Chapter 350 A Failure Campaign (2/2)

The clan chat exploded. Jia Xu, Xun Yu, Sima Fang, and Ju Shou were out for blood. However, everyone stopped when Tong finally gave his command.

Tong: ”Withdraw everyone back to our territory.”

The message stopped for a few minutes. Everyone wanted to ask about Tong's health and his condition, but no one dared to utter a word.

Jia Xu, Xun Yu, and Ju Shou had the urge to comment on this campaign, but they could not voice out their thoughts.

Losing Hua Shi was cruel enough. Now, Tong had lost another wife, who was also the empress of the Han Dynasty.

This campaign against Xiongnu ended in a disaster. They failed to take Khan's head, but they lost two prominent figures. None of them could find the right words to console Tong anymore.

Yet, Tong continued sending messages.

Tong: ”Aside from Zhang He's Ghost Legion, Xu Huang's Silver Axe Legion, and Sima Fang's reserve forces, I want to see everyone in Ye. Gather there before the end of the year. I have an important matter to discuss with all clan members.”

Tong: ”We shall hold her majesty's funeral along with Hua Shi once when we return.”

Finally, Jia Xu mustered his courage and asked.

Jia Xu: ”Are we letting Gongsun Du go?”

Tong: ”No. We are going to trap his forces here while we invade his territories.”

Tong: ”Senior Sima, surround them and wither their numbers. You don't have to press for the kill, but I want you to waste Gongsun Du's time in our territory.”

Tong: ”Feihong, Zhang He, move to Liyang and blockade the south. Don't let this bastard escape to Cao Cao's territory.”

Tong: ”Xu Huang, I want you in Nanpi. Prepare your legion for the northern campaign! Your goal is to capture all of Gongsun clansmen. I want Gongsun Du's family alive, especially his sons!”

Jia Xu: ”What are you planning? Are you trying to torture Gongsun Du for your revenge?”

Tong: ”Yes, I want revenge, but killing him now is too easy.

Tong: ”Once I have all of them, and we capture that backstabbing bastard, we'll torture and kill everyone in front of Gongsun Du!”

Lu Zhi read all the chat with his heart stuck in his throat. He felt guilty that he could not protect the empress and led the situation to the present.

'I've failed you, disciple. I've also failed you, your majesty.'

Before this had happened, Lu Zhi's hair was a mixture of black hairs and grey hairs. Now, 90% of his hair turned grey as if he had become ten years older. His eyes also reddened as if he was on the verge of tears.

A minute later, the group of sullen physicians exited the infirmary tent with a piece of bad news.

”We're sorry.”

They informed Zhao Yun, Tian Yu, and Lu Zhi about their failure. Liu Xie also heard the news, which he wailed.

Zhao Yun's body trembling as he knelt, gazing into the tent in disbelief, ”I've failed my duty … again.”

Tian Yu held his head as he bit his lower lips, ”NO! I-I have done my best! But why!?”

.

The news spread within Lu Zhi's men, and they stopped marching for the rest of the day.

Many were shocked, sad, and angered. These soldiers believed that they were fighting for the Han Dynasty and the royal bloodline, yet they failed their duties because of Gongsun Du's betrayal.

All of them were once the soldiers of Gongsun Zan, who was also a royalist. Thus, Gongsun Zan had influenced their thoughts.

The remaining soldiers shed tears of anger and hatred, wanting to shred Gongsun Du to pieces. All Gongsun Zan's sergeants and officers visited Lu Zhi at his tent, kneeling and kowtowing to him.

”Lord Lu Zhi, please allow us to serve Master Zhang Tong!”

”We want revenge! Please let us serve Lord Zhang Tong.”

”We know that you're still working for him! Please let us join you!”

”As long as Master Zhang Tong can kill Gongsun Du, we shall give you our lives!”

As Lu Zhi could not reject these men, he extended his hands to raise them.

”I know. I always loyal to her majesty, and Gongsun Zan was one of my proud disciples. We shall get our revenge!”

The men's cried as they slammed their forehead on the ground.

With this, another 10,000 white riders of Gongsun Zan joined forces with Tong and Lu Zhi.

.

Gongsun Du learned about the escape from Wang Men later that day. However, they did not know about her death.

The new clan lord had a headache. At this rate, the empress would have declared them as traitors, and they would be ganged by all warlords in this country.

Gongsun Du looked around, planning to ask Budugen for advice. Unfortunately, Budugen was not present.

Without anyone to rely upon, Gongsun Du made a decision.

”We're going to claim one of the counties around here to resupply. Then, we'll draft more soldiers and return to our territory!”

Meanwhile, Budugen had also sneaked to the west, escaping from the battlefield and Tong's territory through the western mountain range.

As Sima Fang established the blockade at the eastern region of Ye City, Budugen and his 5,000 men slipped through the net unhindered.

He looked back at the northern plain with a smirk.

'All of you dirty Hans can fight each other to the death. I'll rally my tribesmen, and I'll be back!'