The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1550: Heavy Losses

The night was deep.

"Old Ye, the Qin Army has finally retreated," Shangguan Jian declared, dragging his exhausted frame to the valley entrance. He had just endured a brutal afternoon battle. The Qin Army had sustained severe losses, yet Han Hao, in a frenzy, had continued to order his soldiers forward. Fallen warriors were swiftly moved aside by those behind them, who then pressed the relentless assault. Archers atop the valley rim loosed volleys of arrows, and when those depleted, they resorted to hurling stones, until the very entrance was choked with corpses…

"How many men do we have remaining?" Ye Shikai had recovered his Inner Strength, his physical condition markedly improved. Despite the day's gruelling combat, he felt surprisingly little fatigue, though his wounds would still require time to mend.

"Around… over seven thousand, sir." Hearing this grim tally, a profound sadness settled upon them both. The loss of so many comrades weighed heavily on their hearts.

"Excluding the three thousand archers providing rear guard, the cavalry under Wan Qi Yuan and Man Cang's Iron Armor Army each lost nearly half their strength. Additionally…" Shangguan Jian cast a hesitant glance at Ye Shikai, his eyes reddened from the day's desperate fighting. Ye Shikai had personally led five thousand soldiers in a direct charge against Han Hao's lines to safeguard the civilians; all five thousand had fallen. Had it not been for the serendipitous energy from the meteor that aided Ye Shikai in repairing his Dantian and saving his life, their cause would have been utterly lost.

"And the civilians?"

"Approximately… one hundred thousand civilians managed to escape in the chaos. We haven't had a chance to take a precise count."

"Hmm, how are they faring now?" Ye Shikai inquired further.

"As per our contingency plan, we had stockpiled some grain in the mountains earlier. However, with one hundred thousand civilians, the provisions will only suffice for two days at most," Shangguan Jian expressed his concern. Despite their efforts in gathering all available food in the preceding days and storing it in the mountains, the amount was far from adequate for such a large group. Even with Ye Shikai's Storage Ring, the contents would not be enough.

"Will two days be sufficient for them to traverse the mountains?"

"It should be. Provided the civilians stick to the mountain paths, they should reach the nearby counties and find safety," Shangguan Jian affirmed with a nod.

"That is good news. We, too, must move swiftly. While Han Hao did not pursue us, he will undoubtedly dispatch swift riders to all counties, ordering them to intercept us. Our current forces are depleted, and the Chu Territory lies a thousand miles distant. We must proceed with extreme caution." A cascade of challenges confronted Ye Shikai, causing him no small amount of distress. As the commander, his foremost responsibility was naturally ensuring the survival of his remaining army.

"Indeed, speed is paramount. The sooner we reach the Chu Territory, the more secure we will be," Shangguan Jian stated. He produced a map from his pocket, spread it upon a flat stone, and under the dim firelight, began sketching a proposed route.

"I've meticulously studied the local terrain. If we choose the most direct path, we could arrive five days sooner. However, this route traverses open plains and passes close to populated towns, leaving us vulnerable to constant interception."

"What is your recommendation, then?"

"We should travel along the mountainous terrain. While the journey will be more arduous and time-consuming, it offers significantly greater security. Furthermore, these regions are often frequented by insurgents, which we can utilize as cover."

"Hmm, a sound plan," Ye Shikai concurred, nodding his approval.

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

Ye Shikai and Shangguan Jian reached the makeshift encampment where the civilians were resting, observing soldiers diligently distributing porridge. The civilians had fled in disarray, possessing neither coin nor grain. Had Shangguan Jian not made prior arrangements, these individuals would have succumbed to starvation and the harsh mountain elements.

"Quickly, villagers, kneel before our benefactors!" Upon seeing the two commanders arrive, many of the civilians immediately prostrated themselves.

"Villagers, why are you doing this? Please, rise," Ye Shikai urged, stepping forward hastily.

"Had it not been for General Ye's compassion, we would likely have perished by the sword by now."

"Indeed, kneel and show gratitude for General Ye's immense kindness!"

Ye Shikai offered a rueful smile. Saving lives invariably demanded a heavy price. To rescue these civilians, he had lost more than half his devoted soldiers. He felt unworthy of their profound gratitude. Such thanks, he believed, belonged to those brave brothers who had fallen.

"Villagers, continue along the mountain path towards safety. We are now outlaws of the empire and must depart quickly. We may no longer be able to offer you protection," Ye Shikai explained to the assembled crowd.

"Rest assured, General Ye. The villagers understand. Today, you and the heroic warriors saved us. If anyone asks about your whereabouts in the future, we will remain silent."

"Good, thank you." Ye Shikai bowed, then gestured for the soldiers to bring out all the gold and silver stored in the mountains. These were rewards received earlier, all converted into cash before the uprising.

"Villagers, you will need expenses to live in a new place. Share these funds among yourselves and live well in the future."

"This... General Ye saved our lives, yet we haven’t repaid. How could we take this money?"

"Follow my instructions and share it. These are ill-gotten gains."

"I... As an old man, I kneel in gratitude to General Ye on behalf of all village folks."

"Thank General Ye for his kindness."

Seeing so many villagers kneeling in gratitude, Ye Shikai wasn’t the only one moved; all the soldiers present were deeply affected. To win the people’s hearts is to win the world, which sounds simple but is extremely challenging to truly achieve. For this so-called "greater good," so many perished today.

"Shangguan, distribute some to the brothers as well. They’ve worked hard today." Ye Shikai turned and said.

"Alright."

From today on, Ye Shikai was no longer a general of the court but a "rebel leader" from the court’s fugitive list. No military honors, rewards, or stipends, and he didn’t even know how to support so many brothers.

Could it be... to go up the mountains and become a bandit?

Of course not. If that were the case, he would be no different from bandits. Ye Shikai could only hope that upon reaching the Chu Territory, Hua Liandie would accept these brothers and provide for them.

"I wonder how Ling'er is doing now." Ye Shikai had regained his Inner Strength and possessed such "treasures" on hand. Even facing hordes of enemy troops, he remained unfazed, but he had many people to care for, leaving him worried.

"If you’re worried, you should go. After all, you now have Inner Strength and can cover hundreds of miles a day." At this moment, the voice of the blade spirit echoed in his mind.

"How could I do that when there are so many brothers here?"