Chapter 2, I will cherish this moment
Xiao Ruxun hesitated for a moment before issuing a command to the soldier in front of her
After a moment of pause, Xiao Ruxun formulated a plan in her mind
A sudden sound rang in her ears, startling Xiao Ruxun, who scanned her surroundings but found no one.
The soldier was momentarily excited, took the letter, and then showed a look of confusion: "On the 5th of March, General, the enemy troops have already retreated, why do we still need reinforcements? Is the General planning a counterattack?"
Referring to the previous wounds, Xiao Ruxun could easily deduce the prior situation. It should be that General Xiao Ruxun led the army to defeat the enemy, but was also injured, which is why he was lying in the room recuperating. Xiao Ruxun remembered very clearly that during the Ningxia Campaign, Pinglu City was known as the impregnable Pinglu City, the only one among the forts in Hexi that had not been breached. Before the Ming army's counterattack, it was the only official military stronghold in Hexi, attracting the attention of a large number of rebel forces, successfully alleviating the pressure on Wei Xueceng's counteroffensive plan. The Ningxia Campaign's Pinglu City was known as the impregnable Pinglu City, the only one among the forts in Hexi that had not been breached. Before the Ming army's counterattack, it was the only official military stronghold in Hexi, attracting the attention of a large number of rebel forces, successfully alleviating the pressure on Wei Xueceng's counteroffensive plan
The man on the left immediately said to the man on the right: "You quickly go tell the lady that the general has awakened!"
Currently, the situation of Xiao Ruxun, if accurately described, is that of a solitary city and a lone army. The surrounding Ming military strongholds are either in defeat or surrender. All forty-seven forts west of the Yellow River have fallen, leaving only Pinglu City. The rebel forces are simultaneously preparing to cross the Yellow River to launch an attack to the south while dispatching a contingent to take control of Pinglu City. The commander of this contingent is likely Tu Wenxiu, who was later replaced by the adopted son of Ba Bai, Ba Yun, after Tu Wenxiu was defeated. Ba Yun was previously a fierce general from Ningxia and had achieved numerous military successes under Ba Bai. Xiao Ruxun entered the attention of Emperor Wanli due to his achievement of luring and killing Ba Yun while defending the solitary city, and was subsequently transferred to the capital army to serve as the commander of the Divine Machine Camp.
Was that sound just now an auditory hallucination
The young man spoke a series of words that left Xiao Ruxun utterly perplexed
Her heart was beating a little fast, and Xiao Ruxun reached out to touch her chest, feeling the strong heartbeat, thump, thump, thump
The soldier immediately bowed his head and said: "Yes!"
The soldier's face showed excitement as he vigorously nodded and shouted "Yes," before swiftly running away. Xiao Ruxun calculated the days; it was the 5th of March. At this time, Wei Xuezeng should have already been mobilizing troops and preparing to converge along the Yellow River to intercept the rebel forces of Ba Bai crossing southward. The significance of Pinglu City in diverting the enemy's attention, preventing them from fully crossing the Yellow River, must not be overlooked.
I fight for the Ming Dynasty, naturally for the great Ming!
There is still tomorrow, there is still hope, there is still civilization, there are still companions and a stable world. Compared to the previous apocalyptic era, the Ming Dynasty is simply a paradise. Even on the battlefield, the feeling it gives to Xiao Ruxun is imbued with a touch more warmth than before
As a leader, he must bring hope to the people, yet as a human, his despair is deeply hidden within. Not once has he thought of ending his own life, but for the sake of over 80,000 souls and the faint hope of returning to civilization that lingers in his heart, he perseveres. However, this does not mean he truly believes that humanity can reclaim what belongs to them. The heavy pressure weighs upon him like a mountain of a hundred thousand, nearly crushing the last pillar of support in his heart. He is on the verge of suffering from a mental breakdown.
The situation is extremely critical! And the books.
The soldier was taken aback upon hearing this and shook his head, saying, "General, I am illiterate."
General, you have finally awakened. We have all been very worried about you. However, rest assured, after your return, the enemy forces have already retreated
Madam, General, these titles of ancient people... Could it be that I have truly traveled through time back to the 20th year of the Wanli era? Have I also become the remarkable figure Xiao Ruxun in the Ningxia Campaign?
The Battle of Ningxia was one of the earliest military engagements, facing the rebel forces of Ningxia. The main orchestrator was the Mongolian noble Baibai, who had previously allied with the Ming Dynasty. After retiring from service, he rebelled against the Ming, gathering troops to attack Ningxia and the Hexi region, causing a significant upheaval throughout Shaanxi. The Battle of Ningxia was relatively short in duration and low in intensity, and cannot be compared to the Korean campaign; however, for the northwestern frontier, it was already a quite serious rebellion.
Although the memory is not very vivid, Xiao Ruxun quickly recalled that the Ming Dynasty is currently in the era of the Three Great Campaigns of Wanli, namely the Ningxia Campaign, the Korean Campaign, and the Bozhou Campaign. These three major military actions represent the most glorious victories of the late Ming Dynasty and also mark the final flourish of the Ming army. Subsequently, the Battle of Sarhu in the late Wanli period diminished the prestige and elite status of the Ming army that had been built up during the Three Great Campaigns.
In the northern frontier during March, not long after the arrival of spring, although it was afternoon, the wind still carried a hint of chill. However, Xiao Ruxun felt no cold at all; an overwhelming joy was about to burst from his chest, invigorating him entirely. This joy was even more intense than the relief of surviving a disaster, and even more profound than the happiness of being brought back to life.
Xunlang? Why are you up? Aren't you going to put on some clothes? It's so chilly outside, how can this be allowed!
