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That chaotic, devastating night had left Erru heartbroken. This sudden tranquility, however, brought tears to his eyes. This valiant general, though deeply loving his grasslands, would not change his resolve to atone with his death. He felt only profound sorrow.
Chapter 187 On the shores of Lake Baikal
As the first rays of morning sunlight shone down, all the generals, big and small, had already gathered around Erru. No one spoke, not even Erru himself, who sat silently on the grass.
Finally, several of his subordinates who had gone down ran over and began to report on the food situation. Having led troops for so many years, Erru had developed the same habit as Zhongping: he would check the food supplies before any military operation.
"The organized troops we brought, each with their standard rations, can last for seven days," the general reported, looking at the statistics in his hand. "Most of the stragglers who fled have about three days' worth of food, but some have run out."
"The number of people! Report the number of people!" Erru impatiently reminded him when he saw that the general had stopped speaking after reporting.
"Oh...right," the young general stammered, "three cavalry units, totaling 30,000 men, plus over 10,000 skirmishers." Erru knew these 30,000 men were responsible for the northern defenses; they were all well-dressed troops, and a cavalry corps commander had been assigned to command them. Erru glanced around and realized there were no corps commanders left, only mid- to low-ranking officers like cavalry corps captains. Erru felt a chill run down his spine. The mid- to high-ranking officers were almost entirely wiped out; most must have died in battle. Frankly, if even a corps commander dared to die, he, the commander-in-chief, had no face to live on.
The three cavalry captains stood unharmed before him, heads bowed, looking utterly bewildered. Frankly, Erru rarely met with officers of this rank; they commanded ten thousand men, a small number to him. He only met with cavalry corps commanders leading thirty to fifty thousand men, and there he would directly assign them tasks.
The slightly higher-ranking officers were his personal guards, who followed him out, along with the captain of the guard. Erru pointed to two guards beside him: "You two go and organize the scattered troops into a cavalry unit. Appoint a commander and a deputy commander. If there aren't enough horses, share some with other units; the same goes for rations. Allocate three days' worth of rations for this newly formed cavalry unit!"
"Understood." The two officers placed their hands on their chests, bowed, and went to prepare.
The headache returned, and Erru felt utterly disgusted by these trivial matters. In all his years of military service, he had never felt this way. The barracks had always excited him, as if he would never tire of it. He felt war-weary, and loathed this constant state of readiness for battle.
Under Eru's organization, the army dispersed slightly, with each cavalry unit spaced a little further apart. Numerous sentry posts were deployed radially. Daytime tasks became hunting to replenish the army's rations. Now, Eru was unsure of his next move. Xu Da's army numbered in the hundreds of thousands, equipped with astonishing weaponry. Meanwhile, he only had forty thousand defeated soldiers by his side. What should he do next? Perhaps only Zhong Ping could know the answer. However, the best option might be to retreat westward into the Hexi Corridor and join forces with Zhao Cheng's steppe wolf army, thus gradually establishing a foothold. In fact, Eru could imagine that Xu Da had already taken control of the left and right wings of the Xiongnu, and the steppe people were no longer able to migrate; they could only declare their obedience to Luo Chen's orders, that is, to submit to the Han people.
Five days later, on the desolate northern Mongolian plateau, the patrolmen were surprised to find a large forest. The depression was more moist, and the soil was no longer so dry and cracked. A large forest had finally formed in the plateau's depression, and the animal population here was significantly greater than in the grasslands and sandy areas. This small forest quickly became a good source of food for the soldiers, improving their meals. The streams in the forest also excited the soldiers. And the wood could help them stay warm at night.
On the morning of the sixth day, Eru and his soldiers were even somewhat content with their current life. The Luo army was nowhere to be seen, perhaps busy taking over the various Xiongnu tribes. There were no pursuers, no battles to fight. The forest was teeming with game; roasted meat, coarse salt, and clear stream water—this was the satisfying meal for every Xiongnu man. The shaken and exhausted soldiers had a good rest here, and their emotions gradually stabilized.
Erru rode his horse around the various camps. Some soldiers had already started fires; the meat left over from last night, roasted briefly over the flames, sizzled with delightful oil. The other soldiers fetched water from the stream, and the group gathered around the fire to feast. It was as if they had begun their joyful camping life. Upon seeing Erru, the soldiers immediately stood at attention and greeted him, "General! Want some roasted meat?"
Erru smiled, waved his hand, and rode away.
