frightfiction Chapter 237
Chapter 237
Chapter 237
On a plain only eighty miles from Luzhou, the setting sun was like blood.
The remaining 70,000 to 80,000 Northern Yi troops retreated here and have just settled down.
The acting marshal, General Lü Liang of Huaihua, was defeated and killed the day before yesterday. Therefore, the Northern Yi army is currently without a supreme commander, and in addition, it has just experienced a crushing defeat, making it somewhat chaotic.
These soldiers were all former members of the Shen family army, and after Shen Wei disappeared, Lü Liang took over their command.
They were all covered in soot and dirt, so they settled down on the spot and lit a campfire.
There was still a shallow layer of water in the riverbed next to them, which was almost dry. The soldiers led their horses to the river to drink and fill their containers, but almost no one took out any food.
Every face on everyone's body was exhausted, pale, and emaciated.
They had been on the front lines for months, but their military rations were still not arriving. They had gone without a single grain of rice for many days, and they had eaten all the grass roots and tree bark on the front lines.
There were also many wounded soldiers, some shot, some shot with arrows, some missing limbs... their bodies were covered in blood and dust, almost unrecognizable as human.
Some people have struggled all the way here, but once they collapse, they can never get up again.
At that moment, a group of people appeared on the southern horizon.
A sharp-eyed soldier noticed that the enemy's flag bore the words "Bei Yi".
"Is that... General Chu?"
The leading rider approached, and it was indeed Chu Tianming in full military uniform.
Chu Tianming stepped forward, holding an imperial edict in his hand, and said loudly, "General Lü Liang of Huaihua has been killed in battle. An army cannot be without a general for a day. I have been ordered by His Majesty to temporarily assume the position of Marshal of the Northern Yi Army. From now on, you are all my brothers and will be under my command."
The members of Shen Jiajun looked at each other in bewilderment.
They had heard that the Northern Yi army had been suffering repeated defeats recently, while only Chu Tianming had won several battles in a row, greatly enhancing his reputation.
There are no other outstanding generals in the Northern Yi Army now, so it is not surprising that the Emperor sent him to temporarily serve as the Marshal of the Northern Yi Army.
Seeing that the imperial edict in Chu Tianming's hand was indeed genuine, all the soldiers bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Marshal Chu!"
Looking at the vast, dark army before him, now all under his command, Chu Tianming felt a surge of pride and satisfaction, his face beaming with joy.
These soldiers were formerly part of the Shen family army, elite troops trained by Shen Wei and Shen Jingyang. Now, they all belong to him!
Chu Tianming shouted, "Pass down the order! Everyone, set off immediately and follow me to Tenghu Mountain!"
"...Tenghu Mountain?"
All the soldiers were taken aback.
Tenghu Mountain is more than 300 li away from Luzhou, and as far as everyone knows, the battle situation there is not tense. Right now, the Western Qi army is advancing step by step towards Luzhou; shouldn't we first defend Luzhou?
One of the generals asked in bewilderment, "May I ask Marshal Chu, why are we heading to Tenghu Mountain now? If we leave now, Luzhou City will fall into the hands of the Western Qi army within two days!"
Chu Tianming's expression hardened: "A soldier's duty is to obey orders. Why are you asking so many questions? I have my own arrangements. Do you intend to disobey orders?"
The deal he made with Western Qi was to cede three of the twelve cities in the northwest to Western Qi. If this army was not transferred elsewhere, how could Western Qi conquer Luzhou?
The general was reprimanded harshly and dared not say anything more, and no one else dared to raise any further questions.
Chu Tianming shouted, "Still not setting off! Any further delays will be punished according to military law!"
Just then, an even more powerful voice rang out:
"Wait!"
This incredibly familiar voice sent a jolt through the entire Shen family army, their expressions changed drastically, and they abruptly turned to look in the direction from which the voice came!