Chapter 78: Three Hundred and a Hundred Thousand

Outside Linlu, several camps had been built according to the terrain, with defensive works such as palisades and abatis spreading layer upon layer from north to south. Though they ultimately proved unnecessary, Liu Chengyou never minded the trouble of preparing for a rainy day against unexpected contingencies.

On a slope of no great steepness, an attack-defense drill was underway, the situation quite deadlocked. But as the command flags below turned, the attacking side suddenly changed tempo, pulling troops from the northern and southern wings to concentrate on the eastern face, launching a sudden assault—charging up in one rush and routing the unprepared defenders.

Seeing his men seize the great banner planted on the height, Murong Yanzhao, commanding from the rear, broke into a smile. Through his unceasing training, the Fourth Army was gradually becoming like an arm responding to the body's command; transitions between attack and defense were growing smooth, and the result of this drill was proof positive.

Not far away, on a gentle stretch of slope, a simple command platform had been erected. Standing on it, Liu Chengyou had watched the entire attack-defense drill from start to finish. Even as an outsider to military matters, he could feel Murong Yanzhao's outstanding command ability.

"How was it?" With satisfaction written across his brow, Liu Chengyou asked the several men accompanying him.

"General Murong is truly worthy of his martial lineage—he trains troops with method and commands with composure. Your Highness's acquisition of such talent is truly cause for celebration!" Guo Rong said unprompted, his tone carrying considerable admiration.

"Your Highness has keen eyes indeed!" Zhang Yanwei smiled, flattering.

The others also spoke well of him, offering praise. Everyone lifts the decorated sedan chair; moreover, as time passed, Murong Yanzhao's abilities had gradually revealed themselves. Only one great achievement was lacking before his position as Commander would be thoroughly secure, and Liu Chengyou's "keen eye for talent" would spread even further.

Before long, Murong Yanzhao and Sun Li arrived one after another at the command platform and paid their respects. Murong Yanzhao appeared entirely composed, his usual expression tinged with modest confidence.

In contrast, Sun Li's expression was very ugly—reluctance mixed with shame and anger, his burly frame seeming to have shrunk somewhat. He had just led the Second Army as the defending side and been utterly defeated, and by Murong Yanzhao, the newcomer they had ostracized—how could his mood be anything but foul?

This was already the second time. Twice with double the numbers attacking for the banner—when he was the attacker, he couldn't take it; when he was the defender, he couldn't hold it. It could be said that he had thoroughly lost face this time.

But in his heart he was naturally far from convinced. Looking back at both engagements, each time Murong Yanzhao had manipulated him through on-the-spot command, pulling and shifting his forces, finding the gap, and winning in one stroke. In truth, in terms of soldierly fighting strength, the Fourth Army was still inferior to the Second—yet it was precisely the Second Army that lost. How could Sun Li accept that?

"Commander Sun, are you convinced?" Liu Chengyou glanced at Sun Li and asked.

"Convinced!" Even with his heart full of unwillingness, Sun Li lowered his head reluctantly and spat out a single word.

He made a perfunctory bow toward Murong Yanzhao, saying nothing, as if using his remaining defiance to mask the dejection of defeat. There was not a trace of relief in his bearing—rather, it grew even more somber. To be sincerely convinced, to be won over by the man's ability—that was impossible. The vast majority of people in this world lacked such breadth of heart...

"In that case, General Guo, pass the order—distribute the reward funds to the Fourth Army!" Liu Chengyou could roughly appreciate Sun Li's state of mind, but he would not "soothe" him. He turned his head and instructed Guo Rong.

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"You two, lead your troops back to camp to rest. The wounded soldiers are to be properly treated and cared for!" Liu Chengyou said to Murong Yanzhao and Sun Li again, his expression grave.

"Yes!" Neither man dared to be negligent toward this order.

Even though it was only a drill, without real blades, the punches and kicks, the blows of staves and wooden weapons, all landed for real. After one engagement, there were still a fair number of soldiers with light and serious injuries.

