The flames shot straight up into the sky, and from a distance, one could see scattered bursts of fire soaring upwards, accompanied by loud noises. Every time a burst of flames shot into the sky, the people around cheered. However, there was a deep furrow on Warlord's brow. Suddenly, he shouted, "Scout! Has the scout returned?"
What could be wrong? I turned my head towards the flames, and suddenly, an inexplicable panic washed over me. I had thrown firecrackers myself, containing around a pound of gunpowder, but they had never produced such a huge explosion in the sky. It seemed that the gunpowder wasn't exploding on the ground but rather igniting in the air.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Could it be that one of the dead soldiers was impatient and set off the gunpowder prematurely in the air? Even if it had ignited accidentally, it should not have created such a massive explosion.
I was consumed with anxiety, eager to get closer and see what had happened. Then I remembered the telescope made by Xue Wenyi. Although it couldn't provide a clear view, it could at least reveal some details. However, at this point, the flames had settled down, and even if I rushed there, I wouldn't see much.
Suddenly, the area below the city walls became noisy, the city gates were thrown open, and a horseman galloped into the city. It was one of our scout soldiers.
He rushed past me without noticing me, galloped up to the city wall, and knelt down, saying, "Reporting to Warlord, something... something is not right!"
He was out of breath from his journey, and it was clear that he had hurried here from a relatively short distance.
Warlord asked, "What's happened?"
The scout replied breathlessly, "Reporting to Warlord, the Swift March Battalion... the entire unit has been wiped out!"
What? I stood nearby, my face turning pale. The Swift March Battalion had originally comprised five thousand troops, and even after significant losses, it still had over three thousand men. However, when the scout said the entire Swift March Battalion had been wiped out, he was likely referring to the one thousand soldiers sent on this mission. Warlord's face showed no immediate reaction as he responded, "Tell me more inside." He waved his hand, and the two eagle guards escorted him into the tent. The scout followed them inside.
The female musician was taken back to the supply camp by one of the commanding officers. I recognized the officer and greeted him with a nod as he passed. He returned the greeting and continued leading her back to the camp. As she walked away, I watched her closely.
The wind lifted her yellow dress, and under the spring night's still slightly chilly air, she clutched her pipa. As she walked away, her face remained expressionless, and a faint pain tugged at my heart.
After leaving the city, I happened to encounter some remnants of the Swift March Battalion returning at the South Gate. There were originally 1,050 of them when they set out, but now only a little over a hundred remained. It was indeed a complete wipeout.
The plan for this attack was meant to be a surprise, and initially, the Vanguard Battalion had volunteered to carry out the mission. However, Warlord chose to send the 1,000 soldiers from the Swift March Battalion instead. While the Vanguard Battalion consisted mostly of cavalry with their loud presence, the Swift March Battalion was composed of elite foot soldiers with slightly less offensive power but stronger defensive capabilities. They maintained stricter discipline than the somewhat haughty Vanguard Battalion. This time, the use of fire attacks seemed more suitable for them.
Losing 1,000 soldiers might not significantly damage the overall military strength, but the failure of this seemingly foolproof plan had given the Snake People an opportunity to turn the tables. It had a considerable impact on the morale of the troops. Some soldiers at the city gates, ignoring the orders, gathered around the returning survivors.
This operation was initially kept top-secret, and it wasn't until the troops departed that the foot soldiers at the city gates learned about the mission. The unconventional nature of this attack led them to believe that it was destined for success, but they couldn't have anticipated such an outcome. Thus, they were eager to know what had happened. I stood near the crowd, listening closely.
The Swift March Battalion was led by an officer named Guan Hong. When they reached the forest, everything seemed normal. The kites were flown into the air, but suddenly, a large group of Snake People emerged from the woods. At that moment, the kites hadn't yet reached the Snake People's camp, so if Guan Hong had chosen to retreat, he could have abandoned the 50 soldiers on the kites, and the rest of the battalion might have returned safely. But Guan Hong decided to stand his ground and keep fighting, believing they could hold out until the kites dropped their explosives, which, if successful, would mean he could die with no regrets.
At first, this strategy worked well. The Snake People had superior numbers but couldn't break through the defenses of the Swift March Battalion. Just as the kites approached the Snake People's camp, however, a large flock of birds carrying firebombs suddenly flew up from the Snake People's encampment. The 50 soldiers on the kites burst into flames in the air, and at that point, the will to fight of the Swift March Battalion was shattered. All 50 soldiers on the kites perished, and the entire battalion of 1,000 soldiers was slaughtered.
Listening to the survivors' horrifying accounts, fear was evident in their voices. Guan Hong's heroic spirit, his determination to die fighting, couldn't inspire them. In their hearts, only fear of the Snake People remained.
As I listened, a sense of unease crept over me. Warlord had initially planned to achieve a victorious outcome and then withdraw the troops. However, his intricate plan had backfired. I wondered how he would handle this situation moving forward.
I raised my head to look at the sky. Dawn was approaching, but the area around the city gate was still packed with soldiers. At that moment, a commanding officer on horseback arrived, shouting, "What's all this? Get
I looked at him. Judging by his uniform, he was a patrol officer in the central army. I hadn't spoken yet when he dismounted and approached me with a salute, saying, "General Chu, I'm Yuan Kexiang. I apologize for my rudeness."
I replied, "You're right. I'll return to the camp immediately."
Yuan Kexiang suggested, "General Chu, you can ride my horse for now. I'll bring your horse to your camp in a little while."
