Chapter 8, The Ancient Path and the Bearded Man
"General Fang, Captain Xu, the commander has finished the meeting and is waiting for you in the inner hall. Please follow me." A staff member in his forties came to the living room and said to them
What was the specific situation of the battle during those days? Please tell me in detail.
Direction sighed helplessly, shook his head, looked up at the sky, rolled his eyes, yet remained at a loss.
Hmm, Xu... the sea breeze, right? Gu Daoran could not tell that this young man was not power-hungry. Unfortunately, given his family background, he had no need to rely on himself; otherwise, he would certainly be fully nurtured. As for the other person he wholeheartedly recommended, it remains to be seen how that will turn out.
What is your surname, sir
The Western Front Camp, led by Gu Dao Ran, wields significant power, allowing the following officials to report only to the military headquarters and appoint themselves at their discretion
What truly interests Gu Dao Ran is the means by which Xu Haifeng was able to inspire such fervent fighting spirit among the soldiers. According to the accounts of prisoners who participated in the siege, the Han army defending the city was ferocious beyond measure; even when faced with blades, they remained unfazed. Even if they lost hands or feet, they would not cease fighting, unless they were beheaded or bled to death; otherwise, they would never fall. Thus, during the more than twenty days of siege and defense, they achieved the extraordinary feat of killing fifty thousand regular troops of the Caesar army. Such unparalleled combat effectiveness raises the question of how it was manifested. If all the soldiers of the Han had such fighting power, then not only would the current Caesar army pose no threat, but even the long-standing adversary, the Xiongnu, would no longer be feared.
Hearing Xu Haifeng's words, Fang Ming immediately recalled the battle in front of the military camp. If it had not been for Xu Haifeng's troops disrupting the enemy's formation, he would not have achieved such brilliant results. Now that he has been promoted, he must not forget his brothers
I understand. Xu Haifeng tried hard to smile, but all he managed was a forced twitch of his lips, and his face seemed to be inscribed with four large characters: "I am very nervous"
Although Fangxiang Ming was also pleased, he did not lose his composure, for this position would eventually be his; he had merely obtained it a step earlier.
Thus, Gu Daoran made a favor by pushing the boat along the current, embellishing the achievements of Fang Xiangming in his report. As a result, the Dragon Count was greatly pleased and personally appointed Fang Xiangming as the deputy general, assigning him the position of deputy commander of the left camp of the Red Cavalry. Although the official decree had not yet arrived, Gu Daoran had already received the news in advance, which is why he was so certain.
Originally, after each battle, there would be a secretary to record the various matters that occurred before and after the war. However, due to the special identities of Xu Haifeng and others, and the fact that everyone was injured, Gu Daoran issued an order prohibiting any disturbances. Thus, even this step was omitted. Yet, a bride must eventually meet her in-laws; when the moment arrived, Xu Haifeng, caught unprepared, found himself momentarily at a loss.
The seemingly unremarkable young man before me, commanding a mere ten soldiers, led thousands in a fierce resistance against Caesar's army of tens of thousands. During the siege, he maintained the troops' vigorous fighting spirit, and when reinforcements arrived, he decisively ordered an attack, ultimately achieving a great victory. Such an accomplishment, even with the confidence of the ancient sage, would leave one feeling inferior. Yet, in his recounting, the series of thrilling battles that transpired during this time became mundane, as if it were simply meant to be. This truly makes it difficult for me to gauge the depth of this individual.
There is no need for excessive politeness; this is something you have earned through your own efforts, and you should not belittle yourself.
No wonder I see that your military record only states that you are a sergeant; it turns out there has been this change.
After this battle, the reputation of Gu Dao Ran soared to unprecedented heights within the empire, and there was no one in the military who could rival him. At this moment, Xu Haifeng was about to meet this legendary figure.
