Finest Servant

Chapter 522 The Grave Situation

News of the great victory at Wuyuan spread like wildfire to Xingqing, Shuofang, and Yanmen Pass, eliciting jubilant cheers within and beyond the Great Wall. Countless soldiers guarding the passes were elated, their spirits soaring, and tears of emotion wetting the turrets and battlements.

The threat of the nomads had lingered for a hundred years, an ongoing malaise finally alleviated today. This moment of upliftment was something that Great Hua had waited for far too long. Although the first battle resulted in annihilating only about 40,000 of the enemy, it was a feat achieved under unfavorable conditions, in terms of both manpower and capabilities. The brilliance of the campaign was enough to be included in textbooks. It was a milestone victory, enormously significant for boosting the morale of the Great Hua populace and its soldiers.

Stepping on gunpowder and holding fort at Wuyuan, Lin Wanrong led thousands of brave warriors in a bloody battle against the Turks. His valor and tact brought him instant fame. In a matter of days, his name spread throughout the regions along the Yangtze River and the areas surrounding the Great Wall, etched into the hearts of six hundred thousand soldiers guarding the borders. In comparison, his past achievements in eradicating the White Lotus seemed trivial.

However, Lin Wanrong had no time to dwell on these matters. The elite troops he had led from Shandong had suffered heavy casualties. Numerous young soldiers had fallen before his eyes, keeping him restless and awake at night. He seemed crazed in his relentless drilling of troops, waking up early and staying up late, surprising even those like Hu Bugui with his fervor.

"Miss Xu, could you please persuade the General?" Under the setting sun, Hu Bugui, Gao Qiu, and Du Xiuyuan stood next to Xu Zhiqing, watching Lin Wanrong’s imposing figure in the distance and sighing silently.

Astride his horse, Lin Wanrong was shirtless, gripping a sword in one hand while sweat beads trickled down his forehead and cheeks, blurring his face. He seemed entirely unaware as he spurred his warhorse and charged forward like a whirlwind.

"Charge—"

With a furious roar, the blade in his hand stabbed into a standing log, its tip shaking tremulously as it pierced through the wood. Behind him, a wave of shadowy figures on thousands of galloping horses kicked up a storm of sand, their riders shouting as they practiced desert warfare maneuvers.

Xu Zhiqing sighed softly, "Don't you know his temperament? He’s happier than anyone when he smiles, but more stubborn than a rock when he’s obstinate. Who could possibly persuade him?"

Gao Qiu nodded, "Indeed. In the past, the mere mention of a pretty young woman would light up his eyes. But these days, no matter what I say or even present him with special illustration books, he simply doesn't smile."

"What kind of illustration books did you give the General?" Du Xiuyuan asked curiously.

Gao Qiu chuckled, "Books passed down in my family for educational purposes. The kind General Lin likes!"

If Lin San liked it, then it surely couldn't be anything decent! Xu Zhiqing lightly spat, her cheeks flushing. "The time for today’s council has arrived. Commander Gao, please summon General Lin to my tent for discussion."

As Xu Zhiqing’s figure gracefully receded into the distance, Du Xiuyuan and the others finally burst into laughter. Gao Qiu looked around and whispered mysteriously, "Brothers, have you noticed? The relationship between our advisor and General Lin seems to have improved these past few days. She often visits our camp and the way she looks at General Lin... Ah, how sentimental—like wind, like sand! Seems like the illustration books I gifted General Lin will find their use very soon, hehe—"

"Useless nonsense!" Gao Qiu received a kick to his rear, and a voice chuckled from behind him, "Those tricks in the painting album you gave me are outdated by a decade. Time for an upgrade."

Lin Wanrong stood before them, shirtless and brushing the sand off his body. His skin was as healthily tanned as his face, and beads of sweat glimmered in the falling desert sun, epitomizing vigor. Gao Qiu looked at him in awe and exclaimed, "Great muscles, great build! Brother Lin, how did you train yourself like this? Teach me!"

Lin Wanrong grinned, "Wash your face with sand, scrub your body with bricks, and persist for ten years—great things can be achieved!"

Gao Qiu rolled his eyes. Hu Bugui and Du Xiuyuan erupted in laughter, their voices mingling with the distant cries of warhorses and clashing of soldiers, echoing up to the heavens.

