The Demon Lords

Chapter 457 57 North_2

But this sight of corpses strewn across the field still testified to the cruelty of the previous battle.

When Hui Wenzu arrived, the two generals appeared completely oblivious to his presence.

Hui Wenzu didn't get upset. Seeing that both generals were wounded, he immediately crouched down anxiously before Liang Guohong. Looking at Liang Guohong's leg, his heart aching, he said, "How could you...you...you...be so careless?"

His display of emotion was a little too strong, a little too dramatic.

Liang Guohong, however, replied a bit stiffly, "Lord Hui, you're joking. On the battlefield, blades have no eyes. When it's time to spill blood, it will be spilled; there's no dodging it. Besides, no matter what, at least I'm still alive. I'm far luckier than those lads lying on the ground, never to rise again."

Hui Wenzu argued, "Although I haven't personally led charges into battle much, I understand the principle that 'an army is easy to raise, but a good general is hard to find.' Nanwang City has already recruited many young men from good families. They need experienced veterans to lead them. You should go and recuperate first, and while you're at it, train the new recruits."

"What? You're telling me to leave my soldiers and go to Nanwang City?"

"Can you currently lead troops into battle? Besides, those young men need someone to guide them."

"Heh, what good are new recruits? Although martial spirit is strong in our Great Yan, and Yan men can nearly all ride, you and I both know it's impossible to say they can form an army right after being pulled out. Lord Hui, I don't want any young men from good families; I just want my soldiers, the ones I brought all the way from Huwei County!"

Guo Tongsu, who was being treated for an arrow wound nearby, gently tugged Liang Guohong's sleeve, signaling that it would be unbecoming for generals like them to start infighting in front of their soldiers.

Hui Wenzu smiled and said, "I know, I know."

Guo Tongsu then spoke up, "Lord Hui, we really can't continue fighting this war like this. Even with all our generals combined, these are all the men and horses we have. Although they're not as elite as the Northern Stability and Southern Peace forces, they are still first-rate cavalry among the four states. It's truly too great a disadvantage for us to clash head-on with the Qian people like this!"

Such fierce charges, although the Yan people won several engagements and the Qian people retreated, also resulted in heavy losses for them. Moreover, the cavalry's advantage in mobility hadn't been fully utilized.

Liang Guohong added, "Lord Hui, even if you intend to make a move, you shouldn't be so hasty."

Upon hearing this, not only Guo Tongsu but also the other three generals beside him changed their expressions.

Liang Guohong's words were truly cutting. It was almost as if he was pointing at Hui Wenzu's nose, saying, "Even if you want to diminish our strength to secure your position as the top authority in Yinlang County, you shouldn't be so hasty. Your methods are too blatant."

Hui Wenzu showed no sign of anger, but continued to chuckle, "You mustn't say that. I believe you've all seen the kind of person I, Hui Wenzu, usually am. Ordinarily, when we're all scheming behind closed doors, I, Hui Wenzu, am better at it than any of you. I'm fat, so I get hungry quickly and naturally eat more.

"But now, we're facing the Qian people. Brothers may fight at home, but when we're out, we must stand together against foreign aggression. That much, I, Hui Wenzu, understand clearly.

"Originally, as you know, the most capable unit under my command was the force from Green Willow Fortress. Weren't they transferred south with Lord Jingnan? However, I still have a few thousand cavalry of my own. So, I won't keep a single man; I'll hand them over to you two brothers as complete, organized units."

What Hui Wenzu said caught Liang Guohong off guard, and he reflexively asked, "Really?"

"Absolutely!"

Hui Wenzu seemed tired of squatting and simply sat down on the frozen earth. Tugging at his collar, he continued, "You've all seen how fat I am. That Pi Beast of mine struggles to carry me, let alone could I lead a charge. In the past, though I've seen some action, it was always in Beifeng Prefecture, rounding up horse bandits or skirmishing with small barbarian tribes. I've never truly managed a large-scale battle like this, so I must rely on all of you.

"You can divide my troops amongst yourselves. And any good-quality recruits enlisted later, feel free to pick the best, and I'll send them to you first.

"These troops I'm giving away, I won't ask for them back. I'm saying this to your faces today. You surely don't worry I'll go back on my word later, do you?"

Liang Guohong looked somewhat puzzled and asked, "Lord Hui, why are you doing this?"

They had all risen from military leadership, struggling hard to reach their current positions, so they naturally understood the importance of the troops under their command. For Hui Wenzu to give away his entire foundation like this was truly difficult to comprehend.

"Heh, at a time like this, let's not distinguish between yours and mine. In the eyes of the Qian people, we are all Yan people."

Hui Wenzu struggled to get up from the ground, pointed east, and said, "To be frank with you all, war has already erupted on the eastern front with Jin State, and the situation is reportedly quite serious. The two great clans of Jin State, the Helian Family and the Wenren Family, are said to have committed all their foundational forces. I don't know the exact number of troops, but in the east, there are 50,000 Southern Peace Army reserves, plus 100,000 Imperial Guards and the various county militias on defense, yet the fighting is still incredibly hard.

"The Imperial Court can't possibly spare a single soldier to reinforce us. The two Lords have already led their armies south. Although I don't know why, the Qian armies on those three fronts show no signs of turning back to reinforce their heartland. But if they *do* decide to march north, between them and Yanjing, where His Majesty resides, who else can we count on to stop them, if not us?"