Chapter 354: Chapter 354

In the morning, Zheng Fan led a thousand cavalry from Green Willow Fortress out of the stronghold. As they needed to calm and "educate" the newly arrived fifteen hundred barbarian soldiers, the original barbarian soldiers within the fortress were left behind to help them reflect on past hardships to better appreciate their current situation.

Among these thousand riders, most were prisoner soldiers. Their faces were awash with smiles; the commendations from Nanwang City had arrived the day before, the couriers were likely already en route, and their kinsmen would soon be freed due to their meritorious military service.

They were once the lofty children of the noble houses, cast down from the clouds in a single day. Fortunately, they could start anew.

However, Zheng Fan was not in high spirits. He knew full well that Hui Wenzu was marshaling the elite forces of six great commanders, including his own, for a battle unprecedented since the Yan-Qian border war began.

And as one of Hui Wenzu’s direct subordinates, he would have to set an example. What kind of example? To be the first to charge, the first to scale the city walls, to exert the most effort, and to suffer the most casualties!

Towards others, Zheng Fan could be unflinchingly brutal, but for his own soldiers, Chief Zheng had a soft spot.

Yet, as the blind man said, in war, who could avoid death?

The army arrived at the assembly point agreed upon yesterday. Here, nearly ten thousand cavalry from the six great commanders had gathered.

Of course, they hadn’t depleted all their reserves, as troops had been left behind to defend their home bases.

But those brought out this time were undoubtedly the elite of each commander’s forces.

Even so, the Green Willow Fortress cavalry was the most striking contingent among these nearly ten thousand riders.

In terms of warhorses, armor, and weaponry, they were extravagantly equipped.

They didn’t know that these supplies came not only through Hui Wenzu’s backdoor connections but also from the Sixth Prince’s investment. Consequently, many eyes that fell upon the Green Willow Fortress troops were filled with intense jealousy.

Only mediocrity fails to inspire envy, Zheng Fan was quite accustomed to this and had no interest in exchanging pleasantries or currying favor with these colleagues.

Chief Zheng, in a foul mood, sat silently on his horse, clad in his armor.

This demeanor caused the thousand Green Willow Fortress cavalrymen behind him to adopt the same posture, sitting bolt upright on their horses, none slouching or leaning.

This inevitably made the other cavalrymen, who had arrived earlier and were resting casually nearby, feel somewhat awkward. After all, it was a military tradition to compete for honor, even if not for steamed buns.

To be shown up so silently—who could stand for that?

Even if they could endure it, when their own leaders and the other high-ranking officers emerged and witnessed such a stark contrast, would their pride allow it?

Therefore, various officers—captains, colonels, and commanders—began to berate their own troops, ordering everyone to smarten up.

Zheng Fan ignored the chaotic grumbling around him, his gaze fixed steadily forward.

"My lord, word has come that all forces from Sanyue Fortress departed late last night. They should have gone to scout the situation."

Zheng Fan nodded and said to Liang Cheng, "They must be planning to attack the fortifications."

Sanyue Fortress, like Zheng Fan’s Green Willow Fortress, was under Hui Wenzu’s jurisdiction. Clearly, the Commander of Sanyue Fortress must have been following Hui Wenzu’s orders to reconnoiter the battlefield.

For the past few months, under orders from Lord Jingnan, the military commanders along the Yan State’s Yinlang County border had been clashing relentlessly with the Qian State fortifications and Beacon Forts. They would occasionally capture a fortress or two, or suffer some losses themselves.

But due to the lack of large-scale, unified coordination, they had failed to achieve a true breakthrough.

Evidently, Hui Wenzu planned to consolidate his forces and, under his personal command, punch a significant breach in the Qian State’s defensive line of fortresses!

Smaller fortresses weren’t a major concern. Suppressing fire from archers outside, followed by a charge, was usually enough. With only a few dozen Qian soldiers garrisoned within, they could be taken with acceptable losses.