My arm was throbbing with pain. I had rushed here without riding a horse, and my previous mount had fallen in the first battle between the Dragon Scale Army and the Snake People. My current horse had been kept in the Dragon Scale Army's stables and I hadn't ridden it yet. I didn't hesitate and saluted him, saying, "Thank you."
Yuan Kexiang saluted me in return and then looked around. I dismounted and headed towards the camp of the Dragon Scale Army. Along the way, I noticed that soldiers were engaged in hushed conversations everywhere.
Warlord had suffered a complete defeat in this battle. The failure of this battle had shattered his plan to return as if victorious, and I wondered if he would accept this bitter defeat or swallow his pride and retreat. In the grand scheme of things, retreating at this moment was the wisest course of action.
However, I couldn't help but wonder how this defeat had occurred. The strategy of using gunpowder to attack the enemy camp was unprecedented in the history of the Empire's military campaigns. The Snake People, with their savage mentality, would have never thought of such a tactic. The only possibility was that we had a spy within our own ranks.
My thoughts immediately turned to that shadowy figure I had encountered just before the Swift March Battalion set out. Could that be the spy? I couldn't help but shudder. The spy couldn't possibly be a Snake Person, but if it was a person, who could it be? In the past, I would have immediately suspected a remnant of the Republican Army. However, now I realized that claiming it was a remnant of the Republican Army raised too many questions. If this person was embedded within the Empire's army, why didn't they reveal themselves during the siege, and why did they wait until after the Republican Army was defeated to emerge?
Lost in thought on my horse, I suddenly heard someone calling, "Commander! General Chu!"
I looked up and saw General Jin Qianshi ahead, leading my horse. I dismounted and said, "General Jin, hello."
Jin Qianshi approached the horse and assisted me. I said, "This horse belongs to General Yuan Kexiang of the central army. He'll be coming to retrieve it shortly. General Jin, is there something you need?"
Jin Qianshi replied, "General Chu, just now, a messenger arrived from Warlord to inform you to hurry to the central army's location for a military conference."
I was a bit puzzled for a moment but quickly realized that I was now the leader of the Dragon Scale Army and had the authority to attend military council meetings on par with Lu Gongxing. I mounted my horse and said, "I will go immediately."
I was about to leave on my horse when I turned back and said, "General Jin, please tell Bai Wei and Zi Liao in my tent that I won't be having breakfast. They should eat it all."
I whipped my horse lightly. Even with only one hand controlling the reins, I managed it with ease. While riding, I couldn't help but find the situation with General Jin's former concubines quite amusing. Asking him to discuss breakfast arrangements with them was a bit awkward.
As I arrived at Warlord's military tent, several orderlies were waiting to greet me at the entrance. Once inside, a staff officer called out, "General Chu Xiuhong has arrived."
This was my first time attending such a meeting. A horse marshal guided me to my seat. In the tent, about ten officers from various units were already seated. At the front were the commander of the Central Army, Lord Moyu Zhenwu, and the Chief General of the Rear Army, Luo Jingwei. Seated next to them were Deputy Chief General of the Left Army, Bu Wu, and Acting Chief General of the Right Army, Luan Peng. Originally, they were meant to sit behind Left Army General Lu Jingyu and Right Army General Shen Xiping. However, as those two legendary generals weren't present, their seats were left vacant. Behind them, there were over twenty more seats for mid-ranking officers from the Central, Left, Right, and Rear armies. The Central Army had originally had around ten officers who were eligible to attend the military council meeting, but five or six had been killed in action, leaving their seats unoccupied. My seat was in the right army section, right next to the central army, adjacent to General Lu Gongxing. When I sat down, he nodded at me without speaking. I returned the nod and took my seat. Warlord's seat was still empty; it appeared he would only join us once we were all present.
After waiting for a while, all the officers scheduled to attend had arrived. Warlord's military council required all officers to be present within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, or they would face punishment. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it hadn't been for Yuan Kexiang lending me his horse, I might have been late.
Once everyone had arrived, Warlord's staff officers pulled back the tent curtain, and the staff officer declared, "Warlord's entrance! Please rise, gentlemen." We all stood and offered a salute as Warlord entered. He acknowledged our salutes and took his seat.
Once we were all seated, Warlord said, "Gentlemen, you are probably already aware that our night raid ended in complete failure. Out of the 1,050 brave brothers who set out, only 102 returned; the rest perished."
No one said anything. The news had spread incredibly fast, and most of the troops had already heard about it. Warlord raised his wine cup and continued, "This plan was initially proposed by Laoguoji, the Centurion of the 13th Battalion of the Vanguard Battalion. I approved it. The failure of this operation lies with me."
He struck the cup on the table and said, "As of now, the three armies have lost their fighting spirit. Gentlemen, how do you propose we proceed?"
Warlord intended to withdraw his forces.
I immediately thought of this. A couple of days ago, Lord Lu Gongxing had proposed a retreat, which was likely met with some resistance. Now, Warlord was finally considering his suggestion. Indeed, given the current situation, retreating was the best course of action. However, South Frontier had only recently been pacified, and the situation was still unstable. A hasty retreat with the snake people still outside the city might mean losing the fruits of our victory over the Republican Army. But sometimes, there were no better options, and an early retreat was better than facing utter defeat.
At this moment, Mo Zhenwu stood up and said, "Your Excellency, in my humble opinion, our campaign against the rebels has been fully successful, and the snake people are no more than a minor nuisance. The urgent task is to retreat and recuperate."
