Chapter 6, Forging a Thousand Times (Part One)

The nearby populace serves as the foundation for our survival and development. It is essential for them to understand the differences between us and the Yuan army, and even the original forces of the Song Dynasty, in order to gain their support and trust, prompting them to actively provide us with the necessary intelligence, troops, and supplies. Wen Tianxiang spoke slowly, imparting every tactical principle he could comprehend to his subordinate generals. Compared to seasoned Yuan generals like Zhang Hongfan, Da Chun, and Suo Du, the commanders of the Pulu Army lacked command capabilities and had limited combat experience. However, what he possessed was a completely new strategic mindset. From the perspective of adopting this mindset, the commanders of the Pulu Army had already made a start, while the Yuan army remained entirely unaware of it.

This is the harvest. Wen Tianxiang understood that he was gradually accumulating the hope for the restoration of the Song Dynasty. He put down his pen, walked among the generals, and engaged in pleasant discussions about the new tactics, patiently answering the questions that everyone did not understand

"Damn literary madman, does he know we are just local soldiers? Yet he still torments us like this," Wang Laoshi muttered to himself about the nickname the group had given Wen Tianxiang. He forced himself to straighten up and took a few steps, but as soon as he lowered his head, his back bent again, adopting a posture of a dead pig that is not afraid of boiling water. No matter how much the squad leader urged him, he stubbornly refused to quicken his pace.

"I never expected that Lord Wen would run with us," Wang Laoshi remarked during dinner, still recovering from the shock of the morning, his freshly shaven face reflecting a mix of admiration and sentiment.

The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we disrupt; the enemy tires, we strike; the enemy retreats, we pursue. This is the essence of guerrilla warfare. To achieve this, our army must possess greater mobility than the Yuan army. Given that the enemy consists mostly of cavalry while our forces are primarily infantry, we find ourselves in a region that is..." Accompanying Wen Tianxiang's gestures, the staff hung a map that marked all the mountains and rivers in the Fujian region. Wen Tianxiang pointed at the map and continued, "It is mountainous and has many streams, making it inconvenient for cavalry to deploy. The Mongols can only compare their marching ability with us on foot. Once the two sides engage, I hope you can lead them in circles on the mountain paths, making them..." Wen Tianxiang wrote on the blackboard a classic description of the results of guerrilla warfare, "The fat drag the thin, the thin drag the collapse, the collapsed drag to death." Wen Tianxiang wrote on the blackboard a classic description of the results of guerrilla warfare, "The fat drag the thin, the thin drag the collapse, the collapsed drag to death."

"That day, Lord Zou approached me, his bald head glistening, and asked whether I would prefer to shave my head and join them in fighting the Tartars, or take a portion of rations and return home. However, I no longer had a home; my family in the Jianghuai region had been slaughtered by the Tartars, so I chose to stay." -- Excerpt from 'Memoirs of the Renowned General Miao Chun of the Song Dynasty Revival'

In a series of simple tents, the sounds of wooden basins clashing, soldiers washing, and fists thumping on blankets soon echoed

The moon is bright and the stars are few, as several soldiers' figures swiftly vanish into the grass. On each lookout post—be it a sentry, a concealed guard, or a mobile watch—eyes gleam like those of a leopard. Several night travelers attempt to approach the camp, but as soon as they step into Baihe Library's Zhangling, they are already discovered. After a few exchanged commands, the night travelers, realizing their cover is blown, attempt to flee. However, within just a few steps, they are overtaken by arrows and pinned down at the edge of the forest.

