For the generals of Liangshan, being angry about what happened in the afternoon was indeed a relatively common emotion.
Liangshan had been preparing for a year, and they were determined to win the battle of Lone Dragon Hill. In the previous few days, even though Lone Dragon Hill resisted fiercely, the people of Liangshan had already weighed the strength of both sides, and their morale had reached its peak. Who knew that on the eighth day that was about to come to an end, it was as if they'd suddenly encountered a little person that took a stick and hit their legs, causing them to be unable to help but stop.
Although it was a little uncomfortable to talk about being called back after preparing to attack this evening, after hearing about the whole situation, no one thought that this matter could really hurt the foundation of Liangshan. But the whole situation … was a little confusing.
Nearly two hundred people were released, a complicated conspiracy, and a strange explanation … There were many meticulous people in Liangshan, but most of the leaders were uncouth. When they roughly figured out the problem of the whole matter, they couldn't help but frown.
The whole situation was just as the spy said. An open conspiracy was right in front of them. If they thought about it carefully, they had to admit that this matter was almost unsolvable. No one could guarantee that no one in the team had ulterior motives, but …
"So what?" Yang Zhi frowned. "Can this matter really affect the overall situation?"
"But this person did delay our attack by a day …" Dragon in the Clouds Gongsun Sheng shook his head and smiled. He hadn't participated in the battle yet, so he was interested in studying it slowly.
"What's the use of struggling at death's door for a day and a half?"
For the people in front of them, this was indeed a strange scheme that they had never seen before, but not many people really admired it.
Over the past few days, the Zhu Family Village had been coming up with various ways to turn the tables. Everyone was mentally prepared, but this plot … it had no solution. No one could directly refute the questions raised and the questions about Liangshan, but it also had no power. If things were simpler, everyone would sincerely feel that the Zhu Family Village had put in a lot of effort. But the twists and turns in this plot really dazzled the eyes. It gave people the feeling that it was more like a jumping clown, racking its brains over there to make all kinds of evil appearances. It was unbearable.
No one could ignore this matter, but after looking at it seriously, it made people feel a little stupid. It was as if the greatest value of this matter was to annoy people. Just as Guan Sheng said, "Rush out my ass!"
Of course, no one could be sure that the other party was a fool and had no backup plan. However, the general direction of Liangshan at this time was still Wu Yong's preparation. Everyone only cared about discussing and cursing. Wu Yong and Song Jiang whispered to each other for a while before standing up and cupping their hands at everyone.
"Brothers, you're right. I had no choice but to withdraw my troops today because I didn't want to have too many unnecessary casualties. However, I've thought about this matter carefully after I came back. At the very least, in the next two days, they will release all the subordinates under Brother Suo Chao to disrupt our pace. This matter is simple and direct, and it may not be useless. Everyone should be able to think of it. "
Wu Yong laughed coldly. "But in this world, strength is the simplest and most direct. This person had racked his brains, and tonight, it was indeed effective. However, using surprise attacks was only a last resort. If he really thought that he could continue using it, then he was gravely mistaken. He uses chi, we use square. According to our previous plan, we will break through Lone Dragon Ridge within five days. The method of breaking through this plan is actually very simple. From tonight onwards, military discipline will be strictly enforced! Brothers, go down and explain the situation to your subordinates. Those who haven't come out yet, come out quickly. On the battlefield, everyone pay attention. Set up a military judge. Most importantly, record down those who are released and gather them together. "
He was originally a scholar, but because of the incident in the afternoon, he was a little embarrassed. At this time, his tone became stern. "Within five days, if this person wants to sow discord, he can't overturn the heavens! At the latest in five days, Lone Dragon Ridge will be broken, and everything will disappear. At that time, I'd like to see what this person's background is! "
What Wu Yong said was correct. The other side's plan was aimed at the problem of military discipline here. The real and most fundamental solution was to strictly enforce military discipline. Even if the problem could not be fundamentally solved in a short period of time, as long as the leaders consciously did it, how difficult could it be to suppress the problem for five days?
He made his decision, and everyone naturally nodded in agreement. That night, everyone went back to their subordinates to consolidate morale. Wu Yong also found Dai Zong and told him to pay attention to the situation in the camp.
While Liangshan was dealing with the situation, Hu Sanniang was also escorting the dozens of soldiers and the Liangshan chief Wang Ying to Zhu Jia Village.
Today, Hu Jia Village was already besieged and was prepared to close the village for defense. However, the situation in Liangshan was really strange. It was only at night that people from Zhu Jia Village vaguely talked about it. Most people were puzzled as to how more than two hundred Liangshan captives could make the enemy retreat. However, when they talked about it, they only knew that the plan was extremely complicated and brilliant. Ordinary people would not be able to understand it. After Hu Sanniang and Wang Shanyue completed the handover, she went to see the interrogation that was going on in the small square in the courtyard. She then went to find Zhu Chaofeng and the others to ask a few questions. When she left, she did not completely understand the cause of the matter. She only knew that this group of people from the imperial court had made a move and temporarily scared off the Liangshan bandits.
