Finest Servant

Chapter 519 Burial in the Sand

"Retreat from Wuyuan?" Not only Xu Zhiqing and Zuo Qiu were startled, but even Hu Bugui and Du Xiuyuan, who were standing beside them, couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Xu Zhiqing looked at him with anticipation and hastily asked, "What do you mean by retreat? Do elaborate."

Lin Wanrong took out a brush, ink, and an inkstone from the table and arranged them. "Advisor Xu, Brother Zuo, please take a look. Let this inkstone represent Wuyuan City. We and the nomads are positioned on both sides. Since Wuyuan is indefensible, there is no need to insist on holding it. Retreating from Wuyuan is the best course of action."

Zuo Qiu nodded but still questioned, "Retreating from Wuyuan is indeed necessary, but there are only two paths before us. Either we continue to advance, striking the nomads with full force, or we retreat a few miles to face off with them. Why, Brother Lin, have you specifically chosen the latter?"

Everyone had the same question, all eyes turned to Lin Wanrong, awaiting his answer.

"While both options involve retreating from Wuyuan City, the two paths are entirely different. Brother Zuo, look—" Lin Wanrong moved the inkstone to the back, "If we move northward out of Wuyuan and deploy to battle the nomads in the desert, Wuyuan City will be behind us. This would effectively cut off our retreat, limiting our room to maneuver. If we advance, it's one thing, but if we have to retreat—with the fierceness of the nomadic forces, it's not unlikely that we might need to pull back. In that case, with our army carrying heavy artillery, Wuyuan City would immediately become an obstacle. Essentially, we would be blocking our own way out, and that is not advisable."

Xu Zhiqing nodded with a smile, "So you suggest our forces retreat slightly, making Wuyuan City a barrier between us and the nomads? Each side would then be facing off across the city?" Miss Xu moved the inkstone back to its original position between the two forces.

"Exactly," Lin Wanrong approved with a glance and continued, "If the Turkic people want to battle us, they will have to go through Wuyuan City. What's most terrifying about the nomadic cavalry is their overwhelming, tsunami-like charges. And Wuyuan City serves as a natural speed bump. No matter how agile their steeds are, they will have to slow down when they pass the city. This would weaken their momentum, allowing our artillery to be most effective. We could bombard Wuyuan City, severely weakening the Turkic vanguard."

Zuo Qiu and the others were seasoned warriors; they immediately understood his point. Wuyuan might be an abandoned fortress, but it could be used as an advantage to restrain the enemy, enhancing our strengths while exploiting their weaknesses.

Xu Zhiqing pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "It's a good strategy, but the nomads aren't fools. If they discover that Wuyuan is an empty city, they likely won't recklessly advance."

"That's even better," Lin Wanrong smiled, "Then we'll just engage in a staring contest with the nomads across the city, testing each other’s endurance. We have Xingqing Prefecture as our backup, and we can replenish our supplies in a timely manner. As for the Turkic people, they have traveled long distances with heavy troops; they're undoubtedly fatigued. We can afford to wait, while they can't."

"But don't forget, these 60,000 men are merely the vanguard of the Turkic forces. Behind them, there's an additional 200,000 elite Turkic soldiers, only half a day's distance away. If they were to unite, we would be outnumbered and outmatched, and the situation could change in an instant. At that point, we would be the ones who can't afford to stall!" Xu Zhiqing warned, her brows slightly furrowed in deep consideration.

A flash of intensity crossed Lin Wanrong's eyes as he grinned, "Your counsel is wise, advisor. Half a day's journey is neither short nor long, enough time for us to stage a decisive battle. The success of our first engagement will make the strategic position of Wuyuan City all the more crucial."

Although Wuyuan City could serve as a barricade against enemy cavalry, to claim that it could deliver a major victory for Great Hua was rather exaggerated. Not only did Zuo Qiu and Yu Zongcai doubt this, but Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu were also skeptical. However, Miss Xu, having already witnessed Lin Wanrong's ingenuity, sensed confidence in his words and a faint smile appeared on her face. "What do you intend to do with Wuyuan City? Do tell."