"Run faster, and we will chase after the heads of the Tartars, just as they once pursued us," Wen Tianxiang nodded, his gaze seemingly piercing through the doubts in the hearts of the crowd. The same words spoken from his lips carried a different weight. Several local soldiers quickened their pace, crowding around Wen Tianxiang as they rushed toward the camp gate

Inside the central military tent, the lights were bright, and the various commanders sat in several rows on bamboo stools. On a blackboard made of stones, Wen Tianxiang used chalk as a pen, writing and explaining: "The form of guerrilla troops is to move suddenly and remain still, to avoid the solid and strike the void, to observe the winning and disrupt the flourishing, to form encampments and approach the enemy, to cut off and encircle the four routes." This is a classic tactic created by the Fenghou clan, suitable for adverse situations where the enemy is numerous and we are few. At present, in terms of both the number of soldiers and combat capability, the Polu army is at a significant disadvantage compared to the Northern Yuan. Therefore, at this special stage, guerrilla warfare is the focus of our military operations. As I write and explain: "The form of guerrilla troops is to move suddenly and remain still, to avoid the solid and strike the void, to observe the winning and disrupt the flourishing, to form encampments and approach the enemy, to cut off and encircle the four routes." This is a classic tactic created by the Fenghou clan, suitable for adverse situations where the enemy is numerous and we are few. At present, in terms of both the number of soldiers and combat capability, the Polu army is at a significant disadvantage compared to the Northern Yuan. Therefore, at this special stage, guerrilla warfare is the focus of our military operations. Our principle is not to contend for the gains and losses of a city or a piece of land, but to eliminate the enemy's living forces during movement!

Wen Tianxiang smiled, seemingly not taking Wang Laoshi's reminder seriously. While panting heavily, he said intermittently, "The top scholar, isn't he from the Song Dynasty? The Tartars have taken over the splendid rivers and mountains, yet the top scholar is still just a fourth-class Southern man"

At the entrance of the camp, the newly appointed military supervisor Liu Zijun stood like a plague god, counting the number of troops in each unit. Upon seeing Wen Tianxiang approaching with local soldiers, Liu Zijun's expression changed sharply, and he straightened his back. Behind him, a large flag fluttered in the wind, its blood-red surface emblazoned with the two large characters "Defeat the Enemy"

He does not need blindly obedient warriors; he needs generals who can stand on their own. He hopes that, given time, every soldier who walks out from Baizhang Ridge can become a spark.

Heavenly Book, have you heard of it? Lord Wen has been in a coma for many days, and in his dreams, he was taught by an immortal the three volumes of the Heavenly Book. This training method, along with Lord Xiao's creation of that thunderous explosion, all comes from what is written in the book. An old veteran approached with a bowl in hand, lowering his voice to strike up a conversation.

"Madmen, they are all fucking madmen," the villager soldier cursed as he lagged behind the line, his steps growing slower. Being hungry was one thing, but it was not like returning to the camp would bring any benefits. After going back, he would have to tidy up the internal affairs, rinse his mouth, wash his face, fold his bedding, and sweep his bunk within fifteen minutes. If he couldn't finish, he still wouldn't get breakfast.

More than 2,000 monk heads glimmering with golden light came running down the hillside, some panting heavily, some calm and composed, while others, exhausted to the point of nearly collapsing to the ground, grit their teeth and stubbornly refuse to fall behind

"Being a man is not as easy as it seems"—this is Wang Shi's personal experience. That day, he was running up the hillside, filled with regret. The morning sun peeked out from behind the mountain, casting a golden glow on his head, which was emitting white smoke.

The banner of the defeated army flies high on the flagpole, soaring alongside the lofty books.

There were more than 400 soldiers eliminated due to age and health conditions. Wen Tianxiang organized them into a separate logistics battalion, assigning it to Xiao Zi for management, responsible for setting up camps, providing supplies, and the upcoming large-scale production of military equipment. As for those who stubbornly refused to shave their heads, Wen Tianxiang did not make things difficult for them; he provided them with some rations and asked them to leave the ranks.

The first deputy commander Zhang Tang widened his round eyes, his mouth agape enough to fit a fist inside. Every day, the civil minister Wen brings surprises to everyone. The concept of guerrilla warfare is quite novel, and the principles and methods align perfectly with the current situation of the broken enemy forces.

Decades later, the editors of the Hanlin Academy could never have imagined that when they attempted to write memoirs for those heroes and renowned generals adorned with halos, to complete the history of the Song Dynasty's rebirth from the flames, they would be able to ask such profound truths

"Hurry up, or we won't have anything to eat when we go back!" A group of volunteers ran past the local soldiers, panting as they encouraged each other. Compared to the Jianghuai troops and the local soldiers from Jiangxi, the volunteers had the shortest time in service, yet their morale was the highest.

