Chapter 83

After returning to camp, Chu Shaoling ordered Wei Zhan to manage all post-battle affairs, while he supported Wei Ji back to the main tent.

By this time, Wei Ji's body was completely exhausted. Chu Shaoling ordered people to bring in hot water, and personally removed Wei Ji's armor for him. Wei Ji hurriedly tried to stop him, saying softly: "This subordinate's body is covered in blood and filth, it's not clean. This subordinate will do it himself."

Chu Shaoling ignored Wei Ji's protest and personally removed the silver armor piece by piece. The blood had soaked through the armor and saturated the robe Wei Ji wore underneath. Chu Shaoling carefully removed Wei Ji's clothing layer by layer. Wei Ji said softly: "Your Highness need not worry, this subordinate was not injured."

Chu Shaoling looked at Wei Ji. Wei Ji felt a bit guilty and said quietly: "There are only a few minor wounds, just some scrapes where the armor rubbed against the skin, it's nothing."

Chu Shaoling sighed lightly and pulled Wei Ji into his arms, kissing his dirty forehead. He said solemnly: "Does you know how valiant you looked killing enemies at the front lines?"

Wei Ji's face reddened slightly. No matter how fearless and fierce he was in front of the enemy's blades, in front of Chu Shaoling, Wei Ji was always like a child. Wei Ji was a bit embarrassed. After a while, he said: "This subordinate is Your Highness' man, naturally this subordinate must win glory for Your Highness."

"Silly thing." Chu Shaoling picked Wei Ji up and directly placed him into the tub filled with hot water. The cuts on Wei Ji's body stung a bit, making his body tremble slightly. Chu Shaoling quickly grabbed a small medicine jar, unscrewed it and poured the entire jar of medicinal powder in. He gently comforted: "Endure it for a bit, you must wash clean before applying medicine. If it's not treated properly and gets infected after returning, it will be even harder to deal with."

Actually, this bit of suffering was still bearable for Wei Ji. Wei Ji nodded, took the empty medicine jar from Chu Shaoling's hand and examined it closely. There was no writing on it. Wei Ji smelled it and exclaimed in surprise: "Nine Revolutions Golden Wound Powder? How could Your Highness pour it all into the water?!"

Chu Shaoling took back the medicine jar and placed it aside, saying indifferently: "I was afraid that washing with just water wouldn't get your body clean enough. The Empress Dowager gave this to me before the expedition. I heard this medicine is quite good, so it's just right for you to soak in."

Wei Ji's heart ached terribly: "Your Highness, this medicine is extremely precious. This subordinate has only heard of it in books. How could Your Highness..."

"It's really that good? Then that's good enough." Chu Shaoling covered Wei Ji's eyes with his hand and carefully used a ladle to pour water and wash Wei Ji's hair. He said softly: "Tell me if it hurts."

Wei Ji shook his head. He had wounds on his body. Although medicine was put into the water, Chu Shaoling didn't dare let him soak for too long. After changing the water once more, he helped him out. Wei Ji wrapped himself in a blanket and leaned against the couch. Chu Shaoling took some medicinal ointment and sat on the couch to lift the blanket. Wei Ji was both embarrassed and afraid Chu Shaoling would see his wounds. He held the blanket and laughed: "This subordinate can do it himself. Your Highness, please go take a look outside. Today we captured quite a few of the barbarians's warhorses and prisoners. Your Highness has not yet assigned them."

"Your older brother is keeping an eye on things, it's fine." Chu Shaoling lifted the blanket and carefully examined Wei Ji's body. Wei Ji slightly curled his legs to cover his private parts. Right now, Chu Shaoling was plainly distressed, how could he have those impure thoughts? He dipped his hand in some medicinal ointment and carefully applied it to the wounds.

Fortunately, Wei Ji only had a few scrapes on his left arm and lower leg. The cuts were not deep and had stopped bleeding by now. Chu Shaoling meticulously applied the medicinal ointment. Wei Ji took a look and said: "No need to bandage it. Keeping such shallow cuts covered is not good."

