Chapter 126: Though Victorious, Yet Ashamed

"You, you, you, what are you saying?"

Zheng Yuxing and the Third Prince Xie Ling were both stunned at once.

Xie Ling froze for a moment, and then, the enthusiasm he had been piling up toward Liu Zheng on his face faded away in an instant; he first glanced at Zheng Yuxing, as if to say, is this kid a fool?

In the current situation, he actually wanted to counterattack the Xiongnu?

Facing the Xiongnu Army and their long-handled curved sabers, the Longyan Army was retreating step by step and suffering heavy losses. Even if they successfully broke out of the Xiongnu Army's encirclement today, they would only be lingering on in a steadily worsening condition; while continuing to wait for reinforcements, just being able to withstand the next attack from the Xiongnu Army would already be difficult enough.

You are still thinking about a counterattack?

Zheng Yuxing also gave a bitter smile: "Young Master Liu, you have just arrived at Longhu Pass and do not know the current situation..."

Liu Zheng continued to smile slightly: "General Zheng, if you want to counterattack, it must be within three days! Today, the Xiongnu Army's morale is in chaos; they are different from the Longyan Army, and it will take at least three days to stabilize their morale. Zheng believes this is the only opportunity this year!"

Hearing this, Xie Ling felt waves of disappointment surge in his heart again; he exchanged a glance with Zheng Yuxing, and a look of cold indifference had already appeared on his face.

There was no other reason.

Today, Liu Zheng's Yinzhou Army had descended from the sky like divine soldiers, and combined with the rumors about Liu Zheng outside, Xie Ling felt that this young man was indeed a talent who could be developed into his own subordinate. That was why he had openly shown affection toward Liu Zheng, wanting to win him over.

But he had not expected that, having just sat down, he would hear these words from Liu Zheng that were "newborn calves not fearing tigers," or could even be classified as "brainless," and Xie Ling sneered incessantly in his heart.

If so many generals cannot accomplish this, can you?

Do you really think you are a genius?

Seeing Xie Ling's attitude, Liu Zheng felt relieved instead; he himself did not want to be recruited by any prince, especially this Third Prince, who was extremely calculating and, with his status and noble identity, meant that as his subordinate, one had to be prepared to sacrifice for him at any time, which was something Liu Zheng could not tolerate.

Therefore, as soon as he came in, he said such things; one reason was that there was indeed only an opportunity to counterattack within three days, and the other was that he did not want to get too close to this Third Prince.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall; at this time, whether it was the Crown Prince or the Third Prince, they actually both belonged to the category of dangerous walls.

He would leave after the battle and did not want to participate in this struggle for the throne at all.

Zheng Yuxing said indifferently: "Young Master Liu, although the Yinzhou Army is strong, if you want to counterattack the Xiongnu, I am afraid there is not the slightest chance."

Liu Zheng smiled: "General Zheng, rest assured, Zheng is willing to charge into the fray; you only need to reorganize the troops and wait to see how things develop!"

Seeing Liu Zheng so persistent, although Zheng Yuxing did not like Liu Zheng's boastfulness, he also felt that this young man had a bit of mettle, which he truly admired, so he laughed heartily: "Since Young Master Liu has said this, I will reorganize the troops tomorrow; within three days, the morale will surely be set!"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed, cupped his hands, and stood up: "General Zheng, thank you for your trouble!"

After saying this, he made an excuse and left.

This Third Prince, Xie Ling, had a cold face and did not try to keep him; only after Liu Zheng left did he give a faint hum: "I really thought he was some kind of world-shaping talent; seeing him today, he is just a mere brat!"

Zheng Yuxing was a man who led troops and spoke his mind: "This Young Master Liu, although lacking foresight, is indeed unique in training troops; His Highness should not look down on him. After all, no one is perfect, Your Highness..."

Xie Ling could not be bothered to listen to this, waved his hand, and laughed heartily: "Let's not talk about this, let's not talk about this, quickly, bring the wine!"

"Uncle should call Yang Ke of the Baiya Army over to drink together; having survived a narrow escape today, we should drink a big cup!"

Zheng Yuxing sighed in his heart and shook his head.

