Chapter 8: Rising Amidst Chaos

Li Congjing sat on a large rock, arms crossed, chewing on a piece of grass stem, looking quite relaxed and content. Occasionally, soldiers would glance at Li Congjing, and they could always sense his calm confidence, which further boosted their faith in the upcoming battle.

"Thank you for your guidance, Commander He," Li Congjing said, expressing warmth towards He Chong, yet he did not feel overly pleased, as he was inherently humble. "There are no further instructions for the time being. Once the troops have finished their meal, I will explain any matters that arise."

Less than an hour later, Li Shaocheng and Li Rong arrived together to join the main army. After listening to their report, Li Congjing displayed a look of satisfaction. Subsequently, Li Congjing instructed Li Rong to make quick preparations for rest, and then sent him out again.

Led by him, a hundred men from the Ma Zhi, naturally followed suit. These ruthless war machines, devoid of any hesitation in killing, completely ignored the clamor of the Wei Bo army before them. With a single lash of the whip, a cacophony of cracking sounds ensued, leaving the Wei Bo army howling in despair

Li Congjing watched He Chong's figure descending the mountain and said softly: "Those who greet you with a smile may not necessarily be truly close to you; it only indicates their desire to be close. As for their true intentions, that is hard to say. The more cunning the wolf, the more it will hide its claws and disguise itself as a sheep"

He drew his sword, immediately attracting the attention of a large number of soldiers. The seriousness of this act of drawing a sword is no different from pointing a gun at someone's head; it is a grave taboo in the military and constitutes a serious violation of military law

I have no objections

Li Congjing pulled himself out of his memories, saying, "The time has come, and you will naturally understand. However, now is not the time to speak plainly."

With those who are determined and full of fighting spirit, wielding the might of great victory, how can one worry about not achieving success against the Liang army, which is as fearful as a dog that has lost its home

If it is said that military regulations have a bottom line, then drawing a sword clearly crosses that line. If it is said that Li Congjing has a bottom line, then inciting soldiers to disrespect military orders before the great battle evidently crosses his bottom line

Li Congjing's eyes narrowed

Upon the issuance of this military order, the entire army was filled with confusion. After laboriously circumventing Gongcheng to arrive here, what was the meaning of merely eating and then sleeping? At this moment, the role of Ma Zhi became evident; not a single soldier voiced any objections. In any case, having eaten and drunk their fill, they all went to sleep without exception. Thus, the Weibo army gradually began to carry out the military order.

The Liang army scout who brought back the news of Li Cunxiu's recapture of Xiangzhou was intentionally allowed into the city by Li Congjing, which became the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Liang army in the city. The Liang army in the city, trapped in enemy territory, had no choice but to either surrender or abandon the city and flee if they wished to survive

Wei Bojun saw Li Shaocheng and others approaching with a fierce demeanor, yet he did not show any weakness. He acted as if he did not see them and continued to appear relaxed and indifferent, embodying an attitude of superiority.

Li Congjing did not elaborate further, and he went down the mountain to arrange for the soldiers to have their meal. After all matters were concluded, Li Congjing issued a military order: except for the scouts and the soldiers on duty, all others were to rest. This meant they could wash up and go to sleep.

As the setting sun descends in the west, the glow of the clouds tinges half the sky red. Standing atop the mountain, Li Congjing's figure is elongated, winding along the slope.

He Chong is indeed a reasonable person, throughout the day he has greeted the commander with a smile and has been obedient to his words. Zhang Xiaowu remarked as he watched He Chong's departing figure

It is absolutely impossible for Li Congjing to capture Wei City with just five hundred men. In that case, why not adopt a different approach? We could set an ambush at the critical point where the Liang army must pass while fleeing south, catching them off guard.

The commander, who was solely focused on framing Li Congjing, probably never anticipated that there would come a moment when he would desperately assist Li Congjing in achieving success

Born into a family of heroes, he fled after committing murder in revenge during his youth. Eventually, he was recruited by Li Cunxun into the cavalry unit led by Li Shaocheng, at which point his ferocious fangs were revealed. Li Shaocheng waved his hand to summon a hundred cavalrymen behind him, dismounted, and approached the most vociferous Wei Bo army soldiers while wielding his riding whip.

