12dz Chapter 2103 One Person's Fault
Chapter 2103 One Person's Fault
Guo Ziyi began inspecting the wounded soldiers' camp again.
An old soldier with a broken leg was leaning against a wooden stake, gritting his teeth and enduring the excruciating pain, with large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
Guo Ziyi stopped in front of him and said in a deep voice, "Old brother, you've suffered."
The old soldier recognized Guo Ziyi and struggled to stand up and salute, but Guo Ziyi held him down.
"General... I... I have disgraced the Tang Dynasty!" The old soldier's voice choked with emotion.
"No!"
Guo Ziyi grasped his rough hand, his voice firm: "You have not disgraced us!"
"You fought valiantly, holding off an enemy force several times your size, and buying time for the commander-in-chief to retreat!"
"You are all heroes of the Tang Dynasty! Take good care of your injuries. The court and I will never mistreat any of our meritorious soldiers!"
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of many wounded people around him.
Many of the wounded, whose eyes had been numb and filled with despair, now had a faint glimmer of light returning to their eyes.
Guo Ziyi walked from tent to tent, examining each wounded soldier.
He tucked the blankets around the wounded, inquired about their injuries and hometowns, instructed the medical officer to do his best to treat them, and even personally changed the damp cloth on a soldier's forehead to cool him down.
He made no empty promises, only genuine concern and action.
The news quickly spread throughout the camp: "General Guo has personally gone to the wounded soldiers' camp!"
"The general gave his cloak to his seriously wounded brother!"
"The general said we are heroes!"
These simple messages are more powerful than any stirring pre-war mobilization.
It made the soldiers feel that their sacrifices and suffering were not ignored by those in power.
Their general was with them.
After visiting the wounded soldiers' camp, Guo Ziyi went to the area where ordinary soldiers were resting.
He did not adopt a superior attitude, but rather acted like an elder on patrol, occasionally stopping to say a few words to the soldiers gathered around the fire.
"Brothers, I know the battle is tough."
He stood by a bonfire and spoke to the soldiers who had gathered around him, the firelight illuminating his equally weary yet resolute face.
"We have lost many good brothers. General Qin Hong died in battle, and General Yuchi is also trapped in the enemy camp!"
Mentioning these things, the soldiers all lowered their heads, and the atmosphere became heavy again.
Guo Ziyi changed the subject, raising his voice slightly: "But we're still here! The Commander-in-Chief has also returned safely!"
"Although the Chu army won this battle, they also suffered heavy casualties!"
"The foundation of our Great Tang Dynasty remains unshaken, and the people of Guanzhong are still waiting for us! Temporary setbacks cannot defeat us!"
His gaze swept over the young or weathered faces: "Now, what we need is rest, to regain our strength, and to unite as one!"
"Eat your meal, get a good night's sleep, heal your wounds, and sharpen your blade! As long as our military spirit remains, we will one day rise again and avenge our defeat!"
"Yes! General!"
Inspired by his words, the surrounding soldiers straightened their backs and echoed his words loudly.
Although still exhausted and uncertain about the future, the despondency that was on the verge of collapse had indeed been dispelled considerably.
Guo Ziyi visited several other places and said similar words to boost morale.
Only after confirming that most of the soldiers had been settled and given basic reassurance did he drag his increasingly exhausted body slowly toward the central army.
He knew that this was only the first step in stabilizing morale.
Next, he discussed with Li Jing how to deal with possible further actions by the Chu army.
How to try to rescue Yuchi Bo, how to report this disastrous defeat to the court, and countless other thorny problems await him.
But at the very least, he couldn't let this army collapse before his very eyes.
An hour passed quietly amidst the wounded soldiers' painful groans, the soldiers' exhausted slumber, and the oppressive silence of the camp.
Guo Ziyi had just finished his inspection of the camp and reassured some of the junior officers.
At that moment, as he rubbed his throbbing temples, pondering his next course of action, a physician closely guarding Li Jing's troops hurried over and bowed to report:
"General Guo, the imperial physician has properly treated Marshal Li's external injuries, and he has taken his medicine. He is feeling better now. Please come over to discuss this matter."
Guo Ziyi perked up and immediately straightened his armor. Although he was equally exhausted, he still tried to look as energetic as possible.
He strode quickly toward the heavily guarded central command tent.
Inside the tent, a brazier burned, dispelling some of the chill, but also filling the air with a stronger medicinal smell.
Li Jing did not lie on the couch, but instead wore a thick fur robe and sat behind a simple table.
The blood and dust on his face had been washed away, revealing his originally gaunt features.
But the pallor and deep weariness were undeniable; his eyes were sunken, and although his gaze was still bright, he had lost the commanding and domineering spirit of the past, and instead showed signs of vicissitude and melancholy.
The military doctor was quietly giving instructions on precautions.
Upon seeing Guo Ziyi enter, the imperial physician and his attendants tactfully withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the tent.
"This humble general, Guo Ziyi, pays his respects to Commander Li." Guo Ziyi stepped forward a few paces and bowed solemnly.
Li Jing raised his hand in a gesture of support, his voice slightly hoarse: "General Guo, no need for formalities, please sit down."
His gaze fell on Guo Ziyi's equally weary face. He paused, then let out a long, deep sigh.
That sigh was filled with endless regret, self-blame, and the desolation of a hero's tragic end.
"This battle..."
Li Jing spoke slowly, each word seemingly weighing a thousand pounds: "Two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers are buried in foreign lands. Pillars of the nation such as Wang Zhongsi, Gao Xianzhi, and Liu Hongji have all died for their country. Qin Hong died in battle, and Yuchi Bo was captured. It is all my fault, Li Jing's fault!"
He closed his eyes slightly, as if unwilling to recall the horrific scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood:
"It was my fault for underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly, underestimating Chu Ning's determination and the Chu army's resilience."
"It was my fault for failing to see through the Chu army's plan to lure and ambush the enemy."
"It was I who, by acting recklessly and clinging to wishful thinking when the situation was unfavorable, attempted a decisive battle to turn the tide, which led to this catastrophic disaster!"
"How can I face the elders of Guanzhong again? How can I face His Majesty's trust and lead these remaining tens of thousands of soldiers?"
Guo Ziyi was greatly shocked and quickly said, "General Li! Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war! The Chu army's victory this time was partly due to luck and partly due to planning. How can we blame it all on General Li?"
"Moreover, if it weren't for Marshal Li's command, our army would probably have suffered even greater losses..."
Li Jing waved his hand, interrupting Guo Ziyi, a bitter yet resolute smile appearing on his face:
"Ziyi, you don't need to comfort me."
"A general should not be arrogant in victory, nor discouraged in defeat, and should be courageous in taking responsibility."
"Such a crushing defeat, if the commander-in-chief doesn't take responsibility, who will? The laws of the court and the laws of the army do not allow me to shirk my responsibility."