Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 290 Xuan Chong's Thoughts

On the 7th day of the 10th month of the 2108th year of the Han calendar, at the Great Yuezhi Fortress, the Han army made minor adjustments to its positions. Suddenly, several gaps, each two to three hundred meters wide, appeared on the newly adjusted defensive line.

These breaches in the position made the Han army's entire defensive line appear to be on the verge of collapse, attracting a massive influx of wild beasts like a magnet. This greatly reduced the pressure on other defensive lines. The Orks, like primary school students experiencing their first communal mealtime, banged their bowls and roared as they entered.

Just as the Orks assembled their massive team, preparing to tear apart the human defenses, several makeshift firing positions made of sandbags suddenly appeared on either side of the chasm, creating a trap.

The heavy machine guns were originally positioned at the front line, making them very vulnerable to being hit by the burning balls thrown by the Orks. As a result, the heavy machine guns had to fire and suppress the enemy from hundreds of meters away. Meanwhile, the Orks would attack in large numbers, and they were incredibly resilient, continuing to charge even after being hit.

But now, in this confined area, heavy machine guns are firing from a distance of 100 meters, sweeping across the Orks like scythes. Any Ork whose waist is too small for one person to hug is immediately broken in two.

Compared to the previous situation where the Han army used heavy machine guns to suppress groups of Orks on the outer positions like playing whack-a-mole, this new method of luring the Orks into a key area and then intensively harvesting them with concentrated firepower was like cutting leeks.

A few Orks broke through the barrage and attempted to charge inwards, prompting the second line of defense to open fire as well.

Numerous wild beasts were subjected to a barrage of fire on the flat ground in front of the position. Ordinary 7mm rifle bullets, 12mm machine gun rounds, and 30mm infantry fighting machine guns—these fires struck the beasts, producing a variety of effects.

Bullets swept the orc corpses to the ground like brooms; while machine guns shattered the orcs, causing them to explode in huge sprays of blood and fragmented limbs. The Orks' charge came to an abrupt halt.

The open ground, completely exposed, became a perfect killing field.

As the wild beasts roared, brandishing the steel knives they had snatched from the herdsmen, they could only watch helplessly as gun barrels opened fire from all directions, as vibrant as wildflowers in a summer bush. Meanwhile, streaks of bullets whistled across the sky, all approaching in unison, like a grand chorus.

After the initial victory, Xuanchong began to deploy more flexible and adaptable defensive measures.

The perfect application of geometry on the battlefield, the efficient distribution of high-explosive shrapnel dispersion, and the high coverage in the shortest possible time were all allocated in the calculations for the attack. The orcs suffered heavy casualties during their charge into the captured tunnels.

Two days later, the Orks launched another attack, but even after successfully entering the tunnel, they still encountered obstacles. They discovered rows of chlorine mortar shells falling from the sky, and the tunnel was filled with poisonous gas.

The orcs writhed as they coughed, and a few orcs burrowed into the ground like wild boars rooting in the soil.

However, these tunnels were deliberately left by Xuan Chong for the Orks.

The tunnels between the tunnels were only wide enough for a person to pass sideways; the Orks couldn't squeeze through them. A few Orks hid inside the tunnels, while the Orks outside had already been wiped out by machine guns and artillery shells.
On the fifth day, three days after the flexible defense was implemented, when the Orks stormed in again, the area outside the tunnel was cleared. The Han army's 300-man suicide squad launched a positional battle. Before entering the tunnel, they threw grenades and then used melee weapons similar to automatic shotguns to eliminate the Orks in the tunnel and recapture it.

This struggle for position meant that the morale of the Han army was beginning to recover, and they were no longer afraid of this unknown enemy.

On the seventh day, the Orks seemed to become excited and launched their largest attack yet, assaulting the entire position. However, the Han army's artillery divided the attack. Upon reaching the position, the Orks faced a pincer movement from several firing points and could only choose the easiest point to breach.

However, the trenches designed by Xuanchong were also specifically designed to facilitate the relocation of fire positions.

Half an hour later, the first wave of machine guns and mortars, having finished their mopping-up operation, quietly moved to another position. The shelling from that position was now sparse, giving the Orks an opportunity to launch their attack.

The human positions would conveniently appear to be "teetering on the brink of collapse" somewhere. Then the orcs would swarm in, only to be met with deadly casualties once again from concentrated machine guns and mortars.

Within ten hours, through four counterattacks that "loosened" the defensive lines, more than four thousand of these wild beasts were killed, and the entire Han army's defensive positions were relieved. Many people began to peek out from the trenches and gesture at the defeated Ok army.

