After the men on patrol had rested enough, they returned to the camp in the darkness to report the news to Kou Ji.
The rapid sound of horse hooves echoed far across the open grassland.
I could hear the sound of horse hooves and shouts coming from far away.
Kou Ji wore a thick cloak, stared at the cold wind, and appeared outside the tent.
The patrolling horse guards and imperial city officers who stayed in the camp appeared in front of Kou Ji one by one, holding swords and guns in their hands, staring warily at the place where the sound of horse hooves came from.
Koji'er listened to the vague shouts blown by the wind, and said to the patrolling horse guards and the Imperial City Secretary: "Don't panic, they are our people..."
Hearing the words, the patrolling horse guards and Imperial City Division officers made no move and still stood guard around Kou Ji.
A patrolling horse guard hesitated for a while and asked in a low voice: "Young Master, do you think they are coming back to report your victory, or are they coming back to escort you in your retreat?"
Kou Ji was silent for a long time, and said quietly: "It's probably to report the victory..."
The patrolling horse guard raised his head, stared at Kou Ji, and said seriously: "Young Master is not sure, will he win or lose?"
When Kou Ji heard this, he didn't speak again.
He is not a veteran on the battlefield, nor is he a master in the art of war.
With thousands of elite soldiers, supplemented by some horse thieves, and more than 10,000 civilians, no one can say whether they can defeat the 140,000 elite soldiers of Huangtou Huihe.
Although he has the upper hand and takes advantage of the geographical location in advance...
Although it is assisted by powerful artillery and mysterious invincible mine cannons...
He might not be able to win, and Kou Ji couldn't say for sure.
The disparity in military strength between the two sides is too great.
Under the gaze of Kou Ji and his entourage, figures galloping on horses in the distance came closer, and Kou Ji and the others heard their voices clearly.
"We won! We won!"
"Great victory!"
"..."
The patrolling guards on horseback shouted a lot of miscellaneous words, but every word was filled with the joy of victory.
After Kou Ji heard what they shouted clearly, he let out a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Did you win?
With a huge disparity in military strength, was the battle won?
very good.
After listening clearly to the shouts of the men on horseback, the officers and soldiers of the patrolling horse guards and the imperial city's staff beside Kou Ji were so excited that they couldn't help themselves.
"Young Master! We won!"
"We defeated 140,000 Huangtou Huihe troops!"
"..."
Amidst the cheers of the patrolling horse guards and the Imperial City Division's men, Kou Ji slowly suppressed the smile on his face and said lightly: "Isn't it normal to win? What's there to be happy about? I just defeated a little kid.
The little Huangtou just returned to He, but he didn't defeat the Liao Kingdom."
The patrolling horse guards were stunned when they heard this.
"Young Master...that was not your attitude just now."
The patrolling horse guards stared at Kou Ji with strange expressions.
Kou Ji coughed dryly and said, "Just now was just now, and now is now."
"But...young master..."
"It's nothing but it's okay. I gave them so many good things. If they can't even defeat Huangtou Huihe's troops, then my good things will be in vain.
The reason why I wasn't sure whether they could win just now was because I was afraid that they wouldn't use the good things I gave them.
Now that they have won, it means that they used the things I sent them well."
"..."
In the astonished eyes of the patrolling horse guards and the imperial city officials, Kou Ji dropped these words and entered the tent with his hands behind his back.
After Kou Ji entered the tent, a smile appeared on his lips again.
"It's good if I win... I finally feel relieved..."
"From now on, there will never be another battle between Xixia and the Great Song Dynasty. There will only be a battle between the Great Song Dynasty and the Huangtou Huihe... the battle of De Sheng River... yes, it is the De Sheng River. Let them set up a battle at the entrance of the valley tomorrow.
Monument, from now on the valley road will be called Deshengchuan."
"..."
Kou Ji returned to the tent and sat down with a smile, feeling very happy.
Outside the tent.
The man from the patrol horse guard had already rode his horse to the camp. As soon as he entered the camp, he jumped off his horse excitedly, rushed to the patrol horse guard officers and the Imperial City Secretary's hand, grabbed their arms, and shouted loudly.
The patrolling horse guards and the imperial city officials were envious and excited and pulled the patrolling men to inquire about the general details.
The leader of the patrol horse guard casually asked, "Where is the young master? I want to tell the young master the good news."
"The young master is in the tent..."
Someone answered.
The leader of the horse guard left the horse guard officers and the Imperial City Secretary to the man of the horse guard who came back with him, and hurried into the tent.
"Young Master..."
The leader of the patrol horse guard entered the tent and shouted excitedly.
