"Xunlang, you haven't fully recovered yet. It's best not to tire yourself out like this. Drink this soup and go back to rest …"
Yang Caiyun placed the soup on the table and looked at Xiao Ruxun's exhausted appearance with a pained expression.
Xiao Ruxun raised his head to look at Yang Caiyun and squeezed out a smile. He finished the soup and meat in the bowl, then continued to write on the table. He said, "There are always some things that need to be said and written. It's not just about the military report. There are also other things that I need to deal with."
Yang Caiyun was puzzled. "What things?"
Xiao Ruxun said, "I want to encourage unmarried soldiers in the army to marry the widows of soldiers who died in battle."
Yang Caiyun was stunned for a moment. Then, she said gently, "Xunlang, you are really kind-hearted. You even thought of this for the soldiers who died in battle."
Kind-Hearted? In order to scheme against Bo Yun and the Mighty Rabbit, he used the lives of soldiers to lure them into his trap. How could he be considered kind-hearted? On the battlefield, there was no room for mercy. Even if he used the lives of his closest subordinates as bait, he had to complete his plan. Merciful soldiers do not command soldiers …
Xiao Ruxun stopped writing and smiled. He opened his arms and gestured for Yang Caiyun to sit in his embrace. Yang Caiyun's cheeks were red. She hesitated for a moment. Seeing that there was no one in the study, she gently sat in Xiao Ruxun's embrace. Xiao Ruxun hugged Yang Caiyun gently.
"If the friends of the soldiers who died in battle were still alive, it would be a good thing for them to marry the wives who lost their husbands. At least, at least those wives would not be miserable and lose interest in life. It's really hard for a woman to survive without a man at home. Today, when I saw the wives and children of the soldiers who died in battle in the city, I really … Alas …"
Yang Caiyun turned around and hugged Xiao Ruxun's head. She said gently, "Doctor Qu's words are really good. A long sigh is used to cover one's tears. The people's livelihood is so difficult. Although women can choose whether to remarry or not, it's not good if they have a son of their ex-husband at home. Thinking about it, only the friends of the soldiers who died in battle can properly raise them and even take care of their parents. Xunlang, you are really considerate."
"I can't do much for them. That's all. A general's success is built on the bones of tens of thousands of people. My fame and fortune are all exchanged with their lives. If I don't do something, how can I face my conscience? Although it has been said since ancient times that merciful people don't command soldiers, a general should at least have a conscience, right? Otherwise, it will bring disaster to future generations. "
Xiao Ruxun could only sigh as he hugged Yang Caiyun.
The battle was won, but the joy didn't last long. Very soon, Xiao Ruxun finished dealing with some matters after the battle. On the third day after the battle, she called for a military meeting to discuss the replenishment of the soldiers and the next step of the strategy. Because the reinforcements hadn't arrived yet, and no one knew if there would be any reinforcements, the scouts sent out to hunt down the enemy didn't find anything. Everyone needed to discuss how to pacify the city.
In this battle, Xiao Ruxun had made a name for himself. All the generals in the army were willing to submit to Xiao Ruxun. They only asked Xiao Ruxun to make the decision. One thousand five hundred crippled soldiers and one thousand surrendered soldiers. Such a force couldn't be compared to the three thousand well-trained elite soldiers from before. Moreover, replenishment of soldiers wasn't something that could be done in a day or two. They still needed to ask for permission from their superiors and the governor. Of course, in times of war, they had to act according to the urgency of the situation. However, the two thousand or so civilians were the lifeline of the city. Xiao Ruxun really didn't want to force them.
"General has a kind heart. However, including the one thousand or so unreliable surrendered soldiers, our army only has two thousand five hundred soldiers. Once the enemy army comes back, our situation will be extremely disadvantageous. The hearts of the surrendered soldiers haven't been collected yet. Once the city is surrounded again, it's hard to guarantee that they won't rebel and work together with the enemy army. If we want to defend the city, these surrendered soldiers are very unreliable!"
Zhao Hu didn't trust these surrendered soldiers at all. Moreover, his words seemed to indicate that he wanted to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots.
Xiao Ruxun immediately vetoed: "We can't! The key is not how to guard against the surrendered soldiers, but how to use them. If we use them in the right place, the effect of the surrendered soldiers is better than that of our main army. If we can save one person, we can save one more person. It's not a bad thing. If the Tartars are barbarians, we can kill them. However, these surrendered soldiers are mostly Daming soldiers. If we kill them, it won't be beneficial to the battle. As a general, we don't fear killing, but we can't be bloodthirsty either.
Zhao Hu hurriedly apologized.