All eyes turned towards him, even Yu Zongcai stared intently. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "It's just a minor strategy to lure the enemy; hardly anything groundbreaking."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"A lure? You're not thinking of using a small garrison to defend the city to provoke the Turks, are you?" Zuo Qiu shook his head in disappointment. "You've already dismissed that idea yourself. Wuyuan is indefensible. Even if the Turks were to attack, it would only slightly delay them. They could easily step over Wuyuan and engage our army directly. What kind of lure is that?"

Lin Wanrong grinned mysteriously, "Brother Zuo is correct. Wuyuan is indeed indefensible, and that's a well-known fact. But that doesn't mean it's completely useless. If it lacks natural defenses, why not create some 'obstacles' ourselves?"

Create "obstacles" within Wuyuan City? The proposition sounded increasingly mysterious. How could they turn this flat, earthen city into a fortified one? The group looked at each other in confusion, unable to grasp his intent.

Lin Wanrong sighed, "In war, you have to be ruthless. The Turkic cavalry might be formidable, but Great Hua has a unique asset that terrifies them—"

"Gunpowder? You're talking about gunpowder!" Xu Zhiqing, ever so astute, exclaimed as soon as Lin Wanrong gave the slightest hint. Her face immediately lit up with boundless joy. 𝔯

Indeed, she had struck a chord. Realization dawned on Zuo Qiu, Yu Zongcai, and the others. Wuyuan City was but a fortress on flat land. What other "obstacles" could there be, except buried explosives? The strategy was exposed by Xu Zhiqing, but in the complex milieu of war, how many could think of this? General Lin's thinking was truly unconventional and broad-minded.

"Exactly, explosives," Lin Wanrong sighed deeply. "I only hope that the Great Hua heroes buried in Wuyuan City will not blame me for desecrating their remains."

"They won't," Hu Bugui's veteran face turned flushed with excitement. "If you can really slaughter the nomads, those old brothers of ours would probably beg you to plant explosives. General Lin, what kind of brain do you have? Coming up with all kinds of ideas, I'm truly impressed."

The generals in the tent showed expressions of delight, nodding in unison. Clearly, they were quite in favor of Lin Wanrong's idea, and the atmosphere in the tent relaxed considerably for a moment.

Xu Zhiqing pondered and said, "We have plenty of gunpowder. If we can truly lure the Turks into Wuyuan City with a small troop, and then pretend to be defeated and retreat from Wuyuan, the Turkic forces will undoubtedly pursue us relentlessly. In this way, the enemy will be divided into three sections: those in the city, those to the south, and those to the north of the city. Once the gunpowder is ignited, blocking the enemy from the north from entering, the two groups of enemies inside and outside the city will be sitting ducks for us."

Upon hearing Xu Zhiqing's detailed analysis, everyone realized that there was indeed hidden wisdom in the plan. If executed smoothly, a decisive victory in the first battle was certain. What appeared to be the useless Wuyuan City was ingeniously revitalized by Lin Wanrong, becoming crucial in the upcoming battle. A sense of enlightenment washed over the generals as though they had suddenly seen the moon through the mist.

Xu Zhiqing's mood also lightened considerably. She looked at Lin Wanrong and smiled enchantingly, "General Lin, is my arrangement satisfactory? Do you have anything to add?"

Lin Wanrong laughed and said, "You've said it all. What more can I add? My only concern is that Turkic warrior, Nur—what's his name again?"

Hu Bugui spoke up, "General, his name is Nurzhan! The names of these Turkic people are as awkward as sheep droppings on the grasslands!"

Laughter erupted in the tent, enlivening the atmosphere. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Ah yes, Nurzhan! Good memory, Brother Hu. My only worry is that this Nurzhan, who grew up eating wolf meat, might not have the guts to lay siege, which would be disappointing."

Xu Zhiqing nodded, "Nurzhan is one of Batur's three great warriors, audacious and fierce. There's nothing he wouldn't dare to do! The defense of Wuyuan and luring the enemy deep into our territory is extremely risky. If not handled properly, we could be surrounded. So, the one to hold Wuyuan must be a general who is both wise and courageous. Who among you is willing to take on this great responsibility?"