A sentry galloped up, and Erru's expression changed. The sentry shouted excitedly, "The lord has arrived! The lord has arrived!" He rushed to Erru, panting, and said, "General! The lord has arrived! Go and greet him!"
Erru's expression calmed down, and he waved to the soldier, "You go ahead, I'm going to get something, I'll be right there." The soldier nodded and immediately turned back.
Zhong Ping raced day and night, barely resting. Approximately ten thousand guards had all retreated this way. The sentries' reconnaissance confirmed Eru's account: the main force of the Luo army had crossed the Yin Mountains and taken over the various Xiongnu tribes. Men, women, and children were gathered together, and horses were strictly confiscated and restricted. Some saw Luo generals sternly declaring martial law in the tribes. However, Xu Da, the legendary most powerful general in the Central Plains, did not appear.
Zhong Ping already had a general idea of the battle situation. He silently led the command post at the foot of the Yin Mountains, along with all the guards around (Good Zhao Zhao), southwards. Following the location provided by Erru, they headed towards Lake Baikal.
Zhong Ping encountered Erlu's sentry, who, having been ordered to run off to report, returned shortly to lead the way. Zhong Ping, leading a hundred guards, made his way to the camp without stopping. Fortunately, the camps along the way were not worth the effort, and the sentry posts were tight. More importantly, the soldiers' complexions were still relatively healthy, showing no signs of the dejection that followed a major defeat. This was what Zhong Ping was most relieved about. Thankfully, as long as their commander was present, the army still had a backbone and hadn't fallen into disarray. The only thing that made Zhong Ping slightly uneasy was that neither Zhong Ting nor Erlu came out to greet him, though perhaps they were both too busy.
An officer nearby cried out in alarm, startling Zhong Ping. The officer rushed out of the tent, stammering, "General Erru... General Erru... has committed suicide!"
Chapter 188 Fatal Loss
General Qu Bing led his army, personally leading the captured soldiers and providing them with light provisions. He crossed the vast desert, forded the Zhangqu River, and executed Bi Cheqi. He then attacked the Left General, capturing flags and drums, and traversed the Lihou Pass. He crossed the Gonglu Pass, capturing three kings, including the Tuntou King and the Han King, along with eighty-three generals, ministers, commanders, and captains. He sealed the Langjuxu Mountain, performed the Shan ceremony at Guyan, and ascended the Han Sea. He captured 70,443 enemy soldiers, reducing his army by three-tenths. He foraged for food from the enemy, traveling a great distance without running out of provisions. He was further enfeoffed as General of the Flying Cavalry with an additional 5,800 households.
—From the Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of General Wei and General Huo Qubing
Zhong Ping was stunned for a moment, seemingly not even realizing the true meaning of the officer's words. "General Erru has committed suicide!" the young officer cried out in horror again.
"Bullshit!" The captain of the guard kicked the officer hard, then rushed into the tent.
Zhong Ping felt a push from the guard behind him, which brought him back to his senses. He then stumbled into the central army tent.
In truth, everyone present understood. Since no sound came from inside the tent, if Erru hadn't died, he would have surely come out and cursed. However, there was no sound from within the tent. Reason clearly told everyone this, but subconsciously, no one wanted to believe it.
The head guard knelt on the ground, sobbing softly. The blood on the command sword that Zhongting had handed to Erlu had dried, turning a dark red. The wound on his neck had stopped bleeding.
Zhong Ping was stunned, unable to understand why this general was so incomprehensible… He knew the entire front had collapsed, and his main force had suffered a heavy blow. He had even considered giving those two men a good scolding. However, he had never imagined losing them! Zhong Ping didn't have many loyal right-hand men by his side to begin with. Besides, he also bore responsibility for this defeat, and according to the observation report, the enemy's weapons were extremely powerful; no one could withstand them… In short, why would he think of committing suicide!
Zhong Ping slowly sat down and quietly looked at his generals. His officers and guards stood in a circle around him, and no one dared to make a sound, except for the low sobs of the chief guard.
“Eru…” Zhong Ping began, his eyes already moist, his hands trembling slightly. He saw that his general, who had committed suicide, had a calm, even serene expression. It was as if he were completely at peace with everything, as if his death was the natural course of things.
"I was just riding around on horseback... When I heard that the lord had arrived, the general sent me to greet him, saying that he would be here soon..." the sentry said, crying.
"Where's Zhongting?" Zhong Ping looked up at the surrounding generals. "Call Zhongting over..."
