Chapter two hundred and thirty eight taboos in the military
After Zhao Qing and other generals stood up, they immediately divided into two columns on the left and right to welcome Liu Mingzhi into the camp.
Liu Mingzhi sat directly on the chair at the front and instinctively looked at the sand table in the tent where the terrain felt unfamiliar to him.
Liu Mingzhi stared at the mountains and rivers on the sand table. After observing the terrain for a long time, he realized that this should be the sand table of one of the two countries, Tianzhu or the Big Food Country.
"Your Majesty, please have tea. You came too suddenly. I didn't have time to prepare the tea. I hope your Majesty will forgive you for having a cup of coarse tea."
Liu Mingzhi came to his senses and took the tea cup from Zhao Qing's hand, got up and walked towards the sand table a few steps away.
"Zhao Qing, you are so stupid that you treat me so unworldly. When I led you to conquer the north and south, I didn't suffer any kind of hardships with you.
I drank snow water, drank water from rivers and streams, and ate teeth-grinding dry cakes.
As long as you can quench your thirst and treat yourself as hungry, why have I ever complained?
You are living such a shitty life, how did you become so fussy after being away from me for a few years?"
Zhao Qing and others looked at each other, scratched their heads and gathered around Young Master Liu.
"Your Majesty... I'm waiting... I'm waiting..."
"Okay, okay, if you don't know how to explain it, don't explain it. I'm not that narrow-minded.
When we were outside the camp, I heard Lu Rong say that you guys were discussing matters in the tent. Please tell me carefully, what major military aircraft issues are you discussing?
Is it related to the sand table in front of you?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, I have indeed been discussing the sand table before."
Young Master Liu nodded clearly: "This is Dashi. Which of the two countries in Tianzhu is the sand table?"
"Your Majesty, it's none of them."
"Huh? Where is the sand table?"
"Your Majesty, this is the sandbox of the Frankish country. On the eve of escorting Tianzhu and the executioners from the two countries back to the capital for your Majesty's disposal, the three of them, Zhang Shuai, Deputy Commander Yeruha, and Governor Huyan, after careful consideration, decided to send troops to help.
In the name of friendly relations, they united with the Roman troops and launched an attack on the Franks.
This sand table was made by the ministers and others based on the map of the Frankish state given by the Roman state.
I have been stationed in the city since I returned to the court, and my days are very idle. In my spare time, I want to use this to infer where Zhang Shuai and the Roman troops have advanced to where in the Frankish country."
"The Frankish Country."
Liu Mingzhi muttered to himself, already knowing in his heart what kind of country this Frankish country would be in later generations.
After taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, Liu Mingzhi placed the tea cup on the edge of the sand tray, leaned over and observed the sand tray.
After a long time, Liu Mingzhi straightened up, squinted his eyes and pondered thoughtfully for a while, then turned his head and scanned the surrounding generals.
"Have you reached the conclusion of your discussion? Where do you think Zhang Shuai and the Roman troops have advanced now?"
Zhao Qing, Hu Sanyuan and others couldn't help but trembled when they heard Liu Mingzhi's inquiry. They looked at each other and scratched their heads. No one dared to express their thoughts first.
Liu Mingzhi picked up the tea cup and blew on the tea foam on it, then glared at a group of generals angrily.
"Look at that bear look of yours, what can't you say?
It's just a casual discussion, just say no boldly. Are you still worried that your words and deeds will affect Zhang Shuai's progress?
Speak boldly, say what you think, and explain your thoughts, reasons, and results carefully.
Since you have created a Frankish sandbox in your spare time, it means that you already have the foundation to command the soldiers of the three armies.
It's no longer enough to think about how to obey orders and charge into battle. I hope that each of you will be a commander. In the future, you can command the soldiers of the three armies, serve the imperial court, and guard the peace of one place.
Everyone sit down, this is an order."
The bodies of Zhao Qing and the others tensed subconsciously, and they sat down on the chairs a few seats below Liu Mingzhi without hesitation.
"Tell me carefully what you learned on the sand table. Which of you will come first?"
The eight people looked at each other with reserved expressions. In front of Liu Mingzhi, the horse-riding emperor, they really didn't have the courage to express their thoughts freely.
Upon seeing this, Liu Mingzhi shook his head helplessly, placed the tea cup heavily on the table, and turned to look at Zhao Qing.
"Zhao Qing, you are the first to say it."
"Ah? Your Majesty, your Majesty... your Majesty... your Majesty... this... this..."
Young Master Liu's face paled, he looked at Zhao Qing with a faint look and cursed: "You bitch, what are you? You are a general with tens of thousands of troops in the battle, hesitating and thinking like a girl.
Back then, when you were charging into battle under my command and galloping on the battlefield, weren't you very eloquent?
