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墨書 Inktalez
Think of everything you can, prepare everything you can fully. Then, how should the rest be handled?
Sitting inside the Main Tent, Luzi gazed outside. Just a short while ago, Ji Xi had led the Ji Family Army on a secret mission. Due to the need for a detour, the Qin Army still had to wear their uniforms. Not long after Ji Xi left, Xiao Yu'er ran over to inform the Grand Commander that he had woken up.
Luzi then hurried to the temporary command post to visit Commander Bai Qi. He intended to ask if he could still ride, but held back the question upon seeing Xiao Yu'er's expression. Concerned about leaks, Luzi did not mention anything in his orders.
The heart of a soldier should be focused on the details.
At this moment, Sima Jin, who was responsible for guarding the perimeter, was unaware of Wuan Jun's injury; this was necessary given the circumstances. Although security had been suddenly tightened for unknown reasons, it was best not to inquire about things that should remain unknown.
Bai Qi sat up in bed and asked what time it was. Upon hearing that he had already slept for two hours, he wanted to get up. However, he exerted himself too much and felt darkness clouding his vision, nearly collapsing.
Luzi noticed something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to support him before he fell. "Grand Commander, you've lost too much blood; you can't go out yet!"
Bai Qi turned to look at the bandage on his arm and saw that there was no more red seeping through. He nodded gratefully at Xiao Yu'er and then looked at Luzi with teary eyes. "With battle imminent, how can I act like an old man in his seventies?"
Luzi glanced back at Xiao Yu'er and waited until they followed the Surgeon out of the Main Tent before saying, "The poison affecting the Grand Commander has been neutralized; the resulting weakness is unavoidable. You can't rush things; we need to plan carefully."
Hearing this, Bai Qi couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head. Plan carefully? How easy is that! At least disrupt Zhao Army's deployment so they can't coordinate effectively. This was precisely when strategies were needed, yet here he was falling ill! Was this heaven's way of bringing down Bai Qi? Hundreds of thousands of Qin Army brothers...
The Commander’s physical limitations did not mean his mind was dull. Bai Qi, unable to ease his worries about the front lines, insisted on setting up the Military Map. Luzi knew that Bai Qi would never lie in bed counting sheep; he had no choice but to bring the General's Armor for the Grand Commander to wear properly. After checking thoroughly for any mistakes, he ordered Soldiers to come in and set up the Military Map.
This was indeed one of the most helpless situations faced by both generals; after all, what they needed most at this moment was for the Qin Army's command structure to function again quickly. Once the wide map was fully laid out, Luzi instructed all Soldiers to wait outside the tent.
Bai Qi took advantage of the brief rest to gather some strength and attempted to stand up without assistance. He then slowly walked to the Military Map, focusing intently on it.
According to the updated military intelligence reflected on the map, the situation was beginning to reverse. The plan to draw troops from the Dan Shui River defense line of the Qin Army into battle was starting to falter. If Zhao Kuo's Army completed their assembly, all previous efforts would be in vain. How could hundreds of thousands of Qin Army surround an army claiming to be a million strong? Was this some kind of joke from the heavens?
The urgency was overwhelming! As Bai Qi felt the fleeting opportunity slip away, he swayed slightly and nearly fainted. He reached back for support and grabbed a chair, only to realize it had been moved over by General Lu. Gratefully nodding, he sat down and stared at the Military Map in silence.
Luzi could read maps as well; although not as detailed as the Commander, he was still a professional. Seeing the chaotic entanglement of the Qin and Zhao armies on the map made him involuntarily gasp. The markings indicated that the once-dominant Qin Army was gradually being compressed around Daliang Mountain. The situation was becoming increasingly grim, as the encirclement intended for annihilating Zhao Army was now being countered from all sides by Zhao forces.
Once Zhao Army's encirclement closed in, the trapped Qin Army would be forced into a valley prepared for enemy annihilation. If this happened, the 150,000-strong Qin Army would be completely sealed within.
Bai Qi gazed at the vertical Military Map, biting his clenched right hand in frustration. This action helped calm his inner turmoil slightly, yet he still felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.
"General Lu! Is this all part of their calculations?"
This was an exasperated remark from Wuan Jun, and Luzi shook his head in disagreement. "Grand Commander! Zhao Kuo still doesn't know that his opponent is you, so he won't suspect that a General from Qin State is injured. The indications on the map are clear; Zhao Army's actions have remained consistent from start to finish. This proves that Zhao Army is not intentionally seeking out key targets; their injuries are purely coincidental."
Bai Qi did not agree with this assessment but refrained from explaining his reasons for dissent. Since learning both martial and literary skills to serve his country, he had fought countless battles at will. He had never felt like this before; opportunities that seemed destined always came with unforeseen complications. It was as if an unseen hand was stirring chaos, like a whirlpool already formed in a water tank.
He faced a desperate battle for the first time in his life!
Bai Qi sighed inwardly and turned to look at Luzi, who was also focused on the map. A sudden realization struck him: only this person could break through this predicament. With that thought, he unfastened his General Seal from his waist. "General Lu! It seems you are meant to be my savior! I am injured and can no longer command our forces in battle. This heavy responsibility must fall upon you; I hope Grand Commander will not refuse!"
Luzi did not reach out to take it because accepting it would mean another change of command in the face of battle—an unusual occurrence indeed! He pushed back the General Seal and explained, "The defense situation in Shangdang Region is extremely unclear, and where each army is located now contradicts our original battle plan. I am not capable enough to command a Thousand Troops and Horses."
Bai Qi shook his head with a bitter smile and raised his hand to point outside, reminding, "General Lu! The bank of the Dan Shui River is our last reserve force, so we cannot afford any mistakes. At this moment, the only ones who can carry out the battle plan are the brothers in the Dan River barracks!"
Even without saying the following words, Luzi had already thought of them. If the Zhao Army successfully defeated the Qin Army stationed at Daliang Mountain, then it would naturally follow that breaking through the Dan Shui River Defense Line would also be a matter of course. It could now be understood that once the Zhao Army captured Daliang Mountain, all the Qin Army in the Shangdang Region would surrender one after another! Once the Zhao Army broke through the Dan River defense line, the old man in Hanoi would also be trapped inside the city by the Zhao Army!
Luzi tightened his grip on the Qin State long sword hanging at his waist and shared his earlier deductions with the Grand Commander.
Bai Qi responded heavily with an "mm." "General Lu! We cannot afford to waste any more time here; we simply cannot bear the consequences of a final outcome! At this very moment, there are already 650,000 Comrade brothers stationed in the entire Shangdang Region!"
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