Chapter 38: The Arrogant Envoy

  After Wang Xiao gave the order, the Sichuan Army General Staff immediately sprang into action, with Xiong Wu, Cai Yun and Jiang Xingguo as the main leaders, and a large number of mid-to-high-level staff participating. A battle plan aimed at annexing Qinghai and Gansu slowly took shape. Because the last time the Sichuan Army mobilized, it was discovered by the Qing court's spies, this time all preparations were carried out in secret. The importance of Qinghai and Gansu was also well known to the Qing court. Therefore, being able to keep them in the dark was undoubtedly the best.

  December on the plateau, the temperature had dropped to minus ten degrees Celsius, and heavy snow had fallen for several days. The entire Changdu region was covered with a thick layer of snow, and all transportation was completely cut off. This period was also the most difficult time to endure. The troops on the plateau could not get replenished with weapons, ammunition or other living supplies, and could only use their previous reserves. Fortunately, at this time, there were generally no enemy attacks, and the only thing they had to face was the cold winter.

  The third company's barracks, after a period of repair, have been restored to their original state. The blown-up walls have been repaired and the destroyed abatis outside the walls has been re-established. The entire defensive system of the barracks has been restored to its former solidity. The soldiers who died in battle from the third company have also been properly handled. According to regulations, their ashes will be sent back next spring. Their families will receive a considerable amount of consolation money and their livelihoods will become a priority for the local government.

  In the process of Kansai's rise, too many soldiers have paid their lives for it, but they still do not regret it. They continue to sacrifice everything for the great cause of Kansai. The most crucial point is that the government of Kansai or General Wang Xiao is really fighting for the interests of the broad masses of people in Kansai. After the development of industry and commerce in Kansai, the ordinary people at the bottom also benefited a lot. If Kansai was destroyed by the Qing court, their lives would return to the state of insecurity decades ago. Therefore, when confronting the Qing court, all soldiers dare to fight to the death.

  At the same time, Kansai's complete system of compensation for dead and wounded soldiers also made it possible for a large number of soldiers to have no worries. Basically, all dead and disabled soldiers, their families' expenses were borne by the government from now on. To a great extent, this made the soldiers very brave in battle. This is also why the Kansai army was able to resist the Qing court's hundreds of millions of troops with just over a million troops.

  "What's the current situation of the soldiers?" Wang Yuze asked standing beside the gate tower. Wang Wei stood by his side.

  "It's all right! After the last big battle, the morale of the soldiers has risen greatly!" Wang Wei exclaimed excitedly.

  In winter, in addition to the cold, there is also loneliness and boredom. The heavy snow blocked the road, making it difficult for daily training to proceed, and soldiers were mostly staying in their dormitories except for sentry duty. This was also the easiest time for accidents to happen. For various reasons, even mutiny could occur. To this end, a large number of sports equipment were usually prepared in the military camp to vent the excess energy of the soldiers.

  "Company Commander, the 9th squad has sent someone to report that a group of Green Horse Cavalry soldiers are advancing towards their outpost!" Suddenly, Third Platoon Leader Shi Defu rushed up to the tower and reported.

  "Qingma Army? How many men do they have?" Wang Yuezhe was shocked. Although it's freezing cold now, the Qingma Army shouldn't launch a large-scale attack. But who knows what surprising move the Qingma Army will make? After all, their young master, also the future heir, has been captured by him. The Qingma Army might not rule out the possibility of going all out in desperation.

  "Company Commander, there aren't many of them, just over a dozen!" Shi De You replied.

  "Let the ninth class people bring them over!" Wang Yuez said. About a dozen people, obviously not here to attack the third battalion's station. Before, thousands of people couldn't take down the third battalion's station, and now only so few people came, it's even more impossible. Wang Yuez guessed that these people might be here to gather information or negotiate. If they really wanted to launch a large-scale attack on the third battalion's station, they wouldn't have brought just this many people. Besides, in this kind of weather, it's not suitable for large-scale marching either.

