The white silhouette who had appeared at the very last moment to protect Fu Baoguo was, of course, Bai Yixue.
Of course, it could only be Bai Yixue!
Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan had sensed the suffocating tension when he entered the Fortress of Resilience with his years of danger sense and had immediately asked Bai Yixue to assist Fu Baoguo to ensure his safety.
With Bai Yixue's current cultivation base, it was beyond his ability to turn the tide of the war, but it was not an easy feat to protect a person and retreat from the current war. That was why he had soared through the rain of arrows and entered the battle to save Fu Baoguo.
Bai Yixue's capabilities could probably be considered one of the top ten swordsmen in the world. Comparing him to Jun Moyan … well, it was still incomparable. The gap between him and Jun Moyan, cough, was still …
However, Bai Yixue, who was already at the sixth heaven realm, was already at the pinnacle of this world. Although he was not at the pinnacle or the pinnacle, he was already at the pinnacle; his standard was similar to the Five Venerable Lords!
After the war, Qiu Jianhan patrolled the entire Fortress of Resilience. Even with his old but determined personality, he could not hold back his tears.
The entire Fortress of Resilience could no longer be described as a scene of devastation. Perhaps, it was not enough to describe it.
The Fortress of Resilience had been completely destroyed; it was a scene of devastation and decay.
Countless injured soldiers were snoring by the side of the road, their faces filled with exhaustion that could not be concealed. The wounds on their bodies were still bleeding, but they were sleeping so soundly that one could not bear to wake them up and heal them.
There were also the veterans on the street. Although they said they were walking, they were dragging their legs. It was as if their legs weighed a thousand kilograms and couldn't be lifted at all. Their faces were filled with indescribable fatigue and numbness.
If they could sit down now, they would immediately snore and sleep for three days straight!
There were not many buildings in the fortress that could still maintain their shape.
In a siege, offensive weapons were used in every way possible; it was the same for defense. The best defense for the defending side was rolling logs and stones. Otherwise, when Fu Baoguo had sent the Steel Cavalry to battle, he would not have asked the Steel Cavalry, who were tasked with heavy responsibilities, to bring back a piece of stone and a piece of rolling log each time they resupply! In exchange for supplies and arrows. "
However, the Steel Cavalry's replenishment of the logs and stones needed to defend the fort was utterly inadequate. The biggest replenishment could only come from the Fortress of Resilience itself. The building materials, beams, pillars, foundation stones, and tiles were all used. After the fierce battle, there were not many intact houses left in the Fortress of Resilience.
"It's too tragic! It's too tragic! "
Qiu Jianhan heaved a long sigh towards the sky, channeling everything he saw and the grief and indignation in his chest into his sigh.
Fu Baoguo, who was already exhausted and thin, did not go to rest immediately. Instead, he was supported to the marshal's hall, his legs trembling and his face pale, without the slightest hint of blood.
Fu Baoguo continued to recuperate and rest. It would be best if he could sleep for three days and three nights consecutively, but he persisted. He had to at least finish explaining the current situation to Old Marshal Qiu before he could rest!
Seeing Fu Baoguo's pathetic state, Qiu Jianhan hurriedly stewed a five-hundred-year-old ginseng that he had brought for Fu Baoguo without another word. Only then did the injured and exhausted Fu Baoguo look slightly better.
"How's the current situation? Finish quickly and go rest! "Qiu Jianhan asked.
Fu Baoguo's expression was ghastly. He knew that Old Marshal Qiu would ask this question and was mentally prepared for it. However, the moment the question was asked, the piercing pain in his heart struck him once more.
His voice was hoarse as he closed his eyes.
"When this lowly official first came to the Fortress of Resilience, I brought a hundred thousand soldiers, a thousand janissaries, and three hundred thousand soldiers who were originally guarding the Fortress of Resilience. That's a total of four hundred and fifteen thousand three hundred and three brothers."
"The logistics personnel that followed were a hundred and eight thousand six hundred people."
"After that, we received reinforcements one after another, including martial artists and even citizens who came spontaneously. For the past two months, there have been more than sixty thousand brave men who came from all walks of life. These people include local armed forces, people from sects, martial artists, veterans, and young citizens … a total of sixty-three thousand one hundred and forty-eight people. "
"A hundred and fifty thousand brothers from the western line have come to our aid … Our total number of soldiers is seven hundred and twenty-three thousand two hundred and fifty-one people!"
"Up until now …" Fu Baoguo was sobbing in agony.
