Chapter 276 - 76: Old Acquaintance (2)

Chapter 276: Chapter 76: Old Acquaintance (2)

The Xin Bing, of course, couldn’t have known any of this. After a battle, especially a frontal assault, it was only natural for everyone to have some injuries.

He said, "By the time the Lady arrived with her troops, Captain Xie and the Chi Na Army were already in a fierce fight. The Lady led her men to encircle them, completely cutting off the Chi Na Tribe’s escape route."

The General beside him patted Zhong Changrong’s shoulder. "You can rest easy. The young lady isn’t a child anymore."

She had become the Empress, bid farewell to her father, and even taken on his unfinished military duties.

Zhong Changrong was indeed relieved, but then he cursed Mu Mianhong harshly. "That villain has all the luck, forcing the young lady to owe her a favor."

...

...

The battlefield, its slaughter concluded under the cloak of night, was still a cacophony of noise.

Flames crackled, bodies were piled like mountains, and the wounded cried out in agony.

One batch of the wounded had already been carried away.

When Liang Qiang approached, he saw Chu Zhao listening to a General report on casualties. There were men and women around Chu Zhao, and the moment he spared them a second glance, they stared at him like tigers eyeing their prey.

Liang Qiang averted his gaze and turned to leave, but Chu Zhao had already seen him and called out, "Mr. Liang."

"Your wounds are severe. Why haven’t you left yet?" Chu Zhao asked, about to question the General about it.

"I chose not to leave," Liang Qiang said, then added, "I’ll go now."

...

...

Not far away, Mu Mianhong asked Xiao Man, "Who is that?"

Xiao Man was busy fiddling with her longsword, which had broken in the fight, much to her annoyance. Hearing the question, she looked up. "Have you forgotten? He’s that soldier who was almost killed by his own men."

When they had approached the area, a scout reported that the situation was strange. So, Chu Zhao and the others had dismounted and snuck closer, only to see a few dozen soldiers from the left-wing vanguard facing several hundred Western Liang Soldiers.

It looked like they were surrounded, but no battle was taking place. Those vanguard soldiers were actually talking, and even seemed to be laughing. Then, two of them swung their blades at one of their own—

The moment she saw this, Chu Zhao ordered them to fire.

The rescued soldier saw the reinforcements and shouted, "They’ve defected to the enemy!"

Chu Zhao ordered everyone to charge. Xiao Man and Mu Mianhong joined the fray and paid no more attention to what happened after that.

"He actually followed us into the fight. Not bad," Xiao Man remarked.

Mu Mianhong, of course, knew which soldier she meant, but that wasn’t what she was asking. She whispered, "Ah Zhao seems to know him."

Xiao Man glanced over again. "I don’t recognize him. Never seen him before." She pouted. "She sure knows a lot of people."

Mu Mianhong pursed her lips in a smile and looked over again at the young man standing before Chu Zhao.

It was clear they weren’t just acquaintances; there was history between them. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be lingering, wanting to leave yet staying put.

Chu Zhao didn’t press Liang Qiang about when he was leaving. Such personal matters were for him to decide.

"Since you’re still here, there’s something I need to confirm with you," she said. "Mr. Liang—"

Liang Qiang interrupted her. "I’ve shed that title."

Chu Zhao smiled. "General Liang."

She had just asked about Liang Qiang and learned that he and his father had earned official military ranks through combat.

Liang Qiang lowered his eyes. "Your orders, Lady."

Chu Zhao said, "What happened after your Vanguard Army was ambushed? Was there infighting?"

Liang Qiang was silent for a moment.

"Our force of five hundred fought hard to break out, but in the end, fewer than a hundred of us remained," he said. "The Western Liang Soldiers pursued us relentlessly and—tried to persuade us to surrender."

Chu Zhao said, "You refused, so they raised their blades against you?"

Liang Qiang fell silent again, then knelt on one knee. "Lady, they are all good men. They were truly at their wits’ end. I believe that even if they defected, it was only a stalling tactic. I beg you, Lady, grant them a dignified end."

That confirmed it. The General nearby frowned. "How can we do that? Defecting to the enemy is worse than deserting in fear of battle. Even in death, their crimes must be judged and their sentences announced publicly to serve as a warning to others."

Chu Zhao looked at the kneeling Liang Qiang, then at the General. "Since the men are already dead, and we have achieved a great victory, let’s report the good news, not the bad. Announcing their crime of treason would only shake the army’s morale."

The General agreed with a "Yes," but insisted, "But they cannot receive the compensation given to those killed in action, nor can they be interred in the monument tombs with the other fallen soldiers."

Chu Zhao nodded. "Agreed."

Only then did the General accept the order and depart.

"Rise, General Liang," Chu Zhao said, looking at Liang Qiang, who was still kneeling.

Liang Qiang thanked her and stood up. His gaze remained lowered, but he could feel the girl’s eyes examining his arm.

Very serious, very focused, very—concerned.

Liang Qiang’s hand, hanging by his side, clenched into a fist. He heard the girl’s soft voice say, "You should go back quickly. Find the best physician and make sure your wound is treated with care. Don’t let it cause any permanent damage."

Liang Qiang couldn’t help but look up. "I can still wield a sword and kill enemies, even with just one hand."

’That’s true,’ Chu Zhao sighed softly to herself. ’In her past life, the one-armed General Liang Qiang’s fame had spread throughout the Great Xia. After Uncle Zhong’s death, Liang Qiang and his father took control of the Border Army, securing half the empire for Xiao Xun. This allowed the Liang Family to return to the imperial court, and a daughter of the Liang Family to replace her as Empress.’