Strictly speaking, it was because of Xiao Cheng's prompt decision that the Liang army suffered little losses. They probably retreated after leaving less than a hundred bodies in front of the barbed wire. Even if yesterday's losses were included, the total loss was only about two hundred people.
As Xiao Cheng, who is said to have an army of 3,000, doesn't care at all - that would be strange.
He knew very well how much water there was in his "three thousand troops".
There were only three hundred soldiers in total, and now two-thirds have been eliminated, leaving less than a hundred people plus a centurion. The other officers have also been eliminated. The able-bodied men walking behind are not missing a hair, but these people can be used to transport food and do menial work, but if they are used for fighting, it would be a disaster. Xiao Cheng would rather hope that the enemy will commit mass suicide, which is more likely.
"Captain, we have to think of a solution." The last captain said to Xiao Cheng, "The brothers who came back today are a little dissatisfied. In battle, your life depends on your belt. If you are alive, you are lucky, but if you die, you are at risk. These brothers understand this, but we didn't even see the shadow of the enemy, and more than half of our brothers died in two battles. This is a bit unreasonable."
Xiao Cheng was in the big tent and saw that the captain came alone. Outside the tent, it was quite quiet. He knew that it was not a mutiny, but that the captain was really looking for him to complain.
Complaining is allowed. In fact, after today's disastrous defeat, if no one complained, Xiao Cheng would feel that something really went wrong.
"Things have been weird these past few days," Xiao Cheng said. "It wasn't right from the start. We were led into this trap step by step, but suppressing the rebels was a military order, so we had to come. It's just bad luck. Besides, who knew from the beginning that the crossbows in Qinghe County were so powerful? We are veterans, too. Have you seen such powerful crossbows in all these years? Putting aside things like the Eight Ox Crossbow, as far as handheld crossbows are concerned, the Qinghe crossbow we saw today is definitely second to none. They have such a powerful weapon and a large number of well-trained soldiers, but they actually lured us here before taking action. To be honest, I don't think it's as simple as just wanting to kill us."
The captain was stunned. What was going on? We were all going to be killed, and that was simple? Then what was complicated? Getting killed ten times at once?
"Sir, no matter what Qinghe County wants to do, we have to find a way to deal with it. I just looked around. Not to mention that our own brothers are very dissatisfied, those civilians and able-bodied men who have been oppressed by us are also showing signs of instability. After all, they were forcibly conscripted by us, and many of them have blood feuds with us. Now they have a large number of people. Once they make trouble, I am afraid that we will be finished even without Qinghe County's intervention." The captain said anxiously.
"Well, this is indeed a problem, but don't worry, without a leader, a group of strong men can't cause trouble. Go tell the brothers, I have my own way. Let the firemen cook all the remaining meat for the brothers to eat. There is still some silver in the central army's account. Divide it all. Tell the brothers to spread out and keep an eye on the strong men. As long as we can return to Jinguan City, they will definitely be indispensable as long as I, Xiao Cheng, have a meal. We can't cause chaos now."
After Xiao Cheng finished speaking, the captain wanted to leave, but was stopped by Xiao Cheng: "Find a smart brother. Well, I think my flag bearer is quite good. He was lucky to be able to run back after such a bad day. Have him run out at night and go to the camp across from Qinghe County and find their leader. Tell him that we are all family and we can discuss anything. If they need anything, they can ask now."
"Sir, are you going to negotiate with the enemy?" The captain was a little worried. After all, colluding with the enemy was not a small matter like leading an army to plunder and embezzle military pay. This was a serious crime punishable by beheading.
"What enemies? The governor wants us to wipe out the rebels. Now I have determined that the rebels have been wiped out. I want to discuss the aftermath with the Qinghe militia formed according to the governor's order." Since Xiao Cheng had defined the matter, and he was not going to negotiate it himself, the captain did not care. He started giving orders as soon as he left the tent.
"So this is what Captain Xiao asked you to convey? He didn't say anything, nor did he say surrender, but just asked me to make conditions? I want his head, can he give it to me?" Lin Hai said to the man who was kneeling in front of him and trembling.
"To reply to the chief, this is what our captain said. Please spare my life." The flag-bearing soldier felt that his good luck for the day might have run out, so he was sent here to tell him that he would surely die. If he had known this earlier, he would not have coveted the extra 10% of the military pay to become a flag-bearing soldier. Although the fortune teller said that he was blessed and would not die, he would have no way to seek revenge from the fortune teller if he really died.
"Don't worry, I still need you to pass on a message. I won't kill you." Lin Hai tried hard to appear more amiable, but no matter how hard Lin Hai tried, the blessed flag bearer could not calm down when he saw the soldiers of the Fourth Battalion behind him stripping off the armor of the dead Liang soldiers and throwing their naked bodies into the pit.
"I remember you. You were the one who rushed forward today with Xiao Cheng's flag. You were very brave. I admire warriors, no matter they are from my side or yours. This is a reward for you." Lin Hai threw out a glass bead.
The flag-bearer, who had been trying hard to hold himself up against the ground to stop trembling, recovered without any medicine. The trembling symptoms disappeared instantly, and he caught the bead very accurately in mid-air and successfully put it into his arms.
Seeing this scene, Lin Hai even wondered if he was hallucinating, or if this guy was just pretending?
"Thank you, Chief." The flag bearer was delighted. "Both the fortune teller and the captain said I was blessed. I didn't believe it at first, but I never expected to receive such a generous reward upon arriving here. It seems it's not that I'm unlucky, but that I haven't met the kind of person who can bestow blessings. Whatever message you want me to pass on, just tell me, and I'll deliver it word for word."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com