After dawn, Yan Sikong received news that General Zhang Rong was killed on the spot after being ambushed, and the Feng family army lost 15,000 soldiers in the battle of Taiyuan, 3,000 were captured, and nearly 10,000 were injured.

This was the biggest defeat Feng Ye had ever suffered since he started his army. If we didn't take into account the unsuccessful initial attack on Mao Ren, this was also Feng Ye's first defeat, and also his, Yan Sikong's.

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye who was still in a coma, and gently wiped his forehead with a cloth soaked in wine. His fingertips lightly touched the hot skin, and it felt hot. He had been guarding all night, and he would not stop until Feng Ye opened his eyes.

Yan Sikong had won many battles and lost many times in his life, had been right many times and had been wrong many times. He never believed that he and Feng Ye could win every battle. Even in a battle that seemed to be unbeatable, there were countless possibilities on the battlefield of life and death. It was just this one defeat that made him extremely regretful and unwilling.

Not only did they fail due to arrogance and underestimation of the enemy, he was sure that they had successfully provoked Luo Ruoxin and Wang Mei. These two were not easy to deal with and would never unite against the enemy under such circumstances. The only possibility was that an outsider had seen through the divisive plot and set a trap for them.

Before he fell into a coma, Feng Ye said that there was an expert in Taiyuan City. Yes, that expert's surname was probably Shen.

If they were merely ambushed, then at most they were overwhelmed by the successive victories and underestimated Luo Ruoxin and Wang Mei. It was the two groups of pursuers after their retreat that made them suspect that there were "experts" in Taiyuan.

Retreat is a crucial part of marching and fighting. Like attacking, it requires strict military discipline and orderly formations. A wise general will use heavy troops to cover the rear no matter what the situation is, even if it is to escape, in order to prevent pursuit.

The Art of War says "Do not stop the retreating army, and do not press the desperate bandits." This is the same principle, but it does not mean that all retreating army and desperate bandits cannot be pursued. If the enemy has suffered a devastating defeat and is in disarray and fleeing in panic, there is no reason not to pursue them and wipe them out in one swoop.

General Feng Ye was famous throughout the world, and Luo Ruoxin would have thought that Feng Ye would have a rear army to fight the pursuers, but this man was ambitious and had finally avenged his past humiliation by defeating the incomparably brave Feng family army and injuring the Wolf King. Naturally, he felt that the Feng family army at this time was a lost dog and must be pursued and beaten, so the pursuers he sent out fought against Feng Ye's elite cavalry. There was no team in the world at least that could defeat the mighty Feng Wolf Cavalry on flat ground, and they really got nothing and returned home in disappointment.

If the battle had ended here, it would have been normal, but the second wave of pursuers sent by Taiyuan was the reason why Feng Ye said "there is a master in Taiyuan".

After the first round of pursuit was defeated, they naturally did not expect Luo Ruoxin to send people to pursue again, so they transferred Fenglang Cavalry to the central army to resist the ambush on the road. I am afraid that even Luo Ruoxin himself did not expect that he would send more pursuers to pursue the Feng family army, which no longer had heavy troops to defend at this time, resulting in heavy casualties in the second pursuit.

The first pursuit should not have been made, as pursuit would have resulted in both sides suffering losses. However, Luo Ruoxin insisted on pursuing him, which shows that the experts in Taiyuan City could not stop Luo Ruoxin. The second pursuit was a stroke of genius, which was definitely not something Luo Ruoxin could have thought of. He must have been instructed by someone.

Yan Sikong thought about it and could only think of one person - Shen Hexuan.

The court must have no one else to use, so they thought of this only person who had once held up Fengye. Although this person was outspoken, stubborn, and even dared to rebuke the emperor to his face, he was probably the only wise man in the world who could compete with him, Yan Sikong.

What Yan Sikong regretted was that he had had many opportunities to get rid of Shen Hexuan, but he was reluctant to do it. He even let this powerful enemy go with his own hands, which led to their disastrous defeat in Taiyuan.

Everyone has to pay the price for their mistakes, but what he least wants is for Feng Ye to bear it for him.

Looking at Feng Ye lying unconscious on the sickbed, Yan Sikong silently held his hand and placed it against his cheek, wishing Feng Ye could recover soon. Just as Feng Ye said, what they lost, they would get back double.

——

Due to the injury and the high fever, Feng Ye was in a coma for two days before his temperature dropped and he gradually woke up.

As soon as he opened his eyes, what he saw was Yan Sikong's haggard face and worried eyes. He felt weak and his chest ached, but he still reluctantly reached out his hand to Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong held his hand, feeling relieved: "You finally woke up."

"How long... have I slept?" Feng Ye opened his mouth and found that his voice was hoarse and his throat was burning and painful.

Yan Sikong poured him a glass of water, carefully lifted his head, fed him the water, and said, "You have a fever for two days."

"I haven't been sick for a long time." Feng Ye said in a low voice.