On the flagpole at the camp entrance, the heads of deserters were hung high. The soldiers marched in orderly lines past the flagpole, their faces devoid of any trace of compassion

There were not so many soldiers near Baizhang Cliff, so after discussions with Zou Suo, Du Hu, and others, Wen Tianxiang decided to change the organization of the Pulu Army. Each group still consisted of ten men, but each squad was reduced to three groups. To ensure that the surplus officers had tasks to perform, an additional unit was established between the squad and the battalion, with each unit comprising three squads and a cooking team, totaling one hundred men, led by a unit head. Every four units formed a battalion, led by a battalion commander, with a total of four hundred fifty personnel, including junior officers, personal guards, and civilian staff. To ensure that the surplus officers had tasks to perform, an additional unit was established between the squad and the battalion, with each unit comprising three squads and a cooking team, totaling one hundred men, led by a unit head. Every four units formed a battalion, led by a battalion commander, with a total of four hundred fifty personnel, including junior officers, personal guards, and civilian staff. Four battalions formed a "Biao," led by a commander. Wen Tianxiang took command of the Pulu Army, while Zou Suo, the Deputy Minister of War, and Zhang Tang, the leader of the militia, served as the commander and deputy commander of the first "Biao" respectively

Wang Laoshi did not know what to say, as his captain Zhang Godan and the local soldiers of the team slowed their pace and surrounded Wen Tianxiang. It was an unprecedented spectacle in any era for a top scholar of the court to practice morning exercises alongside local soldiers.

On that day, Captain Zhang Godan, the General Zhang Wan'an you mentioned, came to ask me whether I was willing to shave my head and fight the Mongols like a man, or if I preferred to return home and serve the Mongols as a dog. I thought about it; Yongxin had already been massacred, and there was no point in going home. So I agreed to shave my head, but little did I know that being a man was not so easy... —Excerpt from the Memoirs of Wang Shi, a Renowned General of the Song Dynasty

"What does that count for? The morning queue, the afternoon strength training, I have seen Prime Minister sitting beside Wang Laoshi, sharing a stone bench," said Miao Chun, her eyes filled with admiration.

"At worst, I can go a day without food and faint, then go to the mixed-color camp. Hmph, there’s still the small kitchen to eat from." To maintain the image of the imperial soldiers, Wang Shi later did not share these thoughts with the editors at the Han and *Tu* Shulin Academy. However, Wang Shi clearly remembers that day, just as he was about to pretend to faint during his morning exercise, a pair of not very strong but extremely warm hands supported his body from under his armpits.

The First Banner of the Broken Army, Third Battalion, deployed four hundred and fifty personnel. The First Team of the Second Company lost thirteen members, while the Second Team lost fifteen members, with the remainder returning on time. The battalion commander, Xiao Mingzhe, had a slightly flushed face and spoke while panting.

Is there any training for the local militia? The local militia, do you understand? Ever since Wang Jinggong's reforms, our local soldiers have been reduced to farming for the local officials, doing odd jobs, and carrying sedan chairs. This literary madman deserves a terrible fate

Wen Tianxiang gasped, his chest burning with pain. Reflecting on the battles in southern Jiangxi before, he suddenly felt that the previous defeats were not unjust at all. The losses of cities and territories in the Song Dynasty were certainly not due to fate; it is likely that human factors played a role even greater than destiny. The quality of the soldiers and the quality of the commanders were not on the same level as those of the Northern Yuan soldiers.

"Wang Laoshi, stop playing dead, keep up, don't embarrass us Jiangxi local soldiers" The officer leading the troops shouted loudly behind the local soldiers, stepping forward a few paces, grabbing Wang Laoshi's arm and pulling it forcefully, straightening Wang Laoshi's hunched back.

The First Battalion of the First Brigade of the Breakthrough Army, consisting of four hundred and fifty personnel, completed their training and returned on time. After counting the number of personnel in his unit, Battalion Commander Lin Qi stepped forward to report.

"Who are you talking about?" The village militia captain, Zhang Goudan, felt a surge of anger and chased after him, his gaze almost devouring the other person.