I saw Kou Ji sitting alone under the lamp, holding a book in his hand and studying it carefully.
Hearing the cheers from the leader of the patrolling horse guards, Kou Ji looked away from the book, glanced at him, and said calmly: "There are no rules... It's just this time, it won't be the same next time."
The leader of the patrolling horse guard was stunned for a moment, realizing that he had not informed when he broke into the tent just now, and quickly bowed to apologize.
After apologizing, before the leader of the patrolling horse guards could speak excitedly, Kou Ji asked lightly.
"Won?"
"Win!!"
The leader of the patrol horse guards responded excitedly.
Kou Ji nodded calmly, "As long as we win, send someone to tell Liu Heng and Zhang Yuan, and ask them to send scouts and spies fifty miles away to investigate in detail the movements of Huangtou's troops back to Hehe."
"Forehead……"
The leader of the patrol horse guard looked stunned.
Kou Ji glanced at him, "Is there a problem?"
The leader of the patrolling horse guards immediately shook his head, "No problem... I'll send someone to deliver the message right now..."
Kou Ji nodded calmly and waved his hand, "Go down..."
The leader of the patrolling horse guard stopped talking, cupped his hands and walked out.
When he reached the door of the tent, he suddenly stopped, turned around and said to Kou Ji: "Young Master, you are holding the book in your hand upside down."
Kou Ji was stunned, looked down at the book in his hand, and his face suddenly darkened.
"Get out!"
"Hahaha……"
The leader of the patrolling horse guard laughed and escaped from the tent.
Kou Ji threw away the book in his hand in disgust, laughed and cursed in a low voice, and took the pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
In the battle of Gudao, he achieved great victory.
I need to report it properly to the court.
Such an earth-shattering event cannot be concealed.
It won't take long for this matter to spread all over the world.
Kou Ji needs to tell the stickmen in the court in advance, so as not to shock their teeth.
After writing and writing all night, Kou Ji finished narrating the details of the battle, and then handed it over to the people of the Imperial City Department, asking them to pass it back through the channels of the Imperial City Department.
Kou Ji did not mention a word about the battle losses.
Because this battle was fought privately under Kou Ji's instructions and was not within the scope of the imperial court's operations, it is still unknown whether it can be recognized by the imperial court and whether he can receive pensions from the imperial court.
We have to wait for the court's reply before making a specific decision.
The next day.
early morning.
Kou Ji, who had not slept all night, washed his face with cold water, dressed neatly, and appeared outside the tent.
The leader of the patrol horse guard took the initiative to greet him.
"Young Master, it will take half a day for the peasants to get here, and we still need to wait here for half a day."
Kou Ji nodded, walked to where the cooks were cooking, found a big wooden stake, and sat on it.
The leader of the patrol horse guard followed Kou Ji's footsteps and sat next to Kou Ji.
After he sat down, Kou Ji asked: "This battle can be won because of your contribution."
When the leader of the patrolling horse guard heard this, he puffed up his chest proudly, raised three fingers, and said to Kou Ji: "The villain has cut off three swords, killing hundreds of enemies, and injuring as many as 100 enemies.
It’s endless.”
Before the leader of the patrolling horse guards could continue to speak, Kou Ji interrupted him arrogantly, "Okay, I don't pay attention to how brave you are on the battlefield. Because no matter how brave you are, you have no merit."
The leader of the patrol horse guard opened his mouth, but did not speak.
They are private soldiers of the Kou government. Even if they achieve great achievements on the battlefield, the court will not recognize them.
Because they were private soldiers of the Kou government, the court could not reward them.
All the achievements they made belong to the Kou government.
Kou Ji stared at the leader of the patrolling horse guards and asked, "Tell me about the battle losses..."
When he mentioned the battle losses, the leader of the patrolling horse guards no longer looked arrogant. He said solemnly: "Sixty-four of the brothers responsible for the charge died, and everyone who remains is injured."
Kou Ji sighed, "Sent people to cremate the bodies of the sixty-four brothers and send the ashes back. Instructed Old Man Chen to bury them in the tomb behind the ancestral hall.
As before, 10% of the gold, silver and jewelry seized in this battle were deposited in Yizijiaozi Shop.
Zhonglie's widows can take their identity cards and go to Baozhou's Yizijiaozi Shop to withdraw money.
Take one portion every year for ten years."
The leader of the patrolling horse guards solemnly cupped his fists at Kou Ji and said, "Here..."
The rules were set by Kou Ji very early on.
All the patrolling horse guards knew this.
The reason why the patrolling horse guards dared to charge regardless of life and death was because they knew that after they died, they would not have to worry about their parents, wives, and children having no one to support them.
