Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 510: Jin Xia Western Army Retreats

"I suspect the Great Khan is worried about internal factors, not the Chen Army," Wanyan Xiaji said.

"Beidi?" Yue Puzi asked.

Wanyan Xiaji remained silent, which was tantamount to an admission, and said, "Sources say that after the complete defeat on the eastern line, the Great Khan issued an edict, ordering Yelv Hongqi to lead ten thousand Imperial Guards, with Beidi sending ten thousand soldiers, to reinforce Haiyan Pass.

The Beidi tribe is closest to Haiyan Pass, and if they moved quickly, they could have arrived in five days. But it wasn’t until the Chen Army captured Haiyan Pass that the Beidi tribe reached Yan Port, which is like just stepping out the door."

"Ah?" Yue Puzi was shocked and said, "Isn’t Beidi afraid of the Great Khan’s reprimand for behaving like this?"

"On what grounds could they be reprimanded? Delaying military operations? Beidi has plenty of ways to excuse themselves, and it doesn’t hold water. Moreover, the Great Khan asked Beidi to send ten thousand soldiers, and Beidi indeed did," Wanyan Xiaji replied.

If this was the reason Beidi was blamed, other tribes might also feel dissatisfied, and if they united, Jin Xia would fall into chaos.

After all, Beidi dared to do this, which means they have confidence and ways to respond.

"So are we... retreating the troops like this?" Yue Puzi asked.

"We can only retreat. The current situation is unfavorable to us. Yu State is mountainous, and now it’s winter; the environment is unfavorable to our army. Moreover, the Chen Army in Yu State is not engaging us directly. Although we have occupied their cities, it hasn’t caused significant losses for the Chen Army, and their numbers of troops haven’t decreased much either.

On the other hand, our army suffered more casualties to capture Shuofei County and Li County."

Saying this, Wanyan Xiaji looked at the distant mountains and said, "And I suspect that the Chen Army led by Chen Mo, not only didn’t continue to attack Jin Xia but also withdrew from Haiyan Pass a while ago and is currently on the way back to Yu State. Once Chen Mo leads his troops to Yu State, we will be passive."

After finishing, Wanyan Xiaji let out a long sigh, "But just retreating like this, I’m unwilling..."

In fact, if we talk about it, the Western Army led by Wanyan Xiaji did achieve quite a lot.

Not to mention annexing the Dongyou Kingdom.

Just in Longyou of the Great Song, they looted gold and silver worth tens of millions, an uncountable amount of grain, and a large population.

Without needing supplies from Jin Xia, the Western Army could be self-sufficient and still have a surplus.

If it weren’t for the Eastern Army’s near-total annihilation causing a complete defeat on all fronts, even if they retreated, this expedition of Jin Xia would have been very rewarding.

...

Cyan Mountain Town.

Yue Ruyan, wearing light armor and carrying a broadsword, was patrolling on the city wall. Although the arrow wound on her left shoulder hadn’t healed, required daily medicine changing, and occasionally felt a faint pain, it didn’t affect her overall.

These days, Yue Ruyan felt something was off. After Jin Xia Army captured Li County, they didn’t move and didn’t continue marching.

At that moment, Li Yunzhang came over with a joyful expression and said, "General Yue, scouts from the front line reported that the Jin Xia Barbarians have withdrawn troops from Li County."

"Withdrawn?"

Yue Ruyan looked surprised and said, "They have a great advantage, why retreat?"

"Perhaps they also learned that Haiyan Pass was captured by Duke An," Li Yunzhang speculated. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Then they should continue attacking,"

Yue Ruyan furrowed her brows. The best solution in military strategy for this situation isn’t a return to aid, but rather to continue attacking the enemy’s base, thereby reducing the pressure on one’s own headquarters.

Li Yunzhang shook his head. In terms of military strategy, he was far less experienced than Yue Ruyan. The reason why he was promoted to this position was merely that he had followed Chen Mo for a long time during his time in the Qingzhou Army, and there weren’t many available people around Chen Mo back then, that’s all.

"But no matter the reason, the retreat of the Jin Xia Barbarians is somewhat a good thing for us." Although the Chen Army in Yu State didn’t suffer heavy casualties, the expenditure on money and grain was enormous.

Moreover, in local battles, any damage to city walls and gates eventually costs oneself dearly.

Yue Ruyan didn’t speak.

The retreat of the Jin Xia Army is indeed a good thing for the Chen Army in Yu State overall, but not for her and the Yue Army.

Yue Ruyan still hoped to avenge the blood feud of Longyou when Chen Mo returned.

...

The Jin Xia Western Army completely withdrew from Yu State.

But these Jin Xia Barbarians were truly hateful.

When retreating from Li County and Shuofei County, Wanyan Xiaji ordered his army to set fire to the city’s residential houses, shops, government office, and so on.

Although the Chen Army had already evacuated the city’s property and civilians, the fires lit by the Jin Xia Army turned the two counties into empty cities.

Reconstruction in the future will be a considerable expense.

...

Chen Mo arrived in Yu State at the end of December, the day before the new year.

And with him, only the Personal Guard Battalion and Brave Cavalry Guard had arrived in Yu State; Vermilion Bird Guard and Jiangdong Army, both infantry troops, were still on their way.

Upon learning that the Jin Xia Army had already retreated from Yu State, Chen Mo frowned.

And after learning that before the retreat, the Jin Xia Army had set Li County and Shuofei County ablaze, Chen Mo’s face instantly darkened.

He didn’t immediately go to Qingyang Town to see Zuo Lianglun and others but brought the Personal Guard Battalion to inspect Shuofei County, which the Jin Xia Army had burned to the ground.

The fire in the city hadn’t completely extinguished; some places were still smoking. Everywhere he looked, it was all blackened ruins, completely devastated, without a single intact residential house.

"These beasts, dogs can’t stop eating shit."

"When we captured Haiyan Pass at the time, we should have done the same, blood for blood, tooth for tooth."

"Don’t they fear divine retribution?"

"..."

The soldiers of the Personal Guard Battalion, upon seeing the scene before them, each gritted their teeth in hatred and couldn’t help clenching their fists.

"Wanyan Xiaji..." At this moment, rather than being furious, Chen Mo became calm; his eyes, however, turned extraordinarily cold.

The last person who provoked him to such an extent was Tie Muer.

At this moment, after learning that Chen Mo had gone to Shuofei County, Zuo Lianglun, Li Yunzhang, Yue Ruyan, and others also rushed over from Cyan Mountain Town.

"Duke An." Before they arrived, Zuo Lianglun greeted Chen Mo from afar.

Chen Mo was initially taken aback, then recalled the letter he received from Wu Mi, informing him of the Holy Decree conferring him the title of "Duke An."

As he approached, Zuo Lianglun cupped his hands towards Chen Mo again.

Chen Mo just waved his hand, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the hostile gaze of Xia Zhining beside him.

Following her gaze, Chen Mo noticed a figure dismounting not far behind Zuo Lianglun.

The red number on her forehead was "1939."

Stronger than Liang Xuan she was before.

The figure was tall and clad in black light armor, with a delicate and heroic look, obviously a woman, yet devoid of any feminine traits at the moment. Instead, it was the broadsword she carried, almost as tall as her, that astonished people.