Chapter 2: The Camp of the Blind and Deaf Soldiers

  In the year 573 AD, on the sixth day of the fourth month of the fourth year of Wu Ping, two large horse-drawn carriages slowly departed from Ye City. The bloody sunset stretched the shadows of the carriages very long, as if bidding farewell to their departure with a sense of sadness.

  A young man pushed open the curtains, stuck his head out of the car window, and gazed at the majestic Ye City gradually receding into the distance. His eyes sparkled with a sharp light as he muttered to himself: "Ye City, you are mine, I will be back." Although his voice was low, it was extremely firm and resolute, revealing the speaker's strong confidence.

  "Xing Er, come in quickly, it's cold outside, don't catch a chill." A pleasant female voice called out with concern.

  "Got it, mom." The young man took another deep look at Ye City before withdrawing his body.

  This family was overjoyed, they simply collected some gold and silver treasures, donated the mansion and most of their belongings to the imperial court, and then left the city.

  "Mother, you should rest for a while." Looking at Zheng's exhausted and worried face, her beautiful complexion now pale, he couldn't help but say with concern.

  Zheng's eyebrows were furrowed in worry, seeing Gao Xing insisting, she could only let out a long sigh and closed her eyes to lean back.

  For Zheng's sake, he covered himself with a quilt and happily started meditating.

  Gao Changgong was indeed a brave and good general, his body was strong and he recovered in just three days. However, he became silent and taciturn, with a hint of indelible sorrow deep in his eyes.

  As we approached the Jianghuai region, more and more people fleeing northward appeared on the road, dragging their families with them, their faces filled with sorrow and despair, fearful emotions. The dark clouds of war shrouded the entire Jianghuai area, oppressive, suffocating, and irritating.

  On April 18th, after a hasty journey, the group finally entered the city of Xuyi in Xuyi County.

  As soon as he entered the city, Yuan Xun enthusiastically welcomed him and was very enthusiastic. After warmly entertaining Gao's family, he smoothly handed over the power of Xu to Gao Chang.

  It's delightful to know that the original history was so concise, not just because of the emperor's order, but because of war. The war between Chen and Qi had just begun, and compared with Chen's sharp advance and majestic momentum, Northern Qi was a notch worse off, retreating step by step, losing cities and territory.

  When the happy family returned to Neishi Mansion, it was already very dark. Gao Changgong's eyebrows were furrowed, and he sat on a couch without saying a word. In just over ten days, he seemed to have aged ten years, with more wrinkles on his forehead and white hair growing at his temples. The flickering candlelight cast an uncertain shadow on his face.

  "Husband, it's late at night, you should rest early, you still have to get up early for work tomorrow." Zheng Shi handed Gao Changgong a cup of hot tea and said tenderly.

  Gao Chang let out a long sigh and said, "The flames of war are about to reach Pengcheng. How long can the 5,000 garrison troops outside the city hold on?"

  Gao Wei seemed to have let him off, sending him here, sounding like a military and political unified management, with great power. But Gao Changgong knew in his heart that this was the front line, and once he couldn't withstand Chen Jun's offense, it would give Gao Wei a reason to kill him.

  "Sir, aren't you worrying too much? General Wei is leading the army to reinforce Qin State, he will surely be able to drive back Chen's army."

  Gao Chang Gong shook his head and said, "Chen Jun's northern expedition is well-prepared and morale is high. To defeat him, we need to have a long-term strategy. However, Wei Hu is arrogant and self-willed, not good at using troops, and doesn't listen to others' advice. I'm afraid it won't be easy for him to win against Wu Ming Che, who is experienced in battle."

  Delighted to sit on the couch, he said indifferently: "Dad, you don't have to worry too much. When soldiers come, we'll fight them off; when water comes, we'll dam it up. Besides, things haven't gone so bad that they can't be salvaged. In the past, you led five hundred cavalrymen and defeated the Zhou army of tens of thousands, now Chen's ten thousand troops are nothing to worry about."