Why are you more girly than girls now?
If you dare to behave like this, I'll have to pick up a riding crop and beat you to death, you useless thing.
It’s not just Zhao Qing, it’s the same for you guys. If anyone dares to act like a bitch again later, don’t blame me for not remembering old feelings and beating you with military sticks.”
Seeing Young Master Liu cursing with a face on his face, Zhao Qing and others became excited, as if they had returned to their unstoppable and all-powerful military career under Young Master Liu many years ago.
Zhao Qing let out a heavy breath: "I said, I said it's not okay!"
Young Master Liu picked up the tea cup and took a sip: "If you fart, hurry up."
"Your Majesty, I believe that Zhang Shuai and the Roman troops have ended the war in the Franks."
Liu Mingzhi raised his eyebrows and gently moved the tea lid in his hand: "How can you see it?"
"Your Majesty, you have never personally led a military expedition, and you don't know the heroic achievements of our Western Expedition Army in Tianzhu, which devastated both countries.
I can say that if it hadn’t been for the difficult situation of our brothers in the Western Expedition, it would not have been impossible for our two armies to end the war against the barbarians of the two countries one to three months ahead of schedule.
I have the audacity to say that your Majesty immediately mobilized 400,000 experienced elite soldiers from the Inner Palace, Beifang Palace, and Xinfu Palace, as well as the Anxi Protectorate Palace, as well as more than 300,000 elite soldiers and horses from the allied forces of the countries in the Western Regions to assist the two countries in the Western Expedition.
Barbarians. At that time, not only Chen, but also two old commanders and millions of brothers subconsciously thought that the two countries of Da Shi and Tianzhu were two extremely difficult bones to crack.
That's why Your Majesty mobilized so many troops to attack the two countries.
At that time, the brothers were ambitious and high-spirited, thinking that as long as they encountered Tianzhu, they would be able to defeat the two countries' armies and defeat their opponents.
Who would have thought that after the actual battle with the soldiers and horses of the two countries, all the brothers would be disappointed.
There is no bed crossbow, no arrow formation, the range of the catapult is pitiful, and when charging into the battle, the formation is rigid and no different than a living target.
There are no such standing armaments, let alone combat weapons such as artillery of various sizes.
When the brothers were cleaning the battlefield after the war, they discovered that these barbarian soldiers and horses were not even fully armored, not even 60% armored.
The battle formation they gathered together seemed indestructible, but with a few rounds of artillery fire from our army, no matter how solid the formation was, it would eventually be bombarded to pieces.
The infantry brothers went up to pick up the leaks and captured the first level.
I have seen the state of Rome's troops and horses, and I already have a rough idea. They are not even as good as those of Tianzhu.
A country that has been separated from Rome for decades without any results, relies on the strength and excellent military equipment of our Western Expeditionary Army, and is supported by soldiers and horses from Rome.
I speculate that the Frankish state has been captured by our army and the Roman army. This is not a fanciful idea.
I have finished speaking my mind."
Liu Mingzhi stared at Zhao Qing quietly for a moment, then looked at Hu Sanyuan and the other seven.
"what about you?"
"We second the proposal."
Liu Mingzhi gently put down his tea cup and stared at the eight people with a deep look.
"The meaning behind your words is that you are very conceited!"
The eight of them were stunned for a moment, unable to guess what Liu Mingzhi meant by his words.
Liu Mingzhi sighed and stood up and walked towards the outside of the camp. The eight generals followed him hurriedly without knowing why.
Liu Mingzhi stopped in front of the camp and watched the two guards and horses training with each other on the school field not far away. When he heard the footsteps behind him, he spoke directly.
"Do you know how much food and grass my 400,000-strong army in the inner palace of the Dragon consume in a day?
Do you know how much silver it costs to cast a cannon with enough cannonballs?
Do you know how much silver it costs to wear armor for the entire army?
Do you know how much manpower and material resources are needed to supply your arrows?
Did I and the imperial court fight for several years at the cost of emptying the national treasury, and finally cultivated a bunch of arrogant and powerful generals like you?"
"ah?"
Hearing Liu Mingzhi's emotionless questioning, Zhao Qing and the others were shocked and hurriedly knelt down on one knee and saluted.
"I am aware of my guilt."
"A sad soldier may not win, but a proud soldier will be defeated.
As generals, you should be responsible for the lives of your brothers, and you should not underestimate any opponent.
Even though what you said is true, you have committed a taboo among military strategists, that is, you have begun to despise your opponents from the bottom of your heart.
Each of you is a veteran who has been on the battlefield for many years. Do you need me to repeat to you again and again the principle that arrogant soldiers will be defeated?"
"I deserve death for my crime."
"There's no need for me to die. I'll go get twenty military sticks myself."