Post-Battle Gains (Part 2)

"My lord! The battle results have been tallied. We killed a total of 514 enemy soldiers and wiped them out completely. We acquired 432 usable warhorses, roughly 600 weapons of various kinds, 93 crippled or dead horses, around seventy shi of grain, 124 portions of cured meat, four carts of assorted military supplies, and half a cart of ancient paintings, antiques, gold ornaments, and so on..."

Before long, the battlefield had been cleared. Jiang Sheng hurried over to report, then handed Jian Shang a bulging sheepskin pouch.

"Clink, clink, clink..."

Jian Shang picked up the sheepskin pouch and gave it several shakes. The crisp, sonorous sound of metal striking metal rang out. It clearly contained Diamond Coins, gold coins, and other currency—perhaps even gems. As for those ancient paintings and gold ornaments, was Jian Shang supposed to carry them himself?

Looks like I was lucky. This commander really knows how to conduct himself!

Looking at the meticulous and capable Jiang Sheng, Jian Shang was extremely pleased.

By the rules, once the post-battle tally had been completed, all the details naturally had to be reported so the commander would know the situation clearly.

After a victory, the soldiers and officers also had to be rewarded to raise morale.

However, the Black Wolf Cavalry were Jian Shang's personal troops. Even after such a great victory, distributing rewards would be benevolent and righteous, but if he chose not to, no one would dare say anything—nor could they say anything.

Thus, Jiang Sheng had not specified the exact amount of wealth acquired, sparing Jian Shang an awkward position. Clearly, he was not merely rigorous in commanding troops; he was also skilled at dealing with people.

"What were the casualties?"

With the sheepskin pouch in hand, Jian Shang looked at Jiang Sheng and asked first.

"Five dead, twelve severely wounded, and over a hundred lightly injured. However, none of the lightly injured are in serious condition—they will be fine after resting for a few days! The main issue is the severely wounded. The military physician said two cannot be treated and suggested sending them on their final journey, so they will not suffer any longer. Five have been crippled, while the remaining five can return to the battlefield after recuperating for several months."

Jiang Sheng's expression darkened, though he concealed it well. His face remained impassive as he answered seriously.

Two hundred against five hundred, and they had wiped out the enemy completely. Such casualties already counted as a resounding victory.

But they were their own people. Even if ten thousand enemy soldiers died, it was only fitting; yet the loss of a single one of their own would ache in their hearts.

"What do you think should be done with those who have been disabled?"

Staring straight at Jiang Sheng, Jian Shang pressed further.

"This..."

Jiang Sheng had not expected Jian Shang to ask such a question. For a moment, he hesitated.

But Jian Shang kept staring at him, leaving him no way to evade the matter. He could only brace himself and answer, "This subordinate suggests dismissing them and sending them home."

"This great victory belongs to everyone! Reward each man one gold coin, and double it for the wounded. You can decide the officers' rewards according to rank. Give the fallen three times the standard death compensation, and make certain it reaches the beneficiaries. Anyone who embezzles it will be dealt with under military law."

"As for the disabled... those willing to return home will receive double dismissal pay. Those unwilling to leave will be assigned to the logistics department, with their provisions and pay raised three grades. Once we have a fixed base, we will support them until their final days! Also, allocate enough carts and horses to ensure the wounded can recuperate in peace. If there are not enough, make them yourselves!"

After pondering for a moment, Jian Shang spoke slowly, then tossed the sheepskin pouch in his hand back to Jiang Sheng.

"Uh..."

It was not only Jiang Sheng who was stunned. Jiang Yao, Sun Ji, Gao Hong, and the others beside him were equally astonished.

Rewards for such a great victory—even doubled rewards—were perfectly normal. What truly mattered was Jian Shang's treatment of the wounded and disabled. This was a long-term issue, one that would become an enormous burden. Without sufficient courage, no one would dare make such a decision.

