103: Chapter 13 Devastating Victory

### I

After taking Baoding Prefecture, Li Ling did not give the rebel army any chance to catch their breath.

Early the next morning, he ordered his troops to split into three columns and continue pursuing the remnants of the fleeing rebel army to the north.

The First Division moved north along the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, the Second Division advanced along the east bank of the Daqing River, the Third Division followed as the general reserve, and the Fourth Division remained in Baoding Prefecture to maintain order and integrate the prisoners.

The Air Force Reconnaissance Squadron took off again to search for the traces of the fleeing enemy and provide target guidance for air strikes and pursuit.

"My Lord, intelligence indicates that the remaining rebel forces have split into two groups," Chen Zhiyuan said, pointing to the map. "One group is fleeing toward the capital, attempting to defect to the rebel troops stationed there; the other is fleeing northeast, hoping to enter the territory of the Northeast Warlords."

"How many people are in the group fleeing toward the capital?" Li Ling asked.

"About twenty thousand, commanded by a rebel army commander. Their equipment is poor and morale is low, but they are running very fast."

"And what about the group fleeing northeast?"

"About ten thousand, led by several brigade commanders. Their composition is complex, including regular rebel troops as well as ragtag bandit units that have been reorganized."

Li Ling pondered for a moment and made his decision: "The First Division will pursue the rebels fleeing toward the capital and must annihilate them on the outskirts of the capital. The Second Division will pursue the rebels fleeing northeast; annihilate those you can catch, and chase the rest into the territory of the Northeast Warlords, so let those warlords deal with the headache."

"Yes!"

After the order was issued, the First Division and the Second Division immediately set off, pursuing at full speed along the routes the rebels had taken.

### II

The First Division's pursuit was very successful.

Although the rebel remnants numbered twenty thousand, they had poor equipment, low morale, and chaotic command, making it impossible for them to organize any effective resistance.

The First Division's reconnaissance battalion formed a rapid pursuit team using captured horses and vehicles, chasing fiercely along the main road, covering nearly one hundred kilometers in a day and night.

They caught up with the rebels less than fifty kilometers from the capital.

"Fire!" the commander of the pursuit team ordered. Machine guns, rifles, and Mortars opened fire simultaneously, catching the rebels off guard.

The rebels tried to organize a counterattack, but their commanders had already fled. The soldiers were leaderless; some fired blindly, some fled in all directions, and others simply knelt and surrendered.

The battle lasted less than two hours. Of the twenty thousand rebels, over two thousand were killed, over fifteen thousand were captured, and fewer than three thousand escaped into the capital.

The First Division's casualties: eighty-seven killed, over one hundred twenty wounded.

"My Lord, a great victory!" Chief of Staff Zhang Wanshan reported excitedly. "The First Division has already occupied the high ground on the outskirts of the capital, cutting off the rebels' retreat to the south. Now the remaining rebel forces are besieged in the capital, unable to fly away!"

"Good!" Li Ling nodded with satisfaction. "Order the First Division to rest in place and replenish ammunition. Once the main force arrives, we will launch a general offensive against the capital."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, the Second Division's pursuit was also nearing its end.

The ten thousand rebels fleeing northeast were driven into a mountainous area, wandered for two days and nights, and were finally blocked by the Second Division in a valley, trapped with no way forward or back.

"Surrender! We surrender!" The rebel brigade commanders raised white flags and came out with their remnants.

The Second Division accepted the surrender, capturing over eight thousand men and seizing a large amount of weapons, ammunition, and supplies.

Thus, the main force of the rebels was completely annihilated. Of the one hundred twenty thousand troops, over twenty thousand were killed, over seventy thousand were captured, and fewer than thirty thousand had fled or defected to other warlords.

Li Ling stood on the city wall of Baoding Prefecture, watching the sunset sinking in the distance, and let out a long breath.

"System." He murmured in his heart.

"Hmm?" The System's voice was lazy, as if it had just returned from the singing and dancing system.

"Tell me, how did I do in this battle?"

"So-so," the System said. "Not as stunning as I imagined."

"So-so?" Li Ling almost jumped up. "I annihilated one hundred twenty thousand rebels with only a few hundred casualties of my own, and you tell me it's so-so?"

"If you had listened to me and used the black-tech weapons I provided, the casualties could have been controlled to double digits," the System said righteously. "You refused to use them and insisted on doing things your own way. Are you blaming me?"

Li Ling was speechless. He found that reasoning with the System was the most foolish thing to do.

"Fine, you're amazing," he said through gritted teeth. "Next time I'll listen to you completely, okay?"

"That's more like it," the System's tone carried a hint of smugness. "Alright, I'm leaving. The singing and dancing system is waiting for me."

"Didn't you say they found you annoying?"

"That was before! It's different now. I helped it fix a technical glitch, and it looks at me with new respect!"

"...You can even repair systems?"

"Of course! I am a system from the interstellar era; what can't I do?"

The System's voice disappeared, and Li Ling shook his head and smiled bitterly.

This System was usually stingy as anything, reliable at critical moments, but when it came to emotional issues, it was simply more childish than him.

