Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
Chapter 943 – Demotion
Even with the industrialization standard of the Great Xia, building a mimicry flying device would take two months, and it would use up large amounts of precious metals.
100 of them were all that Great Xia could take out now.
If one considered the precious magnetic ohlite, each flying device was worth 100 thousand gold. Apart from the flying device, the pilot alone was a huge treasure.
It took three months to train a passable pilot and grenadier and training each one of them burned money.
During the training process, crashing was a normal occurrence.
Hence, the flying devices in the game were similar to modern strategic bonkers, and they were not prepared for normal war.
“One could not afford it!”
Despite how rich Great Xia was, it could not take out hundreds of thousands for fun.
To save Lai Hu’er and his group, the Flying Squad really went all out. After two mimicry flying devices were destroyed, the central street was flowing with blood.
When Lai Hu’er saw that, he had no time to feel emotional, and he immediately ordered them to charge.
“Kill!”
The five thousand Dragon Legion Corps warriors that were waiting once again gathered into a rope. Then they stabbed into the smoky and chaotic battlefield like a knife. They took the opportunity that the enemy was in a mess to finally break out.
Anywhere the army passed would end up in a total mess.
Flying device scraps, broken buildings, and ruins; enemy bodies all mixed together.
Smoke bellowed and blood flowed like a river.
If one did not know what was happening, they would think that there was an earthquake.
Charging out of the city in one breath gave them a feeling of rising from the dead. Right after, they felt exhaustion that hid like a flood, and it was all the more unbearable for those who were injured.
Consecutive battles, along with the intensity of being in a desperate situation, had squeezed out all their stamina.
Lai Hu’er rode on his horse; his shiny Mingguang Armor was stained with blood. He took a glance at the tired soldiers as guilt appeared in his eyes, “Boys, hold on, we will retreat to Ganluo Pass.”
The enemy troops were only in chaos because of the flying devices and would be able to catch up quickly. Hence, they had not completely escaped danger.
“Yes general!”
As expected from war elite soldiers like the Dragon Legion Corps. They looked like they would not be able to walk, but after getting the orders, they were fully energized.
Such fighting spirit that broke through the body boundaries was great training for them. After this battle, many of them would break their bottlenecks and improve further.
Lai Hu’er was rushing back because he did not want to pass that they had worked hard on occupying to be taken back.
The sneak attack at Ganluo City was enough embarrassment. If they lost the pass too, he would not have the dignity and pride to see the king again.
Their group did not waste any time as they headed back toward Ganluo Pass.
…
Not long after the Dragon Legion Corps left, Wei Yan personally chased over. Seeing the slowly fading back views of the enemy, he shook his head in disappointment. He knew that he had no hopes of recovering Ganluo Pass.
When the deputy saw that, he smiled, “General has dealt a blow to the enemy.”
Wei Yan could not help but feel prideful. To be able to give the Great Xia Army a setback was enough glory to last him a lifetime, “Let’s go.”
Ganluo City did not have city walls and could not be defended. Lai Hu’er had taken a huge loss here, and with the rest of the troops arriving, he would not let this matter rest.
Since that was the case, why would Wei Yan stay?
They only wiped out two thousand enemies with this trap while they lost four thousand men of their own. If they considered the two thousand garrison forces, the losses would be even greater.
Luckily, they had impacted the morale of the Great Xia Army, and the casualties were a secondary matter.
“Let’s go!”
Wei Yan patted his war horse and turned back into the city.
Before leaving, he ordered the soldiers to carry away the broken parts of the flying device. This should be the first time the Great Xia mimicry flying device was lost outside. Bringing it back to the main city, it should have some research value there.
The Battle of Ganluo City came to an end at this point.
The next day, Hu Yihuang led the Dragon Legion 2nd legion middle army into Ganluo Pass to meet with the vanguard forces. Seeing the Wei Yan army leave, Lai Hu’er naturally ‘took down’ Ganluo City.
Seeing the Great Xia Army return but no signs of their own army, the civilians of Ganluo City were filled with many thoughts.
Coming into the city and seeing the two mimicry flying devices missing, Lai Hu’er was really solemn. He did not dare to hide it, and he wrote a detailed battle report and sent it back to the war zone command center.
************
The news that Great Xia’s vanguard forces were ambushed in the Shu Lands quickly spread out in the wilderness, causing more uproar.
To the outside world, Great Xia had mobilized four legions, which was close to 300 thousand troops. Not to mention the final battle, but even taking down the passes should not be much of a problem.
Who knew they would face such problems?
Many people praised Wei Yan and Swordsman City when they heard the news. This wilderness battle was not a one-sided victory for Great Xia, and Swordsman City had won some breathing room.
