to build up the city."

"Their horses were exhausted from running back and forth."

"If I had twenty riders available at that time, I wouldn't have needed to charge head-on. I could have simply circled around to the rear of the western forest, ambushed their sand-carrying convoy, and burned their spare saddles. Their offensive would have been slowed down."

Li Qing'an understood, "It's a consensus that we lack horses. How can a family of officials compare to a people who can draw a bow?"

Tang Shun looked him straight in the eye. "Two options."

"Firstly, we should establish a cavalry force to counter cavalry with cavalry."

"Secondly, small cavalry units continued their attacks."

"The various Xiongnu tribes lived scattered and relied on plunder to maintain their livelihood."

"We have city walls, and when the Xiongnu invade, they are usually helpless."

"But they didn't!"

"Instead of waiting for them to come knocking on our door and fight to the death, we should proactively disrupt their foundation."

The Xiongnu tribes lived by following water and pasture, and frequently migrated. If they wanted to win a battle, sending out a small force was the best solution.

Li Qingan was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "If I gave you five hundred soldiers, how would you train them?"

"First, select the people," Tang Shun answered decisively. "Not the old and weak, nor the frivolous and cunning."

"Select sons of border residents who are familiar with the terrain, can withstand harsh weather, and are skilled in riding and archery."

"Daily drills last no more than two hours; the rest of the time is spent practicing coordination and mental focus."

Li Qingan responded with an "Oh," and then asked, "Thoughts?"

"That's right, to unite subordinates as one, you must unify their thinking."

"They need to know what they are doing, what they should do, and what they cannot do."

Li Qing'an became interested and continued to ask, "What about provisions? Five hundred men consume a lot of provisions each month."

"Reclamation and farming," Tang Shun said. "There is a lot of wasteland in the northern border. We will set aside a hundred acres for soldiers and farmers to work together."

"Spring planting, autumn harvest, and winter training without interruption."

"Recruited during wartime, and engaged in farming during peacetime, the people have enough food and live in peace."

Li Qingan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"You even know about civil affairs?"

"Soldiers are supported by the people."

Tang Shun remained remarkably calm, stating, "Only when the people are at peace will we be willing to provide grain and laborers."

"If the government troops only know how to take and not how to give back, the border residents will eventually flee."

"By then, no matter how high the city walls are or how thick they are, it will be an empty city."

"But if the border troops are disciplined, they will not dismantle houses even if they freeze to death, nor plunder even if they starve to death, then the people will love and respect them, which is more effective than the highest city wall."

Li Qing'an and the others couldn't help but nod.

The fact that the people of Xiushui are seeking justice is already clear evidence.

Li Qingan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly said, "Your thinking doesn't sound like that of a newly promoted team leader."

Tang Shun remained silent.

"What did you do for a living before?"

"Just some thoughts from a lowly soldier on the frontier."

Li Qingan did not ask any further questions.

He stood up, paced around the secret room, then suddenly turned back: "If you were given a thousand-strong cavalry unit to command, how would you use it?"

After a moment's thought, Tang Shun decided, "Provide ample food and drink, and sufficient provisions. Venture deep into the northern deserts and sustain the war through warfare!"

Li Qing'an leaned forward slightly. "How do you implement the 'using war to sustain war' strategy?"

"No need for logistics, no need for laborers, the entire army rides on horseback and enters the northern desert."

Tang Shun's eyes were as calm as still water. "Kill herdsmen to eliminate future troubles, seize cattle and sheep for military supplies, and run away after looting, never lingering in battle."

"Traveling hundreds of miles every day, following my heart."

The lobby fell silent.

This method is far too arrogant and audacious!

A thousand cavalrymen, and they don't need logistics?

Li Qingan stood up, paced back and forth for a moment with his hands behind his back, and then asked, "Aren't you afraid that scholars will criticize you for being too cruel by saying this?"

"We fight not for the sake of saving face. The more casualties they suffer, the more secure our border will be."

Tang Shun's tone remained calm: "A good general is one who can achieve the greatest results with the least cost."

Li Qingan remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

It wasn't a sneer or a mockery, but a genuine laugh from the heart.

He slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "Excellent! What a fine general's actions!"

Li Qing'an's eyes shone brightly. "I have been in charge of Beiting for fifteen years, and all I have heard are the same old phrases: 'Hold firm and wait for reinforcements,' 'Fight to the death in the city,' and 'Request the dispatch of a large army.'"

"You are the first person to say 'go out of the city to harass the enemy' and 'use offense as defense'."

"Moreover, it is well-organized, with each step based on evidence, and it doesn't just talk about military strategy; it focuses on practical application."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Tang Shun, do you know why I summoned you here alone?"

Tang Shun shook his head.

"Because the Crown Prince is in Tingzhou, he is very interested in the course of this battle and wants to meet the person who made great contributions in this battle."

"I've already appointed Commander Shi. I'll just ask you something else while I'm at it."

Li Qingan said slowly, "Asking you beforehand is a test."

"If you can't give a clear answer, you'll only embarrass yourself in front of the Crown Prince."

"If you have real talent and skills, I, the commander, will not be stingy with them."

"You will come with me to Tingzhou first thing tomorrow morning."

Tang Shun stood up, still composed, and said, "Thank you, Military Governor."

"That's right, you're neither arrogant nor impatient, and you can face injustice and opportunity with equanimity."

Li Qing'an's eyes were full of admiration. "Tang Shun, I have high hopes for you."

Tang Shun cupped his hands in greeting again, without saying anything more.

Within the territory of Beiting, Li Qing'an's appreciation is worth a thousand pieces of gold.

He also understood that from this moment on, in Li Qing'an's eyes, he was no longer the squad leader who had been framed, but a capable general worthy of being put to good use.

The lights in the secret room flickered, casting long shadows of the four people on the wall.

Tang Shun merely cupped his hands in greeting, but did not retreat.

"But you're blaming me, the commander, and haven't punished Wang Jinda?" Li Qing'an asked.

Tang Shun took a deep breath and said, "Military Governor, I am only alive today because of your impartial enforcement of the law."

"I have no objection to this."

"But before that, there was a woman who took a huge risk and led the people of Xiushui to beat the drum to appeal for justice."

"She has entered the governor's residence, and I would like to see her."

Li Qingan listened intently, and finally chuckled, "Well, you're quite the sentimental one. You're talking about Miss Su, aren't you?"

"But it's too late!"

Tang Shun suddenly looked up.