RPAGF Chapter 219 I will use my posthumous reputation to send you to the clouds.
Chapter 219 I will use my posthumous reputation to send you to the clouds.
Rewind five days to Panshi Pass—
The 20,000 Anguo garrison soldiers who surrendered had long been gagged, their hands and feet bound, and imprisoned in prisoner-of-war camps. The lower-ranking soldiers needed orders and commands from their superiors to fight effectively, so officers of all ranks above the sergeant level were separated and imprisoned separately. With soldiers and officers separated, it was difficult for them to cause trouble.
"Stone, where do you think Chief Shi and the others are being held?"
"This is none of our business."
Two soldiers huddled in a corner, whispering to each other.
"Hey, Stone, are we going to be sent to work in the mines?" As he spoke, the soldier shuddered at the thought of the hard times ahead.
"It's good enough that we're alive. We don't even know if the squad leader will be able to come back."
"Gu~gu~"
"I'm hungry."
"..." Stone remained silent. In truth, he was also hungry, having not eaten or drunk anything for a day and a night.
Soon, the rumbling of bellies echoed throughout the prisoner-of-war camp.
Perhaps he was too hungry, because Shi Tou inexplicably missed the spring wheat that Jun Tian had planted. It would be ready for harvest in two or three months, and he hoped that he would still be at Pan Shi Pass by then.
Meanwhile, the squad leader they were talking about, along with a group of officers, were being held in strict confinement in the city's prison, shackled in full wooden chains. They showed no intention of treating them with respect, clearly indicating that they had no intention of recruiting them.
This deviated significantly from Yuejiang's expectations. Logically, at this point, the victor should try to win over some of the generals in order to gain control of the army and make it serve him more quickly.
Whether he lives or dies is irrelevant. He had already realized this when the city fell. He had discussed it with his subordinates beforehand, and they would pretend to comply with whichever city they were invited to talk to. Last year, Yongzhou was also in a difficult situation. During this lean season, the Xuan army, which had come from a distant expedition, was facing logistical difficulties. The army would definitely rush to attack the next city, which meant that there wouldn't be many Xuan soldiers left to guard the prisoners of war.
As long as they can get out and return to the army, they will always find an opportunity to counterattack. Even without weapons, 20,000 soldiers still have a good chance of defeating a few thousand armored soldiers. At that time, they can march east and encircle the Xuan army that has penetrated deep into Anguo's territory!
As for the possibility of killing prisoners, Yuejiang felt it was unlikely to happen. After decades of war, the monarchs of various countries all had the ambition to unify the world. They rarely used such extreme measures for the sake of their reputation. Moreover, Xuanjun Gongcheng did not pay a heavy price and would not hold any grudges against them. There was no need for them to do something that would anger the heavens and the people and damage their virtue.
Just then, the prison door creaked open, and a soldier's loud voice rang out. "General Yue, the commander-in-chief wants to see you."
What's meant to happen will happen eventually. Yuejiang sighed inwardly, then calmly got up and walked out.
Following the guards into the commander's tent, Yuejiang saw that man again.
"Commander Lu, it's been a long time."
Lu Zhen sat upright in the main seat and looked at him for a long time before saying in a deep voice, "I didn't originally plan to see you, but I felt I should see you off. A general should have the dignity of a general."
Yue Jiang was not surprised, but simply said, "Do not harm the common people."
"Naturally, my heart for the people is the same as yours, General."
Yuejiang believed in the reputation Lu Zhen had built up over many years of fighting in the north and south, and couldn't help but ask, "Is Commander Lu's belief still the same as before?"
Lu Zhen nodded, his voice resounding, "Only by stopping war with war, and by using force to end violence, can the world be at peace!"
Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Yue Jiang sighed, drew his personal guard's sword, and swiftly slit his throat. Ending his own life was his last act of dignity.
Lu Zhen calmly observed all of this and simply uttered two words: "A proper burial."
Only when the guards carried Yuejiang's body away did Liu, the military doctor who was attending to him, speak up.
"General, killing prisoners is an ominous sign."
"My mind is made up; let all the sins fall upon me!"
"The campaign against An was already an act of unilateral action with no prior approval. Doing this will inevitably affect his posthumous honors. Does the commander, who has spent his life on the battlefield, want to end up with a bad posthumous title?"
Lu Zhen's physical condition could not possibly be hidden from Liu Junyi, who was not only the accompanying military doctor but also Lu Zhen's longtime comrade-in-arms.
"Qingxi is a military talent that comes along only once in a century. She can debate with scholars in the imperial court and kill generals and seize flags in the midst of a large army. It's just a pity that she is still young and untrained and not ruthless enough in battle."
"Not ruthless enough?" Upon hearing this, Doctor Liu's lips twitched. The newly established Sky Lantern Team was essentially a suicide squad. They could send people to the sky without warning, and they could set fire to tens of thousands of people in the city without hesitation. Wasn't that ruthless enough? Perhaps Commander Lu had some misunderstanding about compassion.
Having known each other for many years, Lu Zhen immediately saw through Liu Junyi's thoughts and said, "Qingxi always wins battles by surprise, not because she likes to take unconventional approaches, but to reduce casualties, whether they are casualties on her own side or on the enemy's side."
Seeing Liu Jun deep in thought, Lu Zhen continued, "The burning of Panshi Pass looked tragic, but it was just a chaotic scene caused by the panic of the people. In reality, the majority of the people escaped. If we had launched a direct assault, the number of deaths would have been far greater than that."
At this point, Lu Zhen felt gratified but also sighed, "But ingenious schemes always have their limits. Direct combat is the main theme of military operations. Sweeping across the world requires ruthless methods. While I'm still here, let her experience the cruelty of the battlefield firsthand. If she can't bring herself to be ruthless, I'll do it for her!"
Chief Physician Liu sighed, "Is it worth paving the way for General Shen like this?"
“Supporting Qingxi is not only for the Lu family, but also to cultivate a great general who can bring peace to the world for the Xuan Kingdom and restore a peaceful world for the common people.”
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Back to the present, Song Heng looked at the imposing Shen Qing. From the moment the Chixiao banner appeared, he knew that the 20,000 soldiers of Panshi Pass had been wiped out, but now that things had come to this, he could not lose his momentum.
"General Shen, you have quite the nerve! Aren't you afraid that I'll give the order to have you hacked to pieces?"
"I bet Lord Song wouldn't dare let me die."
"Arrogant! Who gave you that confidence!"
"If I die, it will be a fight to the death, and our army will definitely attack the city immediately."
Song Heng scoffed, "Isn't this a fight to the death now? Lu Zhen dared to defy the world by massacring prisoners of war; how can this be let off easily!"
Shen Qing paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Anguo is no longer able to fight. Do not insist. Think of the people behind you. If you win the battle, you will not be able to sheathe your sword for three days after entering the city."
Song Heng fell silent. He knew that Shen Qing was not bluffing. Siege warfare was extremely brutal. After the battle, the soldiers needed to release the pressure they had accumulated. Once inside the city, they would inevitably burn, kill, loot, and abuse innocent women. Even the strictest generals would turn a blind eye for the first three days.
This is different from massacring prisoners of war; it is considered spoils of war earned by soldiers with their lives, a tacit rule of war that has been passed down for thousands of years.
"Lord Song, would you like to try?"
Song Heng closed his eyes. Anguo's strongest army and natural defenses had been lost; the tide had turned against them.