12dz Chapter 231 Northland
Chapter 231 Northland
The climate in the north is dry, with a large temperature difference between day and night. The sudden change caused a large number of soldiers in the army to be infected with colds.
As people gathered, coughing became rampant and symptoms such as fever appeared.
Zong Yanli was not surprised by the occurrence of this disease. She had asked the military doctor to prepare the prescription early on. Now she was adept at dealing with this disease and did not show any sign of panic at all. What Zong Yanli did not expect was that she herself suffered.
His throat became hoarse from coughing for several days in a row, and now he was obediently holding the bowl of soup and drinking medicine.
"I'm going to warm up." Zong Yanli finished the medicine in two or three gulps, then went out with the knife in hand.
"..." Gao Feilin looked at Zong Yanli's back with a somewhat helpless look. Others hid in the camp to recuperate when they were sick, but the general was different. He seemed to be afraid that he would become weaker if he slacked off for a day.
"General, are you practicing with your sword again?" When Zhan Haoyue came over, he squinted his eyes and saw Zong Yanli standing in the training ground brandishing his sword. He said with some worry, "General, you have been recuperating from a hidden illness for a year. Is there anything wrong?"
Gao Feilin shook his head blankly. Even though he was the general's personal soldier, he knew nothing about Zong Yanli's physical condition.
It was embarrassing to say this. Gao Feilin lowered his head and said, "The general has always been like this. If he hadn't suddenly mentioned recuperation, I wouldn't have known that the general had a hidden illness..."
Zhan Haoyue frowned, his eyes seemed to be filled with deep thought. When he was about to speak, he heard a loud noise. He looked up and saw Zong Yanli easily split the huge rock on the ring. Zhan Haoyue was stunned for a long time looking at the noise.
"Well, it seems that the general's hidden illness is completely cured." He touched the tip of his nose, turned and left.
"Are there any more people who have caught a cold today?" Zong Yanli came back from training, steaming hot. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief while asking.
"The number of people has dropped sharply since yesterday. Today, there are only a few people. They are under good control." Gao Feilin followed closely beside Zong Yanli and quickly replied: "The prescriptions and herbs that the general prepared early are of great use."
Zong Yanli nodded, and then continued to ask: "General Long went to investigate the enemy's situation. Did he send back any news?"
Gao Feilin shook his head: "No news has been sent back yet."
"Pay more attention, let the scouts patrol everywhere, and the scope can be expanded appropriately." Zong Yanli bent down and walked into the tent, then turned back to look at Gao Feilin and said: "Get ready, let Kuang Xingquan and Meng Qi come to see me."
"Also ask Manager Zhao to come here as well." After saying this, Zong Yanli waved at Gao Feilin, signaling him to go and do it quickly.
Gao Feilin looked at Zong Yanli with some hesitation and said, "The general's cold has not yet healed, and the military doctor said that the general should not work too hard..."
Gao Feilin had never persuaded Zong Yanli, but after this incident, Gao Feilin deeply reflected on his own problems. He felt that he needed to pay attention to the general's physical condition at all times.
This was the first time that Gao Feilin took the initiative to persuade. In the past, he just did whatever Zong Yanli told him to do.
Zong Yanli raised his eyes slightly and looked at Gao Feilin. It was just a light glance, but Gao Feilin couldn't help but feel his heart tighten. He quickly knelt down and said, "General, you should take care of your health. There are many complicated military affairs, so you can prioritize them."
After Gao Feilin finished speaking, he lowered his head and didn't dare to raise it for a long time.
It was probably after a long time that he heard Zong Yanli's voice coming from above his head: "Forget it, let Zhao Zhangbu come over first."
"Yes." Gao Feilin breathed a sigh of relief. Although the general always looked so ferocious, he could actually negotiate with him if he spoke seriously.
When Zhao Mingcai came over after hearing the news, Zong Yanli was looking at the account book and sitting by the brazier to warm his hands.
Zhao Mingcai walked in and greeted Zong Yanli. Zong Yanli waved to him to come forward and warm himself by the fire. Zhao Mingcai thanked him quickly and walked forward to take a seat.
Since Zhao Mingcai took over the responsibility of being the accountant in the army, he has done everything very well and has gradually come to know Zong Yanli better. Now that he is sitting with Zong Yanli, he took the initiative to ask, "But the amount of food and grass in the army is not right?"
"No." Zong Yanli shook his head, put down the account book, looked at Zhao Mingcai and said, "It's like this. The climate in the north is different from that in the south. There may be some problems with the storage of food and grass."
