Chapter 003: Strategizing on the Ox Cart
He took a breath and said, "Moreover, bringing along two thousand disheveled soldiers only makes the people of Lu look down on me. Listen to my orders: you all quickly take people back to Ai City, while I go to Qufu. I will both recuperate and socialize with the people of Lu; perhaps I can persuade them to lend us a helping hand"
Upon receiving news of these two individuals, Xi Bin felt an unexpected joy. These two had long held military power in the State of Wu, enjoyed considerable prestige, and were unwaveringly loyal to his father, King Ji Liao. Ji Guang had slaughtered their entire family, and these two young lords shared a common enmity with him. When the Chu army launched a counterattack, the three of them hastily broke through their encirclement, initially believing they had perished. Unexpectedly, they had actually gone to attack Chu, only to end up seeking refuge in the State of Chu to save their lives
Wu Zixu
Xi Bin's words were powerful and resonant, naturally boosting morale. After finishing his speech, Xi Bin was somewhat out of breath. He gestured for Jing Lin and the other person to help him sit down and quietly asked, "Where are we now?"
Xi Bin was momentarily taken aback before recalling that these two individuals were the paternal uncles of Qing Ji, sharing the same mother as King Wu, Ji Liao. During the campaign against Chu, they held military power alongside Qing Ji. Ji Guang was originally also engaged in battle in Chu; he employed a strategy to lure the tiger away from its mountain, drawing Qing Ji and the two princes to Chu. Under the pretext of being injured, he returned to his country to recuperate, seizing the opportunity to assassinate King Wu and usurp the throne
Xi Bin was also somewhat troubled after listening to this. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and said: "This won't do. The road back to the State of Wei is still long. My injuries have not yet healed, and my pace is slow. If the entire army travels with me, I do not know when we will be able to return to Wei. You two should immediately organize the entire army, leave two hundred men with me, and take the remaining troops back to the city of Ai in Wei without delay."
Lü Qian's face flushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed: "My lord, this... is not due to our defeat in battle. Rather, it is because when we abandoned our ship and landed, we did not bring much in terms of valuables. Now that we are under the protection of the State of Lu, we cannot resort to forceful means, so we have no choice but to exchange our armor and weapons for food, hence..."
Jing Lin and Lü Qian hesitated for a moment before reluctantly crossing their arms and saying: "Agreed!"
However, it was nighttime then, and Ji Guang was unable to completely annihilate our forces. I believe that a large number of troops managed to escape, albeit temporarily scattered. Once they learn that the young master is still alive, they will surely come to meet him.
At this point, Jing Lin also felt embarrassed and lowered his head
Xi Bin felt somewhat fatigued. He instructed the two brothers, A Qiu and Zai Qiu, to carry him back into the vehicle, propping up the back of his head. Listening to the sound of soldiers marching outside, he thought to himself: "Given the current situation, what do I have to worry about as someone who has been given a second chance at life? Let’s engage in a grand endeavor! Back when the Red Army retreated to Sanwan for reorganization, there were only about 700 of us. Now, I have at least 2,000 troops at my disposal. Can’t this small spark of mine ignite a great fire?"
Jing Lin and Lü Qian led the call: "May Heaven bless Qing Ji! May Heaven bless Qing Ji!"
Jing Lin observed the expression on his face and quietly said, "Young Master, our warship has been surrounded by Ji Guang's fleet. At that time, you were unconscious, and in our moment of desperation, we had no choice but to take you ashore and flee, leaving even some of the soldiers behind."
Xi Bin let out a cold laugh. This historically renowned vengeful god has always been recorded in the annals as a loyal minister. Of course, Xi Bin is well aware of the sordid deeds he has committed. Wu Zixu's entire family was exterminated by the King of Chu, and he fled to the State of Wu like a stray dog. It was his 'father,' King Jiliao of Wu, who took him in and granted him an official position
The two deputy generals, feeling helpless, had no choice but to wrap him heavily in bedding, making him resemble a silkworm. Then, Jing Lin, Lü Qian, along with his personal attendants A Qiu and the two brothers Zai Qiu, carefully lifted him out.
As soon as Xi Binfu appeared, the cheers abruptly ceased, and the soldiers surrounding the ox cart fell silent, their attention fully directed towards him. After a brief moment of stillness, all the soldiers uniformly knelt on one knee, paying their most solemn military salute, and loudly proclaimed: "Salute, Young Master!"
Xi Bin thought about his more than 2,000 beggar soldiers and shook his head slightly: "How could we... be defeated so badly? Why did so many people even lose their weapons and armor?"
He nestled in Jinglin's embrace and raised his voice, saying: "Brothers, there is no need to be disheartened. This battle is truly not our fault. Ji Guang is a petty man, scheming against the state and its people, only understanding the tricks of an assassin. If it were a true confrontation between two armies, how could he possibly be a match for us, seasoned warriors? If heaven does not forsake us today, it is Ji Guang who should be crying!"
Jing Lin suddenly thought of something and quickly reported: "Young Master, while we were in Tengyi, we heard some rumors that Yan Yu and Zhu Yong are still alive. They have now escaped to the State of Chu. Ji Guang is also searching for their whereabouts"
Wu Zixu was eager to borrow the troops of King Wu to attack Chu and seek revenge. However, although King Ji Liao of Wu was also engaged in battle against Chu, he considered that his own strength and resources were not yet sufficient, and thus could not fulfill Wu Zixu's request to attack the capital of Chu and eliminate its ruler. Because of this, he became ungrateful and turned to the ambitious Ji Guang, offering strategies and plans, and even recruited assassins to kill Ji Liao
He commanded the soldiers to rise, gazing at the army that belonged to him, a faint smile appearing on his face. Some of the soldiers were already without weapons, and some had lost their armor. Although they were called an army, their current equipment was hardly better than that of a band of robbers. However, their spirit and demeanor undeniably reflected that of seasoned warriors who had endured countless battles
What? Jing Lin and Lü Qian were greatly surprised: "Young Master, how can we feel at ease leaving you behind? This is absolutely out of the question..."
