Chapter 80 The fierce sandstorm (1)
After that day, whether it was a low-ranked soldier or a general,although they didn’t say anything, but something had changed in the bottom of their hearts. It was just that no one knew.
After all, they belonged to two different camps.
The group continued with the journey. Within a few days, the fifty thousand soldiers of Chen Jing were also in place. The group gradually entered the border of the northwest. The military affairs of the entire northwest were governed by general Pingxi.
Lin Qing had met this person. He is a loyal subject and had true ability. Unfortunately, he had gotten old and his enemy was getting stronger.
The army of Great Liang needed young blood. General Pingxi couldn’t do this. The only person who could do this was the person who stood at the highest position in Great Liang, but that person didn’t do it.
Zhao Zimu had already pulled Lin Qing out. The two of them rode on horses and followed the army, leaving the carriage to Ling Er. The jolts of these days finally made that stubborn little girl faint even when she was in the carriage with Lord Qiansui.
Zhao Zimu also felt that this one needed to exercise his weak physique. For the time being, leave the carriage to Ling Er…
When the group entered the northwest, the city that directly fought with the Xiongnu that they had to reach was Yanping City. It was guarded by general Pingxi.
To reach Yanping City, they had to pass Chenshui City and Wuguang City. If they travel day and night, only six to seven days were needed.
No matter how, an army of hundred thousand men would be slow anyway. The position of the battlefield could change countless times in a flash and such delay may make the situation worse.
Despite his unwillingness, Situ Yuanxiao still expressed to Lin Qing that he wanted to bring some people to rush there first.
Lin Qing was the supervisor of the army. Frankly, this position didn’t belong to any government office, but this position could directly affect the military affairs of Great Liang and even the victory of defeat. It was established purely because the monarch wanted to prevent a high-ranking military officer from having too much power in the army and to prevent him from revolting. The monarch had specially established this supervising position.
Of course, when there was an emergency situation, they could also come in handy. Only this way, the highly above emperor could feel at ease.
These appointed supervisors have the right to directly present the documents to the emperor. Their documents were different from ordinary official documents. Their documents could be directly presented to the emperor’s desk without going through the Ministry of Appointments. This gave them the advantage of being able to call the shots.
Therefore, their power was enormous. To what extent that was? They could directly intervene in the dispatching of the army, the transportation of the food, reward merits and punishments for errors. They could directly get involved in these. So much, that every battle has to get their consent and approvement. It was great if they cooperated, but some who didn’t understand the art of war and still willfully clung to their own way or those who would accuse the commander-in-chief’s faults to the emperor for their personal gain. How could the army still go to war?
However, the emperor often didn’t think about this. The supervisor they appointed were all their slave from the palace. A group of domestic slaves, and these people have an unified title, Supervising Court Eunuch.
They were short-sighted and did things for their own benefits. Hence, these people disturbed the war more often than not. They affected the military adversely, harming the country and the citizens. They were loathed by all high-ranking military officer, but those military officers had no way of eliminating them because they were personally sent by the son of heaven. If they truly eliminated them, the crime of wanting to revolt would fall on them.
And even if the person sent this time by emperor Jinghui didn’t do anything, presumably all the soldiers of the frontier would feel hostility towards him.
Situ Yuanxiao knew all of this. Therefore, he proposed to Lin Qing to go first. He was also a bit worried that Lin Qing opposed him and would deliberately disagree. If he was sacked by the emperor because of this before they fought with the Xiongnu, he wouldn’t be able to accept it.
Situ Yuanxiao was different from other princes. His personality was fierce and straightforward. Although, he also had the desire for the throne, but he hated schemes and liked to solve everything with force. Hence, he liked the life of killing the enemy on the battlefield. Furthermore, the court already had his eldest big brother. He knew that he was inferior to Situ Yaohua. Therefore, he had always been widely known for not contending and had also been sent to such a remote and dangerous place because of that. He was more than willing.
After Lin Qing heard his proposal, he readily agreed. While rejoicing secretly, he seemed to be afraid that Lin Qing would regret his decision. Without hesitation, he immediately gathered his fifty thousand men and left first. Now, only Chen Jing and Lin Qing were left.
A few days later, they had passed Chenshui City and was heading towards Wuguang City. All the way towards Wuguang City and the closer they got to the front line, it became more desolate. These cities that had been visited by the Xiongnu were not only desolate, they reeked of blood and miserableness everywhere. Under such circumstances, the citizens here must be living the days in deep water and scorching fire.
- Deep water and scorching fire: abyss of suffering.
How would the population increase when the people have a bad life? Presumably, the local army couldn’t even add more to their own soldiers. Otherwise, why would emperor Jinghui send an additional hundred thousand soldiers?
Although, these hundred thousand soldiers were not requested by general Pingxi, but it was not that he hasn’t mentioned to emperor Jinghui about increasing the numbers of soldiers. Moreover, emperor Jinghui panicked greatly this time. With a stroke of the brush, one hundred thousand men and horses were gathered abruptly.
This kind of thing was impossible usually. Not to mention that the territory of Great Liang was still considered peaceful, hundred thousand was a too sensitive number.
The deeper they went into the northwest, the atmosphere of the group became more congealed as if it was constraining its emotions everywhere.
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