The moment Zhili fled, Duke Turingto discovered it immediately.
In that instant, he truly had the impulse to kill Zhili!
Indeed, the situation in this great battle was unfavourable, but up to now only over one hundred thousand had been killed or wounded. There were still over two hundred thousand remaining, their forces still double Soren’s.
Although the possibility of victory was not great, they could retreat, could they not? They could preserve their army to the maximum extent.
Even, a thought emerged.
Killing Zhili, or capturing him alive to present to Soren, would absolutely be a tremendous token of allegiance.
However, he only thought this thought, not daring to put it into action.
There were too many experts around Zhili. He might not capture him and instead lose his own life.
Thus, Turingto could only watch helplessly as Zhili fled.
“Father, call back the troops, call back the troops!” Turing Chen beside him said. “Once a great rout occurs, the losses will be too great. The Dragon Guard Army is the capital of our Turing family.”
But it was already too late!
Zhili’s flight was too conspicuous. He took away over ten thousand people at once and was immediately discovered.
“Zhili has fled, the Young Lord has fled…”
Someone immediately shouted out.
Very soon, many high-ranking civil officials, high-ranking military officers, and over a dozen feudal lords also hurriedly fled with their trusted household troops.
Each one scrambled to escape.
Turingto did not flee for the moment, because he truly wished to remain, reorganise the army, and try to bring the troops back.
But the flight of Zhili and the feudal lords had too great an impact.
Originally, the remaining army had only shown some signs of crumbling. Now, the flight of Zhili and the others was like igniting a powder keg, instantly causing a great collapse.
“Run…”
“Shameless Zhili, shameless feudal lords…”
All the soldiers remembered clearly. Before the battle, Zhili had raised a blood-written banner declaring fight to the death, those who retreat shall die.
Moreover, Zhili had grandly declared that this great battle allowed only advance, no retreat. After everyone went up, it would be his turn, Zhili, to enter the fray. He would not retreat half a step.
Yet the result was that only a few hours after battle began, with brothers bearing incomparably massive casualties, over one hundred thousand dead and wounded, but with over two hundred thousand troops still remaining, Zhili had fled far away. Was a person like this worthy of becoming king?
Instantly, the remaining over two hundred thousand troops fled madly.
The flight of over two hundred thousand routed soldiers, no one could withstand! Anything standing before them was utterly torn apart like rotten wood.
Duke Turingto’s eyes were about to split, nearly vomiting blood.
Then, he raised a great banner, protected by several dozen Dragon Warriors at his side, and desperately roared, “Follow me, follow me…”
Routed soldiers were complex creatures.
Some now trusted no one, running madly in all directions, only feeling safe once they had run far from the battlefield.
While others, like blindly following sheep, would instinctively follow any flag that appeared at this moment.
…
Soren stood atop the high walls!
So this was what they meant by defeat like a landslide! Everywhere were routed soldiers fleeing madly, like ants.
Originally, the Zhili army had only shown some signs of crumbling. At this point, if only Zhili and Turingto had suppressed it slightly, or if Turingto and the others had personally entered the battlefield to boost morale, it could have been completely resolved.
If the two supreme commanders Zhili and Turingto had led all their experts, charging at the forefront. Then the remaining over two hundred thousand troops would not only not have crumbled, but their morale would have soared like a rainbow, fearlessly continuing to attack the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line.
At that time, Zhili might even have had a glimmer of hope for victory.
But unexpectedly, the moment Zhili discovered signs of the army crumbling, he immediately abandoned his troops and fled far away.
Thus causing the over two hundred thousand troops to instantly and completely collapse, instantly suffering a great defeat!
Truly, one incompetent general exhausts a thousand armies to death!
Zhili was remarkable in political manoeuvring and acting ability, but he was absolutely unqualified in military matters.
Leaving aside whether Soren’s military talent was high or low, at the very least he would not bring disaster upon his army, at the very least he would lead from the front.
Just now, facing the final assault of the one hundred and twenty Dragon Warriors dispatched by Zhili, Soren had also fought on the front line. Although being constantly protected behind a woman had appeared somewhat wretched, and when his spiritual power was finally exhausted he was even carried upon Zhuang Zhixuan’s back.
But it could be seen that these Rock Pirate warriors still greatly admired this pretty-faced lord. Although his martial arts were not particularly high, at least he was not afraid of death.
Seeing the entire battlefield filled with several hundred thousand defeated soldiers stampeding, this spectacle appeared even more magnificent and terrifying than the earlier siege by four hundred thousand troops.
Then Soren suddenly thought again that fleeing at the first sign of trouble was not Zhili’s incompetence, but his sufficient cunning.
Because Zhili’s suspicion of Turingto had reached an extreme degree. He absolutely would not wait until the great rout to flee. By then he might not be able to escape, and would be captured by Turingto to present to Soren.
Among the fleeing troops, Soren saw Duke Turingto raise a banner, desperately gathering routed soldiers.
“Brother Soren, shall we lead the army out and capture the entire Turing family?” Tuli Yang stepped forward and asked.
Soren shook his head. Outside the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, Soren’s army was very fragile and could not withstand these routed soldiers.