A figure emerged in Li Congjing's mind, prompting him to let out a cold laugh

Liang Jun's army suffered a devastating defeat outside Weizhou City, and with the Jin King personally present, how could the morale of his troops not be shaken, and how much fighting spirit could possibly remain? The Liang troops that fled to Wei City would inevitably spread this negative sentiment throughout the entire Liang army there. After the defeat of Weizhou, Wei City was already on the front line; it can be said that as the Jin army advanced southward, they would inevitably find themselves trapped in a siege.

At the hour of Chou, Li Congjing suddenly ordered the entire army to assemble

This decree is clearly stated in Chapter 3; how can the commander have any objections

Li Congjing coldly observed all of this, his gaze profound

Just after midnight on that day, Li Congjing received a military report from the front line

Previously, he ordered Li Shaocheng and Li Rong to act together to completely eliminate the Liang army scouts on the outskirts of the city. On one hand, this was to cut off their sources of information, and on the other hand, it was to create panic

Commander Li has everything under control; it is I who am being overly anxious. He He Chong offered a compliment and then took his leave.

At this moment, coupled with the fact that all the scouts have been killed, the Liang army in the garrison is on the brink of collapse

When he arrived before these soldiers of the Wei-Bo army, Li Shaocheng said not a word, raised his whip, and struck the leading soldier fiercely across the face with a single lash

Li Congjing, who was on horseback, had not moved an inch from the very beginning, merely observing coldly. At this moment, he could not help but feel a cold smile arise within him: the cavalry is indeed the elite among the elite, how could it be merely a name without substance? It is a waste to intimidate the petty with such great resources.

Li Congjing waved his hand to dismiss Zhang Xiaowu, looking at the dazed Wei Bojun with a stern expression, "The army is assembled, and we shall depart immediately"

As for Li Congjing, who serves as the Deputy Commander of the Cavalry, how could he possibly be lacking in ruthlessness?

The soldiers of Wei Bojun were momentarily taken aback, and after this moment of distraction, an involuntary sense of fear arose within them, accompanied, of course, by anger

"I accept the order!" Zhang Xiaowu replied with confidence

When He Chong inquired again about Li Congjing's plans for the night, Li Congjing simply replied with one word: "Wait"

Seeing the Wei Bo army dawdling, each soldier swaying and stumbling, completely lacking the appearance of a proper assembly, Li Congjing could not help but feel a surge of anger. He said little and was even too lazy to scold them, for he knew it would be of no use

The subordinate stepped forward and clasped his fists in a respectful gesture towards Zhang Xiaowu

Li Congjing led five hundred men to break camp and has already set an ambush at Luoyankou. The Jin army, clad in black clothing and armor, blended seamlessly with the surrounding vegetation, transforming into patient hunters, quietly waiting for their prey to take the bait

Unlike the majority of soldiers from Ma Zhi, who are "valiant and fierce warriors" and "bandits, outlaws," Zhang Xiaowu is a rare gentleman from a good family. It is precisely for this reason that Li Congjing feels at ease allowing him to be his personal guard. However, this also means that Zhang Xiaowu's experience is somewhat lacking.

Where is Zhang Xiaowu

Ah! The whip immediately struck a bloody gash across the opponent's face, causing the soldier to let out a terrible scream. However, just as his voice was heard, Li Shaocheng's second lash struck him fiercely again.

... ...

At his feet, 500 people have already begun to set up camp. The method of marching is: "When moving, it is an array; when stopping, it is a camp." Moreover, "the method of establishing a camp prioritizes the selection of the site." Li Congjing chose to camp at Luoyankou, naturally because the conditions in this area are suitable in all aspects

Oh, I would like to inform Commander Li that the camp has almost been set up, and I would like to ask if there are any further instructions from Commander Li" He Chong said politely, and from his demeanor, it was clear that he was positioning himself appropriately in this battle. However, making a special trip to seek instructions from Li Congjing seemed somewhat unnecessary and overly deliberate.

