Standing on the hill, with the winding army stretching out like a long snake, Luo Chengzhi and Murong Chengguang gazed toward the distant armies of the Murong Tribe and Tuoba Tribe entrenched across the river, a trace of relief and helplessness on their faces.
Murong Chengguang's fingers twitched slightly. His tightly knitted brows relaxed, and he gave a long sigh before saying with relief, "Had we rashly crossed the river today, our Yan army would have died without a place to be buried. To think the Hu people were so treacherous, stationing great armies on both banks of the Yellow River to lure us into their trap. Heaven truly sheltered us!"
A chill rose from Luo Chengzhi's heart. Yan State had vast holdings and resources; if one batch died, there would be another. But the Luo Clan had only so many people. If they all died here, there would be no one left afterward.
He said icily, "This was not Heaven's protection. It was the Sage King above, shining upon All Xia.
"We have no choice but to withdraw today, but one day we will fight our way back and show the Hu people just what has allowed the people of All Xia to stand for countless years upon the richest land beneath the sun and moon!"
For Yan State, although this campaign had inflicted losses, its gains were greater, especially the elimination of Shi Min and the removal of a threat to its borders. This was a great victory. For the Luo Clan, its household head had fallen in battle, and the Dare-to-Fight Warriors and people of Winter City had suffered grievous casualties. Yet they had stripped away twenty percent of the Hu people's mandate of Heaven, and it had to be admitted that this, too, was a great