Meanwhile, Xuan Chong scribbled on the map with a pen, constantly calculating key defensive points.

The officers who had been arguing gradually stopped and waited for the young, newly appointed supervisor to make his decision.

The officers couldn't help but admire him: This young man had a scholarly air about him, but with a casual stroke of his pen, he could conjure mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

As for the commander of this division, after receiving the results of the battle, he couldn't help but express his thoughts: "This young man sent by the higher-ups has the potential to be a general!"

Let's review the morale of the entire division in the initial skirmishes.

Caught off guard by the sudden approach of the Orcs, two battalions of soldiers were torn apart alive, while some of the soldiers who escaped went insane, spreading rumors wildly during their madness.

This caused the soldiers of the entire division to be terrified of the beast's approach, and they only dared to hide in the defensive facilities and vent their fear with firepower, seeking only temporary safety and completely disregarding long-term plans for the next day or two.

As the Han army's ammunition was being consumed at an increasingly rapid pace, the fear of running out of ammunition in a few days remained unavoidable.

During times of mass panic, most people will inevitably be drawn into the panic.

As a military strategist with "rich experience in leading troops," Xuan Chong, though not as all-encompassing as professional generals of this era, knew how to "avoid making mistakes." Faced with the panic throughout the army, Xuan Chong's every word and action conveyed the message of "don't panic" and "things will get better as long as you use your brain."

After listening to the accounts from all sides of the team who had already "argued," Xuan Chong took out paper and pen to calmly calculate! Finally, he boldly devised a plan to "leave an opening and let them in to fight."

This mental fortitude doesn't seem like that of a young person under eighteen; rather, it's the mentality of a veteran.

If it weren't for his age, the officers of the 013th Division would have thought that this imperial envoy (Xuan Chong) sent from above was a general who had commanded division-level combat missions.

Now, for Division 013, the worst of the situation has passed. Communication with the rear has been re-established, and Division 013 has found a suitable way to wear down the alien beasts. Currently, their ammunition reserves are sufficient to sustain them until reinforcements arrive.

…The buffer period is over…

So far, Xuan Chong has perfectly completed the mission assigned to him by the Dragon Group: communications have been established and the front line is secure.

Resources have been used to the extreme, and the troops they brought have been dispersed into small detachments on the front lines, serving as tactical information hubs.

The key to flexible tactics is the team's communication level, that is, whether firepower can be mobilized quickly and troops can be dispatched to cut off and divide the enemy in a timely manner.

In the telegraph era, it was extremely difficult for troops to complete such a rapid response. The tactics often involved several days of large-scale artillery preparation, bombarding the area with thousands of cannons, before sending troops to charge.

Now, having experienced actual combat, the next step in the reform of the Hanzhong Army is to enhance squad-level radio communication.

After completing his military mission, Xuan Chong couldn't help but ponder; and the conclusion he reached was that the current Han army was clearly somewhat unbalanced...

For the past seventy or eighty years, the Kansai region, like a "steam roller," has been top-tier in terms of both industrial scale and population, and has essentially never encountered an opponent in land warfare. Moreover, most of the time, it has not even needed military means. Land border issues can be resolved through geopolitical diplomacy.

Therefore, despite its leading position in productivity and technology, the current Wuhan Army, which has long been without rivals, remains conservative in its procurement of electric spark telegraph machines and telephones.

In recent years, the reforms of the Han Army's marine divisions and brigades have focused on the procurement of machinery and vehicles. For example, a fully equipped division should be equipped with 300 combat vehicles, but the spark arrestor is only equipped in the 300-man battalion headquarters; below the battalion headquarters, orders are still relayed by mounted messengers.

Xuan Chong: This is a common problem for all armies that are complacent and stuck in their ways. France, the strongest army in Europe before World War II, and the Russians both suffered from this problem. Despite having top-notch vehicles and artillery, and seemingly invincible in terms of military firepower data, the communication and command within the army was a complete mess.

Because military information transmission is necessary in a "dynamic" context, only legions that are thinking about "offensive" operations will realize this.

On the tenth day, the Beast Group launched another attack. The Han army's defense line had a greater "flexibility". Half an hour after the Ouk attacked, the Han army's defense line was like two abyssal maws, swallowing up two waves of charging waves, a total of more than 6,000 beasts. After the encirclement was closed, it was the firepower that crushed them.

