Chapter 10 (Part 2) Rescue Once More

  Captain Chen's abacus is precise, from Pei Hongce not daring to bribe Fan Zigai, and from Fan Zigai wanting to compete with Fang Xuanling's father for the title of the first honest official in the world, Captain Chen has already seen that Fan Zigai is a straightforward and upright old-fashioned person. This kind of old-fashioned person is indeed hot-tempered and unyielding, but if he can think that Chen Yingliang's words are reasonable, and that Pei Hongce's crime does not deserve death, then Chen Yingliang will definitely be able to save Pei Hongce. Even if he cannot save him, the possibility of Chen Yingliang losing his head is also not great.

  As a result, Chen Yingliang's gains were great. He saved Pei Hongce for the second time, and it would be strange if Pei Hongce didn't feel grateful to his bones. The powerful Pei family of Wenxi, which had produced 22 prime ministers and 36 generals, would naturally find it easier for Chen Yingliang to curry favor with them and gain their support. Even if he couldn't save him back, as long as he could slightly move the stubbornly honest Fan Zigai with his words, the possibility of Chen Yingliang being killed would be minimal. Then wouldn't Chen Yingliang's reputation for daring to speak the truth and remonstrate also be earned?

  After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Chen Yingliang took a deep breath and said loudly: "Lord Fan, I, a humble commoner, dare to ask you a question. Do you know how many troops Yang Xuangan has now? How many cavalrymen are there in the army? How many infantrymen? How many elite soldiers? How many auxiliary soldiers? And how much food and supplies do they have?"

  "This......" Fan Zige opened his mouth, but was speechless for a long time before answering: "I only found out that Yang Xuangan has many rebel followers, but I don't know the specific number of troops and grain."

  "The common people may not have read many books, but they also know the principle of 'knowing oneself and knowing others, a hundred battles without danger.' Chen Yingliang said loudly: 'Not knowing oneself is half victory! Commander Pei was defeated in battle without knowing anything about the enemy's situation. I dare ask if all the blame for this failure to gather intelligence on the enemy can be placed on his head?!"

  Fan Zige was speechless, and the frail middle-aged man nodded and coughed, saying: "Your words make some sense. The crime of not knowing the enemy's situation cannot be blamed on Lord Pei, at least not entirely."

  "But I, the old man, am not killing him for this crime!" Fan Zigan raised his voice again, angrily saying: "I am going to kill him because he was incompetent in command, resulting in the annihilation of 13,000 imperial troops, and that is why I must execute him to uphold military law!"

  "A humble commoner dares to ask, and begs to inquire of Lord Fan once more." Chen Yingliang showed no fear, and asked again: "May I ask, Lord Fan, before the army of 13,000 set out, how many days did they prepare for? How much food, fodder, and military equipment did they prepare? And which seasoned veterans and experienced generals were arranged to assist General Pei, who had never been on a battlefield before, in fighting against the rebel Yang Huanshan?"

  "This... was prepared in less than two days." Fan Ziga replied somewhat hesitantly, and quickly added: "However, the military weapons, since I received the urgent report from Governor Tang of Huai Prefecture, have been issued immediately. The grain and fodder are also sufficient, as long as he is willing to fight, I can guarantee that he will not lack food for a year!"

  "Isn't two days' time enough?" Chen Yingliang slowed down his tone and asked calmly: "May I ask, General Fan, how many years has the Right Wuwei not been on the battlefield? I heard that even the last old general's elite troops were taken to Liaodong by the Emperor. A group of new recruits who have never been on the battlefield or seen blood are going to fight against Yang Xuangan's rebel army, which has been plotting and preparing for a long time. May I ask, General Fan, if you were in command, how much chance of winning would you have?"

  After a pause, Chen Yingliang continued in a sincere tone: "Indeed, if it were someone like Huaiyin Marquis Han Xin, a military genius, these issues wouldn't be a problem. He could still win every battle with an inadequately prepared and inexperienced army. But, Lord Fan, can you really execute Lord Pei outside the imperial city just because he doesn't have Han Xin's talent?"

  Fan Ziga's expression finally relaxed, then immediately became ferocious again, angrily saying: "Even if that's the case, he lost five battles in a row and lost all 13,000 troops that the imperial court had just assembled and equipped, which is also a capital offense!"

  "Magistrate Fan, you are wrong!" Chen Yingliang also raised his voice and said loudly: "It's not that Commander Pei lost five battles in a row, but rather he won five battles after losing five! Not only is he blameless, but he has great merit!"

  "What does this mean?" Fan Zige was somewhat perplexed.

  "An adult with extensive knowledge must have heard the phrase 'an army defeated is like a mountain collapsing'. Chen Yingliang said loudly: "Since ancient times, the most frightening thing on the battlefield is not the enemy, but one's own defeated soldiers! Because once the vanguard is defeated, it not only shakes the morale of the troops, but also causes the scattered and fleeing soldiers to disrupt the formation of the rear army, like a burst dam, which can no longer be contained, and instead becomes the vanguard of the enemy! Since ancient times, the number of soldiers trampled to death by their own defeated comrades is far greater than those killed by the enemy!"

  "The situation today, the common people have also heard that Da Xianshi, the mayor of Luoyang, who was supposed to lead the troops on the south bank of the Luo River, was afraid of the enemy like a tiger and fled with his life at the critical moment, resulting in the 5,000-strong imperial army on the south bank being leaderless and instantly defeated. This had a severe impact on the morale of Commander Pei's troops on the north bank, also exposing the flank of Commander Pei's troops to potential attack by the bandits from both sides, putting them at risk of being attacked from both front and back."

