Free Web NovelChapter 1631: Chapter 1631: Retreat
"Old Ye, in the battles of the past two days, the Qin Army has lost nearly 30,000 soldiers in combat alone, with over 20,000 wounded or captured. Their strength is greatly diminished. This is our perfect opportunity to counterattack." At the victory feast, the Chu Generals were all in high spirits. Even Shangguan Jian, who usually drank little, was drunk. Wang Li’s attempt was a total failure, not only failing to capture the Chu Army’s forward camp but also having his surprise attack plan "collapsed," costing him a substantial number of troops. It could be said that he lost even more disastrously than Zheng Lang. If it were any ordinary general, they might have been demoralized by now, but Wang Li is not so fragile. He is a renowned general of a generation, and even after such a defeat, he will not give up easily. Ye Shikai is convinced of this, so he did not pursue their victory further. Perhaps Wang Li has already set a trap, waiting for them to fall into it.
"Shangguan has a point, but he’s missed the crux. Despite the Qin Army’s defeat, they still number 120,000 strong. Even having lost half of them, they still have at least 60,000 troops left. Also, our own army has suffered significant losses; more than 10,000 soldiers died and nearly 20,000 were injured across the forward camp and Wan City. It is inadvisable to engage in another battle in the short term." Ye Shikai explained.
"Yes, my Iron Armor Army is down to just... a third. The Qin Army’s might is indeed difficult to contend with." Man Cang sighed. He was the vanguard on the frontline; each Iron Armor Army soldier averages four or five heads collected in battle. Even though they are elite, the continuous warfare is steadily depleting their strength, and even the sharpest blade will dull over time.
"Moreover, our forces are now evenly matched. The Qin Army no longer has a numerical advantage. It is highly unlikely for them to capture Wan City again. Our goal remains to hold Wan City, not to annihilate the invading enemy completely." Ye Shikai understood the situation well. Their victory over Wang Li could be said to be almost a gamble. It’s likely that Wang Li had some bad luck, but more importantly, it was Man Cang’s desperate support. Without it, Wan City would certainly have fallen, and both main forces would have been significantly damaged, making a counterattack on Wang Li no simple task.
Wang Li would not give up easily, but Ye Shikai was even more certain that as long as they remained united, they would not allow Wang Li any opportunities. In two months’ time, the Qin Army would surely retreat, possibly taking months or even a year before they could attempt another invasion southward. This would allow the Chu Army to consolidate their power in Nanyang County, and in such a scenario, Ye Shikai would count it as a victory.
At the victory feast, most of the Chu Army received rewards, especially the vanguard units, dispelling the "gloom" of recent days and greatly boosting morale. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
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The next day.
"Report, the Qin Army has retreated 150 miles and is now beyond the borders of Nanyang County."
"Haha, they must have been so scared by us that they dare not fight." Man Cang laughed heartily.
"Indeed, this is excellent news. Wang Li, a renowned general of the court, suffered a defeat this time, which truly enhances the prestige of our Chu Army."
"General Ye is indeed worthy of the master’s personal appointment as the commander. So young and yet even Wang Li is no match. In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time before our Chu Army dominates the Central Plains."
Early in the morning, a piece of intelligence from the scouts reached the Chu Army’s camp, finally allowing everyone there to relax. The Qin Army’s full retreat to the Central Plains was excellent news. Retreating 150 miles in a day and a night can be considered a "hasty flight," making a return in the short term impossible.
"Old Ye, it seems Wang Li has decided to withdraw his troops."
"Their numbers are insufficient to capture, and if they continue depleting their forces, even the remaining sixty or seventy thousand would be lost. How can he face the court then? Voluntarily withdrawing his troops is certainly better than being disgracefully driven back." Man Cang said excitedly, to which the other generals broke into laughter.
"Old Ye, now that the campaign is over, shouldn’t we also be heading back?" Shangguan Jian continued, "These tens of thousands of troops stationed here, the brothers are also exhausted."
"Has the Qin Army... really withdrawn entirely from Nanyang County?" Ye Shikai inquired further. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Replying to the General, this is indeed the case. Our men have been monitoring them all the way, the Qin Army has completely withdrawn." The scout replied, "To prevent the Qin Army from counterattacking, we have set up relay stations and signal towers along the route. Should we detect any enemy movement, we will be immediately alerted."
"Hmm, you may go now."
"Yes."
"Relay my military orders: the army will remain stationed here for three days to observe the Qin Army’s movements. Additionally, dispatch spies to monitor Wang Li himself. If he does not disband his troops, we cannot become complacent. Only when he returns to Xianyang will I be at ease."
After noon, Ye Shikai set out with his guards towards Jiangling City. With the battle over, he must report to Mi Wen personally. Moreover, although Wang Li has withdrawn his army to the Central Plains, he has not disbanded them, which leaves Ye Shikai uneasy, fearing it might be a strategy of "baiting to seize a prize." Therefore, he must consult with Mi Wen on the specific situation.
They departed in the afternoon and arrived in Jiangling, Southern County by nightfall.
"I heard you won the battle. You certainly did not disappoint me." Even though it was a late-night visit, Mi Wen received him, showing no sign of fatigue. It seemed she was already aware of the news.
"Just a matter of luck, just luck."
"It seems I wasn’t wrong about you. You indeed have the makings of a great general. This victory over Wang Li effectively slaps the court in the face. The heroes of the world will lean towards us, allowing our influence to be consolidated in the future."
"Yet the court will target us even more. Wang Li, after all, is Wang Jian’s grandson. I have personally spoken with him. Though he appears humble, he is quite resilient at heart. He won’t easily submit to us." Ye Shikai said coolly, "He will certainly find an opportunity to counterattack."
"Then let him come."
"By the way, take a look at this." Mi Wen suddenly smiled mysteriously and had a letter brought by an attendant.
"What is this?"
"A letter personally written to you by Miss He. I have already given orders that any letters she writes to you are to be delivered by a dedicated courier, who will ensure they travel the more than a thousand miles from Linxiang City to Wan City within two days."
"Thank you, my lord." Ye Shikai bowed in gratitude.
"My lord, I came this time for business. Although Wang Li is pulling back his troops and has withdrawn beyond Nanyang County, he is still garrisoning troops on the border. I worry he won’t give up so easily, so I came specifically to seek your counsel."
"I am more curious... about your opinion." Mi Wen smiled slyly and questioned back.
"My opinion, ahem, to be on the safe side, is naturally to have the army continue to garrison the camps, remaining vigilant at all times. Of course, the number of troops can be reduced, and soldiers may take turns guarding the camp."
"Since you’ve made your decision, go and implement it. If you need anything, just let me know."
