The battle quickly came to an end.
Ouzan's forces did not launch a new wave of attacks, and the Annam Protectorate did not pursue. With the base of the mountain as the boundary, a seemingly invisible ravine had formed, completely separating the Annam Protectorate from the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army.
Both sides minded their own business.
But once one side crossed the boundary, a new round of battle was about to begin.
"How is it? Have you counted our losses?"
On the summit, Luoji, Lin Wushou, and the other Annam Protectorate generals had gathered together to take stock of their losses.
"From the start of the battle until now, we've lost a total of 8764 men!"
Lin Wushou glanced at the book that the bookkeeper officer had sent over, then raised his head and said to the people around him,
"In other words, we only have 91,000 men left."
With these words, even the air seemed to grow heavier. From Lion City until now, almost everyone had been keeping track of the number of soldiers they had to face every day. In the first battle, they would almost always count the number of soldiers.
The Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army had far too many soldiers. Standing on the summit, one would find themselves surrounded by an endless sea of people. This sort of pressure was actually quite formidable.
If the Annam Protectorate wanted to survive, it had to do its utmost to treasure every soldier it had.
This was only the first clash, but they had already lost nearly one-tenth of their soldiers. This was a very heavy piece of news for them.
"How many enemy casualties?"
A one-armed general asked. Although he only had one arm, this general was extremely muscular and valiant. The aura he exuded was even stronger than that of Luoji and Lin Wushou.
And the most special thing about him was that he was holding an extremely heavy broadsword in his hand. This broadsword was more than half a foot wide and six feet long, and its blade was extremely thick and heavy. It was obvious at a glance that it had been specially made.
This person was called Chen Guanshun, one of the high-ranking generals of the Annam Protectorate. His nickname was the 'Mountain and River Blade', and in terms of status, he was above Luoji. In terms of strength, he was definitely ranked in the top five of the Annam Protectorate's generals.
"Let me take a look!"
Lin Wushou flipped to the next page.
"This … the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army should have lost more than eighty thousand soldiers, close to ninety thousand! According to the scribe officer, this is only a conservative estimate. "
"Ah!"
Everyone's eyes lit up as they raised their heads.
"General Lin, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
One of the generals said excitedly.
They only knew that the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang side had probably lost many people in the previous battle, but no one knew exactly how many. But now that the result was out, it had to be said that this result was far beyond everyone's expectations.
"There's no mistaking it! You should know the military regulations of the Annam Protectorate. It's impossible to make such a mistake! "
Lin Wu Shou said in an unquestionable tone.
The scribe officer was responsible for recording military merits and losses. This was a major event in the army, and if there was a mistake, he or she would be beheaded.
"A casualty ratio of ten to one, this is simply inconceivable. Even when Protector Zhangchou was around, there wasn't such a record. That young master, that young master … "
The Annam Protectorate general was so excited that he couldn't speak.
It wasn't that there were no military strategists in the southwest. Whether it was Zhangchou Jianqiong or Xianyu Zhongtong, both of them were decent strategists. But compared to Wang Chong, they were on a completely different level.
"I suddenly understand why Lord Zhangchou would pass his token to this young duke."
Lin Wushou sighed.
"Does that young master know of this matter?"
Chen Guanshun turned his head and looked toward the summit. Against the backdrop of the mountain, Wang Chong's figure seemed insignificant. Even though this was not their first time seeing him, they still had a completely different feeling.
"The scribe officer should have already sent the news to that young master."
Luoji also spoke, his voice brimming with respect.
Everyone's lives were in Wang Chong's hands. In the southwest, it was impossible to find a more skilled strategist or strategist than Wang Chong. No! It wasn't just the southwest. At this moment, everyone felt that the young master's mastery of the art of war was probably the highest in the Central Plains.
"Let's go! Let's go see the young master as well. Also, let's spread the news of the casualties. I'd like to see who else in the army dares to oppose the young master. If anyone still dares to be ignorant of the current situation, then don't blame us for being impolite! "
Lin Wushou said.
"Mm."
Chen Guanshun nodded. There were actually quite a few people in the army who were opposed to Wang Chong taking over the Annam Protectorate. Otherwise, Wang Chong would have been able to order around far more generals.
However, these people didn't say it out loud. Thus, Wang Chong couldn't do anything about it.
But in private, as a fellow member of the Annam Protectorate, Chen Guanshun knew. Regardless of what had happened in the past, from this moment onwards, no one would be allowed to oppose Wang Chong's orders.
This was the consensus of everyone.
Turning around, the group quickly headed up the mountain.
… …
"Young Master, Ouzan's and Mengshe Zhao's forces should only have around four hundred thousand soldiers left."
On the summit, Chen Shusun was flipping through the book in his hand as he spoke.
