C19 (2/2)
Kong Sheng nodded: ”If I don't go, who can take along Red Camp?”
Three piles of antlers were laid out in front of the gate of the Red Camp residence. The main door was tightly shut, making it look extremely desolate. Kong Sheng knew that according to the usual practice of Red Camp, there were at least five or six experts hiding inside and outside the gate. He took a deep breath and kicked the door. To his surprise, the door was opened without being bolted.
The moment the door opened, four figures suddenly appeared in front of him. Two spears and two sabers appeared at the same time. Although the speed was not slow, the spearhead was slightly shaking. It was obvious that the person holding the spear had already lost all of his strength due to hunger.
Seeing that it was Kong Sheng, the four of them could not help but be startled, an older soldier said hesitantly, ”Kong, Lord Kong, please do not make things difficult for us.”
Kong Sheng's eyes focused, he raised his hand and pushed the spear tip to the side, then said coldly, ”I never thought that the Fire Phoenix Army has the tradition of aiming weapons at a direct subordinate officer. I'm not here to get your horse, I want to see Ling Zilu! ” With that, he strode forward. The four soldiers did not dare to attack him. They could only leave three people to guard the door while the other one followed closely behind.
Kong Sheng looked around the courtyard, secretly feeling apprehensive. The trees on both sides of the path were left with only the bare trunks, the leaves, branches, and bark had all disappeared. When he entered the courtyard, he was even more surprised. The tables and chairs had all disappeared. A large fire had been built where the long table used to be. A dozen soldiers were squatting there to warm themselves up. The good wood had been turned into bolts, tables and chairs, all of which had been turned into firewood and were being burned inside.
Seeing Kong Sheng barging in, the few of them were stunned, then suddenly jumped up, and saluted Kong Sheng. Kong Sheng casually waved his hand and said, ”I am looking for Master Ling Zilu Ling.”
A person walked over to Kong Sheng from the corner without saying a word, and knelt down on one knee: ”This official, Ling Zilu, greets Lord Kong.”
When he raised his head again, Kong Sheng was shocked. In such cold weather, Ling Zilu only wore a single layer of clothing, which was wrapped in a cape. The white cloak had already become gray black, and the hair on his face was tied up in a mess. If not for the fact that no one had any objections, Kong Sheng would not have dared to believe that this was the grand captain of the Fire Phoenix Army, the second strongest person beneath him. Kong Sheng did not care about anything else, and immediately reached out to help Ling Zilu.
Ling Zilu stubbornly did not stand up and continued to speak with a lowered head. ”I beg Lord Kong not to kill the warhorses.”
Following his order, the dozen odd soldiers and officers behind him all knelt down and begged Lord Kong not to kill the warhorses.
Kong Sheng retracted the hand he used to support Ling Zilu, and paced back and forth, suddenly standing straight, and cursed: ”What are you doing? Threatening Shangguan? All of them were lucky! Seal off the camp, beat up friends, steal grain! Was this what the directly subordinate Red Camp of the Emperor of the Fire Phoenix Empire did?! Do you even have the face to wear this red armor? Do you have the face to call yourself an aristocratic family of the Empire? All of you are juniors of Venerable families apart from those with high Imperial Military Academy. Which one of you doesn't have a title? Walking on the street, they politely called you 'Your Lordship', but what happened? My lords, are you going to kick everyone out? Ah? Say something! ”
No one raised their head, and no one said a word, but Kong Sheng could feel their resolute attitude, if you want to hit them, go ahead and curse, there was no way he would be able to kill them!
Kong Sheng sighed: ”Alright, my lords, stop kneeling, I am not here to kill your warhorses. I'm here to give you a way out. Otherwise, if this continues, if hungry people really rush in, let alone horses, even you guys will be bitten. ”
Hearing that Kong Sheng wanted to point the way out, Ling Zilu raised his head and said softly, ”Please advise me, Master.”
”Get up! Just what kind of people were they! Find the map. Who has ever seen a battle plan without a map? ” Kong Sheng frowned as he shouted, ”Didn't I say that all of you are so stubborn that you bought your diplomas for Imperial Military Academy? If you don't want to kill your warhorses and give them food, why not just get something to eat from somewhere else? ”
Hearing him say that, Ling Zilu's eyes lit up, and asked: Then Master, where are we going to get the food?
Kong Sheng turned around and glared at him, ”Old Ling, how did you become a captain? Look north! There are hundreds of thousands of people there! Just anything you want will be enough for us to eat! ”
”But ~ ~ but ~ Captain Qu ~ ~” A squad leader nearby muttered softly, not daring to continue.
Kong Sheng rolled his eyes as he asked, ”Why weren't you afraid when you used the back of your blade to cut other people's people's militia? How could he not be afraid when he went out to chop off demon children? Are you afraid of getting beaten up? ”
After saying that, he spread out the map that the soldier handed to him, pointed at the location of the Moqiu Army Camp, and said, ”The closest one is only five kilometers, it will take less than an incense stick to ride on.” Heavy Cavalry soldiers guarding the outer perimeter, Apprentice Knight will go in to snatch some food, and then we will leave! I've already tried the trench outside, light armor with horses shouldn't be too much of a problem! ”
Upon hearing his words, everyone's eyes lit up and nodded their heads. Ling Zilu muttered to himself for a moment, then raised his head and asked: ”Master, then what if the enemy retaliates with an attack? We are already in such a sorry state, I'm afraid we won't be able to stop him, right? ”
Kong Sheng bit his lips, as this was the problem he was most afraid of, and hesitated for a moment before saying, ”Old Zhao and Zhao Handong, we have been observing the enemy camp for a long time. Although the stove has not decreased, there don't seem to be many soldiers training here every day. That's why we suspect that Moqiu Army has already used a plan to reduce their manpower and increase their numbers. They only left a small amount of troops here to watch over us while also guarding the grain. They will only attack after a few more days when we are completely hungry. Now it doesn't matter whether we snatch their food or not, they will still attack us. We can just take advantage of the situation in the trench to get past the horses, and we'll rush over to snatch one of them! ”What do you think?”
Everyone looked at Ling Zilu, Captain Ling's eyes lit up, and said: ”Since I'm going to starve to death anyway, I might as well kill some Devil Kingdom brats before I die! I think that's fine! ”
”Then it's done!” Kong Sheng slapped on the table.
”Do it!” The officers shouted in unison.
The biggest advantage of Fire Phoenix Army was that it had a high mobility. Once a command was given, it would be executed immediately. All the officers called out to their subordinates from the military base. Dressed in light armor, they picked up bow decked with horn of an animal s, although they were all hungry, the moment they put on their helmets and light armor, and picked up their swords, their eyes would shine brightly.
Kong Sheng sat on his mount, looking at the group of soldiers under him, his heart was at ease.
Just as everyone packed up and prepared to leave, a voice slowly drifted over, ”Ladies and gentlemen, would you be willing to bring me along?”