Entering the ranks of first-class military commanders

The bloody battle instantly turned into a pursuit. Liu Rengui looked at the horrific scene in the city and issued an order expressionlessly.

"Order a full pursuit. Capture as many prisoners as possible."

The city's defenders were exhausted. The soldiers of the Second Division and the Third Division, still having some strength left, began capturing prisoners all over the mountains and fields.

The toungoo people had fought for a day and were also exhausted. Many simply dropped their weapons, collapsed by the roadside, and obediently became prisoners.

With the enemy retreating, the tension Gao Yuan had been holding onto dissipated. He slumped weakly to the ground, leaning against the parapet as he gasped for breath.

Liu Rengui approached Gao Yuan and knelt on one knee.

"This humble general arrived late to rescue you. I beg for your punishment, my lord."

Gao Yuan barely lifted his eyelids to glance at Liu Rengui, forced a smile by tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You've worked hard, Zhengze..."

After saying this, his vision went black, and he fainted.

Liu Rengui was terrified out of his wits and began shouting loudly.

"My lord! My lord! Someone, come quickly! Someone!"

Several physicians from the city came and examined him carefully before determining that Gao Yuan had fainted from excessive blood loss and overexertion. There was no danger to his life.

Hearing that Gao Yuan was not seriously injured and only needed rest, Liu Rengui finally breathed a sigh of relief. He instructed people to take extra care of him and then went to attend to other matters.

Gao Yuan woke up again three days later.

Although he had been lying down for three days, he still felt utterly weak and was unbearably hungry and thirsty.

"Is anyone there? Bring some water and food."

A maidservant, seeing his condition, hurriedly brought a bowl of warm rice porridge. She fed it to him spoonful by spoonful, and only then did he feel a bit better.

Gao Yuan was a young, strong man, a warrior with an appetite like a bottomless pit. Having not eaten for days, a single bowl of rice porridge was nowhere near enough.

"Not enough, not enough! Bring two more bowls!"

He drank three bowls in one go, but Gao Yuan was still unsatisfied. However, the maidservant and the physicians absolutely refused to give him any more.

"Commandery Duke, please try to endure a little. You haven't eaten for days. Eating too much too quickly will harm your spleen and stomach."

Not being allowed to eat his fill made Gao Yuan unhappy. Without another word, he fell back into a deep sleep.

Another three days passed. Apart from the injuries on his shoulder and arm not being healed, Gao Yuan was already lively and energetic. At that moment, he was holding a chicken, devouring it ravenously, showing not a shred of the image of the number one handsome man in Daqian.

After finishing two chickens and drinking all the chicken broth, Gao Yuan finally let out a satisfied burp. Picking his teeth, he looked at Liu Rengui beside him.

"Zhengze, what are the casualty figures from this battle?"

Liu Rengui had finished eating long ago. He had been watching Gao Yuan wolf down his food with amusement. Hearing the question, he quickly straightened his clothes.

"The Xuanjia Army suffered over 4,700 killed, over 2,300 seriously wounded, and the rest all sustained minor injuries. These three divisions have basically lost their combat effectiveness.

The Beiwei Army suffered over 1,700 killed, over 900 seriously wounded, and over 1,000 with minor injuries. The First Division has been decimated and needs to be rebuilt."

Hearing such heavy losses, Gao Yuan's heart ached. Nearly ten thousand casualties in a single battle, with the First Division completely destroyed. This was a massive blow to his strength.

"In the end, I was too careless. Otherwise, the losses wouldn't have been this severe!"

He sighed and asked dejectedly,

"What about the enemy casualties and spoils?"

"In this battle, we decapitated over 48,000 enemies, captured over 69,000 enemy soldiers and laborers, seized over 400,000 *dan* of provisions, over ten thousand packhorses and plow oxen, and countless other military supplies."

Liu Rengui paused, looked at the despondent Gao Yuan before him, and offered some advice.

"My lord, forgive This humble general for speaking bluntly. Although our losses were great, the spoils are also substantial. Just the weapons and armor alone are enough for us to raise another army of twenty to thirty thousand men."

"We're not short on equipment. But have you considered where the soldiers will come from? Surely we can't use these prisoners? They are all toungoo people."