What was going on in the small square was not much different from what had happened the night before. It was just that Zhu Jia Village had also sent out two experienced and knowledgeable chief stewards to identify the people.
As the isolated interrogation continued, in a small building on the side, Ning Yi was also summarizing the "answer sheets" with Wang Shanyue and Qi Xinhan. If they wanted to obtain accurate information from these "answer sheets", they needed to make detailed comparisons. However, at the same time, they actually provided information on whether each person was firm, slippery or weak. However, to summarize the outline, the person reviewing the answers had to have a lot of experience and discernment ability.
Wang Shanyue was Qin Siyuan's disciple. She was smart. Among the three Qi brothers, Qi Xinhan, the youngest, had the highest comprehension and talent. Therefore, Ning Yi found two people to help.
There were more than four hundred captives gathered this time, but only two hundred were chosen to be interrogated first. On Ning Yi's side, although Wang Shanyue and Qi Xinhan had some talent and experience, they could not compare to Ning Yi's shrewdness and ruthlessness in many aspects. In order to bring out the two, Ning Yi would also give them a detailed explanation, elaborating on the principles of measurement and analysis.
Although he said that it didn't matter who rebelled or not, if he wanted to do things, he naturally had to make sure that there were as many people who could rebel as possible. He couldn't be careless. Instead, things were progressing even slower than last night. In the early hours of the morning, the three of them ate supper and continued working. Wang Shanyue and Qi Xinhan would also talk about the doubts in their hearts. Qi Xinhan had spent some time on the battlefield with various speculations about what would happen next. He also talked about the consequences of the enemy's grand army crushing over.
"… If things continue as they are now, although they can leave a thorn in their hearts, it will not last for too long. In four to five days, as long as they are more conservative, even if you, Liheng, use a backup plan, they will not be able to withdraw their army just because of some rumors, right? "
"Yes, we do not have much time." In response to Qi Xinhan's question, Ning Yi, who was looking at the answer scroll, also nodded. "They will not play any petty tricks with us. This is the right way to go when there is a great disparity in strength. But we are here to play a conspiracy, and this is the only way. It is very simple, either we succeed or we fail. They will break through Zhu Jia Village in a few days. Before that, we have to break their chain of trust. No matter who sees it, we do not have the upper hand in a simple contest of strength. I can only do my best. The only advantage is that at least at the beginning, they should not be able to see the consequences … "
"Chain of … trust?"
"Heh, let me give you an example." Ning Yi finished reading one answer scroll, raised his head and smiled, then looked at the next one. "Somewhere in the yamen, he was arrested by the yamen. The crime was that he and his companions had gang-raped a girl. He is a rich second generation ancestor, so there is nothing strange about this kind of thing. Everyone believed it."
He paused. "Not long after, the news spread. The rich second generation ancestor said that it was not gang-rape. He was asleep and did not do anything. Then, he said that it was actually adultery. Think about it, he is rich, powerful, and not ugly, why would he go and play rape … Then, he said that he did not actually do anything, but was framed by the yamen, and that he confessed under torture. Then, he said that it was because someone deliberately wanted to mess with him and set him up … What is interesting is that no matter what he said, there are people who believe it. "
"Of course there are people who believe it." Wang Shanyue's originally cold face smiled. "What about the truth, what is it?"
"The truth is … I don't know, because the important thing is not the truth at all." Ning Yi smiled and said, "A rape case, or even a murder case, the verdict is the same. If we say that the most important lesson of this matter is to teach ourselves, we can actually see that a very important chain has already gone wrong. Where's the evidence? How many people really care about the evidence? And how many people really care about the fairness of the matter? Every explanation … there are people who believe it. "
Wang Shanyue thought about it and was a little puzzled. "This matter you mentioned … a yamen official was arrested by the yamen. There is something fishy about the matter in itself. The evidence can naturally be fabricated, but to say that it is fair … I have been in the Office of Secret Investigations for so long. If I say there is no inside story in this kind of matter, I'm afraid you won't believe it either, right?"
"Brother Wang is right. In fact, I really don't believe it." Ning Yi smiled. "This is what it means to not be afraid to speculate on people with the worst of intentions. For us, as long as you can say how bad the people around us are, how big the conspiracy is, I will believe it to be true. The people of Liangshan are the same … This is actually where the problem lies. "
Ning Yi flipped over a piece of paper. "In the war between our dynasty and the Liao people, it's not that we don't have real elite soldiers. A hundred people against a hundred people might win or lose, but a hundred thousand people against ten thousand people will be utterly defeated. In fact, it's because they think that the people around them will be afraid of death and run away … Everyone knows that if they fight head-on, they will definitely be able to defeat the Liao people. But when it comes to it, everyone still runs away. What's important is not what the truth is, but what everyone thinks the truth is. The two interrogations and the subsequent tasks are actually for fools. Fools determine the atmosphere, and the ones who influence the outcome of the war are the smart people over there … The most important thing I want to send over is for the smart people. If things go smoothly, it should have already sprouted over there … "
Qi Xinhan thought about it and asked in a low voice, "What is that?"
