Li Biao and Li Bao, along with their remaining hundred or so personal guards, were seen helping each other as they fled in a disheveled state.
Upon seeing Ma Zongliang and Niu Desheng, the two immediately collapsed to the ground in tears.
"Uncle Ma! Uncle Niu! We... our soldiers... are all gone!" Li Biao cried uncontrollably.
Li Bao even kowtowed, crying out, "This humble general is incompetent! This humble general deserves to die!"
Looking at the few remaining high-ranking generals before him, Ma Zongliang felt even more anguish.
He forced himself to stand up, took a deep breath, and tried to regain some composure.
We lost, but we can't give up now, otherwise we won't even be able to save this last seed.
"Get up, all of you!" Ma Zongliang's voice was still hoarse, but it carried an undeniable force. "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war! The blame for this defeat lies solely with me, Ma Zongliang! It has nothing to do with you!"
His gaze swept over the crowd: "Now is not the time to cry! Immediately gather the routed soldiers and restore discipline! Let's return to Xiangzhou first!"
"After this battle, Wuzhu will surely march on the capital again. We will never allow him to cross the river with a single soldier!"
Across the river from Xiangzhou lies Huazhou, the gateway to the capital.
Once Wuzhu's army crosses the river, the tragedy of Emperor Yin Zhao of the Great Yin Dynasty being besieged in the capital last year and forced to sign a treaty under duress will be repeated.
......
When news of Ma Zongliang's army's crushing defeat and near annihilation was brought back to the capital by a messenger, the entire Da Feng court fell silent!
Panic gripped everyone, from top to bottom.
The capital city, the Ziwei Palace.
When Li Jingang received the blood-stained report of defeat at the morning court session, he was first stunned, then his body trembled violently, his face turning from red to white, and then from white to green.
"No...impossible...this is absolutely impossible!"
"My 140,000-strong army..."
He murmured to himself, and suddenly, a mouthful of blood spurted out like a blood arrow, splattering all over the dragon desk and memorials in front of him!
"His Majesty!"
"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
Chaos erupted instantly in the imperial court!
Ministers Feng Liang and others were pale and their hands and feet were ice-cold.
The loss of 140,000 elite troops in one fell swoop means that the court has lost its sharpest claws and teeth. Before the iron cavalry of the Northern Barbarians, there is almost no longer any barrier north of the Yellow River!
Panic spread like a plague through the hearts of every minister.
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