Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 899 – Frontline Fails, Back Garden on Fire
News regarding the Battle of Jingzhou quickly spread back to the main camp. Fu Jian was furious. Looking at Di Chen with wariness, he gritted his teeth, “This is the promise you gave to me?”
His words were shot out with rage. Fu Jian felt like he was played. Before the army left, Di Chen had promised that it would succeed. Who knew that such a glorious outcome would occur?
Di Chen was ashamed and did not know how to reply.
In truth, there was no one more depressed than him. He only brought 50 thousand troops and half of them fell in the Jingzhou battlefield. Although he had obtained some battle contribution points, it was far from what he wanted.
On this matter, Di Chen owed Chun Shenjun and the others a big favor. Now, on the surface, they did not say anything. However, deep down, they were probably laughing out loud.
Facing Fu Jian’s chiding, Di Chen did not know how to retort. A large part of why they were defeated was because of the hundred thousand Qin troops.
If it were not for them not listening to instructions, pillaging, raping, burning, and robbing on the way, they would not have slowed down the speed and wasted enough time for the Jin army to set up their ambush.
However, Lianpo gathering up grain along the way and using up time was also the truth, so Di Chen had no way to retort. Furthermore, Fu Jian was really angry now and fighting back would be asking for trouble.
Di Chen wanted to avoid the topic but someone was not willing and stepped out, “Your highness, Lianpo was ordered to conquer the south, but he went to gather grain instead. He should be held responsible for the defeat.”
The one who spoke was Yao Chang. When he and Murong Chui learned about the defeat in Jingzhou, their eyes lit up.
Fu Jian nodded his head, “Lianpo is truly getting clumsy as he grows older.”
Di Chen was furious, and he scolded out in his heart, ‘Shameless!’ When the large quantity of grain was transported back, Fu Jian even praised Lianpo. How did he change his tune so suddenly?
However, when facing Fu Jian, Di Chen really could not criticize him.
The meeting ended in unhappiness as everyone went their separate ways.
…
Fu Jian thought that the loss at Jingzhou was bad enough, but who knew that a bigger calamity was about to happen? The next day, intel reports spread forth from the north.
Chao Chun’s sneak attacks up north had finally caught their attention.
The combination of the three elite cavalry forces was causing huge damage to the traveling Qin army. It was not much in the first few days, but along with more and more troops being attacked, the entire north region was tense.
All of a sudden, rumors flew about.
As more and more rumors spread around, the rumors would become the truth.
Just yesterday, there were forces that could not take it anymore, dispersing. This caused a chain reaction as more and more deserters appeared. The situation seemed to be escalating.
At this very moment, news that Murong Chui and Yao Chang were in soft arrest spread out. Hearing the news, the Qiang and Xianbei people in the army were furious. Out of all the deserters, most of them came from these two races.
After escaping, under someone’s organization, they hid in the former Qin land.
Hidden currents flowed through the entire north.
When Fu Jian got the news, he felt more and more uneasy.
The frontlines were falling while his back garden was set ablaze. His confidence that was being built up was shaken once more.
For this, Wuqi and Fu Rong had no choice but to hurry back from Shouyang to calm him down. Wuqi said, “Your highness, the 300 thousand troops in Shouyang have been formed up and can be thrown onto the battlefield. Hence, we have 600 thousand troops on the frontlines. We have the absolute advantage, and the situation is still under control.”
“What about the chaos within the country?” Fu Jian asked.
Wuqi said, “You only need to arrange a general to lead a light cavalry unit up north to give orders and clear up the rumors. With that, the situation will stabilize.”
Obviously, the matter was not as simply as Wuqi described. However, as a general of the Yanhuang Alliance, Wuqi needed to ensure that Fu Jian had the confidence to fight.
The successive blows had unsettled Fu Jian. Listening to Wuqi’s analysis, it was like a drowning person grasping at straws. He just believed what he heard.
“Ok!” Fu Jian nodded.
Fu Jian was in a bad situation. If he fought, he did not have a high chance of winning; if he backed off, he would not feel good. If he ran back to his country like this, where would he place his face?
Hence, before the situation turned bad, Fu Jian could only continue forward. He had no other choice.
…
Night, Murong Chui’s tent.
In the tent, apart from Murong Chui the owner, Yao Chang was there too.
On the table was an opened letter.
“What do you think?” Murong Chui asked Yao Chang.
Yao Chang replied, “No matter what, we need to leave the camp first.”
“Can they be trusted?”
“Let’s try; it’s better than being trapped here.”
“Ok, let’s take a gamble.” Murong Chui knew that the chaos in the north was their best chance. If they missed it, they would have no hope of rebuilding their nation.
The two of them discussed. After disguising, they snuck out of the camp and arrived at a quiet location on the west shore. The marines of the Great Xia Dynasty were already waiting there.
