GBP Chapter 1874: War Damage and Next Step Plan
Chapter 1874: War Damage and Next Step Plan
Chu Ning dismounted and, surrounded by his generals, came to the corpse, which was wrapped in white silk, with only the face visible. Soldiers holding torches came forward to illuminate the area.
Chu Ning carefully examined the pale and distorted face, which was still recognizable as Liu Xiu's, and the shocking huge wound on the neck.
He was silent for a moment, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, including the joy of victory, the feeling of the annihilation of his old enemy, and a barely perceptible sigh.
After a long pause, he slowly nodded, his tone affirmative: "Yes, it's Liu Xiu."
At this point, the last stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.
This biggest threat, this opponent who once claimed to be "destined to win" and even attracted the help of strange celestial phenomena, eventually fell under his planning and iron hoof.
Chu Ning stood up, took a deep breath of the air with a strong smell of blood, and his eyes became sharp and far-reaching.
He looked around and began to issue a series of clear orders:
"Pass on my order, the army will return to Kunyang City immediately!"
"Order the military clerks and all the generals to count all casualties, spoils, and captured items from this battle overnight. Tomorrow morning, I want to see a detailed battle report!"
"Properly store the remains of our fallen soldiers and provide all possible medical treatment to the seriously injured."
"As for the Han soldiers who surrendered..." Chu Ning's eyes flashed coldly: "Keep them under strict supervision and deal with them separately."
"After returning to the city, all generals, gather in the commander's tent to discuss matters immediately! Although the Han Emperor is dead, the world remains unsettled! How to wipe out the remaining Han territory and how to deal with that vicious woman Chang An? We need to discuss strategies immediately!"
"We obey your order!" The generals responded loudly, their morale high.
The order was passed down quickly.
The army began to move in an orderly manner, with torches like a long dragon, stretching towards Kunyang City.
Chu Ning took one last look at Liu Xiu's body and said calmly:
"Bring them back to Kunyang and temporarily bury them with the proper ceremony of a feudal lord. It's time to let everyone know who the true master of this land is."
After saying this, he jumped on his horse and, surrounded by his personal guards, joined the marching crowd.
The battlefield behind gradually disappeared into the night, and ahead was a bloody road leading to a higher peak of power.
In Kunyang City, the lobby of the temporarily requisitioned county government office was now lit up as brightly as day by torches. Replacing the remnants of the Han army that had fled yesterday, gathered here were the most core military officers and counselors of the Great Chu Dynasty.
There seemed to be a faint smell of blood in the air, but there was more of an atmosphere of exhaustion yet excitement after a great battle.
Chu Ning sat upright on the main seat. Although he had been fighting and supervising the battles for days, there was not much sign of fatigue on his face. His eyes were as sharp as usual as he glanced at the generals in the hall.
A simple post-war settlement meeting is underway.
General Xue Huaide was the first to step forward, holding a rough battle report that had just been compiled. He reported in a resounding voice, his tone carrying the pride of a victor, but also a hint of lingering fear from the strange celestial phenomenon:
"Your Majesty! In this battle, the combined forces of Hongdu and Kunyang, including the 170,000 Han troops led by Emperor Liu Xiu, have been essentially wiped out!"
"A preliminary count confirmed that approximately 120,000 men were killed in action, 30,000 surrendered or were captured, and another 20,000 were scattered across the mountains and plains, their whereabouts unknown. They are no longer a threat!"
He paused, then continued to report his losses, his expression slightly solemn: "Our army has also suffered heavy casualties, with a total loss of approximately 50,000 soldiers and horses."
"Among them, approximately 30,000 were killed or wounded during the offensive, field battles, and yesterday's pursuit and breakout. Another 15,000 or so..."
Xue Huaide's voice lowered involuntarily: "It was because of... because of those two strange astronomical phenomena, the bombardment of hail and especially the meteorite."
When this number was announced, the originally lively atmosphere in the hall slowed down slightly.
The loss of 50,000 people was certainly within an acceptable range for a decisive victory in annihilating an enemy force of nearly 200,000, and it could even be considered a great victory.
But nearly one-third of them were lost due to non-combat factors, and in such bizarre and terrible ways, which inevitably made the generals feel a little uneasy, and they subconsciously glanced at His Majesty on the throne.
However, Chu Ning's reaction was very calm.
He nodded slightly, seemingly not surprised by the outcome.
The loss was certainly painful, but compared to completely eliminating Liu Xiu, the biggest threat, and clearing the biggest obstacle to attacking Chang'an, this price was completely worth it.
He slowly stood up, his eyes sweeping over every dusty general in the hall, still in their armor, and a smile of approval appeared on his face:
"My dear ministers, this complete victory is due to the dedication of our officers and men, and the concerted efforts of all of you! I am deeply pleased!"
He first set the tone and acknowledged everyone's contributions.
Then, he looked at Xue Huaide in particular, and said in a more serious tone: "Especially General Xue Huaide!"
"He led a hundred thousand men, traveled thousands of miles to support us, marched day and night, and arrived at the battlefield in time, securing victory! His contribution is truly immense!"
Xue Huaide quickly bowed and said, "This is my responsibility, so I dare not take credit for it! It is all thanks to Your Majesty's strategic planning!"
Chu Ning smiled and continued, "And General Zhao Yu, the vanguard defeated the enemy with unstoppable courage. General Ran Ming set an ambush and finally destroyed the stubborn chieftain!"
"And to all the soldiers who fought bravely! I will remember your achievements!"
"Once the Han territory is completely pacified, I will definitely reward you according to your merits and will not be stingy with titles and rewards!"
"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened! Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long, long live His Majesty!"
Inspired by the emperor's praise and promises, the generals bowed one after another. The atmosphere in the hall became warm again, and the previous haze was largely dispelled.
The anticipation of rewards is certainly exciting, but everyone present is smart and knows that it is far from time to celebrate.
Chu Ning pressed his hands together, signaling everyone to be quiet. The smile on his face gradually faded, and his tone turned serious:
"Alright, although Liu Xiu has been defeated, the world is not at peace yet. Right now, there is an urgent matter that I need to discuss with you all."
His eyes grew deep as he slowly spoke the name: "It's the one entrenched in Chang'an City—the Empress Dowager Cixi, Dugu Jia!"
This name made the expressions of all the generals in the hall more solemn.
They may not be afraid of the open fighting on the battlefield, but they are both contemptuous and wary of the behavior of women in the deep palace stirring up trouble and stabbing others in the back.
Chu Ning's voice grew cold, with a hint of obvious disgust. "This woman was the empress of the late Han Emperor Liu Che. Her methods were cruel and her heart was cunning, far beyond the reach of ordinary people."
"She took advantage of Liu Xiu's decisive battle with our army to launch a palace coup, placing the Empress Dowager Dong under house arrest and seizing control of the government. She even attempted to enthrone her young son, Liu Xiang, on the throne. She deserves death!"
"If this woman is not eliminated, even if our army conquers the entire Han Dynasty, the people of Han will not return to their country!"