Chapter 0004: The grand situation of the world is fully grasped in one's heart

Nie Shicheng listened to Zhang Yi's words, gazing at Zhang Yi's somewhat youthful face, feeling an infinite sense of emotion in his heart. His voice had become somewhat choked, as he had not encountered such a spirited, responsible, and ambitious young person in a long time. Such a talented individual, yet unfortunately, he exists in a time of chaos

Nie Shicheng inquired: "I did not expect that you possess such depth of thought, truly a rare talent. Now, I ask you, how do you view the conflict between the Qing Dynasty and Japan?"

Nie Shicheng inquired: "How confident are you in your ability to train a skilled troop? How long will it take?"

Nie Shicheng replied: "Alright, I will wait for the elite troops you have trained!"

Zhang Yi hurriedly bowed and replied: "Since you wish to hear the truth, I kindly ask you to pardon me for speaking candidly."

Zhang Yi said with a proud smile: "My lord, while other subordinates may not dare to boast, when it comes to military training, I have never admitted defeat. Let us make a pact on this."

Zhang Yi replied in a deep voice: "Yes, I intend to train the personnel under my command; however, my position is humble, and I require your support to some extent."

Zhang Yi replied: "My lord, since I joined the army, I have repeatedly felt that our military's preparedness is lax, the soldiers' training is insufficient, and military discipline is relaxed. This severely affects our combat effectiveness. I originally was just a personal guard and did not expect to improve military equipment. However, having been favored by you and promoted to a sentry officer, I find that the troops under my command lack discipline and truly have no combat capability, merely serving as remnants of artillery fire on the battlefield. I have been training them according to my knowledge to transform them into elite soldiers, so that in future battles, they can serve you and enhance our military prestige!" I have been training them according to my knowledge to transform them into elite soldiers, so that in future battles, they can serve you and enhance our military prestige!

Nie Shicheng heavily punched Zhang Yi on the shoulder and sighed: "I am old, nearing my sixties, with half of my body already in the ground. The hope for the revival of the Qing Dynasty now rests on the shoulders of you young people. Young ones, strive hard, do not waste your precious youth!"

Nie Shicheng asked again: "Since relocating the grain depot is not feasible, what other strategies are available?"

Zhang Yi replied: "Our Celestial Empire has suffered five defeats, while Japan has achieved five victories. The five defeats are: 1. The Empress Dowager of our Celestial Empire failed to govern wisely, indulging in extravagance and luxury, and neglecting military preparedness; 2. General Ye of Korea, lacking military insight, was merely a cowardly scholar, and a single incompetent general caused the deaths of thousands of troops; 3. Our army's discipline was lax, with a disorganized style, and the soldiers' quality was poor, lacking fighting spirit; 4. Our army's organization was chaotic; once the main force entered Korea, they fought independently, hindering each other, making it difficult to form a united front; 5. The Qing Dynasty's firearms were often unmaintained, and ammunition was insufficient. The five victories are: 1. The new Emperor Meiji of Japan, since his ascension, has been diligent in governance, with the monarch and subjects united in purpose; 2. The commander of the Japanese army, General Ōtori Masahiro, is an experienced general who studied military science in Germany, seasoned in battle, and resourceful; 3. The Japanese army maintained strict discipline, with orders being followed without exception; 4. The Japanese army was well-trained, with soldiers' combat capabilities far surpassing those of our army; 5. The Japanese army always advanced in battle, fearless of death, and their morale was high

Nie Shicheng stared blankly at the young man, wondering if this was really someone under twenty years old. The analysis of the enemy and our situation was so incisive, articulated with clarity and a coherent thought process, that it was simply superior to his own experience as a seasoned veteran on the battlefield. Could this truly be someone born with such knowledge?

Nie Shicheng nodded slightly and asked, "Young man, do you have any good strategies to teach me?"

Nie Shicheng chuckled and said, "Young man, you have quite a bold claim. My personal guard has fought alongside me on the battlefield for nearly thirty years, enduring over a hundred battles of various scales. If you can train a troop capable of defeating my personal guard, I will acknowledge your achievement as a significant one."

Nie Shicheng's expression darkened as he lowered his voice and asked, "Is this true?"

Zhang Yi replied: "My lord, in fact, if our Celestial Empire truly wishes to pursue reform, there is no reason we cannot rise among the great powers of the world. Just look at Japan; since its reforms thirty years ago, in merely thirty years, its national strength has been on the rise, and it has already established a firm foothold among the great powers. Moreover, with our vast and beautiful land of China and our forty million passionate sons and daughters, if the court truly resolves to strengthen and govern diligently, after ten years of accumulation and ten years of cultivation, in twenty years, our China will surely stand proudly on the global stage!"

Zhang Yi bowed and said: "Your Excellency, your praise is unwarranted; I truly do not deserve it."

Zhang Yi smiled and said: "This is absolutely true, and it is not an exaggeration on my part. These three mountain ridges are as easy for me as walking on flat ground. I have no less than five methods to cross the ridges without being detected by our military outposts, and I can also silently eliminate the sentries without anyone noticing."