This was likely the sentiment of many. After all, when we captured High Goshawk City, it was like delivering a powerful punch. This punch had exhausted our strength, and we were left with little to follow it up with. Mo Zhenwu, as the commander of the Central Army, was essentially conveying Warlord's wishes since Warlord himself was not eager to suggest a retreat. Instead, he allowed Mo Zhenwu to voice it.
De Yang also stood and said, "Your Excellency, I fully agree with General Mo's sentiments. Our three armies have been campaigning for nearly a year. It is now early spring, and the supplies are running low. Without replenishment, our troops' rations will only last for about a month. I also concur with General Mo that it is better to begin the retreat."
Mo Zhenwu could be considered the voice of Warlord, and De Yang represented the logistical concerns. The words of these two men could almost decide everything. Both from an internal and external perspective, retreating seemed to be the best course of action, and I agreed with this view.
After they took their seats, a general from the Right Army stood and said, "Your Excellency, the snake people are still outside the city. If we don't eliminate them, they may grow into a serious threat. What should we do if they become a more significant problem?"
I whispered to Lu Gongxing, who was sitting next to me, "General Lu, who is this person?"
Although I was already part of the Right Army, I hadn't met several of the Right Army's generals. I had only assumed my position as the commander of the Dragon Scale Army and was injured on my first day in the Right Army. As a result, I was less familiar with the Right Army.
Lu Gongxing replied quietly, "He is Wanfuchang Chai Shengxiang of the Right Army."
So, he was Chai Shengxiang? I nodded inwardly. In the Right Army, there were two Wanfuchangs, one was Luan Peng, and the other was Chai Shengxiang. Both of them were valiant commanders who were accustomed to charging into battle. Luan Peng was generally more cautious and held a higher rank. Chai Shengxiang, on the other hand, was known for his personal courage. His troops typically charged recklessly into battle and achieved either great victories or suffered significant defeats. Early in our campaign, his ten thousand soldiers pursued retreating Republican troops for two days and didn't return. This caused quite a dilemma for Shen Xiping, who had to explain the situation to Warlord. Fortunately, Chai Shengxiang returned victorious, having killed five to six thousand Republican soldiers and civilians. However, a substantial portion of those he had killed were civilians, making it difficult to attribute the merits appropriately. If all the achievements were to be credited, Chai Shengxiang's ten-thousand-strong unit would have been promoted by a full rank, causing a headache for the merit recorder, De Yang. Fortunately, the incident was attributed to a miscommunication of orders, allowing him to escape without a promotion or punishment. Some within the army teased that military ranks in the Right Army ranged from "King" for Chai Shengxiang down to "Earl" for Warlord, playfully suggesting that while Warlord held the title of "Warlord," Chai Shengxiang was the real "Warlord of Slaughter."
The reputation of this "King of Slaughter" wasn't particularly good, but what he said did hold some truth. However, his statement seemed somewhat ill-suited to the current situation. Warlord was not ignorant of the dangers of keeping the snake people around, but it also depended on whether we had the strength to eliminate them. We were currently trapped within the city by the snake people, and it was doubtful if we had the capacity to wipe them out. Warlord was also concerned that if he transferred Chai Shengxiang to the Central Army, he might cause disruptions. That's why, when we were defending the city earlier, he transferred two thousand soldiers from Chai Shengxiang's troops to serve under General Luan Peng.
Warlord didn't dismiss Chai Shengxiang's words entirely and said, "General Chai has a point as well. However, given the current state of our forces, we may not be able to continue the battle. What other options do we have?"
Warlord's words were calm, but they were like thunderclaps for us. By admitting so openly that the Imperial Army was not a match for the snake people, he surprised us all. Although we had a sense that the situation wasn't favorable, Warlord's straightforward acknowledgment was unexpected.
Chai Shengxiang said, "Your Excellency, you underestimate your prestige. Chai Shengxiang is willing to lead his ten-thousand-strong unit to eradicate the snake menace."
Before his words had even settled, Lu Gongxing muttered quietly, "Arrogant boast." The generals around us began murmuring in agreement. Indeed, Chai Shengxiang was known for his penchant for bragging. Claiming that ten thousand troops could defeat the snake people was almost like mocking Warlord for not knowing how to lead an army effectively while having fifty thousand soldiers guarding the South Gate.
Warlord didn't respond to the banter but asked, "Is there anyone willing to join General Chai in this endeavor?"
Warlord's willingness to make such sarcastic remarks took me by surprise. It was clear that the Central Army, under the current circumstances, wouldn't have anyone foolish enough to go into battle with Chai Shengxiang. The Left Army, now led by Bu Wu, was generally more cautious than under Lu Jingyu's command. Bu Wu wouldn't be rash enough to team up with Chai Shengxiang. As for Luo Jingwei, he and Shen Xiping had never gotten along, and Luo Jingwei, despite having significant accomplishments, had yet to receive a noble title. Additionally, the fighting capability of his Rear Army was subpar, so he would not team up with Chai Shengxiang either. Thinking about this, I felt somewhat anxious. What if Luan Peng, motivated by impulsive courage, said that he would use both of the Right Army's ten-thousand-strong units to confront the enemy? This could result in me, a freshly minted commander in the Right Army, getting embroiled in the situation.
To my surprise, Luan Peng stood up and said, "Your Excellency, I have something to say."
Warlord responded, "Speak."
