Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Although he did not express support for Gu Jinyan's analysis, he ultimately approved the compromise solution.

After everyone responded, they stood up and left the hall, each with their own thoughts. Gu Jinyan watched Zhao Lingfeng's departing figure, knowing that his final compromise was not support for her, but rather an acceptance of the situation.

As long as the plan is reasonable, even with repeated debates, Hersha City's ultimate victory will be more hopeful.

The fighting in Hersha City was becoming increasingly tense, and every battle on the front lines made the atmosphere in the army even more somber.

In such an environment, soldiers face immense pressure and risks, and any wrong decision could lead to their deaths.

One morning, a piece of terrible news came from the military camp: a young soldier was shot and killed by the enemy at the outpost.

His squad was ordered not to provide reinforcements at a critical moment, which led to his death in isolation.

This incident sparked a strong reaction in the military, with many soldiers whispering and expressing their indignation.

Some even privately condemned this as General Zhang, who was in charge of the team, acting unilaterally and issuing an order to hold the line to the death in order to avoid risks.

The soldiers suspected that the young soldier died because Deputy General He deliberately refused to send reinforcements to protect his main force, which led to the young soldier being surrounded and killed by the enemy.

The news quickly reached Gu Jinyan's ears.

When she learned of the tragic news, her heart sank. The sacrifice of the young soldier was not only an individual tragedy, but could also deal a huge blow to the morale of the army.

As the logistics commander of Hesha City, Gu Jinyan has always been concerned about the morale and safety of his soldiers. This incident has clearly aroused widespread dissatisfaction and may even become the fuse that weakens morale.

In order to find out the truth, she found several frontline soldiers and tried to communicate with them to understand the specific situation.

The soldiers were initially wary of the military hierarchy and dared not speak much, but under Gu Jinyan's patient questioning, they gradually lowered their guard.

A soldier finally whispered, "That day, we spotted enemy movements at the outpost and sent a request for reinforcements to Deputy General He's camp."

But Deputy General He replied, "Hold your ground and do not act without authorization."

And so, we could only watch helplessly as our comrades were surrounded and ultimately shot dead by the enemy.

Another soldier added angrily, "We could have provided support; a few people would have been enough to get things out of trouble."

Lieutenant General Ke He was willing to sacrifice our brothers to protect the main force from danger! What is this? Don't our lives matter?

The soldiers' indignant voices and disappointed expressions deeply stung Gu Jinyan's heart; the soldiers had begun to question the decisions of their superiors.

If this distrust spreads, it will pose a fatal threat to the defense of Hersha City.

That evening, Gu Jinyan found Lin Zixuan with a heavy heart. The two met by a tent in a corner of the military camp and silently watched the night sky.

Noticing her expression, Lin Zixuan asked, "You already know about the outpost soldiers, right?"

Gu Jinyan nodded, his eyes filled with deep sorrow: "I've looked into it, and the soldier did indeed die due to a lack of support."

The soldiers were extremely dissatisfied with Deputy General He's orders; they felt they were merely pawns being sacrificed.

Lin Zixuan remained silent for a moment, his eyes revealing anger and helplessness: "I had long suspected that Deputy General He was thinking that he had never truly cared about the lives of his soldiers."

All he cared about was how to preserve his reputation.

For this reason, he was even willing to sacrifice the lives of his soldiers; such a general is simply a cancer on the army.

Gu Jinyan sighed, his voice low: "But such a thing happened right under our noses."

The soldiers' deaths are not isolated incidents; they will shake morale. If this continues, how can we possibly defend Hesha City?

Lin Zixuan clenched his fist, his tone revealing a hint of coldness: "This is the power struggle in the military; interests and self-preservation have become their most important concerns."

As for the lives of the soldiers, they became dispensable sacrifices.

If this was the case before the war, it would likely be even more serious in a crisis.

Gu Jinyan didn't speak, but silently gazed into the distance.

Unstable morale will be the biggest threat to Hesha City. Although the enemy is strong, if the soldiers in the city lose confidence, even the strongest defenses will be unable to withstand the enemy's attack.

Over the next few days, complaints among the soldiers gradually increased, and whispers spread everywhere.

Some soldiers privately complained to each other, believing that as soldiers, it was their duty to kill the enemy on the front lines, but with unclear orders and inadequate support, they became objects to be abandoned at will.

"That day we requested reinforcements, but the higher-ups gave us an order to hold out to the death, and we didn't receive a single person to help us."

One soldier said indignantly, "Who knows if we'll be the ones abandoned next? Since lives aren't even worth anything, who are we supposed to fight for?"

“Yes, our brothers all died under their cold-blooded orders. Who will stand up for us?” another soldier chimed in, his eyes flashing with anger and sorrow.

The soldiers' discussions were not just criticisms of General Zhang, but also a deep-seated distrust.