  Gao Chang's whole body shook, his eyes somewhat dazed, as if he had recalled the years when he was in power. His face gradually turned red, his breathing became heavier, and his eyes grew brighter. Since the great victory at Mangshan, he had been low-key everywhere, fearing that he would be envied by the emperor, but the result was still so bleak.

  Gao Chang Gong sprang to his feet with a loud "Hou", exuding an aura of powerful momentum, his eyes burning with determination as he stared at Gao Xing and said: "Xing Er is right, I, Gao Xiao Gui, am the direct descendant of the Divine Martial Emperor, how can I be so decadent and weak? If Chen Jun wants to come, let him come, I will definitely kill him without leaving a single piece of armor, to wash away the humiliation I have suffered."

  Gao Xing shouted loudly with his eyes narrowed: "I'll go too, and leave him not a single piece of armor!" Gao Xing slightly raised his face, his gaze burning as he stared at Gao Changgong.

  "Good, good, good! You're indeed the son of Gao Xianyu!" Gao Changgong exclaimed three times in a row, bursting into hearty laughter. In the dozen or so days she had known him, it was the first time she saw him laugh with such abandon.

  On the other side, Zheng's eyebrows were furrowed, on the battlefield, swords and knives have no eyes, both of them are his closest relatives, no matter who suffers a little harm is a great blow to her. But she can't stop it, can only hide her worries in her heart, silently praying for the father and son.

  The next day, at dawn, he put on his armor and followed Gao Changgong to the military camp outside the city.

  As soon as they entered the camp, the happy faces of father and son fell. The camp was quiet, and the imagined Cao's practice did not appear.

  Gao Zhang Gong walked up to the platform with a gloomy face, but with an excited expression. He grasped the drumsticks and struck the large cowhide drum with all his might. "Boom boom boom" The dull sound of the drums echoed through the air, as the soldiers emerged from their tents, wearing tattered uniforms and cursing under their breath.

  After three rounds of drumming, the officers and soldiers finally managed to form a somewhat decent formation, but their numbers were only around 4,000, with nearly one-sixth being old, weak, sick or disabled.

  Gao Chang Gong's face was gloomy, his eyes seemed to be dripping with water, he clenched his fists tightly, and stared at the soldiers below him with a sharp gaze, without saying a word. The atmosphere gradually became heavy and oppressive, the soldiers stood quietly, their faces expressionless.

  A whole quarter of an hour later, just when the air was about to freeze, Gao Zhanggong suddenly shouted loudly: "Who is the commander?"

  "Report to the general, the commander has fled." A centurion stepped forward and replied loudly.

  "Escaped?" Gao Changgong was taken aback, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, escaped is fine." Forcing down his anger, Gao Changgong asked, "What's your name."

  "General Hui, I still have not given up." The straightforward words of the company commander.

  "Isn't this name a bit too advanced? The ancient people were really ahead of their time! This name is incredibly talented!" He was so excited that he had to hold back his laughter with all his might. His eyes were filled with amusement as he unintentionally looked up and down at Shang Buqi.

  Delighted to recall, Shang Buxi was the first to come from the camp, without a single complaint, and stood as one of the most upright and best. Shang Buxi was just over twenty years old, not tall in stature, but quite refined, with a square face that was slightly dark, and an air of calmness.

  "I am Zheng Xiaoguang, the newly appointed Governor of Xunyang County, also known as Zhang Chong. I am your new commander."

  "See General Zheng." The soldiers below saluted indifferently, their voices disorderly and lacking in momentum.

  "Disperse." Gao Chang Gong said in a cold voice. Seeing Shang Buqi wanting to leave, he hastily said: "Shang Buqi, stay behind."

  The soldiers are like a monk of two feet tall, can't get their heads around it, but it's always good to stop standing foolishly.

  After all the soldiers on the martial arts arena dispersed, Gao Changgong said: "Not yet abandoned, beat the drum, three times."

  "Alright." Shang did not abandon his orders and raised his arms, striking the drum with force.

  The soldiers who had just entered the camp and hadn't even warmed their buttocks yet had to rush to the martial arts arena, muttering curses under their breath, extremely resentful.

