Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

A somber atmosphere permeated the Wu Zhao army camp.

Fu Lin'an's defeat and return with a casualty rate of over 30% directly caused the morale of the entire army to plummet.

These elite soldiers, who had diligently practiced martial arts since childhood and spent their days on horseback, could not accept that such a short, probing attack had caused such heavy casualties.

They are not local garrisons, but the most elite troops of the Wu Zhao Kingdom.

The wounded soldiers who had miraculously survived wailed in agony within the medical camp, constantly agitating the officers and soldiers of the military camps and outlying vassal states who had not yet gone to the battlefield.

Most of the wounded soldiers brought back from the battlefield had lost too much blood, and the accompanying doctors lacked experience in treating gunshot wounds.

In the end, we could only watch helplessly as they breathed their last.

Inside the main camp, Fu Lin'an sat dejectedly in the main seat, his face no longer showing the arrogance he had displayed before the expedition.

Instead, there was an unprecedented fear.

Now, images of attacking the hill kept flashing through Fu Lin'an's mind.

Those brave and elite soldiers, amidst a series of "putt-putt" sounds, fell in droves like wheat in autumn harvest, lying dead on the road ahead.

He witnessed several soldiers whose intestines had been ripped out, their deaths incredibly gruesome.

"No~"

Thinking of this, Fu Lin'an let out a suppressed roar while clutching his head, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Zhang Gui, sitting at the head of the table, remained unusually calm, as if she had already anticipated this situation.

Seeing Fu Lin'an's dejected appearance, he couldn't help but speak up: "Alright, the battle has come to this."

Even if you shout until your voice is hoarse, it won't change anything. You should think carefully about what to do next.

Fu Lin'an raised his head, tears streaming down his face: "I have failed His Majesty's trust. The war has turned out like this, I have no face to see him. I might as well be dead!"

After saying this, he stood up, drew his sword, and intended to commit suicide.

"enough!"

Zhang Gui slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily.

"If you're always threatening to kill yourself, then die somewhere far away, so your filthy blood doesn't defile this command tent!"

"Ugh!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Lin'an sighed helplessly and then dropped the long sword in his hand.

Zhang Gui asked expressionlessly, "First, tell me how many people were injured or killed this time. Have you tallied it up yet?"

Fu Lin'an nodded: "The statistics are in. 725 warhorses were lost, and 863 soldiers were killed in battle."

Another 203 people who are still breathing are being treated, but judging from their condition, even if they are saved, they will likely be crippled…

Even though she was mentally prepared, Zhang Gui's cheeks still twitched a few times.

From the start to the end of the battle, in just fifteen minutes, the casualty rate exceeded 10% of the entire army, indicating that this battle will be difficult to win.

But he quickly composed himself and said calmly, "Register all the wounded and injured soldiers and hand them over to the Emperor for disposal."

Fu Lin'an nodded, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Given the immense casualties, and the fact that it occurred in Jiankang, the central area of ​​Southern Zhili, he couldn't possibly conceal it even if he wanted to.

"By the way, have the bodies of the fallen soldiers been brought back?"

"No, the situation was too chaotic at the time, and to avoid any further complications, we had no choice but to withdraw our troops first."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui gave a bitter smile: "Since the time of the founding emperor, our eight military units have had a rule that if a colleague dies in battle, the person who brings back the body can inherit half of that colleague's family property."

In this way, the fallen soldiers would not be left to rot in the wilderness as food for wild animals, and the surviving soldiers would receive the benefits they deserved.

It is precisely because of this incentive system within the military that our officers and soldiers in the military camp are motivated when going into battle.

They maintained high morale throughout, repeatedly defeated Mingzhao, and ultimately became the new masters of this land.

But now, things have gotten so bad that my elite troops have been so badly defeated that they've even abandoned this tradition.

That's absolutely ridiculous!

Fu Lin'an suddenly stood up: "I will immediately mobilize troops again and retrieve the remains of those warriors!"

Zhang Gui glared coldly: "Do you think my elite battalion hasn't suffered enough casualties yet, and you want to keep giving the Chu army military merits?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?! Are we just going to stand by and watch these barbarians trample the corpses of my warriors?"

Zhang Gui stood up and walked directly to the tent entrance, his back to Fu Chang'an, and said, "I will talk to the Chu army commander and ask him to allow us to collect the remains of the warriors. Also, the barbarians? Heh..."

He let out a few contemptuous laughs, then turned to Fu Chang'an and said, "Have you forgotten that before my Di tribe entered the pass, we were also called barbarians by the Mingzhao people?"

Only a few hundred years have passed, have you forgotten your own origins? If Chu is barbarians, then what are we?

After saying this, he left the military camp without paying any attention to the dumbfounded Fu Lin'an.

……

Chu army field camp.

"Commander, the envoy from Wuzhao wishes to see you."

"Bring him in."

Shen Lang hadn't expected that the enemy would send someone to talk to him so quickly.

That's perfect, he also wanted to see what the envoy's attitude was.

Shortly after, Zhang Gui entered the camp.

Upon seeing Shen Lang, he couldn't help but frown, assuming that he was some low-ranking officer in the Chu army, since he was far too young, appearing to be under thirty based on his appearance alone.

While Zhang Gui was still observing Shen Lang, Shen Lang spoke directly: "Envoy of Wu Zhao, there's no need for formalities. Sit down and let's talk. Someone, prepare some tea."

Zhang Gui then realized what was happening and bowed to Shen Lang, saying, "May I ask who you are, sir...?"

Shen Lang looked up at him, then gestured to Zhang Gui to invite him: "I am the deputy commander of the Chu Kingdom's ocean fleet, Shen Lang. You can talk to me directly about anything you need to do."

"You are the Emperor of Great Chu, Shen Lang?"

Zhang Gui's eyes widened immediately, and she couldn't help but glance at him.

"Indeed, he has a distinguished appearance; a hero emerges from among the young."

"My name is Zhang Gui, and I am a hereditary first-class duke personally conferred by His Majesty. I pay my respects."

Shen Lang immediately became interested: "You know me?"

"I have heard a little about it. I have heard about the deeds of the Great Chu Emperor from the Qiang tribes outside the capital."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

Unexpectedly, his deeds were spread across the ocean to the Kingdom of Wuzhao.

Zhang Gui sat down next to Shen Lang, picked up the tea that had just been served, and slid the lid of the teapot down.

"Your Majesty, I am a rough man who only knows how to lead troops into battle. I don't understand many intricacies. I have come to you this time to ask if you could allow us to take back the remains of our fallen soldiers?"

After speaking, Zhang Gui carefully observed the expression on Shen Lang's face.

I thought Shen Lang would impose many harsh conditions, but unexpectedly...

"It is only natural for people to do this. I have already ordered that your country's fallen soldiers be collected and buried. You may take them with you at any time."

Zhang Gui was taken aback, and asked uncertainly, "Your Majesty, does this mean you've agreed?"

Shen Lang: "What reason do I have not to agree?"

"No conditions?"

"Our Chu state has no custom of using the dead as bargaining chips. Since they have already died in battle, any grudges they may have harbored are now forgotten. You may take them away at any time."

As for whether to fight or make peace afterward, that's a matter for later planning, and Lord Zhang doesn't need to worry about it too much.

Shen Lang's calm and confident attitude immediately made Zhang Gui feel a sense of inadequacy.

The phrase "I never use conditions imposed on the dead" in particular made him feel a strange sense of inferiority.

This is the attitude and confidence that only a truly civilized and courteous nation possesses.