redvbooks Chapter 2646 Two Generals Take on Heavy Responsibilities, Rengui Sends His Younger Brother
Chapter 2646 Two Generals Take on Heavy Responsibilities, Rengui Sends His Younger Brother
Chapter 2646 Two Generals Take on Heavy Responsibilities, Rengui Sends His Younger Brother Off
After listening, Xue Rengui remained silent for a moment. He understood Zhang Liang's meaning: to make the play more realistic, he would offer Ji Chengfu some meat.
This also means that, as the commander-in-chief of the entire army, he will personally lead a unit to its doom.
This decision was extremely cruel for many generals, but they also knew that although it was cruel, it was the right one.
If you want to cripple nearly 400,000 enemy troops in one fell swoop, how can you do it without showing some real skill?
If you don't want to put in any effort and just expect people to willingly jump into an ambush, it's only possible if the leader is Yang Guang or the Great War God of the Ming Dynasty. Only these two people would send tens of thousands or even millions of troops forward recklessly.
It was precisely for this reason that, even knowing that he was sending some soldiers to their deaths, Xue Rengui had no choice but to make this cruel decision.
The saying goes, "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand," and this is no different from the truth.
"Summon Generals Xue Yong and Wang Huilong to see me." After a brief silence, Xue Rengui's gaze bypassed Zhang Liang and Wang Changluo, and went directly to the messenger behind him.
Before long, two fast horses galloped up from the rear of the column.
Xue Yong and Wang Huilong dismounted and quickly stepped forward, clasping their hands in salute: "Marshal!"
Xue Rengui looked at them, but did not speak immediately.
Xue Yong waited a moment, then looked up and met Xue Rengui's gaze. There was no command or urging in that gaze, only an indescribable complexity.
After all, in the identities implanted by the system, the two of them were brothers. Among Xue Jiali's bravery and strength, one of them was the eldest and the other the second eldest.
If Xue Rengui were to issue this order, it would be tantamount to pushing his own brother down a path of certain death. A path that would truly be one in nine deaths and one chance of survival.
However, to fish, you not only need to use bait, but you also need to use heavy bait.
If they simply throw out a few baits without any real substance, it might not be enough to completely fool Ji Chengfu.
"Second brother, General Wang, the enemy is attacking too fiercely. The rear guard needs someone to cover the rear," Xue Rengui said, his voice much lower than usual.
Xue Yong and Wang Huilong were taken aback, but then they understood what was going on.
Although they were unaware of Xue Rengui and Zhang Liang's plans, even in a normal army retreat, someone would still be needed to cover the rear and slow down the enemy's pursuit.
The generals who carry out such missions are practically already on the verge of death.
That is why it is not just any general who is qualified to carry out such a task; only generals with a certain degree of loyalty are qualified.
Otherwise, the enemy might not only fail to carry out orders to cover the rear, but might even defect on the spot.
Xue Yong didn't speak, but simply raised his eyes to look at his elder brother. Xue Rengui met his gaze and nodded slightly.
The two brothers, one on horseback and one on foot, stared at each other for a moment. No one around them made a sound; only the sound of the wind rustling through the flags could be heard.
On the other side, after a moment of silence, Wang Huilong suddenly laughed and then knelt on one knee, saying, "This subordinate obeys the order."
Although the Wang family of Hebei, where Wang Huilong was born, was not a particularly prominent clan during the Da Cang era, it has developed rapidly in recent years and is now one of the leading clans in Hebei Province. Among the entire family, the most representative member, Wang Yingkan, is a true high-ranking official of the Han Dynasty, holding a position in one of the Six Ministries.
He had no other choice but to do so for the sake of his family.
At times, the excessive expansion of powerful families can indeed affect the development of an empire and even limit imperial power.
However, this social class also has its positive aspects.
The relationship between aristocratic families and empires is not that of employees and companies, but rather that of shareholders and companies. It is precisely because of this relationship that aristocratic families are often extremely powerful in combat.
After the Song Dynasty, the aristocratic families in China, strictly speaking, disappeared, and the country entered the stage of scholar-officials.
During this period, the relationship between the scholar-officials and the state was no longer that of shareholders and companies, but rather that of employees and companies.
Under this relationship, the threat posed by aristocratic families was indeed eliminated, and their restrictions on imperial power were also removed. However, their external combat capabilities were also significantly reduced.
After all, can you really expect a group of employees to risk their lives for you? For many of them, the worst that can happen is simply changing bosses.
At this time, it was precisely because he was considering the future development of his family in the Han Dynasty that Wang Huilong was willing to take on this mission even though he knew it was a matter of life and death.
Xue Rengui looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He didn't speak immediately, but simply dismounted, walked to Wang Huilong, bent down, and helped him up with both hands.
"General Wang."
Wang Huilong looked up, but Xue Rengui didn't say anything else. He just squeezed his arm tightly and then turned to Xue Yong beside him.
"Second brother."
Xue Rengui looked at his brother once again. The two brothers stood facing each other, similar in stature and with similar features, but one spent his years strategizing in the command tent and the other spent his years fighting on the battlefield.
"Jiao'er, you don't need to worry. If your elder brother... then my title will be yours in the future," Xue Rengui promised.
Xue Yong nodded and did not refuse. As a father, he naturally had his own selfish motives, not to mention that this was a promise he had earned with his own life.
"Go, you two each take five thousand troops and block the enemy at Yuehu Slope and Sihe River respectively. You must hold off the enemy for at least two hours," Xue Rengui ordered the two men.
He still did not reveal the true purpose of this battle, and only gave the order to cover the rear, which was a necessary precaution for him as a general.
Xue Yong didn't say anything more, mounted his horse, and Wang Huilong did the same. The two rode side by side, galloping towards the rear of the group.
Xue Rengui stood still, watching the two receding figures and the five thousand men gradually merging into the dust of the rear ranks. He did not move, and his expression was indistinct.
Zhang Liang and Wang Changlu rode forward and reined in Xue Rengui beside him.
In a sense, they understood Xue Rengui. Strategists and commanders share commonalities; both need to abandon inappropriate emotions, even to the point of being cold-blooded, and focus solely on the big picture when necessary.
Throughout history, those in higher positions have tended to be more indifferent.
Xue Rengui did not turn around. After a long while, he mounted his horse, turned the reins, and said calmly, "Let's go."