The news brought by Shen Qian was like a boulder thrown into a calm pond, instantly creating ripples in the hall of the Liangzhou Governor's Mansion.
"Yang Fan has been beheaded? Great victory in Xia Prefecture!"
Zhao Muyun suddenly stood up, and a surprising light burst forth in her usually calm eyes.
Although he had high hopes for reinforcements from Lin Feng and Murong's forces, the fact that he was able to achieve such a brilliant victory—killing the enemy's commander and annihilating nearly 20,000 enemy troops—under such disadvantageous circumstances far exceeded his most optimistic expectations!
"Absolutely true!"
Shen Qian's voice trembled with excitement, "The news sent back by the Night Watchman is urgent! Governor Lin Feng and Generals Murong Chunhua are fighting a bitter battle together."
"At the critical moment, Lady Huan personally led a thousand Wuhuan cavalrymen and four thousand men, including the recruited Lüliang Mountain warriors, like divine soldiers descending from the sky, and broke into the enemy formation from the flank!"
"The lady...she personally killed Yang Fan! The Xijing army collapsed instantly, and was completely annihilated!"
"The lady slew Yang Fan?"
"It's the Second Madam!"
"Oh My God!"
The hall erupted in chaos.
Generals Wu Shangzhi, Guo Luo, and Shi Yong were dumbfounded. They knew Huan Naxue was brave, but they never expected her to be so fierce.
Tang Yanhai's mouth dropped open, and after a long while he murmured, "Madam... Madam is so majestic, I am ashamed of my own inferiority!"
Zhang Zan and the other civil officials from Liangzhou looked at each other, both surprised and delighted.
What was astonishing was that this Grand Commander's wife possessed the ability to take the head of a general amidst a vast army.
The great victory at Xia Prefecture not only secured the southwestern gateway to the Hexi Corridor, but also brought about an unprecedented triumph!
Zhao Muyun slowly sat back in the main seat, her fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, her heart also filled with turmoil.
Xue'er... she actually went to Xiazhou and made such an unparalleled contribution!
Worry, pride, lingering fear, and an indescribable excitement intertwined in his heart.
He forced himself to calm down; now was not the time to dwell on personal emotions.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Zhao Muyun said "good" three times in a row, his voice steady but with an undeniable power, "The great victory in Xiazhou, Lin Feng, Murong Chunhua, Xue'er, and all the soldiers who participated in the battle are all heroes of Hedong!"
"This battle not only demonstrated the might of our Hedong Army, but also shattered Yang Yan's flank!"
He glanced at the generals who were excited by the news and said in a deep voice, "Brother Xia Zhou has created an unprecedented opportunity for us! Now, the pressure is on our side, and also on Yang Yan's side!"
He looked again at Zhang Zan and the newly appointed provincial governor named Wang Xing:
“Zhang Jiedu, Wang Buzheng, the difficulties you just mentioned—the lack of food, medicine, and wounded soldiers—are all true.”
"But it is precisely because of these difficulties that we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom! News of the great victory in Xia Prefecture will soon reach Yang Yan's ears. What do you think he will do?"
Zhang Zan was also greatly encouraged at this moment, and his thoughts instantly became clear:
"The Grand Commander is absolutely right! If Yang Yan knew of the defeat at Xia Prefecture, the execution of Yang Fan, and the annihilation of 20,000 elite troops, his army's morale would surely be thrown into chaos!"
"He only has two options: either launch a desperate attack on Liangzhou in an attempt to take it and reverse the decline before our morale is fully boosted and we can get more reinforcements."
"Either... retreat quickly and return to our stronghold in Xijing to prevent Governor Lin from taking advantage of the victory to advance into Xijing!"
"That's right!"
Zhao Muyun nodded approvingly, "Yang Yan is shrewd and calculating. He can't be unaware that the defeat in Xiazhou is a fatal blow to his overall strategy."
"Liangzhou is a fortified city. Although our army is exhausted, its morale has been boosted by the great victory at Xiazhou. It is absolutely impossible for him to take Liangzhou in a short time. Therefore, his most likely option is to retreat!"
"He's trying to run away?" Shi Yong's eyes widened.
"It's not a retreat, it's a strategic contraction, a return to defend the core."
Zhao Muyun's eyes sharpened. "Xijing is his foundation, and it cannot be lost. If Lin Feng can seize the opportunity to bring his army to the gates of Xijing, while we are still bogged down in Liangzhou, then Yang Yan will be unable to attend to both ends!"
Tang Yanhai immediately realized: "Grand Commander, we absolutely cannot let him retreat so easily! We must keep him occupied, wear him down, and even... find an opportunity to give him a good beating!"
"That's exactly right!"
Zhao Muyun slammed his hand on the table. "Therefore, holding out and attrition is the foundation, but it is by no means the goal!"
"What we want is to take a big bite out of Yang Yan during his retreat! So that even if he retreats back to Xijing, he will be severely weakened!"
He looked at his generals and began to assign them ranks:
"Tang Yanhai!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Dispatch out your entire scout battalion! I want you to keep a close watch on Yang Yan's camp like ghosts!"
"I need to know exactly when he breaks camp, how many routes he will retreat in, his troop deployment, and the order of retreat!"
"Yes, sir! I'll make sure I know exactly how many times they poop each day!" Tang Yanhai said confidently.
"Wu Shangzhi, Guo Luo!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You two cavalry battalions will immediately take turns resting, checking your horses and equipment, and maintaining the highest state of combat readiness!"
"Once Yang Yan retreats, I want your cavalry to be ready to draw their swords at any time and pursue the fleeing enemy to the death!"
"Understood!" Wu and Guo rubbed their hands together, eager to get started.
"Liu Yi!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"All the thunderbolts and crossbows of the Divine Machine Battalion should be inventoried and distributed, with priority given to the needs of the cavalry and scout battalions."
"The retreating enemy forces are in disarray, which is the perfect opportunity for your Divine Machine Battalion to display its might!"
"Rest assured, Grand Commander! We will make sure the Xijing army tastes the wrath of heaven and earth!" Liu Yi loudly agreed.
"Shi Yong!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Shi Yong's voice boomed like a bell.
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