He knew that although this Third Prince, Xie Ling, looked approachable on the surface, he was actually very arrogant and stubborn in his heart, and would not listen to anyone's words. He no longer tried to dissuade him.

"I'm so angry, I'm so angry!"

Crown Prince Xie Fang returned to his camp, with Chen Ping and the generals of the Crown Prince Army following behind, silent as cicadas in winter.

Xie Fang was so angry that he knocked all the food and wine in the tent to the ground, his face extremely dark: "This group of people, to humiliate me like this, they should be killed, their entire families executed!"

Everyone was speechless.

Chen Ping said indifferently: "Your Highness, the Xiongnu soldiers are cunning by nature; it is not Your Highness's fault."

Xie Fang's complexion looked a little better, and he gave a hum and sat there, suddenly saying: "What is the background of that Prefectural Assistant Liu from Yinzhou? He really has quite the airs! I think he is even more impressive than me, the Crown Prince!"

Chen Ping hurriedly added fuel to the fire: "Crown Prince, this Prefectural Assistant Liu is the son of Liu Dahao, and this Yinzhou is Liu Dahao's territory. These father and son are arrogant and despotic in Yinzhou, privately changing the laws; their hearts deserve to be punished!"

Xie Fang's expression changed: "Is this really the case?"

Chen Ping knew that he and this Liu father and son were in a relationship of life-and-death, so he added fuel to the fire regarding the actions of Liu Dahao and Liu Zheng in Yinzhou, saying things like they privately changed laws and taxes, and clearly did not put the Liangzhou Prefecture in their eyes.

Furthermore, he used the 80,000-strong army that Liu Zheng brought this time as an excuse, saying that the Yinzhou Army's uniforms were all green, which showed Yinzhou's disrespect and irreverence toward the imperial court.

Hoarding grain on a large scale and developing military power, their rebellious intentions were clearly revealed.

The more Xie Fang heard, the angrier he became, and he slapped the table and stood up in a rage: "Preposterous, does this mean they do not put my Longyan Dynasty in their eyes? Wait until I report this to the Emperor, I will make them pay!"

Chen Ping deliberately wiped his tears: "Your Highness, not only that, this Liu Zheng deliberately delayed the rescue today and showed off in front of Your Highness; they must not be spared lightly! Your Highness, why not do this..."

Xie Fang was so angry that his face turned the color of a pig's liver, and a sinister look flashed in his eyes.

Looking back at Liu Zheng's side, when he returned to his tent, Jiang Xuan, Qin Zhangfeng, and an unfamiliar white-haired man were already waiting there.

"Young Master, you're back; this is the Second Leader of the Baiya Army, Yang Ke, Leader Yang!"

Jiang Xuan introduced him.

That Yang Ke also cupped his hands and smiled: "If one has never met Prefectural Assistant Liu in their life, who dares to call themselves a hero in their youth! Only after meeting Prefectural Assistant Liu today does Yang Ke know that the rumors are not false!"

Liu Zheng felt a jolt in his heart, knowing that this Yang Ke was a bona fide Military Advisor of the Baiya Army, and his status was not something that Du Biao could compare to. It could be said that the credit for the Baiya Army being able to develop to the point where even the Liangzhou Prefecture was very wary of them was something that could not be erased for this Yang Ke.

"Second Leader is too kind, please sit, please sit! Jiang Xuan, hurry and pour tea for Yang Ke!"

Yang Ke was not polite either and deliberately smiled: "Prefectural Assistant Liu, the Baiya Army and Yinzhou are in a relationship as close as Qin and Jin; can't I even get a cup of wine?"

Qin Zhangfeng said from the side: "Second Leader has misunderstood; this is the military law of our Yinzhou Army. During military training and expeditions, regardless of whether they are generals or soldiers, drinking is strictly prohibited!"

"What?"

Yang Ke was shocked, and when he looked at Liu Zheng again, his eyes were once again filled with admiration.

Since ancient times, how can there be no wine in the army?

Having wine on an expedition had almost become an unwritten rule of all dynasties. Drinking before an expedition and drinking after achieving victory seemed to be an iron law.

But the Yinzhou Army actually did not drink?

