"Rustle, rustle", the sound of clothes and branches rubbing against each other was crisp and clear. At this moment, Zhang Feng and a group of people had arrived at the foot of the mountain south of Beishan in Pinggu County.
This small team of fifteen, including three veterans, had Zhang Feng appointed as the leader, but he knew his own weight and was not confident in this first reconnaissance mission, so he listened to Wang Zhen's suggestion and asked for advice from the three experienced old scouts.
These three people naturally did not hide, and they roughly told Zhang Feng some of the key points of investigation, experience, skills, etc. They also understood that Zhang Feng was favored by their superiors, and this time he came to do the task, it seemed more like a training for him. So, they took the opportunity to build a good relationship with him, who knows, maybe one day they would be promoted together.
As scouts, when lurking behind the enemy, they are always chosen to be slender and agile. It can be said that scouts are equivalent to the eyes of the main force of a large army. The enemy's military strength, deployment, movements, etc., are often transmitted to the commander-in-chief through scouts. Commanders rely on these intelligence reports to judge the current situation and decide their next move.
Many times, when the two armies are arrayed against each other, whichever side has the more formidable scouts will have the initiative and to a certain extent determine the course of the war.
Moreover, the danger coefficient of scouts is not lower than that of soldiers who go out in batches, and even higher than them. The two sides' scouts are entangled with each other, the winner lives and the loser dies. In order to send out intelligence, scouts spare no effort, so in a war, scouts determine intelligence, and intelligence determines victory or defeat, as the saying goes: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles."
This group of new recruits only realized the importance of the scout's mission after listening to the three men's detailed explanation, and they couldn't help but look at the three with suspicion, thinking that they might be delaying things.
Zhang Feng was worried about this, hesitated for a moment and opened his mouth: "Since the task of the scout is so important, why give it to us? Wouldn't that delay military affairs?"
The three of them couldn't help but laugh, and Old Liu explained: "It's not that serious, after all it's just mountain bandits this time, not a real confrontation between two armies. We sent you here to train you, if you can't complete the task, then we'll have to take action ourselves."
"If we three can't even deal with their intelligence, then what face do we have to return to the camp? Not to mention that they may not have corresponding scouts, even if they do, I'll kill one when I see one and kill a pair when I see two, let them not even fart back."
"Lao Zhou, don't get reckless. We're just a precautionary measure sent by Wang Baohu. Only when they can't complete their mission will the three of us take action to probe, and don't be careless. This group of mountain bandits has annihilated an entire hundred-man unit from the Yingzhou Middle Garrison, among whom are skilled archers. We absolutely cannot afford to lose our lives due to carelessness." Lao Liu said with a furrowed brow.
"Old Zhou did not refute him, but was slightly unwilling."
Old Liu turned his head to explain to Zhang Feng: "Don't mind him, Old Zhou is just being temperamental. If he wasn't a skilled fighter, Wang Baiguan wouldn't have chosen him to accompany you all. Have you seen the scar on his neck? That's from the Northern Expedition eight years ago."
"At that time, Old Zhou belonged to Cao Guogong's Eastern Route Army. At the time of the three armies' northern expedition, from Chu Changcheng onwards, it was a matter of who fought whom and won; if not for the battle at Tuocha River, where Old Zhou and Yuan Muzi's scouts clashed, and one of the horse-faced hundred officials cut him on the neck with a knife, causing him to be injured and leave the battlefield early, otherwise he would have been promoted to General Flag Officer by now."
"Hmph, I just have a scar on my neck, but that damned barbarian had his head chopped off by me." Old Zhou coldly interjected.
"Haha, you're so stubborn, Old Zhou. You can be proud of your scar." Old Liu shook his head and chuckled.
"Senior is indeed my model, the bravery of killing enemies is not ordinary. Zhang Feng said that if he was cut on the neck and could still live, it's one thing, but having the ability to kill the enemy with ease is a whole different story."
"Damn, I'm lucky to be alive. What kind of crap is that about being a good role model? If I hadn't killed him back then, I wouldn't have made it out alive. You kids remember this: on the battlefield, only dead enemies are good ones." Old Zhou cursed with disdain.
"Yes!" Zhang Feng and others responded in unison.
"Alright, it's about time too. We've said what we needed to say, and now you should scatter into the mountains to gather information. Remember, as scouts, you need to be stealthy, careful, and agile. Only if you stay alive can you send back complete intelligence. And don't worry too much, if you really can't complete your mission, we'll naturally step in - it's just that you won't look good in front of the hundred households." Old Liu finished speaking and led the other two into the mountain forest.
The three people who entered the mountain walked quickly, swiftly moving away from Zhang Feng and others. In fact, these three people were hiding in the dark, observing them at all times.
Old Zhou mumbled with a stalk of grass in his mouth, "Big brother, why did you provoke them again when you were about to leave? What if these new recruits get excited and cause some big trouble, it won't be easy for us to wrap things up."
"Old Zhou, shut up! If you don't know, then speak less." Another person who had been silent and taciturn all along rebuked him.
"You!" Old Zhou's eyes widened and he was about to turn hostile at once.
"What are you two doing? You still have the mood to quarrel with military duties at hand!" Old Liu sternly scolded, his body involuntarily emitting a strong aura of killing intent that only a seasoned veteran would possess.
Old Liu lost his temper and the two of them glared at each other, then turned their heads away.
Looking at these two, who are already over 80 years old combined, still acting like children and sulking, Old Liu couldn't help but feel helpless. Calming himself down, he spoke up: "The three of us have come to be nannies this time, taking care of these kids is the top priority. As for why I intentionally provoked them, heh heh, I also want to see how Zhang Feng, the so-called favorite of General Qianhu, will complete his first reconnaissance mission. If he messes it up, that would be a waste of his reputation."
Zhang Feng saw the three old soldiers walking into the forest and he also gradually became serious. He deeply knew that this time, he must do a good job and absolutely cannot disappoint the expectations of Bai Hu and even Qian Hu. He closely followed each of his subordinates, instructing them to follow the methods and ways that Old Liu and others had said, and to be more cautious and careful.
And repeatedly warned Xiao Liu Zi not to cause trouble, to restrain his own temper, if something really went wrong, it would be a matter of life and death.
Xiao Liu Zi naturally also knew this principle, and no matter how much he messed around on ordinary days, it was all just playing with everyone. Now facing the unknown mountain bandits, he also became serious and stern.
After a while, Zhang Feng and others were ready to disperse into the mountains. The mountain foot, which had some atmosphere just now, has returned to its usual desolation. The faint sound of autumn cicadas echoed in the night sky, and only the bent dry grass proved that a group of people had been here before...
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