xymnovel Chapter 113 Almost Caused a Major Disaster
Chapter 113 Almost Caused a Major Disaster
Chapter 113 Almost Caused a Major Disaster
Hou Cheng stood aside, watching Zhao Yun and the white horse. His lips moved, but in the end he said nothing.
He lowered his head, his expression somewhat unpleasant.
After dark, Hou Cheng sat alone beside the temporarily requisitioned stable.
The lights in Changli city were sparse, and the night wind blew in from the north, carrying the coolness of the grassland.
Liu Bei sat down beside him and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Hou Cheng lowered his head, his fingers pinching the edge of the leather bag.
"My lord, it's not that I covet the horse, it's just that I feel—"
His voice was muffled, as if it were being forced out from deep in his throat: "That horse was captured by me, and my first thought was to offer it to my lord."
"But our lord turned around and gave it to Zhao Yun."
Liu Bei suddenly laughed, a very soft laugh that made Hou Cheng swallow back all the words he was about to say.
"Zi'an! You are my brother-in-law, family."
"Tell me, do we need to use outside influence to win over our own family?"
Hou Cheng's lips moved slightly, and he raised his head to meet Liu Bei's gaze.
Those eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the firelight, devoid of any perfunctory tone, as if they were speaking of something more important than anything else.
"Zhao Yun is a talented general with exceptional martial arts skills, and he is also Lord Zhao's man. If I want to use him, I must give him the respect he deserves."
"A white horse can make him remember this trust, and it can make him kill ten more enemy generals on the battlefield. This is a worthwhile deal."
.
"But you're not!"
A genuine smile appeared on Liu Bei's lips: "You're family."
"We're family, no need to argue about these things."
"And to put it another way!"
He patted Hou Cheng on the shoulder, his tone suddenly becoming more relaxed: "Riding a white horse on the battlefield is like being a sitting duck."
"They could see them from hundreds of paces away; these were the targets that the Xianbei archers loved most."
"You think I'm being biased by giving the best horse to Zhao Yun? I just didn't want you to be target practice!"
Hou Cheng paused for a moment, then lowered his head and seriously considered the reasoning. Riding a white horse on the battlefield was indeed a way of making sure the enemy couldn't see him.
Looking into Liu Bei's sincere eyes again, I suddenly felt a pang of guilt. My lord treats me so well, yet I have been so oblivious.
My lord said I am one of his own. There is no need for formalities or to save face among family members. Family members are those who are protected in the most dangerous times.
"My lord!"
Hou Cheng suddenly stood up, straightened his armor, and bowed deeply: "This subordinate understands!"
Liu Bei helped him up, feeling relieved. He thought to himself that he had been too hasty and should have waited a couple of days before rewarding Zilong.
That almost ruined everything!
Forgot that this guy was a ruthless man who, after failing to offer wine, ended up tying up Lü Bu at the White Gate Tower!
The post-battle inventory results came back quickly: of the two thousand elite cavalrymen from western Liaoning, nearly five hundred had been killed or wounded.
Military strategist Wang Yan was struck in the face by a stray arrow while pursuing Huai Tou and died on the spot.
When the battle report was handed to Liu Bei, he was heartbroken as he ran his fingers over the words, "473 men lost, and Military Commander Wang Yan was struck in the face by an arrow and died on the spot!"
His brows, which had been relaxed from the great victory, furrowed tightly, and all the joy in his eyes vanished, replaced by a look of sorrow!
Despite the fact that the number of casualties is less than 500, they only have 2,000 men, and nearly a quarter of them have already been lost!
This was a force he had painstakingly built up over half a year by carefully selecting from the strongest local militia!
How can I not feel heartbroken?
Seeing their lord so heartbroken and on the verge of tears, the generals were all moved by his benevolence!
Especially Yang Shuo, he and Shi Yan were not Liu Bei's confidants to begin with, and they watched as newcomers such as Zhao Yun and Hou Chong gradually gained control of troops and became as numerous as they were.
Even his former colleagues Cheng Pu and Han Dang have become leaders in their respective counties!
He was already feeling uneasy, and now that Shi Yan was dead, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.
