Chapter 483: The Beauty Is Still There

"Of course it's White Sand Shoal." He Lingchuan twisted his neck, making a "ka-la" sound. "I have a premonition that a good show is about to be staged there." He needed to be more shrewd and more careful.

More calm.

"By the way, the investigation of Zhitian Township has come to an end. You send someone to pass the information here to Fu Shanyue."

￥￥￥￥￥

Bang bang bang, the door was knocked.

He Lingchuan opened his eyes and saw the familiar wooden beams again.

There was a lonely spider on the beam spinning a web.

He sat up and rubbed his face, knowing he had returned to the Panlong Dream.

Haven't been in for a few days, this time appearing directly in his small wooden house, it seems that the army led by General Hong finally gave up returning east and returned to Panlongcheng.

Even if he was mentally prepared, He Lingchuan still sighed long, feeling very disappointed.

The opportunity to change the fate of everyone in Panlongcheng had slipped away like this.

"Broken Blade!" someone called out, "Drinking, going or not?"

"Go."

He Lingchuan opened the door and saw eleven or twelve comrades standing outside, Hu Min, Liutiao, and the thin man were all there.

Everyone found a small tavern nearby, asked for a few jars of old wine, a few small dishes, and started to set up.

He Lingchuan chatted with everyone and found out that after he went offline in the dream last time, the Xiluo Kingdom ruler issued four more imperial edicts, urging the Panlong Army to retreat to the wasteland, each one more severe than the last.

This was mainly because after Xiji was destroyed, the next two countries on the Panlong Army's eastward path were both shocked and afraid, while sharpening their weapons, they also put pressure on the Xiluo Kingdom, and also promised to help the Xiluo Kingdom strike the southwest rebels.

They bordered the southwest rebels' territory, as long as they made trouble on the border, the southwest rebels would inevitably have scruples.

What's even more ridiculous is that after the news of the Panlong Army's return east spread back to the country, the various rebel armies actually calmed down a lot!

He Lingchuan sucked a salted peanut: "Why is this?"

"What else!" Liutiao was angry. "Afraid we'll return to the country and pick their peaches! These rebels are not good things either, none of them are thinking about the common people!"

Hu Min also said: "Whoever takes the capital becomes the target of public criticism. Seeing that the Panlong Army is about to return to the country, no one is willing to exert great effort. After killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred, how can they face the competition of other rebel armies? Now even the Panlong Army is about to return to the country, facing the pressure brought by the brave army, all parties have begun to cherish their own wings."

They stopped, the pressure on the Xiluo capital was greatly reduced, and they immediately felt that they were okay again, especially the decision not to let the Panlong Army return east was even more brilliant.

It's best to let this knife hang over the heads of all enemies.

Deterrence is far more useful than taking

Deterrence is far more useful than taking action.

He Lingchuan swirled his wine cup: "Is that why Lord Zhong withdrew the troops?"

"There were complications with that," the thin man said. "We stayed on the front lines for too long, and as a result, Baling joined forces to attack the Panlong Wasteland; both times, they were beaten back by Lord Zhong. Later, Xianyou and Baling joined forces to continuously increase their troops on the edge of the wasteland, gathering and setting up camp. The number of troops reached about 100,000, preparing for a full-scale invasion. Lord Zhong thought it over repeatedly and had no choice but to recall us."

"The Northern Monster Nation and the Baling Nation have always been backing these small countries. Especially Xiji, which pays tribute to the Northern Monster Nation from ten thousand miles away every year; otherwise, where would they get the guts to clamor against Panlongcheng? Now that Xiji has suddenly been destroyed, they can't just sit by and do nothing."

The resistance to the eastward advance was great; the small countries were determined to fight to the death, and the mother country, Xiluo, strictly refused. With an old enemy invading from the west, the Panlong Army was facing enemies on both sides. It was indeed difficult to continue the eastern expedition while leaving Panlongcheng unattended.

Liu Tiao said angrily: "From this, it seems that the Baling Nation opening the Jin Xi passage to us was just hypocritical. They were only waiting for our main force to leave before they came to launch a sneak attack from behind. Otherwise, how could an army of 100,000 be gathered so easily? And it was a coalition force at that!"

They say that before an army moves, provisions must go first. For an army of 100,000 to move, there is no telling how much preparation work is involved; it's all money, all flowing like water in the ledgers.

Moreover, the countries of Xianyou and Baling have always been at odds; that they hit it off and deployed a coalition force this time—if that isn't premeditated, what is? The reactions of these small countries on the eastern route, the reaction of Xiluo, and the reactions of Baling and Xianyou were all anticipated by General Hong/Mitian and Zhong Shengguang.

He Lingchuan glanced at her: "Did you analyze all this?"

Liu Tiao was startled, looking a bit embarrassed: "Can't I? Is it not allowed?"

She was a straightforward girl after all. She pursed her lips and said: "Fine, fine, it wasn't my idea; it was analyzed by the masters at the Asking Immortal Hall. The Asking Immortal Hall has been very lively lately surrounding these topics. Generals from all walks of life come to give lectures, all about warfare. Everyone has to arrive an hour early just to grab a seat. Oh, last time, General Ling even had a public confrontation with someone in the hall."

The Panlong Army went for a spin in the east and returned to their base camp. And the wavering public sentiment, having experienced such turmoil, settled down once again.

Now the common people all know that it isn't that the Panlongcheng high command didn't want to go back, but that the situation made it impossible.

Liu Tiao took out a few silver ingots and pushed them in front of He Lingchuan.

"This is?"

