The messenger, already weakened from the long journey, was slapped so hard that he saw stars and collapsed to the ground.
Fortunately, he wasn't the only one who brought the news.
Jin Huan grabbed another messenger by the neck with one hand and shouted:
"With such a large force, they still couldn't defeat the rebels. What kind of battle is this!"
The messenger, his face covered in spittle, trembled violently, stammering:
"General Xiong's battle plan is not wrong. As usual, the heavy cavalry will charge, and when they are in complete disarray, the light cavalry will attack from the flank to wipe out the remaining troops."
"But the rebels somehow brought out ballistae and used them to break through our army's charge."
"The general had no choice but to change tactics and disperse to fight the rebels. He originally thought that the main force of the rebels was infantry, which was no match for our heavy cavalry."
"But unexpectedly, there were also differences among the infantry."
"These rebel infantrymen are the strongest infantry I have ever seen in my life. The knives these guys wield are incredibly sharp!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Huan flew into a rage:
"Damn it, you even helped blow it up!"
"Even if those rebels are really that strong, are our troops weak? Huh?"
"What was the situation of the battle before you returned?"
The messenger, drenched in sweat, continued, "The heavy cavalry on the front lines have been routed and are in complete disarray. The rebel forces are too numerous to count. The general sensed the unfavorable situation and sent us ahead to report the battle situation."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Huan's face flushed red, and he gritted his teeth and said:
"Such a battle that should have been won was fought like this. It's a waste that General Zhenguo gave Xiong Qian such troops. This man is truly unfit for important tasks!"
The messenger, a personal guard of Xiong Qian, couldn't help but say upon hearing this:
"General, it's not that we are weak, but that the rebels are too strong!"
Jin Huan shoved the messenger aside and coldly shouted:
"Nonsense! Why didn't Xiong Qian send out a troop to probe first?"
"If we wait until we test the waters before deploying our tactics, how can we allow ourselves to be routed!"
The messenger then said, "The rebels' initial troop strength was estimated, but after just one night, their numbers have increased considerably since the start of the battle. How did you know that?"
"Besides, didn't we initially follow General Zhenguo's orders to crush them with overwhelming force? General Zhenguo himself said so..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jin Huan interrupted him directly:
"Damn it, you're beaten to a pulp and you're still making excuses for me!"
"I see you've already chosen your path to death!"
The messenger's heart tightened, and he realized that he had unknowingly gone too far in his words.
In any war, the outcome is always the deciding factor. No matter how you fight, if you win, you'll be praised and rewarded.
If you lose, no amount of excuses will help.
General Kim's hindsight commentary is quite easy to make.
If he were to personally go to the battlefield, commanding such a large army, and with the advantage of the terrain, he would probably make the same judgment as General Xiong.
But now, it's too late to say anything.
Thinking of this, the messenger hurriedly said:
"This humble servant dares not make excuses, General."
"General, the war is urgent. The rebel army is strong and well-equipped, and they are coming at Zhongnan Pass very soon."
It wasn't until those words were spoken that Jin Huan recovered from her initial shock and anger.
If Xiong Qian's army is defeated and wiped out by the rebels, they will likely head straight for Zhongnan Pass a few days later once the rebels have regrouped.
If this pass is breached, the imperial city will be in grave danger.
They're practically at our doorstep!
At that time, I'm afraid I won't be able to escape death either.
Thinking of this, sweat rolled down Jin Huan's forehead, and his sharp eyes looked at the messenger, saying:
"Xiong Qian has hundreds of thousands of troops; they probably haven't finished fighting yet. No, we can't let the rebels just march in like this!"
"I need to send reinforcements!"
These words shocked everyone present!
Not only were the messengers inside the tent shocked, but even the deputy general standing nearby was dumbfounded.
Indeed, Zhongnan Pass is the imperial city's defense line and cannot be lost. Therefore, waiting here for the rebel army to attack will be a tough battle.
If they were lost, it would be a foregone conclusion that their lives would be in danger.
Since the rebels are bound to be suppressed anyway, we might as well send reinforcements while they are fighting and keep fighting.
This was Jin Huan's idea, not so much to save Xiong Qian, but purely for self-preservation, since when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.
But Zhao Zheng, the deputy general standing to the side, had a different opinion. He said in a deep voice:
"No, General!"
"If even the heavily armored cavalry are no match for the rebels on this plain, how can our troops at Zhongnan Pass possibly stand against them?"
"We only have tens of thousands of soldiers here!"
"This place is protected by city walls and various weapons, making it virtually impregnable. Rather than venturing deep into Baili Plain to fight the rebels, we should rely on this place to keep the enemy at bay."
The messenger dared not speak.
Xiong Qian is his commander-in-chief. If he continues to send reinforcements, and they manage to turn the tide of the battle and win, the outcome will be much better.
However, upon their escape, it was evident that their own troops had indeed suffered a major defeat.
Now that two days have passed, if the rebels have continued their pursuit, the worst-case scenario is that they might have been completely wiped out...
Reinforcements? Would they fill a bottomless pit or turn defeat into victory? He dared not think about it.
Jin Huan was also jolted awake by the deputy general's words.
Whether to surround Zhongnanguan to repel the enemy or to send reinforcements to suppress the rebels, this seemed to be an extremely difficult decision.
The pass must be defended, and the rebels must be suppressed.
Seeing that he was deep in thought, Zhao Zheng then said:
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