No one answered. Their lord thought Zhongting was busy somewhere! In fact, Zhongting had already died for his country.
"Where's Zhongting!" Zhong Ping suddenly sensed something was wrong, a sense of foreboding washing over him. But... how could this be? How could this happen? Zhong Ping dared not speculate further, dared not think any further. He demanded again sharply, "Where's Zhongting! Tell him to run here to see me immediately!"
Several generals and officers of the Eru tribe knelt down in unison.
A sense of despair welled up in Zhong Ping's heart. He knew.
The worst-case scenario, the worst he could imagine, had occurred. The army collapsed, the commander was killed in battle, and this army was finished! His two most trusted lieutenants had both perished; was there any hope left for the Xiongnu steppe?! Upon hearing the news of the main force's collapse, Zhong Ping was panicked, but not desperate. After all, his generals could reorganize the army, numbering in the tens of thousands. They could fight Zhao Cheng's steppe wolves again, forming a formidable force. The outcome was still uncertain. He was even planning to discuss with Zhong Ting and Eru the possibility of relocating to Hexi… Unexpectedly, in less than half an hour, devastating news arrived one after another. He learned that both of his generals had died for their country in the face of defeat!
(bafe) "My lord... a letter..." The guard reminded Zhongping, trembling, that there was a letter by Erlu's bedside.
Zhong Ping took it, and he realized that his hands were shaking badly.
My Lord:
In the battle on the grasslands, our army suffered a crushing defeat, and General Zhongting was killed. Eru originally intended to apologize in person before facing death. However, he had no face to see his lord, no face to face the grasslands, and no face to face the Xiongnu gods. Only death could save him. He felt unbearable guilt at dying not on the battlefield, but in the army camp!
In the battle on the grasslands, the Luo army employed extremely powerful weapons, capable of launching explosives from a great distance. These weapons had a much longer range than bows and crossbows and were incredibly powerful. Our army, exhausted from days of fighting and further weakened by hail, was then attacked at night, causing widespread panic and a complete collapse of formation. Thanks to these weapons, the Luo army's fighting strength increased significantly, and they immediately launched a cavalry charge after the explosions. General Zhongting insisted on remaining on-site to command, strictly ordering me to immediately lead the remaining troops away. Despite my repeated pleas, General Zhongting maintained his strict orders, and Elu could only lead the remaining troops to retreat first. According to later reports from the remaining soldiers and observation posts, General Zhongting committed suicide at the observation post. The Luo army buried his remains with my other Xiongnu soldiers, creating a "Tomb of Fallen Xiongnu Soldiers," without beheading him.
I am guilty! I deserve to die! I failed to persuade General Zhongting to evacuate as well.
"Although I know I deserve to die a thousand deaths, I still have tens of thousands of troops under my command. If I die, the remaining troops will scatter. If the remaining troops scatter, I will have failed General Zhongting's trust, and I will have no face to face General Zhongting in the afterlife..."
Before he had even finished reading the letter, Zhongping was already in tears. He knew his younger brother well; he was quite stubborn. With such a massive army collapse, how could he not understand what his brother was thinking! Foolish! Foolish! Now, two top-ranking officials have both perished in the war—this is the greatest loss of all!
"My lord..." The generals and guards around him were quite alarmed and trembled as they spoke. After all, very few people would have the chance to see Zhong Ping weep.
Zhong Ping turned to look at his generals and, surprisingly, shared the same thought as Erlu. There were only some low- to mid-level officers, and a few mid- to high-ranking ones. Where were the great generals? Where was the stubborn Zhong Ting? Where was the brave and loyal Erlu? Where was the unparalleled strategist Yeso? Where were they all? One by one, they had vanished from his side. Now, in his anguish, desperately needing to consider the future, he had not a single decent general by his side! This was a true sign of defeat!
“My younger brother always told me that if he could die on the battlefield and be buried in the same grave as his fellow soldiers, he would be content.” Zhong Ping said, tears streaming down his face. “I never imagined that Xu Da would actually fulfill my brother’s wish.”
No one dared to speak; the air was thick with a suffocating tension.
Chapter 189 The Final Responsibility
“If I die, my remaining troops will scatter. If they scatter, I will have failed General Zhongting’s trust and will have no face to face him in the afterlife. Therefore, although I am destined to die, I must wait for my lord to come before I can leave in peace, so as not to fail General Zhongting’s trust.”