At this moment, I silently prayed to the heavens to prevent Luan Peng from saying anything like, "I am willing to join General Chai in this endeavor." While I didn't think we couldn't overcome the snake people, continuing to fight might lead to significant casualties for the entire army. I wanted to earn military merits, but I didn't want a "posthumous promotion."
Luan Peng said, "Your Excellency, General Chai's courage is commendable, but when it comes to military strategy, a combination of both bravery and wisdom is essential for consistent victories."
With his first sentence, I couldn't help but regard him with a different perspective. I hadn't expected to find such a character in the fiercely brave Right Army. It seemed that even though Shen Xiping was known for his bravery but lacked strategy, he was still capable of recognizing talent.
Luan Peng continued, "Currently, we are at a stalemate with the snake people, and breaking this situation appears to be challenging. It would be unwise to recklessly indulge in individual heroism. In my humble opinion, the suggestion of General Mo and Sir De to retreat is the best course of action."
He also agreed to the retreat! I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although I was seated behind him and could only see his back, I felt that his stature had suddenly grown larger.
Bu Wu's cautious nature meant he leaned toward supporting the retreat. Now, with the three main generals from the Four Armies advocating for the withdrawal, even if Luo Jingwei disagreed, it wouldn't matter. Warlord asked, "General Luo, what do you think?"
Luo Jingwei stood up, bowed, and said, "I also believe that a timely retreat is the best option. The Republic's entire army has been eliminated, and the snake people won't pose a significant threat. Even if the snake people become aggressive, we can always launch a counteroffensive."
Warlord said, "In that case, it's decided. Today, prepare to retreat. The Central Army will handle the rear."
At this moment, Chai Shengxiang suddenly shouted, "Warlord! General Lu from the Left Army has yet to return after ten days; we cannot retreat yet."
As soon as he said that, almost half the people glared at him. Although it had been less than ten days since Lu Jingyu left, everyone was aware he wouldn't return. Despite Warlord's initial promise to forgive his punishment, it was merely a way to silence critics. Although Lu Jingyu had left less than ten days ago, he wouldn't return after just ten days. Only someone as foolish as Chai Shengxiang would dare to suggest such a thing. I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Fool, if you're so eager to die, then let the snake people slaughter you while you guard the rear."
Warlord, however, displayed no change in his expression and said, "General Chai is correct. Tomorrow is indeed the tenth day, and General Luo's rear army can exit through the north gate today. Following them will be the logistics unit. The Left and Right Armies will follow in order, with the Central Army guarding the rear until tomorrow evening. If General Lu Jingyu doesn't return to camp tomorrow, he will face a death sentence, so there's no need to worry about him. Generals, when withdrawing your troops, ensure a well-organized and orderly retreat. Do not let chaos reign. The Central and Right Armies should maintain heightened vigilance to guard against snake people attacks."
I could only chuckle quietly. In essence, Warlord's words amounted to no change; although it appeared as if he had considered Chai Shengxiang's words, we were still going to start the retreat today. With an army of one hundred thousand soldiers, we now had just over ninety thousand left, along with several thousand craftsmen and women, as well as female captives taken by the soldiers. In total, we probably had around eleven or twelve thousand non-combatants to evacuate. Exiting the city would take at least a day. But Warlord's speech was well-constructed and gave the impression that he would wait for Lu Jingyu's return until tomorrow. He had already made up his mind, with the Right Army departing second to last, effectively assigning the rear-guard duty to the Right Army as well.
Lu Gongxing suddenly stood up and said, "Warlord, there are still more than fifty thousand city residents remaining. What should be done with them?"
Chai Shengxiang remarked, "What should we do? Just kill them. My Lord, I'm willing to take charge and eliminate them within half a day. Keeping them alive is a waste of resources, and we'll have to worry about them causing trouble."
I felt a shiver down my spine but was unsure of how to respond. While considering it from a purely strategic perspective, killing them would indeed be the most efficient way to eliminate the remnants of the Republic's forces and save valuable provisions. However, I couldn't easily utter such a ruthless solution. After all, these were the lives of fifty thousand people.
Warlord pondered for a moment, sighed, and said, "Excessive killing won't bring any benefit. Starting today, the eastern gate will be open for two hours each day, allowing them to escape. Meeting adjourned."
We all stood up and respectfully bowed to Warlord. No one spoke a word. Although everyone had grown weary of the war, the impending retreat filled us with unease. Moreover, the presence of the snake people outside the southern gate added another layer of apprehension. If they were to attack while we retreated, it would be disastrous.
After leaving the central army's tent and bidding farewell to General Lu Gongxing, I mounted my horse, preparing to return to the western gate. Just as I was about to depart, I heard someone call out, "Is that General Chu of the Dragon Scale Army? Please, join us."
I turned to see that it was General Luan Peng, the acting commander of the Right Army. He was accompanied by General Chai Shengxiang and a group of soldiers. My arrival had been rushed, and I had not been assigned a proper escort, making me appear rather modest compared to them. I urged my horse forward and approached them, offering a salute.
"General Luan, General Chai, I am General Chu Xiu Hong of the Dragon Scale Army. It's an honor to meet both of you."
Chai Shengxiang glanced at me, remarking, "I've heard of General Chu Xiu Hong, the Hero of the Vanguard Battalion, but now I see you're just a young man."
In the past, I might have taken his words as sarcasm or mockery. However, given the current circumstances and General Chai's straightforward nature, I sensed no malice in his words. There was no reason for him to be polite to an underling like me.
