Seven Days

Soldiers throughout the camp were busy. Fires flickered in the armory. Craftsmen were sharpening swords, bowstrings were adjusted one by one, and the edges of spears were polished to be as bright as snow. Every soldier was wiping and maintaining his weapon. They knew that the next action would determine their life or death. At the other end of the camp, cavalrymen were maintaining the saddles of war horses. Sergeants practiced formations and simulated tactics over and over again, with anxiety and expectation in every step. Several key reconnaissance posts had been set up outside the camp. Soldiers hid in dark corners, closely monitoring the movements inside and outside Taiyuan City.

The rain kept hitting the tent, as if it had cast a layer of oppressive atmosphere over the entire camp. Every soldier knew that the war was coming.

Gao Changgong stood outside the tent, looking at the mountains in the distance. The rain flowed down his mask and soaked his armor, but he didn't seem to feel the cold. Since the order to assemble was issued, he has been waiting for a reply. Feng Duo, Li Ben and other generals were all carrying out their tasks, and Bai Lian was also running around, but Gao Changgong knew that the real decisive battle was not only on the battlefield, but more of a game in the heart.

"What exactly am I doing?" He asked himself in a low voice. He claimed that this action was to give himself justice and to prove to the emperor that his loyalty had not changed. However, as the situation developed, he could no longer be sure whether his original goal could be achieved.

He knew that this action had exceeded the original idea - once such a large-scale army was assembled, it would be regarded as a rebellion whether he wanted it or not. Even if he wanted to avoid bloody conflicts, the torrent of history had pushed him onto this road of no return. Gao Changgong stood in the wind and rain, feeling an invisible force pushing everything, and he knew that he could never look back.

"How will history write this moment?" He couldn't help thinking. As a general, he had been invincible on the battlefield, but the current situation made him extremely confused. He had been loyal to Northern Qi and the royal family all his life, but now he had become an enemy of the court. All this seemed full of irony - was it fate or his own choice?

He suddenly remembered Bai Lian's words. She had warned him to stay out of the limelight and stay at home. However, now that things have come to this point, he finds that he has no way out. He has long been involved in the power struggle in the court. The emperor's suspicion of him and the ministers' instigation will be regarded as ill-intentioned no matter how he explains it.

As the night deepened, the rain still did not stop, and Gao Changgong felt even heavier. His heart was full of contradictions and struggles: he knew that he was fighting for survival, but was such a survival worth it? If everything failed, he would not only lose everything he had, but also implicate the soldiers who followed him.

He paced back and forth in the tent, and he remembered the letters he sent to various generals, hoping that they could help in times of crisis. However, he also knew clearly that these generals had their own thoughts, and some might choose to wait and see, or even turn to the court. After all, they have to consider not only themselves, but also the safety of their families.

"If we fail, how can I face these people who followed me?" Gao Changgong clenched his fists, anger and helplessness intertwined in his heart. As a battle-hardened general, he was used to killing enemies on the battlefield, but now, the enemy he faced was the royal family to whom he had sworn allegiance.

The sound of rain outside became more and more urgent, as if sounding the alarm for the coming storm. Gao Changgong took a deep breath and decided to put aside these chaotic thoughts for the time being. He walked out of the tent and patrolled the entire camp. The soldiers were still busy, and no one showed fear of the upcoming battle. Instead, they all had a resolute expression. They believed in Gao Changgong and believed that he could lead them out of the predicament.

"These soldiers are worth everything I can do for them." Gao Changgong secretly made up his mind. He knew that although the road ahead was unclear, he would never back down.

Early the next morning, Feng Duo returned to the camp with the latest news from each unit. Although several units were still hesitating, most of the old troops were ready to respond to Gao Changgong's call. Li Ben also successfully transported back enough food and grass, ensuring the army's supply in the short term.

"Next, we must make preparations for both situations," Gao Changgong said to Feng Duo, Li Ben and several other generals in the tent, "On the one hand, we must gather all the forces we can, and on the other hand, we must also be prepared to deal with surprise attacks."

Feng Duo nodded: "I have set up several sentinels to ensure that we will not be attacked by the enemy. If there is any movement, we will be the first to know."

"Very good," Gao Changgong said, "Time is tight, and all preparations must be completed within seven days."

The generals expressed their understanding. They were used to such tense situations, but everyone knew in their hearts that this action was different from the past battles, and success or failure was related to everyone's life.