Chapter 20 New Military Regulations

  Zhong Jun's large tent, Luo Zheng's great sword, Golden Sword sat in the main seat, with a somewhat ambitious and grand vision.

  It's been half a year since I arrived in this chaotic world, and after several close calls with death, I've managed to scrape by with a bit of luck and the mysterious power of this ring, barely able to protect myself now.

  Looking back on the journey of half a year, I paid too much and also gained a lot.

  A peaceful era person, coming to this chaotic era of white bones, wants to survive is very difficult. If not for the ruthless abandonment of humanity's benevolence and weakness, now even a bone residue can't be found.

  In this regard, Luo Zhengdi's adaptability is still very strong.

  This time at the military council, all the military officers above the rank of marquis in the army were present.

  More than sixty people gathered in the tent, some crowded, but no one whispered to each other, all holding their breath and staring at Luo Zheng sitting in the main seat, wondering what Luo Zheng would do by gathering all the military officers above the rank of general.

  "What's new with the Kanto Rebel Army?"

  Luo Zheng cleared his throat and looked at the captain of the Right Vanguard Regiment who was sitting below him.

  The captain of the vanguard hastily stood up and replied: "General Hui, there is no news from Tiger Trap Pass for the time being."

  Luo Zheng nodded and said: "Send more scouts to closely monitor the situation at Tiger Trap Pass. If there is any movement from the rebel army in Guandong, report back immediately. Don't wait until the enemy is right at our doorstep before we even know where they came from."

  "Very good."

  Captain Qi hurriedly responded loudly.

  Luo Zheng's eyes gleamed brightly as he swept his gaze over the officers below, and in a deep voice said: "This time I've gathered everyone together, General wants to announce several new military rules. No harming innocent civilians, no indiscriminate killing of the innocent, no violation of women, those who disobey orders will be killed."

  The crowd of military school students was taken aback, and several people immediately looked embarrassed.

  Luo Zheng immediately looked over and frowned, asking: "What's wrong, do you have an opinion?"

  "A military marquis gritted his teeth and said: 'General, it's fine if you don't allow us to harm the common people or slaughter the innocent, but not allowing brothers to have their way with women is going too far. Most of my brothers under me haven't even had a woman yet!'"

  Luo Zheng said coldly: "Is it you who is dissatisfied or your soldiers?"

  The general was startled and hastily said: "Your humble servant does not dare."

  Luo Zheng sneered and revealed a murderous intent, saying: "This general knows that you soldiers are used to being lazy and scattered, but this general wants to tell you, our army is the official army, it's the imperial court's official army, not bandits. Usually taking some money is one thing, after all everyone has old mothers, wives and children to support, but what's the big deal about women? And yet someone still dares to be dissatisfied, who's dissatisfied, come tell this general."

  Several faces showed embarrassment, the military school's expression was stern, they all shrank their heads, no one dared to make a sound again.

  "Listen up, all of you! From now on, make sure to keep your soldiers in line and prevent them from plundering the common people, women included. If I find out that there are still those who dare to do so, I will show no mercy. If any of you cannot control your soldiers, step forward now and I will replace you with someone else immediately. We don't have three-legged turtles, but we have plenty of two-legged humans."

  "Hehe......"

  Several military students couldn't help but burst out laughing and quickly covered their mouths.

  Luo Zheng's gaze swept past like a sharp knife, until the several military academy students didn't dare to look him in the eye again. One by one, they lowered their heads before he sternly asked, "Did you all hear clearly? Do I need to repeat it?"

  "Got it."

  The crowd of military school students hastily responded in unison, and no one dared to have an opinion again.

  Luo Zheng has just killed Hu Mao and Niu Jin with lightning speed, who else dares to touch his head.

  Although these Western Liang generals are mostly unruly and unyielding, their nature of following the strong has not changed.

  Even those military schools that had objections to the rule about women now shut their mouths and no one dared to raise a different opinion, lest they be killed by Luo Zheng in a fit of rage.

  After the military council ended, the military officers immediately gathered their soldiers to convey the latest military orders.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, the soldiers had a lot of opinions about these new military regulations.

  Fortunately, the concept of obeying orders is deeply rooted in the military, so no one dares to make trouble, they just privately grumble.

  At night, Luo Zhen was thinking about how to recruit Xu Zhu's fierce man, and Xi Hou, the team leader, rushed in hastily.

  "General, something's gone wrong."

  The captain of the vanguard looked like he had run in a hurry, panting for several breaths before hastily saying: "Our scout has just discovered three thousand cavalrymen twenty miles west of Changping, bearing Sun Jian's banner."

  "What?"

  Luo Zheng's eyes narrowed, "Has the Kanto daimyo sent troops?"

  The captain of the Xiao Hou team nodded hastily, "Exactly, the flag is Sun Jian's."

  Lu Zijing frowned and said: "It's not surprising that the lords of Guandong sent people to pursue and attack our army, General had expected this. However, doesn't Sun Jian have only a few thousand infantrymen under his command? When did he get three thousand cavalry?"

  Captain Qi said: "The brothers didn't dare get too close and didn't take a closer look."

  Luo Zhen asked again, "Only three thousand cavalry?"

  The General of the Xiao Hou army said: "There are still 15,000 infantrymen who have not yet arrived at Xinzheng."

  Luo Zheng said in a low voice: "How much longer until we arrive at Zou County?"

  General Ji said: "The 3,000 cavalry did not bring grain and luggage, lightly equipped to arrive at Qiao County in one day. As for the 15,000 infantry, they brought a lot of grain and luggage, and it will take at least five days to reach Qiao County."