I replied, "I must apologize, General Chai. I am simply fortunate."
General Luan Peng smiled faintly and commented, "Good fortune may play a part once, but not consistently. General Chu is a young and promising officer, showing exceptional qualities."
While I appreciated his praise, I found it difficult to respond. I was about to express my humility when Chai Shengxiang interjected, "Peng, why aren't you speaking up for me? Warlord is becoming indecisive. As for those prisoners, we should execute them. What's the point of keeping them around? I've said it before; we need to cut the grass and eliminate the roots. As for Luo Jingwei, he started from the rear and ended up in the front. He must have been a rat in his past life."
These were harsh words, but I refrained from making any hasty remarks. It was not my place to intervene in the conversation between the two high-ranking generals.
Luan Peng just smiled. While the Rear Army had relatively weaker combat capabilities, Luo Jingwei was far from being a weak leader. Every time the entire army charged into battle, the Rear Army always kept pace, thanks to Luo Jingwei's leadership skills. In Chai Shengxiang's eyes, the Rear Army, primarily responsible for cleaning the battlefield and protecting the supply depot, seemed like an inconsequential force.
Luan Peng glanced at me and said with a smile, "My Lord is already confident in his plans. Our subordinates should refrain from interfering too much."
His words seemed to imply that he was being cautious because of my presence, refraining from complaining. Chai Shengxiang, however, disregarded any such concerns and remarked, "Peng, when Lord Shen was alive, we were battle brothers, charging into the fray and earning numerous merits under his command. Now that he's gone, why are you so cautious? This is unlike you."
Luan Peng replied, "The way of a commander is to set strict orders. My Lord has given his orders, and we follow them."
I couldn't help but suppress a smile. Chai Shengxiang was displaying remarkable naivety, while Luan Peng seemed to have a profound understanding of the situation. Perhaps they both wished to avoid retreating.
Returning to my camp, I bid farewell to the two battalion commanders of the Right Army and entered my own tent. Jin Qianshi was waiting outside, and upon seeing me, he inquired, "Commander, you're back. What are the Warlord's orders?"
I dismounted and replied, "Warlord has issued orders to withdraw the day after tomorrow. Prepare accordingly."
Jin Qianshi questioned, "Withdraw? What about those snake people outside the city?"
I explained, "For now, we won't bother with them. When the time comes, Warlord might instruct us to cover the retreat. Go inform the men to prepare."
Jin Qianshi's face brightened, and he exclaimed, "Great! This place is a nightmare. Besides women, we can't get anything to eat. We've acquired a large sum of money for nothing."
I couldn't help but wryly smile. Gaoji City had once been a thriving stronghold in South Jiang, known as the "most prosperous in the southern heavens." It had everything one could wish for, from food to entertainment. Yet now, we were responsible for its decline. Guarding this dilapidated city seemed pointless. As for the remaining fifty thousand citizens, Warlord had already granted them a path to survival.
I instructed, "Formal orders will come soon. Tell the men to prepare early."
Our retreat wasn't exactly a victory, and it felt somewhat like a humiliating defeat. Once Warlord returned to the Imperial Capital, he would likely have a troubled mind. Still, at least nine out of ten soldiers would safely return home. Apart from the minor damage to his reputation, there would be little else he could reproach us for.
I returned to my tent, where Bai Wei and Zi Lian were already waiting. I said, "Help me put on my armor."
Given the uncertainty of our retreat, I needed to wear armor to prepare for any potential attacks by the snake people. With my left arm wrapped in a bandage, donning armor on my own was quite inconvenient. Without their assistance, I'd be left helpless.
After they helped me put on my armor, I asked them, "We're about to withdraw. Are you willing to accompany me back to the Imperial Capital?"
They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a hint of panic, unsure of what I meant. Indeed, they were considered my concubines. Was I planning to leave them behind or kill them on the spot? Many Imperial soldiers were known to kill the captured women they deemed unworthy to take along.
I clarified, "I'm asking if you have any relatives here you could seek refuge with."
They looked at each other, then after a moment, Bai Wei mumbled, "We have an uncle in Wuyang City."
Wuyang City was also a renowned city in South Jiang, but it was situated about three hundred miles away from here. The city was teeming with merchants and was often referred to as the "City of Five Rams and Myriads of Merchants." Because of their extensive dealings with foreign merchants, the locals had a reputation for their profit-oriented and unscrupulous nature. Whenever the people of the Imperial Capital spoke of the greedy and treacherous individuals in the south, they often cited Wuyang City as an example. The Imperial Lord allowed them a degree of autonomy in exchange for annual tax contributions. During Wu Hou's rebellion, Wuyang City had remained neutral and didn't join the insurgency. While Wu Hou's troops had passed through the city, the Lord of Wuyang had also contributed to our supplies. This meant that the city had recently returned to the rule of the Empire. While the city had taken in a substantial number of refugees, law and order had deteriorated somewhat, it hadn't been significantly affected. Unfortunately, our withdrawal wouldn't take us through Wuyang City, and I couldn't think of a good way to send them there.
I sighed and said, "Don't you have any other relatives nearby?"
Even as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren't reasonable. Gaoji City was in ruins, and the nearby villages had been evacuated. Within a hundred-mile radius, there was no sign of human life, so even if they had relatives, they wouldn't be able to find them.
Bai Wei sighed and said, "General, are you really letting us go?"
