Chapter 1859: Chapter 597: Growth and Racing Against Time, Chen Cang’s Grand Retreat (2)

The intention of everyone was not to burden the young Xia Yusheng too much, but they forgot that he was not yet ten years old, at the age when one is most forgetful and playful.

From Xia Yusheng’s eagerness to go out at this moment, it can be seen that he did not learn from the Milk Tiger Forest incident, or perhaps half a year of tranquility had worn away his guilt towards Han Yue.

The words from Xia Yuyao pierced his heart like arrows, reopening the scars he had been trying to cover up or forget.

Seeing her brother with his head down, full of guilt and self-reproach, Xia Yuyao sighed slightly in her heart, her tone softened as she gently said, "Auntie Han Yue died saving you. You’re not living just for yourself now. Cai Qiu and the Great Xia stopped fighting not because they fear us, but because they aim to deal with the more formidable Chen Cang.

Just now, Great Attendants Sun said, Chen Cang’s army of a hundred thousand has retreated. Do you think the Feudal Town might have given up on coveting our Southern Slope Territory? The Milk Tiger Forest incident could happen again; as long as the Great Xia and the Feudal Town’s conflict doesn’t stop, the abductions targeted at you and me won’t stop. If you continue to act recklessly like before, it won’t be just one or two people harmed!

Mother confines us here for cultivation not only for our safety but also for the stability of the Great Xia. If you really want to go out, then stay here obediently and cultivate until you are strong enough that no one can threaten our safety, then mother won’t stop you anymore."

Xia Yusheng remained silent and did not reply, but his breathing became slightly heavier, indicating that Xia Yuyao’s words had struck a chord in his heart.

After a long time, he slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly reddened, and nodded solemnly, "I understand, sister!"

Hearing her brother’s resolute tone, Xia Yuyao felt satisfaction in her heart but couldn’t help softening her words, speaking gently, "Don’t think too much, just stay here and cultivate with me until father returns."

"Okay!"

Once Xia Yusheng agreed, he immediately closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.

Xia Yuyao did the same, but once she closed her eyes, she sighed slightly in her heart.

"Second Uncle is so eager to mobilize the army to force Chen Cang back, it’s likely that father is not in that Dragon Palace under Chilong Lake to cultivate, but something unexpected happened, and he won’t be back for a while."

Xia Yuyao was much more perceptive than her brother. If Li Xuanling fooled her brother Xia Yusheng about their father being in the Dragon Palace beneath Chilong Lake, she wouldn’t be deceived. Through Second Uncle’s movements in the north, including the oversized expansion of the Xia Palace in March and the subsequent strict isolation measures, she could deduce a rough idea.

"The Sect Temple’s Spiritual Tablet is normal, so father isn’t in any danger, he just won’t return briefly. Father’s strength is so great, surely nothing will happen to him, he will be back soon."

No matter how perceptive she was, Xia Yuyao was ultimately just a few minutes older than her brother, and she was also a little girl not yet ten years old. After deducing that her father Xia Hong encountered an accident, her heart was equally filled with panic and concern. But in order not to worry mother or let brother see anything, she pretended to know nothing.

"Father, Xia Yuyao will definitely work hard to cultivate, strive to become strong sooner, and alleviate burdens for you and the Great Xia!"

Out of unconditional trust in her father, Xia Yuyao quickly adjusted her mixed emotions, gave herself a mental nudge, and a strong determination gradually rose on her little face, fully immersing herself in cultivation.

............

In the thirteenth year of Great Xia, on the night of June 10th

While events were unfolding at the Xia Palace, a grand retreat was taking place at the extreme northern border of the Great Xia.

"A hundred thousand troops, retreating without a fight? What’s the Prefectural Governor thinking?"

"What is there to think? The Great Xia gathered three hundred fifty thousand troops to attack, clearly intending to go all-in with you. Do you want to fight? Then head back to East River City if you do!"

"Hehe, just kidding. Cai Qiu lost three battles consecutively, their forces aren’t that different from the Great Xia, and our hundred thousand troops by relying on East River City likely won’t last for many days. Retreating is for the best, really."