As Lin Wanrong strode into the central army camp, the sun had already sunk deep into the desert. Soldiers on guard at the camp's entrance greeted him with eyes full of admiration, saluting him in unison. This was the ultimate accolade for a valiant warrior who had fought against the Turks, a mark of trust and respect.

Gazing at these young faces full of anticipation and excitement, he thought of his brothers who had died at Wuyuan. Lin Wanrong managed a smile and waved his hand in a muted gesture.

Just as he stepped into the central tent, a hearty laugh resounded, "Well, well, Brother Lin! You've won a great victory but haven't shown your face for two days. What's the matter? Afraid we'll steal your credit?" Zuo Qiu grabbed his arm, jesting relentlessly.

Lin Wanrong offered a slight smile, "Brother Zuo jokes. This credit belongs to everyone. Why would it need to be stolen?"

The tent was filled with quite a few people that day, including commanders and deputy commanders from all three fronts, numbering over thirty. Seeing Lin Wanrong enter, their faces lit up with joy. Achieving such an impressive victory in their first battle had exceeded everyone's expectations. It had not only reversed the decline that Great Hua had suffered for years but also made the nomadic tribes halt at Wuyuan, hesitant to advance. The atmosphere was filled with jubilant smiles. �

Xu Zhiqing cast a stealthy glance at him, noticing his loose armor and faint traces of fine sand on his forehead. He appeared more tanned and jovial than before, different from how he looked before joining the army—there was a new rugged charm. She pursed her lips and smiled, "Brother Zuo, don't pressure him too much. I heard that before leaving Wuyuan, General Lin beheaded all 5,000 captured Turkic warhorses and arranged them to form the characters for 'Great Hua,' showing his defiance to the enemy. Turkic Prince Batur was so furious that he offered a reward of ten thousand gold coins to capture Lin San. General Lin has been training troops these past days, probably to avoid the fearless Turkic soldiers snatching the gold off him!"

Laughter broke out among the crowd, accompanied by thunderous applause. Lin Wanrong glanced at her and chuckled, "And what about you, advisor? Are you worried?"

Miss Xu gave him a sidelong glance, her cheeks flushed. She turned her head slightly and murmured a soft "Hmm," sweet as nectar.

Deputy commander Yu Zongcai observed the subtle interaction between the two and his face instantly paled.

Zuo Qiu slapped his hands together fiercely, exclaiming, "Brother Lin, your beheading of the enemy horses was truly exceptional—far more satisfying than even setting explosives in Wuyuan City. The nomads grew up on horseback; their war horses are their lives. Your single stroke has chilled the very souls of the Turkic people! For hundreds of years, what our Great Hua nation has lacked is precisely this ruthlessness! These few slashes—so invigorating, truly exhilarating!"

The atmosphere buzzed as the men talked for a moment. Their confidence soared to unprecedented heights, even the usually composed Zuo Qiu flushed with excitement. The efficacy of their first major victory was evident.

However, Lin Wanrong maintained his sobriety. Although the Turkic forces had lost forty thousand of their elite troops in the initial battle, they still had 260,000 soldiers amassed before Wuyuan City. Their defeat came from their own arrogance and underestimation of the enemy, coupled with their isolated advance into enemy territory. Great Hua's surprise tactics and decisive victory had an element of serendipity and were not easily replicable. As the war progressed, the Turkic forces would learn from their losses, heightening their vigilance. Achieving another such victory would be as difficult as scaling the heavens.

Xu Zhiqing seemed to share his awareness. When the tent finally quieted down, she pointed to the map hanging on the wall and spoke solemnly, "Our current position lies along the northern foothills of the Helan Mountains, about four hundred miles from Wuyuan. Following the Helan Mountain canyon leads to Xingqing Prefecture, our rear support. We are the only line of defense before Xingqing Prefecture. Though we triumphed in the Battle of Wuyuan, the enemy’s main force under Batur has converged before the city walls of Wuyuan. They still have around two hundred thousand troops, all of which are Turkic elites. Due to our unexpected initial victory, the Turkic National Tutor Lu Dongzan has changed his strategy. No longer will they blindly advance; they have adopted a more stable approach, advancing cautiously layer by layer. Finding another opportunity for a surprising victory like at Wuyuan will not be easy."