After the grassland campaign, our unit had only one organized army, a reserve force responsible for emergencies in the north. This force was fully equipped according to our military practice when the Luo army attacked, and thus was able to escape unscathed. This organized army consisted of 30,000 men and three cavalry companies. After the Luo army's fierce artillery barrage, the remaining soldiers were either brutally murdered or surrounded and surrendered. Only 10,000 to 20,000 survivors managed to escape. To evade the Luo army's pursuit, our army marched day and night for three days, shaking off their pursuit. Many stragglers had fallen behind, and these stragglers have now been organized into a cavalry company of over 10,000 men.
My remaining forces number over 40,000. This area has abundant wildlife and lush vegetation. Our army can remain here for several months without worry. Even if the army needs to be redeployed, we can still gather a month's worth of rations.
As Zhong Ping read these words, it was as if Erru were right in front of him, reporting to him. It was the same familiar style: plain, pragmatic, meticulous despite its rough exterior, meticulously arranging his duties. This nearly annihilated force, with tens of thousands surviving, should have been panicked and completely demoralized. But now, they had firmly established themselves, well-fed and watered, full of energy, vigilant, and ready to launch another large-scale operation at any moment. Yes, Erru had done it; he had not failed Zhong Ting's trust.
But why would such a capable general, whom Zhongping had painstakingly cultivated and promoted over more than a decade, suddenly and resolutely leave him? Zhongping thought to himself and sighed again.
"In my humble opinion, the left and right wings of the Xiongnu and the royal court have been completely occupied by the Luo army. The Luo army has imposed martial law here. Our army is currently weak and we are afraid we are unable to confront the Luo army head-on again. I, Erlu, suggest that Your Majesty immediately appoint General Yesuo to guide our army in the future. We should immediately join forces with Zhao Cheng's Steppe Wolf Army. Only in this way can we seize an opportunity to launch a counterattack! If the situation remains unfavorable, we can advance westward into Hexi and devise a better strategy."
Long live the Great Chanyu Zhongping! May the Xiongnu gods protect us!
The thin cloth letter slipped gently to the ground. The officers remained gathered around, heads bowed, none daring to pick it up and read it, for they were not commanders and had no right to do so.
Zhong Ping's gaze turned cold. Perhaps Erlu was right, or rather, the crushing defeat in this steppe campaign, from another perspective, more or less demonstrated Yesso's foresight and the correctness of his strategic analysis. However, Yesso's return was now impossible. According to the report from Zhao Cheng, Yesso had been defeated, captured, and sent to the Central Plains. Even if he were found, it would not prove his loyalty. Zhong Ping would not risk handing over his trump card, the Steppe Wolf Legion, back to Yesso.
The soldiers probably thought the same as Erru: they wanted Yesso back. Yesso's return would put their minds at ease and stabilize morale. Otherwise, even if they didn't say it openly, the soldiers would still harbor doubts about the high command's decisions. Zhong Ping searched his mind for someone who could replace Yesso and also help stabilize morale.
As for the other two opinions, Zhong Ping agreed without reservation. He finally felt a little relieved, as if he had already discussed it with the general, even though it was the general's last will and testament. In the will, the general who had followed him for many years had told him all his thoughts and considerations without reservation, reporting everything truthfully. He had fulfilled his final duty. Zhong Ping thought about it, feeling deeply saddened. At the same time, he felt a sense of panic at losing his right-hand man, as if his confidence was no longer so strong.
"Give him a proper burial," Zhong Ping instructed in a low voice.
"Understood..." the guard replied, but still looked hesitant, as if he had something to say.
"What is it?" Zhong Ping keenly noticed his expression.
"General Zhao Cheng...is back," the guard said, as if Zhong Ping had asked him and he had breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhao Cheng? Shouldn't he be in Hexi? What's going on?" Zhong Ping's heart skipped a beat. That ominous premonition returned. Impossible... This guy commands the world's most elite and powerful army. Thinking of this, and remembering that his own Steppe Wolves' fighting strength was still reliable, Zhong Ping calmed down a bit and said coldly, "Call him over."
· 0 flowers requested · ········
The guard agreed and left. Zhao Cheng entered shortly after the guard left.
Zhong Ping felt a chill run down his spine as he looked up. Zhao Cheng was disheveled and looked quite pathetic, with a look of utter dejection on his face. "Why are you back? How's the battle in Hexi?" Zhong Ping asked coldly, trying to remain calm, but his voice trembled uncontrollably.
Zhao Cheng knelt down with a thud. When he raised his head, tears were streaming down his face. He wailed, "The Grassland Wolf Legion has betrayed us! The entire Hexi region has fallen!"
