"I know that you all, like me, have volunteered to sacrifice for our country! Some have family left behind, some have siblings to care for their parents, but I still say this: we are a dare-to-die squad, but... we are not a death squad! If we must die, let it be worthwhile. We must win this victory for our Zhou at the smallest cost!"
Having said what needed to be said, Jiang Huaisheng clasped his fists in front of the soldiers, his voice very low: "Brothers! I hope... each of us can come back alive!"
Strive to come back alive...
Even if hope is slim.
Taking advantage of the moment when these elite navy soldiers returned to write farewell letters and pack their simple bags, Liu Shucheng pulled Jiang Huaisheng aside: "Huaisheng, itâs not that I want to stop you from taking the soldiers, but you know your own condition, you donât even have one hand, your hope of survival is less than others, my limbs are intact, and my mind is clear. Youâve already planned everything, Iâll follow the plan, letâs switch, Iâll go and you stay!"
"Even His Majesty said..." Jiang Huaisheng pointed to his own head, "A commander uses this, not brute force! Rest assured..."
"Rest assured about what! How can I rest assured?" Liu Shucheng was so angry his voice trembled, "Your father died fighting for the navy back then, youâve dedicated half your life to the navy, and your aunt just found you a wife not long ago. Whether youâre leaving, itâs still debatable. If you really die, what about Aunt? What about your wife? Jiang Huaisheng! Now is not the time for impulsiveness! Your brother follows General Zhao Sheng, maybe heâs in Yunjing or at the Yan Kingdom border. If youâre gone, what about your mother? Auntâs eyes have always been bad, if youâre gone sheâll cry herself blind!"
"Doesnât everyone have a mother..." Jiang Huaisheng had a very faint, calm smile, "Donât our navy soldiers have mothers? If they can go... why canât I go? I have a younger brother, at home thereâs a wife to care for my mother. I will try to live and return for them. If I donât return, please send the release letter to my wife and tell her... that Iâm sorry."
"Iâm not going! You give the release letter to your wife, oh... you die, I become the bad person! I wonât!" Liu Shuchengâs hands trembled with anger, "Even if Iâm not capable, there are other commanders who can go... Why must it be you! Youâre His Majestyâs chosen Commander! You choose now to drop the reins and ask me to take over, I wonât do it!"
Even a highly skilled and physically sound person going would struggle to ensure a safe return, much less Jiang Huaisheng who had lost his left hand.
Jiang Huaisheng knew Liu Shuchengâs words were in anger; if he truly left, with Liu Shuchengâs temperament, he would inevitably take over.
Jiang Huaisheng also knew Liu Shucheng wasnât trying to stop him because he couldnât bear for his friend to go and die, or because others could die but his friend couldnât. Liu Shucheng simply thought that since he had already lost a hand... if he joined the dare-to-die squad this time, the hope of returning alive was slim.
Liu Shucheng deeply looked at Jiang Huaisheng, angrily turned away, entered the cabin, tightly clenched his fists and spoke to the deputy next to him: "The scout just reported that the Dongyi navy warships are still some distance from us. They will surely feast before departing when the Dongyi navy arrives! Drug General Jiang Huaishengâs meal so we can keep him on the main warship!"
"Then... who will lead the dare-to-die squad?" The deputy whispered to Liu Shucheng.
Liu Shucheng tightly gripped the sword at his waist, clenched his teeth, and said two words: "I will!"
"General!" The deputy widened his eyes at Liu Shucheng.
But Liu Shucheng seemed determined, lifted his eyes to look at his deputy: "General Jiang Huaisheng is cleverer than me, more suited to be the Commander, to kill the enemy commander, destroy enemy ships... doing the baiting, Iâll do it! Those three hundred soldiers are elite navy troops, we canât all go... cut it in half, Iâll take one hundred fifty! Otherwise, there are too many boats, even under the cover of night, weâll be easily discovered..."
"But General Jiang Huaisheng intended for half to board, and the other half as a contingency. Selecting three hundred was to ensure the mission is foolproof!" The deputy softly spoke.
"I wonât fail! Every soldierâs life is precious, half is enough. Donât say anything yet, just hold back half when we leave!"
As Liu Shucheng was about to leave, he suddenly thought about how clever Jiang Huaisheng was, paused his steps, and added: "Put drugs in the food, also in Jiang Huaishengâs tea, everything that he might consume, drug it! Jiang Huaisheng is incredibly smart and cunning, Iâm worried heâll be prepared!"
"But what if..." The deputy was quite worried, "What if General Jiang Huaisheng doesnât eat or drink anything?"
"Then knock him out, make sure he canât go!"
After he finished speaking, Liu Shucheng strode into the depths of the cabin to change clothes and pack his belongings.
Just as Liu Shucheng predicted, when Jiang Huaisheng realized Liu Shucheng had stopped persuading him, he knew Liu Shucheng must have thought of another way to replace him. So he was extremely careful with meals and drinks, eating prepared dry food and drinking water obtained from others.
Originally, Jiang Huaisheng thought with this, Liu Shucheng would have no choice but to watch him leave with the dare-to-die soldiers, but unexpectedly, as he was about to board the ship, he was knocked unconscious in front of all the soldiers.
Liu Shucheng had already changed out of his battle robe, and like the dare-to-die soldiers, wore a tight-sleeved vigorous outfit, looking at the confused soldiers, he shouted: "General Jiang Huaisheng lost one hand. If he leads you there, the hope of returning is slim! So... itâs changing to this General going in and out with you! Liu Shucheng swears... Iâll do my utmost to bring you all back alive!"
Changing generals at the last moment is taboo in military strategy, but the one replacing him was the most battle-hardened in the navy, Liu Shucheng, giving the dare-to-die soldiers more confidence.
Liu Shucheng glanced at Jiang Huaisheng, signaled his deputy to carry him away, and said: "Tell Jiang Huaisheng when he wakes, I will do my utmost to bring back the soldiers alive and let him follow the plan, not to go soft-hearted because we are among them."
This was what Jiang Huaisheng had instructed him, and now, as Liu Shucheng was about to depart, he naturally returned those words to Jiang Huaisheng.
When Liu Shucheng finished speaking, he jumped onto the leading small boat, raised his hand to signal the departure.
At this time, the sun was already setting, the sky full of rolling clouds.