During the war, Bai Qi forbade the soldiers to eat mutton, which made the soldiers of the Qin State at that time feel extremely incompelled and dissatisfied. After all, mutton is not only the most accustomed food for them, but also one of the few supplies. What's more, during the long and arduous war years, hot lamb was undoubtedly the best heating partner. However, why did this wise and brave star make such an "absurd" decision? What was his intention? When a few brave soldiers stole mutton, Bai Qi personally caught it, what was the explanation for them?
The rules of the cool officials in the Qin army
Yanyun is late autumn, and the war is rekindled. In the military camp of the Qin State in the northwest border, the smell of fishy mutton lingered for a long time. This not only made the soldiers of the Qin army far away from home move their fingers, but also made the commander Bai Qi secretly frown.
As a contemporary strategist with both wisdom and bravery, Bai Qi naturally knows the benefits of eating mutton. It can not only replenish physical strength, but also keep warm from the cold, which is indeed the best battlefield meal. However, there is an ancient military rule in the Qin army, that is, mutton is not allowed to be eaten during the war.
Why is that? It turns out that as early as the pre-Qin period, the wars on the frontier have been fought for hundreds of years. Whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, there is a possibility that each other will start a war under the pretext of an excuse. Over time, the Qin army, who were accustomed to eating mutton, would leave a strong fishy smell around the barracks. As long as the enemy army follows this smell, they will be able to find the location of the Qin army.
In order not to be easily tracked and captured by the enemy, the ancestors set this seemingly "absurd" precept. Although for the soldiers, this was tantamount to challenging their taste buds and endurance, but in order to win the final war, they had to make this sacrifice.
Discipline in the Qin army has always been strict, and the soldiers are well aware of this rule. But a few bold people actually secretly ate mutton in private. Bai Qi naturally would not let go of this kind of disciplinary violation, and immediately sent someone to kill them all and wait for severe punishment.
The smoke of war far from home
Although the territory of Qin is vast, it is mountainous and river-wide, and it is located in a remote area. Coupled with the continuous war, the soldiers and civilians have tasted the bitterness of countless wars.
Since ancient times, the Qin people have been industrious and brave, diligent in farming and animal husbandry. They are simple by nature, have a rough penchant, and have a unique preference for delicious food. In that land covered with loess, cattle and sheep are the most common domestic animals, and mutton has naturally become the most habitual meat for soldiers and civilians.
But in such a pleasant homeland, the haze of war could not be dissipated for a long time. Since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the mutual attacks between the nations have never stopped. As an important member of the rise of the hegemon, the Qin State was naturally not spared.
As far as the eye can see, the soldiers may be just thinly dressed frontier pawns. But they are burdened with the heavy responsibility of defending their homeland and defending their homeland and country, and at the same time, they are also bearing all kinds of hardships that come with it. Carrying a spear for thousands of miles, you have to fight with the enemy everywhere you go; I have eaten all the wind, frost, rain and snow on the road, and I have smelled the gunpowder and fishy smell of countless battlefields.
The precarious life and death made the soldiers of the Qin army have a soft spot for mutton in their hometown. When they sleep in the open air, they always miss the warm fire at home and the steaming mutton on the plate; During the battle, he often went to hunt some wild sheep to warm his appetite. This habit has become a kind of "standard" for the Qin army.
But it was such a seemingly innocuous habit, but inadvertently, it exposed the location of the Qin army, giving the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of. When the aroma of mutton filled the air, any keen pursuer could easily catch this unusual smell and thus trace the traces of the Qin army.
Bai Qi's discerning military planning
Although the precept of not eating mutton in the Qin army has a long history, it was not until Bai Qi took charge of the army that this rule was completely implemented. As a battle-hardened hero, Bai Qi has his own unique military considerations for this seemingly "absurd" precept.
Bai Qi has been very knowledgeable since he was a child, especially the study of military books, which can be said to be well understood. He is not only familiar with the works of Sun Wu and Sun Bin, but also has a unique understanding and innovation of the essence of the art of war of famous generals such as Wu Qi and Wu Zixu. It is with such erudition that Bai Qicai sometimes uses tricks, sometimes single-handedly turns the tide of the war, and finally becomes one of the four famous generals of the Warring States.
In the decisive battle with Zhao State, Bai Qi even displayed his profound knowledge and made the Zhao army go far from each other. At that time, before Zhao Kuo, the commander of the Zhao army, led his own army to fight, in order to create a surprise attack, he secretly sent scouts to put down a fishy smell of mutton at the border of the Qin army, intending to confuse the Qin army and make it neglect to take precautions.