"Heh, I was just about to tell you that this is the most important thing. For the time being, not many people will be able to discover it. When you do it later, remember not to deliberately …"
The yellow light from the lamp shone on the window. The figures in the room whispered to each other, and vaguely, it sounded like the ravings of demons.
It was still late at night, and the people on both sides of the war were preparing for the war after daybreak. For the people of Zhu Jia Village, the events that transpired the previous evening were a good boost to their morale. The villagers who had woken up early whispered to each other about things that they did not understand. Luan Tingyu and the others bumped heads with Ning Yi and asked about the things that they needed to pay attention to.
"I don't know much about war, but in the next few days, I'm afraid everyone will be fighting a fierce battle. Instructor Luan and the other Zhu brothers still have to protect yourselves. The longer the better. The method of letting people out may not affect them much. But there is one thing we need to pay attention to. "
Ning Yi said, "They may play some tricks. This is the most direct way of thinking. If no one sends a signal to this side, then it is the most normal situation. But if someone sends a signal to this side, please do not believe it. It must be a trap. When I give this kind of mission, I choose those who are stubborn … If Instructor Luan can grasp this well, maybe you can turn it around and trick them again. But don't overdo it, there is nothing else …"
At about the same time, Wu Yong walked out of the tent and looked at the few soldiers who came with Dai Zong.
"Since they want to play tricks, we might as well push the boat with the current and offer the Buddha with borrowed flowers. After entering the battlefield, let them follow Brother Lin, Brother Hua Rong, and a few other leaders. When the time is right, they will act according to the plan and send a signal to invite them into the trap. "
Dai Zong smiled and said, "Military Advisor, this plan is to let them suffer a big loss."
Wu Yong smiled and shook his head. "If we fight them head-on, we will win. I am just trying my best. In the end, a clever plan will not be able to support the overall situation."
After he said this, some soldiers came over, saying that something had happened in the camp and that someone had been killed in the middle of the night. Wu Yong and the others hurried over, but the one who died was the soldier who had accepted the mission of "report everything to the higher-ups and run away as soon as possible". Last night, Dai Zong and the others had ordered to strengthen the protection of these returning soldiers, but in the middle of the night, this person was killed alone in the tent and his head was cut off.
This matter immediately caused a discussion among the surrounding tents. Dai Zong asked someone to suppress this discussion. When they came over again, Wu Yong stood in front of the tent and looked at the corpse inside. He clenched his fist and kept silent.
Dai Zong said in a low voice, "There are still people who have been held hostage by the other side."
Wu Yong frowned and also lowered his voice. "There are definitely people who have not reached Liangshan yet. If their identities are recognized, they might be threatened."
"For now, we only know that Liu Fu from the Sect of Dual Blades is involved … Although I have mentioned the statistics of the soldiers last night, it is definitely not done yet. It is difficult to find out whether someone has left without anyone knowing after killing someone."
"What mission did Liu Fu accept?"
"He said he did not have a mission."
"… I will have to trouble Headmaster Dai to investigate this matter." Wu Yong clenched his teeth and then reached out to press on Dai Zong's shoulder. "Don't touch Liu Fu, just monitor him. He's clearly trying to drive a wedge between us. That fellow on the other side really knows how to pin down every single detail when it comes to small matters. He clearly knows that Liu Fu's identity has already been exposed in front of everyone, so he decided to leave the biggest loophole. He's clearly … making it hard for us to investigate, but it's also hard for us to not investigate … Unfortunately, he's too petty! "
The headless corpse on the ground was like a huge mockery from the other side. Although Wu Yong said that the other side was too narrow-minded, he couldn't help but grit his teeth when he thought about it. Then, there was another report.
In the military camp, a small red cloth with the word "Zhu" on it floated upstream from the stream used for cooking breakfast. Someone had thrown a few bags of things into the water, which could be poison or knockout drugs. Although the stream had been flowing, if the things were placed in the cloth bags, the effects of the drugs would continue to spread into the water for a certain period of time. The other side had no choice but to call a small team of soldiers to search upstream. At the same time, they got a military doctor to check the stream water.
The results of the examination showed that everything was normal. These two strange things had happened in the morning, but because of the second incident, the entire army's breakfast had been delayed by an hour.
After the first rays of the morning sun appeared, Wu Yong walked into the battlefield with a gloomy face. He then raised his head and smiled. His tone was cold and frightening, extremely imposing.
He looked around and said, "Kill them!"
*****
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