When the battle plan became clear, Lin Jiwu split his army into three groups. This way, they could move faster and outsmart the enemy.
The main battlefield in the middle route, which was the main offensive direction of the Hu Kingdom, witnessed the most intense fighting and was where the main force of the Da'en Kingdom was stationed. Lin Jiwu personally led four million troops to take command here, engaging in a direct confrontation with the Hu Kingdom's army. Lin Wan, the fourth-born Lin sibling, along with Lin Yuan and their brothers, joined this main force. Together, they took on the crucial task of fending off the enemy.
The grain cities in the northern region, which was the most likely route for the Hu Kingdom to secretly detour, became a strategic stronghold. Lin Jiwu dispatched three hundred thousand elite troops to set up defenses there and joined forces with the generals of the Man Kingdom to firmly hold the north, making sure to block the Hu army's supply route of grain. If the enemy broke through from the north, the imperial city of the Man Kingdom would fall without a fight.
The mobile surprise attack team was composed of ten thousand light cavalry, the fastest strange beasts from the primeval forest, and some undercover guards. This team could move fast and respond quickly. They could rush to help wherever the fighting got tough and mess up the Hu Kingdom's supply routes. Xiaobai's fox clan worked as scouts, keeping an eye on the enemy.
Meanwhile, the generals of the Man Kingdom were also formulating their own defensive strategies. However, exhaustion had set in, their spirits were flagging, and the battle hung in the balance.
...
Seven days ago, in the deep night, the atmosphere before the battle was oppressive and solemn. The siblings of the Lin family gathered in the general's tent, each holding a written letter in their hands.
"Are all the letters ready?" Lin Jiwu asked in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces one by one.
"Yes," they all replied in unison, their voices firm.
Lin Yuan clutched his letter of last resort. Despite acting nonchalant while writing it, he now felt a pang of unease. He glanced at his siblings.
Some had a composed expression, while some had a faint smile on their lips. Without exception, everyone had already made the determination to sacrifice at any time.
Lin Jiwu reached out his hand, took the letters handed over by everyone, and solemnly placed them in a wooden box. He said in a low voice, "Before we triumphantly return to Da'en, from now on, this is the last time you call me father."
There was a moment of silence in the tent. After a while, everyone said in unison, "Yes! General!"
Lin Jiwu's eyes flickered slightly. He pivoted sharply, pressing the wooden box into the vice-general's grasp. "Return this to the Lin mansion," he ordered gravely.
At this moment, Lin Wan suddenly clapped her hands, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "All right. Life and death are in the hands of fate. There's no need to look so solemn. It's rare for us siblings to gather together tonight. Why don't we have a good meal and fight to our heart's content tomorrow!"
Everyone agreed. Then, in a spacious tent, the siblings sat around together. The charcoal fire in the brazier burned brightly, the aroma of roasted meat filled the air, and tea was slowly poured into the cups, reflecting the reddish firelight.
"Do you still remember when we secretly climbed over the wall to buy tanghulu when we were kids?" Lin Gang, the second brother, grinned. "Dad caught us right as we scaled the wall. We got punished with ten laps around the training ground."
"Exactly!" The eldest brother, Lin Feng, shook his head. "At that time, the sixth brother kept complaining about being tired. After running, he just lay on the ground and refused to get up."
Lin Yuan twitched the corner of his mouth. "… I was five years old back then, okay?! Five years old!"
Lin Ran burst into laughter. "You're still so good at making excuses? You were crying so much back then... Hahaha."
They all looked at each other and smiled. Lin Ran casually picked up the wine pot and poured a cup for Lin Yuan. "Little Six, let's make an exception tonight and have a drink."
Lin Yuan took the wine cup and gently swirled it. The wine shimmered slightly. He tilted his head back and drank it. The acrid taste surged through his mouth, forcing him to cough uncontrollably.
"Is this wine so strong?" Lin Yuan frowned.
