After returning from the tavern, Xia Lan's tense state of mind finally relaxed.
Ning Teng, the Prefectural Governor of Nanyang, had been convinced by him. Their safety in Nanyang had been guaranteed.
When they returned to the inn, it was already dusk.
At this moment, Huan He was discussing something with Wang Ben, Yang Duanhe, and the others.
Wang Ben greeted Xia Lan as she walked in.
"General Lan Bai has returned?"
Xia Lan hurriedly cupped her hands at everyone and said,""Greetings, Commander-in-chief and Generals."
Huan He nodded and looked at Xia Lan curiously,""Lan Bai will go…"
"Commander-in-chief," Xia Lan quickly replied,"I went to inquire about the news.”
"How is it?"
Huan He hurriedly asked.
Before Xia Lan came back, Wang Ben and Yang Duanhe had reported to him that the spies from the State of Qin in Jin City had disappeared.
It was unknown if they had been recalled or if they had been discovered by the local guards and captured.
Therefore, without the help of spies, it was not easy for a group of unknown people like them to pass through the Qin-Han checkpoint and return to the Qin country.
However, Xia Lan smiled faintly and said,"Commander-in-chief, if nothing goes wrong, we can leave Jin City tomorrow and return to Great Qin."”
These words made everyone frown.
They did not know where Xia Lan's confidence came from.
This was South County, an important border town of the Han Nation.
Why did Xia Lan say that Jin City was just like a woman who could come and go as she pleased?
Xia Lan didn't plan to tell Huan He and the others about Ning Teng defecting to Qin.
Normally speaking, the fewer people who knew about this matter, the safer it was for Ning Teng.
Moreover, Xia Lan also had some selfish motives.
This was a huge contribution, and he didn't want to share it with others.
Every man for himself.
He still wanted to rely on his military achievements to climb up to a high position step by step in the future. At that time, it would be more convenient for him to find his biological parents and also satisfy his wish to admire the glory of the eternal emperor with his own eyes.
"Commander-in-chief, this general has already found a shortcut out of the city.”
Xia Lan said confidently as she touched the waist token Ning Teng had given her in her pouch.
Hearing his words, Huan He and the others didn't ask further.
After all, Xia Lan's actions along the way had gradually won everyone's trust.
Huan He had already made up his mind.
If he could return to Xianyang safely this time, he would personally apologize to the King of Qin, resign from his military post, and recommend Xia Lan.
Huan He knew that Xia Lan was no longer a noble, and with the military merits he had earned, it was enough for him to be promoted to an official.
With this title, he could at least hold the position of a commandant in the army.
Even if he was placed in a place, he could also be a county captain.
The position of a county lieutenant was even more powerful than that of the future head of the Provincial Palace Security Office. After all, a county lieutenant not only managed the security of the county, but also had the responsibility of commanding the army.
Since Xia Lan had already settled this matter, Huan He and the others felt much more at ease. They chatted for a while before going back to rest.
……
The next morning.
Everyone got up early and ate some food before packing up and preparing to set off.
Under Xia Lan's lead, everyone walked towards the gate of Jin City that led straight to the Qin-Han border.
This made everyone curious.
Didn't we agree to take a shortcut?
Why did he swagger through the city gates?
If they were stopped and interrogated, their identities would be exposed, and all their efforts would be in vain.
Although they were puzzled, they did not say anything when they saw Xia Lan's confident expression.
They followed the crowd out of the city and slowly walked forward.
In front, the soldiers guarding the city were indeed very strict.
Everyone who wanted to leave the city had to show a special pass and undergo some interrogation.
This made everyone even more worried.
Soon, the team slowly advanced, and it was their turn.
Xia Lan slowly walked up to the soldier guarding the city. She took out the waist token from her pouch and waved it in front of the soldier.
The soldier took a closer look and his expression immediately became respectful. He cupped his hands at Xia Lan and opened the door to let her in.
They exited the city gate safely. Huan He and the others were very curious about what Xia Lan had shown the soldier that could allow them to leave the city so easily.
However, since Xia Lan did not mention it, they could not ask.
After all, they had already left the city.
They only needed to travel ten kilometers before they reached Great Qin.
Looking at the land of Great Qin, Huan He felt incredibly emotional.
After a few months, he had left Great Qin with 100,000 soldiers, wanting to expand Great Qin's territory and make a name for himself.
But now…
The 100,000 strong army was gone.
He had also become a defeated general, tainting his life with a stain.
Forget it...
Huan He shook his head and slightly reined in his horse.
Everyone had different thoughts as they slowly walked forward.
……
Xianyang, Zhangtai Palace.
The atmosphere of today's court meeting was very depressing.
As the King of the Great Qin Empire, Ying Zheng was sitting on the nine-storied platform with a gloomy face.
Below the stage, the civil and military officials lowered their heads and did not dare to speak.
Da!
Da!
……
Ying Zheng supported his forehead with one hand, while the fingers of his other hand tapped lightly on the documents in front of him.
After a long time-
He slowly raised his head and looked at the ministers below."Who can tell me why we lost this battle?”
"Also, my 100,000 men are all dead?”
"Where is General Huan He? Where's General Wang Ben?"
Ying Zheng's voice gradually rose.
His gaze also turned towards the leader of the generals, Wang Jian.
"General, tell me."
When Wang Jian heard that, he slowly walked to the middle of the hall and knelt on the ground with a plop.
"Your Majesty, this defeat is all my fault. The 100,000 troops on the northern front, General Huan He, General Duan He, and…"
Thinking about how his son and grandson had both gone missing on the northern battlefield, Wang Jian's heart could be said to feel as if a knife was twisting in it.
"Your Majesty, I…" he said sorrowfully.
Looking at Wang Jian's appearance, Ying Zheng could not bear to see him like this.
It wasn't just Great Qin's 100,000 soldiers who had died on the northern front, but also the son and grandson of this old general.
"Forget it, Old General, please rise."
Ying Zheng slightly raised his head and sighed, then said with a murderous look,""I know that the most fundamental reason for our defeat is that the Han Country dared to send troops to ambush our army!”
"I want to attack Korea again, destroy its country and its ancestral temple!”
"I will avenge the deaths of the 100,000 soldiers and General Huan He!”
"I want all the countries to know the consequences of provoking Great Qin!”
"What do you think, dear ministers?"
Ying Zheng's face darkened as he suddenly waved his sleeves and looked at the ministers below the stage.
"Ten thousand years for the Great King, ten thousand years for the State of Qin!"
"Ten thousand years for the Great King, ten thousand years for the State of Qin!"
"Ten thousand years for the Great King, ten thousand years for the State of Qin!"
……
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