si-mexico Chapter 783: The Chu Army Retreats and Crosses the River Successfully
Chapter 783: The Chu Army Retreats and Crosses the River Successfully
After finishing the meal, Gong Yangzhan saw two leftover rice balls on the plate and said carefully,
"Your Highness, if you don't want to eat these two rice balls, could you please let me put them away?"
Shen Changgong smiled and said,
"Lord Gongyang, are you worried that we'll waste food?"
"That's not the case. After the Tianyu Army crosses the river, I'll follow them and go check on my son. He hasn't eaten all day, so I want to bring him some food."
Hearing this, Shen Changgong was a little confused and felt a lot of emotion in his heart. He said,
"Speaking of which, I'm also going to be a father soon, but I think that the kindness I will show to my son in the future won't even be a fraction of what Lord Gongyang loves your son."
Gong Yangzhan put the two rice balls into the bag with a smile and said,
"Your Highness is too modest. The child hasn't been born yet, so I don't have many feelings about being a father. I can even say I don't have any feelings at all. After all, it wasn't me who carried the baby for ten months.
But when he was born, when you saw that tender little face, those tiny hands, watched him smile, watched him cry, at that time, you wanted to give him the whole world.
You feel like you live your whole life for him. You have to protect him, watch him grow up, teach him skills, and cultivate him into a successful person.
You wish you could help him bear all the sufferings of his life by yourself, and transfer all the illnesses he is going to get to yourself.
It is said that there are no perfect parents in the world, and that raising children is a way to provide for your old age.
But when the moment comes when the child is actually born, you think about finding a place to hang yourself when you are old, rather than letting your old age cause trouble to the child.
No father would say that he gave birth to a son just to have him take care of him in his old age.
It is said that everyone hopes their son will become a dragon, but the road to becoming a dragon or a phoenix is too crowded and too dangerous.
In fact, the greatest wish is to live a peaceful, happy and simple life."
After hearing Gong Yangzhan's words, Shen Changgong was filled with emotion and saluted,
"Master Gongyang's words have enlightened me, and have also taught me, a young father, how to shoulder the responsibilities of a father.
Listening to your words is better than reading ten years of books.
This king has learned his lesson."
"How dare I, how dare I, it's just an old man speaking his mind. So hypocritical, so hypocritical."
Gong Yang Zhan quickly returned the greeting.
Shen Changgong said to his captain of the guards,
"Dai Xing, arrange for a few people to escort Lord Gongyang to the other side of the river after the Tianyu Army crosses it, and deliver food to Marshal Gongyang."
"As ordered!"
Dai Xing invited Gong Yangzhan down and gave him some other snacks and dried meat.
After Gongyang's battle, Shen Changgong asked Wenbo,
"How old are you, Lord Wen?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, I am fifty-two years old this year."
"Do you have a son?"
"I have two sons. One is thirty-three years old and serves as the prefect of Yugui Prefecture. The other is twenty-seven years old and serves as a captain of a thousand men in the city defense department.
I have two grandsons now.”
"Alas, being a father is not easy. Lord Wen has many children and grandchildren. He should be enjoying the happiness of family and living out his days in peace. But he still has to go on a diplomatic mission to Dayan, risking his life to fight for a glimmer of hope for his country and family."
"Your Majesty understands your humble servant."
"I heard that Lord Wen and the Gongyang family are not from the same faction?"
Wenbo laughed quickly.
"No, no, it's just that we have different political views occasionally. Everyone has their own opinions, so it's normal to have disagreements. It's not like we're in a faction.
It’s all for the country.”
Shen Changgong nodded and said,
"I have seen Lord Wen's heart for the country, and now I want to talk to you about family matters.
Lord Wen has many children and grandchildren and a happy family. It would be a pity if he died in the chaos of war.
If the Yan army breaks through Yugui and rushes into the city in the future, they will inevitably suffer from the disaster.
I wonder, Master Wen, have you ever thought about how to secure a way to survive and an official position for your descendants after the demise of the Great Qian Dynasty?
Shen Changgong had received intelligence and knew that Wen Bo and the Gongyang family were not from the same faction. If he could win this person over, he would be able to restrain the Gongyang family in the future.
Wenbo sighed,
"I have witnessed the might of the Great Yan army today, but I don't hold out much hope for the Great Qian to win.
I am even more confused about the future of my country, my children, my grandchildren, and the people."
"I can show you a clear path and solve your confusion."
Wen Bo pondered for a moment and said with a wry smile,
"Your Highness, I understand your intentions and am deeply moved. However, this is a serious matter. I hope Your Highness will allow me to reconsider."
"It's okay. We have plenty of time."
"I dare to ask Your Highness, if Lord Gongyang and I do not accept Your Highness's advice, can we still leave the Yan army camp?"
"Ha ha ha ha."
Shen Changgong laughed and said,
"I am not a cruel person. I simply admire your talents. You are envoys from the Qian Kingdom. You are free to come and go. You can leave at any time. The Yan army will never stop you."
"Your Highness has a broad mind, and I admire you deeply."
It was already completely dark. The enemy army lit torches. The Tianyu Army also rushed to the other side with torches and attacked the Chu Army together with the Zhige Army.
The Chu army was tenacious and fought to the death. Every time the Yan army captured a position, they left behind a large number of corpses from both armies, making it difficult for them to move.
Seeing that the shore could not accommodate so many people and that it was difficult to advance, Yu Huatian ordered the Tianyu Army to split into two, go around to the east and west, and attack the enemy from both sides.
The Chu army's scouts reported the movements of the Tianyu army to Li Lei. Li Lei sighed and ordered the baggage and food camp in the main camp to retreat towards Yiyang with the supplies first.
Then he ordered the entire army to retreat in an orderly manner.
If we don't retreat now, we will really be surrounded and killed.
The Chu army retreated all the way to the south, and the Yan army chased them for a while but then stopped.
After all, it was dark and the terrain was complicated. The other side were all locals who didn't understand the terrain and were worried about being ambushed.
Afterwards, the Tianyu Army and the Zhige Army stopped the pursuit and commanded their troops to occupy the Chu Army camp.
The subsequent Yan army did not cross the river again. The enemy army retreated, and there was no need to fight at night. They rested tonight and crossed the river again tomorrow night.
Shen Changgong dispatched a batch of food and fodder and the firemen of the two armies across the river to cook for the soldiers on the front line.
Gong Yang Ge and Yu Huatian met and were about to discuss how to deploy defenses when several fast horses rushed over.
"Gor, Ge'er."
Gong Yangzhan came all the way to Gong Yangge carrying a cloth bag.
Gong Yang Ge quickly dismounted and asked,
"Father, why are you here?"
Gong Yangzhan got off the horse tremblingly, holding the cloth bag and said,
"Dad sees that you've been fighting all day and haven't had time to eat. You must be starving. Eat something quickly. Order a little first. When the hot meal is ready, you can eat something hot later."
"father……"
Gong Yangge was deeply moved. He looked at the rice ball in his hand and smiled.
"Dad, have you eaten yet?"