But large fortresses, defended by hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of soldiers—if you wanted to carve out a major opening, you couldn’t afford to ignore these larger fortifications. Updates are released by novel-fire.net

Thinking that his cavalry might soon have to lead the charge, dismounting to assault a city as infantry, Chief Zheng couldn’t help but feel his teeth itch with frustration.

But circumstances are stronger than men; there was nothing he could do.

His performance before Hui Wenzu yesterday should have fooled the man. There was also news that his promotion to staff captain would come through in a few days. But ranks and titles are all superficial. In Yan, what truly matters are the troops under one’s own command. If the soldiers from the noble houses were wiped out, he would once again have to rely on barbarian troops to fight his battles. This would be a significant constraint on his future development. The superior quality of soldiers from the noble houses wasn’t just evident on the battlefield.

Hui Wenzu was not in armor but wore a blue official’s robe with a sword at his waist. Behind him, the five other commanders, all clad in armor, strode with a powerful gait.

When they emerged, the Yan Army soldiers all around roared, "Greetings, Your Lordship!"

Soldiers in armor were exempt from kneeling.

Yet, even acting spontaneously without prior coordination, the thousand riders of Green Willow Fortress were the most orderly contingent, presenting an entirely different impression.

This was a requirement of Green Willow Fortress. Ostensibly, this was to uphold strict military discipline and project the image of a true ’iron army.’ In reality, it was more to indulge their lord’s penchant for showmanship.

Hui Wenzu’s gaze fell upon Zheng Fan and the cavalry arrayed behind him. Clearly, he was quite satisfied with Zheng Fan’s display.

Today’s battle was not merely to regain face for the losses inflicted by the Qian cavalry’s northward raid the night before last. More importantly, it was to solidify his, Hui Wenzu’s, status as the preeminent military authority in the Yinlang County region!

Looking at the visibly excited Hui Wenzu, Zheng Fan felt a wave of disgust.

Right. When he was doing you favors and pulling strings, you called him Fatty Hui. Now that he wants you to risk your lives and die, he’s become Fat Pig Hui. People are all the same damn way.

What dissatisfied Zheng Fan most was, if the decision had been made to truly conquer these fortresses, why hadn’t they prepared sooner? If Zheng Fan were organizing this, he would rather spend an extra half-month building sufficient siege ladders and trebuchets; that way, far fewer lives would be lost. But clearly, a bureaucrat was a bureaucrat, even a patriotic one. Their way of thinking about problems was fundamentally different from his own.

Fat Pig Hui drew his sword, held it aloft, and bellowed, "Officers and men, vengeance and expansion await us today!"

First, the five commanders behind Hui Wenzu drew their sabers.

Then, all the soldiers present raised their weapons and roared:

Just then, a group of cavalry returned from outside, led by the Commander of Sanyue Fortress himself.

Hui Wenzu, a warm smile on his face, stepped forward to help Commander Qiu Fangdao of Sanyue Fortress as the latter dismounted, saying, "Fangdao, you’ve endured much."

Commander Qiu Fangdao of Sanyue Fortress had a somewhat sheepish expression.

Hui Wenzu noticed and asked, "What were the findings of your reconnaissance?"

Hui Wenzu had selected three potential breach points and, the previous night, had ordered Qiu Fangdao to lead his troops out to scout the situation. He chose Sanyue Fortress for this task as it was part of his direct command and also because it was located at the southernmost tip of Yinlang County.

Qiu Fangdao cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to Your Lordship, the situation... the situation has changed."

Hui Wenzu paused. The mobilization ceremony is complete, everyone’s morale is high, and *now* you’re telling me the situation has changed?

"What change? Have the Qian State’s West Army Division advanced?"

"No, no, Your Lordship."

Qiu Fangdao gritted his teeth and declared loudly, "Your Lordship, the Qian forces have abandoned all their fortresses and retreated thirty miles! Currently, every single fortress, large and small, along the Qian border is empty!"

Hui Wenzu was rendered speechless.