At first, hearing this felt a bit unbelievable, but looking at the Longhu Pass at this time, several camps had already started to revel, eating and drinking heavily. Looking at the Yinzhou Army's camp, however, the military discipline was strict, the guards were vigilant, and the sentries were performing their duties conscientiously and responsibly; it was clearly the only one in a true wartime state.

Naturally, which was superior and which was inferior was clear at a glance.

Yang Ke picked up his tea and sighed deeply: "Yang Ke rarely admires someone younger than me, but Prefectural Assistant Liu is the first!"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily, raised his cup as well, and said: "The Second Leader is too kind. I wonder how Brother Du is doing?"

Yang Ke took a sip of tea and smiled: "That reckless man, that day he wished he could kill his way into the Grassland alone. Fortunately, I stopped him and tied him up to go back and treat his wounds. He should be fine by now."

Liu Zheng felt relieved and said sincerely: "Brother Du is meticulous; he must have wanted to scout out exactly what the Xiongnu were planning this time. Looking at it now, if he hadn't issued a warning in time, the Longyan border would truly have been in an emergency!"

Yang Ke's eyes flickered as he asked: "What does Prefectural Assistant Liu think is the reason for the Xiongnu invasion?"

Liu Zheng smiled and asked in return: "What are the losses of the Baiya Army in terms of Geometry?"

Yang Ke's expression changed slightly; he could no longer hold back and slammed his fist onto the table with a bang, his eyes turning red: "Old man Chen Ping, narrow-minded and petty, actually used this treasonous scheme just to exhaust my Baiya Army!"

"My Baiya Army has lost fifty thousand men in battle!"

"What?"

Liu Zheng and Jiang Xuan and the others looked at each other in shock.

Fifty thousand people...

The total strength of the Baiya Army was only seventy thousand; a direct loss of fifty thousand meant the entire Baiya Army had been almost wiped out, leaving only twenty thousand, and it was likely that many of those were old, weak, sick, or wounded. It could be said that in this great battle, the Baiya Army, having borne the brunt of the attack, suffered the greatest losses, and Chen Ping's goal of exhausting the Baiya Army had almost been achieved.

Liu Zheng took a deep breath: "The Second Leader need not be anxious; there will surely be a conclusion to this matter in the future!"

Yang Ke's eyes flickered, and he laughed heartily: "Prefectural Assistant Liu, things have reached this point, and of course, they are beyond remedy. But I fear that this Crown Prince is temperamental, and I worry that tomorrow or the day after, he will order Prefectural Assistant Liu to act as the vanguard. When that time comes, you must find an excuse to refuse!"

"Ah?"

Liu Zheng was stunned, then immediately understood, and followed with a bitter smile.

That's right.

This Crown Prince had suffered a crushing defeat today and was later rescued by him. Do you think he would be grateful? No! Someone like this, who is about to inherit the throne, will only feel that you are stealing his thunder, or even making him unable to hold his head up!

In this situation, rescuing him is worse than being defeated alongside him! The fifty thousand men of the Crown Prince Army have all been lost, and yet your Yinzhou Army is so formidable—can he feel good about that?

These are the true thoughts of such people.

Liu Zheng shook his head with a bitter smile.

What is this? A victory that feels like a disgrace?

At this moment, the Yinzhou Army had become the target of public criticism.

Aside from perhaps Zheng Yuxing, no one wanted the Yinzhou Army to appear too strong... they would rather drag Liu Zheng's Yinzhou Army down with them... If everyone is defeated together, then it's just that the Xiongnu are too strong. There is no Method, and the imperial court will just have to pay the reparations. But if we are defeated and your Yinzhou Army wins, doesn't that imply we are useless?

The thoughts of these princes truly cannot be guessed using the logic of ordinary people.

Sure enough.

Only one night had passed since Yang Ke's warning.

Early in the morning, the Crown Prince Xie Fang brought his generals and arrived in a flurry before Liu Zheng's camp, shouting loudly: "Where is Yinzhou's Prefectural Assistant Liu?"

Liu Zheng hurriedly came out to welcome him.

Xie Fang looked at him coldly, a sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Today is an excellent opportunity for a counterattack against the Xiongnu. I order Prefectural Assistant Liu to quickly assemble your troops and set out with me!"

The entire scene fell into immediate chaos.