Three days later, Xu Haifeng led the army to escort Tong Yifengs logistics team and set off towards Linan City. Along the way, he saw countless logistics teams advancing in the same direction at the same time. After asking Tong Yifeng privately, he learned that 2.5 million soldiers needed a huge logistics department to transport food, clothing, medicine and other supplies across the country. This war seems to be the achievement of the two major military groups on the surface, but in fact, the logistics department is the real behind-the-scenes hero. Without their careful planning and operation, where would they get so much food for so many people?
This is also the benefit of the emperors personal expedition, because of the golden words and jade words of His Majesty, so no one dares to be negligent, and all materials allocated to various places can be collected in time. As for the occupied areas, it is even more chaotic, after all, the food for more than 200,000 people must be solved locally at least half, and forced looting is inevitable.
Tong Yifeng told him that Gu Dashi had proposed to station only one legion outside Linan City to tie up the Roman troops, while others went to various places to win over the peoples hearts as soon as possible. However, after several unsuccessful attacks on the city, Your Majesty felt deeply humiliated and did not adopt his suggestion, but instead mobilized troops everywhere to try to achieve a complete victory in one battle.
After learning the truth, Xu Haifeng looked at those tattered foreign civilians and didnt know what to feel, but this was war, he had no way to solve it, so he could only hide in the army, out of sight, out of mind. At the same time, he felt a slight resistance to the emperors personal expedition, if not for that supreme existence, no one would be able to mobilize such a large number of troops, let alone gather them under one city wall.
After nearly ten days of long-distance trekking, they finally arrived at the foot of Linan City. Tong Yifeng handed over the order to the logistics department and accompanied him to find a place to settle the troops.
More than 200,000 people gathered in one place, the scene was incredibly spectacular. Row upon row of tents connected to form a green ocean, looking up, it stretched endlessly, boundless and endless, even from a high vantage point, it was impossible to take it all in at once.
They arrived late, so their camp had to be set up on the outermost periphery. Besides, three thousand soldiers and horses were just a small drop in the ocean among two hundred thousand people. Except for a few individual soldiers from nearby camps who were deeply curious about Qin Yongs two weapons, they didnt cause any trouble.
They arrived at dusk, and todays siege had already ended. Except for the patrol teams, everyone else had finished dinner and returned to their camps to rest. Heaven knows whether they will be dispatched tomorrow, but judging from the intensity of the battle, more than half of the troops who went into battle were injured or killed. Each persons fate was not in their own hands, but rather depended on whether the god of fortune smiled upon them.
Xu Haifengs Fifth Regiment had just finished setting up camp when Tong Yifeng returned with the completed order, accompanied by an old friend, Hongse Qijis new Left Camp Deputy Commander Fang Xiangming.
The two brothers naturally couldnt avoid a round of small talk when they met. Tong Yifeng knew they had something to say, so he made an excuse and took his leave.
"This old man is indeed a knowledgeable person, no wonder he can be promoted to the position of general even though he doesnt have any background, but his official career will stop here." Fangxiang Ming praised as he looked at Tong Yifengs back.
Xu Haifeng understood his meaning. In the military, unless you have made military achievements, it is impossible to be promoted to a general position without being backed by a noble person. Tong Yifeng started from a humble position and was able to become a general despite having no one to back him up, which was already his limit. Because the logistics department is not as important as the combat department, their role may be significant, but it cannot compare to the first-line combat troops, and military achievements are relatively small. If Tong Yifeng were to achieve the kind of outstanding military achievements that Fang and Xu had achieved, it would be too difficult for him, even if he were to die trying.
"Whats the situation now, Big Brother?" Along the way, Xu Haifeng had asked Tong Yifeng, but he excused himself to leave the camp for a few days and didnt understand the situation. His words were unclear, and he only gave a general idea, leaving Xu Haifeng dazed and still half-understanding.
"Things are not going well..." Fang Meng sighed and said, his eyes unconsciously scanning around, saying in a low voice: "At the latest ten days, whether we can take Linan City or not, we must withdraw our troops. Otherwise, the consequences will be unthinkable."
Xu Haifeng was shocked, he never thought that the seemingly well-off Great Han army would be so passive. His face slightly changed color: "How could this be? Didnt they say everything was going smoothly?"
"Heh, you also believe the news thats being spread throughout the army? Those are just happy reports, not worries. After all, we have over 200,000 troops here, and logistics supply is not something that can be solved so easily."
"But arent there also over 200,000 Romans in the city?"
Fang Xing gave him a strange look, shook his head and said: "Young brother, you should learn more. The Romans have been operating here for many years, and at least half of the materials plundered from the entire East are stored in Linan City. This time they plan to defend Linan, if its said that there is not enough food and grass inside to last a year, that would be ridiculous. And we marched all the way with great fanfare, smoothly and unexpectedly, but the logistical burden has increased tenfold invisibly. We are now at the end of our strength, with no reinforcements."
"Ah...... thank you for your advice, brother. So why didnt Your Majesty give up earlier?"
