Chapter 334 - 334: End of the Great Battle
Qin Xiaoyao continued to outrageously holler out the news that she had beheaded Xiao Yuan.
Along the way, the Liao troops were similarly terrified.
When some Liao generals saw this, they immediately threatened her and denied the news that Qin Xiaoyao had killed their Supreme Commander.
However, when many of the soldiers saw the head in Qin Xiaoyao’s hand, they could not disbelieve it. In fact, many people began to waver.
With that, the Liao army’s morale began crumbling and the troops began to think of retreating.
The Supreme Commander was dead, so was it still necessary for them to continue attacking High Pass Town?
“I’ve already killed Xiao Yuan. You all should retreat quickly!” Qin Xiaoyao was incomparably arrogant as she continued to gallop on her horse.
She was not afraid even when she encountered large groups of Liao soldiers on the way. She simply rode her horse through them.
Along the way, she even slew a few more Liao soldiers.
The Liao soldiers were downright terrified, and not many of them dared to pursue Qin Xiaoyao.
Even if some soldiers gave chase, they would stop after a certain distance.
Firstly, they couldn’t catch up with the horse, and secondly, their fighting spirit had been eroded.
It was the same rationale. If their Supreme Commander was really killed, what was the point of them attacking High Pass Town?
Just like that, Qin Xiaoyao shouted all the way into the town center district.
After that, she returned to the east town.
When the Second Prince heard that Qin Xiaoyao had returned triumphantly, he came out with a group of generals to personally welcome her.
When they saw that the head in Qin Xiaoyao’s hand was really Xiao Yuan’s, everyone was shocked.
“This… Teacher! You really did it!” the Second Prince exclaimed.
At the same time, he gestured for the guard beside him to take the head from Qin Xiaoyao’s hands.
The rest of the generals also praised Qin Xiaoyao when they saw that.
They felt that Qin Xiaoyao was like a heavenly general. In less than a night, she had gone to the Liao army’s campsite that housed tens of thousands of troops and chopped down the head of the enemy’s commander.
This was Xiao Yuan! He was the Supreme Commander of the Liao State and also the biggest enemy of the Great Jin State’s border stations for decades.
He was actually slain just like that!
Many people couldn’t believe their eyes and kept staring at Xiao Yuan’s head.
Qin Xiaoyao exchanged a few words with the generals before handing Xiao Yuan’s head to the guard.
“Thankfully 1 didn’t fail you!
“Now that Xiao Yuan is dead, the rest is up to you, Your Highness.”
The Second Prince smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry. We will definitely win this battle!” he said confidently.
“Men! Send Teacher Qin back to rest!” the Second Prince instructed quickly.
Qin Xiaoyao didn’t decline and quickly left.
After that, the Second Prince began to make arrangements for the follow-up tasks.
The first thing he had to do was to spread the news of Xiao Yuan’s death.
Passing the news to the Liao army was one thing, but he also had to pass it on to the Liao State and the Great Jin Imperial Court.
Once Xiao Yuan died, not only would the Liao army retreat, but the Liao State would also change its policy toward the Great Jin State.
Next, peace talks were inevitable.
However, the two parties could, at the very least, sit down and talk as equals.
In fact, if they grasped the situation well, their Great Jin State might even have the upper hand.
After returning to the campsite, Qin Xiaoyao asked someone to bring her some food. She went to sleep after eating.
Perhaps because she knew that the hidden threat had been removed, Qin Xiaoyao had a particularly good sleep.
When she woke up, it was already night.
At this juncture, the battle at High Pass Town had ended.
After the Liao army confirmed Xiao Yuan’s death and lost many soldiers, a portion of the Liao army retreated from High Pass Town and returned to the campsite outside the town.
At this moment, the Liao army’s campsite was covered in white banners and the entire army was dressed in white mourning robes.
The news that Xiao Yuan had been killed by Qin Xiaoyao had become a widely acknowledged fact.
Qin Xiaoyao was pleased when she heard the news.
Following this, she went to look for the Second Prince.
At first, the Second Prince was busy with the post-war matters, but when he heard that Qin Xiaoyao was here, he threw aside the matters in his hands and went out to welcome her.
