When Little John received the news of Hu Lie's death, the battle in Hongni Valley was nearing its end. This ambush with less than 5,000 troops against a pursuer force three times their number naturally ended with a great victory for the 2nd and 6th Regiments. Only more than 2,000 of their enemies were captured, and the rest all died in the valley.

After the battle, Red Mud Valley became a forbidden area for Hulett. In the following decades, few people dared to approach there. Even the two villages more than ten miles away from Red Mud Valley were moved away completely, because it was said that some villagers saw many wandering ghosts when walking at night near the village, which naturally made people think of Red Mud Valley.

The pursuers on the left wing were much luckier than their companions in the Red Mud Valley, because there was really no good location suitable for launching a large-scale ambush in the area of ​​Kayikede City. In addition, the Seventh Division, which came from afar, was not as familiar with the terrain as the First and Sixth Divisions that arrived here earlier. So even though Inelxiuman had tried his best and used tactics such as artillery bombardment, interspersed attacks, small-scale ambushes, and roundabout encirclements, he still failed to achieve the goal of complete annihilation. In the end, nearly one-third of the pursuers on the left wing escaped, and the rest were either killed in battle or captured by the Seventh Division.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Iner Xiuman handed over the prisoners and some of the spoils to the 3rd and 5th Regiments of the 1st Division, and then led the 7th Division towards Baidun Mountain. According to Wu Lai's arrangement, the 7th Division will once again occupy the area before the 1st Division, and then use the same method to make things difficult for the Baidun Pass army. However, Wu Lai also believes that after this time of digging pits and throwing stones, Baidun Pass will never send troops easily.

After making so many arrangements, Wu Lai hoped that Baidun Mountain would remain motionless, because only in this way could he free up his hands and take this half of Hurlit into his pocket. As long as this half was taken, Hurlit would be taken, because there were no decent troops in the Hurlit territory north of Baidun Mountain. If Wu Lai had a bigger appetite and simply took down the Canyon Pass as well, Assyria would be able to connect with the half of Hurlit. However, Wu Lai had no such plan for the time being, because given the current situation, it would be much more cost-effective to keep the Canyon Pass than to take it down.

…

In the evening, Wu Lai met Yin Er.

After listening to Yin'er's report, Wu Lai nodded with a smile: "It is foreseeable that we cannot completely annihilate the enemy. I am already very surprised that the Seventh Division can achieve such a result in such an unfamiliar terrain. On the other hand, sending thousands of wounded soldiers back to Baidun Mountain is also a kind of consumption for the enemy."

"I feel relieved now that you said that, Lord. I was sad all the way here because I didn't meet the requirements in your letter." Yin'er breathed a sigh of relief.

"General In'er's style remains the same." After Wu Lai laughed, he discussed the matter of setting up camp and garrison with In'er, and then took the horse sent by In'er. Then they said goodbye and went straight to Samedaya.

With mounts, they naturally went much faster. Wu Lai and his party galloped all the way. Although they stopped several times to pick up the fleeing stragglers of the Hagrid army, they still arrived at the city of Sameday before midnight.

The gates of Samedaya were wide open, and the gates, walls, and streets were all brightly lit. Although it was late at night, convoys carrying spoils of war, Assyrian wounded soldiers, and prisoner escorts were still flowing in from outside the city. Although Samedaya was now autonomous, Woolley had reached some agreements with its democratically elected government, such as not setting up military camps and garrisons, and renting some vacant land to build warehouses, medical areas, and prisoner detention and transfer areas.

Not stationing troops was in line with Wu Lai's idea of ​​sending troops. It not only showed his attitude of not occupying the city, but also made the military forces more active. Renting vacant land was equivalent to tying the city of Samedaya to the chariot of the Assyrian army. This was also very necessary, because when the city of Samedaya was captured, the Assyrian army's actions in the Hurrian province had just begun, and it was not enough to make the Samedayans feel enough fear, trust and expectation.

But Woolley believed that this war would make the Sametians feel awe for the Assyrian army, and would also make them gradually believe that the Assyrian army had the ability to separate the Hurrians from the territory of Tianzhuan.

When riding their horses towards the city gate, Wu Lai and his companions were stopped, but he was immediately recognized by the lieutenant on duty.

"Hello, Lord." The second lieutenant's face flushed. He was one of the lieutenants ordered to maintain order in the city gate area. He had been busy for half the night, so he shouted to stop anyone he saw approaching. He never thought that the person who stopped him this time was Wu Lai. "Report to the Lord, I am Pipondus, the deputy company commander of the first company of the first battalion of the third regiment of the first Assyrian division. I have been ordered to guard here. I have finished my report. Please instruct the Lord on the next action."

"Pippen? It's a very classic name." Wu Lai laughed, which made Lieutenant Pippen a little confused. He thought to himself, my name is so common that it's everywhere, how can it be related to classics?

"Where are your division commander and regiment commander?" Wu Lai asked.

"Reporting to the lord, the division commander has not returned yet. Our regimental commander, together with the commander of the fifth regiment, is leading a large force to camp and rest on a hillside five miles south of the city. Right now, there are only two battalions of troops on duty in Samedaya City." Pippen replied.

"Two battalions are so few?" Wu Lai was stunned, thinking that these two commanders were really careless. He heard from Yin'er that there were several thousand prisoners alone. They only left two battalions on duty. Aren't they afraid that they won't be able to look after them?

"Reporting to the lord, the fifth regiment just left because we just received news that the second regiment will arrive in a while, and the Samedaya Militia will help with many things." Pippen explained hurriedly.

"So that's how it is. In other words, right now, the highest commander here is the battalion commander, right? Where are the two of them?" Wu Lai had just asked when he heard hurried and chaotic footsteps not far behind him, and someone was shouting - "Quick! Quick! The division commander is injured! Find a medic!"

