Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 80 Reflections on War

As night fell, the commotion on the battlefield gradually subsided.

Instead, the mournful cries of wounded soldiers echoed intermittently from the moat. Some of the wounded, abandoned on the battlefield, called for their mothers; some cursed their officers; and many more simply groaned meaninglessly, like dying beasts.

In Lu Yan's camp, the campfire was strictly controlled in the sheltered pit, and only a faint light was emitted.

He sat alone on a blue stone outside the tent, holding a bowl of cold mixed grain porridge, but he didn't drink a drop.

The scenes from today's battlefield played repeatedly in his mind like a revolving lantern.

Those garrison soldiers forced to charge at knifepoint by the supervising officers, those White Lotus sect members shouting fanatically from the city walls, those government troops who would draw their swords against each other for a single well...

And there's that Liaodong man named Kong Youde.

Lu Yan closed his eyes, and the image of Kong Youde commanding the battle appeared in his mind.

That unhurried sense of rhythm, that precise control of the battlefield situation, that calmness in treating subordinates as pawns rather than cannon fodder... these are not qualities that an ordinary platoon leader can possess.

"This man will surely achieve great things in the future," Lu Yan concluded to himself regarding Kong Youde, "or... a great threat."

He opened his eyes and looked toward the distant city of Yuncheng.

Torches lit up the city walls, and the figures of patrolling soldiers could be vaguely seen. Although Xu Hongru was a charlatan, his defensive deployment was indeed quite skillful.

"Master, it's late, you should rest."

Zhao Changying's voice came from behind. This loyal cousin had followed Lu Yan like a shadow ever since he recovered from his serious injuries, never leaving his side.

"Changying, come here." Lu Yan patted the stone next to him.

Zhao Changying was somewhat surprised, but still sat down as instructed.

"How do you think the battle went today?" Lu Yan asked.

"It was a complete disaster," Zhao Changying said without hesitation. "The government troops outnumbered us, yet we were blocked under the city walls by a bunch of peasants. Those generals and lieutenants are all pampered and rely entirely on their garrison soldiers to die in battle. If you ask me, it would have been better to let someone like Kong Youde command."

"Do you think Kong Youde is impressive?"

"Impressive." Zhao Changying nodded. "That man has a methodical fighting style, and his soldiers are obedient. If the reinforcements hadn't failed to keep up today, they might have actually made it to the city walls."

Lu Yan was silent for a moment, then asked, "So, what do you think of our militia compared to Kong Youde's men?"

Zhao Changying thought for a moment, then hesitated, "In terms of individual combat, our men may not be as good as his Liaodong veterans. But in terms of discipline and uniformity, we are no worse than them."

"Not worse than him?" Lu Yan shook his head. "No, we're better than him."

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, took a few steps, and spoke in a low voice:

"Changying, do you know what I saw on the battlefield today?"

"What?"

"I saw two groups of rabble fighting each other."

Lu Yan turned around, his gaze sharp. "The government troops are numerous, but they fight individually, and no one wants to be the first to step forward. The rebels are brave, but they rely entirely on impulsiveness, lacking any discernible strategy. It's not a contest of who is stronger, but rather who is more incompetent."

Zhao Changying nodded thoughtfully.

"Think about it again," Lu Yan continued. "If there were an army, not too many people, three or five thousand would be enough. But this army would be disciplined, its movements precise, and everyone would know what they were supposed to do. Equipped with muskets and cannons, plus rigorous training and ample supplies..."

He paused for a moment, his voice carrying a hint of barely suppressed excitement:

"What would be the outcome if such an army were deployed on today's battlefield?"

Zhao Changying's eyes lit up: "Needless to say? Sweep through the enemy ranks!"

"That's right."

Lu Yan sat down again, his gaze fixed on the stars in the night sky.

"Changying, I used to think that in this chaotic world, money could save you, and connections could get things done. But today I understand—money and connections are means, not ends. What truly allows one to survive in chaos is power."

"The essence of power is not numbers, not courage, not even firearms."

His voice was deep and firm:

"It's organization. It's discipline. It's the ability to transform a mob into a well-oiled machine."

Zhao Changying was somewhat confused: "Master, you mean...?"

"What I mean is, our militia training shouldn't just be about thugs protecting convoys."

Lu Yan stood up, his gaze fixed intently on Zhao Changying:

"From today onward, I will transform it into a real army. A new kind of army that is organized, disciplined, and well-equipped."

"This army will not only be able to protect caravans, but also conquer cities and seize territories. It will not only be able to establish a foothold in Shandong, but also..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Zhao Changying already understood.

"Master," Zhao Changying's voice trembled slightly, "you're going to..."

"I didn't say anything," Lu Yan interrupted him. "What you said tonight, stay inside."

He patted Zhao Changying on the shoulder, his tone returning to calm:

"Go to sleep. There's a tough battle ahead tomorrow."

Zhao Changying stood up, hesitated for a moment, and then couldn't help but ask, "Master, what do we do next? We can't just stay here and watch the show, can we?"

"Watching a play?"

Lu Yan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile:

"Who said I'm just watching the show? I'm waiting for my chance."

"What opportunity?"

"An opportunity that would give us a legitimate reason to intervene in this war."

Lu Yan turned and walked towards the tent, his shadow stretching long in the moonlight.

"Zhao Yan has been fighting for three days, killing over two thousand people, and hasn't even filled in the moat. He must be frantic right now, like a cat on a hot tin roof. An impatient person makes mistakes. And a person who makes mistakes needs someone to clean up their mess."

"When the time comes, we'll be the ones cleaning up the mess."

He lifted the tent flap and glanced back at Zhao Changying:

"Remember, in this world, offering help in times of need is a hundred times more valuable than adding to someone's success."

The curtains fell, and Lu Yan's figure disappeared into the darkness.

Zhao Changying stood there, motionless for a long time. He vaguely felt that his boss seemed like a different person tonight.

No, it hasn't changed.

It was something that had always been hidden beneath a gentle exterior that finally revealed itself.

That's ambition.

They are fangs.

It was a beast that had been lying in wait for a long time, finally smelling the scent of blood.

……

Meanwhile, in Yuncheng.

Xu Hongru stood on the city wall, looking at the endless campfires of the government troops outside the city, his brows furrowed.

"Master, we repelled seven more attacks by the government troops today," a trusted aide reported. "The brothers' morale is high; they all say that with the protection of the Eternal Mother, the government troops cannot break through."

"bless?"

Xu Hongru sneered, turned around, revealing a pale and tired face:

How many more days can the food supply last?

The confidant's expression changed: "Reporting to the leader, at most... at most we can hold out for another ten days."

"Ten days."

Xu Hongru murmured the number repeatedly, his gaze fixed on a certain direction outside the city—there, there was a unique camp, neat and quiet, like a haven in a chaotic world.

"Is that person from Lu's Carriage and Horse Shop still outside the city?"

"Yes. Their camp is located on a high hill three miles outside the north gate, and they haven't participated in the battle."

Xu Hongru remained silent for a long time, then suddenly said:

"Send someone out of the city to make contact with him."

"The leader?" the confidant exclaimed in shock. "That's a member of the government army!"

"Government troops?" Xu Hongru shook his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "No, that man isn't a government soldier. He's a merchant."

"Merchants only care about money, not banners."

He turned and walked down the city wall, his voice drifting away on the night wind:

"In this world, what can save us is never some eternal mother. It's self-interest."

Inside and outside the city, two people thought of the same thing on the same night.

This will subtly alter the course of the siege.