"Commander, since we have come to attack the fortress, why do we not camp outside the fortress, but instead set up camp in this desolate wilderness? What is the reasoning behind this?" The personal guard Zhang Xiaowu, who had been standing on the mountain with Li Congjing for quite some time, could not help but ask. He and Li Congjing had been in the same unit for a long time and were quite familiar with each other.

On this day at the hour of the pig, Li Cunxiu led his army to Xiangzhou. Upon seeing that the Prince of Jin had personally arrived, the defending general of the Liang army immediately abandoned the city and fled south, doing so with remarkable decisiveness

The military camp is in complete disarray, resembling a pot of boiling water, lacking any semblance of order, making it difficult to enforce military commands

The soldiers, who were soundly asleep, were each pulled out of their warm beds, their faces as dark as charcoal. Many of the Wei Bo troops cursed and complained, expressing their dissatisfaction with Li Congjing's inexplicable military orders. In times of chaos, armies are often composed of unruly individuals, and the Wei Bo troops are considered outstanding among the Fangzhen army due to their arrogance and fierce disposition.

He is not worried at all that He Chong will set a trap in tonight's battle, unless he no longer wishes to live. This is because Li Congjing has already made it very clear in the three articles of agreement that if the battle is lost, both he and He Chong will die. This explicit order has already been delivered to Li Cunxiu by the scouts.

The terrain of Luoyan Kou resembles the shape of a wild goose, with the official road backed by a gentle slope, making this area relatively spacious. Alongside the gentle slope, there is also a stream with clear water flowing.

Li Congjing rode forward, surveying the Wei Bo army with a cold demeanor that was filled with unabashed murderous intent. "I will take the enemy general's head amidst ten thousand troops, charging forth on horseback, killing a group of worthless individuals who do not obey military orders, as if slaughtering pigs and dogs! Those who do not follow orders cannot form an army; those who do not respect their commanders do not serve the soldiers. At the slightest provocation, they draw their swords against me, treating military orders as if they were nothing. Do you think you can bully me because of my youth?"

At that moment, He Chong was also walking up from the hillside and, upon hearing Zhang Xiaowu's question, listened attentively.

In his early twenties, Zhang Xiaowu was momentarily at a loss, his face filled with confusion, clearly having not understood Li Congjing's words

He Chong does not want to die, so he must urge Wei Bojun to fight. At the very least, they must fight tonight

It is unclear whether this statement is directed at Zhang Xiaowu or He Chong

Li Congjing lacked fondness for He Chong, but that was all there was to it, so he inquired: "What matter does Commander He seek with me?"

Li Congjing's battle plan is actually quite simple - to strike midway.

However, the eyes of the soldiers of the Wei Bo army lit up, as everyone was prepared to witness the upcoming spectacle. The Wei Bo army was indeed a formidable force, and most were aware of this, which led to many individuals beginning to wear cold smirks at the corners of their mouths

And who is He Chong being instructed by

The night is as dark as ink, the moon is obscured, and the wind is high, indeed a perfect weather for murder and robbery

Before the chaos emerged, although Li Congjing was somewhat wary of He Chong, he never anticipated that He would resort to such despicable means right before the great battle. It is important to note that if Li Congjing had mishandled the situation earlier, the battle would have been impossible to conduct. If the situation had spiraled out of control and developed into a mutiny among the soldiers, Li Congjing could have faced severe consequences, including execution for dereliction of duty. This is why Li Congjing was so furious earlier.

Previously, when the Weibo army caused a disturbance in the barracks, Li Congjing was adamant that no one was instigating from behind the scenes. He refused to believe that He Chong was not the one behind it. Apart from the possibility of He Chong playing tricks, there were no other reasonable explanations; he was the only one capable of commanding four hundred Weibo soldiers.