"A hundred and fifty thousand Steel Cavalrymen, there are only ninety-three thousand of them left. The thirty thousand fist troops have not been mobilized. The remaining defensive forces … including all the military branches … are only left with one hundred and seventy-nine thousand four hundred and nine people! Among them, there are also injured and disabled patients! "
Once Fu Baoguo said this, Qiu Jianhan and all the reinforcements present paled.
"Four hundred and twenty thousand people?" Qiu Jianhan's voice was hoarse.
"No! It's four hundred and twenty thousand … eight hundred and forty-two people! "Fu Baoguo's expression was blank, but tears were falling from the corners of his eyes.
The entire hall suddenly fell silent, so silent that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.
At this moment, almost everyone felt as if their hearts were clenched tightly, as if they could not breathe.
"This number … is still increasing," Fu Baoguo said.
Fu Baoguo said, "The medicine we've stored has long been used up. Now, every day, every hour, every breath … there are many gravely injured soldiers dying … Some of them are gravely injured, some are incurable, dying from blood loss, and some are barely hanging on. Now that the threat of the Fortress of Resilience has been lifted, they can't hold on any longer once they let out a sigh of relief …"
Qiu Jianhan stood up, his expression grim as he said, "I've long been prepared for this. We've brought enough medicine for this trip, a total of one thousand and two hundred carriages, as well as three thousand and two hundred healers. We've begun to act now. We'll do our best to save the eastern troops' wounded! "
"Shangguan Lingxiu!"
Qiu Jianhan ordered.
"This lowly general is here!" Shangguan Lingxiu stepped forward with tears in her eyes.
"Raise the flag of the Shangguan Family of Generals! Let our brave brothers see that the Family of Generals still exists, at the eastern line today! "Qiu Jianhan said solemnly.
"Yes!"
Qiu Jianhan turned to look at Sun Zihu and said faintly, "Sun Zihu, if you can make it back alive after this battle, tell Marshal Wang Yunzhu! The soldiers under his command must be obtained! They didn't embarrass your father! The reputation of the western troop's elite is well-deserved. Their desire to protect the nation and the people is not inferior to anyone! "
It was a very plain compliment, but it made Sun Zihu's tears flow like a broken dam. His voice was choked as he said, "Thank you, Old Marshal! This lowly general will report this to the marshal without missing a single word! "
"Mm." Qiu Jianhan hummed and thought for a long time before he said slowly, "Since I've said it, I might as well say one more thing. Tell Marshal Wang that after this battle, whether this old man is dead or alive, ask him to go to the Qiu Residence to kowtow when he returns to the capital. You, Sun Zihu, come along as well."
"Yes!"
Sun Zihu was almost roaring as he knelt on the ground and kowtowed twice. "Sun Zihu kowtows to the old man on behalf of the marshal! You'll definitely receive the marshal's kowtow in the capital one day! "
Qiu Jianhan smiled and nodded.
This rumored 'Sun Zihu' was a smart man, able to understand the meaning behind his words. Very well!
When others called Sun Zihu 'Sun Zihu', Sun Zihu would be displeased, including Marshal Wang Yunzhu who had been calling him that for almost a decade. However, there was only one person in this world who called Sun Zihu 'Sun Zihu'. Sun Zihu would feel honored and overjoyed!
This person was Qiu Jianhan, Old Marshal Qiu!
It was not that Sun Zihu was especially willing to be Marshal Qiu's' grandson ', but there was another layer of history. Almost everyone in Yutang's higher echelons knew that the western troop's marshal, Wang Yunzhu, was actually Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan's favorite pupil.
More than a decade ago, when Wang Yunzhu was still a deputy general in the military, he had disobeyed the military order and did not return on time. Later on, it was discovered that this fellow had secretly gotten married during that period of time and his bride had even been snatched away!
Disobeying orders and marrying in the midst of a battle were both major crimes in the military. Wang Yunzhu had committed two major crimes at the same time. As his teacher, Qiu Jianhan was enraged and punished him with a hundred strokes and sent him to the western border to start as a laborer. He had even chased him out of the school and ordered him to never call himself Marshal Qiu's pupil ever again!
Under normal circumstances, there was a ninety-nine percent chance that Wang Yunzhu would never be able to make a name for himself in this lifetime. What mattered the most at that time was one's family background. A person who had been chased out of the school and whose teacher was an abandoned disciple of the highest echelon of the military would never be able to make a name for himself again!