  Before long, a group of over ten people arrived at the third battalion's barracks, covered in snowflakes and looking like snowmen from afar. It was indeed extremely arduous to rush here from Qingma Army's garrison on such a bitterly cold day.

  "Ah Wei, take down their guns and then lead them to the office!" Wang Yuezhe said, and then went down from the tower.

  "Alright, Commander!" Wang Wei hastily ran towards the main gate.

  The cavalry of the Qing dynasty, a total of eleven people, were wearing thick sheepskin coats, and even so, they were frozen with dark purple faces. The leader was a middle-aged man in his thirties, who didn't look particularly impressive, but his eyes shone brightly, indicating that this middle-aged man might not be easy to deal with. They were brought over by the deputy squad leader of the 9th squad and two soldiers.

  The guards at the gate stopped them and would definitely not let them into the barracks without orders from their superiors.

  "By the order of Commander Lian, put down your guns and you can enter the barracks!" Wang Wei came to the gate and shouted loudly. The guards were all on high alert, watching these Qingma Army soldiers closely. The heavy machine gun in the tower also aimed its muzzle at them. If there was any movement, the heavy machine gun would fire immediately, and within a few seconds, they could be shot into sieves.

  "What? You want us to surrender our arms?" The middle-aged man's words caused the young soldiers of the Qing army to suddenly become agitated.

  "Hmph!" Wang Wei let out a cold snort, staring at them with an icy gaze, not saying a word. However, the guards at the gate took aim with their guns, pointing them at the Qing Ma Army men. It seemed they had received orders and were ready to open fire at any moment.

  "Alright, stop making trouble. This is someone else's territory, and when you're under someone else's roof, you have to lower your head. Hand over the guns!" The middle-aged man said. It was clear that he had great prestige among these people, and as soon as he spoke, those young soldiers from the Qing army immediately stopped talking back.

  The old man honestly handed over the gun, and after taking out the dagger and other lethal weapons from them, Wang Wei let them in. However, except for the middle-aged man, all the others were taken to the barracks' hall to wait. Only the middle-aged man was taken to Wang Yuze's office.

  After seeing Wang Yuze, the middle-aged man was slightly surprised. Probably because Wang Yuze was so young and could become a company commander, which shocked him! As an old opponent of the Western Sichuan Army, he naturally knew the organization of the Western Sichuan Army very well. A company in the Western Sichuan Army had as many as 200 people. Letting a little kid who was clearly not even twenty years old command a whole company, it's really unknown whether the high-level officials of the Western Sichuan Army were rusty or not.

  "I am Wang Long, the captain of the Third Company. May I ask who you are?" Wang Yuze asked the middle-aged man.

  "I am just a humble man named Ma Yuntao, merely an aide of General Ma Haiyan!" said the middle-aged man.

  "Oh? I don't know what Mr. Ma came to our barracks for?" Wang Yuze asked after they sat down as host and guest.

  "Commander Wang, we don't speak in riddles. Our young master has been captured by your noble army, and there must be some misunderstanding here. Our Green Horse Army and the Western Sichuan Army have always coexisted without interfering with each other's affairs. Please return our young master to us!" Ma Yun-tao said, looking at Wang Yu-ze.

  "Haha, Mr. Ma is joking. The young master of the Qingma Army, how could he possibly be in our Chuanxi Army's hands? A month ago, a group of reckless bandits attacked our military station, and were defeated by us, with many prisoners captured. The young master of the Qingma Army wouldn't actually go to become a bandit, would he?" Wang Yuezhe sneered.

  "Wang Lianchang, this is just our young master's nature being mischievous, after all, it didn't cause you much loss. Please return our young master to us, and the Qing Ma Army will surely express its gratitude!" Ma Yuntao said with his hands clasped together in respect.

  "Heh heh, what if we don't pay it back?" Wang Yuezhe said with narrowed eyes.

  "Hmph! If Wang Lianchang doesn't drink the toast and instead drinks the penalty wine, then just wait for my Qing Ma Army to trample your small military station flat!" Ma Yuntao said disdainfully.

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