"You are injured, so your body will naturally be weaker." Yan Sikong stroked Feng Ye's face and said softly, "The arrow didn't hit you anywhere vital. You will be well soon."

Feng Ye curled his lips and said, "I've suffered worse injuries when I was young. This is nothing."

Yan Sikong was silent. He knew best how many scars Feng Ye had on his body.

Feng Ye took a deep breath, his eyes dimmed: "How much damage did our army suffer?"

Yan Sikong paused and reported the casualties truthfully.

Feng Ye's face became increasingly paler, and his lips were trembling slightly, obviously he was suppressing his anger. This was the first defeat for the world-famous Wolf King, and the anger, humiliation, and unwillingness were more intense than the physical pain.

"We were arrogant and underestimated the enemy." Yan Sikong said in a low voice.

"I think there's more." Feng Ye said coldly.

At this time, the guard walked into the tent: "Lord Yan, the general of Taiyuan..." He saw that Feng Ye had woken up, and knelt on the ground, saying happily, "Wolf King, you are awake."

Feng Ye asked in a deep voice: "What happened to the Taiyuan general?"

"Uh..." The guard held a wooden box in his hand, "The Taiyuan general sent someone to deliver this." His voice became lower and lower. The size of the wooden box made it easy for people to guess what was inside. He knew that he should not show it to the injured Feng Ye, but he didn't expect that Feng Ye had already woken up.

Yan Sikong scolded: "You go down first, don't you see that the Wolf King is tired?"

"yes."

"Stop." Feng Ye supported himself on the bed and tried to sit up.

"Feng Ye, don't move, or you'll disturb the wound." Yan Sikong wanted to hold him down but didn't dare to use force. Seeing that he was determined to get up, he had no choice but to help him up and put a soft pillow behind his back.

Feng Ye pointed at the wooden box with a trembling hand: "Open it."

"Feng Ye..."

"Open!"

The guard had no choice but to carefully open the wooden box.

Inside the box was Zhang Rong's head.

Feng Ye's blood rushed to his heart, his face was horrified, and his whole body was shaking.

"Feng Ye." Yan Sikong turned his face towards him and said, "General Zhang Rong died on the battlefield. He died loyally and bravely. You must avenge him and the Feng family army. Don't fall into their trap."

Feng Ye panted hard, feeling grief-stricken: "Zhang Rong, has followed me from Shu, he is both loyal and brave, and has made many military achievements..."

"I know. I will provide for his family on your behalf." Yan Sikong said to his guards, "Go down and ask the Internal Affairs Battalion to arrange for General Zhang's funeral."

"Wait..." Feng Ye took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and said in a deep voice: "There is a letter there, give it to me."

There was indeed a letter in the box. The guard handed it to him and then left quietly.

Yan Sikong slowly unfolded the envelope, which contained only a short poem:

A greedy man dies for his wealth, a martyr dies for his reputation.

Those who boast have the power to die, while the common people have the power to live.

To put an end to chaos and alleviate danger, just follow my will.

If our paths are different, we cannot make plans together.

The signature is Shen Hexuan.

Feng Ye gritted his teeth and said word by word: "Sure enough, it's him!"

Yan Sikong felt so angry that the color on his face faded completely in an instant.

Shen Hexuan, I let you go time and again because I value your talent, but instead of being grateful, you plotted to harm me and Feng Ye. Sooner or later, I will let you be reborn with your foolish loyalty!

Feng Ye rolled up the letter and threw it at Yan Sikong's face, angrily saying, "This is the result of your womanly kindness!"

Yan Sikong lowered his eyelids and said in a deep voice: "It's my fault. I regret not killing him."

"You..." Feng Ye coughed violently.

"Feng Ye!" Yan Sikong held him anxiously, afraid that he would hurt the wound, but it was too late. He clearly saw blood seeping from the white veil on his shoulder. Yan Sikong's nose was sore and he bit his lips hard, as if only the pain could slightly alleviate his hatred towards himself.

Feng Ye coughed for a long time before he calmed down. He looked up at Yan Sikong and saw that he had bitten his lips until blood came out. He couldn't bear it anymore, so he reached out and gently pried open Yan Sikong's teeth.

Yan Sikong looked at him with red eyes.

Feng Ye said softly: "It's rare to see you admit your mistakes, and it's rare to see you regret."

Yan Sikong felt extremely sad when he saw Feng Ye’s pale face.

Feng Ye held him in his arms with one hand: "Listen, I am Feng Ye, I am not afraid of defeat. All the enemies that stand in my way will be slain one by one sooner or later. Taiyuan or the capital will all be in my pocket. Such a villain who repays kindness with enmity cannot stop my Feng Family Army!"

Yan Sikong nodded: "Yes, no one can stop the Feng family army." His eyes were firm and cold, "Feng Ye, I will definitely take Taiyuan for you."

Feng Ye buried his face in Yan Sikong's neck and closed his eyes. That tiny bit of warmth could make him temporarily forget the pain and frustration, shame and disappointment. No one else in this world could give him these.