OBS Chapter 2105: Conviction
Chapter 2105: Conviction
Ma Chao's words were forceful and resounding, without the slightest attempt to justify himself or shift blame.
The area in front of the tent fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of the cold wind rustling the camp flags.
Han Xing looked at the valiant general before him, who, though exhausted, stood tall and had an open and honest gaze, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
There are regrets, understanding, and even more appreciation.
He knew that the battlefield situation was constantly changing, especially the night pursuit and the desperate rescue by the enemy's main force. To achieve the ultimate goal of "capturing and killing the commander-in-chief" was extremely difficult and required the right timing, location, and decisiveness.
Ma Chao had done an outstanding job, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, killing and capturing generals, and forcing Guo Ziyi to send out his entire force to rescue them. This in itself was a huge victory and a deterrent.
He stepped forward, took Ma Chao's arms with both hands, lifted him up, and said in a deep voice:
"General Ma, what makes you say that! You fought across dozens of miles, engaging in bloody battles one after another. First you defeated Qin Hong, then you captured Yuchi Bo, and you even confronted Guo Ziyi's main force head-on without being at a disadvantage, forcing him to retreat in a sorry state to save his lord. These are all monumental achievements!"
"Li Jing's escape was due to Guo Ziyi's relentless efforts and our army's exhaustion from prolonged fighting. It was not a fault of his own in battle, nor was it a failure of the general's command!"
Han Xing's tone became serious and sincere: "General, you are courageous in taking on responsibilities, do not boast of your achievements, and do not shirk your responsibilities. This is the demeanor of a great general, and I admire you greatly."
"However, it is absolutely unacceptable to plead guilty! Your Majesty is wise and will surely be able to clearly discern the merits and demerits of this battle."
"If the general pleads guilty for this, wouldn't that chill the hearts of the soldiers who have fought and bled on the front lines? I will personally report this matter to His Majesty in a joint letter with the general, and present the truth to His Majesty."
"General's merits deserve reward. Any regrets should be truthfully reported, but there is absolutely no reason for me to apologize!"
Hearing Han Xing's earnest words, Ma Chao felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
He knew that Han Xing was protecting him, and also protecting the morale of the entire army.
He wasn't really trying to shirk responsibility, but rather felt guilty for failing to achieve the ultimate goal.
"General Han..." Ma Chao was about to say something more.
Han Xing waved his hand to interrupt, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "General Ma has been fighting for days, and he and his horse must be exhausted."
"The most urgent task at present is to let the soldiers rest and recuperate, and to treat the wounded."
"Li Jingxin was defeated, and Guo Ziyi also suffered a setback. They will certainly not dare to make another attempt in the short term."
"As for the follow-up matters, we will discuss them in detail and then report to His Majesty before making a decision."
"General, please return to your camp and rest. I will take care of everything."
Seeing that Han Xing's attitude was firm and what he said made sense, Ma Chao did not insist any further.
He clasped his hands in a fist again: "In that case, this humble general will obey. I will trouble General Han to take care of everything."
He turned and left, his back still standing tall, but the weight of taking responsibility and the regret of not being able to complete the task remained quietly in Han Xing's heart.
Han Xing watched him leave, gently stroking his beard, his eyes swirling with thoughts.
He knew that Ma Chao's gesture of apology was less an admission of guilt and more a higher level of responsibility and a pursuit of the purity of victory.
Having such a general is a blessing for the Great Chu.
How to report to His Majesty, how to balance merits and demerits, how to appease the generals, and how to set the tone for the next step will be the important tasks he needs to carefully consider.
Watching Ma Chao's departing figure, which carried a hint of resentment and a resolute sense of responsibility, Han Xing stood still for a long time.
The afternoon wind was still biting, blowing his gray hair and beard and his somewhat worn robe sleeves.
Finally, he let out a long, silent sigh.
This sigh contained not only deep regret for failing to achieve complete success, but also heartfelt admiration for the character of generals like Ma Chao, and reflection on how to proceed.
He turned and slowly walked towards his tent.