The soldiers had prepared a whole host of complaints, but seeing how considerate their lord was of them, they found it hard to utter a word.
Liu Bei then said, "Wang Sima's remains should be placed in a fine coffin and brought back to Yangle with the army for a grand burial. His family will be cared for by the government for the rest of their lives."
"All fallen soldiers must be registered and documented, and each one will receive compensation; none shall be overlooked!"
The generals on either side solemnly agreed, and Yang Shuo had nothing more to say.
What Liu Bei considered a near-heart-wrenching loss was, in the eyes of the officials of the Liaodong vassal state, a miracle that terrified them.
Early in the morning, news of the great victory spread throughout Changli City, causing an uproar in the officialdom of the vassal state.
Everyone knows that the Xianbei who besieged the city numbered eight thousand, and there were also three thousand elite Huaitou troops lying in ambush outside the city, along with more than ten thousand archers.
Liu Bei led only two thousand elite cavalry from Liaoxi, yet he first broke through the ambush, then lifted the encirclement, and routed the Xianbei people, who fled from their Liaodong vassal state in disarray.
Such a record is unparalleled, not only in the border regions of Youzhou, but also throughout the entire Han Dynasty.
Previously, I had only heard about how brave and valiant Liu Duwei of Liaoxi was, and I always thought it was an exaggeration.
Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I'm amazed!
The officials who had initially been skeptical of the young captain now looked at him with nothing but awe and reverence.
Within half a day, the two prominent families of Changli, the Tian family and the Gongsun family, sent people to deliver grain and supplies to express their condolences.
Tian Shao, the leader of the Tian family, delivered 30,000 shi of fine grain and several hundred cattle and sheep in one go.
Not to be outdone, the Gongsun family sent 20,000 shi of grain and over a hundred fine horses, all expressing their gratitude to Commander Liu for relieving the siege of the city.
His words were humble and respectful, without a trace of the arrogance of a local aristocratic family.
But Liu Bei frowned even more as he looked at the grain and fodder piled up in the government office.
He dismissed his attendants and summoned the brothers Gongsha Shao and Gongsha Fu.
The two entered and bowed respectfully, their faces still bearing the sorrow of losing their father.
Liu Bei offered a few words of reassurance before getting straight to the point: "Today, the Tian and Gongsun families have both sent provisions. I observe that these two clans have deep roots in the vassal state."
"You brothers have lived here for a long time, please tell me the details."
Gong Sha Shao was already seething with anger, and upon hearing this, he immediately stepped forward, his tone full of resentment.
"Reporting to the Commandant! The Liaodong Dependent State originally had three thousand county soldiers, which were divided among the three families of Gongsha, Tian, and Gongsun, each leading one thousand men."
"During this siege by the Xianbei, my father led my brothers and our troops in a desperate defense of the city, fighting the barbarians for several days. Almost all of our men perished!"
"But the Tian and Gongsun families only guarded their own fortified villages and did not come out, and their total losses were less than a hundred men."
"Now that the Xianbei have retreated, they're pretending to be good people!"
He became increasingly angry as he spoke, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked.
Gong Shafu, however, was much calmer than his elder brother. After his brother finished speaking, he stepped forward, bowed, and added clearly and logically:
"The Commandant is wise."
"Tian Shao, the leader of the Tian family, is currently the military commander of the vassal state. His family has lived in Changli for generations and is the most powerful family in the area. Their land and fortified villages are scattered throughout the vassal state, and they have more than 10,000 tenants and retainers. They are very careful to protect their wealth and personal safety."
"As for the Gongsun family, they are even more deeply entrenched."
"The clan's roots are in Xiangping, Liaodong Commandery, with branches throughout Liaodong State and Xuantu Commandery. Many of its members serve as officials in border commanderies, and its influence extends throughout the northern frontier of Youzhou."
"The one currently in charge of Changli is Gongsun Bai, a member of a collateral branch of the Gongsun family. Although he is only a county magistrate, he is backed by the Xiangping clan, and his power is by no means inferior to that of the Tian family."
Liu Bei frowned. "The Gongsun family of Liaodong?"
"Is there a person named Gongsun Du?"