The tent fell into a hushed silence. What Miss Xu said was true; the most critical part of the battle was the lure. With sixty thousand Turkic cavalry charging in and gunpowder underfoot, one wrong move could result in utter ruin. Who dared to take charge of Wuyuan?

Xu Zhiqing cast a fleeting glance, her eyes sweeping over the faces of those present, as if inquiring their opinions.

Lin Wanrong cleared his throat and affected an air of casualness, "Well—why don't I go? After all, I came up with this plan; no one is more suited than me."

"No way!" Hu Bugui quickly stepped forward, "General Lin is the commander of the right flank; the overall situation depends on you. How can you lightly take such a risk? Advisor, I, Hu Bugui, am willing to go!"

"I, Du Xiuyuan, am willing to go!"

Two men from the right flank stood up, sharing the burden, which made General Lin look quite good. Lin Wanrong laughed, "Why are you both competing with me? It doesn't matter who goes, right?"

Zuo Qiu felt a bit humiliated. He glared at his subordinates. Yu Zongcai glanced at the charming face of Miss Xu. A hint of infatuation flashed in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he loudly proclaimed, "Advisor, I am willing to go!"

Three people suddenly stepped forward. Xu Zhiqing hesitated for a moment and then turned to Zuo Qiu and Lin Wanrong, asking, "In your opinion, who should be stationed at Wuyuan?"

Zuo Qiu replied, "These three brothers are all pillars of our army. Any of them could fulfill this mission honorably. The decision rests with the Advisor."

Xu Zhiqing nodded, then glanced at Lin Wanrong as if seeking his opinion. Lin Wanrong studied the faces of Hu Bugui and Du Xiuyuan and said seriously, "Brother Du excels in strategy, while Brother Hu is adept at fighting the enemy. This mission is not about defeating the enemy, but rather, tricking them. I recommend that Du Xiuyuan lead ten thousand elite cavalry to station at Wuyuan."

Miss Xu pondered for a while before finally raising an eyebrow. "Du Xiuyuan, heed my command!"

"Here I am!"

Xu Zhiqing pulled out a command arrow and said, "I order you to lead ten thousand cavalrymen to defend Wuyuan. Execute flexible attacks and lure Nurzhan to lay siege to the city. When the city is breached, do not engage in prolonged combat; retreat immediately!"

"Understood!" Du Xiuyuan shouted, accepting the command token.

"Yu Zongcai, heed my command! You are to lead ten thousand cavalrymen, solely responsible for aiding Du Xiuyuan's troop in their retreat. There must be no errors!"

Yu Zongcai saluted and took the command arrow. Miss Xu's face was stern as she loudly commanded, "Soldiers of the three armies, listen up! Tomorrow marks our first battle, a time for our Great Hua Empire to raise its brows and exhale. Our formations must be strict, commands must be obeyed. Lin San will lead the vanguard; Zuo Qiu will hold the left flank, and the main army will guard the right. Rewards for advancing, execution for retreating! All of you must be united in heart and courageously move forward, vowing to kill the enemy under our horses!"

"Vow to kill the enemy under our horses!" The generals all shouted in unison. They took their leave and busied themselves with their preparations.

As the setting sun slowly sank, the far reaches of the great desert were a hazy expanse of dust and sand that looked like snow, cloaking the bloody hues of the sunset with a touch of gloom. Countless white tents, like blooming flowers, were scattered amid the dust and sand. The neighing of war horses mixed with the howling winds, composing a melancholy frontier melody. Wisps of cooking smoke swayed and rose in the dusty air, looking like dancing veils in the sunset from a distance.

Lin Wanrong sat on the ground, slowly sketching faces in the thick sand with his finger. In no time, several lifelike faces appeared before him: Qingxuan, Eldest Miss, Fairy Ning, Vixen An, Ning'er, Qiaoqiao, Yushuang... Each woman appeared vivid, as if standing right before him, their expressions ranging from shy to smiling, angry to annoyed. The swirling sand soon covered the sketches, but he was not discouraged and started drawing again from scratch.

