dognovel Chapter 123 We must also be wary of hidden dangers within the city.
Chapter 123 We must also be wary of hidden dangers within the city.
Upon hearing this, the expressions on the faces of several soldiers changed.
The soldier who spoke first hesitated for a moment, then whispered:
"Actually, we didn't fight any enemy scouts... General Huang just sent us out on patrol, and we didn't even see a trace of the enemy on the way."
"Then these injuries—" Gu Jinyan pressed.
"These injuries were inflicted by General Huang on the way back, saying it was to report back to his superiors," the soldier said, his voice trailing off.
He also said that if we didn't cooperate, he would make us do even harder work.
His words carried a hint of dissatisfaction and helplessness.
Gu Jinyan's heart tightened upon hearing this.
She had initially suspected that Huang Qing had exaggerated his achievements, but she never expected it to be a complete fabrication. Even the wounded soldiers were faked by him.
This behavior not only deceives superiors and disrespects soldiers, but also disrupts morale during a tense battle.
A surge of anger rose within her, but she forced herself to calm down, knowing that if this matter were to get out, it would cause a huge uproar in the military.
"Thank you for your honesty," Gu Jinyan said softly. "I will keep this a secret, and please do not spread it around for the time being."
The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and all said they understood.
Gu Jinyan looked at them with a mix of heartache and helplessness. She knew that these ordinary soldiers had no choice but to obey their generals, while Huang Qing was using their obedience to gain fame and fortune for himself.
She turned and walked out of the tent. Just as she was about to leave, she saw Lin Zixuan standing not far away, seemingly waiting for her.
The two looked at each other for a moment, and Lin Zixuan sighed softly: "Things are just as I thought. Huang Qing has always been ambitious and eager for glory, and this time he is exaggerating his achievements again."
"Isn't he afraid of being exposed for doing this?" Gu Jinyan asked, his voice tinged with anger.
"He was certainly aware of the danger, but he was betting that the war wasn't so intense that he wouldn't have time to consider these details."
Lin Zixuan sneered, "Moreover, Huang Qing has several close generals in the camp. If they help testify when reporting battle achievements, this matter will be dropped even if it is exposed."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jinyan felt even more uneasy.
She knew that while falsely reporting military achievements was shameful, if Huang Qing's selfishness led to the neglect of other truly brave soldiers, it would severely damage morale.
Moreover, if the war situation becomes truly critical and someone, driven by ambition for personal gain, disregards the overall interests, the consequences could be disastrous.
"Jinyan, what are your thoughts?" Lin Zixuan asked, his eyes filled with inquiry.
Gu Jinyan remained silent for a moment, then said firmly, "This matter cannot be left like this. I will record the details of this incident for future reference."
If Huang Qing engages in similar behavior again, we can no longer tolerate it.
“This is risky. If Huang Qing finds out you’re investigating him, it could be detrimental to you,” Lin Zixuan warned.
"But if we can't even solve our internal problems, how can we remain strong in the face of external enemies?"
Gu Jinyan countered, "We are not just doing this for our own safety, but for the safety of Hesha City."
I'd rather take some risks than let these unhealthy trends continue.
Looking at her resolute expression, Lin Zixuan felt a slight touch of emotion and nodded slightly: "Okay. I will keep an eye on Huang Qing's movements, and if necessary, we will deal with it together."
On this day, Gu Jinyan lit a small lamp in her tent and wrote down all the information she had received from the soldiers.
She knew that her current strength might not be enough to change the status quo in the entire army.
But these small details will one day become powerful evidence, leaving those opportunistic generals who disregard the safety of their soldiers nowhere to hide.
Under the dim light, Gu Jinyan's mood grew heavier. She thought of the soldiers who pretended to be injured, Huang Qing's smugness, and Lin Zixuan's reminder.
Hersha City needs not only solid fortifications, but also a steadfast heart.
If their defenses have already crumbled from within, then even the strongest walls cannot stop the enemy's iron hooves.
"This city will not fall into the hands of our own people," she said silently to herself, gripping her pen tightly as she continued to record.
She sees this record as her responsibility and determination. It may not have an immediate effect, but she believes that one day, the truth will be revealed.
And she will become one of the forces driving change.
Several days later, at dawn, the silence of Hersha was broken by the sudden sound of horns.
In the distance, enemy flags loomed in the morning mist among the mountains, accompanied by the sounds of drums and clashing metal, as if a ferocious beast were awakening from the shadows.
The sentries on the city wall immediately rang the alarm bell, and the entire military camp quickly went on alert.
The generals rushed to their respective defense zones, and the soldiers hurriedly donned their armor, picked up their weapons, and prepared to fight.
Lin Zixuan soon received a report that the enemy was advancing towards the southeastern defense line.
He made a decisive move, handing over command of the southeastern defense line to Lieutenant Li and ordering him to quickly lead his troops out to seize advantageous terrain before the enemy forces could fully advance.
However, as time passed, there was still no movement from the southeast.
