"Don’t misunderstand, Great General ng Tian; what he ntioned is rely a... bold guess, and nothing has been implented yet." Han Hao acted fast, stomping Ye Shikai’s foot under the table to signal him to keep quiet. Using people from the Wolf Clan to train the Qin Army might be acceptable when discussed among acquaintances, but if General ng Tian heard it, learning from the Wolf Clan alone might lead soone with ulterior motives to fabricate charges against Ye Shikai.
Han Hao already regretted it now. He should have repeatedly warned Ye Shikai before the banquet not to ntion employing "Wolf Clan instructors." But now, Ye Shikai "spoke without restraint," and his words were heard clearly by the assembled generals. He hoped ng Tian would, for sentint’s sake, avoid anger and pretend he hadn’t heard.
"General ng, my idea is to use soldiers from the Wolf Clan skilled in equestrian skills and archery to train our cavalry." Unyielding to Han Hao’s dissuasion, Ye Shikai spoke bluntly. Hearing this, Han Hao’s face turned half-blue, and the generals present felt like they’d received thunderous news, putting down their chopsticks as the atmosphere abruptly shifted.
"Tell , what are you thinking?" As expected, ng Tian’s expression turned cold; the earlier excitent vanished, replaced by a heavy deanor.
"Great General ng, he... "
"General Han, please refrain from speaking," ng Tian said coldly, leaving Han Hao no choice but to stay silent obediently.
"Dare I ask, comparing Great Qin cavalry with Wolf Clan cavalry, which one is stronger?" Ye Shikai suddenly knelt on one knee and saluted, his tone sincere.
"Great Qin soldiers excel in formations, relying on advanced weapons, armor, and strict discipline to be unstoppable on the battlefield. However, in terms of cavalry strength, speed, and scale, indeed, the Wolf Clan is superior." ng Tian didn’t sugarcoat his assessnt, objectively acknowledging the existing disparities. A capable general must discern the strengths and weaknesses between the enemy and ourselves.
"If that’s the case, shouldn’t we learn the strengths of others and mitigate our shortcomings?"
"You must understand, the Wolf Clan is barbaric. Is it appropriate to learn from them?"
"At least in equestrian skills, we have room for learning," Ye Shikai continued. "I do this not for personal glory but for every Qin Army soldier. Training an excellent cavalryman ans reducing the infantry’s casualties. If we can train a whole cavalry unit, perhaps we can force the Wolf Clan to migrate north, avoiding aggression for fifty years."
Ye Shikai’s statents were compelling and well-reasoned; though the generals found it unpleasant, they couldn’t offer better ideas. The Wolf Clan cavalry’s prowess was evident; they had fought them on battlefields, knowing their strength firsthand.
"You speak confidently, but is it so easy to have Wolf Clan soldiers willingly teach us?" ng Tian challenged.
"I have my thods. I only need two weeks..."
"I’ll give you three weeks to show results. Whatever you need during this ti will be prioritized." Before Ye Shikai finished speaking, ng Tian promptly agreed, supporting him.
The generals couldn’t believe their ears; they hadn’t expected ng Tian to not only refrain from any reprimand but also agree so readily and even offer support. Ye Shikai could quickly obtain any equipnt or weapons needed, unmistakably showing support.
"Yes."
"I also heard you distributed wine and at to the captured Wolf Clan soldiers. Did that happen?" ng Tian inquired.
"Indeed, it’s part of my plan," Ye Shikai nodded. "I ask the Great General to trust ."
"You misunderstand; I have no doubts. I rely ant to say you can request more wine and at from the Ji County Supply Officer if there’s any shortage in the fortress. I’ll instruct him to provide you."
...
"Old Ye, I didn’t expect General ng Tian to agree so easily. It seems he really appreciates you."
"What do you an by that? You think he agrees because of , rather than the reasons I stated?" Ye Shikai countered Shangguan Jian. Though so found those statents hypocritical and laughable, they were his genuine thoughts. Every soldier has a family, and each soldier’s death in the frontier adds a cry in the village...
"I admit, what you said makes sense. But if anyone else said it, General ng Tian might have silenced them. Old Ye, don’t you get it yet? You’re now favored by General ng Tian, so naturally, others will pander to and cooperate with you. Didn’t you notice how quickly people’s expressions changed after General ng agreed?"
"So that’s what you ant."
"Thankfully, General ng Tian appreciates you and endorsed your plan. To be honest, I’m also looking forward to seeing how it turns out."
"Rest assured; you’ll soon find out." Ye Shikai lightly clapped his hands, and a soldier dressed in Wolf Clan attire entered from outside the barracks.
"Who are you? Guards, seize him!" Shangguan Jian instinctively stood up, drew his sword, and shouted authoritatively. A few guards rushed in imdiately.
"Lower your weapons; he’s one of us." Ye Shikai patted the man’s shoulder, "Let introduce, this is Alimu, a Wolf Clan mber and my informant within the captive camp."
"What, Old Ye? When did you find this man?" Shangguan Jian was quite astonished, having always been with Ye Shikai and entirely unaware of Alimu’s existence.
"I’ll explain later. Alimu, report the situation in the captive camp." Ye Shikai promptly shifted focus.
"Report, sirs. Recently, differing opinions have erged within the captive camp. The Chiliarch’s plan is brilliant, providing favorable treatnt and relative freedom, leaving the captives feeling uneasy. Their attitude toward the Qin Army has shifted; apart from a few, most are no longer hostile."
"How do I know if what you’re saying is true?" Shangguan Jian asked sternly.
"Shangguan, I have evidence." Ye Shikai smiled faintly, "I’ve had soldiers clean up their leftovers at the captive camp these days. Initially, the wine and at provided went untouched because they feared we might poison them. But afterward, the wine and at were entirely consud, indicating they’ve let down their guard."
"This is just speculation. Are you entirely confident with this conclusion?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers