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墨書 Inktalez
Looking at the letters seized by the Sentinel, Bai Qi, sitting in the Main Tent, fell into deep thought. The terrain of Shangdang County was perilous and had always been a key battleground in Military Strategy. If this place could be occupied, the gates of Zhao would be opened. However, if troops were deployed too hastily at this moment, it might not be a good thing. Once Zhao learned of it, they would surely send troops to reclaim it.
Currently, with the Han Territory still unsettled, taking risks could lead to awkward situations where subsequent supplies could not keep up. If there were no disturbances from Han, it would be manageable; but if they sent troops to cut off our supply lines midway, the Army would have to resort to eating tree bark on the mountains! It seemed this matter required careful deliberation; rash actions must be avoided.
Warriors are unpredictable. This phrase implies that with the support of a large Army, unexpected victories can be achieved. However, everything must be based on adequate supplies; losing this foundation would render the occupation meaningless.
At this moment, the envoy presenting the map to Qin was likely already on the way. If a Royal Decree were issued while we had not yet secured our supply lines, it would delay the Military Situation. Additionally, there was the seasonal issue; in two months, winter would arrive. Recklessly entering Shangdang at this time would surely alert the Zhao Army. Once a standoff occurred, it would become troublesome. They would be fighting on their home turf while we faced long-distance supply challenges. With these thoughts in mind, Bai Qi stepped out of the Main Tent to prepare horses for his soldiers. He needed to find Luzi, who was preparing for the siege, to discuss strategies. The best approach was to win steadily and capture Shangdang at the start of spring tomorrow!
Meanwhile, Luzi was drafting a letter to send into the city as part of his preparations for the siege tomorrow. It was best if matters could be resolved peacefully; however, sometimes goodwill alone is insufficient. Just as he was about to call Chen Cheng in, he heard a commotion outside. As he stood up to see what was happening, Bai Qi hurriedly walked in, looking travel-worn. The two highest commanders of the Qin Army exchanged greetings and took their seats without any formalities before diving into serious discussions.
Bai Qi first handed over the seized letters to Luzi and waited for him to finish reading before sharing his plans. The negotiations regarding Han's surrendering of the city to Qin had been kept secret until now. This ensured that external interference would not disrupt the agreement's progress. Once King Zhao agreed to take over and sent troops to reclaim Shangdang County, it was inevitable that other Feudal States would catch wind of it. Especially Zhao, which currently optimistically estimated that they had at least 750,000 armored troops domestically. The Shangdang Region was their southern gateway! Suddenly being blocked by someone while they were keeping a close watch all day long made it impossible for them to pretend not to see.
Luzi glanced at the letter again and nodded in acknowledgment of this deduction's validity. However, letting such a big opportunity slip away without taking a bite would make it hard to sleep at night! This is what one might call helplessness; yet he knew that recklessly seizing opportunities could lead to extremely severe consequences. Commanding an Army is not like a few people fighting; one cannot just rush in without thinking things through. Once an arrow is shot from a bow, there is no turning back; regretting later is too late! It seems General Bai was right; ensuring no major actions were taken this year is imperative.
"Then! I will hurry back to Xianyang immediately to report on this matter; I will leave everything here in your capable hands, General Bai."
Smart people do not need to spell everything out when they talk; just starting a conversation is enough for both parties to understand each other's intentions. Bai Qi had said so much without mentioning returning to the capital because it wasn't necessary to elaborate on it. This involved the fate of 100,000 regular troops and 200,000 soldiers; if no one personally returned to report this matter in the capital, it would indeed cause unease. Seeing Luzi take the initiative made them reach an agreement instantly.
Before leaving, Luzi reminded Bai Qi to minimize bloodshed if possible. If given a chance, he would definitely raise concerns regarding soldiers' compensation with King Zhao.
The reason for excessive killing often stems from inadequate compensation; if this issue could be resolved, there would naturally be no need for slaughtering. Bai Qi immediately assured Luzi not to worry; since there was an agreement in place, they would adhere to it.
Thus, they bid each other farewell as Luzi hurried back with his personal guards toward Qin State. Fortunately, all cities along the way had already been occupied by the Qin Army, so they did not encounter any obstructions from the Korean Army. Finally arriving at Qin State's Boundary that day felt as though he had been away for a long time. It brought about a particularly nostalgic feeling that calmed his previously restless heart. After all, with military duties at hand, he dared not linger too long along the way. Working overtime led him to rush back and coincidentally catch up with the rear guard of the envoy just as they entered the city.
The general at this moment is the merchant Luzi, who is hurrying to the palace while avoiding a meeting with the envoy at the intersection leading to the post station.
What Luzi did not expect was that Li Xin was now a guard in the palace, responsible for its security. When they met, they exchanged warm greetings and were quite friendly. Upon inquiring about the whereabouts of Shisan, they learned that he was unwilling to stay in the capital and had actively requested to return to Hequ Sima.
Regardless of the circumstances, everyone could manage to make a living. This was what Luzi hoped for the most; although he missed the days they spent together in the underworld, one could not live that way forever.
Li Xin sent someone inside to report and then stood outside the palace gate chatting. He knew about Luzi's involvement in battles with Bai Qi and could tell from his casual attire that he had been appointed as a general. Taking advantage of the fact that no news had yet come from within the palace, he urged Luzi to speak on behalf of King Qin. Standing under the sun all day was exhausting, and it would be good to see the world with the main force. He didn't need an official position; being a Captain of the Guard would suffice. If that didn't work out, being a deputy captain would be fine too.
Officials in the capital, especially those guarding the palace, were looked up to wherever they went. Although they had little freedom, their status was undeniable. At least they could earn some recognition by being sent out as a Captain of the Guard. It was surprising that Luzi couldn't see this! He laughed it off but firmly disagreed with Li Xin returning to their previous lifestyle. How could someone not be interested in a position that others wouldn't even dare to dream of? Furthermore, going to the front lines was no joke; one could end up seriously injured or worse. Just one encounter could mean life or death!
Li Xin was resolute, insisting that he would first go into battle and kill enemies. In the end, he even suggested becoming a personal guard for Luzi, which nearly made Luzi bend over backward in disbelief. He could only express that this year had been tough enough; if they still wanted to discuss it when spring arrived tomorrow, then they could go into battle together!
That was all it took!
Just as Li Xin was about to thank General Lu, he heard an edict summoning Luzi into the palace. They agreed to meet later for drinks before parting ways.
King Zhao of Qin had already learned about South Korea's intention to cede land and knew that with the envoy's arrival in the capital, major decisions had been made. His mood was quite good at this time; upon hearing that Luzi was back, he set aside his work and ordered someone to notify him for an audience.
A general cannot leave his post without a royal decree; returning alone while leaving an army on campaign could result in severe punishment. However, Luzi was not Bai Qi; King Qin granting him a deputy position merely allowed him to experience life within the troops. As long as there were significant matters at hand, he could come and go freely. This information had been obtained by Bai Qi from King Zhao of Qin before their expedition. It was precisely for this reason that Bai Qi sought out Luzi to discuss how best to respond and accept Shangdang County's urgent military situation, hoping Luzi would represent him back in court to report on current urgent military affairs.
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