The twenty thousand cavalry of Rouan City were very fierce, but with several hundred metres of stone obstacle groups laid upon the battlefield, cavalry could not charge.
Even if Soren led numerous experts to pursue Turingto, once deeply embroiled in the chaotic army, the gains might not be worth the losses.
Moreover, the cunning Marquis Fu E was always together with Turingto. Two top powerhouses, there was no chance of victory in fighting them.
“Rest assured, Turing Duo certainly cannot escape. Turingto will actively deliver her to our door himself,” Soren said.
Then, Soren shouted loudly, “Surrender and you shall not be killed! Surrender and you shall not be killed!”
Instantly, others in Soren’s army also shouted, surrender and you shall not be killed.
“Surrender and you shall not be killed, surrender and you shall not be killed!”
Everyone shouted in unison!
Instantly, the vast majority of the Zhili army still desperately fled, while a small portion instinctively stopped, hands on their heads, squatting on the ground.
Because some had heard that when the Southeast Legion was captured by Soren previously, their military pay had doubled, their weapons had improved, their armour had improved, and their food had improved as well!
…
At this time, behind the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, several tens of thousands of Southeast New Army soldiers stood in place, overwhelmed with shame to the point of death!
When the great battle began, they had been ashen-faced, their gazes restless, harbouring strange thoughts.
After battle began, the twenty-five thousand Rock Pirate Legion soldiers had always been on the front line. Later, casualties were too great, so the Luanyang Revenge Army was sent up. Then as pressure intensified, Ashi Liren’s Rouan cavalry was also sent up.
These twenty thousand Rouan cavalry were Soren’s final lifeline.
In the event that the Zhili army broke through the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, these twenty thousand cavalry would use their mobility advantage to launch a final decisive charge.
But to prevent excessive casualties among the Rock Pirate Legion, Soren had no choice but to order several thousand Rouan cavalry to dismount and become infantry on the walls.
From beginning to end, of these several tens of thousands of Southeast New Army soldiers, Soren had not used a single one, not letting them onto the walls!
These Southeast New Army soldiers, Soren had reorganised, including armour, weapons, military pay and so forth, costing nearly one hundred thousand gold coins.
Each Southeast New Army soldier cost more than a Rock Pirate warrior.
Because Rock Pirate warriors did not wear full body armour, did not use shields, did not use greatswords.
And after entering the battlefield, these over twenty thousand Rock Pirate Legion soldiers had always fought on the front line, resisting enemies over three times their number.
While the Southeast New Army soldiers, from beginning to end, had not participated in a single battle.
They might suffice for smooth sailing battles, but for this battle where victory or defeat was uncertain, Soren truly dared not let them participate.
At this moment, Soren deeply experienced that what is precious in troops lies in quality, not quantity.
Soren did not conceal the coldness and displeasure in his gaze, sweeping it fiercely across these Southeast New Army soldiers.
These several tens of thousands of Southeast New Army soldiers were filled with infinite shame in their hearts.
And at this time, the surviving over ten thousand Rock Pirate warriors, each bearing wounds, looked at the enemy’s defeat and instead of cheering, roared in fury.
“Do not run, do not run, come fight us!”
“I have not yet killed to my heart’s content, cowards, cowards…”
If these Rock Pirate warriors had not retained a thread of reason, they would have jumped from the walls to continue fighting.
This scene made the Southeast New Army soldiers even more ashamed, unable to raise their heads!
…
Princess Zhiyan, her grace like an immortal, stood at the highest point of the castle, overlooking the entire battlefield, her gaze complex!
Soren stepped forward and said, “We have won. Your throne is secured.”
Zhiyan nodded lightly, letting out a light sigh of relief, not appearing particularly joyful.
“If Zhili and Turingto truly went all-in, we might have lost,” Princess Zhiyan said.
Soren said, “They value their own lives above all else. They would never truly go all-in.”
Princess Zhiyan added, “If the absolute supreme commander of this great battle had been Turingto, then perhaps they would not have lost either. If only they had not been so eager for the decisive battle, their chances of winning would still have been great. Facing our cannons and gunpowder, they only needed to dig trenches to withstand most of the firepower.”
After entering the era of hot warfare, trenches and cover became the absolute mainstream of battlefield defence.
Zhiyan had seen the crucial point at a glance. This woman’s insight was extremely sharp.
And if given enough time, an old marshal like Turingto, without rushing for the decisive battle, could also have seen the key to defending against cannons and gunpowder.
Unfortunately, after the first day’s setback, Zhili and Turingto slept in the same bed with different dreams, guarding against each other. What they lacked most was patience. With each day that passed, they worried that the longer the night, the more dreams would come.
Thus, a hasty decisive battle was certain to occur!
Soren said speechlessly, “Yan, why do you keep thinking about what the enemy could have done to defeat us?”
Zhiyan said, “Zhili mobilised several hundred thousand troops, yet lost so bizarrely. From a bystander’s perspective, it is truly lamentable.”
Soren said, “Hearing you say this, before countless troops, I now have the impulse to spank your bottom.”
