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Speaking of "Yellow Turban bandits" might not be what the White Wave Army commanders liked to hear, but it was indeed a fact.
Normal armies could travel forty li in a day; faster ones could manage sixty li. For Yellow Turban troops, walking thirty li in a day was already considered very impressive.
Moreover, typically, besides some robust men directly under the commander who might maintain some formation, only the direct troops led by commanders like Yang Feng and Hu Cai could set up proper camps. Other irregular soldiers and dragged-along commoners simply went wherever they stopped, without tents or such, mostly just lying down in the wild outside the camp, with the sky as their blanket, the earth as their mat.
Food was similar. Yang Feng, Hu Cai, and other commanders ate best, then their direct personal guards, subordinate soldiers, and finally ordinary soldiers. As for those dragged-along commoners, they were supplied only one meal per day in the evening after setting camp, mostly thin porridge boiled with various debris. Even so, often some who went late got nothing.
Of course, it wasn't only thin porridge; sometimes they got solid food.
Before battles, during sieges, these irregular soldiers and dragged-along commoners would be given steamed cornbread or such…
Inside the pitched large tent, Yang Feng and Hu Cai, esteemed as commanders, naturally wouldn't eat the same stewed thin porridge as ordinary commoners. On the table, there were fish, meat, and millet rice. Today, camping near the Fen River, Yang Feng's several personal guards caught over a dozen fish, roasting three or four for Yang Feng and Hu Cai to enjoy.
Yang Feng didn't turn his head, just slightly glanced sideways at Hu Cai beside him, who was lowering his head gnawing roasted fish, then shook his head, his neck making cracking sounds.
Hmph!
Eat more! Idiot!
Maybe next meal you'll get nothing!
After taking Yong'an, you all think you've become invincible brave generals?
Is Xiangling really that easy to attack? Is Hedong truly just a piece of fat meat anyone can take a bite?
Tsk!
Yang Feng lowered his head, picking a fishbone to pick his teeth while thinking.
After Guo Da's death, they also killed Guo Da's direct descendant Guo Niujiao. Naturally, the White Wave Army split into four, with four commanders: Han Xian, Hu Cai, Li Le, and himself.
Among them, Han Xian was strongest, Li Le weakest, while he and Hu Cai were roughly equal in the middle.
During the discussion earlier, he first stated Xiangling's weaknesses. Sure enough, these people all set their eyes on it. But these weaknesses, heh, vanished three days ago.
Why was Yong'an captured so quickly? Because there were insiders! Without the county captain fleeing before battle, could they have taken it in one strike?
But these matters, the other three didn't know, and Yang Feng didn't want to tell them.
Originally, Xiangling had a similar plan. But somehow, news came saying it was not feasible; the insider arrangement seemed to have failed.
Therefore, attacking Xiangling only left the option of forceful assault.
Of course, if the county magistrate and captain defending Xiangling county town were also somewhat cowardly, perhaps they could take it. But this possibility was too small; even Yang Feng himself didn't want to pin hopes on that.
So during the discussion, Yang Feng proposed advancing along both banks of the Fen River. Whichever side could be flexible and mobile, and if Xiangling couldn't be taken immediately, they could detour, cross the Fen River, and attack from both north and south…
Strategic conception was of course flawless, but, heh.
When Han Xian and Li Le, whichever one or both, suffered losses at Xiangling's city walls, he could lead troops smoothly reach Linfen…
But before that, perhaps still needed…
"Commander Hu, how is it? Still to your taste?"
Hu Cai had eaten until belly round, half-squinting, leaning sideways, one hand propping on the mat, the other patting his belly, then gently stroked, appearing very comfortable and satisfied.
"Commander Yang, if there's something, just say it directly." Hu Cai sucked his teeth, said casually.
"Heh, how can you say that? We're brothers; sharing good food, what matter could there be…" Yang Feng said smilingly.
"Oh, since that's the case, I'm also full. Then…" Hu Cai rolled his eyes, clearly not believing, but didn't say directly. Instead, he stood up. "Then I'll take my leave…"
Yang Feng grabbed Hu Cai, half-sincerely, half-falsely complained: "Who acts like you, eat and wipe mouth then run? Can't even chat and talk with a brother?"
"Sure! Why not!" Hu Cai took the opportunity to sit back down. "Speak, what matter? If you don't say, I'll really leave."
Yang Feng smiled and said: "Commander Hu, gained quite a lot recently, right?"
Hu Cai's originally smiling face suddenly tightened. Though corners of his mouth still held smile lines, there was no mirth. "What could there be? Even if something, just some junk, neither valuable nor useful… Why suddenly ask this?"
"Hey! I just asked casually." Yang Feng slapped his thigh, a very casual manner. "Actually, however much wealth we have, can't compare to those officials… Ah, right, Commander Hu, do you know here, a hundred something years ago, hmm, forgot, roughly, there was once a princely state. So wealthy back then, simply amazing…"
"That ground, supposedly paved with gold bricks; even room windows were carved from white jade. Other things like money, several warehouses couldn't hold it! Tsk tsk, only later…"
Hu Cai straightened his posture, mouth agape, listening to Yang Feng's boasting, unconsciously drooling, casually wiped with his sleeve, and said: "…Then, then what?"
Yang Feng laughed heartily: "…Later, supposedly rebelled, confiscated… all gone…"
"Tsk!" Hu Cai sighed, body slumped down, instantly lost interest.
Yang Feng also didn't mind Hu Cai's reaction, continued: "But that was rebellion…"
"Rebellion my ass!" Hu Cai replied lazily. "Aren't we rebelling now?"
"Uh…" Yang Feng suddenly hesitated, then said: "…Different; that was a prince!"
"What about princes? A sword chop, heads still roll!"
Yang Feng hearing this, momentarily stunned, then threw his head back laughing for a while before saying: "Truly different. We rebels started empty-handed, unable to survive, hence this. Could a prince be like us?"
"Hmm, also true."
"…Moreover, those becoming princes surely weren't idiots, right? Rebellion isn't something guaranteed, right? If failing, one would still leave something for oneself, right? Wouldn't leave a way out? Not prepare something for descendants? So, truly different…"
Hu Cai listened, suddenly sat up straight, frowning said: "Commander Yang, your meaning is…"
Yang Feng waved both hands, laughed heartily: "Ah, what meaning could I have, just chatting, nothing, truly nothing…"