Chu Shaoling nodded, took a clean inner garment and helped Wei Ji change into it. He also changed into a set of clothes himself. It was already the You hour. Chu Shaoling was afraid Wei Ji would be cold, so he ordered people to light two incense burners and bring them in. After everything was taken care of, Chu Shaoling sat on the couch. Wei Ji naturally leaned over and said softly: "Your Highness, my hands are still shaking."

Chu Shaoling held Wei Ji and grasped his hands, lowering his head to kiss Wei Ji's forehead: "Scared?"

Wei Ji shook his head: "No, I just haven't recovered my senses yet, my heart is beating rapidly."

Chu Shaoling dotingly rubbed Wei Ji's chest and laughed softly: "Rubbing it for you will make it better. You were so fierce before, but now you're acting spoiled."

Wei Ji turned to the side and rested his head in the crook of Chu Shaoling's neck, saying quietly: "When the horn sounded, I didn't even want to come back. I just wanted to keep fighting, to directly kill all the way to the west of Karakash... This subordinate is not a bloodthirsty person originally."

"There's nothing to dwell on about this." After all, it was Wei Ji's first time on the battlefield, so he still felt a bit lost in his heart. Chu Shaoling rubbed Wei Ji's head and said: "This is not bloodthirst, this is your loyalty to the emperor and patriotism."

Chu Shaoling deliberately rubbed Wei Ji's body and said softly: "But the 'emperor' you are loyal to is not the one lying in the imperial city. You only need to be loyal to me."

Chu Shaoling gently caressed Wei Ji's body, without a hint of lewdness, just pure loving touches to soothe Wei Ji's exhausted body. Wei Ji enjoyed it very much and curled up slightly. Chu Shaoling coaxed softly: "Sleep for a bit? Are you tired?"

Wei Ji was indeed tired, but his spirit was still excited, so how could he fall asleep? Chu Shaoling went out and had people cook some congee to feed to Wei Ji. He also took the opportunity while Wei Ji was not paying attention to sprinkle a handful of incense cakes made from albizia bark into the incense burner. A faint fragrance wafted out. Before long, Wei Ji fell asleep.

After Wei Ji was sound asleep, Chu Shaoling left the main tent. Outside, there were still many matters waiting for him to handle.

Wei Zhan had been waiting outside the tent for a long time. Seeing Chu Shaoling come out, he quickly said: "Grand General, the war captives have been fully imprisoned. There are a total of over 14,000 men. Of the captured warhorses, over 7,000 of them, many are wounded. There are still over 4,000 that can go into battle. I've already ordered men to look after them well."

Chu Shaoling nodded: "How many casualties this time?"

Wei Zhan paused before saying: "Over 7,000 dead, over 2,000 heavily wounded, over 16,000 lightly wounded."

Chu Shaoling sighed: "There will always be losses. The battles ahead still need to be fought. These heavily wounded men cannot be left in the camp..."

Wei Zhan was inwardly surprised. The Liaoliang people had already been driven out of Karakash. Next they just needed to wait for the envoy of the Liaoliang king to come to negotiate. Yet Chu Shaoling still wanted to continue fighting...

"Send four thousand men to immediately escort the two thousand severely wounded soldiers along Changping Lake to Xian'outuo, and have the people there take care of them. As for the lightly wounded, handle them as appropriate. Those who can still fight should stay, while those who would only be a burden should help escort the severely wounded soldiers." Chu Shaoling did a rough headcount and had a general idea. "We can withstand these casualties. Go take care of it immediately and send these men away tonight."

Wei Zhan nodded and asked, "We killed over twenty thousand barbarians in this battle. Does Your Highness plan to continue the attack?"

"Of course." Chu Shaoling sneered coldly. "I didn't lead so many men on an arduous journey to the Northwest just to drive out the Liaoliang people. The border in the Northwest is too ambiguous, which is why the barbarians keep invading. Now, I will use the blood of the barbarians to draw a clear line for them, to make them understand that the land of Great Chu cannot be trampled on by just anyone."

Wei Zhan was stunned. "Could it be that the Grand General intends to slaughter all the way to Liaoliang?"

Chu Shaoling chuckled. "If the enemy can do it, so can I. If the enemy can go, so will I."