"Its precisely because things have been going too smoothly in the past that Your Majesty has formed an impression of Caesar being invincible. Once the attack is hindered, the first thing he thinks of is losing face, how would he think of retreating?"
Judging from his tone, he seemed to be very dissatisfied with this emperor. In that case, Xu Haifeng did not dare to take it lightly and had to change the subject: "So what should we do now?"
"What else can we do? Anyway, my gun cavalry is a cavalry unit and wont be of much use in the siege battle, so lets just conserve our strength." Fang Xing let out a heavy hum: "The Caesar peoples plan is indeed vicious. Your Majesty is proud and aloof, even if you know youve fallen into their trap, theres no choice but to grit your teeth and keep going. Who made him so inflexible?"
"What scheme of the Caesarians?" Xu Haifeng asked in surprise, his brave warriors were not few, but strategists were scarce, basically just him alone, at this moment hearing the word "scheme", he couldnt help but feel itchy in his heart, and hastily asked.
"Its not that the Qiang people had a premeditated gradual withdrawal, but whats even more detestable is that when they left, they didnt adopt the scorched earth tactic, instead leaving behind enough food for the local people to last over ten days. On the other hand, our army advanced too quickly, resulting in logistical supplies not being able to keep up, and under Your Majestys tacit approval, the soldiers were like wolves and tigers, plundering everything they could, without leaving even a scrap behind, causing immense civilian resentment. This time, every place that our Great Han has conquered is filled with mournful cries and starving corpses. As a result, bandits roam freely, and danger lurks everywhere; if not for the escort of several thousand soldiers, it would be impossible to transport the armys supplies here."
"Why did they have to do this?"
"Its simple, they have calculated Your Majestys tendency to be overly eager for success. Once our army falls into crisis here, it will inevitably lead to a complete collapse. At that time, they can recover the lost land and even win over the peoples hearts by sending some food. This is a sinister plot that kills two birds with one stone." Jian Ming explained.
Xu Haifeng took a deep breath: "Are the Caesars so formidable?"
"Its not terrible if its just a traitor of Caesar, whats terrible is the internal ghost."
"Traitor? Has someone betrayed our country?"
"When Your Majesty led the Imperial Guard, they retreated in all directions. Wherever the Imperial Guard passed, they were invincible, but other troops often encountered strong resistance, making Your Majesty think that the Huanglong Army was unbeatable. It wasnt until they reached Linan City that they began to put up a full-scale resistance, but by then, Your Majesty, who was in high spirits, wouldnt believe that the Caesars men were also seasoned veterans. He only sought to capture Linan in one battle, to show off his own bravery and military achievements comparable to those of the founding emperor. By the time he came to his senses, it might be too late. The person who designed this plan understood Your Majestys personality and psychology like the back of their hand, and the Caesars men cooperated so seamlessly - what else could this be but an inside job?"
"Big brother, who is the traitor after all?"
Fang Ming spread his hands and smiled bitterly: "I dont know. However, this time the emperor personally went to war, the motivator was the current prime minister Min, and Prime Minister Mins wife was born in the southern Cheng family, whats more worrying is that General Gus wife is also a member of the Cheng family."
"Gu Dashi? Could it be that this matter is related to him?" Xu Haifeng exclaimed.
"Dont speak nonsense, theres no evidence for this matter. If it gets out, Im afraid the morale of the troops will be greatly affected and well definitely lose this battle." Fang Xiang Ming made a gesture to silence him.
"Yes, thank you for your advice, big brother." Xu Haifeng covered his mouth and didnt speak for a long time before saying: "In that case, our situation is quite precarious?"
"At this moment, the remaining grain in the army is not enough for ten days, and all the grain that can be mobilized within a hundred miles around has been gathered here. Within ten days, if Your Majesty does not withdraw the troops, once the supply of food and grass is insufficient, there will be great chaos. Brother, you must pay attention when you arrive."
"How did big brother know?"
"Haha, among the four major families, only my Fang family rose to power through military strength. There are many eyes and ears in the army, like the hairs on an oxs back. Er Dongjie, the commander of the Western Front, is my uncle. Do you understand?"
"Little brother has understood, so we only have the way to defeat, no chance to turn around?" He was quite headache about the complex relationships between various big families, frowned and stopped paying attention, asking for a plan to win over the enemy instead.
"Not without a first-line victory, unless..."
"What if?"
"Unless we can capture Linan City and distribute the grain stored there to our troops and the starving refugees, we will not be able to alleviate this pressing crisis."
Xu Haifeng nodded thoughtfully and remained silent.
"Little brother, if a disastrous defeat is really imminent, take those hundred or so brothers and head north. Once you reach the northern camp, Ill make sure nothing happens to you."
"Hmm? Why bring only about 100 brothers?"
"Those slave soldiers dont need to be brought along," Fang Ming said with a glance, "Once we reach my territory, Ill arrange for elite soldiers to serve under you. Wouldnt that be far better than those half-dead slaves?"
Another one who doesnt believe that slaves can become soldiers. Xu Haifeng laughed and said, "Big brother, dont jump to conclusions yet, lets see my army first."