Xiao Ruxun continued: "Our army's next deployment is to attack the rebel army. Passive defense is not a long-term strategy. Only by fighting our way out can we prevent the flames of war from reigniting. In Pinglu City, the city is already heavily damaged. We can't defend it for a short period of time. The only path we can take is to leave the city and attack the rebel army."
Wang Hui worriedly said: "But our army only has two thousand five hundred men. We still have to leave a portion of the army to defend the city. The enemy army easily has ten thousand men. In a battle in the wilderness, our army is at a great disadvantage. The power of our firearms can't be fully displayed."
Chen Xie also hesitated.
Xiao Ruxun was also deeply distressed. Although he had won a great battle, he had also suffered heavy losses and lost the ability to take the initiative. If he still had three thousand soldiers, even if the power of his firearms couldn't be fully displayed, Xiao Ruxun wouldn't be afraid. These days, Xiao Ruxun had ordered the carpenters in the city to modify the tanks. He had modified more than ten Franc Autocannons according to his own designs into rapidly maneuvering vehicle cannons, increasing their combat capability in the field. In an instant, there were more than twenty vehicle cannons, and they were still being modified. But without enough infantry, the survivability of the artillery was too weak.
Just as Xiao Ruxun was feeling extremely distressed, the cavalry suddenly returned with a piece of news that caused Xiao Ruxun to be pleasantly surprised but also a little worried.
The reinforcements sent by Wei Xuezeng and Wei Zhitai had arrived ten li south of the city! The ones leading the troops were Vice General Ma Gui and City Secretary Xiao Ruhui!
He was very happy that the reinforcements had arrived! He was also very happy that Ma Gui had arrived! But his second brother Xiao Ruhui had arrived, so he was a little worried …
However, there was nothing they could do about it. The arrival of three thousand reinforcements instantly broke the predicament in front of them!
He immediately ordered the generals to go with him to welcome the reinforcements.
Ma Gui, the famous Daming Resistance Hero, the leader of the famous Ma Family Generals, was known as the representative of the "Ma" of the East Li and the West Ma. He was quite famous for his fighting ability and was a very strong general. As for his brother Xiao Ruhui, it was said that he was very good at commanding troops. But as for the specifics, no one knew. However, the arrival of these three thousand reinforcements was too timely! With these three thousand reinforcements, Xiao Ruxun had the confidence to launch a counterattack against the rebel army!
Outside the city, Xiao Ruhui's entire body and mind were bathed in great surprise and happiness. Of course, there was also a little bit of disappointment. Her younger brother, the most outstanding descendant of the family, had defeated the rebel army's siege of nine thousand people with only three thousand soldiers and horses. He had also killed the defeated foster son Bo Yun, as well as the Taowu leader Mighty Rabbit and more than thirty officers. He had almost completely wiped out the rebel army and the Taowu cavalry. He had beheaded nearly six thousand people and seized more than eight hundred warhorses! It was equivalent to stabbing a knife into the rebel army's chest!
The entire Nine Sides might not even be able to cut off the heads of six thousand enemy soldiers in a year, but Xiao Ruxun had done it alone! Ever since the decline of the Nine Sides, there had never been such a great victory! It was truly an earth-shattering battle! He was really very happy!
He was also a little disappointed because he had been completely outdone by his younger brother. As the elder brother, he was a little disappointed … Then he secretly made up his mind that he would catch up and not lose to his younger brother!
As for Ma Gui, he was still in a state of shock.
Xiao Ruxun, the fellow that the Nine Sides General Clan envied and hated, not only had a very good reputation, but he had also married a fair, rich, and beautiful woman. He had reached the pinnacle of his life, becoming a tall, rich, and handsome man. At the age of twenty-two, he was already a Rank 3 Brigadier General, guarding the road alone. Originally, this was already very enviable, but who would have thought that the tall, rich, and handsome man was especially good at fighting? Not to mention that there were also three thousand Taowu cavalry with extremely strong combat power!
In the past, the guys from the Nine Sides who had been fighting for a long time would be defeated when they encountered one or two hundred sets of cavalry. They would often spend money to bribe those people not to go south or to turn elsewhere. This was already an open secret among the Nine Sides General Clan. However, Xiao Ruxun had done the opposite. He had destroyed three thousand sets of cavalry in one go, beheaded Mighty Rabbit, and greatly boosted the military's prestige! If this matter were to spread, it would definitely greatly shock the Taowu! It would also help the Nine Sides General Clan vent their anger in the imperial court!
Mighty Rabbit had also been killed. His head was still there, and the credit would definitely not be able to escape.
Bo Bai's adopted son, Bo Yun, had also been killed. His head was also there, and it would not be able to escape.
The six thousand heads that had almost piled up into a mountain outside the city were quite terrifying! They would not be able to escape!
With this, Xiao Ruxun could really shock the Nine Sides General Clan!
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