Even the steady Wei Zhan couldn't help but feel a surge of heroism upon hearing Chu Shaoling's words. As a military general, they were often restrained by their superiors and unable to fully showcase their abilities. The emperors always had their own various considerations, but Chu Shaoling clearly had none of these. He was more ambitious than anyone else.

Chu Shaoling looked at the flickering torches in the main camp and said lightly, "There are some things I can't say directly. You can tell them for me. When we slaughter our way to Liaoliang, they can do as they please."

"Grand General!" Wei Zhan's heart trembled. "Such words should not be spoken lightly. Before we left, His Majesty had issued an order..."

Chu Shaoling smiled. "General Wei, you're taking it too seriously. I'm not telling the soldiers to massacre indiscriminately. It's just repaying evil with evil. The Liaoliang people have trampled on the common folk of Karakash for so many years. Am I supposed to show them mercy? Ridiculous!"

Chu Shaoling patted Wei Zhan's shoulder and said solemnly, "Repay kindness with kindness, but how should one repay cruelty?"

After giving instructions to Wei Zhan, Chu Shaoling gathered all the generals in the army. He assigned the upcoming arrangements one by one. The men were still excited from today's great victory, and upon hearing Chu Shaoling's plan, they were all overjoyed. In the past, they had always been the ones under attack. Now, they could finally strike back!

After making the arrangements, Chu Shaoling smiled and said, "Generals, you have worked hard. This hardship will not be in vain. After returning from Liaoliang, you can all expect promotions, nobility titles, and high positions in the court."

Chu Shaoling laid it out plainly, making the generals feel a sense of closeness. They couldn't help but smile. Chu Shaoling said mildly, "I have never liked to put on a facade of false morality. Since I've said this much, I might as well say it all! On this journey, I have indeed treated General Wei Ji better. He was originally my personal guard and had made great contributions in front of me before, so naturally, I will treat him well. But I don't think I have neglected any of you."

Lian Yu understood the implication and quickly said, "General Wei Ji was valiant on the battlefield. I am far inferior to him. It is only right for the Grand General to rely on him more."

Chu Shaoling nodded. "It's good that you all understand. I don't want to see something like what happened with Bai Yunjiang again. In this expedition, everyone will have a chance to make great contributions. There's really no need to act disgracefully like Bai Yunjiang did. In the end, it will just be a futile effort. Generals, trust me. You have risked your lives and followed me through life and death. I naturally will not mistreat you. The camaraderie we share today on the battlefield, I will never forget even in death."

The men hurriedly knelt down. "We are unworthy."

The soldiers were not fools. They knew a bit about the situation in the imperial city. Now that the Emperor was incapacitated, it wouldn't be long after Chu Shaoling returned to the capital that he would ascend the throne. When Chu Shaoling became the Emperor, would those who had shared life and death with the new Emperor be at a disadvantage? Of course not.

After giving clear instructions, everyone celebrated the initial victory together. Chu Shaoling only sat for a short while before getting up. The others didn't dare to stop him too much. Chu Shaoling returned to his tent, where his little general was still sleeping on his bed.

There were only two lamps lit in the tent, and in the dim light, Wei Ji was curled up on the bed, hugging a blanket. He looked extremely adorable. Chu Shaoling smiled and quietly took off his military robe, slowly getting onto the bed.

Wei Ji seemed to sense something in his dream and unconsciously snuggled closer to Chu Shaoling. This little action pleased Chu Shaoling. He lowered his head and kissed Wei Ji's lips, carefully untying his inner garment. He took the medicinal ointment placed beside the bed, wanting to apply it to Wei Ji's wounds again. The light in the tent was poor, and Chu Shaoling couldn't see the wounds clearly. He simply took a generous amount of the ointment and applied it thickly over the wounds. An entire box of the precious ointment was used up by Chu Shaoling in this manner.

After applying the medicine, Wei Ji woke up a little, mumbling in a daze, "Your Highness? Your Highness..."

Chu Shaoling answered softly, "It's me, it's me. Go back to sleep." He lay down and pulled the blanket over both of them. Wei Ji, having received a response in his dream, felt much more at ease. He leaned against Chu Shaoling's shoulder and fell back into a deep sleep before long.