The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

Three days later in Pingxiang City, the smoke of battle gradually dissipated, and the stench of blood and burnt flesh in the air lessened, replaced by a deathly silence.

On the streets, the surviving Baekje people numbly cleared away the corpses, dragging the swollen and deformed bodies outside the city to bury them.

Occasionally, a few suppressed sobs could be heard, but they were quickly interrupted by the soldiers' shouts.

Most of the soldiers in Daxing had already left the revelry, their waists bulging, their faces showing satisfied weariness, and they were busy packing up the looted goods or cleaning and maintaining their weapons.

Inside the camp, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and clothes hung to dry on ropes between tents, creating a scene of post-war rest and recuperation.

Qin An stood on the high ground of the camp, gazing at the dilapidated city walls in the distance, his brows furrowed slightly.

The news brought by Li Zheng was like a stone thrown into water, stirring up ripples in his heart.

The war is about to end, and time is running out for me.

Just as he was pondering this, a personal guard rushed in: "Commander, Commander of ten thousand, give the order: all officers of the rank of commander of a thousand and above, immediately proceed to the central command tent for a meeting!"

Qin An's heart skipped a beat; he knew that the next military operation was about to begin.

He straightened his armor and strode towards the central command tent.

The atmosphere inside the tent was completely different from the previous few days.

Zhang Xu sat in the main seat, his face flushed and his eyes sparkling with excitement, a far cry from the gloom he felt during the siege.

The generals inside the tent all straightened their backs, their eyes fixed intently on the main seat, clearly anticipating something.

"Gentlemen!" Zhang Xu cleared his throat, his voice booming, "I have just received a military order from Marshal Yuwen. Pyeongxiang City has fallen, and the main force of Baekje has been damaged. What remains are just some small cities, nothing to fear."

"The Marshal has ordered us to disperse and fight independently, to capture the surrounding cities as quickly as possible, and to expand our gains!"

A low commotion arose inside the tent, and the generals' faces showed excitement.

Decentralized operations mean greater autonomy, as well as more military achievements and spoils of war.

"This is a golden opportunity!" Zhang Xu slammed his fist on the table. "We suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Pyeongxiang, but we also earned our reputation! Now the people of Baekje are in a state of panic, it's the perfect time to press our advantage! If we can capture a few surrounding cities, the achievements of our 10,000-strong army will be second to none!"

"The commander of ten thousand is right!" a commander of a thousand immediately echoed, "This humble general is willing to lead the army as the vanguard and pacify the surrounding towns!"

Zhang Xu nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "But how exactly to proceed still needs further discussion. Everyone, please feel free to share your thoughts."

The tent was quiet for a moment, then a murmur of discussion arose.

"In my humble opinion, our troops have just experienced a major battle. Although we have received reinforcements, our strength is still insufficient, and our soldiers also need rest. It would be better to proceed cautiously, first consolidate the defenses around Pingxiang City, and then gradually advance."

A slightly overweight general stood up. His expression was calm, and his tone carried a hint of caution.

This is another captain besides Luo Kai, named Zhou Lang.

Zhou Lang was a veteran in the army, known for his steadiness, and his soldiers were mostly experienced old men. Although his troops suffered losses in the Battle of Pingxiang, they were relatively few and could be considered to have preserved their strength.

"Commander Zhou is mistaken!" Luo Kai immediately retorted. His left arm injury was no longer a major problem, but he still had some difficulty moving around.

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war! The Baekje people are still in shock; now is the perfect time to catch them off guard! If we wait until they react and consolidate their defenses, it will cost us far more to take those cities!"

Luo Kailai was on the front lines to make a name for himself, and he had also heard some rumors from his family. Naturally, he wanted to take the opportunity to expand his gains and earn more merits.

"Commander Luo is being far too aggressive!" Zhou Lang frowned. "The battle of Pingxiang City resulted in heavy losses. Although we have received some new recruits, we are still not at full strength. If we engage in high-intensity combat again, my soldiers may become dissatisfied."

What Zhou Lang said was true, but more importantly, those who survived the battle of Pingxiang City made a fortune.

His conservative idea also represented the sentiments of many lower-ranking soldiers.

Having risked their lives and finally earned so much money that they could guarantee their livelihood, they naturally wouldn't take any more risks.

As soon as Zhou Lang said this, he was immediately met with a lot of agreement.

"Captain Zhou is right. While battle merits are important, you have to be alive to earn them. I feel we should focus on recovery!"

"Commander Zhou's opinion is truly wise and prudent. The battle of Pingxiang City has resulted in huge losses for all sides. If we rush into an attack, we may find it difficult to sustain our food and supplies. If we get into a stalemate, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"..."

Although they spoke in a grand and righteous manner, how could Luo Kai not know what everyone was thinking?

Seeing that they all looked content with having made a quick buck, Luo Kai couldn't help but want to shout, "You scoundrels, you're not worth talking to!"

But he suppressed his anger and patiently explained, "What's so difficult about resupplying supplies? Those small towns have plenty of food and resources; they're inexhaustible!"

"Besides, the remaining cities are all small cities. We can fight and recover simultaneously, so it won't have much of an impact!"

The two sides argued back and forth, unable to reach an agreement.

The generals inside the tent were divided into two factions: some supported Zhou Lang's steady and cautious approach, while others agreed with Luo Kai's strategy of pressing the attack while the enemy was ahead.

Qin An sat in the corner, listening silently to the argument between the two sides.

He leaned toward Luo Kai's opinion that the war was about to end, and only by seizing every opportunity could they accumulate enough military merit.

But he also understood Zhou Lang's thoughts.

If I were just an ordinary person, I might also choose to be content with a modest life.

After all, the gains from Pingxiang City this time were indeed substantial.

Zhang Xu watched the two arguing endlessly, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by excitement.

He slammed his hand on the table: "Enough!"

The tent fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on Zhang Xu.

"My mind is made up!" Zhang Xu stood up, paced a few steps, and said, "We will do as Commandant Luo said and pursue our victory!"

Clearly, Zhang Xu was also an ambitious man, and he wouldn't be content with just the position of a commander of ten thousand.

He has received news that Daxing is currently in turmoil, with rebels rising up everywhere.

Zhang Xu wanted to take advantage of this battle to advance further.

If he performs well, he might be transferred back to China to suppress the rebellion.

In his view, suppressing rebellions was much easier than waging war abroad.

At that time, he will be able to rise to prominence and become a high-ranking official in the imperial court, bringing glory to his family.

With this in mind, Zhang Xu's gaze fell on Luo Kai: "Captain Luo, tell me your thoughts!"

Seeing that Zhang Xu was favoring him, Luo Kai was overjoyed. Having been prepared for this, he blurted out, "As the saying goes, speed is of the essence in war. We can consolidate our existing horses, form an elite cavalry force, launch a rapid raid, and seize the initiative!"

Upon hearing this, Qin An, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised his head, his heart stirring with excitement!