The wicked man looked at Meng Ao, who was completely unsurprised, and his heart suddenly trembled. In terms of martial prowess, he was invincible in the world, but in terms of strategy, he was far inferior.
If he were the commander-in-chief, the two armies would inevitably clash in the end, and countless soldiers would die in battle!
"You wicked man, I admire the commander's brilliant strategy!" The wicked man was full of admiration, and solemnly bowed, determined to learn from Meng Ao later.
"Haha!" Meng Ao stroked his beard and laughed. Looking at the wicked man with admiration on his face, he felt a surge of satisfaction. He reached out and patted the wicked man on the shoulder, saying, "Study hard and watch carefully! Martial prowess is important, but for a general, strategy is even more important."
The wicked man nodded repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at rice, and hurriedly said, "Commander, teach me!"
Meng Ao nodded with a serious expression, but he couldn't suppress the twitching at the corners of his mouth. He was incredibly excited to receive such admiration from his wicked husband.
After calming down, Meng Ao said in a deep voice, "Order the army to set off and return in three days!"
"You may all step back for now. I, the commander, will personally draft the battle report to His Majesty!"
"Yes, Commander!" The wicked man and the scout captain saluted and turned to leave.
Meng Ao watched his wicked husband leave, then turned and went to his study to begin writing a military report. His pen moved swiftly and skillfully, each word a gem, meticulously recording the battle situation without exaggeration or concealment of facts.
After finishing the military report, he then drafted another memorial. The previous one was a written report to the civil and military officials, while this secret memorial would be sent directly to Ying Zheng.
In his secret report, Meng Ao specifically mentioned the wicked man's bravery and his key role and contribution in the battle, his words filled with high regard for him.
He even boasted that the wicked man might one day become the second Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi!
Sometime in the future, his words proved prophetic, but what he didn't know was that this kid was even more ruthless and brutal than the butcher Bai Qi.
After finishing writing, Meng Ao carefully checked it again. Once he confirmed that there were no errors, he summoned a trusted confidant and instructed him: "Quickly send the report to Xianyang and personally deliver it to the King. There must be no mistakes."
With his trusted confidant gone to carry out the order, Meng Ao finally breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up, walked outside the study, and gazed at the clear blue sky in the distance, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.
At the same time, the wicked man who had already left the county office returned, grabbed a guard, and said, "Go and bring me my thousand taels of gold!"
The guards dared not make the decision on their own and could only hurry to the door of Meng Ao's study to report.
"That brat!" Startled from his reverie, Meng Ao chuckled and said helplessly, "Give him two thousand gold coins and get rid of him quickly."
"yes!"
The guard returned to the county government office with Meng Ao's orders and told the wicked man about them, which made the latter laugh repeatedly.
Although he doesn't spend money much, who doesn't like money?
A short while later, four huge wooden crates were carried out by Meng Ao's personal guards. Without saying a word, the wicked man led the way and carried the two daughters to his temporary residence.
After the guards left, the wicked man summoned all of Erniu's soldiers to his courtyard and declared with great pride, "Brothers, I've said it before, follow me and wealth and glory will be within your grasp!"
He casually opened a wooden box, and the glittering gold coins reflected on the faces of every soldier, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"One gold coin for each person, divide it up!" the wicked man announced loudly, his voice booming like a great bell, echoing in everyone's ears.
The soldiers cheered, knowing they were incredibly fortunate to be under the command of the wicked man, not only gaining the military merits they had always dreamed of, but also receiving a huge share of wealth.
Don't underestimate the value of a single gold coin; it's equivalent to ten years' worth of expenses for an average family of five!
"But!" The wicked man's tone shifted, his expression turning serious, "We must not forget our brothers who died in battle, remember..."
"All those under my wicked husband's command must be treated like brothers, and none of them should be abandoned or left behind!"
The wicked man's gaze fell on Erniu, and he asked in a deep voice, "How many of our brothers were killed or seriously wounded in this battle?"
Erniu looked somewhat sorrowful and said in a low voice, "Seventy-six were killed in battle, thirty-six were seriously wounded, and nine were maimed!" He paused here, "This includes all the soldiers who followed you!"
The wicked man's heart sank. The cruelty of war was on full display at this moment. Behind these numbers lay the grief and devastation of countless families!
He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Erniu, go and make arrangements immediately: ten gold coins for each brother who dies in battle, two gold coins for each seriously wounded brother, and five gold coins for each brother who is crippled!"
Do any of you have any objections?
Inspired by the wicked man's words, the soldiers felt fortunate to have such a loyal and righteous general. Overwhelmed with emotion, they shouted, "We obey the command of our five hundred lords!"
The wicked man nodded in satisfaction. He knew that these soldiers had become the sharpest sword in his hand, his true confidants and loyal followers.
This wasn't just out of concern for his soldiers; it was also paving the way for the future. To survive in the treacherous court, one absolutely needed trusted confidants!
Upon hearing this, Erniu's eyes flashed with admiration, and he nodded vigorously: "Yes, Master Wubai! I'll go and do it right away."
The wicked man then turned to the other soldiers, his tone firm: "As for those wounded brothers, you must ensure they receive the best treatment. Tell the medics to spare no expense and use the finest medicines to save them. If necessary, I will personally go and fetch renowned doctors from the common people."
"Go!" The wicked man waved his hand, and Erniu and the soldiers immediately carried the large wooden box away from the courtyard.
The wicked man watched his soldiers leave, a faint smile playing on his lips. He was convinced that it wouldn't be long before news of today's events spread throughout the army, making his name famous and countless soldiers eager to be honored to follow him.
At that time, as long as he has a group of loyal men under his command, he will see who dares to make things difficult for that enchanting First Emperor.
......
Three days later, at dawn, the army that had been suppressing the rebellion officially set off to return home.
Meanwhile, Meng Ao's trusted confidants had already arrived in Xianyang. The guards at the city gate, seeing that he was carrying an urgent order flag, did not dare to obstruct him and let him pass directly.
The moment he stepped through the city gate, his confidant took a deep breath and let out a thunderous voice.
"A great victory in suppressing the rebellion in Jinyang!"
"All the rebels in the city were executed, and General Meng Ao scared away the Zhao army's reinforcements without losing a single soldier!"
Wow!!
The atmosphere in the city was completely ignited, and the people clapped and laughed, their faces beaming with joy.
"General Meng Ao is mighty!"
"Your Majesty is mighty!"
"The Qin Kingdom is mighty!"
With a roar like a tsunami, the guards rode straight into Xianyang Palace, eager to deliver the general's report to King Ying Zheng as soon as possible.
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