The Imperial Army had won a great victory!
The great battle of Lantian on the wuxu day-the eleventh-of the seventh month of Yonghe's eighth year had unquestionably ended in a great victory for the Imperial Army!
Although they had lost a general of Ying Dan's caliber in battle, viewed as a whole, the army had swept through the enemy like rotten wood and withered grass, winning within a single day. The Di people's elite troops had been wiped out, their survivors fleeing in disarray, their corpses strewn for dozens of li.
Not only that, Huan Wen had acted without a moment's hesitation, immediately sending Huan Chong's force, whose organization remained the most intact, and Xue Zhen's force, newly arrived from Qingni City, in pursuit-straight toward Bashang!
But none of that had anything to do with Liu Cheng for the moment. After following the Central Army to make camp in Lantian County, he unexpectedly found himself unable to sleep that night.
"Unexpectedly" was a somewhat absurd word to use. Though they had won, the battle had been far too fierce and sudden. Under the shock of the fighting and casualties, the entire camp was steeped in lingering fear, unease, and grief. Coupled with the impossible-to-conceal stench of blood, it left countless men vomiting and weeping.
Even that Northern Chu Folk Song, after being sung for a while, had been secretly restricted on Huan Wen's orders. He had the Banner Chiefs personally keep it under control and forbid any further singing, for fear of triggering a camp panic.
Under these circumstances, Liu Cheng naturally had every right to mourn his fallen and wounded countrymen, from Ying Dan on down. Naturally, too, his mission the day before and the cheerful conversations during it entitled him to feel "both glad and pitying" toward that