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

Qin An's eagerness to join the fight put Zhang Xu in a bit of a dilemma.

If it were an ordinary person, he naturally wouldn't give them a friendly look.

But Zhang Xu's attitude was naturally different when faced with such a capable and valiant subordinate who could bring him military merits.

With a beaming smile, he soothed Qin An, "Qin An, do you know how many cavalrymen you have left?"

Qin An was taken aback, then said, "Less than four hundred are unharmed; the rest are mostly injured."

"That settles it then," Zhang Xu said. "After a month of continuous fighting, the brothers are exhausted. The most urgent task is to rest and recuperate, not to fight again. Your task is to train the troops well and replenish our strength, understand?"

Qin An was anxious and wanted to volunteer again, but Zhang Xu preemptively said, "Don't be so quick to disagree. I know you want to make a name for yourself, but you need to have the qualifications."

Qin An's belligerence was giving Zhang Xu a real headache.

"This kid has a bit too much energy. He needs to be properly burned off so he won't cause me any more trouble."

Seeing that Qin An was not satisfied, Zhang Xu muttered to himself and quickly came up with a plan.

"We only have four hundred men left, so we really can't fight anymore!" Zhang Xu looked troubled, then changed the subject: "But on the other hand, your cavalry is indeed very useful. I've already had someone count them, and we've captured quite a few warhorses recently, enough to form another cavalry force."

Qin An's eyes lit up: "The commander of ten thousand means..."

"I've decided to expand your force!" Zhang Xu said in a deep voice. "Select elite troops from across the entire army and assemble a thousand cavalrymen for you, each with two horses! Give them the men and the supplies they need, and make sure this force becomes the spearhead of our army!"

The fierce performance of the cavalry led by Qin An did indeed impress Zhang Xu.

With such a cavalry force existing, it's practically a guaranteed victory.

This unexpected good news surprised and delighted Qin An. He quickly clasped his hands in thanks and said, "This humble general thanks Commander Wan for his trust! I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Seeing that Qin An had been appeased, Zhang Xu nodded in satisfaction: "That's more like it. Conserve your energy and build up your strength. There will be plenty of opportunities to fight in the future."

After the victory banquet ended, Qin An was about to return to camp when Luo Kai stopped him.

The two walked side by side on the quiet street, the moonlight casting long shadows of them.

"You brat, were you being so eager to volunteer for battle at the banquet just now on purpose?" Luo Kai looked at Qin An with a half-smile.

They've known each other for quite some time now, so how could he not know what kind of person the other is?

His previous reckless behavior was inconsistent with Qin An's usual persona.

Luo Kai immediately saw the problem.

Qin An smiled slightly: "My lord, you are wise. If I didn't appear eager, how could the commander have so easily agreed to the expansion?"

He never thought he could hide it from Luo Kai, so he openly admitted it.

Luo Kai clapped his hands and laughed, "Good lad, you're getting more and more shrewd!"

He was filled with emotion as he said this.

Although I had long known that Qin An was a talented person and would eventually rise to prominence.

But no one expected the other party to grow so quickly.

Conquering ten cities in succession—this feat is truly remarkable.

Luo Kai could fully foresee that it wouldn't be long before Qin An would be able to stand on equal footing with him, or even surpass him.

Fortunately, he had already calmed down.

Regardless, I am Qin An's benefactor, and I am happy to see his growth.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and Luo Kai finally offered a word of advice: "But don't be too happy yet. How long do you think this war will last?"

Qin An's heart skipped a beat: "What the captain means is..."

"This war is probably coming to an end soon." Luo Kai sighed and lowered his voice. "After the fall of Pingxiang City, Baiji was severely weakened, and the calls for peace from within the country are growing louder."

"I have received news that His Majesty is also inclined to accept the surrender from the imperial court. After all, the national treasury is empty due to years of war, and it may be difficult to continue fighting if the war continues."

"More importantly, the country is in chaos!"

After hearing Luo Kai's words, Qin An remained silent for a moment, a sense of helplessness welling up in his heart.

He had already understood the meaning behind Luo Kai's words.

Qin An had not forgotten that the second Eastern Expedition launched by Daxing had ended in complete failure due to internal rebellion.

This third Eastern Expedition was originally launched by force. Now that such results have been achieved, and the country is in chaos again, it is indeed a wise choice to stop while the gains are in sight.

However, despite understanding the situation, Qin An still felt somewhat unwilling.

Having stayed in Baiji for so long, he knew that these people feared power but not morality. If they surrendered today, they would surely rebel again once they recovered.

But he is a nobody, and his voice carries little weight; what can he change?

"I know what you want to say." Luo Kai patted him on the shoulder. "But the court has its own considerations. As subordinates, we can only obey orders. What you need to do now is seize this last opportunity and train your cavalry well. That is the foundation for your future."

Qin An nodded: "The captain is absolutely right, I understand."

……

In the days that followed, Qin Quan devoted himself wholeheartedly to the work of forming a cavalry.

Zhang Xu kept his word and indeed mobilized a large number of warhorses and soldiers.

Qin An personally selected one thousand strong and capable soldiers with decent horsemanship from the entire army.

He also selected experienced veterans from his original subordinates to serve as squad leaders and centurions, and adopted a mentorship system to train them day and night.

Every day before dawn, the sound of orderly horses' hooves echoes across the drill ground outside Hanbei City.

Qin An personally supervised the training, refining everything from the most basic horsemanship and formations to charging, flanking, and defense.

He shared all the experience he had gained on the battlefield, and the soldiers made rapid progress.

In just half a month, this newly formed cavalry unit had taken shape.

Although they are still not as strong as the original 800 elite troops, they can still be considered a formidable force.

Qin An looked at the cavalry galloping across the training ground, his heart filled with anticipation.

Just then, the battle between Daxing and Baiji came to an end.

Overwhelmed by the burden, the Baekje royal family finally decided to concede defeat and pay tribute to Daehung.

Emperor Daxing was also willing to accept Bai Ji's surrender.

This means that the battle is now completely over.

The news sent shockwaves through the entire army.

Although he knew this day would come, Qin An still couldn't help but sigh when it actually arrived.

"Just to submit and pay tribute? This war was a complete waste of time!"

He could be absolutely certain that this was merely a stopgap measure by Bai Ji.

Daxing may seem to have won, but at such a high price, it only gained a nominal vassal state. It was a case of winning face but losing substance.

On the other hand, Bai Ji only gave up a title and was able to continue to recuperate, which was a huge profit for him.

It is conceivable that Bai Ji, whose foundation remains intact, will be able to make a comeback in a few decades, and at that time it will surely be a resounding success.

What does it matter how many lives the soldiers of Daxing were lost on the Eastern Expedition?

Many thoughts flashed through Qin An's mind, but in the end, he could only sigh softly, "Fortunately, I still came out ahead!"