### III

After resting in Baoding Prefecture for two days, the main force continued north.

In the towns along the way, the common people lined the streets to welcome them. In some places, they even organized drum and gong teams, banging drums and gongs, setting off firecrackers, making it even livelier than the New Year.

"Young Master Li is here! Our savior is here!"

"Long live Young Master Li!"

"Down with the rebels! Support Young Master Li!"

Li Ling rode in the middle of the procession, waving to the common people. He had a smile on his face, but his heart felt heavy.

These people had suffered too much. They had been oppressed by the rebels for too long, bullied by foreign powers for too long, and ignored by the imperial court for too long. Their eyes were full of expectation, waiting for him to bring peace and a better life.

He could not let them down.

Three days later, the troops arrived on the outskirts of the capital.

The walls of the capital were higher and thicker than those of Baoding Prefecture, and the city defenses were also stronger. But at this moment, only a few rebel sentries stood sparsely on the city walls, their flags crooked, devoid of any fighting spirit.

Li Ling stopped on high ground outside the city and observed the city defenses with binoculars.

"My Lord, intelligence indicates that there are about ten thousand rebels in the capital, commanded by a rebel army commander," Chen Zhiyuan handed over the intelligence. "These people have poor equipment and low morale, but they occupy the advantage of city defenses. If we attack by force, it may cause significant casualties."

"Then besiege but do not attack," Li Ling put down the binoculars. "Cut off their supply lines and trap them for a few days. Once they are out of ammunition and food, they will naturally open the gates and surrender."

"Yes!"

The troops camped on the outskirts of the capital, digging trenches, building fortifications, and setting up artillery, surrounding the capital airtight.

Meanwhile, the Air Force began dropping surrender leaflets in the city, telling the defenders that their reinforcements had been completely annihilated and their retreat route had been cut off; if they did not surrender, they would have only a dead end.

The first day, there was no movement.

The second day, some white flags appeared on the city walls, but they were quickly taken down.

On the night of the third day, the city gates finally opened.

A team of rebel generals holding white flags walked out with dejected looks. Walking at the very front was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a crumpled military uniform, his face full of fatigue.

"Young Master Li, we are willing to surrender," the middle-aged man knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse. "I only ask that you spare the lives of the people in the city."

Li Ling dismounted and walked to the middle-aged man, reaching out to help him up.

"General, rest assured. I have said, I treat captives well and do not harass the people. Now that you have surrendered, you are my people."

The middle-aged man burst into tears and nodded repeatedly.

Li Ling turned to Chief of Staff Zhang Wanshan and said, "Order the troops to enter the city. It is strictly forbidden to harass the people; violators will be dealt with by military law."

"Yes!"

### IV

When the troops entered the city, it was already dawn.

On both sides of the streets, the people were kneeling on the ground; some were kowtowing, some were crying, and some were cheering. Those officials and common people who had been imprisoned by the rebels were released; they were in rags, sallow and thin, their eyes full of the joy of surviving a disaster.

Li Ling rode through the streets, waving to the people. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes were wet.

These people had been oppressed for too long, and their eyes were filled with gratitude and hope. He could not let them down.

He could not.

That evening, Li Ling set up a temporary headquarters in a prince's mansion in the capital.

He stayed up all night meeting with the captured rebel generals and the officials of the capital to understand the situation of other warlords in the north, preparing for the next phase of the Northern Expedition.

"My Lord, now that the main rebel force has been annihilated and the capital has been recovered, the situation in the northern provinces has begun to loosen," Chief of Staff Zhang Wanshan pointed to the map. "Intelligence shows that the Northeast Warlords and the Zhili warlords have both sent secret envoys, expressing their willingness to submit."

"Submit?" Li Ling sneered. "They only came to submit because they saw the rebels were finished and were afraid. If the rebels had won, they would have pounced and taken a bite long ago."

"Then what does my Lord intend to do?"

"Stall them for now, don't alert them," Li Ling said. "Once we have established a firm footing, we will deal with them one by one."

"Yes!"

It was late at night, and Li Ling stood alone by the window, looking at the night sky outside.

The capital was more dilapidated than he had imagined. The streets were full of garbage and rubble, the houses were dilapidated, and the people were sallow and thin. This city, once prosperous, was now devastated.

"System." He murmured in his heart.

"Hmm?" The System's voice was a bit confused, as if it were sleeping.

"Tell me, when will I be able to let everyone live a good life?"

"When you have unified the country," the System said. "When you have established a new nation, formulated new laws, developed industry, revitalized agriculture, popularized education, and cultivated talent. At that time, everyone will live a good life."

"How long will that take?"

"Ten years at the least, twenty years at the most," the System said. "Host, this is not something that happens overnight. You need patience."

"I know," Li Ling nodded. "I just... want to be a little faster."

"You are already very fast," the System said. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Li Ling was silent for a while, then said, "Alright, go to sleep."

"Hmm, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

The System's voice disappeared, and Li Ling's mind returned to tranquility.

He turned around, walked back to the table, and continued to study the map.

Outside the window, the night deepened, and the east turned a fish-belly white.

A new day was about to begin.