Liu Rengui revealed a smug smile.

"So that's what my lord is worried about. Don't worry. This humble general has already interrogated them. Nearly half of these seventy thousand prisoners are from Arakan and Ayutthaya. They harbor the hatred of a destroyed nation against the toungoo people."

Hearing Liu Rengui's words, Gao Yuan's eyes lit up. That's right, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Arakan and Ayutthaya have already been destroyed. By avenging them, I become their benefactor.

Having figured out the key point, Gao Yuan felt much better, but he still emphasized,

"We still need to screen them carefully. Those who are unwilling or in poor physical condition can be sent to farm. The rest can be dispersed and incorporated into the Xuanjia Army. Also, we must pay attention to assimilation."

Liu Rengui stood up, clasped his fists, and bowed.

"My lord, rest assured. This humble general has already made arrangements."

"Zhengze, you truly are my most trusted minister. Alright, you may go now. I'm tired and need to rest some more."

"Understood. This humble general takes his leave."

Gao Yuan wasn't actually tired. He was just eager to check his system panel. During the battle, countless notifications had popped up, but he hadn't had the mind to look at them. Now he finally wanted to see his rewards.

"Host has completed the S-rank series event 'Struggle for Supremacy,' Phase 3 event 'In the Name of the Father.' Congratulations, Host. The rating for the S-rank series event 'Struggle for Supremacy' has increased by two minor grades.

Congratulations, Host. You have triggered an advancement reward. You have obtained three A-rank lottery cards."

"Congratulations, Host. The growth-type equipment 'Wu Anguo's Tube-Sleeve Armor (D)' has advanced to 'Gao Su's Two-Piece Armor (C).'

Gao Su's Two-Piece Armor (C): When worn, increases the Host's defense, reduces stamina consumption, and enhances agility. If using a spear as a weapon, increases lethality."

"Congratulations, Host. Skill: Leaders Aura (D) has advanced to Skill: Leaders Aura (C).

Leaders Aura (C): Greatly boosts the morale of soldiers around the Host, slightly reduces their stamina consumption. Effect limit: ten thousand people."

"Congratulations, Host. Agility has increased from B+ to A-. Endurance has increased from A- to A. Spearmanship has increased from B to B+."

"Congratulations, Host. Comprehensive evaluation has increased from B+ to A-."

Finally, Gao Yuan's personal strength had crossed that threshold, moving from a B-rank second-rate general to an A-rank first-rate general.

Although his A-rank still placed him at the bottom among first-rate generals, at least he was now first-rate.

Looking again at the upgraded equipment, skills, and attributes, Gao Yuan felt the injuries he suffered this time weren't in vain. The only headache was how to explain these scars to the women when he returned.

"The weather seems nice today. How about a lottery draw?"

Stroking his smooth chin, Gao Yuan prepared to have a draw to celebrate his significant power-up today.

"System, use one A-rank lottery card."

"Host uses A-rank lottery card... Congratulations, Host. Random draw obtained: Loyalty Card x2000."

Gao Yuan almost strained his back in surprise.

"System, did you change your CPU? The draw is so fast today."

"As the Host diligently completes events, the system naturally becomes more and more comprehensive, more and more comprehensive."

"Loyalty Card? What's this new thing?"

"Loyalty Card: Can be used on any person below C-rank, instantly raising their loyalty to maximum value. (Not permanent)"

"What a considerate system. Knowing I'm short on troops right now, it sends cards over. But this card is far less useful than a martial soul."

Although not as practical as a Martial Soul Card, it was still a good reward. Gao Yuan felt his luck was good today.

"System, use the remaining two lottery cards as well."

A moment later, Gao Yuan looked at the six thousand Loyalty Cards in his system space, cursed under his breath, and closed the system screen.

Out of the over thirty thousand prisoners, Liu Rengui ultimately screened and selected over twelve thousand to incorporate into the Xuanjia Army. After some hesitation, Gao Yuan still chose not to use the precious Loyalty Cards.

He would need them later for rebuilding the First Division and replenishing the Third Division. Using them here would be a real waste.

Leaving the Second Division with Liu Rengui, Gao Yuan set off on the road home with the depleted First Division and Third Division.