Chapter 58 Zhang Zuolin Is Also Afraid of Death

After Wei Jichen returned to the camp, he followed Nie Shicheng's instructions and did not make it public.

The matter was of great importance, and the fewer people knew about it, the better.

In the name of training, Wei Jichen secretly ordered Li Yunfei to count out more than a hundred sergeants who were good at riding.

The Japanese army that attacked Caohekou naturally had to be mainly cavalry, coming and going quickly, so that they could succeed before the Japanese had time to react.

Fortunately, the Weizi Camp itself was a horse camp, and it was not difficult to select more than a hundred sergeants who were good at riding from it.

Although the order had not yet come down, Wei Jichen, who was familiar with the inside story, still saw some clues from the messengers who came and went in a hurry.

It seems that Nie Shicheng is really ready to do a big thing this time.

There was a tense atmosphere in the military camp.

Many people who did not know the inside story thought that Nie Shicheng had been strengthening his defense since the assassination.

The next evening, the heavy snow still did not stop. It had been snowing for seven days, just as Wei Jichen had guessed.

Liu Shengxiu, the commander of the Ming army, was completely silent. He was calm every time he met Wei Jichen, and he kept silent about the bet.

It seemed as if this incident had never happened, but from the depressed look that occasionally flashed in his eyes, Wei Jichen could still see that he seemed to be in a bad mood.

All when everyone had already spent another day like this.

Before nightfall, Nie Shicheng suddenly summoned all the generals to discuss things.

Those generals who knew the inside story took a deep breath and were a little excited. This was the first counterattack of the Chinese army. If they won, the honor they would get could be imagined.

As for promotion and wealth, that was out of the question.

It didn't take long for Nie Shicheng to issue the order.

In the general's tent, all the generals gathered together, all with serious faces.

Nie Shicheng stood in the front in military uniform, and behind him, naturally, followed the deputy general and staff.

"Everyone, I believe some people have already heard the news in advance. Yes, tonight, we will raid the Japanese army and recapture Caohekou and Lianshanguan occupied by the Japanese." Nie Shicheng said in a calm and steady tone.

Some generals who just heard the news looked shocked.

"This battle is of great significance. Once successful, it will greatly inspire all the troops fighting against the enemy, sweep away the decline since the beginning of the war, and kick off our army's counterattack." Nie Shicheng glanced at everyone one by one, and then said solemnly: "Therefore, this sneak attack will be led by me personally."

Nie Shicheng is going to lead the team to attack personally?

No one knew about this in advance, and everyone couldn't help but talk about it at this time.

Some persuaded him to stay in the position and command in the middle.

Some expressed admiration and sighed.

Nie Shicheng ignored the discussions of the people below, and began to give orders on his own.

"Each battalion of the cavalry will select 100 elite soldiers to form a cavalry team of about 1,000 people. The infantry will select three battalions of soldiers from the Yi Army to serve as the task of supporting, guarding, and blocking enemy reinforcements. They will be led by General Ma Jinxu."

"In order to prevent the Japanese from taking advantage of the emptiness of our Dagaoling defense line to counterattack, after I leave, General Lu Benyuan will temporarily take over the position of general commander. His orders are my orders. After an hour, I hope that the troops of each battalion will appear at the gate of the camp."

Speaking of this, Nie Shi suddenly raised his voice, his face covered with frost, and said coldly: "Anyone who delays military orders will be executed without mercy."

The reason why Lu Benyuan took over the position of commander instead of Liu Shengxiu was because Lu Benyuan was more tactful and had a good relationship with the commanders of other armies.

When the generals heard Nie Shicheng's cold words and thought of Ye Liuyun who was shot, their expressions became a little serious.

After Nie Shicheng issued the order, the deputy general called out the names. All the battalion officers who were called out would lead the troops to fight with Nie Shicheng tonight. Those who were not called out would stay behind to defend.

Wei Jichen's name was on the list, and he was not surprised at all.

A few minutes later, the military order was issued, and all the generals in the general's tent left in an instant. They all hurried down to select soldiers.

Wei Jichen was well prepared and was not in a hurry, but walked at the end.

Half an hour later, Wei Jichen arrived at the gate of the camp with a hundred cavalry.

Nie Shicheng had already been waiting here with his personal soldiers, which was nothing.

What surprised Wei Jichen was that there were other people who arrived before him. It seemed that they were the troops of the Yi Army. One of the leaders was also a battalion officer, who was about forty years old.

Wei Jichen arranged his troops and took advantage of the time to go forward to say hello.

"Brother, I didn't expect you to be so fast. I don't know what to call you." Wei Jichen smiled and bowed.

"I'm sorry to make you laugh, Officer Wei. I also learned the news in advance and made preparations. I am Ma Yumen, the commander of the Shanzi Camp of the Yi Army." Ma Yumen said with a friendly face.

Wei Jichen didn't know him, but he knew the famous Wei Zijie.

Ma Yumen? It turned out to be Ma Yukun's younger brother.

Wei Jichen smiled and said, "Sir Ma, the two brothers have contributed to the country and went to the battlefield together. It is really admirable."