I replied, "Why wouldn't I be? Are you afraid I'm lying to you?"
Suddenly, tears welled up in Zi Lian's eyes, and she choked out, "General, you..."
Seeing her tearful and charming appearance, I felt a pang in my heart. My face remained smiling, and I said, "Why are you crying? Are you still attached to me? I'm your enemy, after all. Perhaps your relatives and friends here were killed by me. Don't you resent me?"
Bai Wei let out a sigh and said, "But we can't blame you."
I fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Well, prepare yourselves. As soon as there's an opportunity, I'll arrange for you to go to Wuyang City."
Bai Wei said, "General, if you're really letting us go, can you provide us with a carriage? We'll make our own way."
I looked at her. The submissive expression had disappeared from her face, replaced by a lively and hopeful look. It left me somewhat disappointed. Despite my intention to let them go, the sight of her being so ecstatic and desperate to leave made me uncomfortable.
I asked, "Can you drive a carriage?"
Zi Lian replied, "I can ride a horse, sir."
I chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll arrange a carriage for you both. Prepare some provisions and change into men's clothing. You'll leave right away."
※ ※ ※
There were many carriages and supply carts in the logistics camp. I led them to the central army camp and had them wait at the entrance of the logistics camp. De Yang happened to be checking the war captives. I dismounted and walked toward him.
These captives were mostly artisans. Each time we took a city, the artisans and young women were spared and taken back to the Imperial Capital. When we captured Gaoji City this time, there were about three to four thousand artisans, even more than the people in the logistics camp. De Yang was holding a ledger and tallying the names, categorizing the artisans by their trades. There were hundreds of winemakers among them; with these artisans returning to the capital, they could open quite a few large wineries. Luo Jingwei's rear army had been evacuating continuously. Each ten thousand troops took several hours to withdraw, and by the time the rear army finished retreating, it was almost dark. Following them would be De Yang's logistics camp. The rear army, despite its lower combat ability, was a combat unit and had faster movements, while the logistics camp had a variety of tasks, including discarding some of the captured women and taking all the artisans back to the capital, as long as they weren't sick. Managing these thousands of artisans and around one or two thousand women kept him busy. Wu Hou's supposed day-long delay for Lu Jingyu would also have taken a day to finish.
I noticed he was busy, so I called out, "Master De, you seem busy." He turned around, smiled when he saw me, and said, "General Chu, you're here. The logistics camp will need another two hours to prepare to leave. You know, the logistics camp isn't as quick to move as General Luo's rear army. Why don't you go get ready too?"
I said, "I'm getting ready now. I came to ask you for a carriage. It doesn't need to be large; one that can accommodate two people will do."
De Yang replied, "That's easily arranged." He called over one of the logistics camp soldiers and said, "Xiao Zhu, find General Chu a carriage."
I remembered this Xiao Zhu; he was the one who lived with Zhang Longyou. He brought out a horse and attached a carriage to it. He asked, "Is this fine, General Chu?"
The carriage wasn't large; it was originally used for cargo but had enough space for two people to sit comfortably. I replied, "It's fine. Master De, is it convenient?"
De Yang handed the ledger to a nearby soldier and said, "We've already used up most of the provisions, and even the requisitioned supplies from within Gaoji City are nearly exhausted, leaving us with a considerable number of empty carts. General Chu, do you have that much stuff with you?"
I couldn't exactly say it was to send Bai Wei and Zi Lian to Wuyang City, so I gave a vague response. After bidding him farewell, I took my horse and the carriage and headed out.
The sky hadn't darkened yet, and the logistics camp was in chaos. I said to Bai Wei and Zi Lian, who were looking around anxiously, "Alright, you can go now. Have you prepared your rations?"
Of course, the rations were still the same hard, dry cakes, not particularly delicious, but enough to stave off hunger. The journey from here to Wuyang City would take more than a day, even if they rode fast horses, it might still take two or three days by carriage. Bai Wei replied, "We've already prepared them."
She handed me a small bag, and I took a look. Inside, there were only three large cakes. I took one from my own provisions sack and added it to the bag, saying, "Take a bit more. They might not be tasty, but you still need to eat. Let's go."
As we walked out the door, I mounted my horse and headed towards the eastern gate. Bai Wei was riding a horse, and she seemed quite proficient, probably having ridden many times before. The carriage rolled along behind us as we passed through a desolate area with shattered walls and ruins. Back in the central army camp behind us, the noise and commotion continued.
Suddenly, Zi Lian, who was sitting at the back, exclaimed, "Ah!" I was also taken aback, wondering what she had seen. However, when I looked in the direction she was pointing, I saw a corpse lying among a pile of rubble. The woman lay on her back, with visible knife wounds on her body. It appeared she had recently died, likely killed because someone found her unsuitable and inconvenient to keep.
I gazed at the lifeless body; her eyes were still open, filled with fear even in death. I sighed and reached out to close her eyes.
There was nothing more we could do for her.
I led my horse back and said, "Let's go."
Zi Lian was unable to speak, but Bai Wei continued to drive the carriage calmly. These two sisters, with Bai Wei slightly older than Zi Lian, had very different personalities. Perhaps, Gold Thousandstone didn't appreciate Bai Wei's strong-willed character, wanted to kill her but couldn't bring himself to do it, so he decided to give them to me as an act of goodwill.