"What are you doing?" Xu Zhiqing's voice sounded close, as if she were right beside him. Lin Wanrong turned his head and saw that Miss Xu had at some point changed out of her armor into an elegant lotus-colored dress, her black hair casually wrapped in a silk scarf. A transparent scarf shielded her face from the sand, revealing her exquisitely soft skin, which was as beautiful as the finest jade. Her eyebrows were slightly knitted, and her eyes moist as a spring rain in March. The windswept sand stirred her long, flowing hair, which added to her ethereal beauty.

Lin Wanrong looked her up and down and then smiled, "If it weren't for your attire, I'd have forgotten that there are women in the army. Very nice, indeed. A green shoot amidst ten thousand grains of sand—you're certainly more pleasing to the eye than I am, at the very least!"

"Who can compare with you?" Xu Zhiqing snorted irritably, her face tinged with a slight blush under the glow of the setting sun. "Slacking off here again—are all the matters in your camp settled?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Of all people in the army, you're the one who trusts me the least! Would I dare to come out and play without finishing my work? You'd have me court-martialed!"

Xu Zhiqing lightly bit her red lips and gave a soft hum as she slowly took a seat beside him, staying silent.

Only after Lin Wanrong had finished sketching portraits of several wives and prospective wives did he let out a long sigh. He lay back on the ground, allowing the dust and sand to whip against his cheeks, but his eyes were staring blankly at the sky.

"Missing home?" Xu Zhiqing carefully shook off the dust from her skirt and spoke softly. As she saw her brand-new dress marred by layers of yellow sand, a hint of distress filled her eyes.

"A bit," Lin Wanrong admitted casually, his hands pillowed behind his head. He looked at Xu Zhiqing's little hands rubbing the sand off her dress, her face filled with concern. He couldn't help but tease her again, "If you care so much about this dress, you shouldn't wear it. No one will see it here. In this windy and sandy place, you'll need to change in less than half an hour. There's no water to wash it—you're just making life difficult for yourself."

Xu Zhiqing's face turned frosty, "Why do you care so much? If I want to wear it, I will, and it has nothing to do with you!"

Was this the same woman who just moments ago had been issuing commands and remaining so composed? Lin Wanrong shook his head in wry amusement. He suddenly remembered the harsh words she had spoken when visiting him previously. Looking at her now, it seemed as if she had forgotten all about it.

A light fragrance wafted over as Xu Zhiqing sat beside him. She stared into the depths of the vast desert, her eyes slightly moist. She sighed softly, "The sunset is so beautiful. I wonder how many more like this I'll get to see?"

"Suns rise and set every day. What's there not to see?" Lin Wanrong waved his hand, laughing carelessly.

Xu Zhiqing glanced at him and hummed lightly. She cupped a handful of fine sand in her palms and gently released it, letting the grains fall onto her dress.

The tiny grains of sand permeated her skirt, staining the lotus-pink fabric a soft yellow. She continued, her hands unceasingly scattering one handful of sand after another over herself, her eyes gradually filling with tears.

Lin Wanrong watched, puzzled. "Miss Xu, what are you doing? Washing your clothes with sand? This is a first for me."

Eyes half-closed, Xu Zhiqing spoke with a quiver in her voice, "This is called 'burying in sand.' Legend has it that in the lands beyond the Great Wall, any woman deeply in love who buries herself in rolling sand while wearing her most beautiful clothes will receive a promise from the heavens—transforming her lifelong yearning into a grain of sand in the vast desert."

"Too profound; I don't understand," Lin Wanrong shook his head and sighed.

Xu Zhiqing gently stroked her hair, speaking softly, "Do you know about the Taklamakan Desert?"

"Yes, yes, it's not too far from here," Lin Wanrong nodded vigorously.

"Every longing in a lifetime will cause the heavens to drop a grain of sand, and thus, the vast Taklamakan is formed," Xu Zhiqing’s hands clenched in her lap, tears falling like rain.

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