Chapter 1287: One Battle Secures the Southwest (Twenty-Four) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Scapegoats are almost inevitable.
Mei Meng was well aware of these things.
“If she really did find a scapegoat to shift the blame for the military defeat, it proves she’s not entirely stupid. The Allied forces suffered heavy losses in this battle, and Qi Kingdom is truly at a critical juncture. As the ruler, facing questioning from allies and doubts from her own people, she will naturally prioritize preserving her own position and life, ensuring she isn’t dethroned by external forces.” Mei Meng’s response exceeded Qi Cang’s expectations. Under his surprised gaze, she smiled knowingly and said, “Isn’t this a means of self-preservation?”
Better to die for your fellow Daoist than for me.
This statement can be used anytime, anywhere.
Certainly, Mei Meng longed for mutual understanding between ruler and subject, hoping that the person she served would steadfastly choose and trust her. But such expectations were inherently inhuman and extravagant. When Mei Meng realized that her lord was not on the same path as her, she ceased to have those expectations.
When expectations cease, true disappointment naturally disappears.
"She can protect herself, but what about you?"
"Between ruler and subject... how can both be mutually beneficial?"
For some unknown reason, Mei Meng sighed self-deprecatingly.
The king and she shared a similar plight, having experienced similar circumstances; they must have seen each other as a mirror. Therefore, they were not only ruler and subject, but also close friends who could support each other.
Mei Meng underestimated the allure of power.
It is something that can change a person beyond recognition even more than time.
She also looked down on humanity.
Qi Cang, who was constantly acting crazy, saw things more clearly than anyone else.
Sending out insignificant pawns would only provoke public outrage; only those of substantial importance could demonstrate "sincerity." Right now, the only scapegoats are her and Cui Zhi. Cui Zhi deserted at the last minute, and the Cui family betrayed him secretly; logically, they would be the only suitable candidates.
but--
If this battle were to deplete their strength, the lord might not be able to deal with the Cui family and would instead have to depend on them. Mei Meng remained calm in the face of the impending predicament, as if she were an outsider. No, rather than calm, it was more accurate to say she was numb.
Qi Cang rolled his eyes: "You're a stubborn one too."
Back then, Yan An knew it was a dead end but still went down that path to his death; now, Mei Meng is also knowing it's a dead end but still going for it. Doesn't Yan An know that Zheng Qiao is beyond saving? Doesn't Mei Meng know that her master isn't the person she truly hoped for?
Mei dreamed of someone who could walk alongside her, so she did her best to assist and support him, but he only wanted someone in a subordinate position.
Both of them knew the reasoning, but they both liked to court death.
Qi Cang genuinely suspected that all the scholars in the literary world were seriously ill.
Mei Meng pursed her lips and remained silent.
After a while, she mustered her strength and tidied herself up. Just as she was about to leave, the guard who had survived the melee came looking for her. Mei Meng saw that he was covered in blood and had many wounds: "Where are the others?"
The guard, exhausted and choking back tears, said, "It's all gone, all gone."
Although she was somewhat prepared, upon hearing this reply, Mei Meng felt as if an invisible hand had clenched her heart, and a sharp pain spread throughout her body, taking a long time to subside. Her voice was hoarse: "I am aware of this matter. I will rejoin the army first."
Mei Meng's navy was bogged down, forcing both sides into a life-or-death battle, leaving them no energy to maintain contact with other battlefields. She also had no idea about the situation on the main force's side.
The river breeze stopped, and the thick fog dissipated.
The sky finally began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
For many, the long and terrifying night had finally come to an end, but the nightmarish slaughter had not ceased; in fact, it seemed to be escalating. A dagger emerged from the shadows and was pressed against the fleeing soldier's waist.
The other party was so frightened that his crotch was filled with warm, foul-smelling urine.
"Please, sir, spare my life! I have elderly parents and young children to support. My whole family depends on me for food. Please have mercy on me!" His legs went weak and he knelt down on the ground, ignoring the broken stones, and began to kowtow several times.
Ordinary soldiers who are hastily sent to the battlefield after only ten or fifteen days of simple training cannot withstand high-intensity combat. If the battle situation turns slightly unfavorable, some will desert, and this man in front of him is no exception. He is afraid of being captured by the Allied forces and even more afraid of being beheaded by the ruthless Kangguo for military merit.
I dared not take the main roads, choosing instead to venture into the densely vegetated, rugged and treacherous country lanes. But when misfortune strikes, even drinking cold water can cause problems… I escaped one danger only to fall into another.
A hoarse female voice came from above him: "How's it at the front?"
The deserter stammered, "...We lost, we all lost."
These words nearly made Mei Meng drop her dagger: "Lost? You all lost? Tell me everything, which faction you belong to!"
The deserter was not a member of the Qi state.