Her words silenced the tent. If the Turks abandoned their impulsive, aggressive tactics, their combat power would be truly fearsome. As for the Turkic National Tutor Lu Dongzan, his cleverness and wit were well known.

"What do you all think of the current situation?" Miss Xu sighed softly, her gaze sweeping over the generals as she quietly asked.

The severity of the situation lay plainly before them. The joy from their initial victory had been greatly diluted. The tent was eerily quiet as everyone furrowed their brows in deep thought.

How to fight the next battle was also a problem Lin Wanrong had been pondering. With Lu Dongzan's intelligence, he would not make the same mistake twice. The Turks' more calculated advance might have slowed their pace, but it significantly increased their threat, adding even more pressure on Great Hua.

"Advisor, if we array our troops to decisively engage the enemy, what are the odds of victory?" Zuo Qiu pondered for a long moment before asking through gritted teeth.

Miss Xu shook her head gently, "Purely in terms of numbers, we are about even with the Turks. We have the advantage in cannons and crossbows, but the Turkic cavalry are individually stronger. In this vast desert, there are no natural barriers to defend. If we are to engage in a decisive battle, I fear our chances of victory are less than fifty percent. The Turks are probably counting on this very moment."

A sigh escaped Zuo Qiu's lips. A decisive battle was a last resort, one they could not afford to employ lightly.

Lin Wanrong blinked his eyes and suddenly spoke up, "Advisor, this Helan Mountain canyon is naturally difficult to traverse and is a must-pass route for the nomads invading the Central Plains. What if we heavily garrison this canyon to block the Turks' route south?"

As soon as his words landed, a voice of dissent rose, "General Lin, just because you've won a battle doesn't mean you can get carried away. Do you know that there are two major canyons in Helan Mountain running from north to south? How are we supposed to guard them?"

"Can't we guard both?" Lin Wanrong replied with a faint smile. "Are you saying that because there are multiple entrances to the Helan Mountain valley, we should just let the Turks march straight through and seize Xingqing?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Caught off guard by Lin Wanrong's eloquence, Deputy Commander Yu was left speechless.

Xu Zhiqing nodded, "Certainly, the two canyons can be defended, but our troops would be spread thin. The Turks could choose either route to launch a concentrated assault, and the initiative would then fall into their hands."

"Advisor Xu, whether we like it or not, to defend Xingqing, we must guard both of these canyons. Am I right?" Lin Wanrong looked at her intently, his eyes burning.

Xu Zhiqing glanced at him, her cheeks flushing slightly, "Yes, these two canyons must be defended. So, are you planning to plant explosives again? The nomads learned their lesson last time; they won't fall for that again."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Advisor Xu, you're truly intelligent, seeing through my ruse so quickly. If all the nomads were as smart as you, we'd be doomed."

Xu Zhiqing shot him an annoyed look, "What exactly is your plan? Speak!"

Lin Wanrong turned serious, "Advisor Xu, if the entire Turkic force of two hundred thousand attacks, and we're defending these two canyons, how long do you think we can hold out?"

After pondering for a moment, Xu Zhiqing finally replied, "Defending a canyon is not the same as defending a city. Unless we blow up the canyon, we could only hold out for three days at most."

Blowing up the canyon would certainly slow down the Turks but would also sever the crucial passageway between Xingqing and the great desert. Not to mention the loss of Wuyuan, Helan Mountain would be handed over to the Turks. Their only option would then be to retreat to Xingqing. Once the barbarians cleared the canyon, Xingqing would be left without natural defenses and exposed to the enemy's cavalry—a desperate move, indeed.

Furthermore, Helan Mountain wasn't just an imposing mountain range for the Great Hua; it marked the boundary between farming and nomadic people and served as a psychological bastion for the soldiers.

Everyone understood this, and their faces changed when they heard the idea of blowing up the canyon.

"Three days?" A glint of ferocity flashed in Lin Wanrong's eyes as he clapped his hands abruptly, "Whether we like it or not, three days it is then. Advisor Xu, I have a plan."

Hi, if you like the story, please rate and review this novel on novelupdates. Thanks!

Check out the last chapter 691 in /al_squad