My Cultivation Starting from Archery

Chapter 147 Achievements of a General Part 2

"Alcohol?"

Chen Sansi didn't need to peer inside; as soon as the stopper was removed, the potent scent of alcohol hit him.

"That's right!"

Xu Wen boasted as he introduced, "This alcohol is called 'Drunk Saint', they say even the Martial Saint would get drunk after a few sips. It's very expensive, you know, just this water bag costs several hundred taels of silver!"

"I brought it from Liangzhou when I set off, planning to share it with the brothers after winning a victory, but who knew this battle would drag on for half a year, and there hasn't been a chance to have a taste until now."

"Want some?"

"Sure."

Chen Sansi didn't stand on ceremony and grabbed the water bag to take a gulp.

The liquor was medicinal and steeped with an Exotic Beast, so after downing a swallow, his body felt fiery hot, and just one gulp made him slightly tipsy; this was indeed the first time he had drunk such a strong beverage, no wonder it was called 'Drunk Saint'."

"Hahaha!"

Xu Wen laughed as he snatched back the water bag and took a big swig, grimacing as he endured the harshness of the strong liquor while spreading the military map out in front of them.

He pointed at the map, "General Chen, I just took another good look at our entire marching route since arriving in Ming State, and you are brilliant. You don't realize until you look, but you've been leading a group of us toying with an army of more than a hundred thousand men."

"I bet they're all furious, especially Dong An; that man is well-known. Losing a battle is worse for him than losing his life, let alone to us, who number just over three thousand."

Chen Sansi said nothing.

"Why are you silent, boy? You look down on me? I've been in the army for so long and became an Assistant General. I understand some tactics at least!"

Xu Wen continued, gesturing with his hand, "This time, the reason you had us two stay behind to cover the rear is because feint attacks don't work anymore, right?"

Chen Sansi did not deny it.

"One may be cheated once or twice, but not forever! Use the same tactic too often, and even a pig would see through it, not to mention living, breathing men!"

"Neither Dong An nor Liang Jinian of Meishan are fools; if not, the Liang surname wouldn't have received an 'Immortal's gift'. Therefore..."

Xu Wen emphasized, "We can't feint anymore; only a real attack can attract more of their forces, causing Meishan Prefecture's defenses to thin."

"But how can we make the exceedingly clever Liang Jinian and Dong An believe that we're serious, not feigning?"

"What's more convincing than the Main General appearing at Luotian Pass?"

"That's why you asked for the two of us to stay behind to cover the rear."

"How about that, am I wrong in my analysis? I haven't been fighting these years for nothing, have I?"

Chen Sansi nodded, "Vice Admiral Yu is spot on."

"Good, good! What does this mean? It means 'create an opportunity if none exists'!"

Xu Wen exclaimed, "General Chen is indeed a mastermind, a rare talent in command throughout the ages!"

"I always felt you would become one of the premier figures in the Eight Camps, surpassing General Lu is not impossible. The hope of the Eight Camps lies with you."

"But..."

At this point,

Xu Wen's tone shifted suddenly, and he lunged forward to fiercely grab Chen Sansi's lapels, hissing angrily, "I was wrong, you son of a bitch are a coward, a coward!"

"Vice Admiral Yu..."

Chen Sansi was somewhat bewildered by the other's abrupt change.

"Chen Sansi!"

Xu Wen's eyes reddened as he bellowed, "I ask you, what is the duty and responsibility of a qualified general, a person in command of soldiers?"

"You won't say?"

"Fine, let me tell you!"

"A general needs to achieve strategic goals while minimizing losses!"

"It's that simple!"

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"Just this one line is enough!"

"And you, what are you doing?!"

"Vice Admiral Yu..."

Chen Sansi's gaze was complex, "I don't understand what you mean."

"Still pretending to be dumb with me!"

Xu Wen shoved him to the ground, cursing without any courtesy, "Covering the rear, it's enough with just me alone; why did you have to follow along? Because your strategy requires my death to succeed, so you feel sorry, guilty, you think you've caused my death! Right? Answer me!"

"Yes!"

Chen Sansi admitted.

Since joining the army, he had never intentionally exchanged his brothers' lives for victory, especially not so many lives.

Of course, he wasn't truly on a suicide mission; he had the Abnormal Fire and Sword Qi Skill as trump cards, and there was still a chance of survival, albeit with great risk.

"Such cowardice, such misplaced mercy!"

Xu Wen's eyes showed contempt, "Do you think General Fang or Supervisor Sun would decide differently? They would leave me to cover the rear without hesitation, then lead the troops to attack Meishan Prefecture!"

"If my death can bring victory in this battle, then my life as an Assistant General is well spent; history has never seen such a bargain!"

"I'm telling you, if our roles were reversed, I would have sent you to die, not waffle like a woman here!"

"I ask you!"

"If you stay with me and die here, can Lu Shuhua and the others truly accomplish their mission? Are they really capable?"

"Xu Wencai might be impressive, but at the end of the day, he's no better than an Array Soldier; the battlefield is unforgiving, and should he fall, who else could command? Are the rest up to the task?"

"If chaos ensues and Meishan Prefecture isn't taken, wouldn't everyone have died in vain?"

"Your strategy shows you understand this better than I do; how can you be so irresponsible? Do you know how valuable your life is? Even if you must die, it should be on the way to attack Meishan Prefecture, not at Luotian Pass!"