"I called Zhao Zhangbu here for this matter." Zong Yanli frowned and said, "Tomorrow, Zhao Zhangbu will pretend to be a passing merchant and go to the northern towns to ask about the methods of storing grain in the north."
"Also, some grains are difficult to store, but they are rare in the North. The bookkeeper can take those grains to the towns and exchange them with northern merchants."
"Food and fodder are important matters and we must not be careless about them." Zong Yanli knew very well that with the arrival of cold winter, food would become the most scarce thing. In addition to food for the winter, cotton clothes and charcoal were also in short supply.
Zong Yanli's expression was a little serious, and then he said: "There is another thing in the north, that is, there is a way to store meat and other things. I'm afraid the bookkeeper needs to check it carefully, as well as the place to keep the horses warm..."
The more Zong Yanli spoke in detail, the more Zhao Mingcai listened, the more surprised he was. He really didn't expect that Zong Yanli could pay attention to so many things and even tell him personally about grain storage.
Zhao Mingcai did not dare to be careless and agreed repeatedly. Zong Yanli paused and said, "It is not easy for Zhao Zhangbu to act alone, so let Sang Caijie go with you."
"He is smart and clever, and can establish a familiar base in the north more quickly." Zong Yanli needs more news and intelligence. The information delivered by Wuhuan alone is far from enough.
"I understand." Zhao Mingcai nodded in agreement, and then informed Zong Yanli of the approximate amount of food and military supplies. After Zong Yanli had an idea in his mind, he got up and left to prepare.
Zong Yanli wanted to complete the deployment of all military affairs before the cold wave came, and also wanted the soldiers in the army to adapt to the climate of the north so that they could prepare for war.
Zhao Mingcai was a capable man. After going to several towns in the north, he came back to report the progress to Zong Yanli. Then he transported out some of the grain stored in the army that was not suitable for preservation. Not long after Zong Yanli gave him the approval, Zhao Mingcai came back with more than twice the amount of grain.
What they got in exchange were nothing more than corns and other things, and it was a spectacular sight to see the truckloads of them brought back.
Sang Caijie did not disappoint Zong Yanli. Although he was unfamiliar with the place, Sang Caijie was good at getting along with people. In just a few days, he had learned all the news about the nearby towns.
"The battle is still in the north, far away from us." After Sang Caijie came back, he came to see Zong Yanli and even took out the map he had drawn. This map can only be used as a reference and cannot be fully applied. From this map, it can be roughly seen that their current location is behind the northern country.
"This is Qi, and this is Wuhuan." Sang Caijie pointed roughly and said, "Qi and the Northern Kingdom are fighting here..."
"Do you know the military strength of Qi?" Zong Yanli took a rough look, then turned around and compared the information brought back by scouts from all directions, and asked with a frown.
"I don't know." Sang Caijie shook his head and said, "We have the Wuhuan behind us. I heard that Qi's attack on the Northern Kingdom was premeditated."
If Zong Yanli had not defeated the coalition forces of the Northern Kingdom and the State of Lu, I am afraid that the State of Qi would have launched an attack.
Qi State had been watching secretly for a long time. Whether the coalition forces of the Northern State and the State of Lu were defeated, or Daqian was defeated, Qi State would intervene.
Zong Yanli looked at the map deeply, his heart couldn't help but sink a little, and then he listened to Sang Caijie continue to say: "After all, the Northern Kingdom is considered a powerful country in the north. Although it was defeated, it will have no problem resisting the advance of Qi."
"I haven't gotten any more news." Sang Caijie stretched out his hands to warm them on the brazier, rubbing them and saying, "General, I heard from the people in the north that a cold wave will come in November, and by then the snow will stretch for dozens of miles without an end in sight."
"The fighting will be over by then. I have never seen such heavy snow. Can the soldiers adapt to it?" Sang Caijie was a little worried.
"Yeah." Zong Yanli nodded, and for no reason he thought of the battles in the north in his previous life. There were countless corpses buried in the snow, and quite a few soldiers who froze to death.
"Be prepared for the cold wave, we can withstand it." Perhaps because Zong Yanli spoke too confidently and calmly, the worry and concern that had just arisen in Sang Caijie's heart was instantly diluted.
In the days that followed, Zong Yanli took his soldiers out of the tent to hunt in order to store food for the winter. It seemed like they were hunting, but in fact they were adapting themselves to fighting in the north, getting used to the cold and allowing their bodies to grasp the surrounding conditions more quickly.
By the way, we also learned about the terrain and prepared to further reinforce the military camps and tents to prevent the tents from collapsing due to the cold wave and heavy snow.
There were cases of people gradually contracting colds in the army, and until they recovered, they developed acclimatization problems and food poisoning...
