A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

Three days later.

The stench of blood inside Yanmen Pass was somewhat dispersed by the north wind, but the dark red frozen soil outside the city would probably take years to wash away.

The atmosphere in the council chamber was completely different from when Wei Zhao had just woken up half a month ago.

The deathly silence of the mourning hall was gone, as was the oppressive feeling of the city falling and people dying at any moment.

Instead, there was a somber atmosphere, a mixture of exhaustion and excitement.

The entire army of 500,000 Northern Rong soldiers was wiped out.

The price paid by the Wei family army was: 30,000 dead and 20,000 seriously wounded.

Five thousand for five hundred thousand.

Such a casualty ratio of one to ten is enough to make it stand out in history for any battle since the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty.

Even when the old man was alive, he had never achieved such a terrifying victory.

In the center of the council chamber stood a large, commanding chair.

The old lady, leaning on her iron cane, did not sit in her usual spot.

She walked to a grand master's chair to the right of the folding chair, sat down steadily, and then tapped the empty commander's seat with her cane.

"Zhao'er, sit down."

Standing in the council hall were more than twenty wounded captains, as well as his three sisters-in-law, Liu Jingshuang, Su Qingyun, and Huo Qingluan.

Upon hearing the old lady's words, everyone's eyes immediately fell on Wei Zhao.

No one thought it was inappropriate.

Three days ago, Wei Zhao single-handedly killed Quan Ya Mao in battle and then issued an order to annihilate the entire army. His ruthlessness and decisiveness had completely won over these proud and fierce soldiers.

The army only recognizes the strong, and Wei Zhao proved that he was even more ruthless than a wolf.

Wei Zhao did not refuse.

He was dressed in a black outfit today, and the faint bloodstain on his cheek, caused by the sword's energy, had scabbed over, adding to his fierce appearance.

He walked to the head seat, turned around, and sat down with a flourish.

"Mother." Wei Zhao leaned forward slightly, placing her hands on her knees.

The old lady's cloudy eyes swept across the entire room. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

"Our Wei family army has won this battle."

"Not only did we win, we also broke the backbone of the Northern Rong. For the next ten years, they will not be able to set foot in Yanmen Pass again."

The captains' breathing became heavier, their eyes filled with fanaticism.

"But you all need to remember this clearly."

The old lady changed the subject, slamming her cane heavily on the blue brick.

"The greatest credit for this great victory belongs not to me, not to you, and not to Zhao'er."

The council chamber fell silent.

"It's Mr. Chen Yuan."

The old lady's voice trembled slightly when she uttered the name.

"If it weren't for that weak scholar who was willing to bear the infamy and put himself in the game, risking his life to provoke Inuya Shigeru, these 500,000 people would never have given up on breaking out like mad dogs and instead confronted us head-on."

"He gave his life to save 500,000 Northern Rong soldiers. He was the soul of this battle."

Wei Zhao sat in the main seat and slowly nodded.

He knew very well that the old lady was absolutely right.

If Inuya Shigeru had remained rational and led 200,000 elite cavalry in a forced breakout, the Wei family's infantry would have been unable to stop him.

At most, they could only wipe out the Northern Rong's infantry, but letting the tiger return to the mountain would bring endless trouble in the future.

Chen Yuan, a scholar who couldn't even lift a sword, used the most tragic method to pin Quan Ya Mao firmly outside Yanmen Pass.

"Mother is right," Wei Zhao said, her voice steady.

"Sir, your noble character surpasses even that of Wei Zhao."

"In the battle report, Mr. Chen Yuan should be credited with the greatest merit, and this must be reported to the court truthfully."

"The remains of this gentleman should also be buried with the honors due to a national hero."

He spoke frankly and openly.

There was no greed for credit, no arrogance.

The captains standing below exchanged glances, their eyes filled with even deeper awe.

A general who can kill enemy commanders and order the massacre of a city is certainly terrifying, but a general who has both ruthless methods and a broad mind is truly worthy of their loyalty and sacrifice.

"The coach is right."

A captain with a sling on his left arm stepped forward and shouted:

"But without the commander's extraordinary bravery in single-handedly slaying Quan Ya Mao, the enemy wouldn't have collapsed so quickly. That single shot from the commander has completely shattered the morale of our Wei family army!"

"That's right! I was too far away to see the commander's counterattack clearly, but the aura it exuded was absolutely that of a martial god descended to earth!"

"With that bastard Shigeru's head hanging on the flagpole, the brothers' blades are three times faster when they kill the enemy!"

The captains chimed in, all agreeing. Soldiers don't have many hidden agendas; they just praise whoever they admire.

Liu Jingshuang stood to the side, arms crossed, a faint smile unusually appearing on her lips.

She looked at Wei Zhao, who was sitting in the main seat, and her eyes no longer held the scrutiny and suspicion they had shown half a month ago.

Su Qingyun kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the abacus beads at her waist, a shrewd glint in her eyes.

The annihilation of the 500,000-strong army meant that the trade routes in the North were now fully open, and she was already planning how to double the Wei family's wealth.

As for Huo Qingluan...

She wasn't wearing armor today; instead, she wore a simple long dress and stood quietly beside Liu Jingshuang.

However, from the moment she entered the room, her gaze would always fall on Wei Zhao almost imperceptibly, and then quickly look away when Wei Zhao looked over.

She hadn't forgotten the words, "I'm willing to marry him."

Wei Zhao raised his hand and pressed it down.

The council chamber fell silent instantly.

"We'll discuss merits and demerits later. There are more pressing matters at hand."

Wei Zhao looked at the Dowager Empress, "Mother, what is the situation regarding the casualties and resettlement of the various units?"

The old lady nodded and looked at Liu Jingshuang.

Liu Jingshuang stepped forward, her voice clear and crisp.

"Of the 20,000 elite cavalry, 3,000 were killed in action and 1,000 were seriously wounded. Of the 150,000 infantry, 25,000 were killed in action and 16,000 were seriously wounded."