…The perspective shifts to the interior of Yandu…

Over the past fifteen days, Xuanchong has completed all four phases of support as planned. Airships carrying engineering teams have begun maintaining the wartime rail lines. Thermite glitters on the dilapidated railways, the rails are reinforced, and heavy freight cars traverse the rusted tracks.

The current Han's Dragon Group directly utilized cutting-edge technology to set up battlefield relay airships, enabling them to understand the situation on the front lines.

Inside the Imperial Ancestral Temple Research Institute located below the Temple of Heaven, the Emperor was observing the two most recent battles at the front lines.

The general described the current combat situation on the screen. Using his bayonet as a club, he gestured on the map, saying, "Previously, the beasts' equipment seemed to be developing, but due to a lack of materials, they can no longer reach the level of progressing from stone tools to guns at the beginning. On the contrary, because the two battles annihilated a sufficient number of charging groups, a considerable number of grenadiers have now emerged among the newly spawned beasts. These alien upright beasts are using unknown methods to collect nitrates to manufacture and throw explosives."

After reviewing the battle report and focusing on the ammunition reserves in the Yuezhi fortress, the emperor asked, "So, the situation has temporarily stabilized, right?"

Zhao Xun, as the chief envoy of the Ministry of War, said: "Yes, but we must not underestimate them. Based on the current information, if a major defeat occurs, these unknown beasts are highly unpredictable."

The Emperor nodded and asked Lin Sima, the current true leader of the state, "What is your opinion, Grand Marshal?"

Elder Lin: It's all thanks to the bravery of the soldiers on the front lines; also, Your Majesty, the people you sent there have done a great job. However, we still need to further understand the root cause of this calamity, and we need to send people into the center of the meteorite zone to collect data.

…The war machine is started…

At the Northwest Base, the orc corpses have been transported by airship to the "Life" laboratory.

The autopsies in Hannei have now conducted a thorough examination of Oke's organs.

In the biological base, after shifting his gaze from the microscope, the physician noted in the report: The flesh and blood tissue of this type of alien species exhibits "spore" characteristics after the death of the organism itself. The original animal tissue cells can transform into microbial spores, and then into plant cells. The possibility of them transforming back into animal cells cannot be ruled out.

It was also discovered that these spores are capable of asexual reproduction. In other words, if even a tiny bit is "missed," they will proliferate on the ground.

On October 30, batches of disinfection teams entered the abandoned Han-Europe Railway line.

The Han army targeted and cleared several areas where fragments of these "orc" spores were suspected to have been scattered. The team was led by a Dragon Force user from the Phoenix Group, whose ability was codenamed "Organic Resonance." The chemical reactions that occur during the "transformation from biological to animal" process of orcs, these organic life forms, are unique to this planet, hence the specific "Organic Resonance."

This "organic resonance" dragon power user is able to accurately search for the spore spread of these extraterrestrial alien species after their death within a certain range.

Many herders were mobilized and clashed with the newborn, less than half-human-sized aliens (the "fart spirits"). While there were few casualties, significant livestock losses were suffered, severely impacting animal husbandry. This led local officials in the southwest region to demand a relaxation of the "firearms control order."

Upon seeing the report, the imperial court in Yandu immediately blocked the news and ordered all departments to act swiftly.

In Gaochang City, Liu Yi, who had also rushed to the front lines, received orders from the rear and couldn't help but chime in, "What are the people back there thinking? The situation has just stabilized, and it's safer to build up some troops before launching a surprise attack. Now—to launch a surprise attack while the aliens are still establishing themselves? We haven't even settled in yet!"

The Dragon Group connected with the relay airships along the front line. The personnel on these relay airships immediately got up, activated the electromagnetic equipment, and increased the communication bandwidth.

During a video call within the Dragon Group, Xuan Chong, the group leader, expressed his concern. Xuan Chong, meanwhile, continued to demonstrate his "enthusiasm" for serving the modern Han regime.

The Ministry of War brought a new appointment, and Xuan Chong was promoted from the original fourth-rank garrison commander to the second-rank general of the cavalry.

Liu Yi: "Xuan Chong (brand name), congratulations."

Xuan Chong: "What is there to be happy about? The country is in peril right now. I beg you, sir, to help me out for the sake of His Majesty and the nation."

Liu Yi: "Brother, what are you saying? At this moment, we are both serving the country. How can you talk about promoting each other?"

…popular, trending…

In less than three years, Xuan Chong has achieved a triple jump, and has not yet reached adulthood, which is unprecedented in the past hundred years.