This battle made the entire war of the wilderness cloudy and uncertain.
“Who will die in whose hands is still uncertain!”
…
Xiangnan Province, Caiyun City.
Hearing that the Great Xia Army had faced problems in the Shu Lands, Caiyun Zinan’s confidence grew, and he wanted to pull at the Great Xia’s moustache.
“Men!”
“Present!”
Caiyun Zinan instructed, “Order the 1st and 2nd legions to gather at the designated point and wait for orders.”
“Yes!”
At this junction, Caiyun Zinan was ready to take the risk and step in.
Caiyun Zinan smiled; he seemed really confident. Who knows what he was planning?
…
Dali Prefecture, Yun City.
Yun City was made up of the four territories merged together, and they had 50 thousand troops. Its territory, including Dali imperial City and the Satellite City, was only smaller than Kunming Prefecture.
Since the Lords sold their territories to Yanhuang Alliance, Yun City Lord Little Mutuo lost his right to make decisions. On this day, under the instruction of his boss, Di Chen, Little Mutuo officially handed in his protection application to the Dali Imperial Court.
After a short while, it was approved.
Using the night sky as a cover, 50 thousand guards troops moved out of the city and rushed toward Yun City. At the same time, Xiao Alliance moved their elite forces and headed out of the Satellite City.
The power play of Yanhuang Alliance in Dali Prefecture slowly opened up.
A huge storm was going to strike Great Xia.
…
9th month, 21st day, Shanhai City, Xia Palace.
When he received the battle report and the apology letter, Dragon Legion Corps commander Baiqi did not dare to make a decision. He passed it over to the Privy Court to seek instructions on what to do with Lai Hu’er.
When Military Affairs Minister Du Ruhui received the report, he frowned and also hesitated.
Lai Hu’er was a general that the king personally wanted from Great Sui, and he was given an important position right away. Who knew that his eagerness to impress would cost him so dearly?
The one who was the most disappointed now had to be the king.
Hence, Du Ruhui did not want to use this matter to nag the king. However, since Lai Hu’er was a Legion General and also a grade 4 general, the Privy Court did not have the authority to deal with him.
In the end, they still had to seek help from the king.
Hence, two memorials appeared on the Imperial Reading Room table.
Reading Du Ruhui’s memorial, Ouyang Shuo was expressionless. He said calmly, “Based on military law, being overconfident and losing, what’s the punishment?”
Du Ruhui was stunned as he thought in his heart, ‘Is the king going to do what Zhuge Liang did when he killed Ma Su?’
“My king, based on military law, he would be removed from his rank, removed from his position, and an investigation would be launched.”
Ouyang Shuo nodded and was about to give the order.
When Du Ruhui saw that, he gritted his teeth and shouted, “My king!”
Ouyang Shuo frowned.
The king’s expression made Du Ruhui’s palms sweat, “The battle is still proceeding, so to remove a general now is a huge problem. Why not give him a chance to make up for his mistakes?”
Du Ruhui’s words seemed rash, but in truth, he was thinking for the king. If he were to treat Lai Hu’er so viciously, it would affect his reputation.
Ouyang Shuo took in a deep breathe, and then he turned around to Secret Document Pavilion Advisor Tsing Yi, “Write the decree!”
“Yes my king!” Tsing Yi nodded.
“Imperial Decree: Dragon Legion 2nd legion Legion General Lai Hu’er, anxious to gain credit, proceeding with overconfidence and losing as a result. Demote him to Deputy Legion General, and promote Hu Yihuang temporarily to Legion General. At the same time, take back his title of Zhenwei General and dock one year of pay.”
This was already a heavy punishment that was enough to let Lai Hu’er remember it for life.
When Du Ruhui heard that, he bowed, “My king is wise.” Although Lai Hu’er lost face from being demoted to deputy, he still had a chance to redeem himself.
Furthermore, the king did not choose a new Legion General, which meant he had given Lai Hu’er a chance to reclaim his spot.
Ouyang Shuo was not relaxed, “Help spread my message to him. If he cannot do well in this battle, he can go back to Great Sui after the battle!”
“Yes my king!”
Du Ruhui nodded. He knew that the king was furious this time. If Lai Hu’er was forced to return, he would not have the face to show himself in the wilderness, and he could only choose to kill himself.
…
The next morning, the imperial decree was sent to Ganluo City.
When Lai Hu’er received the decree, he felt really emotional. He knelt down on one knee and bowed, “Thank you king for your good grace; I’ll definitely repay it!”
This time, Lai Hu’er had no way out.