717 Morale (1/2)
”I've decided to go to war against the Court Attendants Army.”
Gu Shenwei had summoned the generals for a war counsel early in the morning but the first words out of his mouth astonished the three people who had just sat down.
Fang Wenshi looked at the Dragon King with bewilderment and shook his head, but didn't immediately raise any questions as there were still others around. Azheba also didn't speak, as he clearly recognized that he was better at archery than military strategy.
Without his two bodyguards around, Shulitu actually felt a bit uncomfortable and nervously fidgeted constantly in his chair. ”With all of our enemies surrounding us, the Dragon King must have a special reason for choosing to fight the most powerful one, the Court Attendants Army.”
Gu Shenwei had contemplated and revised his plans it for half a night. Although the overall plan still had many loopholes, he believed that his reasoning made perfect sense. ”The Court Attendants Army is the strongest, so not only will defeating it deter our other enemies, but also improve the morale of our troops.”
”But… How will we defeat the Court Attendants Army?” Fang Wenshi wasn't able to hold back, and asked, ”We only have thirty thousand people in total while the Court Attendants Army is a hundred thousand strong. Though the Dragon King is skilled at using the few to defeat the many, that… might not work as well against an army.”
”And they are also the best horsemen on the prairie,” Azheba added. Although he had been forced to flee the camp, he was still proud that he had been a member of the Court Attendants Army.
Shulitu thought a bit more and supported the Dragon King, explaining, ”Without any commanding officers, the hundred thousand horsemen will be greatly reduced in cohesiveness and power.”
”When they came yesterday, from afar, it looked as if the troops were in good order along with their flags too. Perhaps the Great Shaman has already appointed a new group of officers.” Fang Wenshi played his old role of devil's advocate to make the Dragon King's plans foolproof.
”Would the court attendants adapt quickly to new officers?” Gu Shenwei asked Azheba.
Azheba thought for a moment and answered, ”That's not a huge problem. As long as someone raises their flag, the horsemen will follow him. The officers and the soldiers don't have to talk much to each other. And if the new officers are promoted from within the ranks, there will be no problem at all.” As a previous officer of the Court Attendants Army, Azheba wishedthat the answer was 'No,' but he had to tell the truth.
Gu Shenwei said with a little excitement in his tone. ”Yes, the soldiers follow the flags so the flags are the core of the Court Attendants Army. So after the shamans took the power, the first thing they must have done was seize the commander's flag.”
They had all seen that big yellow flag embroidered with a black horse flying behind the shamans, and Azheba was still indignant about it. ”The Great Shaman doesn't have the right to use the commander-in-chief's flag.”
”The Dragon King wants to destroy the flag?” Shulitu got a little excited, too.
However, Fang Wenshi was a bit more cautious. ”I'm afraid that it won't be that simple. Can destroying a flag really throw the enemy into confusion?” he doubted.
”If the time is right.” Gu Shenwei added a premise.
”For example, right when the two armies are about to collide,” Shulitu also added on.
Then they all turned to Azheba, who was the best qualified to evaluate the Dragon King's bold plan.
Azheba thought for a while and said, ”The flag of the commander is sometimes more closely guarded than the commander himself. Besides, it's very difficult to predict how the soldiers will react to the flag being destroyed. They might flee in all directions, but they might also be bound even tighter by a common hatred. I really feel ashamed. Although I've served in the Court Attendants Army for nine years, I actually know very little about its soldiers' thoughts.”
”The morale of soldiers is always hard to control,” Gu Shenwei soothed as he tapped the table.
”The morale of our troops is also difficult to predict,” Shulitu blurted out without realizing that he had changed his stance by saying the word 'our.' ”The three armies have three commander's flags. It's fine when they're lining up and grouped together, but I'm worried that they'll fight on their own when the battle starts.”
”That problem can be easily solved,” Fang Wenshi hurriedly said as this was a task that he had received. ”Within ten days, the whole army will use only one commander's flag and all the orders will come from one person.”
This subject was a bit sensitive because it was still unsettled who this 'one person' would be.
Shulitu also didn't sleep much last night. He had agonized over a single question all of last night. Now he got up and said, ”I have a childish suggestion and I hope that the Dragon King will not laugh at me.”
”Please go ahead. No one would dare laugh at Your Highness.”
”Well, I hope the Dragon King can act as my Grand Mentor and assist me in leading the army.”
The tent fell silent for a while before Gu Shenwei accepted, saying, ”I'm honored.”
Fang Wenshi applauded and said, ”What's childish about this proposal? That's a brilliant idea. Why didn't I think of that?”
The 'Grand Mentor' was a flexible title that held both official and guardian-like connotations. It also showed the king's respect for the Dragon King, which was most appropriate for the Dragon King, a foreigner.
Being praised, Shulitu blushed a bit. ”It would be great if Mr. Fang is willing to be the military adviser.”
Fang Wenshi had already styled himself in this position. ”Very good, very good.” He kept nodding his head.
After a few more courtesies, Azheba asked, ”Has the Dragon King thought in detail about the fight with the Court Attendants Army?”
Gu Shenwei had almost finished thinking it over, but he continued thinking about it for a while more before saying, ”We need to speed up the reorganization of our army. In five days' time, Your Highness should be the sole commander-in-chief.”
”With the help of Counselor Fang, I don't that'll be a problem.” Shulitu tried to behave like an adult. Although he was still a puppet, he found that for the first time, he could speak his mind freely.
Fang Wenshi also made a promise. ”Five days, well. It won't be a problem. We have to make a new flag. If it's too late, then we'll just quickly modify King Riying's old flag.”
”I'll find out the opinions and thoughts of the Court Attendants Army's soldiers in three days. I don't believe that an army of a hundred thousand people could be controlled solely by a couple of psychic mediums. There must be a huge gap somewhere.” Gu Shenwei pressed the table with his right hand, his determination to go to war not wavering in the slightest.
Fang Wenshi knew the Dragon King's means of prying into the enemy's movements the best, which was a necessary task, but it also made him very worried. Thus, he reminded, ”The Dragon King must not risk his life. The previous Commandant…”
”The counselor won't have to worry about it.”
The Dragon King did not give a definite answer, but Fang Wenshi could only sigh.
Gu Shenwei left Azheba alone. ”I noticed a very strange thing. Yesterday, that young shaman seemed to hold a grudge against you.”
That shaman had said a bunch of threats and shot a glance at Azheba before he left. Gu Shenwei noticed the subtle glance and had kept it in mind but placed it lower on his list of doubts.