Chapter 456: Chapter 463: Shallow Thoughts
What does this an? Is it implying that he lacks the ability to match the opponents’ general, and that term ‘slain under the horse’—why does it sound so unsettling? As soon as one hears that phrase, it brings bad luck. Moreover, there’s a hint of admiration for Han Yu in those words—what’s that all about?!
“Hmmph!” Vice General Zhang had a few dark lines appear on his forehead upon hearing what the minor officer below him said. They had already lost the battle, which was depressing enough, but this guy just had to rub salt in the wound without being explicit, rely hinting with a look.
Unfortunately, the minor officer failed to grasp Vice General Zhang’s good intentions. Seeing that Zhao Fan and Zhang ng were not speaking up, he continued, “General, perhaps we should retreat. With a general like Han Yu under Liu Xiu, our chances of victory are too slim. Instead of wasting our efforts, it might be better to return to the Imperial Court…”
Although the young general held a low rank in the army, his family background was not bad, which was why he beca a minor officer at such an early age. Otherwise, with no experience in the military camp, he would have been nothing more than lowest rank soldier material. He had co to Yiyang only looking to easily capture a small place like this to gain so credentials, never anticipating consecutive defeats. However, the young general didn’t seem to mind, as his family’s support ensured he could live comfortably regardless.
For this reason, the young general didn’t harbor any hostility toward the local generals. In fact, he had developed a bit of admiration for Han Yu’s courage and almost divine military strategy, which was evident on his face, barely concealed due to his naïveté.
“Enough, hold your tongue! If I didn’t know you ca from Duke Wei’s Mansion and that your status poses no concern, I would suspect you to be a spy sent by Liu Xiu. How else could you praise the enemy general so highly, and even utter such treacherous, morale-sapping words?”
The young general might have been overly indulged by his family to the point of not knowing his place, but he wasn’t a fool. Seeing Zhao Fan’s strong reaction, he realized his impropriety. The situation was different from the ti when the late emperor was in power; Pri Minister Wang now manipulated the Little Emperor and controlled political affairs. The Duke Wei’s Mansion also had to live under Pri Minister Wang’s influence, so he couldn’t afford to cause trouble for his family because of his own actions.
“General, forgive my reckless words,” the young general said.
“Let it be, I will spare you this ti, but let there not be a next ti!” Zhao Fan, though displeased with the young general, ultimately let it go. After all, he couldn’t compare to the opposing general Han Yu, and the young general wasn’t just anyone—his background forced Zhao Fan to be considerate. Although Pri Minister Wang now held power, Duke Wei’s Mansion still held significant influence, and the unwritten rule in officialdom was to foster more alliances and cause fewer offenses. Having been defeated, Zhao Fan could still be blad by Pri Minister Wang, and he didn’t know what his fate would be.
“Thank you, General, for not holding accountable,” the young general said, although he wasn’t too worried about being blad by Zhao Fan. His apology was rely for appearances, but inwardly, he sowhat disagreed. He had rely spoken the harsh truth, which usually isn’t well-received.
Vice General Zhang had his own calculations, and understanding the situation, he knew what was going on.
After so ti, so soldiers ca to assist Zhao Fan, and the few of them returned to their tent. Zhao Fan rested for a while, had his wounds treated by the Military Doctor, and then called in a general to discuss matters. They reviewed the casualties, and seeing that only half of the 30,000 Army initially brought with them remained, despite already having a guess and an estimate, he couldn’t help but feel disheartened.
“General, our losses are severe this ti, with brothers either dead or wounded. It’s truly tragic. Morale is extrely low; it might not be suitable to initiate a battle for so ti,” one general said with a sorrowful tone. The bond within the military camp was strong; the dead and injured were brothers who had shared daily life together, and it was profoundly affecting. Initially, the general had set a Military Order before Pri Minister Wang: seize Yiyang and capture the traitor within half a year. The reason behind those words was that he didn’t want Zhao Fan to recklessly sacrifice the lives of his n to fulfill his task, not realizing that Han Yu was soone not to be trifled with, which resulted in a heavy price paid by the general.
“Indeed, General, we’ve suffered a crushing defeat in this battle, with nearly half of our brothers either dead or injured. We should take ti to recuperate; none of us can withstand more,” everyone felt the sa.
Zhao Fan could hear the implicit ssage in his subordinates’ words. True soldiers, unless they were spoiled heirs seeking military credentials or were cold-blooded, care deeply for their officers and soldiers. Comradeship—the bond born from mutual reliance and shared fate in the military—is sothing outsiders cannot truly comprehend or feel.
“Rest assured, I won’t make any hasty moves before finding a better thod to deal with the enemy forces! For now, that’s all I have in mind; you all are dismissed. Get the aftermath sorted out, and Vice General Zhang, stay behind,” Zhao Fan said gravely, keeping Zhang ng there.
Zhao Fan trusted Zhang ng deeply; Zhang ng was shrewd and often acted as his Military Advisor. Before they launched an attack on Yiyang, Zhang ng had advised him not to act rashly and had warned about Han Yu’s strength. It was he, Zhao Fan, who had not heeded Zhang ng’s advice, which led to their devastatingly crushing defeat and loss of many brothers’ lives. He was deeply grieved by this.
But no matter how grieved he was, they had to move on. There was a deadline set by the Imperial Court that he couldn’t indefinitely delay just because the enemy was too formidable. If the court held him responsible later on, he couldn’t afford to take the bla.
His subordinates didn’t see his predicant the way he did; they weren’t aware of his difficulties. At the ti, he had made a Military Order without an option for regret. Now, with everyone’s morale so low, he couldn’t be too drastic or say too much, lest he provoke even deeper conflicts. If a mutiny erupted, it would be disastrous. All he could do at this point was to keep Zhang ng and discuss the situation.
“Zhang ng, you are the person I trust the most. It was my mistake to not listen to you and act stubbornly, leading to this devastating defeat. Seeing our brothers dead or wounded, I’m very heartbroken. But what’s done is done, and regret won’t help. In front of the Pri Minister at the court, I’ve made my Military Order, and it cannot be changed. If I fail to do what I promised by the deadline, I fear…” Zhao Fan exposed his feelings openly in front of Zhang ng, full of concern.
Zhang ng was unlike the other generals; although he felt regret and sadness over the losses of the soldiers, he wasn’t mired in the pervasive despondency of the others. Seeing Zhao Fan so dejected, he spoke out.
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