During the Southern Song Dynasty, after achieving peace with the Jurchens by exchanging the head of Yue Fei, military forces were reduced, and the "Xiang" organization was abandoned. Thus, the "Jun" remained the largest unit within the military. According to the "Jiangbing" system, ten soldiers formed a "Huo," five "Huo" made a team, and ten teams constituted a battalion. Each battalion was led by a commander and several deputy commanders, with several battalions grouped under a "Jiang." Typically, a "Jiang" commanded between three thousand to over ten thousand soldiers. According to the "Jiangbing" system, ten soldiers formed a "Huo," five "Huo" made a team, and ten teams constituted a battalion. Each battalion was led by a commander and several deputy commanders, with several battalions grouped under a "Jiang." Typically, a "Jiang" commanded between three thousand to over ten thousand soldiers

"Mr. Wen, you are the top scholar!" Wang Laoshi was taken aback, not knowing why he blurted that out. Having attended a private school for a few days, he understood that this was a matter of great impropriety.

"What a show-off, I've even seen Lord Wen doing push-ups with the punished soldiers," Captain Zhang Gaodan shot a sideways glance at Miao Chun, still brooding over Miao Chun's earlier insults towards the local soldiers.

Brothers, charge with me; and brothers, charge for me. These two sentences differ by only one character, yet the distinction of that single character determines the gap between victory and defeat

"Pah, a bunch of useless fools" Several elite soldiers from the Jianghuai army ran past the local militia with laughter, their mocking voices interrupting Wang Laoshi and others as they slandered Wen Tianxiang The elite troops of the Song Dynasty emerged from Jianghuai, a land of a hundred battles, and the soldiers that came out were distinctly different, their essence, spirit, and energy far surpassing that of others

The generals burst into a hearty laugh, diligently taking notes with bamboo pens, wishing they could engrave every single word in their hearts and in the illustrated books.

Mr. Wen owes me five months' salary. If I can get through this period and receive my pay, I will go home and buy a wife. I am from Wan'an, and the Zhang family of Wan'an has produced only one official like me in several generations. Although I am merely a team leader, I still bring honor to my ancestors. Therefore, I resolutely shaved my head, not expecting that this shave would last me half a lifetime.

"Oh dear, my grandmother, this, this is unbearable, I can't go on living," Wang Laoshi said, sticking out his tongue, his steps unsteady, looking as if he would cough up blood and die after just a few more steps. Seeing him like this, no one would have thought that he would later become the iron-blooded centurion Wang Shi, who haunted the Mongols' nightmares in the middle of the night.

Since the implementation of the training plan, several generals have already been overwhelmed. However, for the sake of future survival, Wen Tianxiang, who has always been considerate towards his subordinates, has not reduced the training load in the slightest. Instead, he has taken the initiative to personally join the training team.

"Follow, keep up, we are not cowards like the defeated army," said the person supporting Wang Laoshi, panting heavily as if pulling a bellows. Look at you, with such a character yourself, yet you come to help me. Wang Laoshi turned around and saw a pair of wise eyes.

The sound of the corner drum echoes, the night is cool as water, and the yawning soldiers, under the leadership of their officers, patrol the camp, set the watch, call the roll, stand guard at night, and sing the watch.

However, these stark truths have spread widely, stirring more passion than the loyal sayings found in the "Zuo Zhuan." Particularly, the words of Wang Shi, known as the iron-blooded centurion, after personally beheading the murderous king Suo Du, "Being a man is not that easy," have inspired countless valiant young men to take up arms and rush to the battlefield in pursuit of glory.

The rooster crows, the moon sets, and the sky gradually brightens. The soldiers hurriedly crawl out of their tents, form ranks, and begin their morning exercises. The various commanders stand among the soldiers as they ascend the earthen slope of the Hundred Zhang Ridge. Along the mountain path, the leaves have begun to turn red and yellow, slowly falling with the wind. With each sunrise and sunset, the footsteps on the fallen leaves grow more resolute day by day. The same group of people gradually displays different spirits. With each sunrise and sunset, the footsteps on the fallen leaves grow more resolute day by day. The same group of people gradually displays different spirits

Miao Chun did not bother to argue with him, took a sip of the wild vegetable porridge, and said with a smile: "Gentlemen, don't be so petty. As for the captain, when I scold you, it's for your own good; you'll understand once you're on the battlefield. Back in the day under Gong Xin, he scolded even more harshly. Besides, these are all training methods that Lord Wen found from ancient texts; everyone should recognize their value."