Lin Wan smiled faintly. "On the battlefield, the most terrifying thing is not being able to get a drop of wine."
This sentence made everyone pause slightly. Then, tacitly, they didn't mention life and death anymore and just chatted freely and reminisced about the past.
That night, there was no excessive sorrow. Just a final moment of ease and unspoken understanding between the siblings.
====================
当战局逐渐清晰,林季无果断决定兵分三路,以确保战场的灵活性与战术优势.
中路主战场,作为胡国的主攻方向,战线最为惨烈,也是大恩国主力驻扎之地.林季无亲自率领四百万大军坐镇此处,与胡国大军展开正面较量.林府兄弟姐妹中的四姐林婉,林远,以及其他兄弟们皆在此列,担负抵御敌军的重任.
北部粮食城,胡国最可能暗中迂回的路线,成为了战略要地.林季无派遣三十万精锐在此布防,并联合满国将领固守北部,务必拖住胡军的粮道.若敌军从北方突破,那满国皇城将不攻自破.
机动奇袭队,由一万轻骑兵,原始森林中速度最快的异兽,以及部分暗卫组成.这支部队机动灵活,可随时前往战局吃紧之处支援,并且负责破坏胡国的后勤补给线.小白的狐狸族群作为斥候,负责探查敌军动向.
同时,满国的将领们也在制定他们自己的防御策略,然而他们已显疲态,士气低落,战局仍然岌岌可危.
...
七天前,夜色深沉,战前的氛围压抑而肃穆.林府的兄弟姐妹们聚集在大将军的营帐中,每个人手中都拿着一封写好的信.
"都写好了?" 林季无沉声问道,目光从一张张熟悉的脸庞上扫过.
"是." 众人异口同声,语气坚定.
林远手里握着自己的遗书,虽然写的时候装得很潇洒,但此刻心里还是有些微妙的感觉.他看着自己的兄长和姐姐们,有人面色沉稳,有人嘴角带着若有似无的笑意,但无一例外,所有人都已经做好了随时牺牲的觉悟.
林季无伸出手,接过众人递来的信,郑重地放入一个木匣中,低沉道:"在我们还没凯旋回大恩前,从现在起,这是你们最后一次叫我爹."
帐内一片寂静,片刻后,众人齐声道:"是!大将军!"
林季无目光微动,随即转身,将木匣交给副将,沉声吩咐:"送回林府."
此时,林婉忽然拍了拍手,打破了沉重的气氛:"好了,生死天命,不必摆出这幅模样.今晚我们兄弟姐妹难得齐聚,不如吃点好的,明天再战个痛快!"
众人纷纷附和,随后,在一间宽敞的营帐内,兄弟姐妹们围坐在一起,火盆中的炭火燃得正旺,烤肉香气四溢,茶水缓缓倒入杯盏,映着微红的火光.
"还记得小时候我们偷偷翻墙出去买糖葫芦吗?" 二哥林刚笑着说道,"结果刚爬上墙头就被父亲抓了个正着,罚我们绕练武场跑了十圈."
"可不是嘛!" 大哥林锋摇了摇头,"那时候老六还喊累,结果跑完之后直接趴在地上不肯起来."
林远嘴角一抽:"... 当年我是五岁好吗?!五岁!"
林然哈哈一笑:"现在还这么能找借口?当初哭得... 哈哈哈."
众人相视一笑,林然随手拿起酒壶,给林远倒了一杯:"小六,今晚破个例,喝一杯吧."
林远接过酒杯,轻轻摇晃了一下,酒液透着微微的晃光.他仰头喝下,辛辣的味道瞬间在口中炸开,让他忍不住咳嗽了一声.
"这酒这么烈?" 林远皱眉.
林婉淡淡一笑:"战场上,最怕喝不到酒."
这句话让众人微微一顿,随后都默契地没有再提生死,只是尽情地谈天说地,回忆过往.
这一夜,没有过多的悲壮,只有兄弟姐妹间最后的放松和默契.