nycdaug Chapter 117 The Triumphant Song
Chapter 117 The Triumphant Song
The night raid continued until sunrise the following day.
"Your Highness," Guo Ziyi looked up at the brightening sky, a hint of excitement in his eyes, "our army has disintegrated the enemy with almost no casualties."
Li Mao nodded, his face slightly tired. "This is all thanks to the soldiers."
Amidst the distant bugle calls, our own flags fluttered in the wind.
Every soldier who participated in this battle felt an unprecedented sense of glory at this moment.
"General Guo, the next step is to handle the aftermath and how to get the news of the victory back to Chang'an as soon as possible." Li Mao put away his smile and began to plan the next steps.
Guo Ziyi turned to his personal guards and ordered, "Quickly dispatch a fast horse to deliver the victory report to the capital. Make sure the Emperor knows as soon as possible."
The guards received the order and immediately prepared to depart.
At that moment, Li Jingqing also came to report the results of the battle, "Your Highness, the enemy has begun to retreat overnight, and in their panic, they have lost their formation. Our army was able to make full use of the terrain to launch a pursuit and completely drive the enemy away."
Li Mao nodded slightly. "We must ensure that we do not pursue them to their borders, lest we lose our geographical advantage. However, the scouts at the front still need to continue gathering information on their movements."
Li Jingqing clasped his hands in acceptance of the order and immediately began working on the new task assignment.
The camp gradually returned to its previous calm, and the soldiers began to sort out the war debris and inventory the spoils of war.
"Your Highness," Guo Ziyi suddenly spoke, "today's victory is due to the unity and desperate fighting of the entire army, coupled with Your Highness's strategic planning. I hope Chang'an can receive this battle report in time to give their morale a greater boost."
A gratified smile appeared on Li Mao's face as he said, "After this battle, our army's reputation will surely inspire the entire world."
……
A few days later.
Chang'an City, the Imperial Palace.
In the imperial court, Emperor Xuanzong sat on a high seat, his face beaming with excitement.
He looked at the group of important officials gathered on both sides, his tone steady yet excited, "Generals Ziyi, Li Mao and others have made outstanding contributions, which makes me very pleased."
Prime Minister Li Linfu stepped forward to offer his congratulations, saying, "Your Majesty's wise rule and the great victory you have achieved are truly a blessing from Heaven upon the Tang Dynasty."
Emperor Xuanzong nodded slightly, but he knew in his heart that this required the efforts of all his loyal ministers, especially generals like Guo Ziyi and Li Mao.
"Yes, it is all thanks to the efforts of all of you. I will reward you for your contributions."
Not far away, Crown Prince Li Heng was also pondering silently. Such a victory was undoubtedly a blessing for the Tang Dynasty.
……
Soon, news from Chang'an reached the northern frontier.
Upon returning to camp, Guo Ziyi and Li Mao received a commendation order from Chang'an, which greatly excited every soldier.
"General, how should we further consolidate our victory?" the deputy general asked Guo Ziyi for instructions.
“An Lushan will not give up easily,” Guo Ziyi replied calmly. “We must establish a strong frontline defense in preparation for any eventuality. At the same time, we must strengthen intelligence work to ensure that the enemy’s movements are under our control.”
After a moment's thought, Li Mao seconded, "Yes, the next task is to further consolidate the territory we have gained, coordinate with other units, and prevent the enemy from making a comeback."
Guo Ziyi looked around at his generals and added, "In addition, repair and improve the transport lines to Chang'an to ensure that any victory can be quickly transmitted to the court."
“That’s right.” Li Mao’s gaze was firm. “Although this victory is of great significance, there is still a long way to go. We must remain vigilant and not let our guard down.”
Night fell.
Guo Ziyi and Li Mao confirmed the defensive measures one last time in the tent.
"Your Highness, now that news of the victory has reached Chang'an, His Majesty and the people will have even greater confidence," Guo Ziyi said gently, slightly relieved.
Li Mao gazed at the starry sky outside the tent. "It's time to start preparing for the future. I want to make the Tang Dynasty shine once again."
“Your Highness,” Guo Ziyi broke the silence, his expression grave, “Although An Lushan’s remaining forces have suffered heavy losses, if they are not thoroughly eliminated, they will remain a hidden danger to us.”
Li Mao nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, I am considering how to implement a more comprehensive encirclement and suppression strategy, but this move must be done with caution. At this stage, stabilizing public sentiment is of paramount importance."
Guo Ziyi agreed, saying, "That's right. At the same time, we might be able to broaden our connections with the surrounding tribes to strengthen our intelligence sources and better understand the enemy's movements."
"I'll leave this matter to you," Li Mao said softly as he turned to face Guo Ziyi.
"In terms of defense, we still need to strengthen our vigilance. Although An Lushan has been defeated, we must prevent his remaining forces from taking advantage of the situation." Guo Ziyi continued his analysis, pointing to several key locations on the map in front of him, "especially the fortresses, which must be secured."
“General Guo is absolutely right. At present, we must ensure that every line of defense in the northern border is impregnable.” Li Mao continued, “In addition, we must also pay attention to the resettlement of internal personnel and provide all soldiers and civilians with more adequate rest and supplies.”
……
early morning.
The soldiers are ready and are carrying out their daily training and patrols in an orderly manner, following orders.
This great victory boosted the morale of the entire army.
"Your Highness," Guo Ziyi reported to Li Mao after inspecting the camp, "morale is high, and combat readiness is impeccable. All frontline defenses have been reinforced, and the entire camp is safe and sound."
Li Mao nodded. "This is the bottom line. What we are facing is still unpredictable changes."
At this moment, Li Mao slowly relaxed his tense body and revealed a smile, "This is the first time since the start of the war that I have been able to breathe a sigh of relief so completely."
"Your Highness, breakfast is ready," a servant whispered.
Li Mao nodded slightly, and he and Guo Ziyi walked together to the dining table outside the tent.
Several deputy generals also joined in one after another.
"This operation proves that as long as we are united, even the most powerful enemy is nothing more than this," said Lieutenant General Li Jingqing with a relaxed smile as he ate.
Guo Ziyi smiled slightly, picked up his cup and addressed everyone, "Come, everyone, let's toast to this victory."
Everyone raised their glasses together, and although the glasses contained water, they tasted like alcohol.
“Indeed, with our efforts, everything can be reversed,” Li Mao echoed softly.
After a brief meal, the group returned to their tent to continue discussing their next steps.
Guo Ziyi brought the latest intelligence, which he carefully laid out on the table.
"Gentlemen, although An Lushan suffered heavy losses this time, his remnants are moving southwest. According to our intelligence, they are trying to regroup near Luoyang." Guo Ziyi then unfolded the map in his hand and pointed to the marked location.
Li Mao examined the map and pondered for a long time. "We must not give them a chance to catch their breath. Let's send out elite troops to intercept them and make sure to deliver a greater blow before they regroup."
“That’s right,” Li Jingqing nodded in agreement. “In addition, intelligence also points to the possibility that the enemy may contact nearby tribes. We need to strengthen communication with these tribes to ensure that they do not become an ally of the enemy.”