Thank you for your guidance, esteemed leader. Direction Ming stood up and bowed, yet he did not show any excitement, merely expressing his gratitude in a calm manner
The five major legions of the Han Empire are the Yellow Dragon Legion, stationed in the capital and known as the Imperial Guards; the Qilin Legion, the only fully organized naval force of the Han, stationed in the east; the Red Ocean Legion and the Cang Wolf Legion, stationed in the north; and the Sky Eagle Legion, stationed in the west
At this moment, the court was dispatching troops from the northern camp, intending to support the western front. After some consideration, Xiang Ming thought that rather than wasting time in the north, it would be better to head west and try their luck. Perhaps they could achieve military merit and increase their bargaining power. Thus, he was the first to submit a request to go to battle.
"Oh, do tell me," Gu Dao Ran asked curiously
"Yes, thank you, sir, for leading the way." Direction Ming quickly returned the greeting, and Xu Haifeng followed suit, performing a bow.
On that day, during the first round of attacks by Caesar's forces, both the team leader and the deputy team leader of our side were struck by arrows and perished. The centurion on duty casually appointed a young man to serve as the leader of ten men; this was merely a temporary appointment and had not received formal recognition from the main camp
On the ancient path, the man with the beard was deep in thought, yet his face remained impassive. He simply smiled warmly and said, "Since ancient times, heroes have emerged from the youth. You two are so young yet have achieved so much. The Han Dynasty has successors indeed, and I am greatly comforted by this."
Congratulations, elder brother. Although Xu Haifeng was unaware of the reasons behind it, he was nonetheless happy to see Xiang Ming promoted, and thus took the opportunity to offer his congratulations.
Gu Daoran was originally the supreme commander of the Sky Eagle Legion, holding the esteemed position of General of the Empire. Several years ago, the invasion by the Caesar people forced His Majesty the Emperor to promote Gu Daoran to the rank of Marshal of the Empire, overseeing the deployment of over 300,000 armored troops on the western front. His high status and immense power have been extremely rare since the founding of the nation. He has not betrayed the trust of His Majesty the Emperor, and over the years, he has managed the western defense line with remarkable success. The Caesar people advanced from the distant west, annihilating countless nations along the way, but upon reaching the borders of the Great Han, they encountered a formidable opponent in Marshal Gu Daoran, suffering numerous defeats in dozens of battles without gaining any advantage. Two months ago, they suddenly launched a comprehensive lightning strike, but the result was a significant loss of troops and generals. Not only did they fail to achieve their intended objectives, but they were also forced back by Marshal Gu by a hundred miles, taking refuge in a fortified city, with no strength left to counterattack.
This was the first time Xu Haifeng had met such a high-ranking official. He sat on the edge of his chair, only half of his bottom touching the seat. Under the gaze of the venerable official with a long beard, he felt at a loss, his hands clenched and then relaxed, only to clench again, unsure of how to position them.
Do not be misled by the fact that Ming was just complaining about having waited for half an hour without seeing a single soul, as he is now following the rules meticulously, not daring to make the slightest mistake
Respected Commander, in fact, this ten-man leader of mine is not official
After the first day of the siege by the Caesar people, we suffered nearly half of our forces. Although General Pian and the five thousand commanders led the charge and managed to protect the camp, they simultaneously lost their lives. That night... At this point, Xu Haifeng paused slightly, wondering how to continue. Should he disclose the truth? He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret. Others only knew that he had led the troops to repel the Caesar people and safeguarded the camp, but no one had inquired about the specifics, and he had never considered that one day he would need to elaborate on the details.
Is that it ... ... finished? Upon hearing this, Xiao, with the cunning of an old strategist, couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity.
"Just a young man." Xu Haifeng, lacking an official position, did not dare to refer to himself as a subordinate in front of Gu Dao Ran, and could only amuse himself by calling himself a young man
"You flatter me too much," said Fang Xiangming, quickly bowing in his chair
The main force of the Red Ocean is the cavalry, which is why it is also referred to as the Red Cavalry. Six months ago, one of the two deputy commanders of the left wing in the Red Legion unexpectedly passed away, leaving a coveted position vacant. The military is rife with factions, and given the family background of Fang Xiangming, obtaining this position should have been a piece of cake. However, the Fang family rose to prominence through martial prowess, and the first generation head established a family rule to prevent future generations from falling into decline: any member of the Fang family who serves in the military must achieve military merit before being eligible for promotion. The northern frontier of the Great Han has been peaceful in recent years, with no military conflicts. Fang Xiangming has held this position for four years, but due to his lack of any achievements, he naturally has no opportunity for advancement. The Fang family rose to prominence through martial prowess, and the first generation head established a family rule to prevent future generations from falling into decline: any member of the Fang family who serves in the military must achieve military merit before being eligible for promotion. The northern frontier of the Great Han has been peaceful in recent years, with no military conflicts. Fang Xiangming has held this position for four years, but due to his lack of any achievements, he naturally has no opportunity for advancement.