Ma Yukun was brave in battle and was an indispensable general under Song Qing. Although Ma Yumen was not as famous as his brother, he was not much worse.

Before Wei Jichen could say a few more words, a sentry behind Ma Yumen rode up and whispered to him, "General Ma, Marshal Nie asked someone to get the wine."

It turned out that because of the cold weather and the night attack, Nie Shicheng prepared some wine and let the soldiers drink it hot before the attack to warm their bodies.

Ma Yucheng could only bow to Wei Jichen apologetically and pulled the sentry officer over and said, "Yuting, you greet Lord Wei here, I'll be back soon."

After Song Qing left, the remaining troops of the Yi Army became a troop that was not loved by their grandmothers or uncles. They could only cling to Nie Shicheng's thighs. Therefore, when Ma Yucheng heard that Nie Shicheng started to distribute wine, he naturally did not dare to neglect it and wanted to go forward to greet him.

Wei Jichen was different. He did not have many taboos and could just find a few soldiers to go and take it.

"Lord Wei!" The young sentry officer received Ma Yucheng's order and did not dare to neglect it. He came forward to salute Wei Jichen shyly.

"No need to be polite, young man is good." Wei Jichen saw that he was very skilled in riding, and couldn't help but praise him.

The young man smiled a little embarrassedly, and asked with some admiration: "Master Wei, you know astronomy and geography, I wonder if you can tell whether I will be lucky or unlucky tonight?"

Uh, Wei Jichen didn't expect him to ask such a question.

He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Death is heavier than Mount Tai, and lighter than a feather. The Japanese are trying to enslave our people and destroy China. Tonight, we are upholding the unyielding shouts of thousands of people. Why should we fear death? I wonder if you are satisfied with my answer?"

The young man said seriously: "Thank you for your teachings, Master Wei. Even if I die on the battlefield tonight, I am not afraid."

Zhang Zuolin?

When Wei Jichen heard this name, he suddenly paused. Could it be the Northeast King who was powerful in the Northeast in the future? It seems that the Northeast King really served in the Yi Army when he was young and participated in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Wei Jichen asked tentatively: "Are you from Fengtian Haicheng?"

Zhang Zuolin nodded in surprise.

Wei Jichen was sure that it was not a coincidence that two Haicheng people named Zhang Zuolin served in the Yi Army and participated in the Sino-Japanese War.

"Your accent sounds a bit similar." Wei Jichen explained a little and continued, "Young man, on the battlefield, only by preserving yourself can you kill more enemies. How can you easily say you will die? What's more, this time we have Marshal Nie leading the team personally, and the Japanese are arrogant and unprepared. Great military exploits are waiting for us in front. Look, the Japanese will be defeated today."

Zhang Zuolin looked at Wei Jichen in surprise, who seemed to have changed. He was still a modest gentleman a moment ago, and now he has become a confident veteran on the battlefield.

Seeing that there were more and more troops in the field, Wei Jichen had no time to chat with Zhang Zuolin. Instead, he pulled the reins, turned his horse's head, and walked towards his own army. Before leaving, Wei Jichen looked at Zhang Zuolin meaningfully and said lightly: "Young man, I am optimistic about you. Stay alive. If you have any difficulties in the future, just come to me."

The 19-year-old Zhang Zuolin said with gratitude: "Thank you, Lord Wei, for your appreciation. Yuting will no longer talk about life and death lightly."

Wei Jichen rode to the front of his army and looked at the high platform in front quietly.

At some point, more than a thousand war horses had stood neatly at the gate of the camp. Except for the generals riding horses and walking around, the soldiers were like statues, standing still on their horses.

The whole field was solemn, with only the low voices of the war horses. These soldiers were all elites selected from various camps. In addition to so many armies mixed together, they all had a desire to compete with each other, so naturally they all obeyed orders.

On the high platform, Nie Shicheng picked up a jar of wine without knowing when. He opened the seal and held it between his left arm.

"Soldiers, you are all the elites of our Huai Army. If we attack the enemy tonight, maybe some of you will never come back, or maybe some of you have old mothers waiting to be supported. But, where is the family if the country is destroyed? Once the Japanese break through our defense line and enter our Chinese land, how many families will be destroyed and how many people will die in the war? Maybe your relatives and parents are among them. So, we have no hesitation and no way out. Come on, soldiers, let's drink a glass. Even if we are on the road to the underworld, there will be someone to accompany us. In this battle, let the Japanese know that our Chinese sons and daughters cannot be insulted, and our Chinese land cannot tolerate their rampant behavior. This battle must be won!"

After Nie Shicheng finished speaking slowly, he raised the jar of wine, opened his mouth, and gulped it down.

"We must win! We must win!" More than a thousand cavalrymen raised their bowls at the same time and drank them all in one gulp.

The powerful shouts made Wei Jichen feel excited, and he couldn't help but join in, as if he wanted to vent the anger of the Chinese army that had been suppressed and beaten by the Japanese army for many days tonight.

"Let's go!" Nie Shicheng raised his whip, pointed forward, and shouted loudly.

More than a thousand cavalrymen began to move slowly and in an orderly manner.