Although Wei and Shu had assembled a massive army along the border, numbering over 1.3 million, there were few locations suitable for large-scale engagements. Most of the soldiers were stationed behind the battle lines, deployed only to replace fallen comrades if they were killed or wounded.
A day of fighting on the battlefield is often extremely fierce, with the sound of killing deafening until nightfall, when the fighting gradually subsides. After such brutal fighting, the soldiers return to their respective camps, exhausted both physically and mentally.
Some soldiers sat around the blazing fire, trying to dispel the cold, while others went straight into their simple tents and fell into a deep sleep. However, on such a night, the generals of Wei and Shu could not rest as peacefully as the ordinary soldiers.
In this fierce battle, both sides suffered heavy losses. Wei's casualties reached a staggering 3,000, with 50,000 wounded. If Liu Yu failed to successfully complete his mission of convincing the Shu generals close to him to surrender, Wei would undoubtedly have stopped using this costly tactic.
After all, many of these soldiers were trained by Chu Zhenglin himself, and a deep emotional bond had been established between him and them. The unfortunate sacrifice of these soldiers made Chu Zhenglin feel extremely heartbroken and sad.
However, the sacrifice of their comrades did not frighten the Wei soldiers, but instead aroused their inner bloodiness. The surviving Wei soldiers all had a strong desire for revenge. They vowed to avenge their fallen comrades and make the enemy pay a heavy price.
The Shu Kingdom suffered heavy losses in this battle, with a staggering 100,000 dead soldiers, while fewer than 10,000 were wounded. This huge disparity in casualties demoralized the Shu soldiers and dealt a heavy blow to their fighting spirit.
The reason for such a disparity in the results of the battle was not only because Wei's soldiers were well-trained and well-equipped, but also because Wei's medical rescue system was relatively complete. As long as the injuries were not serious and fatal, most soldiers could receive timely treatment and be rescued.
On the other hand, many seriously injured soldiers on the Shu side lost hope of life in despair and did not receive effective treatment, resulting in more soldiers dying in a short period of time.
In this context, Liu Buchu wanted to consult Master Jia for further advice, but he found that Master Jia was nowhere to be found in the camp, which made him feel very confused and uneasy.
At the same time, when Liu Yu returned to the Shu army, the generals who had originally planned to surrender knelt down before him, showing an unprecedented respect and loyalty.
The generals said respectfully, "Your Majesty, we are honored to see you and are willing to serve you at your service."
Although Liu Yu was somewhat surprised by the generals' sudden pledge of allegiance, he knew that now was not the time to reveal his true feelings. He calmly and with the grace of a king, he accepted their pledge of allegiance.
Liu Yu said earnestly, "Generals, you have all suffered. This is because I failed to properly handle the rebellious son in my family. Now I need you to gather your troops and help me reclaim my throne and put our country back on track."
Liu Yu's words made the generals present feel a little warm. They understood that Liu Yu was also suffering from tremendous pain and pressure in his heart, and was also worried about the future of the country.
Liu Yu continued, "I will personally handle the matter of my rebellious son and ensure that similar incidents do not occur again. Tonight, I will give you an explanation so that you can see my determination and actions."
As soon as Liu Yu finished speaking, the generals nodded in understanding and support. They quickly took action to reorganize the army and prepare to take back the throne in the next battle.
Liu Buchu's loyal troops had been killed or wounded, and most of the remaining generals and soldiers were waiting to see what would happen. Liu Buchu didn't find Master Jia in the camp, so he immediately expanded his search area.
However, Liu Buchu did not wait for Master Jia in the end, but waited for Liu Yu who was surrounded by generals.
Liu Buchu was shocked when he saw Liu Yu. He realized that the situation was completely out of his control. Liu Yu's appearance meant that he was no longer the ruler of Shu, which was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Liu Buchu.
Liu Buchu quickly knelt in front of Liu Yu, tears in his eyes, and said excitedly: "Father, it's great that you are still alive. I really miss you."
The other generals and ministers also knelt down. Although their hearts were filled with fear and shock, they still said in unison: "Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you. It is truly great that you have returned safely."
At this moment, the Wang family and representatives of other aristocratic families had no choice but to follow suit and kneel down. They knew very well that as long as Liu Yu appeared here, in front of the ministers and generals of Shu, they would no longer have any chance of turning the tide and regaining power.
However, Liu Yu did not show mercy this time, as he had done more than a decade ago. He turned to the generals who had first surrendered to him and ordered in a serious tone, "Come here, tie these people up for me."
Liu Yu's order was immediately carried out, and the soldiers quickly took action, tying up the generals and ministers who had followed Liu Buchu to attack the State of Wei. Liu Buchu was filled with fear when he saw this, as he realized that he had completely lost the power to resist and could no longer compete with his father.
Liu Yu glanced at the people kneeling before him, his gaze finally landing on Liu Buchu. He spoke in a firm and cold tone, "Liu Buchu, you attempted to usurp the throne. Your crimes of betraying your country are unforgivable. Today, I will punish you according to the law."
Even though Liu Buchu was his own child, Liu Yu had to say this because Liu Buchu's actions not only nearly cost him and his two sons their lives in Rongcheng, but also caused huge losses to both Wei and Shu, bringing severe disaster to the country.
Liu Yu knew that as a ruler, he must prioritize national interests and not condone crimes due to personal feelings. He punished Liu Buchu according to the law not only to give an explanation to Wei, but also to give an explanation to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Shu, for the future of the country and the peace of the people.
Liu Yu continued, "You have not only brought disaster to the country, but also brought profound suffering to the people. My decision today is for the future of the country and the peace of the people."
Liu Buchu fainted upon hearing his father's words, and the hearts of the Wang family and those generals and ministers who had colluded with Liu Buchu sank. They realized that since His Majesty hadn't even spared his own children, there was no way he would spare them. Despair filled their hearts, knowing their fate was irreversible.
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