Aspiration of a Great General

Chapter 56 – Aspiration of a Great General

October 27th. Afternoon.

Xin Ping Army soldiers packed all of their belonging in a joyous mood as they did not have to fight in a bloody war anymore. Since the majority of the troops were conscripted militias, they did not feel sad for losing a battle. They were here for money and food for their families, so their priority was to return home alive.

There were still a few who resented Zhang Tong and his men for killing their friends in the first-day siege and the night raid. But all of them were professional soldiers, so they could not disobey their grand commander's order.

Zhang He gazed at his men with his indifferent face. He kept his poker face all this morning which it slowly turned into his casual face without him realizing it. Behind him, Tong was there, swinging his newly regenerated arm to get back his feeling and his sense.

Regenerating a lost body part was costly as the system charged him 500 lifespans for one piece. Although Tong gained some of his lifespans back with his [Sword Mastery] skill for killing Pan Feng's soldiers, he had only 656 lifespans remaining.

But Tong did not regret it because paying 1,000 lifespans to force 5,000 to 6,000 men into retreat was worth it. Furthermore, this retreating plan had a couple more agendas which Tong had given Zhang He as a homework.

As for the body parts that were cut off, he buried all of them. If he continued keeping them and Hua Shi was to find them, she would probably eat it raw.

"My lord, are you sure this is the right move?" Zhang He asked Tong.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry if I might sound rude. But if I were my lord, I would use this troops to attack Liu Yan and Guo Dian forces men instead."

Tong smiled as he shook his head. There was another plan in his mind.

Because Ye City was one of the biggest Imperial cities on the northern province of China, he would need over two hundred thousand men for the siege if Tong wanted to claim Ye City in the future. The city alone could house over a hundred thousand soldiers and almost a million civilians. It could not be taken down without massive investments of troops, provision, and gold.

However, if he planted Zhang He within Han Fu's ranks like a Trojan Horse of Troy, it would be possible that Zhang He could take over Han Fu's entire army. If Tong wanted to invade Ye City in the future, he could make Zhang He surrender the city to him without fighting. Thus, it would save a hundred thousands lives of his men and his future civilians and servants, which was more beneficial to Tong in the long run.

If Zhang He helped Tong in this siege, they could crush Zou Jing and Guo Dian Army with ease. But the entire plan to take over Ye would be foiled as Han Fu would never trust Zhang He in the future.

For the bigger picture, Tong had to make an advance investment.

But now, he had to coax Zhang He into cooperation first.

"I understand why you view it that way. But you've forgotten something."

"I've forgotten something?"

"You've forgotten the heart of your soldiers. Your people."

"Heart of the soldiers?"

"Have you forgotten why you have become a soldier? Why they volunteered to be conscripted into militias?"

Zhang He was stunned as he was reminded of how he entered the military. He had to pay back his debt of a thousand gold so he had no choice but to risk his life and became a professional soldier.

"Just like you, they want money. They want to bring home food for their families."

"…"

"Have you seen their faces?"

"…Yes."

"Are they happy?"

"…Yes."

"Have you read a record called 'Art of War' written by Sun Tzu?"

"I've heard of it but I've never read it."

"There is one quote that I remember well; 'Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.'."

Zhang He was astonished and awed by the quote. It was deep and profound. He had never entered school or had any education before, but he desired an opportunity to be a tutor or to learn such a thing.

Zhang He immediately recited the quote in his mind in enthusiasm. He was afraid that he might forget it if he didn't recite it now.

Seeing that Zhang He mumbled to himself to recite the quote, Tong shook his head and sighed. Then he took out an empty scroll and started writing the quote that Tong taught Zhang He just now.

"Here, I wrote it down for you. You are not a scholar but a commander of an army. Stop reciting it like that."

Tong passed the scroll to Zhang He whose face was reddened by the embarrassment.

"What I'm trying to tell you is, don't recklessly toss away their lives even if their sacrifices can win you a battle. A third-rate general can win a battle but he will lose most of his men in return. The first-rate generals will win any battle with minimum loses. But do you know what a great general can achieve?"

Zhang He shook his head.

"He can win a war without losing his men."

"!!!"

"Remember my words, if you want to be a great general immortalized in the history for two thousand years, take priority for saving your men's lives. Look at the bigger picture! Look at the consequences of your actions before you act! Don't mindlessly charge into the enemy files of a formation. Take notes on geography and terrains. Send scouts to obtain more information. There are many things that you can collect and use it as a base to deduct your enemy's motives and their next movements."

Tong continued to lecture Zhang He despite knowing that he would become a great general in the future. But now, he was just a fledgling that had not grown a feather yet.

