I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 242 - 170: Unity of People (2 - s in 1)_3

Chapter 242: Chapter 170: Unity of People (2 Chapters in 1)_3

"Unity among people is what propels a swift beginning, followed by a waning, and eventually exhaustion. After the Qiangrong occupied Weizhou, they stopped making any headway. Once their royal court was destroyed, they became an isolated army, while the Dingyuan Army continued to win. No one can defeat a confident and fierce army, and ultimately, Gongbu had to abandon the city and surrender."

Marquis Gu nodded:

"What you say is correct, but in this world, it’s rare to have a flawless strategy. In actual warfare, if favorable timing and advantageous terrain are combined, it’s already extremely exceptional, allowing a general to move troops with the trend. Therefore, as a commander, one must not only be meticulous but also learn to adapt, to know how to judge and make choices."

Su Zixiao and Rong Heng listened in silence, the former seemingly greatly enlightened, while Rong Heng recalled the old Marquis Xiao of those years.

His grandfather taught him benevolence, to sacrifice oneself for righteousness, to choose duty over life, and never forget life and death.

Rong Shuo, as Prince Rui, achieved loyalty. Loyalty to the ruler and country, undaunted by difficulties and dangers.

But Gu Chengzhao spoke of adaptability and making choices.

The Dingyuan Marquis was not as loyal as Prince Rui and the Pingnan Marquis; compared to loyalty to the emperor, he was more faithful to his own heart.

This seemed to be another perspective. In the original book, Rong Heng didn’t know when he understood this principle, but now it quietly took root in his heart like a seed.

After a pause, Marquis Gu asked, "Do you know which one of the three is the most important?"

Gu Lan and Rong Heng answered in unison, "Unity among people!"

Su Zixiao was puzzled, "....Why?"

Gu Chengzhao glanced at Gu Lan and Rong Heng, not expecting these two to react so quickly, as if they were born to be military talents.

Rong Heng’s eyes under the mask were cold and indifferent, "Favorable timing and advantageous terrain are excuses victors use for their triumph. On the battlefield, only people are the most crucial."

Gu Lan took out a folding fan from his waist and fanned lightly, agreeing,

"The reason why people are more important is because even if the Chanyu wasn’t provoked to send troops, even if the Marquis and the Emperor hadn’t prepared for this battle half a year in advance, relying solely on hard strength, the Dingyuan Army could still win this battle. That’s unity among people."

If favorable timing and advantageous terrain weren’t in Yan Country’s favor, the battle would indeed be costly, with countless casualties, but the ultimate victor would still be Dayan. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"In essence, our Yan Country is formidable. No matter their schemes and tricks, we defeat them with one swift strike." Su Zixiao said, resembling a struggling student witnessing two top students, wishing to take out a notebook to jot down notes.

"That’s roughly the idea..." Gu Lan twitched his mouth.

Gu Chengzhao nodded slightly, turned his head, and looked at the map of Yan Country’s territory hanging behind him, slowly saying,

"Why can this Marquis win, why can Dayan win, for a very simple reason, unrelated to who the commander is, unrelated to the enemy, unrelated to the Emperor, but because—

Dayan’s soldiers fight without fear of death, Dayan’s generals and soldiers are strong and robust!

This is the reason for victory."

Gu Lan thought of something Rong Shuo had said earlier, that the army of Yan Country up and down was elite, that if not for a Great General supporting it, Wei Country would have long been conquered by him.

This was Rong Shuo’s confidence, essentially telling the same thing as Gu Chengzhao, as Su Zixiao just said.

—No matter how many open or covert schemes or calculations, nothing withstands in the face of absolute power.

War relies on the strength gathered by each soldier, everything else is just icing on the cake.

"As the saying goes, a skillful wife cannot cook without rice, even if this Marquis leads Qiangrong, it cannot defeat our Dayan Iron Cavalry;

Conversely, with Dayan’s current strong national power, strong soldiers and horses, even if a pig were made the commander of the Dingyuan Army, it would still win."

