Chapter 349: Chapter 349

Zhong Tianlang, after a remarkable display of his prowess, felt extremely pleased with himself and led his army southward. After he departed, Zheng Fan had Liang Cheng lead five hundred cavalry in a purely symbolic pursuit.

Liang Cheng understood the situation and didn’t advance recklessly, as he also had to guard against the silver-armored general launching a surprise counterattack. In any case, the Qian cavalry were ahead, with Liang Cheng’s men "escorting" them from behind, applying just a modicum of pressure.

This scene was very much like when Zheng Fan had returned from Qian State, with various Qian cavalry units escorting him along the way.

There’s a military maxim: "Do not attack a retreating army, and do not pursue a cornered foe."

This described such situations precisely. If the enemy is determined to return home and you try to stop them, they will undoubtedly fight you to the death. Regardless of whether you can successfully intercept them, your own losses will certainly be significant.

In truth, this so-called pursuit was merely a pretext, an excuse for them to use when they were later held accountable.

Probably, only Zheng Fan could get Liang Cheng to undertake such a task.

When dawn broke, Liang Cheng and his troops returned. The exact number of men who had set out returned; not one was missing.

Zheng Fan seized the moment to wash up and go to sleep. Having endured the frigid wind on the city wall for most of the night, he found it quite unbearable.

When he awoke, it was already high noon.

Zheng Fan could sleep, but the others could not. After Liang Cheng returned in the morning, he took a fresh detachment of five hundred cavalry and rode out again.

This time, naturally, it wasn’t to chase the enemy but to clear the battlefield.

Yes, after the Qian people finished their battle, it fell to Green Willow Fortress to handle the cleanup.

By the time Zheng Fan had washed up, eaten, and emerged, he saw hundreds of routed soldiers already seated in the outer field, eating their midday meal.

These routed soldiers were a sorry sight, their faces etched with terror. However, every one of them must have been famished, as they were wolfing down their food.

Zheng Fan went up onto the battlements and asked the blind man, who was now using a crutch instead of a wheelchair,

"How many men have we gathered?"

"Just over three hundred."

"Mm, indeed not bad."

Last night, the Qian cavalry had overrun a small fort and four military encampments. The Yan Army suffered heavy casualties, though a considerable number still managed to escape the chaotic assault on the camps.

After all, it was a surprise night attack; it was impossible to ensure a clean sweep with no escapees.

"Since we’ve taken these men in, we can’t just spit them back out."

Chief Zheng stated his guiding principle.

In fact, despite Zheng Fan’s numerous military achievements for Yan—not to mention a Prince’s head that was still in transit, awaiting confirmation of receipt—strictly speaking, Chief Zheng’s actions not only smacked of warlordism but were even more characteristic of a warlord than an actual warlord.

Before a truly tough battle, he would retreat and redirect the disaster elsewhere. After the battle, he would react swiftly to absorb new forces.

In truth, Zheng Fan couldn’t be blamed for being too ruthless; the world had taught him this lesson from his very first experience as a conscripted laborer.

Those not ruthless enough, or those who still harbored naivety in their hearts, would have been long dead, the grass on their graves grown tall.

It wasn’t that Zheng Fan hadn’t considered whether he could stand on the front lines for some so-called ’greater good,’ shouting, ’Fight to the death, never retreat!’

But these were merely thoughts. This was, after all, an entirely new world, not the history he was familiar with. If this were a conventional transmigration story, perhaps a transmigrator would truly feel that way.

"My lord, I plan to assign these routed soldiers to the lowest rank. They can be promoted later, after they’ve accrued military merit."

Routed soldiers should naturally be treated as such. Taking them in and shielding them from punishment was already doing them a great service. As for status and the like, that could be discussed later.

Just then, a messenger arrived with military orders: Hui Wenzu was nearby and requested Chief Zheng to attend him.

Chief Zheng didn’t hesitate. He put on his armor and left with A Ming.

Hui Wenzu’s position wasn’t far from Green Willow Fortress. At that moment, his portly figure was seated in the center of a military encampment that lay in ruins.

Beside Hui Wenzu were several hundred Nanwang City guards and the other five commanding generals Zheng Fan had seen in the signing room the previous day.

After Zheng Fan arrived, he simply stood at the back without saying anything.

Hui Wenzu sat there like a mountain of flesh. This, combined with the oppressive mood emanating from him, truly projected an aura of official authority.

Everyone stood there for a considerable time. Finally, Hui Wenzu looked up, a keen light flickering in his narrow eyes. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ N0veI.Fiɾe.net

He spread his hands and said,

"Everyone knows what has happened. I’ve summoned you here not to assign blame, because we’ve already lost all face. Assigning blame now is meaningless. This time, we were attacked by the Qian people right at our doorstep, and then they brazenly departed. I, you, you, and you—all of you present—every single one of you shares the blame! None of you can escape it. Death would be too lenient for any of you!"

Hui Wenzu didn’t try to shirk responsibility or find excuses. In fact, nearly a day had passed since the incident, but there was still no word from the Jingnan Army’s main camp.

The Lord surely knew what had happened last night, but the Lord still hadn’t said a word.

Such silence was unsettling, and often, the most terrifying.

"Official positions, I care deeply about them. Our fortunes, our lives, the very foundations of our standing—I care just as much about these, and I believe you all do too."

As Hui Wenzu spoke, his gaze swept over everyone present.