Chapter 667

Chen Wuji led the Personal Guard Lìng, Feng Linchuan's troops, and the central army's sole Cavalry as they arrived at the left wing; Xie Fengxian's tent had already been pitched, and he was settling accounts with the Qiang People.

He had captured several hundred people and was interrogating them in a very crude manner.

Xie Fengxian held a Knife, approached the captives, asked only one question; if they didn't answer, hesitated, or resisted, he gave them no extra words—just one strike.

Then the next one.

"Lord!"

Seeing Chen Wuji approach on horseback, Xie Fengxian had long since put away his blood‑stained long Knife and clasped his fists in salute.

"What have you found out?" Chen Wuji asked, dismounting.

Xie Fengxian shook his head: "They're just a bunch of ordinary Qiang Soldiers who know nothing of the situation; for now there's no useful clue. These dogs actually fought well this time—flanking on three sides, with rear Cavalry charging—I almost became a rat trapped in a sack."

Chen Wuji glanced at Xie Fengxian, straightened his torn Armor, and asked, "How are our casualties?"

"Quite a few." Xie Fengxian felt embarrassed, his old face flushing: "The Scout didn't get the word out in time; we were caught off guard, losing nearly two thousand."

"Basically they died in the enemy Cavalry charge; those guys were outright Death Soldiers—once they crashed into our camp they had no thought of retreat, only killing. Some Qiang Soldiers, clearly reduced to a dying breath, still leapt up and bit our soldiers to death— they really bit them to death."

"It wasn't just one or two; many. Dozens of our troops had their throats torn out by these remnants. Lord, frankly, I've never seen such fierce Qiang People— they seem utterly fearless of death. I can only be glad their numbers are small, plus the rear‑charging Cavalry, together under six thousand; if they had more, I would surely have lost."

Chen Wuji's brows knotted into a lump: "When you said losses, did you mean casualties or killed in action?"

"Killed in action!"

"How many casualties?"

"Light wounds—everyone has a few; serious wounds exceed one thousand."

Chen Wuji's face instantly darkened like a dead pool: "In other words, the enemy traded six thousand for four thousand of ours?"

Even if the seriously wounded could be healed, they'd no longer be fit for the battlefield.

"Yes!" Xie Fengxian said, straining his neck.

Chen Wuji pinched his brows and said: "The main army will rest in place; send Scouts out twenty li, expand the patrol perimeter to link with the central camp. Bury the fallen on the spot; you know the rest—organize it, and after this battle we'll handle everything together."

"Yes sir!"

"Thank you for your effort; this battle, I was careless." Chen Wuji said.

Xie Fengxian felt embarrassed again: "My lord, I think the Qiang People have undergone some change; they've suddenly become extremely hardened, completely unlike how they were at the Battle of Wuyang Mountain."

"Because they have no retreat." Chen Wuji said.

"They know full well that if they can't defeat me at Wuyang, they lose not only the battle's victory but also their homeland, their pastures and livestock, their kin."

"These matters were perhaps known only to the Qiang People's upper commanders, but now likely the entire Zhong Qiang force knows, and they've united as one, fighting desperately for their homeland."

"We too must fight desperately for our homeland!"

"The great victory at Wuyang Mountain gave Chen Wuji a certain contempt for this Zhong Qiang."

"But today's battle shattered that pride of his."

"It forced him to re‑evaluate the Zhong Qiang and take this war seriously."

"The Zhong Qiang are truly gambling their qi flow!"

"My lord, if that's the case, shouldn't we tell the troops?" Xie Fengxian asked.

Chen Wuji considered and said: "If you think you can convince the soldiers, go ahead and speak. If you think saying it will only add pressure and hurt morale, then don't!"

"I think I can persuade them," Xie Fengxian said. "The Qiang People are risking everything for their wives, fields, and riches; they've become utterly fearless of death—what gives them pressure? What stops them from fighting to the death?"

"Chen Wuji: ……"

"That angle is indeed a viable argument."

"Then go say it!" Chen Wuji said. "You attend to your duties; I'll walk among the troops."

"Yes sir!"

Xie Fengxian took up his long Knife and went again to greet the Qiang captives amicably.

Chen Wuji, with his Personal Guard, wandered the battlefield at random, lending a hand where help was needed, applying medicine packs on the spot for those needing treatment.

"On the battlefield just after the fighting ended, it was chaotic and disordered everywhere, filled with the pungent smell of blood."

"Fortunately, here Chen Wuji saw no one vomiting nonstop or clutching their heads in tears."

"He had seen plenty of such scenes in the central camp just moments before."

"They were all the Qingzhou Conscripts under Hu Bu Gui."

"They hadn't taken part in the fighting, yet the scene was utterly chaotic."

"In fact, Chen Wuji could very well understand those soldiers who vomited and clutched their heads in sorrow."

"On their first battlefield, facing a scene akin to a Shura field, no one could remain completely composed."

"This is a hard threshold every soldier in any era must pass when taking up arms."

"Once past it, one becomes a qualified soldier."

"If not passed, one is eliminated."

"Report!"

"A Scout came galloping from afar, his warhorse's hooves flinging; before he drew near, his shout rang out loud and clear, full of vigor."

"The sweat‑drenched Scout swiftly dismounted, braced his shoulder against the still‑forward‑lunging Warhorse, waited for it to stand firm, then dropped to one knee and reported: 'Sir, the Qiang People have seized Wuyang City; General Lu launched a counter‑attack on the Qiang Ren Da Ying, capturing their grain and fodder.'"

Chen Wuji asked: "Can you find out why General Lu sallied forth from the city?"

"'I haven't gone to General Lu's headquarters, so I don't know. But someone has gone; word should reach you soon,' the Scout replied."

"You've worked hard; go rest."

"Yes sir!"

Chen Wuji didn't rush back; he took his Personal Guard Lìng and the central Cavalry to help clear the battlefield, only then gathering his troops and returning to that nameless little hill.

"A simple encampment had already been set up against the hill; Hu Bu Gui's forces garrisoned below, the central army on the summit, guarding Chen Wuji's Great Banner and his Zhongjun Camp."

"'Sir, it's truly no surprise at all. Though we learned of it late, this wild wolf acted exactly as we guessed.' Chen Wuji entered the Camp Tent and said to Xu Zengyi, who was staring at the map."

Lu Ji's reaction was also quite quick; the moment they lost the city, they reacted, launching a Revolving Horse Spear, seizing the Qiang People's Lìng camp, and taking the enemy's grain and fodder.