Throughout the night, Li Ping didn't sleep much. He kept tossing and turning in bed, his mind was very confused.

He was full of entanglements about where he was about to go.

Even counting the 200 auxiliary personnel transferred from the support battalion and the large number of non-combatants from the battalion headquarters, he only has about 1,700 people (about 110 troops from three platoons are left behind). Once engaged in battle, he will have to face

The right number would be estimated to be tens of thousands of enemies.

Can such a battle be fought? He was worried.

The fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar uncertainty made him feel increasingly unsure.

People are afraid of thinking nonsense, so Li Ping thought of running away countless times.

After finally staying up until dawn, Li Ping hurriedly got up and patrolled the camp. As he walked through the busy crowd and stepped into every company, workshop and warehouse that he was familiar with, he kept hearing things in his ears.

After numerous requests for instructions, large and small, Li Ping's heart finally began to calm down as he was forced to think and issue various orders.

Busyness is the best medicine for solving problems.

The troops who mechanically carried out military orders also gave him a lot of confidence. Li Ping was familiar with them and understood them. They might be immature, but they would not be easily defeated.

Of course, Li Ping also noticed that the atmosphere was very different from usual. Tension and anxiety inevitably appeared on most people's faces, and various problems that were rarely seen began to appear frequently.

Two companies had a dispute over a carriage. A platoon leader lost his patience and scolded a soldier who made a small mistake. A logistics officer looked at the things scattered on the ground and was worried. The signal soldiers at the battalion headquarters

Like a group of headless flies, breathlessly relaying endless orders...

The morale of the military is fluctuating, and the hearts of most people are fluctuating.

But Li Ping also believed that such a situation was normal and within a controllable range, and there was no need to fight against all odds.

Most people are mortals. When facing war for the first time, those who can take it calmly are rare. They need encouragement and adaptation.

All Li Ping can do is to make his voice louder and his laughter heartier, appear where everyone can see, find more things for them to do, and let everyone feel that he is connected with

Let's always be together and give more tolerance to all those who make mistakes...

After lunch, Zhou Wen planned to use the short break after the meal to pack his bags, but Han Jiu came to see him again.

Han Jiu had nothing serious to do and just wanted Zhou Wen to accompany him for a walk.

"Old Zhou, aren't you nervous?" Han Jiu asked strangely, looking at Zhou Wen who always looked calm.

"How can I not be nervous? But what's the use of thinking about this? Just do what you can do now." Zhou Wen still said calmly.

"My heart has been in turmoil, and I don't know why?" Han Jiu was worried about himself.

"Are you scared?" Zhou Wen asked without turning around.

"Afraid, how is that possible! I'm not afraid. I've come all the way from Henan and I've endured all kinds of hardships, seen all kinds of battles, and killed people. There's nothing to be afraid of." Han Jiu said without any hesitation.

"I have never fought in a war, let alone killed anyone. It would be a lie to say that I am not afraid, but since I have chosen to join the army, this day will come sooner or later. The first life is the second time, and there must be a beginning." Zhou Wen said with a self-deprecating sadness.

road.

He did not talk to Han Jiu about any grandiose words such as a real man standing on horseback with a sword, nor did he say any docile words such as "I only die for my country on the battlefield, why should I return my body wrapped in horse leather?"

It was impossible for him not to be anxious about the unfamiliar battlefield. He was just forcing himself to act calmer, especially in front of Han Jiu. Zhou Wen wanted to be more real.

"I'm afraid we won't get to know each other a second time!" Han Jiu answered abruptly.

Zhou Wen turned his head and glanced at Han Jiu meaningfully, and then said teasingly: "You don't have confidence! Are you afraid that General Zuo will be defeated again? After all, he already lost once more than half a year ago. Okay.

Life doesn’t come easy!”

Han Jiu was shocked by what he said. He looked at Zhou Wen with wide eyes and said, "Old Zhou, how can you see so accurately? You are really a worm in my stomach."

"A thief army is a thief army after all. The hardships you have endured in training these past few months are not in vain! How can a thousand-year-old city like Xiangyang be easily broken?" Zhou Wen cheered up Han Jiu, although he

I am also very unsure of myself.

Zhang Xianzhong still remembered that Xiangyang was defeated by thousands of people last year.

"Old Zhou, you have never been in Henan. You don't know how famous King Chuang is. He fought all the way and defeated many officers and soldiers. If we go to war this time, we may have a narrow escape from death. I, Han Jiu, am not afraid of death, but

When I think about how many brothers can survive, I feel very uncomfortable." Han Jiu obviously did not trust Zhou Wen easily, he had his own judgment.

Zhou Wen lowered his head and was silent for a long time, then raised his head and looked at Han Jiu seriously and said: "Old Han, let's do our best and listen to fate!"

————

At the same time, in a corner of the support camp, there were several men and women gathered together and talking seriously, each of them making their own choice.

"I'll go find the Song Yingguan and tell me that if I go with you, we can take care of each other." Yang Ming said loudly.

"You are a weak scholar, how can you take care of me! I am going to repay my kindness. You just stay here to help take care of my little sister and the others." Yuanye returned angrily.

When Yang Ming heard this, he immediately stood up and said sternly with some excitement: "You know how to repay kindness, so how can my reading of the sages' books be in vain? Saving me is like being in fire and water, so I should remember this kindness. Now I am in danger.

, and when it’s time to serve the imperial court, it’s natural to do what you can if you can.