However, it is different here! This is the world of humanity, the era of civilization! There is no need to worry about bloodthirsty zombies and terrifying viruses, no need to start from scratch and struggle, no need to fear that the closest comrades will be infected by the virus and have to be dealt with harshly, and no need to worry that one day the virus will spread beyond control, returning to square one after thirteen years of hard work!
Xiao Ruxun still remembers that after the chaotic battles of the Jiajing era, both sides were exhausted. By the time of the Longqing era, the Ming court and the Mongolian nobility negotiated peace, opened mutual markets, and repaired their relations. The border was no longer plagued by the large-scale battles of the Jiajing era, and overall, the situation was relatively stable. If such a significant incident had occurred during the Jiajing era, it might have escalated into a nationwide mobilization for war from the very beginning. At this time, the Mongolian nobility had already withdrawn their main forces from the Ming-Mongolian border to avoid triggering a major conflict, with only a few Mongolian nobles lingering nearby for the purpose of mutual trade. Overall, the situation was relatively stable. If such a significant incident had occurred during the Jiajing era, it might have escalated into a nationwide mobilization for war from the very beginning. At this time, the Mongolian nobility had already withdrawn their main forces from the Ming-Mongolian border to avoid triggering a major conflict, with only a few Mongolian nobles lingering nearby for the purpose of mutual trade.
This is the Great Ming, this is Ningxia, this is Pinglu City, and I, at this moment, am not a member of the Great Ming. For whom am I fighting, for whom am I striving with all my might?
Then he immediately entered the study, and soon ran out, holding a letter in his hand. Xiao Ruxun took it, looked at it, and then stuffed the letter back into the envelope: "Do you know what is written on this?"
Xiao Ruxun clenched her fist, and then suddenly froze—why, why was she able to issue commands so naturally?
By that time, the situation will be beyond control
The nine border strongholds of the Ming Dynasty formed a defensive system surrounding the Great Wall, with Ningxia Town being an important link in this system. However, Ningxia Town is now on the verge of falling, creating a significant breach in the nine border defense system, which cannot be taken lightly. In the event that the Ba Bai colludes with the Mongols to invade from the south, the Ming defense system would collapse without a fight. Mongolian cavalry would swiftly advance southward, breaching the nine borders and entering the interior.
You... you go in and take the letter on my desk and put it in the envelope.
It is likely that the previous individual has already fallen in battle, and at the same moment, I also perished. Therefore, I traversed through time and space, attaching myself to this body. The words just spoken were probably the last lingering attachment of the former Xiao Ruxun
Perhaps this is the reward from heaven for enduring thirteen years of hardship
In that case ... ! ... Thank you! I will cherish this moment, cherish this life, and cherish everything I have!
This time, Xiao Ruxun was taken aback, then let out a bitter laugh, recalling that this was the Ming Dynasty, and the literacy rate was notoriously low. Anyone who could read would not be just a lowly soldier. Thus, he changed his words: "You are my close guard, trustworthy. Go to the army and select a few reliable men, ride on swift horses, cross the Yellow River to Huama Pool, and seek out the three-border governor Wei Xueceng. I want you to see Wei Zhitai with your own eyes, and then deliver this letter to him, asking him to quickly send troops for assistance... By the way, what day is it today?"
After a long while, Xiao Ruxun lowered her gaze, let out a sigh of relief, and smiled.
Xiao Ruxun shook her head: "What has been defeated is merely a detachment; the bandit army is formidable. After suffering a setback, they will surely be unwilling to accept it and will definitely send a large force to attack again. My Pinglu City is already a solitary fortress; without reinforcements, it will be difficult to withstand the onslaught of the bandit army. This letter is of utmost importance and must be delivered to Wei Zhitai without delay"
Return of the troops? The bandit army retreats?
Memory is not very clear, but Xiao Ruxun is very clear that this rebellion did not threaten the overall situation of the Ming court, nor did it reach the level of national mobilization. The military force used was only tens of thousands, which is relatively low in intensity compared to the more than one hundred thousand troops in the Korean campaign. However, the impact is still enormous. If Ba Bai successfully contacts the Mongolian nobility to move south, the situation will become uncontrollable.
The man on the right immediately nodded, stood up, and ran away. The man on the left stood up and looked at Xiao Ruxun, his gaze was one that Xiao Ruxun was very familiar with, filled with excitement and admiration.
The world is truly wondrous, filled with countless unsolved mysteries and many enigmas that are destined to remain unexplained. However, these matters are not of great importance. What truly matters is that one is alive; it does not matter where one lives, whether one lives well or poorly. In the past, during the intervals of battling zombies, I often fantasized about one day traversing time and space, returning to an era of peace and tranquility, living an ordinary and comfortable life. Although the present is far from peaceful, at least what I face now is humanity. It does not matter whether one lives well or poorly; in the past, during the intervals of battling zombies, I often fantasized about one day traversing time and space, returning to an era of peace and tranquility, living an ordinary and comfortable life. Although the present is far from peaceful, at least what I face now is humanity.
In the apocalyptic world, many people are filled with pessimism and despair. However, Xiao Ruxun forces himself to look towards tomorrow, firmly believing that humanity can defeat the virus and reclaim its civilization, stepping once again into the future. Yet, in the stillness of the night, when he is alone, the confusion, worries, and profound despair about the future still engulf his entire chest.
And now, inexplicably, I have replaced Xiao Ruxun and become the new Xiao Ruxun. Of course, I am indeed Xiao Ruxun, yet I am not this Xiao Ruxun
Xiao Ruxun felt a bit puzzled... Is the general imposing?