  After the three rounds of drumming, it was still as before, with the troops scattered and disorganized. Four people even strolled out of their tents after the drums stopped beating.

  "Where is Law Enforcement Officer?" shouted Gao Changgong.

  "In unison." Ten soldiers responded with one voice and stood at attention.

  "What should be done with those who arrive late?" Gao Changgong's eyes widened and he spoke in a murderous tone.

  Twenty strokes of the cane.

  "Haven't you started yet?" Gao Zhangong shouted loudly.

  The law enforcement officer was stunned for a moment, and when he saw Gao Changkong's murderous gaze, he suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly went to execute the military order.

  Soon, the sound of clashing weapons and screams filled the military camp.

  After the law enforcement troops completed their report, Gao Zhanggong once again gave the order to disperse, and after everyone had dispersed, he beat the drum again at dawn.

  This time, after three drumbeats, except for the five people who were beaten and couldn't move, everyone else quickly gathered together, and the team finally had some semblance of order.

  "Soldiers, you were supposed to be the heroes in the hearts of my people, respected and admired by all. But now, what's the difference between you and the rascals on the streets? Your duty is to protect your homes and defend your country, but can you even guarantee the safety of your own families when Chen's army attacks? Answer me!"

  The last sentence was shouted out by Gao Changgong, the sound waves were like thunder, echoing through the sky and reverberating in his ears and heart.

  "You can't, because you're a coward. When you hear that Chen Jun's army of 100,000 is coming to attack, you're frightened and numb. You're greedy for life and afraid of death, only able to weakly watch as your wives and daughters are ravished by Chen Jun's army, watching as your children are brutally enslaved by them, yet not daring to resist. As soldiers, you've forgotten your duty, unable to be loyal to the king or protect your families, unfaithful and unfilial, without benevolence or righteousness, only able to shame your ancestors in the underworld!" Gao Changgong looked down with contempt, his face full of sarcasm.

  The soldiers hung their heads in shame, their eyes bloodshot, breathing heavily, a faint aura of killing intent slowly gathered and grew. Shang Bu discarded his fists clenched, biting his teeth, his chest puffed out higher, his back straighter.

  "Tell me, are you cowards?" Feeling that the timing was about right, Gao Zhang Gong asked loudly.

  "No!"

  "Speak louder!"

  "No, no——" All the soldiers looked up at the sky and shouted loudly, the sound waves rolled, straight to the sky, all the people in Xuyi City couldn't help but look over here.

  Looking at the soldiers with majestic momentum below, Gao Chang Gong's face showed a satisfied smile.

  "Father, we have a total of 5,000 soldiers. Let's divide them evenly between us, with each of us taking 2,500 men. Within one month, let's see who can train their troops to be the most elite."

  Gao Changgong looked at him suspiciously and said, "Xing Er, although you have read a few military books, you have never been to the barracks. This is not the time for joking around."

  "Father, I originally made a military order. If one month later, the troops I trained lose to you, I will take 50 military sticks!"

  Since his illness in early April, Gao Zhanggong found that his temperament had changed a lot, becoming more stable and mature, often surprising people with his demeanor. Now seeing him full of confidence, Gao Zhanggong nodded and said: "Good, I agree to your request. If you get your butt kicked a month later, don't go crying to your mother about it!"

  Delighted in his heart, he hastily guaranteed: "A big man and a good husband, how can he be like a woman?"

  "That's the best," said Gao Chang Gong.

  Looking at the soldiers below who were still hot-blooded and unable to control themselves, he seemed to have thought of something and hastily said: "However, I am not giving up yet!"

  "Good boy, your eyes are really not bad. I'll arrange for him to be under your command. Later, you can go and select 2,500 strong and well-trained men." Gao Changgong said with surprise and praise.

  Gaoxing nodded vigorously and said: "Since it's a competition, we must be fair and just. Let's divide everything equally between my father and me."

  Gao Chang smiled with satisfaction: "Alright, I'll go along with you."