Chapter 118: Reinstatement
After King Wuheng was killed, the Xiongnu army’s morale plummeted. Yu Shaoqing used King Wuheng’s corpse to lure them back for hundreds of miles.
However, they could not let their guard down because of this. After all, there were a hundred thousand Xiongnu soldiers stationed in the Northwest Camp. It would be easy for them to counterattack.
Although the death of King Wuheng had temporarily resolved the urgent situation, it had also brought about an even greater crisis. The Xiongnus would definitely avenge King Wuheng at all costs.
They can’t face the Xiongnus anymore…
“How long until we can dig through the canyon?” Yu Shaoqing asked with a stern expression.
“Soon, Centurion!” A soldier named Gui’er said.
After Yan Congming returned, he was the highest-ranking general here. However, for some reason, everyone still felt that they had to listen to Yu Shaoqing.
Yan Congming pursed his lips and was about to take back the command when Yu Shaoqing glared at him coldly. “Shut up!”
Yan Congming shut his mouth aggrievedly.
Yu Shaoqing wanted to complete General Xiao’s final order without any mishaps. Although no one knew this inside story, they all followed him without any distractions.
Yan Congming was like an isolated individual. If he still wanted to stay in the team, he had better obediently tuck his tail between his legs.
After Da Niu died, two new recruits who joined the army two days earlier than him died under Xiongnu’s blade. The new recruits lacked battlefield experience and were the easiest to be cannon fodder under the enemy’s blade.
“Da Niu died to save me…” Xiao Yu cried until he was out of breath. “I’m a cripple… Why did he save me…”
Wu San did not say anything. He patted his shoulder and buried the corpses of Da Niu and the other two with his brothers.
Da Niu was a very outstanding recruit. He had even surpassed many old scouts who had received secret training. He should not have died here. If he was nurtured, he would definitely be able to play a greater role on the battlefield in the future.
Wu San sighed and handed the three iron plates to Yu Shaoqing.
Yu Shaoqing placed the iron plates into a wooden box wrapped in a white cloth. It was filled with the iron plates of the deceased soldiers, and at the top lay General Xiao.
Perhaps one day, his iron plate would also be placed here for the surviving soldiers to take back to his hometown.
“Centurion, it’s dug!” Gui’er said.
“Let’s go.” Yu Shaoqing closed the wooden box.
Da Niu was already dead. A veteran who had recovered from his frostbite took over the heavy responsibility of being a scout and started scouting ahead.
Everyone supported each other and followed.
A young and muscular figure followed behind the group at a distance. He was the only soldier who didn’t listen to Yu Shaoqing’s orders and was also the only person who didn’t fit in. He held a sword in his arms, and his eyes were cold and lifeless, like an abandoned orphan.
“Old Yu, look.” Wu San tugged at Yu Shaoqing’s arm.
Yu Shaoqing looked back and said helplessly, “General Xiao’s death was a huge blow to him.”
“I heard that he was picked up by General Xiao. Did you see that sword? It’s General Xiao’s personal sword. He gave it to him,” Wu San said softly. “When the Xiongnus rushed over just now, he was simply blinded by killing, but he also saved many of our brothers’ lives.”
If not for that, they might not have been able to last until Old Yu returned and all of them would have died under the blades of the Xiongnus.
“What’s his name again?” Yu Shaoqing couldn’t remember his name for a moment.
Wu San said, “Zhou Huai.”
The grievous news of the Northwest Army Camp had already reached the Capital half a month after the incident. When the urgent military intelligence was presented to the imperial study, the Emperor froze as if he had been hit in the head!
The courtiers looked at each other. The Emperor’s expression did not look right. Shouldn’t he be angry after such a big incident? Why did he look… as if he was stunned?
They had been wronged by this incident. There had been news from the border that the Xiongnu army of 100,000 was advancing at full speed into Prefecture You, preparing to launch an all-out attack on Prefecture You on New Year’s Eve. Who would have expected that the information was wrong? The real Xiongnu army had changed course to the Northwest Army Camp.
The Northwest Army Camp had been completely wiped out. Naturally, there was no way for them to send the news back. It was only when the nearby camp ran out of food and wanted to borrow food from the Northwest Army Camp that they accidentally discovered that the camp had been captured by the Xiongnus.
According to the soldier who borrowed the rations, the Xiongnu people had all changed into the armor of the Northwest Army. A few of them even spoke very fluent Chinese. If it weren’t for the fact that one of the people that the Xiongnu personated happened to be from his hometown, he wouldn’t have realized that this group of people was fake.
He did not show any abnormalities and left after getting the rations.
First, there was a mistake in the military intelligence. Then, the Northwest Army Camp was slaughtered, but there was no news from the Imperial Court at all. It wouldn’t make sense if it wasn’t for someone interfering.
It was also because this soldier was lucky. The camp he was in did not belong to Prefecture You, so there was no need to send news to Prefecture You. Otherwise, the spies in Prefecture You would take advantage of this. Not to mention sending military intelligence, he would even lose his life.
The Emperor’s expression darkened.
When the courtiers saw that the situation was bad, they knelt on the ground.
Just as they were waiting to suffer the Emperor’s thunderous anger, the Emperor suddenly stood up and left without looking back!
The courtiers were speechless.
The Emperor went to the dungeon and personally met Gao Yuan.
Gao Yuan had been locked up for half a month and had become very weak. He knew why the Emperor had come. It was precisely because he knew that he shed tears on the spot.
The Emperor clenched his fists and said with great forbearance, “Is it true that… no one survived?”
“There’s… there’s still one person alive,” Gao Yuan said with difficulty.
“Who?” said the Emperor.
Gao Yuan was about to say the name that had accumulated in his chest, but his stamina was insufficient, and he fainted.
“Lord Gao!” Eunuch Wang walked forward and pinched Gao Yuan’s philtrum, but it was useless.
“Someone’s still alive…” the Emperor murmured thoughtfully. “Who could it be?”
Eunuch Wang thought for a while and said, “Could it be General Xiao? General Xiao is so brave. If anyone can really break through the siege, I think he’s the only one left.”
The Emperor nodded in agreement.
Eunuch Wang did not dare to say anything about the country’s matters. He only looked at Gao Yuan and said, “Your Majesty, Lord Gao has fainted. Shall I go and invite an imperial physician over?”
The Emperor waved his hand. “Send the chancellor back to the residence and instruct the imperial physician to treat him well. Make sure he’s safe and sound.”
Gao Yuan was reinstated to his original position.
Eunuch Wang thought to himself that this Gao Yuan was really powerful. He had offended the Emperor and was considered the first person in history to have done so.
The Emperor then summoned the commander of the imperial guards. “Go and tell Xiao Zhenting that his nephew has escaped from the Northwest Army Camp alive and is on his way to Prefecture You. Ask him to personally go and receive him.”
“Personally?” The commander of the Imperial Guards was stunned. “Your Majesty…”
The Emperor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I know what I’m doing. Just go.”
“…Yes.” The commander cupped his fists and accepted the order. He went to the Xiao Manor with complicated expressions.