Heavy Losses, Fleeing to Enemy Rear

Good news, they launched a surprise night attack on the enemy camp, successfully completed the mission, and escaped.

Bad news, they seem to have gotten lost and don't know where they are.

"Forget it, let's wait until morning. We'll be able to figure out our bearings then," Sheng Huai'an consoled himself.

Everyone lay on the grass like this, letting the winds of the northern frontier blow over them.

They were too exhausted. They had crossed mountains and traversed ridges in the dark, arriving outside the pass, and then lay hidden in the darkness.

They had barely managed to rest at all, attacking the enemy camp, fighting the enemy, rushing forward, setting fires everywhere, and then fleeing twenty miles.

If they hadn't all been martial cultivators with decent strength, they would have fallen in the enemy camp long ago.

Even from twenty miles away, they could faintly see the firelight from the direction of the Xiongnu's main camp.

After lying there for an unknown amount of time, the eastern sky gradually revealed a hint of dawn.

As time passed, the fires in the Xiongnu camp were gradually extinguished.

That night, the soldiers on the city walls watched joyfully as the Xiongnu camp burned, hoping it would burn even more.

"Who attacked the right flank's camp? They were really effective, hahaha, they burned so many enemy camps."

"The left flank and the rear were far behind, they didn't manage to burn much of the enemy camp."

"I wonder how many Xiongnu soldiers were killed tonight."

"In any case, the losses must have been significant. General Who Breaks the Barbarians must have killed many enemies leading the cavalry charge into the enemy camp."

General Who Pacifies the North, Yang Ye, was also very happy to learn that the camp raid had been successful. With this disruption, he figured the Xiongnu wouldn't have the energy to continue their attack during the day.

"Haha, this fire caused such a huge commotion, far exceeding our expectations," General Who Breaks the Barbarians, Sun Hao, said with a laugh.

"Indeed, it makes me want to lead my troops into the enemy camp and wreak havoc," another Brigade General chimed in.

"The results won't be small, but I wonder how many of the seven camps that raided the enemy will make it back alive," another Brigade General said.

Everyone fell silent again. Raiding the enemy camp was just exchanging their lives for enemy losses.

As the sky gradually brightened, smoke still rose into the sky from the Xiongnu army's camp.

Looking at the devastated camp, the Xiongnu soldiers were all covered in dust and dejected.

After causing a disturbance for half the night, the Xiongnu army was exhausted.

The Left Virtuous King looked at the ravaged camp and the disheveled soldiers, his face as dark as night.

One could imagine how furious he was at that moment.

He had planned to break through Anning Pass today, but with this disruption, how could he possibly attack the pass?

With these dispirited soldiers?!

The Xiongnu generals dared not even breathe loudly, shivering like cicadas, fearing that the Left Virtuous King's wrath would befall them.

When it was fully light, the sun rose!

"Are the loss statistics out?" the Left Virtuous King asked.

His tone was flat, devoid of any emotion.

But the Xiongnu generals in the tent knew that this meant someone was going to die.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, over 18,000 were killed and more than 9,000 wounded last night," a general said cautiously.

The casualties alone approached 30,000, which was already a very heavy loss.

"Anything else?"

"Also... also, two-thirds of the grain and fodder were burned last night, and over 30,000 sheep ran off, along with 7,000 warhorses," the general said, bracing himself and spilling it all out.

"Trash, all of you are trash!" the Left Virtuous King finally couldn't help but roar.

Of the over 30,000 sheep brought as food, one-third had run off. They had originally had over 90,000, and now a third had escaped.

Warhorses were the most crucial mounts for cavalry units. The escape of over 7,000 horses meant that over 7,000 cavalrymen would lose their combat effectiveness.

And the grain and supplies, two-thirds of which had been destroyed, what would the army eat now?

And the soldiers, with casualties reaching twenty to thirty thousand, those were over twenty thousand brave warriors who had died in a single night raid.

Adding the soldiers who had died in the past half-month, less than half of the 100,000 soldiers he had brought remained.

