Chapter 1312: Sudden Retreat

"We were fighting just fine, why did you suddenly order us to retreat?"

"We've already fallen back so far, and we still have to replenish supplies within five days? After that, who are we going to fight?"

All the Leaders were filled with doubt in their hearts about Ye Liuyun's order to retreat.

Emperor Xia immediately came over to ask.

"Do you have any intention behind doing this?"

He was far away in the palace, unaware of the battlefield situation, so he could only communicate with Ye Liuyun first.

Ye Liuyun replied: "First, the soldiers have been winning for days, and the initial grief‑filled mindset and innate bloodlust have been exhausted. Now a passive attitude has emerged, and the number of casualties in battle is beginning to rise.

Moreover, the more the Foreign Tribe's operating space is compressed, the more concentrated their power becomes. If we keep fighting, we are scattered while they are concentrated, which is disadvantageous to us.

The reason I returned such a vast area to the Foreign Tribe is to force them to disperse their troops again, then we can strike them with a counter‑attack.

By then they will have just set up defenses and lack supplies, and we can easily eliminate them one by one."

After Ye Liuyun finished explaining, he also asked Emperor Xia to keep it secret so the news wouldn't leak early.

From Song Fanjun's betrayal, the Foreign Tribe had already begun its scheming, and it was deeply arranged. So now no one dares to trust anyone.

Emperor Xia, upon hearing this, repeatedly agreed. He also deeply sighed: "Ye Liuyun truly is a talent for command! It's a pity he's devoted solely to martial ways; otherwise, he could certainly become the Grand Leader of the Imperial Army!"

Immediately, he ordered all the Leaders to fully obey Ye Liuyun's commands.

Then he promptly coordinated resources. This time, he also brought a share for Ye Liuyun.

He even issued a notice, appointing Ye Liuyun as Deputy Leader of the army.

Emperor Xia's intention was clear: with no principal Leader now, the entire army must follow Ye Liuyun's command. Doing so grants Ye Liuyun authority.

When the notice was issued, the whole army welcomed it.

Although they were retreating, their lives were ultimately saved by Ye Liuyun.

And without Ye Liuyun, they could not succeed in a counter‑offensive.

Thus they all believed that as long as Ye Liuyun is present, they will never be defeated.

But within the Imperial Family, some were dissatisfied, saying Ye Liuyun is young and inexperienced, unfit for such responsibility.

Others feared that Ye Liuyun already has great power; once he controls the military, he could overthrow the dynasty at any time. Some even cited his previous siege of a city as proof of his lawlessness.

Emperor Xia merely listened to these opinions but did not change his decision.

They cannot lead troops themselves, yet they comment on Leaders with authority.

Normally, when Emperor Xia wants to deal with someone, he lets them discuss and picks suitable pretexts from among them.

But now, he doesn't need their opinions at all.

Through this great battle, he also realized that Ye Liuyun genuinely opposes the Foreign Tribe, and his calm, meticulous, and intelligent nature makes him undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Since long ago, Ye Liuyun has never harbored any thoughts or intentions of rebellion. He has long been aware of this.

As long as you don't provoke Ye Liuyun, he is the easiest to deal with. But if you do, he will certainly not suffer loss.

Therefore, regardless of what the ministers say, he merely smiles it off and still sticks to his view.

However, the Grand Emperor approached him because of this matter.

"Why entrust the general's authority to Ye Liuyun? Don't you know he is one of our opposing forces?" the Grand Emperor rebuked Emperor Xia as soon as they met.

Emperor Xia now harbors some suspicion toward the Grand Emperor.

He simply said: "I have repeatedly verified Ye Liuyun; he will not betray the dynasty, and he is far safer than Song Fanjun. The claim that he is an opponent is unfounded; we are partners!"

"Do you mean you're blaming me for recommending the wrong person?" the Grand Emperor asked, displeased.

"I wouldn't dare!"

Although Emperor Xia is suspicious, he still shows the proper respect to the Grand Emperor.

"Immediately revoke Ye Liuyun's deputy leader position and never let him partake in battlefield matters again! If he gains prestige in the army, it will be highly detrimental to our rule!" the Grand Emperor urged Emperor Xia from another angle.

His tone also contained an element of command.

"Impossible! His appointment has already been issued. Revoking it would backfire and anger Ye Liuyun. He is a core force on the battlefield; without him we cannot defeat the Foreign Tribe!" Emperor Xia said calmly.

"Our dynasty has millions of troops and still cannot beat the Foreign Tribe? Must it be him?" the Grand Emperor retorted angrily.

"Yes! Without Ye Liuyun, those millions of troops would now be corpses! Or they'd become Corpse Demons to counter‑attack us!" Emperor Xia's tone also became resolute.

The Grand Emperor, seeing he could not persuade him, sighed and changed his strategy.

"Since the order cannot be withdrawn, it must remain for now. But you should understand his next move and send a few overseers, okay? What does he plan next? I think a few steady individuals would be suitable as overseers…"

Before the Grand Emperor could finish, Emperor Xia directly rejected him.

"I will not send overseers. The principle is to trust one's subordinates! On the battlefield, a Leader's command authority fears surveillance and restriction, which would delay the chance to strike!"

As for Ye Liuyun's plans and schemes, he is the army's Leader; I have no need to inquire each detail.

Emperor Xia was decisively resolute and did not disclose Ye Liuyun's plans.

Last time, using the Grand Emperor's recommended person nearly caused the entire army's annihilation.

After suffering that loss, how could he still use the Grand Emperor's recommendation?

In fact, he wanted to test the Grand Emperor. But Ye Liuyun's plan is massive; if this plan were used to test the Grand Emperor and the news reached the Foreign Tribe, the dynasty and its millions of troops would bear the loss.

He cannot take that risk, so he must wait for another opportunity.

"You don't trust me but trust an outsider?" the Grand Emperor immediately retorted: "Could I possibly intend to sabotage the dynasty?"

Emperor Xia glanced at him and felt the Grand Emperor was truly different from before.

He no longer possessed the previous composure and foresight, and his recent frequent interventions contradicted his original intent to seclude for cultivation.

Although he didn't know the reason, he had already resolved to keep the Grand Emperor under watch and no longer accept his counsel.