Then, he ordered his men to prepare some food and wine with the intention to treat Qin Xiaoyao to a meal.
Qin Xiaoyao didn’t stand on ceremony. As she ate, she asked the Second Prince for an update on the current situation.
“The Liao army has lost their commander and the banners calling for a truce are hanging high in their campsite. They will not attack High Pass Town anymore.
“In addition, the news of Xiao Yuan’s death has been sent back to the Liao State by our people and the Liao army itself.
“The Liao Imperial Court should have a response soon.
“Previously, the Liao Emperor was not willing to get embroiled in a large-scale chaotic war with our Great Jin State. Now that Xiao Yuan is dead and the Liao army has been defeated, the Liao State can’t continue to fight us. Therefore, the peace talks between the two states will continue very soon.”
Qin Xiaoyao nodded. She agreed with the Second Prince’s analysis.
“However, now that the situation has reversed, our Great Jin State cannot agree to the conditions that the Liao State has offered in the past.” At this point, the Second Prince’s face was already full of smiles.
“On the contrary, if the Liao State wants to redeem their people, they will have to pay a high price.” He didn’t forget that Teacher Qin had previously captured some Liao soldiers in the Jin territories.
He had already passed down orders to all the counties and cities to escort the captives to High Pass Town.
If the Liao State wanted to redeem its people, they had to use real gold and silver to exchange.
And it just so happened that he had lost a lot of men during this period of time.
Recruiting new soldiers and maintaining them required a large amount of army provisions.
“This time, it is really all thanks to you, Teacher.
“I’ve already submitted a petition to the Imperial Court to ask for credit on your behalf, Teacher. I believe the Imperial decree will come soon,” the Second Prince continued. He looked at Qin Xiaoyao with eyes full of appreciation.
Qin Xiaoyao also smiled.
“Thank you, Your Highness!” She cupped her fists at the Second Prince.
Since she was determined to pursue power, she naturally treasured the reward from the Imperial Court.
She only hoped that the Imperial Court could give her a higher rank, with greater authority. In fact, the greater the authority, the better.
The Second Prince was very pleased with Qin Xiaoyao’s reaction.
“Next up is the matter of the peace talks between the two states. It will most likely be moved to the capital.
“In two days, when the situation at the border has settled down, you can return to the capital with me, Teacher,” the Second Prince continued. When he spoke of returning to the capital, there was even some sparkle of radiance in his eyes. His Emperor father’s health was getting worse and worse, and he finally began to pine for his son who had been staying at the border.
In addition, this time, his son was stationed at High Pass Town and turned the tide at the critical moment, crushing the Liao army.
Under the advice of the various ministers in the court, his Emperor father finally had enough reason to summon him back to the capital.
He was finally… going back.
Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and nodded.
“Alright.”
The capital was a place where people vie for glory, so it was good for her to go.
Besides, she would have a better chance of finding her husband if she went there.
The Second Prince was overjoyed as he raised his cup to Qin Xiaoyao.
“Teacher, cheers!”
“Your Highness, cheers!” Qin Xiaoyao returned the toast.
Over the next five days, High Pass Town gradually regained its liveliness.
Large numbers of Liao army captives were escorted to High Pass Town.
At the same time, Chu Jin had finally ended the war in Hua An Prefecture and led his troops back to High Pass Town.
At this point, the Liao army’s invasion had ended in complete failure.
On the tenth day, the Imperial decree from the Imperial Court finally arrived.
Qin Xiaoyao was directly conferred the rank of Lieutenant General because of her outstanding achievements.
Moreover, the Imperial Court had also ordered Qin Xiaoyao to return to the capital to accept her reward.
The Second Prince had also received the Imperial decree for his reward and entered the capital on the same day as Qin Xiaoyao.
As the two of them had a tacit understanding, the next day, they led their guards and set off on the journey back to the capital.
The two of them still didn’t know that the capital was currently in a state of turmoil.
As the two of them set off, the situation in the capital would change dramatically.
Half a month later, on the day after Qin Xiaoyao and the Second Prince arrived in the capital, the palace finally sent an Imperial decree to announce that the two would go to court the next day..