The carriage wasn't slow, and after a while, we arrived at the eastern gate. The eastern gate was now under the command of Bu Wu, but under the unified command of Lu Jingyu, it was much better organized. Although there was still some chaos, it wasn't as noisy as the central army camp. There were still guards at the gate. As I arrived at the gate, I noticed a large number of captured city residents who were being processed, each undergoing inspection. They were only allowed to bring a small amount of property and provisions with them. I overheard a soldier yelling, "Halt! Who goes there?"
I halted my horse and replied, "I'm Chu Xiuhong, the commander of the Dragon Scale Army. Is General He here?"
The soldier said, "You're Chu General? Show your waist badge."
I couldn't help but smile bitterly. This soldier was very impolite, probably harboring a grudge from the time when I led soldiers to capture Lu Jingyu, which made them resentful. I dismounted and retrieved my waist badge, saying, "Please take a look."
This waist badge is new, as the old ones have been collected. They rushed to make this new waist badge. The soldier inspected it closely but couldn't discern much from it. He then glanced at Bai Wei and Zi Lian in the carriage and asked, "Who are they?"
I replied, "They are my maidservants. I'm sending them to their uncle's house."
The soldier said, "Wait for me to consult General He. You can wait here."
He went inside, while another soldier remained expressionless, standing still. Inside, there were occasional arguments, likely over the uneven distribution of goods. Even in Lu Jingyu's forces, during the sacking of the city, they still killed people and looted possessions. The only difference was that they had more discipline.
After a while, someone inside said, "It's General Chu. Please come in."
I bowed and said, "General He, I'd like to send my maidservants to Wuyang City. Would that be convenient for you?"
General He looked at Bai Wei and Zi Lian in the carriage and asked, "Are they all women? Will it be safe for them on the way?"
I was surprised and unintentionally looked at them. Despite wearing men's clothing, it was obvious they were women at a glance. With fifty thousand city residents now released from the city, these people were originally civilians. In the city, they didn't dare to cause any trouble, but once they left the city, who knew what they might do? Riding in a horse-drawn carriage, they were likely to be targeted as soon as they left the city. If it weren't for General He's reminder, I wouldn't have thought of this.
Bai Wei said, "General, please don't worry about us. Life and death are fated by Heaven."
Her face remained calm. General He was taken aback and asked, "Aren't you afraid?"
Bai Wei replied, "Of course we're afraid, but there's still a glimmer of hope."
General He nodded and said, "Alright. I'll have someone escort you out. Wait a moment."
It seemed like he remembered something and entered a nearby tent. I didn't know what he was doing but waited patiently. After a while, he came out with a small package and said, "Ladies, if you manage to reach Wuyang City, could you please deliver this item to the city lord for me?"
General He had connections with the lord of Wuyang City? At this point, I didn't want to think too much about it. Bai Wei said, "Of course, we will do it for General He."
General He smiled and said, "If you can't reach there, it's okay." He opened the package, revealing a jade pendant and two waist knives inside. He said, "These two waist knives are for your protection, and this jade pendant, please deliver it to the city lord."
Bai Wei accepted the items, and I bowed to General He with one hand, saying, "Thank you very much."
After seeing them off, I noticed that outside the city, the streets were filled with escaping civilians. Most of them were in ragged clothes, and a few occasionally burst into tears. Perhaps they had been living in fear for so long, and now they finally saw a way out, they were overwhelmed with happiness. As I watched them, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. If it weren't for the snake people, most of them wouldn't have a chance to escape. In a way, they should be thankful to the snake people.
Outside the east gate, there was a main road beyond the moat that led straight to Wuyang City. The road was uneven due to a lack of maintenance, and the carriage bumped along, causing some discomfort for Zi Lian. However, Bai Wei remained composed.
After a while, the number of disaster-stricken civilians on the road decreased, and only a few sporadic groups remained. Even though the carriage was slow, it was faster than the famished survivors. I held my horse and said, "I need to go back. Take care."
I turned my horse, but suddenly, Bai Wei called out, "Wait!"
I halted my horse, and she jumped off the carriage and ran towards me. I dismounted and asked, "Is there something else?"
She reached me, suddenly embraced my head, and kissed me on the lips. Her face turned red, and then she ran back without saying a word. As soon as she got back on the carriage, she spurred the horse into a gallop, making the carriage rattle loudly. I wondered how Zi Lian in the carriage felt with the increasingly rapid movement.
I reached up to touch my lips. It felt as though the softness of her lips and the slight, quick kiss had left a mark on my mouth. The carriage moved faster and faster, finally turning a corner and disappearing behind a grove of trees.
Safe travels.
I said silently. I didn't know what hardships they might face on the road ahead, but I hoped they would reach Wuyang City safely.
Back in the city, the east gate was still crowded with civilians. With fifty thousand people trying to leave the city, it would take some time for all of them to get out, even if they rushed. I held my horse and made my way from the east gate to the west gate.
Originally, with hundreds of thousands of households in the city, there were winding alleys everywhere. It would have taken quite a while to travel from the east gate to the west gate. However, these alleys had all turned into rubble, and the route had been significantly shortened.
In the center of the city was the People's Square, and nearby was the central military camp. The square's center was originally paved with large, square, bluish-grey stone blocks, each measuring around six feet on each side. Logically, the central square in other large cities was called the Imperial Square, but after the first Lord of the Azure Moon built the city, he named it the People's Square, a precursor to the subsequent rebellion. This square, touted as the number one in the south, featured bluestone slabs each half a foot thick, polished to a shine. Even the capital didn't have better stone slabs than these. Today, these large stones had been scorched and damaged, some of them cracked. Over the past few days, who knows how many corpses had been burned here. I was truly impressed by the central army. Despite the charred smell lingering in the air, they managed to stay here.