Oddo! Wu Lai's heart skipped a beat, and he turned his horse's head quickly. He saw a group of soldiers surrounding an oxcart half running and half walking in the dim light of the fire. Two stretchers were placed side by side on the oxcart.

"Balala, bring a few more first aid kits." Wu Lai said hurriedly, and rode his horse towards the ox cart...

…

When Oddo slowly opened his eyes, a smile appeared on Woolley's face.

"Hey, do you still recognize who I am?" he asked Oddo with a smile.

Odo showed a hint of surprise at first, then he smiled like a blooming flower: "Don't worry, I wasn't fooled by the enemy."

Wu Lai nodded and said, "You are seriously injured. You have been stabbed by swords and knives in more than ten places. The little finger of your left hand is cut off. Your legs, shoulders and head are burned. You should rest well for a while. Don't worry about the war during this time. Pick one of your regiment commanders to take charge in your place. In the near future, I will not give you any missions."

"Okay, I thought so. No wonder my whole body aches." Oddo chuckled and tried to sit up, but Wu Lai quickly held him down.

"I just told you to rest well. Do you want to disobey my order? The wound has finally healed with great difficulty. Don't tear it open." Wu Lai glared at Oddo.

"Lord, I just want to sit down. My whole back is numb and it feels uncomfortable." Oddo said with a wry smile.

"Just lie down first even if you're numb." Wu Lai said, "Don't let your soldiers down. They took turns carrying you and the fourth regiment commander back over a hundred miles."

"By the way, how is the fourth captain?" Oddo asked.

Wu Lai sighed, "He was more seriously injured than you. He was probably killed on the way. Those soldiers probably didn't know, or they just couldn't bear to let him go, so they carried him back with you."

Odo was silent for a long time before he spoke: "Lord, last night we were attacked by the enemy forces from White Shield Pass and Hulet City. In order to annihilate us, the enemy forces from White Shield Pass ignored their friendly forces... Alas... The 4th Regiment must have been wiped out."

"Then we'll set up a new regiment of four." Wu Lai nodded. "Don't worry, the other regiments are fighting well. Besides, it's not what happened last night. After returning here, you were unconscious for a whole day, and it's almost midnight now."

Oddo was stunned: "No wonder I feel hungry."

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Wu Lai laughed out loud at Oddo's words: "It's good to know how to be hungry. You are really a tough guy. If someone else had these injuries, he would be wilted beyond recognition. Only you can still be so full of energy."

…

There was a cry of grief in White Shield Mountain. John was furious, but also felt a deep fear in his heart.

"How strong is the Assyrian army..." He couldn't help but think. If Odo's first division took advantage of the power of artillery, appeared suddenly and seized the favorable terrain, then using a regiment of troops to fight Little John and making the Haig army a scapegoat was very impressive. Most importantly, those who retreated were not retreating, but leading the pursuers to the ambush circle that had been set up long ago...

As a result, the pursuing troops on the right wing were almost completely wiped out, and only 30% of the left wing retreated. It was impossible to count how many of Haig's troops were left, but the feud was settled. However, even after such a defeat, it was not over yet - even his cousin and right-hand man Hu Lie died, and he was killed while being protected by thousands of people.

No matter how you look at it, John's loss is huge.

At this moment, Little John knelt at John's feet, not even daring to raise his head. Although the failure of the pursuers on the left and right wings had nothing to do with him, his decision during the confrontation also led to heavy casualties of Hagrid's army.

"Grandpa, I'm sorry, I didn't..." Little John said guiltily.

"You are too competitive." John sighed heavily. "What's the point of saying this now? In a few days, the court will come to White Shield Mountain to hold me accountable. Sigh... the shameless and despicable Assyrians have ruined my reputation..."

"Grandpa, what should we do now? We can't just sit and wait, right?" asked Little John.

"Besides waiting, do we have any other options?" John asked. "With so many casualties, it will be difficult for King Xiaoyao to protect them even if he wants to. The family is in danger. Little John, don't stay in Baidun Mountain. Take some close friends and return to Tianjuan immediately to make some arrangements. I will ask the messenger to go a little slower. When you return to Tianjuan, tell your father everything here. Also, tell him that protecting him and preserving the family bloodline is the top priority. Other things are not important. Let him decide what to do."

"Grandpa, we still have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. Those Assyrians have reoccupied that place. Let's... let's rush over and fight them again. If we win, the past failures will be nothing. If we lose or are wiped out, Grandpa, don't stay here and wait for them to cause trouble. Abandon this White Shield Pass..."

"Shut up!" John interrupted Little John hastily and looked around subconsciously. Then he remembered that he had already driven away the people around him, including those outside the door.

"How can you think like that? This is an idea that will ruin the family!" John's brows were deeply furrowed.

"Grandpa." Little John gritted his teeth, a trace of determination flashed across his eyes. "You know very well what the consequences of waiting for accountability are. Such a great defeat will result in demotion, confiscation of property, or even exile. In this way, the family's reputation for a hundred years will be ruined, and the clan members will have to bear the ugly reputation for generations. If we fight another battle and mobilize the entire army, it's the same old saying. If we win, we can save face and the family will be safe. If we lose, then we might as well lose it completely and let the Assyrians occupy the White Shield Pass. The court and King Xiaoyao will be busy dealing with it and have no time to take care of it. Grandpa will then take us away from the world. Grandpa, although the reputation of defeat is not nice, it is much better than demotion, confiscation of property and exile. As long as we hide our whereabouts properly, people will definitely think that Grandpa has been brave... died bravely in battle. In that case, Grandpa won't need to be slandered or criticized by those mediocre people in the court. Think twice."

John's heart suddenly became confused...