A staff officer interrupted Li He and said: "General, you are saying that the crisis our troops are facing now is that the destination may have been occupied and there are ambushes on the road."
"And our supplies have been exhausted, and there are still a large number of wounded waiting for treatment. Even the medical staff accompanying the army fell ill a lot during the march. Next, we have to face a fierce battle... How can this happen?
It looks like it’s a dead end!”
Everyone looked at Li He and remained silent.
The candlelight flickered. After a moment of silence, Li He nodded and admitted, "Yes, officers, this is our current situation. You know it better than I do."
As soon as these words came out, the already heavy atmosphere became even more solemn, so oppressive that it was impossible to breathe.
"Then let's fight the next battle?"
"This is going to die!"
Li He gritted his teeth and said, "Even if we go to die, there is only one way we can go."
"Staying on this lifeless grassland is also a death sentence for us. If we give it a try with the French team, we still have a chance to win."
"My plan is this. I will send a vanguard team to check if there are any ambush on this road. After confirming that there is no danger ahead, we will go out from the grassland and go to the nearby villages to place the wounded.
Get supplies, and then think of ways to attack the French army."
Everyone laughed miserably, feeling desperate for Li He's plan.
"General, we can't accept any losses now, and I need to remind you that the number of troops we can use now is only 3,000 at most. How many people do you want to send out as the vanguard team?"
Li He gritted his teeth and said: "Five hundred people, I will lead the team myself!"
"If I don't come back, you will hide in the jungle. At least there will be wild fruits and you can eat game. When the situation gets a little better, you will choose to attack!"
Everyone sighed and said, "This is the best choice now."
"We have no other way."
"General, you need to come back in a week..."
Li He said in a deep voice: "After a week, if I don't come back with the troops, you will lead the troops into the jungle and wait for the opportunity!"
...
On the eve of Li He's departure, Ge Dazhuang came to Li He ready to go.
His waist was as straight as a spear that would rather break than bend, and he shouted loudly: "Longyan Army Assault Force, Captain Ge Dazhuang reports, requesting to go to the battlefield!"
When Li He saw it was him, he frowned and said, "Why are you here? I didn't ask you to accompany Jiang Yuyan."
Jiang Yuyan fell ill after arriving at the grassland, and she has not been able to recover until now. She has been taken care of by Ge Dazhuang.
Ge Dazhuang said with a silly smile: "Yuyan told me that she wanted me to follow the general to fight the French. She told me not to worry."
"Did Jiang Yuyan say it, or did you make the decision yourself?"
Li He stared at Ge Dazhuang's silly face. He chuckled and said, "General, you know that I won't lie."
"Oh, you, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, can't tell lies. How did you deceive our most beautiful doctor?"
These words made everyone laugh, and Ge Dazhuang scratched his head in embarrassment.
"General, just let me go. You only have 500 soldiers, which is definitely not enough."
"Ge Dazhuang!" Li He shouted.
"Arrived!" Ge Dazhuang straightened his back again.
Li He stared at him on the horse and ordered: "I order you to stay and continue to look after Jiang Yuyan. You are not allowed to go to the battlefield without my order!"
Ge Dazhuang wanted to say something else, but was stopped by Li He's sharp gaze.
He drove his horse and turned around to come to the vanguard he had selected, and shouted in a deep voice: "The rest of you, wait, follow me!"