C273
C273
The Great Qi Army team's retreat was extremely quick, as though they had already predicted that there would be a battle like this, decisive and calm, actually causing Mu Chen, who was planning to chase to the end, to hesitate.
"Marshal, aren't you going to chase him?" The cold wind led the troops back to Mu Chen's side.
"Don't chase after a desperate enemy." spoke up. His Great Qi withdrawal was extremely decisive and quick, in fact, it was not panicked at all, as though he had rehearsed it beforehand. Furthermore, their speed was not fast, as though he was telling them to quickly catch up.
"Your Highness suspects that there is a trick up ahead?" Could Great Qi have already predicted that they would attack at night?
"It's hard to say. After all, we don't know this new manager." Yan Chenglee laughed sarcastically.
Mu Chen's eyes were cold as he looked in the direction where the enemy troops were retreating. He suddenly shouted, "All soldiers heed my orders, retreat the troops and return to the city."
"..."
At the end of the Great Qi Army Squadron, a man clad in exquisite armor on horseback turned his head to look at Da Yan's army and slyly smiled, "You actually didn't chase after us?"
The last syllable rose slightly, as if he was in a very happy mood. The deputy general by his side turned to look at him, "If we really let him chase us, we'd be done for before your fight even starts."
"Lu Zheng, you're wrong. This marshal has long since been prepared. If the great Yan army comes chasing after us, this marshal's men will definitely be unable to return." The man laughed arrogantly, but his eyes stared straight ahead without any warmth.
Lu Zheng looked at him suspiciously. I wonder where his confidence comes from? While they were discussing the military situation, the Great Yan Army suddenly raiding in the night. To be able to organize a retreat without panicking was already a wise decision, how could they have the strength to fight back?
Their most powerful killing formation, having lost its power due to being obstructed by the enemy, caused the morale of the soldiers to plummet. Facing the enemy in this state didn't mean much for them.
"Lu Zheng, do you know what's ahead?" They did not believe him. Did they really think that he, the marshal, came in through the back door?
"Ghost Forest?" What does this have to do with his plan? Could it be that there was a mountain god in the Ghost Forest that could help them win the battle?
"Since you know that the Ghost Forest is in front of you, you must know what fighting in the Ghost Forest means, right?"
What did it mean?
Lu Zheng's expression was twisted, he did not immediately understand what the marshal's words meant, but when he thought of the characteristics of the Ghost Forest, his eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the marshal and asked, "Have you made a plan?"
The Ghost Forest's biggest feature was the unscheduled miasma. The forest filled with miasma was like a natural maze, once one encountered miasma, a few would not be able to get out, and could even die from the miasma.
"You know the terrain around here quite well." As the strongest said this, he was inwardly shocked. Honestly speaking, the imperial government had dismissed the former Grand Marshal, General Situ, but they had sent such a young and inexperienced person to lead the army. He was truly unconvinced, thinking that a young and inexperienced person, why should he command an army? He didn't feel the least bit at ease handing over the lives of a million soldiers to such a person. In the end, the other party knew the terrain better than he did, and knew how to use all the advantageous factors to fight.
"As a marshal, shouldn't we know the situation of the army and its location before we march?" He was like a wild beast with its claws bared as he looked ahead aggressively, "It's a pity that we couldn't lure them here. If they had chased us into the Ghost Forest, I would have completely annihilated them."
Was he scared by his decisiveness? Or did he have the intuition that he was going to lay out his plans behind the scenes?
No matter what, Mu Chen of the Great Yan was not someone who could be easily dealt with. Ah, he really wanted to meet him on the battlefield.
Lu Zheng was speechless. He suddenly realized the power of the person he despised. The disparity was indescribable.
After Mu Chen returned to the city, he immediately summoned Yan Chenglee, Cold Wind, Nan Jiyun and a few other high ranking officials to discuss about military matters.
"Fourteen, what is the other party planning?" Just as Yan Chenglee sat down, he asked a question.
Mu Chen took out the map, and pointed out the nearby terrain to them, "The area behind the retreat of the Great Qi Army team was a forest called Ghost Forest, when the Old Master was still here, he had chased the Qi troops to this place before. The environment here is very unique, with a few deep marshes, and miasma would occasionally appear here, making it easy for people to lose their bearings when they enter, but when they are hit by the miasma, not only do they not have the ability to fight, they would also die if they don't heal in time."
He had heard about the Ghastly Ghost Forest before, but after the old man suffered once, he had never gone to Ghastly Ghastly Forest again, so he was not sure about the specific situation of the Ghastly Ghastly Forest.
"So we were right not to go after him." The other high-ranking officer did not look like someone who was easy to deal with.
"The enemy's generals are very adept at using terrain to their advantage." Mu Chen laughed, I am afraid this battle is not easy.
After analyzing the military situation with the various generals, he told them to go back and rest, leaving Yan Chenglee and Cold Wind behind.