Furthermore, the Zhang He in the history was a good learner, yet a late bloomer. After he defected to Cao Cao, he participated in small skirmishes against Yuan Shao's sons and other pirates, bandits, and rebels, but he was outshone by other superior generals, such as Zhang Liao, Xiahou families, and other strategy geniuses.

Zhang He continued to pile up his experience and achievements one step at a time to improve himself as a general. Then in 211 and 212, Zhang He utilized his hard-earned experiences to defeat Ma Chao Army twice.

Later on, Zhang He suffered defeat by Liu Bei's night raid in the battle of Hanzhong in the year 215, which Zhang He managed to escape but Xiahou Yuan was killed in the battle. However, Liu Bei expressed disappointment after learning that it was Xiahou Yuan but not Zhang He, who was dead.

Zhang He came back to haunt Shu forces in 228 when Zhuge Liang launched the first Shu Invasion against the Wei Kingdom. He exploited and crushed Ma Su in the battle of Jieting, forcing Zhuge Liang to execute one of his favorite subordinates in tears. Afterward, Zhang He snatched back three provinces from the hand of Shu forces, causing the first Shu Invasion to end in failure.

Ever since then, Zhuge Liang marked Zhang He as a number one priority target to take down alongside with Sima Yi.

For a fledgling to grow into someone who could threaten Zhuge Liang, he was not a simple general. Tong deemed that he had to cultivate this person carefully and not letting him fall into danger and die prematurely.

"For now, return with them and serve Han Fu once you get there."

"But my lord, why?"

"There are three jobs I want you to do while you are there. One, climb up your rank and become the grand general of Han Fu entire army. Two, the Ye City is an imperial city. There are imperial library and books that you can only access as a high-rank official. Take this chance and learn as many things possible in there. And three, befriend with Ju Shou. And if it's possible, try to get on his good side."

"But I promised you that I'll serve you. Why Han Fu?"

Tong smiled at him and patted his shoulder.

"It's just temporary. When the time is right, I'll pay you a visit myself at Ye. At that time, I want you to open the city gate and welcome me yourself with your subordinates."

The eyes of Zhang He lit up. Although he was still a fledgling, he was not stupid. He could tell that a grand scheme had been placed upon his shoulders.

Zhang He knelt down in one knee and cupped his fist.

"I swear by my father's name. I shall complete your trust even if it costs my life!"

Tong frowned. He walked forward to Zhang He. Instead of helping him up, Tong gave him a punch on top of Zhang He's head, causing a big bump.

Zhang He was confused. Why was he hit when he just swore his loyalty?

"Idiot! What did I just teach you? Never throw lives away, and that's including your own life! Here's another lesson for you. As long as you are alive, anything is possible! A dead man cannot achieve shit! So don't sacrifice your life without my permission! Did I make myself clear?"

Zhang He was stunned in confusion for a moment. But after he processed the information, he was in awe. He was reminded with the Tong's teaching "Treat your soldiers as if they are your children". It was the action of a father who disciplined his own child.

"This subordinate understands."

Tong nodded. Then he waved his hand and unloaded 10,000 gold on the ground in front of Zhang He as if he created it out of thin air.

"I promised you 2,000 gold, so take a portion for yourself. But be sure to give the rest to your men and the families of the deceased. Don't forget to tell them that I gave it to them as compensation from our previous fight. As for Xin Ping, don't kill him yet. You need him back alive to gain Han Fu's trust. But if he actually dies, then tell Han Fu that he dies from alcohol poisoning."

Tong handed everything to Zhang He, after which he walked away without looking back. And he left Zhang He with his words.

"Through battle, a man becomes a hero. Through death, a hero becomes a legend. Through time, a legend becomes a myth. But I don't want to see a dead man myth. I want to see a living legend!"

"Grow up and become a great general worthy of the Immortal King!"

The heart of Zhang He shook. An aspiration within the depth of his heart had been born. Within the darkness of his heart, a kindle had been ignited. The blood in his body heated up and boiled. His adrenaline shot through his blood vessels. And his eyes were moist as he was enveloped by countless of emotion. The feeling of being accepted and being entrusted upon a great responsibility moved him.

Zhang He both knees and his forehead hit the ground in kowtow. Zhang He swore in his heart that he would pursue the path of the strongest general under heaven.

…

…

After Tong left Zhang He's camp and was on his way to his fortress, Tong slapped his forehead repeatedly. He was ashamed of what he just said.

'WTF with those lines!? Grow up and become a great general worthy of the Immortal King!? Why the hell did I say that!? I want to die! Should I bit my tongue and commit suicide!?'

"SSSHIIIIIIEEEEETTTTT"