"On behalf of all the soldiers, Jiang Sheng thanks you, my lord!"

Jiang Sheng quickly recovered. Deeply moved and excited, he knelt down in salute and cried out loudly.

After all, Jiang Sheng and the Black Wolf Cavalry all came from Lingping County. They were fellow villagers, and many were even related by blood.

"Go."

Jian Shang nodded. As he watched Jiang Sheng rise eagerly, he suddenly called out, "Wait!"

"For every fallen soldier and every man returning home, have them take back a Black Wolf Scarf. Once we have a fixed base in the future, their relatives or friends may come seeking refuge with a Black Wolf Scarf, and we will treat them as soldiers' family members. Their descendants may also carry a Black Wolf Scarf and enter the Black Wolf Cavalry directly, inheriting their ancestors' aspirations!"

"...Yes!"

Jiang Sheng nodded solemnly once more.

Long after Jiang Sheng had left, silence hung around Jian Shang.

"Jian Shang! Doing this will place an enormous burden on the army. First, it will slow the army's march; second, if you develop further in the future, it will also become no small burden upon your base. There are many more hidden problems that may follow!"

In the end, Sun Ji sighed quietly and was the first to speak up in warning.

"Compared with the blood they shed for us and the lives they gave, what does this burden amount to? I even feel that I have not done enough!"

Looking toward the busy military physicians at the rear of the formation and the wounded men moaning in pain, Jian Shang spoke slowly, his voice filled with sorrow.

"But..." Sun Ji wanted to say more, yet for a moment, he did not know what to say.

"My greatest regret now is that I do not have a base of my own. I cannot properly settle these brave men, nor properly bury these martyrs!"

Jian Shang did not give it much thought, merely speaking slowly as though in a dream.

"I believe you will be a good lord."

In the end, Sun Ji sighed softly and said so.

"Long live my lord! Long live my lord..."

A moment later, a neat and thunderous cry suddenly rose from the Black Wolf Cavalry, winding through the mountain forest and echoing between heaven and earth.

Jiang Sheng had spread Jian Shang's orders among the troops.

Military morale—truthfully, most soldiers did not ask for much.

To live and fight bathed in blood; to die with their heroic souls unscattered!

It was that simple!

Afterward, all the soldiers began bustling about. Their hurried figures moving back and forth appeared especially spirited and upright.

The lord had issued an order:

Roast the meat, distribute the wine, and hold a grand feast for the entire army—both to celebrate this great victory and to send off the comrades who had taken the first step ahead!

The Setting Sun sank westward, dyeing the horizon with rosy clouds.

Two hundred Black Wolf Cavalry gathered in the woods, silently watching the seven deep pits before them!

As for the fallen, some suggested burial, while others suggested cremation. In the end, Jian Shang decided on burial, both to commemorate the site of the Black Wolf Cavalry's first great victory and to name these woods...

Black Wolf Ridge!

"Into the earth!"

With a long, resounding shout, seven corpses were lowered into the pits and covered with soil.

"Swish..."

"Bang..."

"Farewell, brothers!"

Military salute, united shout!

The sound carried for miles, lingering endlessly through the woods. It startled countless birds and beasts, soaring straight into the nine heavens...

The bonfires gradually died out, and the stars gradually rose.

"Flap, flap, flap..."

The Heavenly Wolf Battle Banner, more than a zhang tall, was raised high and snapped in the wind. The Sky Wolf on the banner glimmered with faint light, lifelike and vivid.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..."

More than five hundred mounts and over two hundred riders formed a Sky Wolf formation, howling as they charged into the black curtain of night, like a Sky Wolf galloping across the Earth, their hoofbeats like Sky Wolf Howls at the Moon.

The Black Wolf Cavalry's first battle ended in a great victory!

Black Wolf Ridge was only the starting point, not the end.

Perhaps the Black Wolf Cavalry would leave graves behind in place after place. But in place after place, they would also leave behind legends!