Kou Ji gave generous pensions to the patrolling horse guards.
It is rich enough to allow their parents, wives and children to live comfortably for half their lives.
The reason why Kou Ji did not give the money to the widows of loyal martyrs all at once was because he was afraid that they would have no support in their families and would be missed.
They are also afraid that after they get a huge amount of money, they will spend it all at once.
The patrolling horse guards willingly sacrificed their lives for Kou Ji, and Kou Ji had the responsibility to ensure that after their death, their parents, wives, and children could live a stable and prosperous life.
When Kou Ji saw the leader of the patrolling horse guards responding, he added: "From today onwards, until the end of the journey to Huangtou, the rest of you will stay with me. You don't have to fight anymore. You can rest in peace and recover."
The leader of the patrolling horse guards clasped his fists again, "Here..."
Seeing this, Kou Ji nodded and stopped asking about the battle losses.
Because for the remaining people, whether they are civilians, soldiers who support the Japanese army, or horse thieves, someone will naturally make arrangements, and he is not willing to interfere.
The horse thieves can rely on this military exploit to gain a good status under Zhang Yuan.
He was a man of honor to the Japanese soldiers and civilians, and he had his own reward from the court, but Kou Ji was not willing to overstep his bounds.
Only the patrolling horse guards who have contributed the most need to be rewarded by Kou Ji.
Because they contributed the most in this battle, when the credit was finally shared, they didn't get a share.
Kou Ji sat on the big wooden stake and was silent for a long time. Suddenly he looked at the leader of the patrolling horse guards and asked, "Do you want the captured money or the military exploits?"
The leader of the patrol horse guard stared at Kou Ji in astonishment, not understanding the meaning of Kou Ji's words.
Before the war started, it was already clear that they had no military exploits.
Seeing that his eyes were full of doubts, Kou Ji explained: "I thought about it carefully and felt that I shouldn't stop you from seeking wealth. If you want military exploits, I can find a way to help you regain your identity.
Based on your military exploits this time, I will recommend you to the imperial court, and the imperial court will definitely arrange for you to serve as captains in various major armies."
When the leader of the patrol horse guard heard this, he stood there stunned for a moment, then grinned and said: "It is better to work for the court than to work for you, young master. What use do we brothers have for the names of those school captains?"
Besides, being an official will not make as much money as being with you, young master."
Kou Ji stared at the leader of the patrolling horse guards seriously and said: "You are not qualified to be an official, but you insist on being my servant. Are you stupid?"
The leader of the patrolling horse guard chuckled, "You can't be as dignified as being an official by following you, young master. How big an official is the magistrate of Xining Prefecture? Young master, you can just chop him down if you want."
We brothers followed the young master and killed many officials.
I have also seen a lot of viciousness among officials.
We don’t want to be that disgusting person.”
After a pause, the leader of the patrolling horse guards added: "Besides, it's thanks to you, young master, that our brothers are where we are today. Without you, young master, our brothers are just a bunch of sticks guarding Baozhou Shawowo.
He might be decapitated by the Liao people one day.
Brothers cannot forget the kindness of the young master, and they dare not forget it.
Brothers, don’t be ungrateful.”
Kou Jicheng sighed and pointed at the leader of the patrolling horse guards, not knowing what to say.
After a long time, he sighed, "It's really stupid not to be an official."
The leader of the patrolling horse guard just kept smiling but did not speak.
Kou Ji thought he was stupid, but he didn't feel stupid at all.
What are the benefits of being an official?
There are many things to do, and there are also many butts to sit on.
After finally making a little money, I have to worry about losing my head all the time.
Being a servant of the Kou Mansion is different.
There is a butt above the head.
Not that much.
When going out, if you show your identity as a servant of the Kou Mansion, all officials below the fifth rank will respect him three points.
When they want to make money, they go to the Western Regions to grab a ticket, and they immediately make a lot of money, and the Kou government will help them clean their butts.
Anyway, in the eyes of the patrolling horse guard leader, being a servant of the bandits has far more benefits than being an official.
Kou Ji didn't know what the leader of the patrolling horse guards was thinking, so he just thought that this guy had no future.
The two of them sat beside the big wooden pile, waiting for the cook to prepare the meal, and then had a simple meal.
Kou Ji ordered the leader of the patrol horse guards to lead the people to pack their bags.
At noon.
Liu Heng led a group of civilian workers to the camp.
After the civilian husbands and patrol horse guards packed their bags, they escorted the grain and grass to the valley road.
On the road.
Kou Ji and Liu Heng were both sitting astride the horses.
Liu Heng excitedly shared the war in Gudao with Kou Ji.