After both sides met, they quietly dived into the Fei River and swam against the current into the Huai River.
…
The next morning, news of their disappearance spread out in the Qin camp. Some people said that they escaped, while some said they were executed by the king.
The soldiers all discussed amongst themselves, covering the camp with a dark shadow.
Within the central tent, Fu Jian’s face was really dark. Their disappearance made him feel more and more uneasy, as he was clear about their influence in the country.
“Damn jerks; I should have killed them.” Fu Jian scolded.
Within the tent, Di Chen, Wuqi, and Fu Rong all exchanged glances, keeping silent. Bad news had come one after another like a chain reaction.
If this continued, the Qin army was going to collapse like in history.
Wuqi knew that he needed to say something. He stepped out and bowed, “Your highness!”
“Speak!” Even Fu Jian’s voice was cold.
Wuqi did not mind, “You can announce that they were sent back to the country to deal with the north matter to calm down the soldiers.”
To the other race soldiers, Murong Chui and Yao Chang were promoted. As such, sending them back to the country was a normal choice.
When Fu Jian heard that, he barely nodded.
Toward Wuqi, Fu Jian could not say anything. After all, he had done everything that he could do as a chief commander.
‘I can only blame the army for being useless.’ Fu Jian sighed in his heart.
Wuqi continued, “Most likely, the two of them escaped back home. When they appear in the north, they will definitely cause uproar. The best way will be to attack East Jin before the situation gets out of hand. If we crush East Jin, no matter how much noise Murong Chui and Yao Chang make in the country, they would not amount to much.”
One had to say that Wuqi’s eyes were vicious to the max.
When Fu Rong heard that, he did not immediately come to a decision. That was because the moment he started the war, there would be no way back.
When Wuqi and the others saw that, they did not dare to rush him despite their anxiousness.
After a long while, he raised his head. He looked over at Wuqi and asked, “How confident are you?”
Wuqi said, “80%.”
“Really?” Fu Jian looked like he was going to see through Wuqi’s thoughts.
Wuqi said calmly, “Really!”
In truth, Wuqi did not even have 60% confidence. In the Battle of Jingzhou, the results proved that the million army could not even fight. If he gave Wuqi enough time, he had confidence to turn them around.
However, in a short 10 days, even if Wuqi was a god, he could not do anything.
If he used them well, the 300 thousand Qin troops in Shouyang would be of great help; if they were not used well, they would just be a ticking time bomb.
But Wuqi had no other choice.
Fu Jian did not know if he could really trust Wuqi, “Then let’s fight to the death.”
With that decision, the Qin country had no way back.
“Yes!”
Wuqi, Di Chen, and Fu Rong all nodded in unison.
The Battle of Fei River unexpectedly welcomed a final battle, and the battlefield was still Fei River. Who knows, after this battle, would history repeat itself or would it change?
After the meeting ended, Fu Rong returned back to Shouyang to lead the 300 thousand troops south to rush to the main camp.
At the same time, Xiong Ba brought the warships into the Fei River to control the waters.
Helplessly, their actions were monitored by the Yashan Squadron, and how would they allow the Zhoushan Squadron to do as they wished? The two squadrons had the first round of conflict at the intersection between the Huai River and the Fei River.
As the river was too narrow, no one had an advantage.
…
East shore Fei River, East Jin main camp.
Victory was always sweet, especially to the Lords who sent their troops down south to Jingzhou. The ocean amounts of battle contribution points made them feel that the trip was worth it.
The movement of the Zhoushan Squadron was quickly reported to the main camp.
Ouyang Shuo brought Huo Qubing and Jia Xu to the main camp.
Although they won in Jingzhou, Xie Shi and Xie Huan were not that happy. It was no surprise, as the Xie family and the Huan family were rivals.
Huan Chong’s memorial to seek rewards had already reached the Imperial Court, and the king was delighted.
With that, the pressure on Xie Shi and Xie Huan grew even greater.
After sending away Murong Chui and Yao Chang, Ouyang Shuo knew that the Qin country would act. Zhoushan Squadron’s actions proved Ouyang Shuo’s conjecture.
After discussing with Jia Xu, Ouyang Shuo had a clear analysis of the situation.
“So the Qin army is going to go all out with us?” Upon hearing Ouyang Shuo’s words, Xie Shi had a weird expression on his face.
Ouyang Shuo nodded, “That is their only way to turn the scales.”
“Since they want to fight, let’s fight.” Xie Xuan was valiant.
Huan Chong’s victory had undoubtedly ignited Xie Xuan’s spirit. However, in private, Xie Xuan dissed him. He said that they won because of the player army.
However, contribution was contribution, and his majesty would not care. Hence, Xie Xuan wanted to fight more than anyone else.
