Chapter 42

At the fourth watch, it was the dawn. However, this quiet moment was broken by the sound of hooves. Guinang Langmai, the grandson of Guinang Huoluo, dismounted from his horse. This surname was quite peculiar and feminine, but Guinang Langmai was not at all feminine. He was nearly six feet tall, with a robust and sturdy build. Guinang Langmai's arrival startled the entire village.

"How many people have come?" Wang Ju asked.

"More than six hundred, not just the Zhaoling soldiers, but also a part of the true Qingsheng army from Changcheng Ridge."

This was not good news. Too many enemy soldiers had come, and the Qingsheng army was extremely powerful. Everyone's faces changed.

"What are you afraid of? Don't we have the Guinang tribe to help us?" Wang Ju shouted.

Guinang Langmai smiled bitterly. "We are here to help, but the key is still on you."

"Guinang Dalang, where are they now?"

"Probably at Xingzi Mao."

Xingzi Mao was about thirty miles away from Wang Family Village, which meant the enemy could appear in Wang Family Village in less than two hours.

"When did they appear at Cangdi River?"

"Yesterday evening."

Crossing the Song-Xia border in the evening would not attract attention, but Wang Ju's eyes brightened. "They appeared at Cangdi River yesterday evening, and most of them are foot soldiers. Now they are at Xingzi Mao, which means they have not rested all night and have traveled a long distance."

Guinang Langmai's eyes also brightened. No wonder his grandfather repeatedly warned him not to underestimate this young man from Wang Family Village, who might become a great figure in the Song Dynasty. He was only fourteen, yet he possessed such wisdom.

The others had not yet understood. So Wang Ju explained, "They have not rested all night, so they will be tired, and their combat effectiveness will undoubtedly be severely reduced."

Actually, the reason was simple. Crossing the border in the evening, rushing a bit, and arriving at Wang Family Village at dawn, they could instantly break through the small village. Even if the Song army came, they would have already withdrawn. After all, there were only about six hundred of them. The Song side feared the Western Xia, and the Western Xia, though fearless, were also afraid.

But this was a chance for survival and victory.

"Third Uncle, you take charge."

"Alright," Li Sandou said.

He began to issue orders one by one.

Guinang Langmai quietly asked, "Wang Xiaolang, who is he?"

Just now, he had noticed that when the number of enemies was mentioned, most people's faces did not look good, but Wang Ju and this middle-aged man remained calm. The young man's calmness could be understood, perhaps he was a genius or ignorant and fearless. But why was this middle-aged man so calm? And his orderly command did not seem like the work of an ordinary person.

"He... he escaped from over there." Wang Ju nodded toward the west but did not reveal his true identity.

As he learned more, Wang Ju heard that the Guinang and Yeli tribes had not been on good terms in the past.

After saying this, he added, "After this battle, if the court asks, it will be you who commanded."

"Not appropriate," Guinang Langmai immediately refused. What a joke, his grandfather had agreed to marry his younger sister to the son of the Wang Family Village chief, uniting the two tribes. Of course, the marriage would only be discussed after Wang Family Village survived this crisis. And Wang Family Village had promised to provide one hundred genuine strong bows, one hundred top-quality hand knives, and other valuables as a dowry. His grandfather had agreed to the union and secretly helped.

In fact, the biggest dowry was Wang Ju's vague promise. The mention of his name at Donghua Gate made Guinang Huoluo uncertain, but that day's conversation had made him feel Wang Ju's extraordinary nature. Of course, Wang Ju's age had confused everyone. Anyone who conversed with Wang Ju would think he was extraordinary, even a demon...

Whether he was a demon or not, this battle would prove it. If he could survive this crisis, he must be a demon!

Guinang Langmai did not know this.

But he was not foolish. The Guinang tribe's assistance was in secret. The first challenge must be overcome by Wang Family Village, and only then would the Guinang tribe help. Otherwise, they would watch Wang Family Village be destroyed!

Even if they helped, it would not be public. Why should the Guinang tribe openly offend the army on the other side of the mountain?

"If we win, the court will value you."

"Wang Xiaolang, stop it. You are not like other children, don't you understand?"