As for a hundred years ago, it was an era when the imperial power completely ruled. Although the scholar-officials gained decision-making power over most political affairs in the palace council, when it came to the promotion of high-ranking personnel, the emperor still had to make the final decision.

The case at the time was that when a princess took a liking to a prince consort, the prince consort's official rank was promoted three levels.

Of course, this promotion was later criticized by the scholar-officials to this day—but Liu Haoxing's promotion today is a genuine achievement, earned on the front lines. It represents a great contribution that turned the tide.

The cabinet has already toned down its "unconventional" promotions considerably.

In order to enable Xuan Chong to do his job well at the front, the Ministry of War transferred Wu Xi (a local governor) who could have hindered Xuan Chong to the rear command of Yicheng, where he was put in charge of the "more important" logistics.

The military officer position of Governor-General overseeing the military affairs of various prefectures was equivalent to the civil official position of Prefect in the corresponding region; the civil and military officials were of equal rank. This is similar to the job transfer of "Kui Mulang" in the Heavenly Court of Journey to the West.

Within the current Han dynasty, the General Who Subdues the Barbarians is responsible for the frontline combat command of a division, while the General Who Charges the Cavalry is responsible for the operational coordination of the area (Chief of the General Staff). This appointment arrangement takes into account the cooperative relationship between Xuanchong and the 013th Division on the front line, as well as the current status of their assigned tasks.

According to military regulations, as long as one can command and hold the line at the front, one can be promoted from deputy to full-fledged general. At that time, the first "young-age general" will appear in the current four-hundred-year history of Han Dynasty.

The reason for this achievement was that the situation was quite critical beforehand.

Two divisions have lost contact in the Western Regions. The 013th Division has been found by Xuan Chong, while the 087th Division is now retreating south in a sorry state to hold the Gaotianling area (Afuhan).

After the imperial court urgently promoted Xuan Chong, it also issued a strict order that he must guard this western gate.

Xuan Chong understood: if this gate could not be defended, the calamity caused by unknown alien beasts would reach the Protectorate. —This current cabinet might be the first in the last fifty years to face collective impeachment, and a large number of officials in the west would be stripped of their titles and honors.

The eunuch who came to report quietly reminded Xuan Chong: "The position you have obtained is something that the Emperor has worked hard to secure for you; otherwise, it would be against the rules according to the court's system."

And recently, Xuan Chong's father was also summoned to Yandu by the emperor.

Even after Xuan Chong's father went to the capital, he was still able to secure some leverage for Dongtu's development. This is one of the advantages of being a member of the imperial clan; because they are connected to local areas, no matter how great the reward, it can always be implemented in remote regions without fear of their merits overshadowing the emperor.

…At this point, there is no worry about the rear…

Xuan Chong looked at the latest assigned tasks and the area marked with a red dot on the map, then looked up at Liu Yi on the screen and asked, "Aren't we taking a bit too big a step now? Maintaining a defensive stance is the most stable approach for us right now."

Liu Yi: "Your side is now in a stalemate. Your previous battles resulted in the large-scale annihilation of these beasts, making them cautious and hesitant to launch large-scale attacks. So, with your abilities, you should have already considered the direction of your counterattack, right?"

Xuan Chong felt a little resentful of this provocation (PUA), but he did not show his displeasure on his face.

Facing Liu Yi, a senior member of the Dragon Group who was twenty years older than him, Xuan Chong cautiously stated that he would do his best to cooperate as long as it did not affect the basic situation on the front lines.

On the projected dialogue interface, Liu Yi seemed to have anticipated Xuan Chong's answer and nodded.

Liu Yi had already determined during their previous meeting that Dongtu's heir, though not yet twenty, was unusually mature, as if he knew how to handle social situations from birth.

Fortunately, Liu Haoxing has just turned eighteen. Even if he has great abilities, as a senior, he can still be firmly controlled. As for the future, that will be a key point to control. In a few years, it will probably be much more difficult to manage him.

Faced with the latest military order that "forced him to take the initiative," Xuan Chong probed slightly and, after confirming that it was the order from above, did not object.

Xuan Chong: "This is the list of supplies I need. It would be best to gather them within a month."

Liu Yi: "No problem." — She took the list, looked at it carefully, frowned slightly, but still nodded in confirmation.

Finally, Liu Yi said in a tone that was half warning and half joking, "It's fortunate that I sent you to the battlefield, otherwise—" He paused here, "letting you go into politics would definitely be a great scourge to the court."

After all, anyone would worry that frantically taking notes in a notebook might end up creating a biography of all officials.

(End of this chapter)