The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1526: Return to the City

Greatly relieved to find Xue San still alive, Ye Shikai nearly wept with joy. Beyond the skirmishes on the front lines, Xue San's well-being had been his most pressing concern.

"How did you manage to locate him?" Ye Shikai inquired urgently.

"Reporting to the General, we conducted a search for two days and finally discovered Commander Xue in a wooded area. His thigh was injured, his rations depleted, and he was extremely weak, so we brought him back swiftly," a squad member reported.

"Excellent, that's sufficient. Say no more. Quickly, escort him back to the county and secure the finest doctors for his treatment," Ye Shikai stated with palpable excitement. "Xue San, once I've concluded my business here, I'll return to the county to see you."

"Understood, General. You proceed with your duties. I shall await your arrival. Ouch, ouch, it pains! Be careful, everyone." Xue San cried out, causing laughter to ripple through the group. Ye Shikai took a closer look and noted the wound had become infected. With only a makeshift bandage for days, inaction could lead to serious complications.

"Hurry, send him back to the county."

"Yes, sir."

After Xue San's departure, Ye Shikai rejoined the camp, where the soldiers were just beginning their meal. Fresh from their victory, Ye Shikai had ordered an upgrade to their rations as a fitting reward. The cessation of hostilities brought immense relief to all survivors, and numerous soldiers emerged from their tents, enjoying warm steamed buns and rice porridge while engaging in relaxed conversation.

Ye Shikai, accompanied by his guards, passed by the enclosure holding the prisoners of war. Inside, the captives, clad in thin garments, appeared frail. It was mealtime, yet none of the soldiers were distributing food to them.

"Have they received their sustenance?" Ye Shikai called out to the nearby guards.

"Reporting to the General, they have not eaten."

"Hasn't the supply of army provisions arrived? Why have they not been fed?" Ye Shikai pressed further.

"General, these scoundrels claimed the lives of many of our brothers. Even the cooks are unwilling to prepare meals for them," the guard confided in Ye Shikai. Since time immemorial, prisoners of war have frequently been the target of soldiers' ire, and it was fortunate they were not subjected to random beatings. Adequate food and clothing were hardly a priority.

"Preposterous! We are a disciplined army; all actions must adhere to regulations. What kind of prowess is demonstrated by mistreating captives? I, Ye Shikai, despise such individuals above all else."

"Ah... General, shall I instruct the cooks to prepare meals for them?"

"Proceed at once and announce to the entire army: If you possess the courage, risk your life on the battlefield. Only the cowardly prey on prisoners. Anyone engaging in such dishonorable conduct again will be expelled," Ye Shikai declared with a stern tone.

"Yes, General."

Ye Shikai was not exhibiting blind compassion. He would not hesitate against the enemy in battle, but now that the war had concluded, mistreating prisoners served no purpose. Moreover, among the over a thousand prisoners were ordinary civilians who might have joined the rebels merely to survive. Furthermore, for official proceedings, managing these captives was the responsibility of the Commander's Mansion, not the common soldiers.

Another consideration, perhaps a flicker of regret for Yan Yu, was Ye Shikai's residual leniency towards his subordinates. These prisoners had participated in the rebellion, and many would likely face the ultimate penalty. At the very least, they should not perish from starvation.

Inside the tent.

"Have the casualty figures been tallied?"

"The count has just been finalized. This campaign against Beast Mountain resulted in 2,056 soldiers killed in action, with over a thousand wounded. With the exception of the cavalry, who sustained no significant losses, all other units suffered considerable casualties. It is understandable why our brothers harbor such resentment towards the enemy. In all our commands, we have never endured such heavy losses." Shangguan Jian sighed deeply. While tallying casualties was straightforward, the bamboo slips represented mere numbers; in reality, these were lives of their brethren. With over 2,000 brothers lost, Shangguan Jian was profoundly affected, and it took considerable time for him to regain his composure.

Outside, the rain fell relentlessly, mirroring the somber mood within.

"Ensure the fallen brothers receive a proper burial." The heavy rain outside rendered the roads muddy and travel arduous. With so many brothers lost, transporting all their bodies for burial was unfeasible; they would have to be laid to rest here.

"I have already instructed the soldiers to manage the arrangements."

..............

After allowing the troops a day of rest, Ye Shikai commenced their journey, with the cavalry taking the lead and Man Cang with the Iron Armor Army escorting the prisoners at the rear. If all proceeded as planned, they should reach Baima County within a single day.

"General, hundreds of bandits still remain in Beast Mountain; should we cease pursuit?" Wan Qi Yuan inquired. Yesterday, his cavalry had successfully cut off the enemy's escape route, capturing many stragglers. However, the rugged mountain terrain proved unsuitable for cavalry maneuvers, allowing numerous remnants to slip away, much to Wan Qi Yuan's frustration.

"Rest assured, without Yan Yu leading them, they pose no significant threat. At most, they are but petty bandits, and Baima County can certainly manage." Ye Shikai harbored no worries regarding the remaining forces. The primary challenge in dealing with the rebels at Beast Mountain had been their leader, Yan Yu. They were not mere petty bandits but a formidable force. Now that Yan Yu was captured and their morale shattered, any remaining large army would surely disintegrate.

"Understood."

"In this engagement, your action of discovering the enemy's rear camp constitutes a merit. However, moving troops privately is a fault. These cancel each other out, making it difficult to petition the Commander Mansion for rewards for the cavalry. Nevertheless, I shall reward you privately."

"Thank you for your benevolence, Sir. It is merely my duty."

Despite being a member of the Wolf Clan, Wan Qi Yuan possessed exceptional intelligence. More importantly, his resolve was unwavering, and his actions were decisive. He appeared taciturn but struck with sudden ferocity when the time came, delivering a killing blow. This temperament perfectly complemented the cavalry's characteristic swift and fierce assaults.

It was fortunate that Wan Qi Yuan served as his subordinate. Were he to remain within the Wolf Clan, he would undoubtedly become a 'nightmare' for the Qin Army in the future.

If I cannot utilize this individual, he must be eliminated by me.

Through his act of moving troops without authorization, Wan Qi Yuan demonstrated a willingness to pursue ambitious goals, which instilled a degree of caution in Ye Shikai.

Even before the troops had returned to the county, news of the victory had already reached Baima County. Upon hearing of the triumph at Beast Mountain, the villagers who had previously fled began to return, even thronging the city gates. Furthermore, the dispatch riders should have already conveyed the victory report to Pu Yang.

"General, the Magistrate of Baima County has extended an invitation to reward our servicemen." A soldier emerged from within the city, presenting a handwritten letter from the magistrate to Ye Shikai.

"Sir, we have resolved the crisis for Baima County this time, a significant favor to the magistrate. Should we accept this invitation?"

"Let us decline. The soldiers are utterly exhausted, and attending such a pointless ceremony is meaningless. We shall wait to rest thoroughly once we return to Pu Yang County."