A strange itching sensation spread across my shoulder, nearly unbearable. Ye Tai had mentioned that when wounds healed, there would be an itchy phase, so perhaps it was healing now? His medical skills were truly remarkable. I had been injured for only two days, and the wound seemed to be healing quite rapidly. The cut on my leg was superficial, and he had only applied a light bandage. Now, after removing the bandage, it had been just two days, and the scab had nearly fallen off. Besides a long scar on my leg, there were no significant aftereffects.
With a physician like Ye Tai, our victory in the recent battle against the Republican Army had resulted in minimal losses. I contemplated this, and at that moment, I felt a cool sensation on my cheek, and it was slightly damp.
Were these tears?
I touched my face, and my palm was a bit damp, but I knew it couldn't be tears. While Bai Wei's final kiss had stirred my heart, it didn't move me to tears. For her, it wasn't a tearful farewell but a show of gratitude. After all, I was a member of the Imperial Army that had captured High Falcon City.
It started to rain.
My body shivered all of a sudden. Southern Jiang was entering the rainy season, which meant the tactics I had planned for withdrawal using the firewall to block the enemy would be ineffective. Furthermore, what if the snake people attacked at this very moment?
Almost simultaneously, shouts rang out throughout the city, with people screaming hoarsely, "The snake people are coming!"
The snake people had attacked the city multiple times before. But this time felt like doomsday, with earthquakes and people's cries shaking the entire area. In the central military camp, several units that had been resting in their barracks rushed out. The central army was divided into Vanguard, Sharpshooters, Ironwall, Bronze City, and Tiger's Tail Camps. Vanguard Camp was the most elite, and among the infantry, Sharpshooters Camp was the strongest. In previous attacks, these two units had always been at the forefront. Now, with both of these elite units losing nearly half their personnel and significantly diminished combat strength, the other three camps had to serve as the main force. Today, it was Bronze City Camp's turn to rest, and the infantry who dashed out of the camp had armor that wasn't properly adjusted and were likely in the midst of organizing the plundered goods. I urged my horse forward, passing through them and heading towards the west gate.
The snake people hadn't attacked for three days. Although the aerial fire attack had failed, it must have unnerved the snake people, and they probably never expected that we would dare to launch an offensive while besieged. This time, they must have noticed the rain and seized the opportunity to attack.
As I ran to the west gate, I saw a gathering of soldiers underneath the city walls, lining up to ascend. Jin Qianshi was there, organizing the troops. As soon as he spotted me, he called out, "General Chu has returned!"
Many of the Dragon Scale Army soldiers had not yet seen me. Now they all immediately knelt down, saying, "General Chu."
If I hadn't reclaimed Shen Xiping's head, these unruly soldiers would certainly not have shown me such respect. I glanced at them and said, "Please rise. A major battle is imminent. Be extra cautious, my brothers."
The Dragon Scale Army was also a cavalry unit. They had relatively few horses, and within the four divisions, the cavalry made up a small proportion. Even the ten thousand-man unit led by Wang Chaisheng, the slayer of Shen Xiping, had only three thousand cavalrymen. In contrast, every soldier in the Dragon Scale Army had a horse. The Dragon Scale Army had already dwindled to just over two hundred soldiers, and General Wuhou had ordered me to select soldiers to reinforce them. Due to the urgent nature of the situation, I had only managed to recruit a bit over a hundred soldiers, bringing the total strength to three hundred and seven, including myself. Because of the city's defense, the horses were kept just outside the city.
We were about to ascend to the city walls when suddenly, a rider raced toward us from the south of the city. From a distance, we could hear the rider calling out, "Is the Dragon Scale Army's commander here?"
It was Thunder Drum. I reined in my horse and waited for Thunder Drum to approach. I replied, "I am Chu Xiuhong, the commander of the Dragon Scale Army."
Thunder Drum, along with his horse, was riding rapidly. His horse was in a frenzy, unable to stand still, and he kept roaring. Raindrops were falling intermittently, and both the rider and the horse were steaming with white vapor. Thunder Drum shouted, "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army, listen to the orders. General Wuhou has issued an urgent command. The north gate is in distress, and the Dragon Scale Army is to rush to its aid. Hurry!"
I was taken aback and asked, "Are there snake people outside the north gate as well?" But Thunder Drum ignored me and raced quickly toward the east gate.
I glanced at Jin Qianshi, who also appeared puzzled. I suddenly realized that Luo Jingwei had already left the city. If the snake people attacked at this moment, it would indeed be a serious problem. I shouted to Jin Qianshi, "Hurry!"
There was a main road leading from the south gate to the north gate, but since we had departed from the west gate, we needed to traverse a smaller path. With three hundred men, we passed by a pile of broken bricks and tiles and reached the main road.
This road was called the "Ten-Horse Road" since it could accommodate ten horses riding side by side. Despite the recent turmoil, the stone-paved surface was still quite smooth. Now, we could move swiftly along this road.
As we took to the main road, I heard a thunderous sound of galloping hooves behind us. I turned back to see Lu Gongxing leading the Vanguard Camp racing toward us.
What had happened at the north gate?
Riding at a high speed, the rain began to pour more heavily. Through the curtain of rain, everything before my eyes seemed like a dream, giving me an ominous feeling.