Zong Yanli began to check one by one. He did not worry about these situations at all. Instead, he quickly let everyone accept and adapt to them. Even if the soldiers found themselves uncomfortable, they did not think it was something worth worrying about.
The morale of the army is solid, and as everyone's emotions are stable, accidents will become less likely to occur.
Long Feiguang and Sang Caijie brought back news one after another about the various situations of the war between Qi and the Northern Kingdom. Qi's offensive was so fierce that it had broken through two passes in succession. The current situation was very unfavorable for the Northern Kingdom.
In November, the cold wave finally came.
In order to ensure that the soldiers kept warm in winter, Zong Yanli even taught them to sew their own winter clothes to wear inside, as well as insoles and other items.
Military supplies can still be delivered to their current location, but as they move deeper into the north, it will become difficult to deliver military supplies, and at that time they will have to rely on themselves for everything.
Therefore, everything Zong Yanli asked them to do now was for the future. When the soldiers saw that even the general was sewing winter clothes by himself, what else could they not do?
"The war between the Northern Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom has ended." After Long Feiguang brought back the news, the entire North seemed to have fallen into a kind of silence. There was only the whistling north wind and the frost brought by the north wind, which was so cold that people's ears were almost falling off.
"The Northern Kingdom seems to be interested in seeking help from the Lu Kingdom. We don't know what the Lu Kingdom's attitude is at the moment." In the military tent, Long Feiguang, Kuang Xingquan and other generals were sitting together.
"The State of Lu is already in a difficult situation now, so how could it come to the aid of the Northern State?" Kuang Xingquan frowned slightly, somewhat unconvinced.
"It's hard to say." Long Feiguang shook his head and said, "When the two countries joined forces, what if there was some friendship?"
"..."
Everyone was talking at once, and Zong Yanli sat in the main seat and listened without interrupting. As the conversations in the tent died down, Zong Yanli said, "You don't have to focus on the North Country, focus on Wuhuan instead."
Everyone was stunned when they heard Zong Yanli's words. Could it be that the Northern Kingdom could still ask Wuhuan for help?
"General, what you mean is that Lu will not rescue the Northern Kingdom, but will attack Wuhuan instead." When everyone was puzzled, Pei Liang, who was sitting next to them, said at the right time: "Wuhuan is located in the rear of Qi."
"Rather than wasting huge military resources to support the Northern Kingdom and engage in a direct battle with Qi, it is better to surround Wuhuan and put pressure on Qi from the side."
"When Qi learned that Lu was besieging Wuhuan, it would not dare to use all its forces to attack the Northern Kingdom. This can be considered as saving the Northern Kingdom."
As Pei Liang finished speaking, everyone's thoughts instantly became clear, and they quickly bowed to Zong Yanli and said, "General, you are really amazing. You can even think of this!"
Zong Yanli looked at Pei Liang and smiled, then said: "If the State of Lu wants to surround Wuhuan, it will be exactly what I want."
Zong Yanli smiled and raised his eyebrows and said, "Since Lu has surrounded Wuhuan to save the Northern Kingdom, why can't I surround the Northern Kingdom to save Wuhuan?"
"When that time comes, it will be the best time for our army to enter the north." Zong Yanli's tone was gentle and calm. At that moment, everyone in the tent looked at her. The sudden surge of blood in their chests was difficult to suppress, as if they had already seen the arrival of that day.
"It's snowing outside?" Monkie poked his head out and heard the sound of falling snow outside the tent.
"Generals, please go back early." Zong Yanli closed his eyes slightly and said, "The snow is heavy and the road is slippery. Be careful."
Everyone stood up to say goodbye, and when they opened the curtains, they felt the whistling north wind, which was so strong that they could hardly open their eyes.
Zong Yanli changed the construction of the military tents. After the camps were re-divided, the soldiers gathered in one camp. This could reduce the use of charcoal fires and keep people warm when they were crowded together.
Not long after the generals left, Gao Feilin poked his head out and said, "General, I heard that the deputy general wants to see you."
Zong Yanli seemed a little surprised. He asked him to come in and asked Wen Nian, who came in, "What's the matter?"
Wen Nian fell silent. Zong Yanli waved his hand to let Gao Feilin go first. After Gao Feilin left, Wen Nian took two steps forward and asked in a low voice: "What is the name of our general's child?"
Zong Yanli really didn't expect Wen Nian to come here for this matter. She was stunned for a while before answering: "Haoyan, Zong Yan Haoyan."
"Okay." Wen Nian couldn't help but smile.
"..." Zong Yanli frowned and looked at him. Wen Nian said nothing more and bowed to take his leave.