Zhiyan’s beautiful eyes grew restless, her voice seductive, “Go ahead!”
Even, she slightly poked out her bottom.
“Smack!” Soren slapped down upon Zhiyan’s round, pert, enchanting bottom.
“Ah…” Zhiyan let out an exaggerated, delicate cry.
Instantly, this commotion attracted the attention of many people. Countless soldiers looked towards the highest point of the castle.
Just now… had the future Regent spanked the future Queen’s bottom?
Was, was this celebrating victory?
They truly could not believe their eyes. Princess Zhiyan was so full of immortal grace, seeming to transcend mortal affairs, yet she had been publicly spanked on the bottom. Too wild!
“Husband, thank you!” Zhiyan nestled into Soren’s embrace, tilting her face up to kiss Soren, saying softly, “Without you, there would be no victory today.”
Soren sighed, “What you said just now was right. This was a lamentable battle. This was not a battle between evenly matched forces, because our enemies harboured ulterior motives towards each other, and suffered a great defeat without even exhausting their full strength!”
Last night when Turingto issued his ultimatum, Soren had truly been filled with uncertainty and pessimism about the battle situation. No matter how he calculated, he only had a thirty percent chance of victory.
But he had not expected that the so-called all-or-nothing gamble of Zhili and Turingto would be so laughable.
At the critical moment, they still retained the majority of their strength. The battlefield had only just fallen into an unfavourable situation, one that could clearly still be salvaged. They only needed to lead from the front to salvage morale and boost fighting spirit. Yet the result was directly fleeing far away, triggering a great rout!
So the complex emotions in Zhiyan’s heart, Soren shared them as well!
…
Duke Turingto and Marquis Fu E led their troops in flight for over one hundred li, only stopping when they directly entered Baiyun City.
Only after entering the city did the routed soldiers feel a trace of security.
Within the prefect’s mansion!
Duke Turingto neither ate nor drank, looking up at the roof, turbid tears continuously sliding down.
How humiliating this defeat in the great battle!
There had clearly been two chances to win!
First, if he and Zhili had not guarded against each other, dispatching all Dragon Warrior experts and top powerhouses, Soren absolutely could not have withstood them. They could have effortlessly destroyed Soren’s cannon and trebuchet positions.
Second, when the army began showing signs of crumbling, if he and Zhili had stepped forward to lead the charge, they could not only have salvaged the situation, but even had a glimmer of hope for victory.
Yet the result…
A crushing defeat!
He wanted to curse Zhili, one incompetent general exhausts all armies to death! At the critical moment still harbouring ulterior motives, sleeping in the same bed with different dreams.
But he could not curse him, because he himself was even more disgraceful!
If not for last night when he, Turingto, secretly went to pledge allegiance to Zhiyan, Zhili would not have been so guarded against him.
Moreover, at the critical moment, Turingto himself had also retained his forces. During the great rout, he had not stepped forward to turn the tide.
Humiliating, what a humiliating defeat!
After Marquis Fu E escaped, he did not remain in Baiyun City, directly leading three thousand men back to Fire Worship City.
In this campaign against Soren, Fu E had dispatched ten thousand troops, losing seven thousand on the battlefield. Although somewhat painful, it did not damage his foundations. He wanted to return to his territory at the fastest speed to sort out the situation.
But Duke Turingto could not simply flee back to Zhidu. He still needed to gather routed soldiers. This was the capital of the Turing family. Without this capital, let alone wealth and honour, even his life could not be preserved.
Turing Chen walked in and bowed, saying, “Father, eighty thousand routed soldiers have been gathered!”
“Only eighty thousand?” Duke Turingto said tremblingly.
Casualties on the field were at most over one hundred thousand. Where were the remaining over two hundred thousand?
Turing Chen said, “Most fled, a small portion surrendered!”
“Why flee?” Duke Turingto said. “Even if fleeing, they should have followed my banner. There is strength in numbers, gathering together is the only way to survive!”
Turing Chen said, “They feared that following us in flight, and eventually gathering together, they would still have to attack Soren. They did not wish to die in vain any longer.”
“Attack Soren my arse, what do I have to attack Soren with?” Duke Turingto said.
His sole purpose in gathering routed soldiers as much as possible was to serve as capital for negotiations with Soren.
Turing Chen hesitated a moment, then said, “Father, if you wish to negotiate with Soren, you must do so quickly. Otherwise, once Count Chu Ye and Count Jian Ze learn of the central army’s great defeat, they will certainly surrender first! At that time, if Soren has them attack us, the situation will be dire!”
Turingto’s face twitched. This was indeed what he worried about most.
When a wall is about to collapse, everyone pushes. Zhili was finished!
Once they learned of the central army’s defeat, Chu Ye and Jian Ze would certainly surrender to Soren at the first opportunity.
He had to be fast, reaching an agreement with Soren before those two!
“Quickly, you must immediately go to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line to request an audience with Soren. Take your sister Turing Duo with you as well,” Duke Turingto said. “It is all this slut who made the conflict between us and Soren so irreparable! Deliver her as a gift to Soren, let him have his way with her to vent the hatred in his heart!”