This short sentence struck Zhong Ping like a bolt from the blue, leaving him stunned.
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"What...what did you say?" Zhongping even felt his whole body trembling, his teeth chattering, and his vision going black.
"The Steppe Wolf Legion has betrayed us! They were simply following Luo Chen's orders! Luo's army has occupied the entire Hexi Corridor, and I heard they even killed all the Xiongnu prisoners!"
As Zhao Cheng spoke, he secretly observed Zhong Ping's reaction. Clearly, these words had dealt a significant blow to Zhong Ping. In fact, Zhao Cheng was the first to realize the dire situation. Having fled back from Hexi, he quickly heard the news of Zhong Ting's disastrous defeat, and he knew then that the situation was likely hopeless. He was shocked when sentries told him that Zhong Ting and Erlu had both died in battle, but it was still somewhat expected. If he hadn't been lucky, and Luo Chen hadn't fainted at the crucial moment, could he have outrun the wolves? He would probably have been killed long ago. Against an army like the Luo army, the death of the commander was highly probable.
Zhao Cheng sensed something was amiss. Zhong Ping had buried his head in his arms and hadn't said a word. He quickly crawled to Erlu's side and began to sob, expressing his deep remembrance of the general who had bravely committed suicide.
"Guards! Drag Zhao Cheng out and execute him!" Zhong Ping suddenly spoke coldly. His composure after such a devastating blow was truly terrifying. This was the initial reaction of those around him, but as they grasped the meaning of his words, they were even more shocked. Lord Zhong Ping was going to kill a general!
Chapter 190 A Tent Conversation Hanging by a Thread
The guards were stunned, standing there helplessly. If it were anyone else, they would simply drag them out and execute them, but this was a general! One of the most prominent generals in Zhongping's group, one of Zhongping's right-hand men. Was their lord, Zhongping, going to cut off his own arm?
"Didn't you hear me! Drag him out! Execute him!" Zhong Ping finally abandoned his cold tone and instead roared hysterically. This furious roar made the guards tremble, and all of them knelt down in unison, their knees buckling.
Zhao Cheng was stunned. He couldn't believe his mind; Zhong Ping would execute him. Would Zhong Ping execute a general like himself? How could he have such a crazy idea? How could he do something so absurd? Then what had he been rushing here for these past few days? To die?
"My lord, April 27th!" Zhao Cheng cried out. "My lord! My lord, please reconsider! Please, my lord, reconsider!" He was starting to panic; his life was about to end!
The trembling guards knew that Zhong Ping's orders were not to be disobeyed, so they could only shakily try to drag Zhao Cheng away. Unexpectedly, Zhao Cheng was surprisingly strong and refused to leave no matter what, shouting, "My lord, please reconsider! My lord, please reconsider!" as if this was the only phrase he knew how to say.
"Great Chanyu..." Suddenly, someone lifted the curtain and entered. The voice was deep and powerful, not loud, but extremely penetrating. Everyone couldn't help but put down what they were doing and their random thoughts, looking at that person. It was General Shah.
“Shaha…” Zhongping looked up at him, “You’ve come?”
Zhao Cheng seemed to have found a savior. He crawled over and grabbed Shaha's leg: "General, save me! General, save me! The General was there and can testify for me! It was indeed the Wolf Legion that let us win, which is why we suffered such a great defeat. Otherwise, I would have taken the heads of Luo Chen and Lü Bu long ago!"
Zhong Ping resumed his cold expression, scrutinizing Yesuo with a stern look: "Oh? The old general was present at the time?"
“Yes.” Shah made no attempt to hide it.
"Then please tell me, General, what happened?" Zhong Ping asked, seemingly with great interest. Heaven knows how furious he was. His trump card, nurtured for years, the last guardian of the steppe regime—handed over to Zhao Cheng for less than a month, and he'd already ruined it! Hexi was lost too! How could he possibly face him! All his original plans had fallen apart; the Xiongnu's strategic depth, the steppe's power—all gone in an instant! Extreme disappointment concealed extreme rage; Zhong Ping might really unleash a killing spree today, regardless of who the general was, or who his right-hand man was.
But Shaha remained unusually calm. Only someone like him could truly be Zhong Ping's equal. Zhong Ping's powerful aura and authority had no effect on him. Looking across the entire grassland, only Shaha could do that. And only Shaha was a truly respected and experienced general of the Qiangqu, possessing extremely rich combat experience.