As a strategist, Bai Qi will naturally not be easily fooled. According to the custom, the Qin army would never eat mutton when it was about to fight, for fear of exposing its traces and allowing the opponent to take advantage of it. Bai Qi followed the vine and quickly found out the origin of this strange smell, and then laid an ambush in the army, waiting for Zhao Jun to appear.
Sure enough, Zhao Jun soon followed this aroma to the Qin army station. The Qin army, which had been prepared for a long time, annihilated the raiding Zhao army in one fell swoop, reversing the disadvantage on the battlefield. This "empty city plan" was in full swing, and in the end, Bai Qi annihilated the three armies in one city and won a complete victory.
It can be seen from this battle that the reason why Bai Qi strictly forbade the consumption of mutton was precisely to prevent tricks like Zhao Jun's, to avoid exposing his whereabouts and falling into passivity. Taking advantage of the unique smell of mutton, he carefully laid out a pocket array, and finally defeated the enemy army in one fell swoop. This is the best portrayal of Bai Qi's cautious use of troops and wisdom and bravery.
Military regulations are strict and human nature is tormented
Throughout the Warring States Period, no matter which country's army, the military regulations were extremely strict. The Qin army is naturally no exception, and it can even be said that it is much harsher than other countries.
Just as Bai Qi's rule that soldiers are not allowed to eat mutton is reflected, the military discipline of the Qin army can be described as strict and impeccable. Any person who violates discipline without exception will be severely punished, even in the smallest of circumstances.
Although this strict requirement was conducive to maintaining the stability of the army's morale during the war years, it also brought great suffering to the officers and men. After all, after years of being away from home, sharing life and death, weal and woe, comrades-in-arms have long established bonds closer than siblings.
During the long and brutal journey, occasionally indulging and enjoying a delicious meal from home is the greatest consolation for these soldiers who have endured humiliation. However, as Bai Qi said, blindly indulging selfish desires may give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of them, thus destroying the fruits of victory in the war.
As a generation of heroes, Bai Qi knows that how to find a balance between strict military discipline and the natural demands of human nature is a big test in front of him. Blindly harsh and harsh will only make the soldiers complain; But if you are too indulgent, you will definitely make a big mistake.
After repeated trade-offs, Bai Qi finally found a way to get the best of both worlds. He did not punish those pawns who stole mutton, but let them learn a lesson firsthand, so as to understand the importance of abiding by the law.
At the same time, Bai Qi also moderately relaxed military discipline, and allowed soldiers to eat mutton in moderation when it was not a decisive battle. He knew very well that only by taking into account military morale and discipline could he achieve the ultimate goal of war and win a complete victory.
The cruel price of victory in sight
After years of conquest, Bai Qi finally helped the Qin State unify the six kingdoms and created the foundation of the Qin Empire. But at this glorious moment, fate left a heavy lesson for this immortal celebrity.
Bai Qi, who had a high merit and shook the master, was unexpectedly suspicious and rejected by the King of Qin under his great military exploits. Under a single order, this former important minister in the army was deposed from all military ranks and lost his position. What's even more surprising is that even Bai Qi's family members and relatives were not spared, and they were all executed.
The root of all this can be traced back to the battle of Changping, in which Bai Qi used all kinds of tricks to win a great victory. At that time, Zhao Kuo sent heavy bribes to Qin on behalf of Zhao in order to rest the army. Unexpectedly, the bribe money was obstructed by the Qin army and could not be paid on time. King Qin Huiwen was furious and ordered the execution of the soldiers who were responsible for escorting the bribes.
At Bai Qi's claim, they were not really put to death, but were kept in secret. It was not until the end of the war that the Qin army re-recruited them under their command. But the slanderous rumors and gossip started from this, and the king of Qin was convinced of it, and in a fit of anger, he dismissed Bai Qi from his post without writing, and suffered this unjustified disaster.
Although Bai Qi later tried to regain his position, the Qin king was no longer able to bring him back under his command. Such a sighing encounter is undoubtedly the unbearable price of Bai Qi's outstanding military exploits in his life.
Later generations regarded this dispute between the monarch and the minister as a major injustice, and built temples for Bai Qi to pay tribute to this singing and crying military strategist. A grass folk treated this incomparably brave general so well, which shows that his reputation is far-reaching and praised.
In the face of such unwarranted persecution and regret, although Bai Qi had a reason to complain, he had no complaints. He just grew and cooked at home, lived a quiet and peaceful old age, and passed away a few years later. A generation of heroes fell into the rivers and lakes like this and became small people in the countryside. But his great achievements will eventually be remembered by the world forever in the Qin State and even in future generations.