Chapter 56 Aspiration of a Great General (1/2)
Chapter 56 – Aspiration of a Great General
October 27th. Afternoon.
Xin Ping Army soldiers packed all of their belonging in joyous mood as they did not have to fight in a bloody war anymore. Since majority of the troops were conscripted militias, they did not feel sad for losing a battle. They were here for money and food for their families, so their priority was to return home alive.
There were still a few who resented Zhang Tong and his men for killing their friends in the first day siege and the night raid. But all of them were professional soldiers, so they could not disobey their grand commander's order.
Zhang He gazed at his men with his indifferent face. He kept his poker face all this morning which it slowly turned into his casual face without him realizing it. Behind him, Tong was there, swinging his newly regenerated arm to get back his feeling and his sense.
Regenerating a lost body part was costly as the system charged him 500 lifespans for one piece. Although Tong gained some of his lifespans back with his [Sword Mastery] skill for killing Pan Feng's soldiers, he had only 656 lifespans remaining.
But Tong did not regret it because paying 1,000 lifespans to force 5,000 to 6,000 men into retreat was worth it. Furthermore, this retreating plan had a couple more agendas which Tong had given Zhang He as a homework.
As for the body parts that were cut off, he buried all of them. If he continued keeping them and Hua Shi were to find them, she would probably eat it raw.
”My lord, are you sure this is the right move?” Zhang He asked Tong.
”Why?”
”I'm sorry if I might sound rude. But if I were my lord, I would use this troops to attack Liu Yan and Guo Dian forces men instead.”
Tong smiled as he shook his head. There was another plan in his mind.
Because Ye City was one of the biggest Imperial cities on the northern province of China, he would need over two hundred thousand men for the siege if Tong wanted to claim Ye City in the future. The city alone could house over a hundred thousand soldiers, and almost a million of civilians. It could not be taken down without massive investments of troops, provision and gold.
However, if he planted Zhang He within Han Fu's ranks like a Trojan Horse of Troy, it would be possible that Zhang He could take over Han Fu's entire army. If Tong wanted to invade Ye City in the future, he could make Zhang He surrender the city to him without fighting. Thus, it would save hundred thousands lives of his men and his future civilians and servants, which was more beneficial to Tong in the long run.
If Zhang He helped Tong in this siege, they could crush Zou Jing and Guo Dian Army with ease. But the entire plan to take over Ye would be foiled as Han Fu would never trust Zhang He in the future.
For the bigger picture, Tong had to make an advance investment.
But now, he had to coax Zhang He into cooperation first.
”I understand why you view it that way. But you've forgotten something.”
”I've forgotten something?”
”You've forgotten the heart of your soldiers. Your people.”
”Heart of the soldiers?”
”Have you forgotten why you have become a soldier? Why they volunteered to be conscripted into militias?”
Zhang He was stunned as he was reminded how he entered the military. He had to pay back his debt of a thousand gold so he had no choice but to risk his life and became a professional soldier.
”Just like you, they want money. They want to bring home food for their families.”
”…”
”Have you seen their faces?”
”…Yes.”
”Are they happy?”
”…Yes.”
”Have you read a record called 'Art of War' written by Sun Tzu?”
”I've heard of it but I've never read it.”
”There is one quote that I remember well; 'Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.'.”
Zhang He was astonished and awed by the quote. It was deep and profound. He had never entered school or had any education before, but he desired for an opportunity to be tutor or to learn such thing.
Zhang He immediately recited the quote in his mind in enthusiasm. He was afraid that he might forget it if he didn't recite it now.
Seeing that Zhang He mumbled to himself to recite the quote, Tong shook his head and sighed. Then he took out an empty scroll and started writing the quote that Tong taught Zhang He just now.
”Here, I wrote it down for you. You are not a scholar but a commander of an army. Stop reciting it like that.”
Tong passed the scroll to Zhang He whose face was redden by the embarrassment.
”What I'm trying to tell you is, don't recklessly toss away their lives even if their sacrifices can win you a battle. A third rate general can win a battle but he will lose most of his men in return. The first rate generals will win any battle with minimum loses. But do you know what a great general can achieve?”