  "In such a situation, it was already impossible for Commander Pei's 8,000 troops to win. However, Commander Pei, despite the defeat of his vanguard, remained undaunted and resolutely led his army into battle. Although they were defeated again, he refused to give up, reorganizing his defeated troops time and again to charge into battle. Five defeats, five battles! Five defeats, five battles!!"

  "I ask you, Sir Fan, under the heavens, how many people can achieve this at their first battle? To reorganize a defeated army that has lost all morale and is on the verge of collapse, and continue to resist the enemy's attack?"

  "This isn't over yet!" Chen Yingliang continued his impassioned speech: "After five defeats and five battles, when the entire army had been annihilated, Commander Pei still didn't flee on horseback like Da Xushan, but instead risked his life to rush back to the Eastern Capital, report the military situation to you, sir, and beg for forgiveness! Meanwhile, Da Xushan's whereabouts are still unknown, and it's likely that he has already surrendered to the rebels and become a collaborator with Yang Xuangan's rebel forces! Who is better or worse between them?!"

  Chen Yingliang stood up abruptly and bowed to Fan Zigai, asking loudly: "I, a humble commoner, have one last question for you, sir. On the battlefield of pacification from now on, do you hope that all the soldiers of our great Sui dynasty will be like Lord Pei, repeatedly defeated but refusing to yield until death? Or do you hope that all the soldiers of our great Sui dynasty will be like Da Xishan, fleeing before even fighting, and even colluding with the enemy?"

  In the grand hall, the ravens and sparrows were silent. Fan Zige's stern expression had vanished without a trace, leaving only contemplation. The frail middle-aged man nodded thoughtfully before speaking to Fan Zige: "Lord Fan, give Lord Pei an opportunity to redeem himself through meritorious service. Today's battle, the greatest culprit is Da Xushan Yi, and we also have a connection to it. Although Lord Pei was defeated, his performance on the battlefield can be considered satisfactory."

  Under the gaze of everyone, Fan Zige continued to remain silent, his snow-white eyebrows not moving at all. After a long time had passed, Pei Hongce, who was being carried by the guards, was already sweating profusely again. It wasn't until then that Fan Zige lightly nodded and weakly said: "Let him go."

  Wei Shi released Pei Hongce according to the order. Pei Hongce, who had narrowly escaped death, first let out a long sigh of relief and then rushed to kowtow to Fan Zige, repeatedly saying: "Thank you, Lord Fan, for sparing my life, thank you, Lord Fan, for sparing my life."

  "Don't thank me, old man, thank that little kid next to you." Fan Zige said coldly: "If it weren't for him, you'd be dead by now! But remember, there won't be a next time!"

  Pei Hongce bowed his head to Fan Zigai a few more times, then turned around to look at Chen Yingliang. Although he didn't say thank you with his mouth, the grateful and tearful eyes expressed everything without words.

  "Chen Yingliang, judging from your conversation just now, you seem to be quite knowledgeable about military affairs." The frail middle-aged man smiled at Chen Yingliang and said: "How about it? Are you willing to come under my command and serve me? My command is currently lacking someone like you."

  "Thank you, sir, for your kindness, but I'd rather continue to follow Lord Pei." Chen Yingliang replied loudly: "Since Lord Fan has given Lord Pei the opportunity to make amends and redeem himself, I want to accompany Lord Pei in making amends and redeeming himself, to atone for the crime of shouting in the imperial court today."

  "Suit yourself then." The frail middle-aged man smiled and said, "Don't regret it later, my official rank is higher than his."

  "The humble commoner only wishes to serve the country, and does not dare to covet high or low official positions." Chen Yingliang said with a flattering tone, but in his heart he coldly sneered: "Do you think I'm an idiot? I saved Pei Hongce twice, and he's a big corrupt official. Following him can not only give me a reputation for being loyal and devoted, but also allow me to enjoy good food and drink, and sleep with beautiful women. Can you guarantee me these things if I follow you?"

  "Then you can follow Pei Hongce to atone for your crimes and establish merit." Fan Zigai waved his hand and said, "You all go down and rest now. Tomorrow we will hold a court meeting to discuss military affairs. Don't be late."

  Pei Hongzhe and Chen Yingliang both nodded in agreement, bowed and retreated. However, just as Chen Yingliang stepped out of the palace gate, Fan Zigai suddenly said: "Chen Xiaozi, your verbal skills are not bad, you changed the order of 'repeated defeats' to 'repeated battles', which means something completely different. Don't think that I, an old man, am senile, I still understand this kind of verbal skill."

  "The common people deserve to die." Chen Yingliang hastily turned around and apologized.

  "You, a commoner, dare to shout in the imperial court? You should have died long ago." Fan Zigai sneered and waved his hand, saying: "However, since you've spoken somewhat reasonably, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Follow Pei Hongce and do your job well. Hopefully, your true abilities will surpass your eloquence."

  Chen Yingliang nodded, made a bow and followed Pei Hongce out of the hall. After they descended from the great hall, Pei Hongce suddenly grasped Chen Yingliang's wrist, lowered his voice and said excitedly: "Worthy nephew, Uncle won't say anything else. From today on, you are my own nephew! As long as I, your uncle, still have a mouthful of rice to eat, I will not let you go hungry!"

  "Don't be so polite, arrange a villa for me to live in, with a BMW for going out, and twenty or so dishes for each meal. At night, arrange two pretty maids to serve me while I sleep. That's basically it. Anyway, you're a corrupt official, you have plenty of money." This is what Captain Chen thought to himself.