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墨書 Inktalez
Zhao Kuo initially only wanted to obtain the Military Map of Qin State, unaware that this map had already been imprinted in the minds of all the generals entering the battlefield. Among the preparations for war, memorizing the map was included.
This is also one of the reasons why there has never been any record in all available historical materials regarding the Qin Army getting lost during battles. Even when General Meng Wu's son, Meng Tian, marched south to attack the southern tribes all the way to what is now known as the South China Sea, there were still no negative records in this regard. If anyone still thinks this should be considered a miracle, it is simply because others have put in more effort.
Isn't there a hint of foreshadowing here? Decades are too long; let's first clarify what is at hand before moving on.
Back to the main point.
It can now be understood that since the troops participating in the battle in the Shangdang Region did not carry the Shangdang Map, all Qin State generals could still pinpoint the exact locations of every mountain and river in the battlefield from memory. The real reason why the Qin Army distributed maps to various combat units' officers and generals was merely for mutual communication!
You might wonder how one could still be looking for their current position on a map while a battle is ongoing. Who needs to hold a meeting to discuss who will win or lose!?
Another reason for carrying this map with them is responsibility. The custodians authorized to hold maps would verify whether the marked points on the maps matched the actual terrain whenever they arrived at a location. If discrepancies were found, they would report them accurately and have them rechecked by specialists, receiving monetary rewards for their diligence. This was not just about rewards but also reflected a meticulous work ethic.
As for safety concerns, map custodians always stayed close to military generals, ensuring their security. The dangers faced by generals are generally rare occurrences. However, this does not guarantee absolute safety; being in life-and-death situations often results in a low probability of survival.
If it weren't for Zhao Kuo's plan to acquire the Qin Army's map, Zhao Army waiting outside would have likely rushed in and ended the battle by now. The loud shouts coming from within only led them to exchange glances in confusion.
Just as they were trying to discern what was happening, an unexpected silence enveloped them. The low-hanging banners rustled ominously, making the eager Zhao Army realize that it seemed like a wind was picking up. Before they could register the not-so-cold temperature, they saw the previously closed gates swing open suddenly.
Out rushed Qin Soldiers with bandaged heads, some with arms in slings, and others leaning on crutches.
Was this a fire drill at the Qin Army's military hospital!?
The Zhao Army waiting outside hadn't even had time to applaud before realizing it wasn't a drill; by then, many had already been cut down. This situation could only confirm one thing: Zhao Kuo's plan to steal the map had failed. The Zhao Army generals had long since categorized these Qin Soldiers as dead and were now retreating while ordering their soldiers to move forward and kill them all! Not a single one left!
The recently quiet battlefield was reignited as the Qin Army launched a charge, with the sounds of metal clashing and battle cries echoing. The Zhao Army, which had already blocked the streets to the point of being impassable, even lit torches for illumination, fearing that someone might slip away unnoticed in the darkness.
Urban warfare has its advantages, especially for small units defending their position. Although the Zhao Army was numerous, the cramped terrain limited their movements. Without the advantage of large-scale annihilation, the Zhao Army was not to be underestimated; they were still unafraid to engage the Qin Army in street combat. The soldiers of the Zhao Army understood very well that they needed to eliminate all capable fighters from the Qin Army before the remaining tasks would be manageable.
Meng Wu and Wang Jian were unaware that the Zhao Army was not in a hurry to consume their rations, as they were concerned about someone sneaking into the shrine to kill the wounded. Therefore, they did not deploy all their combat personnel. To be cautious, they kept a small number of soldiers armed with crossbows to monitor the walls.
Perhaps tonight would cost them their lives, but some were still willing to dedicate their final moments to others. Sometimes, hope that seems hopeless can result in miracles at the last moment. If a miracle were to occur, then everything happening now would become meaningful.
The charging Qin Army merely pushed their defensive perimeter outward for a short time before being compressed back outside the shrine's entrance. If there had been any Qin soldiers left moments ago, now there were hardly any remaining.
Wang Jian noticed that Meng Wu's sword was missing and handed over his General's Sword by gripping its blade and offering the hilt. When he saw that Meng Wu was reluctant to take it, he forced it into his hands as part of the transfer. He then pulled a short spear from a fallen body and thrust it into the ground before using his strength to push into the crowd. He immediately began using it to hook and stab, relieving some pressure at the entrance.
Wang Jian squinted at the surrounding soldiers, who no longer dared to advance, and shook his short spear vigorously. "General Wang Jian of the Qin State is here! Call your Zhao General out to respond!"
Upon hearing this, the soldiers finally realized what was happening. Indeed! The general had yet to reveal himself; why should they rush into battle? They parted ways, allowing their hidden general Must Be to step forward.
Zhao's general Must Be had been observing from horseback when he saw his soldiers about to charge through the gate only for this individual to suddenly shift the tide of battle. Just as he intended to command his archers to shoot this challenger down first, he heard a request for a duel.
In ancient warfare, reputation was paramount. Especially for generals, if someone on the opposing side called for a duel, it was customary to accept. After all those years of hard training, wasn’t it all about showcasing one's prowess? Hearing someone from the Qin Army issue a challenge, Must Be wasted no time; he spurred his warhorse forward with a spear in hand from among his troops.
It was said that at five years old, he had been chosen by a wandering hero passing through Zhao and taken deep into the mountains for twenty years of training. He belonged to a standard of exceptional talent; according to his master, he would likely have no equal in this lifetime.
The layout outside the shrine featured an open area where everyone could witness this legendary general showcase his skills. It seemed like there would be quite a show tonight! The soldiers knew that their divine general would demonstrate his abilities and thus retreated voluntarily to clear space so as not to hinder or trip over each other later on.
The Qin Soldiers in the courtyard heard the bustling sounds from outside, as if a large market was underway. With General Meng's permission, they helped each other and walked out to see if the people of Qin State could defeat the Zhao Kingdom's divine warriors in this Epic Battle.
Every available spot at a height where one could stand was packed with spectators eager to watch the spectacle. Just moments ago, the two armies of Qin and Zhao were ready to kill each other, but now they greeted each other from a safe distance and began to calmly observe the match.
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