Zhang Yi took a step forward and said softly: "My lord, please forgive my humble words. If it were our army facing any military force within the Qing Dynasty, such arrangements would be absolutely fine and could be considered a superior strategy. However, we are up against the Japanese army. I believe that in recent days, you have gained some understanding of the elite forces of the Japanese army, which are by no means comparable to our Qing soldiers. In recent years, Japan has sent a large number of military students to Britain and Germany to learn Western military technology and modern military theory, and their military proficiency has now fully surpassed ours. The Hulukou is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a narrow road on one side. Although it is a strategic location, if the Japanese army dispatches a few elite units to take advantage of our unpreparedness, infiltrate the mountaintop, and then set fire, all our military supplies are located here. The road ahead is narrow and difficult to traverse, and if all the supplies cannot be transported out in time, they will be reduced to ashes, and defeat will be inevitable."

Zhang Yiyan said: "My lord, with the war imminent, I have limited time. I wish to train a special force, as I just mentioned to you, that can traverse mountains and hills as if walking on flat ground, within three months. After three months, I guarantee that this elite force will be able to defeat any army of the Qing Dynasty with equal numbers"

Zhang Yi watched Nie Shicheng for a long time without speaking, feeling uncertain in his heart, and gently called out: "My lord, my lord!"

Zhang Yi replied: "In light of the current situation, Your Excellency may consider eliminating trusted subordinates and arranging two teams, one visible and one hidden, to support each other. Even if the visible team is discovered and killed by the Japanese army, the hidden team can promptly detect it, sound the alarm, and prevent the enemy from advancing. At the same time, we can tie more ropes in the mountains and forests, hanging bells on them. Once the Japanese army encounters the ropes, we will instantly hear the bells ring and be able to respond in advance"

Zhang Yi smiled faintly and replied, "My lord, during my years in my hometown, I followed my teacher to learn the art for several years. My teacher once said that the overseas powers not only excel in firearms but also have military forces that are vastly different from our own. Among them, there are special troops specifically engaged in jungle warfare, capable of traversing mountains and ridges as if on flat ground, proficient in firearms, and hitting their targets with absolute precision. This Gourd Mouth Mountain can withstand ordinary Japanese troops, but it cannot hold back the elite special forces of foreign armies. Once they launch a surprise attack, they will not give our army a chance to detect and warn; it will be a decisive strike."

Nie Shicheng exclaimed, "Oh? You want to conduct military training?"

Nie Shicheng sighed, saying: "In fact, I do not hold much hope for this battle. Our dynasty is hindered by too many constraints, and our operations are not smooth. Compared to the Japanese army, we have long fallen into a disadvantage. However, I am deeply indebted to the court above and bear the expectations of the people below, so I can only do my best and await fate.

Zhang Yi replied: "What are you saying, Junmen? You are still in very good health, and the Qing Dynasty still needs seasoned generals like you to guard it"

Nie Shicheng's expression changed, revealing his displeasure. However, recalling Zhang Yi's previous response, he suppressed his slight anger and said calmly: "If our army's chances of victory are less than 10%, please elaborate."

Nie Shicheng gathered his spirits and asked, "Let us not speak of these matters any longer, young man. What brings you here to see me this time?"

Nie Shicheng nodded slightly, and Zhang Yi continued, "My lord, I have little hope regarding this war in Korea. Our army's chances of victory are less than 10%!"

Nie Shicheng just came to his senses and sighed: "Heaven has bestowed Zhang Yi, a blessing for the Qing Dynasty. Your Excellency can truly be regarded as the reincarnation of the esteemed Wen Zhenggong."

Zhang Yi was taken aback and replied, "My lord, do you wish to hear the truth or a falsehood"

Nie Shicheng's expression was grave as he said, "Do you possess such abilities? If you truly have such capabilities, I am willing to immediately promote you to the position of my personal guard commander, to assist me in military affairs!"

Upon hearing this, Nie Shicheng's expression changed dramatically, and he immediately smiled, saying: "Young man, you do have a point, but the entrance to the gourd is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and behind those mountains are sheer cliffs and rugged terrain. It is impossible for any army to pass through here. Furthermore, I have stationed heavy troops for defense. Even if the enemy can manage to climb up, our forces will have the advantage of height and will be able to defend the position. The Japanese army will undoubtedly be defeated!"

Zhang Yi replied: "Your Excellency, I dare not presume. Now that the main camp is established, if we were to relocate the crucial grain depot, it would likely require reporting to General Ye for approval. Moreover, if we were to move the grain depot now and the Japanese forces were to discover it, they might take advantage of the situation to launch an attack, making the situation even more difficult to control"

Zhang Yi hurriedly bowed and saluted, replying: "Your Excellency, you flatter me; I am unworthy of such praise."

Zhang Yi replied with a serious expression: "My lord, my ambitions do not lie here. The pressing matter at hand is to first ensure the security of our supplies; this is of utmost importance."

Nie Shicheng said with thinly veiled anger: "Do you think I am such a shallow person? Of course, I want to hear your true words!"

Nie Shicheng was overjoyed upon hearing this, laughing heartily. He patted Zhang Yi's shoulder heavily and praised, "Young man, you have accomplished another great feat."