Gu Lan understood Gu Chengzhao’s meaning. He spoke about Wei Country’s emphasis on literature over martial arts, Qiangrong’s lack of unity, and how their hard strength simply could not compare to Yan Country’s. It’s not something that can be changed with a renowned general or a single scheme.

At this thought, Gu Lan couldn’t help but feel a pang for the plot in the original book.

Yan Country was strong, having endured the tumults of a troubled era. In Rong Heng’s hands, it remained the strongest nation of its time.

But Prince Rui and the Dingyuan Marquis,

were no longer there.

This great Dayan lacked the people she cared about, so what meaning was there in strength or weakness? Gu Lan did not want such a plot to unfold.

Staring at the map, her gaze gradually firmed.

Then...

Keep winning, always keep winning.

She had only this one path to pursue.

"Thank you, Marquis, for enlightening this younger generation on the right path." Su Zixiao felt many of his inner doubts were resolved, while coughing blood, he sincerely expressed thanks.

Marquis Gu responded, tore off another chicken leg, and offered it to Gu Lan.

Gu Lan, seizing the opportunity, took the Marquis’s seasoning and sprinkled it on, adhering to the father-daughter ritual of eating chicken.

Marquis Gu thought for a moment and then tore off a wing and gave it to Rong Heng.

The other wing, he gave to Xie Yun.

He, himself, gnawed on the chicken neck and said to Su Zixiao, "Since you’re injured, refrain from eating greasy things like this."

Unexpectedly touched by the Marquis’s concern, Su Zixiao was moved to tears.

However, Rong Heng, wearing a mask, couldn’t eat.

In an instant, Rong Heng assessed the Dingyuan Marquis’s intention, pondering whether he was trying to expose his identity publicly, or he thought he wouldn’t dare reveal his identity?

Looking at the chicken wing in his hand, he calmly removed his mask.

Within this tent, except for Su Zixiao, everyone knew who he was.

Moreover, this was a chicken wing gifted by Lanlan’s father!

Marquis Gu raised his lips slightly, and upon seeing Rong Heng’s face, froze momentarily, recalling what the former Emperor had said.

Rong Heng indeed bore a striking resemblance to the former Emperor.

Su Zixiao, however, was shocked, his face frozen as he stared at Rong Heng’s handsome and cold visage, turning stiffly only to find the other three were utterly calm.

"Why, why aren’t you all surprised at all? Young Master Gu, your guard... is actually so handsome!"

Hearing this, Rong Heng covered his lips with one hand, modestly coughed, and said:

"Your internal injury, after returning, can be treated with a dose of Heart Protection Soup prescribed by a doctor, after a couple of days you’ll be fine."

Su Zixiao was very grateful, "Thank you, my brother. How should I address you? Are your martial arts truly taught by Young Master?"

Rong Heng twitched his mouth, realizing Su Zixiao was shocked by his appearance, not actually knowing who he was.

He didn’t answer his question, remaining silently as a handsome guard.

Gu Lan chuckled lightly, her red lips slightly pursed, "So you couldn’t recognize who he was, huh."

Su Zixiao said, "Isn’t he your guard, Young Master? No wonder he wears a mask, this face is even more attractive than mine, the Capital Commandant, are you afraid your guard will outshine you, so you make him wear a mask."

Gu Lan clenched her fists, hahaha, did she need Rong Heng to wear a mask to prove she was the most handsome? She was evidently the most handsome, don’t you think!

Rong Heng changed his attitude towards Su Zixiao, similarly, Young Master Gu altered her perspective.

Perhaps it was better to let Rong Heng finish this guy off; she liked brotherly rivalry.

Su Zixiao circled Rong Heng, scrutinizing, and curiously asked, "Brother, have I seen you somewhere before?"

Rong Heng lowered his eyes. Su Zixiao might have somehow seen him incidentally in the palace when he was Prince Rui’s companion before.

He faintly said, "I am not your brother."

Having Gu Lan as a brother was already enough.

Su Zixiao, with his natural ease of familiarity, responded, "Alright, brother, what’s the name of that sword technique you used?"

Rong Heng: "..."

At this moment, Mu Jun, who was previously brought in by Gu Lan to act as a referee, walked into the tent.