Those were nearly 30,000 Xiongnu warriors. The losses last night were so great, the Left Virtuous King's heart was bleeding.

"Who was on duty last night? Drag them out and have them beheaded," the Left Virtuous King roared, furious.

The generals in the tent trembled under the Left Virtuous King's rage.

With such heavy losses in one night, how could the Left Virtuous King not be angry?

If this news was sent back, he would surely be mocked by that guy, the Right Virtuous King.

He couldn't explain himself to the Great Chanyu either.

"Trash, all of you are trash! Attack, attack the city! If you can't take Anning Pass, you will all die," the Left Virtuous King roared in anger.

"Absolutely not, Great King. We are exhausted, our horses are tired, and our hearts are unsettled. We cannot attack the city now," the Left Valley Marquis quickly advised.

The Left Valley Marquis was the Left Virtuous King's right-hand man and also his father-in-law. When he spoke, no matter how furious the Left Virtuous King was, he could only suppress it.

With less than fifty thousand troops, it was even more difficult to break through the pass in one fell swoop.

Already weary, launching an attack now would be no different from seeking death.

The commander on duty last night had been beheaded by the Left Virtuous King to consecrate the banners.

Inside Anning Pass, General Who Pacifies the North, Yang Ye, watched the Seventh Battalion return in succession, his expression solemn.

Excluding the cavalry that charged into the camp later, the Seventh Battalion had set out with two thousand men, and fewer than five hundred had returned.

The Soldier Commandant had died in battle, the Li Captain was severely wounded, and the Martial Commandant was covered in scars.

Most of the returning soldiers were injured, which was a testament to how fierce the night's camp raid had been.

"Soldiers, I thank you for your efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the people of Great Wei and the citizens of Anning City," Yang Ye said, bowing deeply to the surviving remnants of the Seventh Battalion.

The returning remnants of the Seventh Battalion looked at Yang Ye, their faces showing little emotion at this moment.

They were too exhausted from a night of fighting and fleeing.

"Furthermore, every soldier who participated in the camp raid last night will be awarded a meritorious service and ten taels of silver," Yang Ye continued.

"Thank you, General!"

Upon hearing about the reward, the returning soldiers of the Seventh Battalion finally spoke. At this moment, nothing could stir their hearts more than money.

"You all may go and rest well. Food and drink have been prepared for you. Eat and drink heartily, then take a hot bath and get a good night's sleep," Yang Ye announced loudly.

If he wanted his subordinates to fight with all their might, the treatment they deserved could not be lacking.

Upon hearing that there would be food, drink, and hot baths, the soldiers' eyes lit up, and they perked up.

"By the way, who initiated the attack on the enemy's right flank camp last night?" Yang Ye inquired.

The Li Captain, lying on a stretcher, raised his hand and said, "General, it was us."

"Good, good. You are all exemplary. Go and have your wounds treated, rest well, and then come back and report to me on how you attacked the enemy camp." Yang Ye smiled with satisfaction.

"Yes, General!" The Li Captain was overjoyed.

If he hadn't been severely wounded, he would have loved to report the details of last night's attack to Yang Ye right away.

With the military merits from last night's camp raid, as long as his cultivation improved, becoming a Commandant was a sure thing.

After dawn broke and the sun rose, Sheng Huai'an and his men found their direction.

"We've charged into the Xiongnu territory on the grasslands outside the pass." Tang Yunshan remarked, looking at the surrounding grasslands and sand.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Huai'an thought, Well, this is a trip behind enemy lines.

"In which direction is Anning Pass? Does anyone know the way?" Sheng Huai'an asked.

"Captain, I know the way," a soldier replied.

"Alright, you lead the way. We're heading back," Sheng Huai'an nodded.

The group proceeded in the direction of Anning Pass.

After advancing about five or six li, the procession halted.

"Halt! There's a situation ahead."

"What is it?" Sheng Huai'an inquired.

"Captain, there are Xiongnu cavalry ahead, pursuing a group of people. They appear to be our Anning defenders," the soldier leading the way reported.