"A bet is a bet; this is my share and Menban's." When they were in Yuheng City, they bet that the Panlong Army would continue to advance east, while Alo and the thin man followed He Lingchuan and bet on the western return. "You guys split this money yourselves."

He Lingchuan shook his head and pushed the silver back: "There's no point in taking this money."

This was just a wager, but the outcome of events was unpleasant. What is the point of taking the winnings? He Lingchuan casually changed the subject: "You mentioned earlier, where did Menban go?"

"To see his fellow townsman." Liu Tiao didn't act coy and put the silver away. "Haven't you heard? That fellow townsman of his is also stubborn; he actually petitioned in public in Yuheng City, begging General Hong to continue the eastern expedition and kill his way back into the country."

He Lingchuan was shocked: "In public? It wasn't a gathering, was it?"

"No, just him alone. Otherwise, he would have been beheaded as a mutiny ringleader!" Insulting a superior is a major taboo in the army. The thin man smiled bitterly. "I was standing right behind that person. When General Hong's gaze swept over, my back went stiff."

"And then?" The Panlong Army has strict discipline, and soldiers are required to obey unconditionally during wartime. That man openly challenged General Hong; it wouldn't be strange if he lost his head.

"General Hong sentenced him to sixty military lashes, to be carried out after returning to the city. He hadn't joined the Great Wind Army yet, otherwise, the punishment would have been even heavier." Liu Tiao shrugged. "The lashes were administered the day before yesterday; he's a bloody mess and will have to be bedridden for a while. Menban sent him rice, flour, and medicinal soup."

He Lingchuan was silent. Military lashes are not easy to endure; there were patrol guards who didn't even survive twenty lashes before losing their lives.

Sixty lashes—General Hong's temper is not small.

Everyone was feeling sullen, drinking until they were dead drunk before returning.

He Lingchuan returned to his residence, and just as he entered the door, he heard someone behind him say:

"Such heavy alcohol breath."

He turned his head and saw Sun Fuling lying on the wall, looking at him sideways.

She was smiling beautifully, with a dimple on her cheek; she didn't even need to pose to be pretty enough to be in a painting.

He Lingchuan immediately thought of the bone flute in that portrait.

The person is still here; that is good.

Being stared at directly by him, Sun Fuling looked left and right, then at herself: "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, sorry for fumigating you." He Lingchuan scratched his head and walked toward the kitchen. "I'm going to wash up."

When he came out, Sun Fuling had already placed a basket of fruit on the table in the small courtyard and grabbed two pears from inside: "Want to try? They say it's a new variety from the eastern part of the Chipa Plateau."

The pears were very plump, each weighing about a jin, and the skin was brown, looking rather unremarkable. He Lingchuan had drunk too much and felt his mouth was dry, so he took one and took a bite, only to find it full of sweetness, delicate and with little residue.

"Delicious."

"Did you go drinking with Hu Min and the others?" Sun Fuling pulled out a dagger to peel the pear, eating a slice at a time. "These past few days, there has been quite a lot of resentment in the city."

"Returning in vain—no one is going to be happy about that."

"Taking the opportunity to take down Xiji also weakened the threat from the east," Sun Fuling said leisurely. "It's not necessarily a bad thing."

"Yes, but I still feel it's a pity."

Sun Fuling asked him: "If you were General Hong, would you have advanced east or returned west?"

"Advanced east."

"Why?" Sun Fuling raised an eyebrow. "Then you wouldn't care about Panlongcheng in the rear? The eastern expeditionary force was only the vanguard; there were millions of women and children behind."

Because, no matter what price the eastern expedition would have to pay, it would still be better than the final destruction of the city and the death of its people. Of course, this is hindsight. Standing in the position at that time, General Hong's decision to lead the troops back west was a carefully considered deliberation and had its correctness.

These words could only be thought in his heart. On the surface, He Lingchuan still had to say: "Lord Zhong is sitting in the rear. Besides, war is nothing more than an art of precise calculation. Whether to fight or not, whether to return or not, depends on how much of a price you are willing to pay for the goal."

Sun Fuling blinked: "Precise calculation? Who said that?"

He Lingchuan did not speak.

In the Great Battle of Hanhe, he was swept away by the surging river water. It wasn't until months later that he learned the outcome of the battle from Li Qingge, and he was greatly shocked.

Both the Yuan Army and the Xunzhou Army suffered heavy losses, with countless casualties, yet the generals on both sides submitted reports claiming credit, saying victory was theirs and that the "operational goals" had been achieved.

Isn't this the result of "precise calculation"?

Sun Fuling sneered again: "The price? Are you willing to be that price, and are the old, weak, women, and children willing to be that price?"

He Lingchuan took a bite of the pear: "If the hearts of the people long to return, perhaps they would be willing?"

"No, the hearts of the people long to return, but they hope that the price is paid by others and the results are enjoyed by themselves," Sun Fuling said lightly. "Human nature is like this, even for the people of Panlongcheng."

He Lingchuan shook his head: "I just feel that losing this opportunity to return east is truly a pity."

"Forget it, if you can't change it, you can only accept it." Sun Fuling peeled the pear and savored it slowly. "Maybe there will be another chance later?"

He Lingchuan felt a stir in his heart, but he saw her acting as if nothing had happened, as if it were just a casual remark.

"I heard that Baling and Xianyou have joined forces again; this is truly a very bad omen," Sun Fuling said softly. "There is also a rift between these two countries; they fought a battle just last spring, and both sides had casualties. Yet this time, they can be together."

(End of chapter)