"It seems like the new Marshal of Great Qi is not easy to deal with." Yan Chenglee picked up his tea and drank it, he looked at Mu Chen, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Yes, indeed." Mu Chen said.
He originally thought that this night attack would cause heavy damage to the enemy, but he never thought that the enemy would retreat so decisively. Furthermore, he wanted to lure them into the Ghost Forest and take the opportunity to defeat them in the Ghost Forest.
"What should we do next?"
"Don't move." It was the safest course of action until the enemy's next course of action was known.
"I hope the Northeast Army can hurry over. With reinforcements, we won't be in such a passive position." Yan Chenglee sighed.
Mu Chen held onto his teacup, he did not speak, but was thinking about his next plan of battle.
— —
Compared to the critical situation in the Northwest, the situation in the capital was very smooth. General Zheng had failed multiple times in siege attacks, and his dangerous moves had been surrounded by the troops sent over from the north.
The northern army and the capital's soldiers attacked from the front and back, destroying the Zheng Family's troops. The General Zheng saw that the situation was not good and lost the northern territories.
"Ma'am, ma'am, something big happened! Something big …" With a loud shout, Nian Hua rushed in.
Shen Jingli was reading a book and hearing his happy shouts, he felt his temples throbbing. Ah, so noisy!
"Madam, victory, victory …" Nian Hua shouted happily. He almost jumped up and cheered.
"Victory?" The first thing Shen Jingli thought of was Mu Chen. He hurriedly put down his book and stood up, "Did he win the battle in the northwest?"
The originally joyful expression on his face stiffened and became somewhat distorted. It was only after a long while did he regain his senses.
"Madam, the capital is at war too, why don't you care? All I remember is that Master is in the Northwest. "
Shen Jingli calmed down from his excitement. To be honest, he still could not understand why the General Zheng suddenly attacked the capital? Even if he wanted to be an emperor, he should have waited until the emperor was in critical condition and had the chance to attack, right? If they were to send out their troops so recklessly, the imperial government would be displeased and the soldiers would not necessarily follow him wholeheartedly to attack the capital. After all, their parents and brothers were still here.
"Madam, why aren't you happy at all?" Nian Hua looked at Shen Jingli's silent expression and frowned. Victory in the capital, isn't that something to be happy about? This meant that they were no longer in danger. Why was the Madam unhappy?
Shen Jingli reached out to pinch his young face, "When did I get unhappy? I'm just thinking, don't make wild guesses. "
Really? His face was filled with doubt.
Ah, everything was written on his face. This child was really easy to understand. Shen Jingli laughed, "We should be happy to let the kitchen cook add more dishes tonight."
"Alright …" The cheers were not over yet, but the middle-aged man lowered his head and said, "Madam, you have forgotten that we are in the palace, not in our own home, and we cannot use the kitchen as we wish."
The imperial family's food rules were strict. Without the permission of the empress, they could not use the kitchen to cook, let alone serve it to the crown prince and his daughter.
"Then we'll wait until we return to our residence to make up for it." The capital had won the war, and the crisis was over. The emperor should let him return to his residence soon.
They should be awake by now. I'll go take a look at Xun Er and Huaixin, those two little fellows don't know the rules, don't come over here to bully Young County Prince. "
It was very possible, Nian Hua thought silently in his heart as he saluted Shen Jingli and turned to look after the twins.
The moment Shen Jingli stepped out of the Tsinghua University gate, he heard Xun Er's voice, "Mama, Mama, is father coming back?"
The little fellow was like a heavy rocket launcher as it charged over at supersonic speeds and crashed into Shen Jingli's chest. It raised its little face and looked at Shen Jingli, "Mama, the battle is over, is father coming back?"
Shen Jingli crouched down, his line of sight was parallel to Xun Er's, "How do you know they won the battle?"
"I heard it from Eunuch Huaizi." Xun Er blinked his beautiful eyes, and rubbed himself in Shen Jingli's embrace, "Previously, Elder Brother Nian Hua said that father would come back after winning the battle, right?"
"That's right. Once we win the battle, father will return …"
"Alright, father is coming back. Let's hurry home. I want to go home and wait for father to come back. I want to ride with him and go hunting together." Xun Er held Shen Jingli's hand, pulling him away.
Shen Jingli looked at his energetic look and laughed helplessly. He picked him up and carried him, then stood up, "Good girl Xun Er, Daddy is still not back yet, he will be back soon after the battle ends."
"But we've already won." Xun Er opened his eyes wide and said angrily, as if he was unhappy about what Shen Jingli had said.
"The capital has won, but the war in the northwest is not over yet." Shen Jingli tried his best to explain.
Xun Er still didn't understand the difference between Northwest and Beijing, but he knew that Mu Chen wouldn't be back for the time being, so he immediately lowered his head in a sickly manner and leaned on Shen Jingli's shoulder.