After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 806 - 796: Return of the Remains

The city gates reopened, and this time the soldiers either drove cattle carts or pushed flat carts out. Those driving cattle carts and pushing flat carts ran quickly, first carrying their wounded soldiers onto the carts and transporting them back, while the rest loaded weapons.

Zhao Hanzhang held a saber in one hand and tossed other confiscated weapons onto the cart. She was about to search for any interesting weapons when a small figure darted over, flipped Wu Yi over just after she had moved him, and after rummaging through him, extracted a jade thumb ring from his bosom, quickly stuffing it into his own chest, continuing to search, but found nothing else.

He wasn’t disappointed, though, and after taking a glance at the corpse in his hands, began to strip off the armor and clothes.

Zhao Hanzhang, unable to bear it, quickly stopped him, "The corpse needs to be carried back, don’t strip him completely, it’s unsightly."

The small figure then realized Zhao Hanzhang had been standing beside him all along. Startled, he quickly bowed his head and responded, "Yes, General," only to then react and whispered, "General, do we still have to take the enemy’s corpses?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "We can leave others, but his needs to be taken."

She lowered her head and closed Wu Yi’s eyes, saying, "This is a gift I plan to send to Shi Le."

The small figure hesitated a moment but ultimately took out the jade thumb ring from his chest, offering it up, "General, this is yours."

Bounty from those Zhao Hanzhang killed naturally belonged to whoever discovered them if she didn’t seek them.

Smiling, Zhao Hanzhang accepted it and nodded her chin, saying, "His armor is yours."

The small figure beamed with joy and immediately crouched down to strip Wu Yi’s armor, but did not remove the quite decent clothes within, leaving him sufficient dignity.

The group cleaned the battlefield, leaving only the enemy’s corpses. Even their wounded were dragged back.

If treatable, they would heal them, and if unable to serve again, they could farm; otherwise, it would result in more exploitation of heads for military merit.

The fleeing enemy troops retreated all the way back to camp, Shi Le, upon hearing of the grievous losses and Wu Yi’s death, shockingly stood up, "Who killed Wu Yi?"

"A female general. General Wu said it was Zhao Hanzhang."

Shi Le slapped the table in fury, "When did Zhao Hanzhang arrive at Meng County?"

He turned to grab the broadsword, but Zhang Bin quickly intercepted him, "Master, Zhao Hanzhang’s subordinates include many fine generals; such as Wu Yi, none of them necessitates her personal action. She aims to draw you out."

Shi Le furrowed his brow, "Why does she want to lure me out?"

"She wants to ensure the Great General remains here rather than heading to Si Province or attacking Yan State," Zhang Bin explained, "Clearly, Zhao Hanzhang remains loyal to the Jin Dynasty, and her primary intent is to hold the master back."

Shi Le’s gaze flashed as he sat down again, "So, if I don’t make an appearance, might she speculate that I am not here but have gone to Si Province or Yan State?"

Zhang Bin nodded, "Beigong Chun guarding the pathway from Shangdang to Luoyang knows best whether the master moved to Si Province. Emperor there has not deployed many troops, with the abilities of Beigong Chun, Zhao Erlang, and Chen Wu, defending Luoyang is more than adequate. Master, imagine if she misunderstood you led the army against Yan State, what then?"

"If she is loyal to the Jin Dynasty, she will certainly lead her troops to aid them, and then here..."

Zhang Bin nodded with a smile, "Precisely, that would be when we seize Yu State."

As for Liu Cong, who is dividing and attacking Yun City, he can hold out a bit longer. Once they capture Yu State, they will naturally support him.

Shi Le lowered his head in contemplation momentarily before shaking his head, "No, Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t believe it so easily. We must truly dispatch troops to make it work."

Shi Le stood and walked over to the map, gazing for a while before saying, "Deploy troops to Zhencheng County, I intend to assault Linqiu!"

Linqiu was the administrative center of Yan State, where Gou Xi’s main base was before. It wasn’t far from Yun City, and once Linqiu was captured, Gou Xi’s line of retreat would be cut, severing a path for the emperor as well.

Shi Le wanted to see what Zhao Hanzhang, this Jin Minister, would do if Emperor Jin perished.

Zhang Bin pondered briefly and asked, "Then here..."

"Leave ten thousand troops here. After I leave, they will continue to shout and attack," Shi Le mused for a while then shook his head, "I can’t slip away quietly like this; capturing Yu State is important, but taking Emperor Jin and extinguishing the Jin State is crucial."

Confusing the enemy once isn’t adept, rather confuse them twice.

Zhang Bin, after brief contemplation, also nodded, "Master is correct; my view was indeed short-sighted."

As they finished their discussion, a soldier reported from outside, "Great General, General Wu’s corpse was grabbed by Zhao Family Army."

A battlefield adheres to strict rules; when one side collects their dead, the other side must not attack.

During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, ceremonial decorum once again collapsed, yet such rules remained unbroken.

Furthermore, those sent to retrieve the corpses were old or injured soldiers, unarmed; killing them served no purpose.

Soldiers recounting the dead clarified the casualties, roughly estimating the number captured by Zhao Family Army by comparing to those who escaped back.

In clearing the corpses discovered Wu Yi was missing; this could mean either Wu Yi didn’t die or his body was retrieved.

Many had seen Wu Yi’s chest pierced by a lance, thus his corpse was presumably taken by Zhao Family Army.

"Great General, we should send someone to redeem General Wu’s corpse," Zhang Bin advised.

Otherwise, if Zhao Hanzhang were to decapitate Wu Yi and display it, it would not only uplift their morale but also demoralize their troops.

To raise spirits by severing heads and offering flags is a frequent tactic of Shi Le, yet Wu Yi was his dear brother, alongside him since becoming a bandit and being one of his eighteen cavalry.

Failing to preserve his corpse would not only sadden his family but Shi Le himself.

Shi Le immediately prepared a gift to be sent to Meng County to redeem the corpse.

However, before his men could set off, the small gate at Meng County opened, and two six-foot-tall, thick-browed, large-eyed, handsome vigorous young soldiers led a cattle cart out, with Wu Yi’s corpse upon it.

Zhao Hanzhang, under the gaze of both forces, boldly sent this gift to Shi Le.

Shi Le’s expression was complex, and even Zhang Bin couldn’t help but remark, "Zhao Hanzhang, truly, is a great hero of this age!"

This act not only uplifted their morale but demoralized their side, leaving them incapable of harboring resentment toward her.

Even the cunning Zhang Bin couldn’t help but silently praise, when it came to generosity, amongst the famous generals today, Zhao Hanzhang was undoubtedly foremost.

Shi Le received Wu Yi’s body and personally led people outside the city gates the next day to call for an opening, but Zhao Hanzhang naturally denied them, standing atop the city tower gazing at Shi Le from afar, his subordinate general in between, hurling insults indecently, yet official speech was poor; Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t comprehend, dismissing it as noise.