Li Congjing summoned Li Shaocheng over and made a fierce gesture at him with a piercing gaze

If Li Congjing heard He Chong say this, he would certainly not mind complimenting him with the words: Brother, you are truly very clever

Li Congjing recalled his past life. During his childhood, the countryside at sunset was just as picturesque. At this time of day, the villagers who had toiled in the fields would carry their hoes and tools, chatting and laughing as they returned home, among them was his own father. The aroma of the dishes wafting from the earthen stove at home could be smelled from over ten meters away

"You son of a bitch, keep going crazy..." The team member was roaring, but before he could raise his knife, his voice suddenly cut off. This was because his head had unexpectedly been severed from his shoulders—everything happened in an instant

However, He Chong, who had recently been "at Li Congjing's side, serving him diligently," was now nowhere to be seen.

At any time and in any place, there is no shortage of those who seek to stand out. A soldier from the Wei Bo army, unwilling to endure humiliation, drew his sword and fiercely pointed it at a man on horseback, shouting: "You bastard, I will take your life!"

"Commander Li." He Chong saw Li Congjing looking at him and smiled broadly, giving a fist bump, "The sunset is exceptionally beautiful, Commander, you are in such high spirits!"

"What are you waiting for? Are you expecting Liang Jun to deliver the heads of the enemies to you?" Without battle, there are no military achievements, so He Chong could not help but secretly grumble.

However, it is evident that He Chong underestimated the ferocity of Ma Zhi. The group of people had few virtuous individuals even before Wu, and after Wu, they became ruthless killers. War had nurtured them into individuals with a murderous aura heavier than the sky and a courage more abundant than the earth. A mere few local military disturbances were truly beneath their notice. It is precisely for this reason that Li Shaocheng could kill without hesitation.

A silence akin to death

Li Congjing had striking features, yet her mind was occupied with other thoughts

The soldiers of Wei Bojun were all taken aback, as the anticipated conflict did not occur; the headless corpse slowly fell, as if proclaiming something

Having said that, Li Congjing shouted: "Where is He Chong'an?"

"To draw swords against fellow comrades, those who disrupt military law, behead!" Li Shaocheng's expression was devoid of emotion, yet the ferocity revealed in his eyes was akin to that of a tiger or wolf. "Those who do not execute military orders, those who disrupt the ranks, behead!"

He Chong forced himself to step out of the crowd, awkwardly cupping his fists towards Li Congjing, saying, "He Chong is here"

With two shouts of "slay," a series of synchronized metallic scraping sounds erupted as over a hundred broadswords were drawn from the hands of the cavalry. In the flickering light of the torches, these soldiers from the cavalry exuded an exceptionally fierce aura, resembling a group of deities of death

In the face of a great enemy, I, the general, hereby establish three rules and order the scouts to report to King Jin: Those who disrespect the orders shall be executed! Those who hesitate in the face of the enemy shall be executed! Those who gather to create disturbances shall be executed! If a soldier commits an offense, the squad leader shall be punished! If the squad leader commits an offense, the team leader shall be punished! If the team leader commits an offense, the captain shall be punished! If we are defeated in battle, both I and the commanding officer shall be punished! If we are victorious in battle, all soldiers shall share in the rewards, regardless of you or me!

The Liang army within the fortress has been unable to receive feedback from their scouts for an extended period, and those sent out have not returned, leading them to naturally conclude that there are Jin troops outside the city. The critical issue is that they do not know how many Jin troops there are, who is leading them, and they are even more uncertain whether they have already fallen into a situation from which there is no escape, as well as the operational intentions of the Jin army.

"I hereby appoint you to lead this contingent of soldiers as the supervising officer. However, anyone who disrespects the three articles of the decree, regardless of whether they are from the Weibo army or the direct cavalry, shall be executed first and reported later!" Li Congjing said with a wave of his sleeve. His words sounded pleasant, but they were actually aimed at the Weibo army. The reason he said this was merely to demonstrate his fairness and to take into account the feelings of the Weibo army—after all, a battle was about to commence.

He looked along the official road and indeed saw many moving points of fire appearing at the end of the road—undoubtedly, those were torches. And the ones holding the torches could only be the Liang army

"Commander, Liang Jun has arrived!" Zhang Xiaowu's voice interrupted Li Congjing's contemplation