"Your Highness, the Liao army has withdrawn!" When Xiang Xun entered the hall to report, Liu Chengyou was still staring absently at a map of the Hebei prefectures. The map was not detailed enough, and studying it was taxing—many ideas could only remain speculation.

"Yelu Deguang finally took Anyang city?" A trace of mockery curled at the corner of his mouth as Liu Chengyou raised his head and asked: "What of Yelu Bali De's army?"

"They have withdrawn as well!"

Liu Chengyou appeared entirely calm, not overthinking it, and directly ordered: "Send word to Han Tong and Luo Yangui—continue reconnaissance and get me a clear picture of the enemy situation!"

"Yes!"

Even upon learning that Yelu Deguang had withdrawn north, Liu Chengyou remained unmoved as a mountain, sitting steady at the fishing platform, not the least bit anxious. His troops were few but elite, mobile and flexible in movement. The Liao army numbered over a hundred thousand—numerous and motley, with carts great and small in tow, and nearly all of them weary soldiers. Liu Chengyou was not afraid of them "escaping."

But even so, Liu Chengyou dared not be the slightest bit careless. He would very cautiously wait until the situation was fully ascertained before making his move.

The result was confirmed: the Liao army had truly retreated. Even that force under Yelu Bali De's command that had been watching Linlu had withdrawn completely, not leaving so much as half a banner behind. He cast his scouts far and wide, and only after the main Liao force had been heading north for a full three days—so sluggishly that even Yelu Deguang's backup forces on the Xiangzhou-Cizhou border lost patience and withdrew—did Liu Chengyou's side slowly stir from its position, leading the army out of Linlu and east toward Anyang.

Setting out at the hour of Chen, the hundred-odd li of road long since familiar, they reached Anyang without much trouble. Then he saw with his own eyes the deathly still city.

At this time, Anyang could not be described except as fields strewn with corpses and rivers of blood. Even days later, the thick stench of blood still hung in the air, impossible to dispel. Even the summer breeze blowing through carried a touch of desolation.

Within the city, from every nook and cranny, the miserable wailing of survivors intermittently drifted out.

After entering Anyang, the entire Longqi army, Liu Chengyou included, fell into silence. Then, in a stifling atmosphere, Liu Chengyou issued the order for the various units to search the city and clear away the corpses.

At the southern city wall—clearly the Liao army's key assault sector—the corpses were far more concentrated than elsewhere. Leaning against the parapet where the blood had already dried, the cold emanating from the wall seeped straight into his heart.

Listening to the sounds of bodies being moved, a fierce rage had already begun to burn in his heart, slowly filling his entire chest. Liu Chengyou had always prided himself on a mind as still as water, but at this moment, seeing the city full of corpses, he could not remain unmoved. In his chest was pent up an anger that nearly tore him apart.

Throughout the city, many soldiers, in the process of moving bodies, found tears falling unconsciously, numb and unaware. And more still wept aloud outright, sending off the dead citizens of Anyang with cry after cry of grief.

He summoned some of the common folk from within Xiangzhou, and soldiers and civilians together spent a full three days before finally finishing the clearing of the city.

The camp was pitched outside the city walls. They too had passed through life and death, fearless in the face of war's cruelty—but Liu Chengyou dared not stay within Anyang city. Or rather, he could not bear to.

"Your Highness, the count is complete. The surviving citizens in the city number only a little over three hundred. All the rest were slaughtered. The corpses discovered number no fewer than a hundred thousand..." His voice suppressing his fury, Guo Rong reported to Liu Chengyou within the tent.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou fell silent. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Assemble the entire army!"

"Yes!"

Before the walls of Anyang, the entire Longqi army assembled, silently facing the cold, desolate city, the scene solemn and grave. Liu Chengyou knelt first, and the host followed suit. Amid the mournful atmosphere, a powerful will crystallized and took shape.