  Lu Zheng's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, and he said in a deep voice: "This must be that the Eastern warlords have already learned that our army has advanced into the Central Plains, so they sent Sun Jian to lead an army to pursue and annihilate us. Fifteen thousand infantry are not worth worrying about; if we don't engage in a fierce battle, we can lure them far away and retreat, even if Sun Jian grew wings on his legs, he wouldn't be able to catch up with our army. However, those three thousand cavalry are somewhat troublesome.

  "General, why must you boost the morale of others and destroy your own prestige? The Western Liang Iron Cavalry fears no one. If Sun Jian dares to come, we'll make sure to leave not a single piece of armor behind! At the Battle of Guandu, didn't you capture two of Sun Jian's top generals?"

  "Stop shouting and using your brain for once! The Western Liang Iron Cavalry is not afraid of the Guandong rebels, but if we just charge in blindly, even if we can defeat Sun Jian's 3,000 cavalry, our army will surely suffer heavy casualties. I want to defeat Sun Jian's 3,000 cavalry, but I don't want my soldiers to die unnecessarily. If I let someone as simple-minded and impulsive as you lead the army, there's no need to fight this battle at all - we might as well just go home and hug our mothers!"

  "Hehe!"

  The captain of the Hou team let out a dry laugh and fell silent.

  Lu Zheng rose from his tent and paced a few steps, saying in a deep voice: "Although I don't know where Sun Jian got these three thousand cavalrymen, but with just these three thousand cavalrymen, how can they be opponents for my army? Sun Jian is indeed fierce and warlike, but he's not foolish. He shouldn't rashly lead the three thousand cavalrymen to engage in a decisive battle with my army without waiting for the arrival of the fifteen thousand-strong main force. That means my army still has five days' time."

  The captain of the Hou team couldn't get a word in edgewise and had no choice but to shut up.

  Luo Zhen thought for a moment, then shouted: "Quickly summon all military officers to come to the central army to discuss matters."

  Long had his loyal troops responded to his call and left.

  Not good at martial arts, all military officers above the rank of army captain rushed over.

  Upon learning that Sun Jian was leading his army into battle, all the military officers clenched their fists and rubbed their palms together, preparing to fight to the death; not a single one of them showed any sign of fear.

  Luo Zheng nodded in satisfaction, the Xiliang army was indeed fierce and good at fighting, and it wasn't just an exaggeration.

  This time the expedition to Guandong brought eight thousand elite Western Liang iron cavalrymen, each of whom had taken several lives and were seasoned veterans; just by looking at their spirited and vigorous appearance, it was clear that these men were all fugitives with no other choice but to fight.

  Leading such an army into battle, what's there to worry about?

  Luo Zhen discussed some details of how to deal with Sun Jian and then ended the military council.

  Actually, there's nothing much to discuss, the purpose of this expedition is very clear, it's to thoroughly defeat Kanto, and if possible, avoid a head-on confrontation with Sun Jian's large army, so as not to give the 3,000 cavalry an opportunity to take advantage.

  As long as the Kanto daimyos retreat from the Tiger's Den Pass, this mission is considered accomplished.

  Of course, if there is a chance, we should try our best to get rid of Sun Jian and his three thousand cavalry.

  Otherwise, there will always be cavalry watching from the side, and sooner or later it will be a trouble.

  Half an hour later.

  The long and mournful sound of the cow horn rose into the sky, a team of Western Liang cavalry rushed out of the camp, under the leadership of the military commander, they galloped towards Xu's village with great momentum, startling countless birds in the mountains and forests along the way.

  Even a few wolves that ran down the mountain to forage were startled and fled in all directions, as frantic as dogs whose owner had just died.

  Xu Jia Zhuang, Xu Chu received news that the Western Liang army was coming again and completely lost his temper.

  Those treacherous bandits from Xiliang have repeatedly invaded us three or five times; what can be tolerated and what cannot?

  Xu Chu didn't say another word, and with a swing of his large sword, he charged outwards, the Zhuang Ding men unable to hold him back.

  However, as soon as he rushed up to the wall of Zhuangzi's village and took a look, the fierce man's eyes were fixed on him.

  Last time only two thousand Xiliang cavalry came, this time more than seven thousand Xiliang iron cavalry are all out, each one with a drawn bow and a murderous look in their eyes, waiting for the order to be given before pouring arrows into the village like rain.

  More than 7,000 longbows fired simultaneously, this is absolutely fatal.

  It's likely that with just one round of simultaneous gunfire, none of the villagers standing on the wall would be able to survive.

  Quickly, everyone hide!

  Xu Chu let out a loud roar and hastily grabbed a door panel to block in front of him.

  The soldiers on the wall hurriedly hid behind obstacles that could block arrows and peeked out to observe.

  Xu Chu, where is he?

  Luo Zhen urged his horse out of the formation, one hand holding the reins and the other holding a knife, shouting loudly.

  It was right here.

  Xu Chu pushed open the door panel and shouted loudly, "You treacherous villain, do you want to fight a great battle with me for 300 rounds?"

  Luo Zhen smiled and said: "Fighting bravely and fiercely is what ordinary men do. This general will not stoop to that."

  Xu Chu was enraged and threw away the door panel, ready to go out of the village for a decisive battle to the death.

  The villagers rushed up and held him down tightly, some hugging his waist, others hugging his legs, and persuading him hard.

  Xu Chu's whiskers stood on end, but he didn't dare strike Zhuang Ding with a heavy hand.

  "Xu Zhu," Lu Xun shouted loudly, "General is asking you once again: will you surrender or not?"

  Xu Chu cursed: "Go ahead and have your own grand spring and autumn dreams!"

  Luo Zheng shouted loudly: "You don't know what's good for you, pass on the military order, flatten the Zhuangzi village, and leave no chicken or dog behind."

  Next to him, the number two son heard this and immediately pulled over the horned cow, puffed out his cheeks and blew with all his might.