Shaha glanced calmly at Zhong Ping, then at the guards around him. Zhong Ping instantly understood. He coldly addressed the mid- to high-ranking officers and guards surrounding the tent: "You may all leave. Maintain a 20-meter perimeter around the tent."
"Understood." These people visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Staying by the side of the furious Zhong Ping was clearly not an easy task; one wrong move and they could lose their lives.
"Wait... slowly carry General Erru out." Shaha calmly ordered the guards. "He is gone, let him rest in peace."
The guards glanced at Zhong Ping, who waved his hand, indicating that he would comply. Several guards, trembling, carried Erru out on a stretcher. Zhong Ping, Shaha, and Zhao Cheng remained silent throughout the entire process; the air was so heavy it was almost suffocating. One of the guards even tripped and fell due to excessive nervousness.
"Do you know why Yeso can control the steppe wolves?" Shaha gently sat down next to Zhong Ping, leaned close, and whispered. Zhao Cheng, lying on the ground, trembled. To be honest, the clever Zhao Cheng even wanted to crawl out of the tent now, because if he overheard something terrible, Zhong Ping might kill him to silence him.
"Your Majesty... I'll go outside first..." Zhao Cheng boldly raised his head and said, trembling.
“No need,” Zhong Ping said immediately. He was going all in today anyway; if these two could explain themselves, everything would be clear. If not, he'd just kill Zhao Cheng…
"I should leave..." Zhao Cheng's will to survive made him insist.
"If you dare to go out, you'll be executed immediately!" Zhong Ping said coldly. "If you explain yourself clearly, I might spare your life."
Zhao Cheng froze instantly. It seemed today was a near-death experience; his life depended entirely on Shaha. He hoped for good luck, that he could explain things clearly without uncovering any shocking secrets Shaha shouldn't know, so he could survive…
“Yeso’s blood is special,” Shaha continued coldly. “His blood has a special attraction for steppe wolves. That’s why he can firmly control the steppe wolf legion. Once he leaves, the steppe wolf legion becomes uncontrollable. Fortunately, Yeso is well-trained, so even when he’s not around, the steppe wolf legion can still maintain a general level of organization and obey orders.”
Zhong Ping remained silent, his eyes flashing with an eerie and murderous intent. This conclusion was too bizarre. Zhao Cheng caught a glimpse of Zhong Ping's gaze, and it sent chills down his spine, making his hands and feet go cold. But Shaha remained unmoved, and he spoke while staring directly into Zhong Ping's eyes. Zhao Cheng couldn't help but admire this old general; this old man was definitely no ordinary person.
4.4 “Luo Chen, it can be inferred that he possesses the same ability as Yesuo. He can easily command wolves to obey him,” Shaha continued, his tone devoid of emotion. Zhao Cheng could see that Zhong Ping’s lips twitched slightly. Perhaps he was angry at his bad luck, wondering why this Luo Chen possessed such a strange ability.
"Not using Yesso was your biggest mistake. Otherwise, the entire pack of steppe wolves would never have turned against you," Shah concluded coldly.
"Is it my fault?" Zhong Ping's eyes were filled with murderous intent. Generally speaking, when a leader uses this sentence, it is quite terrifying and intimidating.
However, Shah refused to back down, even saying in a stern tone, "Yes! You've made some rather foolish personnel arrangements!"
Chapter 191 Special Blood
For a moment, Zhong Ping seemed to fly into a rage, and Zhao Cheng felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that he was doomed. But Zhong Ping managed to hold back. Because the logic in Shaha's words was irrefutable to any rational person, Zhong Ping had to admit that he had made mistakes in his personnel arrangements.
"What's the specific situation on the battlefield?" Zhong Ping changed the subject, clearly eager to know how his grassland wolf army had suddenly disappeared.
Zhao Cheng remained silent, waiting for Shaha to speak. As a smart man, he knew he should keep quiet at this time; it wasn't his turn to speak yet.
"General Zhao Cheng deployed the Steppe Wolf Legion to surround Lü Bu's cavalry. The Steppe Wolf Legion has 160,000 wolves and men, nearly three times the number of Lü Bu's forces. Therefore, we have gained an absolute advantage over Lü Bu."
"How did you manage to divide and encircle Lü Bu?" Zhong Ping asked, quite puzzled. On the main battlefield, Yesuo's campaign plan had been waiting for Xu Da for several months, but Xu Da's forces had not yet found a way to be divided.