They began to doubt: if the generals chose to save themselves in a moment of crisis, who would save their lives? This distrust, like a spark in the darkness, could spread throughout the military camp at any moment.

Gu Jinyan realized that if the soldiers' discontent could not be effectively quelled, the defenses of Hesha City would be in danger of collapsing.

She decided to take action to rebuild the soldiers' trust in their superiors.

After careful consideration, she approached Lin Zixuan and suggested, "We cannot let the soldiers continue to be filled with anger and disappointment. We must show them that Hesha City is not without trustworthy generals."

Lin Zixuan nodded in agreement, and he had high hopes for Gu Jinyan's proposal.

He was well aware of the soldiers' dissatisfaction with Deputy General He. If it was not controlled, the resentment in the army would inevitably spread and might even lead to a collapse in morale.

Subsequently, Gu Jinyan and Lin Zixuan began their operation.

They held a memorial service in the military to commemorate the young soldier who had sacrificed his life.

At the ceremony, Gu Jinyan delivered a brief speech, his tone sorrowful yet firm: "That soldier who sacrificed his life was a hero of Hesha City; he defended this city with his life."

We must all remember his sacrifice, and we should all shoulder the responsibility of protecting our comrades.

The soldiers stood below the stage, listening silently to her words, their expressions gradually becoming serious.

Gu Jinyan's heartfelt expression touched the softest part of their hearts, and their original dissatisfaction with the military's decisions seemed to find some outlet in her mourning.

Following the memorial service, Gu Jinyan and Lin Zixuan took further action.

They established a "military intelligence feedback" system in the barracks, allowing soldiers to report any problems, opinions, or concerns about the front lines to the command.

This move made the soldiers feel that their voices could be heard, and that they were no longer just pawns passively following orders, but part of the entire city's defense force.

In addition, they have established clear rescue procedures: under any circumstances, if a crisis occurs on the front line, priority will be given to rescuing soldiers to prevent similar isolated and helpless situations from happening again.

This promise quickly spread throughout the army, and the soldiers began to realize that, at least under the leadership of Gu Jinyan and Lin Zixuan, their lives were being valued.

Some soldiers whispered among themselves, "With Lord Gu and Vice General Lin around, we might be able to hold out with peace of mind. At least they'll care about our safety instead of just sending us to our deaths."

“Yes, with them around, we’re not entirely hopeless. At least we can still survive and defend Hesha City.” Another soldier nodded in agreement.

Gu Jinyan and Lin Zixuan's actions gradually restored the soldiers' trust in the command.

In this difficult time of war, only unity and trust can protect their homeland.

In the dead of night in Hesha City, a gentle breeze blew, and the chill quietly seeped into every corner of the military camp.

Gu Jinyan wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and conducted a night patrol along the road between the outpost and the barracks.

Despite the deep darkness of the night, her thoughts became increasingly clear.

During this time, she kept observing the generals and soldiers around her, especially Lin Zixuan.

Whether it was during daytime discussions about defense deployment or post-war reflections, he always remained calm and composed, as if he knew everything.

Gu Jinyan initially thought Lin Zixuan was just an ordinary deputy general, but as their conversations deepened, she gradually realized that his identity might not be so simple.

Just as Gu Jinyan was deep in thought, footsteps came from behind her. She turned around and saw Lin Zixuan.

His face appeared somewhat stern in the moonlight, yet it carried an almost imperceptible gentleness.

Lin Zixuan approached and walked alongside her, asking in a relaxed tone, "Night patrols are not easy, Miss Jinyan is quite dedicated."

Gu Jinyan smiled slightly: "As the logistics officer, I also need to ensure the safety of supplies and positions. Patrols are also to prevent accidents from happening."

She answered very seriously, but she vaguely guessed Lin Zixuan's purpose in coming.

After walking for a while, Lin Zixuan suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at her thoughtfully.

Those eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

Just as Gu Jinyan was puzzled, he slowly asked, "Miss Jinyan, what are your thoughts on the defenses should the enemy attack?"

Gu Jinyan was slightly taken aback. This question was unexpected. She was not the direct combat commander. She was mainly responsible for the allocation of supplies and logistical support. The question at this moment was obviously not a casual one.

She realized that Lin Zixuan was testing her knowledge and experience, and it was also an opportunity for her to showcase herself.

She pondered for a moment, carefully considered her words, and said in a low voice, "If the enemy launches a surprise attack on the south city, we can first send out light cavalry to lure the enemy deeper into the city."

Once the enemy has penetrated deep into our deployment area, we will then deploy infantry in layers to create a sense of weakness and lure the enemy into committing their main force.

Meanwhile, archers can lie in ambush from high ground, concentrating on the city walls to await the optimal moment. Once the enemy enters their range, they can swiftly launch an attack, creating a pincer movement and ensuring the battle remains under control.