After the two finished speaking, they both glared at each other.
In that era, countries had few standing armies. When war broke out, soldiers were summoned from households according to military rosters, each providing their own weapons, armor, and provisions. The weapons produced by Qingji's army were of excellent quality, thus they had a significant market when sold, and the prices were quite high. However, the sheer number of people needing to eat led to many soldiers being poorly clothed.
Jing Lin and Lü Qian knelt beside him, and Jing Lin replied softly: "Young Master, we have now passed through Tengyi in the State of Lu. We should have taken the route back to the State of Wei, but your injuries are too severe. We are concerned that the fatigue from travel may lead to unforeseen circumstances, so we intend to go to the capital of Lu, Qufu, to seek the renowned physicians there to treat your wounds"
He thought for a moment and said: "It is not easy to find them, so let them come to me. Send some people to the State of Chu, disguised as woodcutters and fishermen, to spread the news about me in Aicheng, Wei State. Once they hear the news, they will surely come to see me"
Xi Bin immediately said: "Send someone to the State of Chu to inquire about their whereabouts and bring them to Ai City."
Xi Bin furrowed his brows and said: "You all go back. Without your presence in Ai City, how can I feel at ease? We are currently within the territory of the Lu State, and I have two hundred guards with me, which is sufficient for self-defense"
Lü Qian still had more to say, but Xi Bin solemnly stated: "This is a military order"
This person harbors only a single thought of revenge in his heart. As long as there is a need for avenging his family's grievances, today he can warmly call you "brother," and tomorrow he could just as easily stab you to death. Currently, Xi Bin is like Qing Ji; with differing stances, he naturally has no fondness for him.
Jing Lin and Lü Qian exchanged a glance and said in unison: "Alright, then I will stay by the young master's side and let him return."
Xi Bin looked around and, based on the military knowledge he had acquired from Qing Ji, estimated that there were still more than two thousand troops beside him. When Qing Ji had initially dispatched his forces, there had been as many as fifteen thousand. A sense of despair filled Xi Bin's heart as he observed this.
"No!" Jing Lin and the other person responded in unison.
Xi Bin solemnly said: "Confusion! If the State of Lu intends to harm us, what can we achieve with our two thousand remaining soldiers? Do you think I want you to hurry back just because I fear these two thousand men will lack food and clothing on the way? Ai City is our foundation. If we delay our return, the people's hearts will inevitably scatter, and by the time we return, Ai City will have turned into an empty city. As long as we do not lose our foundation, we can make a comeback. You have heavy responsibilities on your shoulders; this is of utmost importance." Ai City is our foundation. If we delay our return, the people's hearts will inevitably scatter, and by the time we return, Ai City will have turned into an empty city. As long as we do not lose our foundation, we can make a comeback. You have heavy responsibilities on your shoulders; this is of utmost importance.
Xi Bin secretly comforted himself: "The morale of the troops is still usable, and that is the most important thing!"
Xi Bin relaxed his body and said, "Alright, you can now select soldiers. Send some clever ones to the State of Chu, leave two hundred people to accompany me to Qufu, and the rest should return to Aicheng. It is essential to preserve our foundation"
Xi Bin was in the vehicle conversing with the two deputy generals, Jing Lin and Lü Qian. Hearing the continuous cheers from outside the ox cart, A Qiu, unable to restrain himself after three attempts, insisted on going out to see his subordinates. Jing Lin and Lü Qian, fearing for his safety, earnestly advised against it. However, Xi Bin understood that at this moment, winning the hearts of the people was crucial. Moreover, he wanted to see for himself how much capital he had left, so he insisted on going out.
Jing Lin and Lü Qian clasped their hands and received their orders, jumped down from the ox cart to organize the troops, and began selecting personnel.
Concealment and mediocrity
Originally, Xi Bin was merely a production assistant in a film crew, and he may not have possessed such commanding insights. However, he has completely integrated the memories and knowledge of Qing Ji. Relying on the perspectives of later generations and the knowledge of Qing Ji, he is naturally able to handle interpersonal matters with considerable propriety
Jinglin Road: "It is said that Wu Yuan (Zixu) also sent someone to the State of Chu to search for them, intending to eliminate them completely. The two young masters are currently unknown as to whose protection they are under, and it is likely to be very difficult to find them."
Young Master
Xi Bin's voice was not loud; after he spoke a sentence, Jing Lin and Lü Qian would repeat it loudly to the soldiers. Xi Bin conducted a round of motivational work and finally said: "Since Qing Ji is not dead, he will surely lead everyone to make a comeback and restore the State of Wu"
Xi Bin silently nodded, knowing that this ragtag group of soldiers needed him to sustain them. He had to provide these individuals with confidence and courage, rather than allowing them to wallow in despair. If the leader of an army appears dejected, it will have a magnified effect in the eyes of the troops; once the morale is shattered, it would spell disaster.
The common people of this era refer to the nobility rather than the commoners, as many commoners do not even have surnames