It's enough for Xiaomei Kuang and the others to have Brother Zhang and Brother Ma, but they are ashamed to ask me to take care of them. Last time, my sister and sister-in-law were kidnapped because I failed to take good care of them. Every time I remember this, my heart is like a knife and I feel regretful.

.If I go to serve in the army with my former brother this time, even if I can't help you with anything else, I can still use what I have learned in my life as a counselor."

"Mr. Yukun, no one blamed you for what happened last time. It's over. Don't resent yourself every time. Not only were you not around at the time, but you were around. What could you do if there were so many thieves?

I hurt my life." Qian Ying, a beautiful woman standing by, immediately expressed relief.

"Decided?" Zhang Qing, who was sitting nearby, ignored what others said and just stared at the wilderness after being silent for a long time.

It turned out that these men and women were Zhang Qing, Shou Houer, Zhang Ying and others who had fled here all the way from Kaifeng.

At first, facing the unexpected chaos in Xiangyang, they wanted to continue walking eastward. But unfortunately, the wilderness in the south, which they had never been to before, was infected with miasma (malaria), so they had to continue hiding in the mountains to treat their illnesses.

Jia Langzhong, who was traveling with him, used herbs collected in the mountains to treat his condition for several days. Not only did he not feel better, but his condition became worse and worse. As a last resort, Zhang Qing and Shou Houer went out to the mountains together to find a way to see if they could get better medicine.

Since Jia Langzhong had to look after the wilderness, Zhang Ying and her sister-in-law Qian Ying had to be looked after by Yang Ming.

The man named Yang Ming and nicknamed Yukun was a scholar they rescued on their way south, a scholar who had lost all his family members. On the day Malan rescued him from the wilderness, he was the companion standing behind Malan in the shack.

Smiling weak man.

But I never thought that something unexpected happened after Zhang Qing and Shou Houer left.

It turned out that when Zhang Ying and her sister-in-law Qian Ying went to wash their tattered clothes and hair in a stream not far away, they encountered a group of officers and soldiers who were going into the mountains to hunt for game, and they were supposed to be following them.

Yang Ming, who was looking out for the clues, happened to be in the wrong place, and as a result, they were both kidnapped.

Afterwards, according to Yang Ming, he suddenly had a stomachache. He was in a hurry for Da Gong (large size) and was afraid of being indecent, so he walked further away to find a more secluded place, so he failed to discover the danger in time.

Couldn't help either.

Zhang Ying and her sister-in-law did not want to let the thieves-like officers and soldiers know that they had relatives and friends nearby, so they did not cry out for help.

This is where the back story comes into play.

"Yeah." Yuanye nodded seriously to Zhang Qing's question.

Then he explained: "I have helped them raise horses these days, and I know that they really don't have many people who are good at raising horses. A war is about to start, and Captain Ma is worried, so he came to discuss with me and asked me to help.

Look after the reconnaissance company's horses. He saved me, and I can't help it."

"You've made your decision, I won't stop you. Chief of Staff Ma is Company Commander Ma's biological brother, and he will meet again in the future. Just be careful. As for Mr. Yukun, don't join in the fun. It's really disrupting the wilderness.

I have to think about rescuing you, but it will be easy to escape." Zhang Qing said without any doubt.

"I...I..." After Yang Ming choked a few times, he finally said nothing more under Zhang Qing's gaze.

"I'm going with the army. They are short of a doctor, and I also want to learn more. I can take care of myself. They have confirmed with me that I will leave early tomorrow morning." Jia Langzhong suddenly spoke firmly. He had obviously made up his mind earlier.

Certainly.

Everyone suddenly raised their heads to look at Jia Langzhong. It was obvious that they had no prior knowledge of the news that he was going to join the army, but in the end no one said anything. Only Yuanye smiled and nodded to the doctor, Jia Youliang.

…

Under the scorching sun, Deputy General Hui Dengxiang was riding with several soldiers on horseback to patrol along the south bank of the Han River in the west of Xiangyang. He wanted to get familiar with the surrounding geographical environment and figure out the key points of garrisoning his troops.

The war is approaching, and the surrounding civilians are being cleared away. From time to time, scattered small troops can be seen on the roads and in the wilderness.

They were chaotic and noisy, frightened and excited. Many of them were carrying the various objects they had just looted on their shoulders, and the cries of women were mixed in among them.

Prime Minister Huiden was a little sad and confused. He had an indescribable feeling about the coming war. He clearly knew something that many people didn't know, but it made him even more anxious.

At this time, a long snake shadow in the distance slowly entered his field of vision. He knew that it was an army marching, but the strangeness of the army made him stop and take a closer look.

It was a silent army, an army with unusually neat steps. Although there were infantry, cavalry, and chariots, and there were strangely few flags, there was no trace of disorder from front to back. It was very different.

To any official army he saw, including his own troops.

This army is so inconsistent with everything around it.

Slowly, as the distance between the two sides continued to close, Prime Minister Huiden gradually became horrified. He had never seen such a military appearance in his life. As an experienced soldier, he immediately judged that this was a strong and powerful army.

Knowing an army by its appearance, Whidden believed that he would not make a mistake.

But this was a powerful army that came out of nowhere, and he had never heard of it. It was really incredible.

A long time later, a soldier who was sent to inquire returned and reported: "General Qi, this army is a guerrilla force of Li Ping and is heading to Sheepskin Beach to set up defenses."

Prime Minister Huiden was immediately surprised and blurted out: "Sheepskin Beach is safe!"

But soon, he became confused again, and couldn't help but murmur in his mind: "It's really strange that Mr. Fang didn't praise people randomly this time..."
Chapter completed!