"What happened that night?" Seeing that Xu Haifeng had been silent for a long time, Gu Daoran couldn't help but ask again.
Are you the leader of the fifth column's ten members
That night, thanks to the support of everyone, I was elected as the temporary leader. From the following day, the brothers fought bravely, and we ultimately managed to protect the camp until General Fang arrived to rescue us. Xu Haifeng gritted his teeth and concluded this topic, which was extremely difficult for him, in just a few words
Although Gu Daoran's words were calm, Xu Haifeng still broke out in a cold sweat. Impersonating a court official is a capital offense, especially during wartime. If Gu Daoran did not acknowledge it, this alone could lead to his immediate execution.
Student Cheng Ming, I kindly ask General Fang for your guidance in the future
"Little brother, there's no need to be nervous; Gu Dashuai is very easy to talk to." Direction Ming looked at Xu Haifeng, whose face was stiff, and couldn't help but smile wryly. He had already said this countless times, yet it had no effect.
Entering the inner hall, one person was seated at the front. He appeared to be nearly sixty years old, yet he was in good spirits, with a rosy complexion and dark hair and beard, showing no signs of aging. Upon seeing the two enter, he smiled and nodded, raising his hand to say: "Sit."
Thank you, esteemed one. The two of them responded and took their seats.
In comparison to him and the books, Fang Ming appeared calm and composed, sitting upright in his chair, with a steady gaze and an unchanging expression.
When he arrived at the western camp with a contingent of troops, he happened to encounter Xu Haifeng and others who were firmly holding their ground, waiting for reinforcements. Eager to achieve merit, he was the first to request to fight from Gu Daoran. Considering the speed and combat effectiveness of the Red Cavalry, and more importantly, the special status of Fang Ming, Gu Daoran found it difficult to refuse his request and finally nodded in agreement. Unexpectedly, Fang and Xu joined forces to decisively defeat the enemy, gaining fame from this battle and causing a sensation throughout the army. This battle was crucial, not only fully uplifting the morale of the Han army but also significantly inflicting casualties on the enemy's main elite forces. In that small military camp, the Caesar forces suffered a total loss of 80,000 regular troops, which was the primary reason the Han army could achieve victory so easily in a short time.
"General Fang, I have reported your achievements to the court truthfully, and your commendation will arrive within ten days. In my opinion, the position of Deputy Commander of the Red Cavalry's Left Battalion is certainly yours to claim," Gu Dao Ran said as he lifted the teacup and took a sip.
After observing the performances of the two, Gu Daoran felt puzzled. It was only natural for the young Ming to excel, having gained fame and served as a deputy general for many years. However, Xu Haifeng's performance was somewhat out of character. According to his official position, a leader of ten men could be expected to perform in such a manner, but Xu Haifeng was not an ordinary leader of ten. Based on his previous conduct, it was evident that he was a person of both wisdom and courage, possessing both boldness and strategy. Yet, upon seeing him today, Gu Daoran was greatly disappointed. Nevertheless, having led troops for many years, he was astute and sensed that the person before him was not simple. Just observing the soldiers who had narrowly escaped death obeying him without question indicated that he was no ordinary commander.
General, it is entirely due to Brother Xu's prior efforts in exhausting the will and endurance of the Caesar's forces, as well as disrupting their formation, that I, the humble general, have achieved today's success. I ask that you, General, take this into consideration.
I dare not, and I would appreciate Mr. Cheng's further guidance.