Chapter 273 Quality of Officers (2/2)

Lu Bu was sitting cross-legs without wearing any upper garment.

The wounds on Lu Bu's body piled up on top of his old scars. Combined with the shrapnel scars when Lu Bu fought with Tong, the marks on his torso did not leave any place with good skin.

Two army physicians pulled out the last piece of iron fragment out of Lu Bu's fresh before they sew the wounds with their needles.

Zhang Liao entered the infirmary tent, coming to update the latest movements the armies on both sides.

Sensing Zhang Liao's aura signature, Lu Bu, who had been sitting straight and cross-legs, opened his eyes.

”What is Yuan Shao's movement?”

”The last intel from this morning, they are moving east. I think they are retreating back to Guangchuan County.”

”Are they still have more supplies there?”

”Positive. The depot that I burned should have about 20,000 to 30,000 stones of food. I don't think it's everything they have.”

Lu Bu clicked his tongue, having a foul mood as he wanted revenge on Yuan Shao and his generals.

Yesterday, he was stopped by Wen Chou and Yan Liang, who ganged on him in the duel. Thanked the duo, he could not kill a single soldier in the previous battle. In addition, he suffered several injuries because of their bomb bags.

Zhang Liao continued his reports, ”The captured prisoners have been transferred to Julu for Zhang Tong to decide their fate. As for our losses, we lost 5,000 of our men while Julu lost 10,000. The rest are injured.”

Lu Bu exhaled, feeling relieved that most of Jinyang's elites were still alive. They were like his children that he personally raised. Losing so many of them still pained Lu Bu in the inside, but he never revealed it on his face.

”What about Yuan Shao's dead soldiers? How many have we killed?”

”Estimated from the corpses that we gathered, about 40,000 at least.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lu Bu's mouth for a second before his smile returned into his usual grumpy expression.

.

Xu Huang, the hand-picked general that Tong promoted in the Battle of Liyang, also meditated inside his private tent.

In his mind, he was reviewing the past battles he had. The experiences of leading ten thousands of soldiers boosted his confidence, but it was nerve-wracking at the same time.

However, he had his personal trick that could keep him motivated and clear his random thought in the difficult battle.

As Xu Huang closed his eyes, the picture of Tong overcoming all odds with everything he had was still imprinted in his mind. He had this image stuck on him ever since Tong dueled against Huang Zhong at Liyang, which made Xu Huang felt as if he witnessed a hero in a fairy tale fighting against his enemies.

In the battle yesterday, Tian Feng put Xu Huang in a tough spot a couple of times that he panicked. But after he thought of how Tong overcame all obstacles, his mind became clear, and he could see how he could exploit Tian Feng and Qu Yi's weaknesses.

As a result, he captured Qu Yi, killed six of their commanders, and routed their flank armies. By the time that Tian Feng retreated, Xu Huang finally realized that his platoons pressed into Yuan Shao's formation so deep that they almost reached the position of Yuan Shao main platoons.

After he returned to base, Jia Xu and others praised him for his deeds, but Xu Huang still doubted that he deserved it.

'I'm nothing compared to young master Zhang! I can see a total of 26 missed opportunities! If it were him, he could have done it better than me. He would have killed Yuan Shao before they retreated!'

'For the sake of saving more people, I must improve!'

Xu Huang got up from his bed and walked to the empty tea table. He placed several stones on it, thinking that they were Yuan Shao's battalions of soldiers. Xu Huang continued reviewing the battle until dusk.

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While other generals had their own issues, Lu Zhi strolled in army camps, visiting injured soldiers.

He did not say much to the weakened men. He simply cupped his fist at them and said, ”Thank you for protecting our citizens.”

Several soldiers broke into tears hearing the words, which caused chain reaction between the soldiers as they felt like their injuries and the death of their comrades was not in vain.

While Lu Zhi was at it, he reaffirmed Tong's current policies of military personal welfare.

”All participants in this battle will receive a year worth of salary. All crippled will be paid 10 years of wages, and the families of the dead will be compensated by the government.”

This boosted the morale of all soldiers despite the gloom atmosphere after the battle yesterday.

Any camp that Lu Zhi passed, liveliness returned to the men as cheers and laughter could be heard.

Jia Xu also took notice of this and nodded in approval.

'As expected of that brat's mentor. He's through with his management and psychologies. Heck, all soldiers will praise that brat even though he isn't even here! What a politician …'

'All of Tong's subordinates are exceptional, I see. Well, that's better than having to work with a bunch of buffoons like Dong Zhuo or He Jin. Come to think of it, how is the battle at Ye, Zhongshan, or Ji?'