The cruelest thing in the world was to find hope in a desperate situation, only for someone to ruthlessly snuff it out the very next second. Nothing described Tudege's feelings better.
Liu Guan had taken his place and led the charge, rallying the army with the resolve to burn their boats and fight to the death. The ploy had worked! Tudege had also disguised himself and slipped into the chaotic ranks under the escort of his remaining personal guards. The army was preparing to break through the encirclement from there.
As long as he could escape and shake off the Kang army's pursuit, he would still have a chance to gather the remnants of his forces and make another attempt.
The Northern Desert's elite had suffered heavy losses, but they were nowhere near wiped out. They had not even been dealt a crippling blow. He still had a chance!
Even if things truly came to the worst, Tudege would accept it!
Hadn't the tribes of the Northern Desert been suppressed by the Northwest Continent's states for hundreds of years? Even if they suffered a crushing defeat in this battle, the Northern Desert would at worst go dormant again, make peace with Kang, pay tribute, submit, and send hostages. Shen Tang could have her pick of handsome men and beautiful women!
Humiliating as it was, these were procedures the Northern Desert knew all too well.
As long as the Northern Desert groveled quickly enough, admitted defeat decisively enough, and lowered its posture enough, the matter would more or less be behind them.
There was no need to worry that Shen would refuse to let up and wipe them out completely. The Northern Desert wasn't her only enemy. For Shen Tang, it would be advantageous to cut her losses, end the multi-front