"Not only are there three hundred fifty thousand troops, but I heard from the brothers in the front army that the Xia Army brought some very impressive siege machinery that even those in the Tribulation Body Realm cannot withstand. Last night, the second Princely Heir and Mr. Fang Tianqing from Heyang Dominance Mansion went to negotiate with the Xia Army, but they wouldn’t even talk, they directly engaged, almost killing Mr. Fang."

"Good to know! Our West River County is far from the Southern Slope Territory, taking East River City doesn’t have much use. Look at occupying the city for half a year, what have we gained? The Great Xia sent people to block every entry point along Beining Mountain and Moao Mountain, all military supplies have to be allocated from within the feudal territory, consuming a tremendous amount of manpower and resources, with no real benefit, what’s the point?"

"Speaking of which, I heard all military supplies over the past half year were transferred from West River. Even though Yanling is so close, they haven’t shown any support at all, it’s just too much."

"Exactly! If we eventually capture the Southern Slope Territory, Yanling County would benefit, but the third Princely Heir is ignoring feudal interests in pursuit of succession, hmph!"

"This East River City was taken by us without any cost, there’s no loss in returning it to the Great Xia. Besides, we’ve taken everything we could from the city. Inside and out, we ended up gaining a bit."

"Hehehe, exactly right!"

.........

Unlike typical retreat scenes, Chen Cang’s retreat this time was filled with laughter and cheerful voices, any dissatisfaction quickly drowned out by the overall mood, unable to stir any waves.

As this was gained without any sacrifice, nobody cherished it, this is not only the mindset of Chen Cang’s soldiers now but also human nature.

They took East River City without losing a single soldier, even though it made Mr. Fang Tianqing from Heyang Dominance Mansion famous throughout Chen Cang, it also caused the troops in Chen Cang to bear no psychological burden in retreating now.

Moreover, the past six months spent in East River City were too bitter. With the Xia Army’s stringent blockade, they couldn’t even hunt for resources normally, only able to hunt in the snow fields beside East River City, which couldn’t meet the massive demands of a hundred thousand troops.

Their supplies over the past half year relied solely on material transportation within the feudal territory, from Jiuqu Blood Corridor. The soldiers, though not living luxuriously, didn’t seem to have experienced such hardship.

Having stifled frustration for half a year and not having engaged the Xia Army, suddenly preparing to fight with three hundred fifty thousand arriving from the enemy, it was most normal for nobody to wish to fight in such conditions.

Although commanding a hundred thousand troops, even with the well-trained soldiers in Chen Cang, the retreat wasn’t all easy, and although the Great Xia didn’t send large forces to chase from the rear, reconnaissance on the ground and from the air never ceased. Chen Cang’s commanders prudently adopted a rolling-style retreat in alternating turns.

The two thousand front army led by Lu Qinghu was in the lead, the middle six thousand army led by He Tianxin walked in the center, while He Tianyuan’s rear army of two thousand guarded the rear. They took turns leading and replacing to avoid surprise attacks on the rear by the Xia Army.

This retreat manner effectively prevented the Xia Army from ambushing the rear, even the scouts dispatched by Great Xia couldn’t get too close to Chen Cang’s retreating army.

"Having passed Danxue Peak, it’s now the middle army’s turn to lead. Let the six thousand middle army enter the Blood Corridor first, the front and rear armies will guard at Danxue Peak, once the entire middle army enters, they will then follow."

Quickly, the front of Chen Cang’s army arrived at Danxue Peak, with Jiuqu Blood Corridor visible, front army general Lu Qinghu ordered the final retreat plan.

Prefectural Governor Chu Tianhe and Fang Tianqing were healing and did not follow the army movement; at this moment, Lu Qinghu was the commander of the entire army, and once he ordered, other commanders complied.

The six thousand middle army orderly entered Jiuqu Blood Corridor, stepping onto the path back to the feudal territory.

No one noticed that in the middle section of Jiuqu Blood Corridor, the blood-colored miasma previously contracted to the center of the lake started to tremble slightly.

The blood-colored miasma began to seep into the lake bed and then spread from underwater in wave forms towards the surroundings, faster and faster...

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