An attack primarily based on strikes is the fundamental operational form of guerrilla warfare. Therefore, the role of scouts is extremely important; we must fully understand the enemy situation in order to seize the opportunities for battle

"The fool, just became an official and already forgets his own surname," Wang Laoshi said dismissively, as if those few big kicks were dealt by his own son.

The Wen Family Army, no, it should now be called the Breaking the Enemy Army, was officially formed seven days ago. After reorganizing the more than 2,800 defeated soldiers on Baizhang Ridge, and after eliminating the unfit and retaining the elite, there are still over 2,200 remaining.

Liu Zijun, responsible for intelligence analysis and counter-espionage, straightened his body and sat up with a serious expression

"You see, these are all methods to deal with the Tartars. Otherwise, how could we be called the Breaking the Tartar Army?" Miao Chun swallowed the last mouthful of rice porridge, displaying a rare expression of curiosity and knowledge. He patted his backside and jogged off to wash the bamboo bowl. Some soldiers from individual squads had already begun to assemble. In front of the Min Wang Platform, the clumsy commands of the officers echoed from the makeshift drill ground, "Left, right, left! Left, right, left!"

"Take your captain back with you. Liu Zijun does not show any leniency to old friends and reprimands loudly, 'You returned too late; both the relevant officers and soldiers will be punished.'"

"Organize the internal affairs for a quarter of an hour, then line up for meals," Liu Zijun nodded and coldly turned the hourglass. The commanders of each battalion heard this and quickly ran towards their respective tents in the main camp with their subordinates, disappearing in an instant like a receding tide

"What about you? What’s the matter? The local militia is just a bunch of fools." A few fierce soldiers from Jianghuai, led by Miao Chun, scoffed at the threats from the local militia's officer. While they ran, they disparaged the local militia with venomous words that came out as swiftly as popping beans. "Don’t think you can act tough just because you’re a captain. When it comes to battle, a real man doesn’t just run away. Look at your subordinates; they can’t even run a few steps. When we reach Mongolia, they’ll just be offerings for the enemy’s knives. Don’t even hope to avenge your family. Pack your things and head back down the mountain!"

Zhang Godan was scolded until his face was filled with veins, rolling up his sleeves and ready to fight. However, due to military discipline, he angrily retracted his fists. Looking at his subordinates, who were running in a disorganized manner, his anger surged even more. He lifted his foot and kicked Wang Laoshi, who was running at the back, while cursing: "You don't know how to save face, go home if you can't save face, and serve the Mongolians as a dog, don't embarrass yourself here"

Xiao Mingzhe was momentarily taken aback. He turned to look at Wen Tianxiang and Zou Chuan, who were standing among the soldiers, and softly replied, "Yes," before turning around and running back.

The banner of red flutters in the wind among the mountains, held aloft by a burly soldier in his twenties, who proudly raises his head and runs at the forefront of the ranks, his steps firm and powerful. The mountain villagers, who had risen early to cut grass for their livestock, rub their eyes, bewildered by the morning sunlight illuminating their faces. Is this still the Wen family army? In just over a month, how could things change so quickly? A sudden hope arises in the old man's heart to soon leave the deep mountains and return to his homeland, as he hums a folk tune from Fujian while continuing to cut grass. The sickle in his hand was exchanged with the Wen family army on the mountain through barter; it is much sharper and lighter than the one he used before.

The First Banner of the Broken Army, Fourth Battalion, is to return to the ranks, and not a single coward is allowed. Zhang Tang's loud voice echoed from the back of the line, filled with pride

The First Banner of the Broken Army, Second Battalion, dispatched four hundred and fifty personnel for training and returned on time! The battalion commander, Sun Shipu, followed suit and clasped his fists in apology.