Wang Ju sighed slightly.

Since the Shan Yu brothers had fled to the Song Dynasty, they immediately went to Guinang Huoluo's house, showing their close relationship. However, when the Song officials openly entered their tribe and captured the Shan Yu brothers to be shot by Li Yuanhao, what must Guinang Huoluo have thought?

I heard Guo Quan is a gentleman!

Even more amusing was another gentleman, after the defeat at Sanchuan Pass, the Song Dynasty appointed Xia Song to oversee the military and political affairs in Shaanxi. When Xia Song arrived in Shaanxi and saw the long border, he proposed ten suggestions, mainly to increase the troops. Not only to increase the troops, but also to consider the severe decline in the combat effectiveness of the imperial guards and the high cost of using them, so he suggested increasing the local troops. This suggestion gradually formed the Baojie Army and the strongest Western Army.

But another gentleman, Yang Xie, said there was no need to increase the troops. In the past, Huo Qubing led eight hundred light cavalry to detach from the Grand General Wei Qing's forces, deep into the desert, capturing and killing over ten thousand, and then with ten thousand cavalry, crossed the Wuli River, crossed the Fox Slave, passed through five kingdoms, and crossed the Yanzhi Mountain for over a thousand miles, joining forces to fight at Gaolan, killing the Loulan King, capturing the Hou King, and seizing the Kunye Prince, and capturing the gold statue of the Xutu tribe used for sacrifices.

Zhao Chongguo also broke the Xianling with ten thousand cavalry.

Li Jing broke the Tujue with only three thousand elite cavalry, and then with ten thousand cavalry, reached the Yin Mountains, killing over a thousand and capturing over ten thousand men and women, and capturing the Jie Li to be presented. Since the Han Dynasty, there have been countless instances of few defeating many. You, Mr. Xia, defend the city in Jingyuan, hold the fort, and when they come, you defend, and when they leave, you let them go. You do not hear of any military campaigns, which is a sign of fear and cowardice. Do not use the excuse of having few troops!

He almost made Xia Song spit blood in anger.

But Yang Xie did not think he was wrong and wrote a treatise on military affairs, "The Art of War," in 15 volumes. I am a person who understands military affairs...

"Gentlemen are more harmful to the country," Wang Ju thought. Even more sinister thoughts arose in his mind. If the Song Dynasty did not have Fan Zhongyan and the gentlemen he inspired, the Northern Song might have lasted longer.

Judge heroes by their success!

Wang Ju looked at Li Sandou again. "Uncle Sandou, why don't you say you commanded it?"

"No way." Li Sandou immediately replied.

For the village and his family, he could assist Wang Ju and the villagers as a deputy, but he would not take the lead and reveal his identity to the Song officials. Who knew, the Song court might hand him over to the Western Xia to be shot to appease their anger.

"Wang Xiaolang, why don't you admit it?" The outcome is unknown, where does this young man get his confidence? But if they win, it will be a great achievement. So Guinang Langmai asked in confusion.

"I am a scholar."

"Being a scholar is good."

"But I want to take the imperial exams. Scholars should avoid military affairs. You don't understand, ask your grandfather when you go back."

But Wang Ju was in a dilemma.

This battle could not be kept small, with six or seven hundred Western Xia soldiers.

Although precautions were taken, the battle would inevitably alarm the Yan Prefecture officials, who would certainly ask who was responsible for the command and planning. He could not admit it. But if he did not admit it, Guinang Langmai did not want to admit it either, and Li Sandou also did not want to admit it. So who would say they commanded?

Could it be Wang Quan?

Wang Quan was the chief and had done a lot for the village, but his knowledge was limited. An old person is a treasure, but no matter how old, without broad knowledge, he would not be able to answer questions correctly.

This was a problem, but raising it now not only addressed the issue but also calmed people's hearts. Since Wang Ju was worrying about who would take the credit, there was hope for victory. Do not say he was young, the battle on the mountain path was quickly arranged by Wang Ju, and despite the haste, it was a beautiful victory.

But if not for this, the villagers might have already fled. Property is important, but life is more important.

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