Moma Liangshan

Chapter 234 Survivors, Traveling Together

Zhao Tuo did not immediately answer Xiong Pi's question, but instead asked in return, "Do you all think so too?" The crowd remained silent, which implicitly confirmed their agreement. Zhao Tuo finally said, "Only when facing death can a person's potential be unleashed without reservation. General's actions are not driven by short-sightedness, but simply a matter of destruction before construction!" Xiong Pi, Jida, and Morigen were not fools; upon hearing Zhao Tuo's words, they instantly understood.

As everyone conversed, the edge of the battle formation imperceptibly shifted forward by several steps. Zhao Tuo and the others, unable to hide their astonishment, exclaimed, "We never imagined the general was so incredibly brave!" The crowd laughed and led their troops forward. Half an hour later, the sounds of clashing armor gradually subsided, and the withered grass was stained with thick blood. The battle was over. The troops began treating the wounded and cleaning up the battlefield. However, Zhao Tuo soon noticed something strange and ordered his deputy, "Count the casualties on both sides and report back to me!" The deputy replied, "Yes, sir!"

The battle ended without any suspense, and Lin Chong's order came immediately: everyone should gather at the riverbank. When the group arrived, Lin Chong and Yang Yong were washing the blood off their hands in the river water. Zhao Tuo and the others, clad in armor, moved with a constant clanging of metal as they went. Lin Chong slowly rose, looking at the corpses floating in the river, and said, "After this battle, the enemy should soon become aware of our presence. Are you all ready?" Yang Yong, still immersed in the joy of victory, was greatly puzzled upon hearing Lin Chong's words. He asked, "We annihilated the enemy in this battle as well, so why would we have been exposed?" Yang Yong's naiveté sometimes really gave Lin Chong a headache. He asked, "How did we dispose of the enemy corpses in the last battle?" Yang Yong replied, "Burial them deep underground!" Lin Chong asked again, "And this time?" Without thinking, Yang Yong answered, "Naturally, we'll bury them deep underground again!" Lin Chong's anger surged, and he lashed Yang Yong's armor with his whip, saying, "The river has already washed away dozens of corpses. How can you still manage to leave no trace?" Yang Yong was speechless, his face turning red.

Shortly after, Zhao Tuo's deputy returned after tallying the casualties, reporting, "In this battle, we annihilated over three hundred enemy soldiers, while our army suffered over one hundred and twenty wounded and eleven dead!" Everyone beamed with joy upon hearing this, except for Zhao Tuo, who went to examine the wounded closely. After a short while, Lin Chong asked, "What did you find?" Zhao Tuo replied, "All the soldiers had wounds in vital areas, but thanks to their armor, they escaped unharmed!" Lin Chong then personally went to the bodies of the dead to examine them, and the others followed suit. Lin Chong then asked Yang Yong, "What did you find?" Having just been reprimanded, Yang Yong was much more cautious this time. After a thorough examination, he said, "Most of the fallen soldiers died from blunt force injuries, and a small portion from sharp force injuries!" Lin Chong continued to press, "How should we improve in future battles?" Yang Yong replied, "Improve our movement techniques!" Lin Chong then looked at Zhao Tuo and asked, "And you?" Zhao Tuo replied, "This humble general also believes we should improve our movement techniques!"

Three days later, another Jurchen grain transport caravan was traveling across the vast grasslands when a disheveled, savage-looking man suddenly sprang out from the thick meadows, startling the wild horses pulling the carts. The guards brought the man before the officer in charge, saying, "This man's movements are suspicious, his origins are unknown. Should we kill him?" The grain transport officer, looking down at him, asked, "Are you a person?" The man brushed aside his disheveled hair and said, "The one who saved your life!" A soldier shouted, "You're asking for death!" and kicked him to the ground. The man wasn't angry. He panted and said, "Three days ago, I was also a grain transport officer for the Great Jin Kingdom, but we were attacked and our entire army was wiped out!"

Everyone understood the implication and instinctively looked around to assess the enemy's situation. The transport officer pondered for a moment and ordered, "Bring clean clothes for this gentleman to change into, and some food!" The soldiers dared not delay and immediately complied. A moment later, the former savage had transformed into a strong man, his arms tightly bandaged with white cloth. The man, now dressed, said, "My name is Wanyan Gunuo. May I ask your name, sir?" The transport officer replied, "My name is Yehenara Pingji. Greetings, Lord Gunuo!"

The Wanyan clan was the royal family of the Jin dynasty, while the Yehe Nara clan belonged to the Shu Nu Town, meaning they were Jurchens registered in the Liao dynasty's household register. Wanyan Gunuo said, "The enemy force numbers less than a thousand, moves like the wind, and is well-equipped and extremely powerful!" Pingji did not doubt the identity of the person before him, as his appearance alone was enough to confirm it. But as a Jurchen warrior, it was puzzling that he would so gloat over his own men and diminish their own morale. He said, "I have a question, please tell me, sir!" Wanyan Gunuo said, "You want to know why only I survived?" Pingji smiled sheepishly and replied, "Yes!" Wanyan Gunuo said, "Thirty li to the south, there is a large river, its current sometimes gentle, sometimes rapid, do you know it?" Pingji nodded and said, "The Great Bend River!" Seeing this, Wanyan Gunuo continued, "Three days ago, as usual, I sought out the swift current to set up camp by the river, and erected walls, barricades, and guards. Unfortunately, the enemy was cunning and ruthless, sneaking in under cover of night. Three volleys of arrows turned the camp into a sea of ​​fire. The soldiers were awakened from their sleep and hastily engaged in battle, but the enemy was numerous, powerful, and well-equipped. Our army suffered repeated defeats, ultimately resulting in total annihilation. At the last moment, I was swept into the river, and only thanks to a piece of driftwood did I survive!"

Pingji felt he was in imminent danger, but Wanyan Guno might be able to help him through this crisis. He said, "Please teach me, Lord Guno?" Wanyan Guno, though not in mortal danger for his annihilated army and empty-handed return, was still facing punishment. He said, "If we can dig out this wolf and ensure the supply line remains unobstructed, it will surely be a great achievement in the end." Pingji frowned and said, "But if I cannot deliver the supplies to the front lines on time, I will still be held accountable!" Wanyan Guno To reassure Pingji, he said, "You are only the first supply convoy I have intercepted. Soon there will be a second, a third, a fourth..." Pingji nodded at first, then exclaimed in alarm, "Won't this cut off the army's food supply?" Wanyan Gunuo replied, "Even if I am a member of the Wanyan clan, I would never dare to cut off the army's food supply! The enemy has several hundred men, and no single supply convoy can defeat them. However, if several supply convoys travel together, the outcome might be different!"