Just as expected, the Yu State Army was gradually retreating. By the fifth day, their camp was already empty. Gou Xi launched three attacks on them within two days, although on a very small scale and without significant results, they still managed to irritate the soldiers across the river.
Especially Prince East Sea, who was almost losing his mind from anger. Last night, there were five drumbeats from across the river. When they thought it was another sneak attack, they discovered that the people were just beating drums and gongs in the middle of the river. Even though they suspected it was just to stir things up, the sound still made them fear another surprise attack, so they had no choice but to get up and prepare for battle, running back and forth five tis. Prince East Sea and his n hardly slept all night.
And before this, they had already gone a night without sleep.
Not getting good sleep for two days would test anyone’s temper. Even though soone under Prince East Sea suggested that Gou Xi was employing a deceptive strategy, no one dared to advise the furious Prince East Sea to tolerate it.
The sleep-deprived Prince East Sea couldn’t spot the whereabouts of the Yu State Army in the distance. Two scouts he had sent secretly returned, reporting, "We pursued them for about forty miles in the direction they retreated and indeed, they left. We could not pursue further because the Yan State Army is conducting a thorough search for us. On the opposite bank, even ordinary civilians who approach the river are getting arrested."
"With such strict asures, could you find out why the Yu State Army retreated?"
"No, we couldn’t find any information."
This statent itself contains a deep amount of information. What on earth was happening that even scouts couldn’t gather a shred of information under deliberate investigation?
Prince East Sea increasingly suspected that Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi had fallen out. Though he didn’t know why, it was apparent that they did not co to an agreent during their eting that day in front of him; instead, they had a falling out.
Thinking about this, Prince East Sea couldn’t help but laugh out loud in suspicion, "Could Governor Zhang have managed to control the Yu State Army and suppressed Zhao Hanzhang?"
This was a casual move on his part. He didn’t expect Governor Zhang to hold down Zhao Hanzhang. After all, Zhao Hanzhang had been too dazzling in her achievents recently, and the General under her, Ma Jia’en, had died inexplicably in her hands, with twenty thousand troops falling to her. And how many people did Governor Zhang have under his command?
It would indeed be surprising if he could contend with Zhao Hanzhang.
But now, it seed that maybe Governor Zhang still had so usefulness. At least, the Yu State Army genuinely retreated.
Prince East Sea asked, "Who was sent to deliver the letter to Governor Zhang? Have him co see ."
He wanted to carefully inquire about the situation at that ti, as there might be so clues.
The scout who delivered the letter at the ti cautiously entered, kneeling on one knee to report, "We arranged to et by the river. After confirming that the person was Governor Zhang’s attendant, I handed the reply to him and then turned around to board the ship and return."
He paused and then added, "However, the Yu State Military Camp was very lively nearby at that ti. It was said they were holding a victory banquet, and everyone went to drink. I didn’t dare to stay long, so I boarded the ship and left right then."
"Did the attendant say anything about Governor Zhang’s plans?"
"No, he didn’t."
Being in charge of delivering ssages, whether sending or receiving, both parties knew a simple truth: the more you know, the quicker you die. So both wished not to say a word, delivering the letter after confirming identities before leaving.
With little information obtained, Prince East Sea couldn’t help but tilt the situation in his favor, increasingly convinced that Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi had indeed fallen out.
But he wasn’t reckless, so he said, "Select two thousand n and prepare to cross the river, to see what Gou Xi ans."
Gou Xi was much steadier than Prince East Sea. He was an esteed General and understood Prince East Sea well, cognizant of his psyche.
He organized counterattacks thodically, neither impressively nor defeated, just a small victory over the enemy.
But this gave Prince East Sea confidence; he even sensed Gou Xi’s urgency, seemingly wanting a swift, decisive battle. Could sothing have happened to Yu State or Yan State?
In one evening, Prince East Sea thought a lot, with all sorts of suspicions arising.
Gou Xi’s deceptive strategy was brilliantly executed, prompting Zhao Hanzhang to learn from him. So when the army began to break camp, she was already making so arrangents.
When it was soone’s turn to break camp and leave, she t with the main Generals.
This batch was the last group. Midway through, Zhao Hanzhang called Zhao Kuan and Sun Linghui, instructing them, "You don’t need to go to Xuchang. Head south with the troops and return to Ru Nan."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Take twenty thousand soldiers back."
Zhao Kuan’s mouth gaped open, asking, "Are we not participating in the battle?"
Zhao Hanzhang glared at him and said, "Our Yu State Army, counting logistics, numbers as many as 160,000 here. Gou Xi has nearly 200,000. Prince East Sea claims 300,000, and even if that’s exaggerated, I estimate there are about 200,000. With so many people, can we all be pushed into one fight?"
She said, "This is all within my Yu State territory. Should I disregard Yu State?"
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "Hurry up and go, quietly. Have people sweep away traces along the way, leave scouts in front and rear, be cautious of Yan State’s scouts, don’t let them discover your tracks."
Sun Linghui said, "I am willing to stay and accompany the envoy."
Zhao Hanzhang refused, "Zhao Kuan has a ticulous enough mind but isn’t decisive enough. You accompany him. The troops you take are all Zhao Family Army n. Settle them well when you return, I have enough people here."
Sun Linghui, although regretful not being able to stay, was excited upon being entrusted with an important task, happily assuring her, "Rest assured, envoy, we will safely take them back and settle them in Ru Nan."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded in satisfaction.
Sun Linghui left quietly, her team falling behind and discreetly taking a different route, so quietly that she didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye to Fan Ying, only able to leave a letter entrusted to soone staying behind to deliver.
By the ti Fan Ying learned Sun Linghui had left, it was already after their encampnt had settled down.
They had set up quite a few tents, but when she went to find Sun Linghui, she found that along the way, more than half of the tents were empty. One tent housed ten people, then there would be two empty tents, and then another tent housing ten people.
Fan Ying was so frightened she broke into a cold sweat, unable to find Sun Linghui, naturally not getting the letter Sun Linghui left her, she turned swiftly back to the main tent, reporting to Zhao Hanzhang, "Miss, over half, even more, of the tents are empty, our troops seem to be hidden by soone."
Suspecting soone was hiding troops to secretly confront Zhao Hanzhang.
She was on duty the night of the victory banquet, so she missed the chance to stand by Zhao Hanzhang, later hearing about the lady’s fierceness and elegance on that day from countless accounts, she regretted it deeply and was extrely vigilant.
It seed there were still many within Yu State who were not convinced by the lady, she had to be careful.
Zhao Hanzhang listened to Fan Ying’s report and smiled slightly, nodding with a smile, "You did well, noticed it quickly, but they were reassigned by , no need to panic."
With 160,000 n, the daily consumption of provisions posed a massive issue. She did not have the wealth of Prince East Sea or Gou Xi, nor would she involve so many soldiers in the civil war, so she reassigned most of them, letting them each lead troops back ho.
Now, only less than 50,000 were left, and this was in preparation against the expansion of the conflict, otherwise, she could leave only 20,000 to fight.
Deceptive strategies, who wouldn’t know how to use them?
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