The Prodigal Son

More than half an hour later, the battlefield was cleaned up.

"How much...?"

Upon hearing Yuan Dingguo's report on the battle losses, Qin Yu's expression instantly turned grim.

For a fleeting moment, he really wanted to drag Sheng Qiao out and whip his corpse.

Yuan Dingguo's expression was also not good. He reported again: "Nearly eight hundred were killed in battle, and more than two hundred were seriously wounded..."

This outcome was also unexpected by Yuan Dingguo.

They waited in comfort, outnumbered the enemy, and threw the enemy into disarray from the very beginning.

Moreover, the enemy's commander and flag fell halfway through the battle!

Under these circumstances, their casualties should not have been so high at all!

Previously, they charged head-on into enemy lines, and despite having a disadvantageous terrain, they fought against overwhelming odds, resulting in only a little over 1,200 deaths.

This time, despite having a clear advantage, they suffered nearly 800 casualties.

Of those two hundred or so seriously wounded, many were trampled by warhorses, and it's estimated that few will survive.

The battle losses were slightly different from what they expected.

Seeing the somewhat dejected Yuan Dingguo, Qin Yu forced a smile, patted Yuan Dingguo on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, this battle was a great victory! Don't let your dejection affect morale! Give the order to take meat from those fallen warhorses. We'll celebrate with a feast right here at noon today!"

In terms of results, they did indeed win a great victory!

Including the several hundred people Ning Huang killed outside the village entrance, they annihilated more than six thousand enemies!

The enemy's casualties were six times that of theirs!

Moreover, they also captured a large number of warhorses.

He looked unwell because the casualties had exceeded his expectations.

He estimated that if the Chu army did not resist to the bitter end, their casualties should at least be halved.

They may be dissatisfied with the result, but they cannot let it dampen their team's morale.

"Yes, we clearly won the battle."

Yuan Dingguo shook his head and grinned, "We've been following General Qin all the way here, and we're used to the enemy's casualties being dozens of times ours. Suddenly, the casualties are a bit higher than expected. I thought we'd suffered a defeat!"

"Your flattery skills have improved quite a bit!"

Qin Yu smiled and glanced at Yuan Dingguo. "Alright, hurry up and make the arrangements! After we've eaten and drunk our fill, we'll head back to the north bank of the Qujiang River!"

"good!"

Just as Yuan Dingguo was about to leave, he suddenly stopped. "What about the seriously wounded?"

Qin Yu thought for a moment and then ordered, "Leave them to these villagers to take care of! Tell the villagers that after the battle is over, we will send people to pick up the wounded! For each person who survives, I will reward them with twenty... no, fifty taels of silver! But if they dare to harm the wounded, they will all be executed!"

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These villagers have no grudge against them. As long as they use both kindness and force, these villagers should not deliberately harm their wounded.

Yuan Dingguo thought for a moment and suggested, "Why don't we leave ten less seriously injured soldiers behind to help take care of them and also keep an eye on the villagers?"

Qin Yu nodded slightly: "Okay, you can arrange it as you see fit!"

Yuan Dingguo accepted the order and left quickly.

Watching Yuan Dingguo leave, Qin Yu couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.

On the battlefield, we shouldn't have too high expectations beforehand!

Otherwise, even if you've won a great victory, it will seem like you've suffered a defeat.

If this kind of sentiment gets passed on, it will seriously damage morale.

……

In the afternoon, Qin Yu finally led his troops in a surprise attack on Sanliqiao.

In this battle, they captured a large number of warhorses, and most of them could ride two horses each.

They continued Qin Yu's old method: carrying minimal supplies and traveling light.

If you encounter a larger town along the way, you can simply "borrow" grain.

By nightfall, they had returned to Wuzhou. After a brief rest and resupply in a medium-sized county town in Wuzhou, Qin Yu led his troops in a surprise attack on Sanliqiao that very night.

They must speed things up!

News of Sheng Qiao's defeat should reach Yu Yang soon.

Once the enemy realizes their intentions, they will likely mobilize the garrison of Yuyang to defend Sanliqiao.

They might even directly destroy the Sanli Bridge!

Around noon the next day, they finally reached the vicinity of Sanliqiao again.

When Zeng Guan rode back, Qin Yu immediately asked, "How did it go?"

"The enemy has no memory; they've only sent a few hundred men to defend Sanliqiao!"

Zeng Guan answered with a broad smile.

"Very good!"

Qin Yu was overjoyed and immediately looked at Ning Huang with a grin: "Senior Ning, why don't you go and lead the charge!"

Only a few hundred people!

Ning Huang can handle this all by himself!

Even though they replenished their forces by two thousand men during the reign of Emperor Shou Chong and fought continuously against the enemy, they now have less than seven thousand men left.

Many of them were also injured.

Right now, every single death counts!

It's such a waste to leave such a grandmaster unused!

"I'll deal with you after this battle!"

Ning Huang gave Qin Yu a disapproving look, then spurred his horse and rode away.

That bastard!

He, a grandmaster, was actually used as a suicide squad by him!

Can't you even say "please"?

I'm a grandmaster, don't I have any pride?

After this battle, we'll definitely teach him a lesson!

Fueled by the urge to draw Qin Yu's sword, Ning Huang sped towards Sanli Bridge.

Behind Ning Huang, Qin Yu also ordered the entire army to cross the bridge.

With Grandmaster Ning Huang leading the charge, this small skirmish was a foregone conclusion.

Soon, Qin Yu led his army back to the north bank of the Qujiang River.

As soon as Qin Yu crossed the river, Yuan Dingguo ran up excitedly to report: "We just interrogated the people guarding the bridge. The grain supplies from the Chu army arrived yesterday afternoon. However, it will take quite some time to unload all 500,000 shi of grain. There is still a lot of grain on the boats..."

"Then charge in and burn the ships to the ground!"

Qin Yu made a quick decision and then asked, "How many troops are guarding the dock?"

Yuan Dingguo grinned: "Only about two thousand people!"

"really?"

Qin Yu's smile suddenly became incredibly bright.

"Sure!"

Yuan Dingguo nodded emphatically, "The enemy never expected us to come back. Two thousand men to guard a dock warehouse is not a small number!"

Even so, it's probably because Miaozhou was in chaos, and Yu Wu was worried that the rebels from Miaozhou would come and steal the grain, so he sent so many people.

Normally, around a thousand people would be enough!

A cold glint flashed in Qin Yu's eyes, and he shouted sharply, "Order the entire army to launch a surprise attack on the downstream docks!"

As soon as Qin Yu gave the order, the army immediately began a surprise attack on the downstream docks.

At this moment, the soldiers at the dock were still urging the laborers to hurry up and unload the grain from the ships.

"hurry up!"

"Haven't you eaten yet? Hurry up, all of you!"

"Dare to slack off? You'd better ask the whip in my hand first!"

Even though the laborers were exhausted, they showed no pity whatsoever.

Yu Wu gave a strict order: all 500,000 shi of grain must be unloaded within three days.

They pity these laborers, but who will pity them?

Just as the soldiers were whipping the exhausted laborers, the sound of rolling hooves suddenly came.

As they realized something was wrong, a black torrent swept towards them...