A Great Disturbance! . . .
"Ensure that all fortifications are repaired comprehensively! We must ensure their sturdiness!" These were the final instructions issued by Commander Cha Eun Xiao as he prepared to depart.
The order was clear: the focus now was on defense rather than offense.
"To all of you, make the most of these remaining days. Enhance your skills, for the time draws near." These words were directed at Ning Biluo, Zhao Pingtian, and Liu Changjun.
Cha Eun Xiao didn't take the Ling-Bao Hall assassins with him. Not even Song Jue was privy to his whereabouts.
Commander Cha's abrupt retreat, even when victory was within his grasp, had created a significant upheaval. The world was astounded.
Not long ago, Commander Cha had astounded the world by leading his much smaller army to victory against Wenren Jianyin's million-strong troops. Now, he stunned the world once more by relinquishing an opportunity for a more significant triumph in the name of the woman he loved.
In the Land of Han-Yang, the populace had a fresh topic of conversation after a long while.
"Incredible! That guy is truly extraordinary!"
"You're absolutely right! Cha Eun Xiao! He's willing to give up the kingdom for the sake of a woman."
"He even sacrificed his own life for her."
"That is treason. I can't fathom what he was thinking."
However, the female perspective on this tale was far more favorable.
"If any man could do something like that for me... I would give up everything for him!"
Almost every woman in the Land of Han-Yang had dreams of such grand gestures and were envious of Wenren Chuchu.
"I'm truly curious about how beautiful Princess Chuchu is. What could she have done to make Commander Cha act this way for her?"
"Commander Cha is undeniably a romantic."
"I'm dying to meet this legendary man."
On the other hand, the situation was vastly different among the capital's officials. They finally saw an opportunity to exact revenge on Cha Eun Xiao, believing it was their chance to avenge their fallen sons.
Their anger knew no bounds as they fervently denounced him.
"Your Majesty, Cha Eun Xiao has committed treason! He has betrayed the kingdom!"
"Cha Eun Xiao abandoned the battle! He must be punished!"
"Cha Eun Xiao is in love with the enemy! He has forsaken his kingdom for her! He should be executed!"
"Cha Eun Xiao must have been bribed by the Kingdom of Lan-Feng! He's clearly working for them! We must execute him immediately, before it's too late!"
Rationality was of no concern to them; they piled on the accusations, regardless of how absurd they seemed, in their quest to have Cha Eun Xiao sentenced.
The court was embroiled in chaos as officials from all ranks accused Cha Eun Xiao in unison.
Hundreds of officials knelt before the throne, vowing not to rise until the king passed a death sentence upon Cha Eun Xiao.
Some even shed tears and wept bitterly.
The king, with a somber expression, gazed upon the officials, his thoughts shrouded in mystery.
It was then that Zuo Wuji made an unexpected move, speaking up voluntarily for the first time in the court.
"Nonsense! You all are fabricating baseless claims, regardless of how irrational they may be, merely to secure Commander Cha's execution! You have let down the people and the soldiers who fought on the front lines!"
The very first words out of his mouth infuriated the officials.
"Zuo Wuji, you and Cha Eun Xiao are birds of a feather!" Several officials glared at Zuo Wuji, furious. "We knew you would stand up for him! Traitors, both of you! You deserve to die!"
Unfazed, Zuo Wuji raised his voice. "Your Majesty, I have more to say, if you'll permit it."
"Please continue," the king responded.
Zuo Wuji bore a visage that oscillated between distress and indignation. "When our kingdom faced imminent peril, Commander Cha Eun Xiao willingly accepted the mission to lead one hundred thousand soldiers to Iron Peak without a moment's hesitation. When he arrived, there were no more than eighty thousand wounded men left. At most, he commanded no more than one hundred and eighty thousand troops. In contrast, the Kingdom of Lan-Feng marshaled an army of one and a half million soldiers."
He passionately continued, "He led a mere one hundred and eighty thousand soldiers against an opposing force of one and a half million! It was an inconceivably dire situation. Who else would have had the audacity to lead such a battle? Commander Cha did. He dedicated himself to our kingdom, and it was his astute strategies and bravery that secured our victory. He drove the enemy out of our territory, and everyone knows that it was his doing. He did it all for the kingdom. There's no need to remind you of that."
Zuo Wuji's voice grew even more impassioned. "Commander Cha risked his life to protect our kingdom! Yet what you're suggesting is that he betrayed the king? That he betrayed the kingdom? Preposterous! The moment he staked his life and set out for that battle, we were already facing imminent failure! If he desired the kingdom's ruin, why would he venture forth to wage war?"
He lashed out, "And you accuse him of abandoning the battle? Nonsense! You know who had long since abandoned the kingdom? Your cowardly sons! A pack of spineless individuals! Let me remind you how they only joined the final army when there was no other choice! They were cowards, so they lacked the courage to obey Commander Cha's orders. They didn't wish to face death. They deserved condemnation!"
Zuo Wuji couldn't contain his exasperation. "Listen to yourselves. The allegations you've concocted against Commander Cha are ludicrous, to say the least. Betraying the kingdom? Taking bribes? Do you honestly think he's as foolish as you, old fools? Why would he betray us when he set off for battle? Why wouldn't he surrender when he confronted the vast Lan-Feng army at Iron Peak? If he were truly disloyal, why would he have fought tirelessly against the Kingdom of Lan-Feng? Are your heads filled with grass, or are you simply incapable of rational thought? If you intend to fabricate accusations, at least make them somewhat believable!"
He paused for a moment before addressing a relatively valid point. "Among all the absurd accusations, there is one that seems slightly reasonable. He forwent the opportunity to harm the enemy. But is that truly his fault? The Kingdom of Lan-Feng sustained defeat in the war. Their situation is dire. Yet what of our soldiers? Commander Cha led them to victory, but we paid a steep price to secure it. We waged a battle where one hundred and eighty thousand faced an opposing force of over one million. We won through sheer miraculous means, but how many of our men do you believe survived that encounter?"
Zuo Wuji's voice was impassioned as he pleaded his case. "Even if fifty thousand managed to survive, it would be a considerable stroke of luck. And if fifty thousand did indeed live, this includes those who were injured. Our king has experienced warfare before. Your Majesty, you're well aware of the losses we'd have sustained after such a battle. Commander Cha chased the enemy for seven consecutive days, reclaiming the territories we had lost previously and capturing several Lan-Feng towns. He led our forces to Sky Nerve City in the end. For seven days, there was no respite. How many of our men do you suppose were fit for another engagement?"