The Prodigal Son

Huyao was burned down, along with the bridges in Huyao and Yunzhou.

Xue Chengdao no longer needed to stay at Huguan Pass.

Xue Chengdao left Geng Fu at Huyao and went to Huzhou to meet up with Qin Fumeng and Suhe Baoyin.

There will be no fighting this winter.

They should also start streamlining their troops.

Now, including the surrendered soldiers under Suhebaoyin, they have about 300,000 troops on their side!

Too much!

It must be streamlined.

Otherwise, the supply pressure would be too great.

While Xue Chengdao was discussing this matter with Qin Fumeng and Suhe Baoyin, Qin Yu sent someone to deliver the letter.

Xue Chengdao quickly opened the letter.

Upon reading the contents of the letter, Xue Chengdao instantly guessed Qin Yu's intentions.

good boy!

I'm starting to solve my own problems again!

Although Xue Chengdao was happy inside, his face was full of worry.

"well……"

Xue Chengdao sighed heavily.

"What's wrong?"

Qin Fumeng asked worriedly.

Could it be that something happened to that kid?

They've all reached Xiazhou, and Beiqi destroyed the bridge, so nothing serious should happen, right?

"Take a look!"

Xue Chengdao handed the letter to the two men, his face full of worry, and said, "The situation on Qin Yu's side is even more serious than ours..."

Qin Fumeng and Su Hebao quickly gathered together to check.

Upon learning that Qin Yu planned to kill the wounded horses that could no longer fight, Su Hebao was slightly moved and nodded, saying, "That is indeed a good idea. It can reduce consumption and increase food supplies..."

"It was all done out of necessity."

Xue Chengdao rubbed his head. "So many warhorses! Forget about him, even I feel sorry for them!"

Qin Fumeng understood Xue Chengdao's meaning perfectly well and immediately echoed, "We really need to streamline things here and try to save as much food as possible to support them! We can't just watch so many people starve and freeze to death. This winter is still long; let's figure out how to get through it first..."

"Then let's simplify it!"

Suhe Baoyin nodded helplessly in agreement, "However, I suggest we reduce it by two or three percent."

"Two or three tenths isn't enough, at least fifty percent!"

Xue Chengdao didn't give Suhe Baoyin a chance to speak again, "Not only do you need to reduce the number of people under your command, but we also need to reduce the number of people on our side! However, the people who are reduced are not to be disbanded on the spot, but to be transferred to garrison posts..."

Xue Chengdao explained his plan to the two of them.

Those who were streamlined were responsible for farming and guarding.

With so many people lost in this battle, a large amount of fertile land has been left vacant, and someone has to cultivate it.

Those fields have been lying fallow for years, and they'll basically be ruined!

"no problem!"

Suhe Baoyin was initially worried that Xue Chengdao was drastically reducing the size of his forces in order to weaken his own power.

Since Ning Jun also needs to streamline his forces and withdraw some troops, he has nothing to say.

Even if he reduced his men by half, he would still outnumber the Ning people.

Moreover, what Xue Chengdao said did make sense.

It's such a waste that so many fields are left uncultivated.

If they were to be converted into garrison troops on the spot, they could at least significantly reduce their dependence on supplies from the imperial court, if not become self-sufficient.

In order to save food for disaster relief, Qin Yu even started killing horses!

As a native of Yan, he felt he had to do something for the people.

"Then it's settled!"

As Xue Chengdao spoke, he patted Suhe Baoyin on the shoulder, "Don't worry, His Majesty and I both understand the principle of 'if you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them!' Besides, I've already sent the battle reports and merit lists to the capital. I can give you a heads-up: you'll at least be a Duke! And the court will certainly not mistreat your generals!"

Suhe Baoyin waved her hand, gritting her teeth, and said, "Whether I'm a duke or not, I don't care! I only want to lead the army to destroy Northern Qi in the future!"

He and Bei Qi are sworn enemies, and also mortal enemies!

Xiao Yanguang set fire to Huyao.

The Great Yan Ancestral Temple was burned to ashes.

This adds another chapter to his feud with Bei Qi!

"Rewarding merit and punishing demerit—this is fundamental!"

Xue Chengdao smiled, "As for the destruction of Northern Qi, this old body of mine may not live to see it, but you certainly will!"

"Let's not talk about that."

Suhe Baoyin shook her head and smiled, "Let's talk about how to streamline the troops!"

"good!"

Afterwards, the three of them began to discuss the matter on the spot.

Streamlining the troops is actually quite simple: the strong remain, and the weak are reassigned to garrison duty.

The garrison followed the principle of resettlement in the vicinity, and also allowed the garrison soldiers to move their families to the vicinity of the garrison location.

Currently, their main defensive focus remains on the hidden passage through Huyao, Xiazhou, and Yuanzhou.

Although Huyao was burned down, it can be rebuilt.

Of course, a full-scale reconstruction is definitely impossible in the short term.

Xue Chengdao's idea was to build a permanent military fortress on the side of the Broken Bridge closer to Huyao to guard the bridge.

A permanent military fortress should also be built near that hidden passage.

The garrison troops were mainly concentrated in Huzhou, Xiazhou, and Cuizhou.

Furthermore, although Huyao and Xiazhou seem very close, separated only by a mountain, this mountain is a huge obstacle that blocks the connection between the two places.

There is a road connecting the two places, but it is a mountain path carved out by the mountain people of Yan on the cliffs.

The road is narrow and extremely dangerous; if one section is damaged, the entire road behind it will be blocked.

If it were a matter of troop deployment, grain transport, or even just a small amount of cargo, it would be virtually impossible to use that mountain trail.

If possible, we should try to find a way to reopen a passage between Huyao and Xiazhou.

Currently, Bei Qi occupies Yunzhou, and transporting grain and troops via the Panjiang River is extremely vulnerable to attack.

If there were a passage to Xiazhou that bypassed Panjiang, Huyao and Xiazhou could truly rely on each other and form a unified defense.

The three discussed the matter until almost dark before finalizing the details and the names of the various generals.

However, the person in charge has yet to be decided.

Qin Fumeng will still be in charge of the seven northern provinces.

Under normal circumstances, Suhe Baoyin or Xue Chengdao should definitely be in charge here.

However, Suhe Baoyin should be returning to the capital to receive her title, and Xue Chengdao, as the Minister of War, should also return after this battle.

The selection of this leader is indeed a problem.

As for Qin Yu, Xue Chengdao had also considered him.

However, when Qin Yu returned to the capital in triumph, he would most likely also return.

"Let's leave it at that for now!"

Qin Fumeng stopped the two, saying, "Anyway, we won't be returning to the capital until next year, so we have plenty of time to think about this! Now that the war is over, shouldn't we sit down and have a few drinks?"

"Haha, you said exactly what I wanted to say!"

Xue Chengdao laughed heartily and pulled Su Hebao up, "Come on, let's drink! It's been so long since I've had a drink, my stomach is itching for a drink!"

"Then what's there to say?"

Suhe Baoyin laughed heartily, "Come on, let's drink! Today we're going to drink until the world turns upside down, we won't leave until we're completely drunk!"

"no problem!"

Xue Chengdao readily agreed, "However, we need to make this clear beforehand: you two grandmasters can't renege on your promise and force the wine with your inner energy!"

Qin Fumeng and Su Hebao exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter at the same time...