Therefore, no one had expected that Wang Yunzhu, who had fought every battle on the western border without a care for his own life, would actually rise to the position of the western troop's marshal in just a dozen years.
Qiu Jianhan had learned the truth of the incident later on. It was that Wang Yunzhu's fiancée had been fancied by a rich popinjay who wanted to force her to be his concubine. Qiu Jianhan's father-in-law, who was greedy for riches, had gone back on his word and agreed to the man's marriage proposal.
How could Wang Yunzhu tolerate such a situation? In a fit of rage, he had charged into his father-in-law's house with his men, snatched his wife, and ran away. They had even held a banquet that very night to marry each other and enter the bridal chamber.
Although there was a reason for the incident and both parties were indeed in love with each other, the truth was that he had still taken a woman by force. His father-in-law had reported the matter to the authorities.
After learning the truth, Qiu Jianhan had annihilated the popinjay's entire family in a fit of rage. However, he had never allowed Wang Yunzhu to return.
What was done could not be taken back easily. His master at that time could not be wrong; even if he was wrong, he was right!
Whenever Wang Yunzhu returned to the capital to report on his duties, he would kneel in front of Qiu Jianhan's residence. However, Qiu Jianhan had never opened the door.
This matter could be said to be Wang Yunzhu's greatest regret!
Since then, Wang Yunzhu had fought fearlessly and loved his soldiers like they were his children. However, he had been cursing incessantly, calling his mother and father all the time. He had also learned from his teacher, Qiu Jianhan. It could be said that the current Wang Yunzhu was almost a complete copy of the younger Qiu Jianhan!
As he was promoted year after year, Wang Yunzhu would always discuss with his trusted subordinates before he returned to the capital, "Help your father think, how can your father marry into the old master's house?"
However, no matter how Wang Yunzhu had tried and calculated, he had never been able to fulfill his wish. This had also caused Wang Yunzhu to have an inferiority complex.
An abandoned disciple!
The generals of the western border knew their marshal's sore spot.
As the most trusted subordinate, Sun Zihu naturally knew the source of his marshal's pain better than anyone else.
Even when he met Old Marshal Qiu personally, Sun Zihu did not expect the old man to allow his marshal's return. He had just met Old Marshal Qiu and before he could say anything, he had not expected the old man to allow his marshal to return.
His emotions were turbulent at this moment; he wanted to burst into tears to vent the frustration in his chest.
Qiu Jianhan sighed.
Just because of such a small matter, he was too ashamed to sheath his sword. No matter what, he refused to take back his order. He had been wasting his time until now. He had suffered for himself, that child Yun Zhu, and all the people around him. It was all his fault …
Sun Zihu could no longer hold himself back. He excused himself and went out to write a letter. The eagle sent the letter, sending the important news immediately.
He could imagine how the marshal would feel when he read the letter.
What if he were to die in this war? It was fine if he were to die, but such explosive news had to be sent back to the western border as soon as possible. This was the benefit that the marshal had earned from the western troop's outstanding performance this time!
"That fellow must be crying." Sun Zihu chuckled as he recalled the emotional words he had written, glancing to his left and right guiltily.
"I wonder what the marshal will look like when he cries? How ugly will he look? Just thinking about it makes me happy. I've been counting on this to live my entire life. No, how can I die? So be it. I must survive this war. Only then can I hope to see the marshal's pathetic state with my own eyes. Marshal Qiu said just now that this' grandson 'of his is to follow the marshal to visit him. I'm qualified to see the marshal's pathetic state with my own eyes, a witness of this moment. I must live on … "Sun Zihu made his wish inwardly after daydreaming for a long time.
It was said that a woman's mind was not to be guessed, nor was a man's. Who would have thought that Sun Zihu, who looked tall and strong, would have such a meticulous mind?
…
The flag of the Shangguan Family of Generals rose slowly.
This was the first time in many years that the flag of the family of generals had been raised again.
All the veterans who were still awake stood up in unison when they saw the flag. No matter how weak they were, they held on, mustering the last bit of energy they had left to stand up.
On the flag that was embroidered with the crimson Flying Dragon Cavalry, there was a long spear that was about to pierce through the heavens. It had long attracted everyone's attention.
The veterans' expressions turned serious at once. They adjusted their postures to maintain the most standard stance before raising their hands to salute solemnly.
In his eyes, he couldn't help but tear up!
"The flag of the Shangguan Family of Generals has finally appeared on Yutang's battlefield again!"
…
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