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Sitting in front of the bed, Zhao Kuo reached out to feel Li Mu's forehead, the burning sensation making him sigh inwardly. Just moments ago, the doctor had indicated that the patient might be suffering from excessive internal heat combined with wind and dampness. This doctor was currently the best in the city, so of course, whatever he said was taken as truth.
As long as it wasn't due to poisoning! Moreover, fainting and the current symptoms were completely different. Zhao Kuo signaled to the soldiers to follow the prescription and then personally escorted the doctor out the door, expressing his gratitude. After bidding farewell with cupped hands and preparing to return, he saw a warhorse rush out from the alley. However, the rider was not wearing armor but was dressed in the regular uniform of the Zhao Army.
The newcomer also spotted Zhao Kuo standing at the gate and quickly dismounted, gathering the reins as he approached Zhao Kuo and knelt down. "I pay my respects to General!"
Zhao Kuo helped Sima Shang up without asking for his intentions. Since Li Mu was here, it was obvious he had come for him. Thus, he said nothing more and turned to lead Sima Shang into the courtyard. At that moment, a sudden shout came from inside the house.
"I’ve been transferred five times in five days; where are you sending me now!? What do you want from me, Li Mu!?"
Hearing this, Sima Shang nearly cried out loud. He had feigned illness to come here because he was worried about his classmate. While claiming to be ill to the outside world, he had secretly slipped out of Handan City to visit Li Mu.
Listening to those words did not sound like someone who had just regained consciousness; Sima Shang looked at Zhao Kuo for answers. Zhao Kuo knew this was Li Mu venting in a feverish delirium and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. "How can our Zhao State tolerate such talents if we can't even accommodate someone like him? How can we expect to handle the world?"
Ever since following Prison Break, Sima Shang had become increasingly cautious and attentive. Learning from past mistakes, he dared not respond to what the general had just said. Everyone in Zhao knew that Zhao Kuo had the king's protection; as long as one wasn't rebelling, they could say whatever they wanted. Thus, he muttered ambiguously in response.
At this moment, several main forces gathered from various parts of Zhao were secretly on their way and would soon arrive around the county town. This meant that Zhao Kuo would lead 150,000 Zhao Army troops to support Shangdang.
With departure imminent, Zhao Kuo hoped that Sima Shang would join him on this expedition. As for the corruption case concerning the Dan Shui River Defense Line, the king had already stated that it would not be pursued further. If Sima Shang could achieve military merit this time, perhaps the king would be pleased enough to dismiss that case.
Sima Shang had indeed caught a chill but was not as severely affected as rumored. Hearing the general's warm invitation made his cold symptoms improve significantly. Although he hadn't officially engaged with the Qin Army in Shangdang Region before, he had heard Li Mu predict future outcomes. Now that General Zhao was preparing to return to Shangdang under such dire circumstances, it felt like an insurmountable deadlock.
Ancient wisdom states that when there is righteousness in the world, it will conquer unrighteousness. Ultimately, victory often hinges on this principle. As Li Mu said, what our Zhao Army should do now is not continue fighting or hold out for reinforcements! Instead, we should immediately withdraw from Shangdang and relinquish lands that do not belong to us.
This is not about passively allowing others to gain an advantage, but rather about looking at the situation realistically. The Zhao State has just ceded several cities to the Qin State in the first half of the year, which were all fertile lands. You say to disregard good land and instead venture over mountains to compete with the Qin Army for some barren hills. What kind of logic is that!?
Moreover, after the prolonged Shangdang Campaign, the Zhao State's national strength has clearly shown signs of fatigue. A swift resolution would be ideal, but currently, the chances of victory for the Zhao Army seem extremely slim. If they prepare to use exaggerated tactics against the main force of the Qin Army at Shangdang, the operational pressure would be too great. Not engaging in battle could at least protect the main force of the Zhao Army. Engaging would surely lead to defeat! The final outcome might leave hundreds of thousands of Zhao Army brothers without even knowing where their bones lie!
Sima Shang is inherently indecisive, yet he has made up his mind. Trust in Li Mu for eternal life! No matter what, he cannot follow Zhao Kuo back to Shangdang! Even if it must be done, it is fine as long as Li Mu agrees.
This is not because Sima Shang is cowardly or afraid of death, but rather a subconscious habit formed from years of following troops into battle. That is a place where life and death are at stake; following the great god Li Mu has never led to mistakes. Fighting is for victory and for survival. Charging in only to die is not called fighting; it should be called suicide!
At this moment, seeing this former Centurion being so submissive, Zhao Kuo no longer insisted on having Sima Shang accompany the army. He could have directly ordered Sima Shang to comply but chose not to do so. Besides, his original intention was to seek Li Mu rather than Sima Shang. Unfortunately, Li Mu is currently in a coma due to a high fever and cannot discuss this matter in advance.
Sima Shang noticed that Zhao Kuo was unconsciously glancing inside the room while speaking and immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. The General must be willing to go to great lengths to rescue Li Mu from prison, which must be for finding a death-seeking warrior. It can now be assumed that the final result will be that Li Mu will perish along with over four hundred thousand Zhao Army soldiers! But how can Li Mu, currently unconscious, voice any objections?
"General! You don't intend to transport Li Mu by cart to the front lines, do you? At his current state, he might not even make it halfway to Taihang Mountain before dying on the road."
Zhao Kuo sensed the underlying concern in Sima Shang's words and naturally understood that this was not an exaggeration. Just earlier when sending off the doctor, he had already learned that Li Mu's condition was extremely weak. Not to mention enduring a long journey with exposure to wind and rain; even stepping outside could pose a danger.
With messages being relayed back and forth by scouts, it seems they will officially set out in a few days. Li Mu can wait, but Zhao Kuo cannot afford to delay. War is not like going out for a market day; as long as one doesn't get lost, everything will be fine. Once the army moves, all troops arriving along the way need to regroup and deploy properly; these adjustments require time for reasonable coordination. Additionally, logistical arrangements are of utmost importance.
Another crucial point is that this operation must remain undiscovered by the Qin State; therefore, marching during daylight is not an option. It is essential to maintain secrecy and strive to transport this army prepared for great achievements secretly to Taihang Mountain to rendezvous with the main forces stationed there.
This time, King Zhao has evidently gone all out, risking everything by mobilizing over a hundred thousand carefully selected soldiers from various regions. There are even signs that troops stationed in northern Zhao State defending against Barbarians have been drawn upon; many soldiers stationed across various locations have been depleted significantly to ensure this secret support operation achieves success.
It is no wonder that Zhao Kuo feels confident at this moment; these are essentially all of Zhao State's resources.
In addition, the secret alliance formed by various Feudal States has begun to take action. The total number of the Allied Forces is estimated to be nearly 800,000! If such strength cannot defeat the Qin Army, then there is no point in complaining about fate anymore!
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