With Han Shizhong’s hearty laughter echoing, the cavalry behind him began to loudly sing the Western Army’s battle song.
"Heaven's might sweeps the land across the Yellow River, ten thousand li of Qiang people sing Han songs.
Let no dam divert the mountain's falling water, allow the west to flow as waves of grace!"
"Hahaha, home!"
"Home!"
War is always cruel. By the time Han Shizhong and his men returned to the city, the 300 members of the Assault Camp and 500 members of the Death Defiance Camp numbered less than three hundred in total.
Although their achievements were indeed glorious, fighting 20,000 enemy soldiers with just 800, and killing or wounding nearly 3,000 enemy troops, the price they paid left Han Shizhong in a somber mood.
However, he quickly adjusted. This was, after all, a battlefield, and the war was not over. Death was a constant companion.
"The enemy is retreating, the enemy is retreating!"
Just as Han Shizhong was preparing to return to the city walls to continue commanding the battle, the soldiers on the ramparts suddenly erupted in cheers.
"Liangchen, are you alright?"
Seeing Han Shizhong fight his way back, Han Mo hurried down from the city wall.
"My Lord, rest assured, your subordinate is unharmed. This blood belongs to the rebels!"
Seeing Han Mo approaching, Han Shizhong did not dare to delay. He quickly dismounted and knelt on one knee before Han Mo.
"It's good that you are unharmed, truly good!"
Hearing Han Shizhong's words, Han Mo finally felt relieved.
"Greetings, my Lord!"
After Han Shizhong finished speaking, the soldiers behind him immediately began to salute Han Mo.
"You are all brave sons of our Great Song. On behalf of the citizens of this city, this official thanks you! Guards, reward every soldier who went out to battle with fifty strings of cash! Those who fell will receive double the reward!"
Although the city of Mingzhou was short on grain, it was not short on money.
Regardless, this money was extorted from corrupt officials. If it remained in the treasury, who knew who it would eventually end up with. Han Mo spent it without any hesitation.
With a wave of his hand, he issued a reward of fifty strings of cash per person.
Even though the prices in the city had soared, fifty strings of cash was still a considerable sum for these soldiers.
After all, among them, apart from the veterans from the Shengjie Army, most of the remaining were conscripts.
Although the imperial court’s annual military expenditure accounted for seventy to eighty percent of the national treasury’s income, what actually reached the hands of these soldiers was only a little over twenty strings of cash per year.
"Thank you for your reward, my Lord! Thank you for your reward!"
"Alright, you may all go and rest now!"
Watching the soldiers beaming with joy, Han Mo finally showed a slight smile.
"My Lord! I was indeed a bit reckless just now, but the situation demanded it..."
Only after the soldiers had dispersed did Han Shizhong approach Han Mo and softly admit his mistake.
"It's alright. You were in charge on the city walls. As long as you returned safely, that's what matters. However, it's best to do such things less often in the future, as you are no longer alone!"
Han Mo accepted the rebel banner handed to him by Han Shizhong, patting his shoulder without excessive reprimand.
With the limited troops he had, to have held on until now was already a miracle.
Moreover, Han Mo had clearly witnessed their sortie. If not for Han Shizhong and his men fighting to the death, the city walls would have been in a desperate struggle by now.
The sortie was indeed a risky move, but it seemed Han Shizhong had won the gamble.
The morale of the rebel army had been thoroughly broken, and with the loss of their command banner, it would at least be tomorrow before Lü Shinang could reorganize his attack.
After fighting for two days and one night, the soldiers on the city walls were nearing their limit, both physically and mentally.
Now, they could finally have a respite.
"Thank you, my Lord!"
Han Shizhong felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart at the concern in Han Mo's eyes.
"Alright, the rebels have temporarily retreated. Go arrange things and get some rest! See that red house over there? Hong Yu is waiting for you there!"
Patting Han Shizhong's shoulder again, Han Mo lowered his voice and whispered in his ear.
"Thank you, my Lord!"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Han Shizhong couldn't help but blush.
"Still calling me 'my Lord'?"
"Big Brother!"
"Hahahaha!"
Seeing the shyness on the face of the legendary war god, Han Mo laughed heartily and returned to the Grand Training Ground with Shao Bowen.
"My Lord is indeed fortunate. This Captain Han’s future prospects are boundless!"
Back in Han Mo's tent, Shao Bowen said with a smile.
"Fortunate? I have four such fortunate circumstances!"
"Four?"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Shao Bowen looked at him with a slightly strange expression.
His earlier words had been quite tactful; the boundless prospects he mentioned referred to an exceptionally noble destiny.
Now, hearing Han Mo say this, he clearly found it hard to believe.
After all, where could one easily find such peerless military talent?
Did Han Mo think they were like radishes in his vegetable garden, where one could pull one out and another would grow in its place?
"What? Sir, you don't believe me?"
Seeing Shao Bowen's peculiar expression, Han Mo poured himself a cup of tea and said casually.
"It's not that I don't believe, it's that I dare not. My Lord, aren't you exaggerating a bit? Having even one such invincible general is already a blessing for the Great Song..."
"Believe it or not!"
Han Mo said, rolling his eyes at him.
If it were solely about ferocity and martial prowess, Han Shizhong's abilities would place him at most second or third among the four.
After all, the truly most formidable fighter had to be Wu Mu Yue Fei!
"My Lord, the siege of Mingzhou will soon be lifted, and the Deputy Pacification Commissioner is likely to arrive soon. Should you not prepare to welcome him?"
Seeing Han Mo's confident expression, Shao Bowen found it tiresome to argue further and cleared his throat, decisively changing the subject.
"What is there to prepare? Anyway, we don't see eye to eye, and he's destined to return in disgrace. Why should I waste my energy on him?"
Hearing Shao Bowen's words, Han Mo rolled his eyes as he spoke.
"My Lord, can't you save him some face? Regardless, that old fellow was once a prime minister..."
"Prime Minister? What is a prime minister? There have been many prime ministers in this world, he is not the only one!"