Li Hu was the first to climb the slope and escape from the city.
Looking back, they saw that Wancheng had been completely engulfed in flames, and 60,000 soldiers had perished in the fire.
"Zhao Muyun... Zhao Muyun!" Li Hu's eyes were bloodshot, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"General, let's go! The Yin Army will be searching for us soon!" The guards grabbed him and fled into the darkness.
......
As dawn broke, the fire gradually died down.
Xiao Cheyun and Yang Chao led their troops into the city to clear the battlefield.
The sight before them almost made them vomit on the spot.
The charred corpses were piled up like mountains, some still in the position of running.
The air was filled with the stench of burnt meat and smog, making one feel nauseous.
Of the 60,000 troops, fewer than 10,000 escaped.
"Take stock of the results," Xiao Cheyun said in a deep voice.
Two hours later, the battle report came out: more than 40,000 enemy soldiers were killed, 8,000 were captured, and countless weapons and armor were seized.
Li Hu led several thousand remaining troops in a southward escape.
"It's a pity that Li Hu got away," Xiao Dayong lamented.
“It’s alright.” Xiao Cheyun shook his head. “That’s exactly the effect the General wants—to rout but not annihilate them. Li Hu’s defeated army’s escape back to the capital will only shake the morale of the defending troops.”
He looked south: "Now, it's time to go to Dengzhou to report back."
That afternoon, the good news reached Dengzhou.
After reading the battle report, Zhao Muyun showed no joy on his face. Instead, he sighed, "Forty thousand lives... What a tragedy."
Zhang Tao, standing to the side, advised, "General, this is war; it's either you or me who dies."
“I know.” Zhao Muyun put down the battle report. “But… the fire was too big. The ancient city of Wancheng, with a history of thousands of years, was destroyed in an instant.”
He paused for a moment, then looked up and said, "Issue an order to allocate 100,000 taels of silver from the spoils of war to rebuild Wancheng and resettle the people. Also, order Xiao Cheyun and Xiao Dayong to give a proper burial to the fallen, regardless of whether they were friend or foe."
"yes."
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes: "Li Hu's recent defeat has shaken the capital. Now, it's Li Jingang who's having trouble sleeping!"
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