The tent was simply furnished with a table, a chair, and a brazier of charcoal to ward off the chill.
He sat down behind the desk, spread out the plain white letter paper, ground the thick ink, and picked up the wolf-hair brush that had been with him for many years.
The pen tip hovered on the paper, trembling slightly, yet for a moment it was hard to know where to begin.
This is not an ordinary battle report, but one that relates to the final evaluation of a major battle that will shake the world.
It concerns the future of a valiant general who had just achieved great military exploits but then voluntarily pleaded guilty, and it also concerns the military and political landscape of the southern border for a considerable period of time to come.
After a moment of contemplation, Han Xing's eyes narrowed, and with a steady and respectful hand, he began to give a detailed report on the entire Battle of Zhennanguan to His Majesty Chu Ning, who was far away in the capital.
He began by describing His Majesty's personal presence, his encouragement of morale, and his decisive command, praising His Majesty's divine prowess and decisiveness as the fundamental reason why this battle was able to turn the tide and lay the foundation for victory.
He then gave an objective and clear account of the battle situation on this front.
Each and every incident, though written in concise language, vividly portrays the fierce battles and the soldiers' selfless dedication.
Then, the focus shifted to the most crucial and regrettable part of the pursuit.
He wrote truthfully that General Ma Chao keenly perceived the enemy's intention to provide support, decisively divided his troops to attack, first defeating Qin Hong's forces, and then besieging Li Jing's remaining forces, achieving remarkable military exploits.
However, the enemy commander Guo Ziyi, in order to rescue Li Jing, did not hesitate to personally lead his main force to come to his aid. His troops were numerous and fresh.
General Ma Chao led his troops in a bloody battle against the enemy reinforcements throughout the night. Although he captured the enemy general Yuchi Bo, he also inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy reinforcements.
However, due to the continuous battles and extreme exhaustion of his own troops, and the enemy's resolute determination to rescue him and their orderly formation, he failed to achieve the final goal of capturing and killing Li Jingzhi, resulting in Li Jingzhi being rescued by Guo Ziyi.
Han Xing paused at this point.
He knew that the following content was the most crucial part of the letter, concerning the evaluation and punishment of Ma Chao.
He took a deep breath and continued writing: "General Ma Chao, seeing that his soldiers were exhausted and the enemy was well-organized, assessed the situation and, in order to avoid unnecessary losses and preserve the elite fighting force of our army, took the initiative to order a halt to the pursuit and retreat to camp."
"Although this move may have overlooked some gems, a closer examination of the time and circumstances reveals it to be a mature and prudent choice."
"If we forcibly pursue them, using our exhausted troops to directly confront the enemy's strength, the outcome will be uncertain, and it may damage Your Majesty's foundation and shake the very foundation of the southern border."
Han Xing wrote this passage with exceptional care, carefully choosing each word.
He not only pointed out the objective reasons for Ma Chao's decision, but also elevated it to a strategic level of preserving combat power and consolidating the foundation, cleverly interpreting a tactical choice that did not achieve complete success as a "wise assessment of the situation" with a broad perspective.
Then, he changed his tone and began to plead for Ma Chao: "Since following Your Majesty, General Ma Chao has been loyal and brave without equal, and has made outstanding military achievements."
"In this southern expedition, he charged into battle, was invincible, captured and killed enemy generals, and intimidated the enemy. He is truly the hero of this battle."
"Now he is deeply blaming himself for failing to capture Li Jing, and even wants to write a letter to apologize. This shows his loyalty, integrity, courage to take on responsibilities, and his willingness to live up to Your Majesty's kindness."
At this point, Han Xing's tone became more earnest and serious: "However, Your Majesty is wise beyond measure. Changing generals on the battlefield is a major taboo in military strategy."
"General Ma Chao has long been stationed in the southern frontier, is familiar with the enemy's situation and geography, and is deeply loved and supported by the army. All the soldiers are willing to die for him."
"If we were to criticize him for a moment of blame, it would not only dampen the spirits of the meritorious official, but also shake the morale of the troops at the front, giving the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."