Lin Zixuan frowned, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
He immediately sent messengers to urge the troops on the southeastern defense line to set off, but the messengers who returned reported: "Lieutenant Li said that the enemy has not yet arrived, and there is no need to risk going out of the city to meet them."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zixuan's expression changed drastically.
He knew that if the enemy controlled the mountain pass on the southeast side, the defenses of Hesha City would be in a very passive position, and now was the best time to strike the enemy's vanguard and delay their advance.
If this opportunity were missed, the consequences would be unimaginable. He immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up, ordering in a deep voice, "I'll go myself!"
Lin Zixuan rushed to the southeast defense line, and the scene he saw along the way fueled his anger—the soldiers who should have been assembled and waiting for orders were scattered in twos and threes in various places.
Some were resting on the ground, some were even complaining to each other, while Lieutenant Li sat leisurely in his tent, looking indifferent, as if he had no idea of the impending danger.
"Lieutenant Li! The enemy has already approached the mountain pass, why haven't you led your troops to attack?"
Lin Zixuan pushed open the tent, his voice booming like thunder within.
Lieutenant Li raised his head and said indifferently, "Deputy General Lin, the enemy's movements are unclear. A hasty attack could lead to unforeseen consequences."
I believe that holding the city walls is a safer course of action than risking an attack.
Lin Zixuan suppressed his anger and retorted in a deep voice: "If the enemy occupies the mountain road, we will be in trouble, and the city wall will lose its terrain advantage."
Now is the crucial moment to stop the enemy!
General Li shook his head dismissively: "I know you're anxious, but I have a responsibility to ensure the safety of my soldiers."
I cannot risk lives for adventure; I cannot bear the consequences if things fail.
Lin Zixuan's gaze turned cold, and he understood that Lieutenant Li was not thinking about the big picture at all, but rather about his own future and life.
Some generals chose to retreat when faced with danger, giving up opportunities to preserve their own reputation.
Seeing that time was of the essence, Lin Zixuan said no more. He resolutely turned around and loudly commanded:
"All soldiers, immediately form ranks and follow me into battle!"
Seeing Lin Zixuan's decisive action, the soldiers quickly put away their lax attitude and formed ranks.
Although they were puzzled by Lieutenant Li's passive attitude, their trust in Lin Zixuan made them obey his orders without hesitation.
Just as the soldiers finished assembling, a rapid drumbeat came from the southeast, followed by shouts from the enemy—the enemy's vanguard had arrived at the mountain pass and was preparing to launch a fierce attack on the defensive line.
Without further hesitation, Lin Zixuan drew his sword and led his troops to charge towards the enemy.
A fierce confrontation ensued.
The enemy troops were arrayed in a tight formation on the mountain road, attempting to launch a fierce attack by taking advantage of the terrain.
However, Lin Zixuan's troops rushed up the mountain path at an extremely fast speed, seized the high ground, and quickly set up an arrow formation, disrupting the enemy's charge.
Gu Jinyan also assisted in the rear command, providing rapid supplies and arrow support to the front lines.
Lieutenant Li's troops should have been coordinating with the main force's attack at this time, but he continued to stay in the rear, only sending a small number of troops to symbolically join the battle, as if he was afraid of being drawn into this bloody battle and losing his life.
Seeing this, Gu Jinyan felt a chill and gripped the battle report tightly in his hand.
With Lin Zixuan's vigorous command, the soldiers of Hesha City were in high spirits and finally successfully forced the enemy to retreat.
However, this victory did not come without a price—many soldiers were killed because of General Lee’s delays; they should have received more support in the early stages of the battle.
After the war, when Lin Zixuan returned from the battlefield, he was covered in dust, but his face was as cold as ice.
He summoned Gu Jinyan, and the two stood outside the military camp, gazing at the distant sunset, their hearts heavy.
"If we hadn't arrived in time, the southeastern defense line would have fallen long ago." Lin Zixuan's voice was low, filled with helplessness and anger.
"Lieutenant Li's retreat in the face of battle not only nearly destroyed our defenses, but also caused innocent soldiers to die in vain."
Gu Jinyan remained silent for a moment, his eyes filled with worry: "If such a general retreats at a critical moment, how can we defend Hesha City?"
Lin Zixuan smiled coldly: "This is the reality in the military. Some fight for merit, while others shirk responsibility to save their own lives."
We must not only deal with the enemies outside the city, but also guard against potential threats within the city.
Gu Jinyan deeply resonated with this experience, as this battle made her truly see the internal risks.
She not only needed to set up defenses, but also needed to keep a close eye on the movements of every general to prevent them from failing at crucial moments.
After the battle, although the situation in Hesha City was temporarily stabilized, discussions among the soldiers began to spread in the military camp. Some praised Lin Zixuan's decisive decision, while others were dissatisfied with General Li's performance.
The soldiers whispered about Lieutenant Li's "illness," questioning his abilities and courage.
Gu Jinyan knew that if this discontent was not controlled, it would eventually cause greater hidden dangers in the army.
She found Lin Zixuan, and the two discussed how to handle the matter.
Ultimately, they decided to temporarily record Lieutenant Li's performance and closely monitor his subsequent actions.