Hailing from a small country, he stayed behind the main force, relatively safe as a rower. However, the Kang Kingdom repeatedly employed treacherous tactics, launching surprise attacks on their rear. These attacks were bad enough, but the Kang Kingdom used their warships as siege engines, trading their own for the Kang Kingdom's ships. Without their own vessels, most of the Kang Kingdom's soldiers were forced to take to the water. The two armies fought for control of the underwater battlefield, but unexpectedly, the Kang Kingdom actually brought their warships underwater…
Watching the strangely shaped warships move freely in the water, ramming or strangling whomever they pleased, left everyone dumbfounded.
You can't win underwater, and you can't win on the surface.
The chaotic battlefield made it difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
The main force received the message and dispatched troops to come to the rescue, but they were deceived and delayed by the illusionary words of Kangguo, missing the best opportunity to fight.
Upon hearing what the deserter said, Mei Meng closed her eyes in despair.
In terms of the number of martial artists and their average skill level, the Southwest Allied Forces surpassed Kangguo. Before leaving, Mei Meng instructed the king that regardless of the enemy's strength, upon encountering them, they should send out brave and courageous martial artists to clear the way, using their numerical and average advantage to suppress the enemy's morale, while maintaining the integrity of their own army formation and avoiding easily dividing their forces for battle. Any provocations or enticements from the enemy should be ignored.
Take it easy and steady, aiming for stability!
In the chaos of battle, there's little difference in efficiency between a 20th-rank Marquis and a low-ranking nobleman. As long as one's defenses remain cohesive and the three armies maintain close coordination, ensuring unified action, conquering Kang State won't be easy. However, if they are reduced to a disorganized mess, with the two armies mingling together…
Then the situation would be completely different.
Mei Meng initially guessed that Kang Guo would use tricks and strategies to achieve this goal, so she repeatedly told him to be cautious. However, she did not expect that Kang Guo would take an unconventional approach and use the most violent means to forcibly dismantle each other's warship fortifications, wanting to fight hand-to-hand!
The methods were so violent that the Allies had no room to refuse.
Mei Meng herself suffered a great loss because of this.
A deserter is just a lowly soldier. He can't even remember the name of the enemy leader he fought against, let alone the details of the front lines.
Mei Meng didn't press him for anything. After ascertaining the direction he came from, she let him go. Along the way, she encountered several deserters and learned some details from them, but not much. Halfway there, she received news of the main Allied force's rout; by then it was already noon.
Before nightfall, they finally located the Allied troops.
The Allied troops were driven ashore by the Kang Kingdom and retreated to a camp more than ten miles away. Their original camps and fortresses fell, burned to the ground by the Kang Kingdom. Seventy to eighty percent of their supplies and provisions were also lost…
When Mei Meng returned, the King of Qi did not show the slightest smile. She did not care and only reported the news from her side: "Last night, we fought with Kang, and Zhongli Fu betrayed us and switched sides."
Nearly 70% of the troops were lost.
After daybreak, most of the remaining soldiers gathered along the way fled again.
The King of Qi also told her some bad news.
"Robben's father died in battle."
As he spoke, the King of Qi's gaze shifted to Qi Cang, who had returned with Mei Meng. While everyone else was in a sorry state, Qi Cang looked relatively dignified, his breathing as deep and even as usual. Judging from his appearance, he probably hadn't been putting in any real effort the entire time.
I didn't really see him make any moves last night.
Mei Meng was shocked: "Did they die in battle?"
How could a 19th-rank Marquis within the Pass die so easily in battle?
The King of Qi would not try to deceive her with this.
Mei Meng should go out and ask around; someone will surely tell her that at the first light of dawn, Luo Yuan's headless corpse was lifted up by a young, unfamiliar general with a single spear thrust, the head still in the young man's hand. The young man, carrying the corpse, swaggered out. When this man appeared, the Allied forces, who had been holding on by sheer grit, instantly lost their will to fight, their morale plummeted, and they gradually fell behind the Kang Kingdom.
Mei Meng then asked, "What about Gongyang Yongye?"
The King of Qi said, "Last night, someone saw him return, but for some reason he suddenly attacked and injured someone, and then disappeared without a trace."
Mei Meng endured the throbbing pain in her forehead and asked about the Allied losses.
"The losses were all over 40%, and the worst-hit ones were completely wiped out, with no survivors. Only six of our allies remained."
With no supplies or provisions to appease the troops, and the mad dog Kangguo eyeing them covetously from the outside, morale is crumbling, and more deserters are likely to follow in the next few days.
The exact losses are still being tallied, and the situation is not optimistic.
Mei Meng had no more questions to ask, but the King did.
|ω`)
My aunt's flight arrived in the early morning, so I rushed to pick her up from the airport. That's all for today's update _(:з」∠)_
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