"Mm, but we only have around ninety thousand soldiers left."
Wang Chong nodded, his eyes still looking down the mountain. The advantage of standing on the summit was that one could see all the movements of the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army. The last battle had already ended, but both Wang Chong and the generals of the Tang Dynasty were keenly aware that this was far from over.
Huoshu Huizang would not easily concede, nor would Dalun Ruozan. Even Gelofeng and Duan Gequan, these top-class figures of the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army, had yet to truly take action.
His father and Protector-General Zhangchou Jianqiong were still standing on the summit.
The top-class forces had not yet been mobilized, so this battle was far from reaching the point where the map had been drawn and the dagger revealed.
"The battle will only get even more intense from now on!"
Chen Shusun suddenly said as he looked down the mountain.
"Mm, that's for sure."
Wang Chong nodded.
In the beginning, Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao had only been probing each other. The weakest soldiers would always be the first to be sent out. Thus, neither the White Stone Legion nor the soldiers led by Jiao Serro were the strongest forces on either side.
As the battle progressed, it would only get crueler and more intense.
"Young Master Chong, are you still not willing to come out and meet us?"
Suddenly, a loud voice came from the base of the mountain like a peal of thunder. The entire mountain fell silent. Wang Chong, Chen Shusun, and the Eagle all stopped and looked down the mountain.
"Young Master, it's Dalun Ruozan."
The Eagle looked at Wang Chong said. The moment the battle was over, he had returned to Wang Chong's side.
"Should we respond to him?"
Chen Shusun gazed at Wang Chong.
"Dalun Ruozan is known as a wise minister, as intelligent as a fox. For him to invite Young Master at a time like this, he probably doesn't have good intentions."
"It's fine."
Wang Chong waved his hand and faintly smiled.
"At a time like this, what tricks can he play? Besides, even if he wants to play some tricks … I have to be willing. "
As he spoke, Wang Chong's expression exuded extreme confidence.
He knew that the one standing across from him was Ouzan's' wise minister ', but the' wise minister 'might not know that the one standing across from him was the War Saint. No matter what sort of reputation Dalun Ruozan had in the southwest or what sort of accomplishments he had, Wang Chong had nothing to fear.
"Wang Chong is here. Where is the Prime Minister?"
Wang Chong raised his robe and took two steps forward.
"Hualala!"
At almost the same time, at the base of the mountain, the densely packed Ouzan army parted. Dalun Ruozan, dressed in a robe and waving his feather fan, calmly walked out.
"Is Wang Chong, Young Master Wang, the descendant of the Tang Dynasty's Duke Jiu?"
Dalun Ruozan raised his head to the summit, his eyes fixed on Wang Chong.
On the summit, Xianyu Zhongtong and Wang Yan trembled. The two glanced at each other and saw the same shock in each other's eyes. It was already impressive that Dalun Ruozan could guess Wang Chong's name, but for him to guess that he was Duke Jiu's descendant, he had clearly thoroughly understood Wang Chong's identity and background.
"Correct!"
In front of the three armies, Wang Chong had no intention of hiding anything.
"Does the Prime Minister intend to ask for a truce at this time?"
"Hahaha, Young Master Wang really knows how to joke. Look around. Could it be that our Ouzan and Mengshe Zhao are the ones being surrounded?"
Dalun Ruozan spread his arms and laughed.
"Haha, since the Prime Minister thinks that victory is already in his grasp, why waste your breath? Just attack."
Wang Chong laughed.
"Hah, Young Master is full of vigor and vigor. Dalun Ruozan admires you. However, I wonder if the Tang Dynasty soldiers are like you, fearless and unafraid of death? I only have a heart that cherishes talent. Young Master's talent is rare and your attainments in the art of war are even higher. It would be a pity if you were to die in the southwest. If Young Master can lead the Annam Protectorate's soldiers to surrender, I am willing to let Young Master, your father, and Protector-General Xianyu live. "
Dalun Ruozan looked at the summit and said sincerely.
"Prime Minister, that's a good plan. Then, what about the soldiers of the Annam Protectorate?"
Wang Chong sneered.
"Don't worry, Young Master. Dalun Ruozan will naturally let them live. However, they are soldiers after all. Nurturing a tiger will only bring harm to the tiger. If they return to the Central Plains and rejoin the army, wouldn't that be releasing the tiger back into the mountains and making them our enemy again? So, if we can come to an agreement, as long as they are willing to lay down their weapons, I am willing to exile them to Ouzan or Mengshe Zhao and let them live out their remaining years in peace. — — This is also a compromise. "
Dalun Ruozan said with a 'sincere' expression.
"Hahaha, Prime Minister, I have a better plan. Would Prime Minister like to hear it?"
Wang Chong couldn't help but laugh.
"I would like to hear the details."
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