Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1717 - 1632: Reflections After the Battle (Part 2)
With determination in his belief, Gan Ning stood up and looked towards the north. He didn’t know where exactly this place was, but if he remembered correctly, this was the Indochina Peninsula. Heading westward and reaching the western coastline, following the coastline, he could reach Kushan.
[I, Laozi, will steal their skills. Although I am not your opponent now, after I learn these, I am determined to return this failure to you!]
After thinking it over, Gan Ning could only think of going to secretly learn Kushan’s naval warfare techniques, and then combine them with his own understanding and experience to develop naval warfare techniques suitable for the Central Plains. After all, besides there, Gan Ning really couldn’t think of any other place that could provide these things.
Thinking of this, Gan Ning no longer hesitated, stepping westward. Without experiencing defeat, one will never know their weaknesses, and only after withstanding the test of failure can one make great strides forward.
Just as Gan Ning made up his mind to head westward to steal skills from Kushan, Taishi Ci and Guan Hai slowly awoke.
"Gan Xingba, you bastard..." Taishi Ci opened his eyes groggily and cursed in a low voice. Seeing Mi Fang and Xu Sheng, as well as some soldiers looking at him, but not seeing Gan Ning, he couldn’t continue cursing.
"Where is Xingba?" Taishi Ci asked Mi Fang after a moment of silence.
"..." Mi Fang remained silent for a long time and eventually did not speak.
"How many of us are left?" Taishi Ci asked with a heavy heart, observing the somber atmosphere around him. He knew that after this battle, if he didn’t consolidate the will of this group of people, the navy would be finished. It was the greatest defeat since its formation.
"One thousand six hundred and ninety-two people," Mi Fang replied, with Xu Sheng beside him also consciously not mentioning Gan Ning’s situation. They all understood very well the outcome Gan Ning, who chose to cover the retreat, would face.
"I’ll write the report to our lord. You stabilize the army’s morale first." Taishi Ci said after a moment of silence. This level of defeat, if he bore it alone, would likely mean there was little hope for his future career.
"No need, I’ve already written the report," Mi Fang calmly said, "I am essentially a waste, neither good at fighting nor at devising strategies. Ziyi, without Xingba, the navy absolutely cannot do without you."
"No way. Without you, we simply can’t build warships again, and although I can command the navy, there is still quite a gap compared to Xingba," Taishi Ci immediately rejected this suggestion. Without Mi Fang, the development of the navy would basically grind to a halt.
"That’s not important. What can’t be done can be learned. Our failure already shows that we have much room for improvement. I can’t contribute much in this aspect, and if I take the blame, at most I’ll be sent home. But given the status of the Mi Family, even if I’m dismissed, I can still live as a dandy, while you must rely on your strength to be ennobled as marquis and minister," Mi Fang said very solemnly.
"Besides, even if I’m punished, I can still have others invest on my behalf," Mi Fang said with a smile and handed his written report to Taishi Ci.
Taishi Ci was utterly shocked as he read the content of the report. As the one in charge of logistics, Mi Fang took all the blame, like selling off military supplies, high-quality grain, purchasing spoiled grain leading to Gan Ning’s unit’s poor combat performance, and eventually allowing Kushan to defeat the Han army, with significant casualties amongst officers and navy soldiers.
Just this one burden alone meant Mi Fang would never have a chance to rise again in his life. Even with Mi Zhu as an elder, the burden was too heavy. If Gan Ning wasn’t dead, Mi Fang would at most face criticism from Liu Bei, but if Gan Ning was dead, taking the blame could cost him his life.
"You can’t write it like this!" Taishi Ci immediately tore up the report.
"I have written it, and have already ordered someone to take it on a small boat ahead," Mi Fang shook his head and said, "Don’t worry, I won’t die. Although my elder brother always thought I was up to no good, at such a critical moment, he would definitely save me."
"Do you realize that doing this means you can never recover?" Taishi Ci shouted angrily.
"It’s nothing. I’ve already reached a point of no recovery. Only you and I qualify to take the blame here, and without me, the navy can still maintain itself; without you, there might be no navy left," Mi Fang said, patting Taishi Ci’s shoulder with a smile.
"I’m sorry. I’m entrusting everything to you. Ziyi, the future of the navy depends on you," Mi Fang said bitterly.
Taishi Ci’s hand, which was initially aimed at Mi Fang’s arm, suddenly paused, and he silently gazed at Mi Fang, not knowing what to say.
"Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Just take care of the navy. I hope to see in my lifetime our Great Han Dynasty have a fleet of a thousand warships," Mi Fang sighed.
"I will. I will do everything I can to train the Han army of the Great Han strong enough to defeat the Kushan navy," Taishi Ci slowly raised his hand, speaking in an oath-like tone.
"This puts my mind at ease," Mi Fang, who had been maintaining his composure, suddenly showed a trace of fatigue, then slowly stood up, looking noticeably older than before.
As for the navy, which was now left with only two warships, and the sailors on these ships, there was a significant polarization. Some were resolute in their desire for revenge, grateful for Gan Ning’s kindness and loyalty, and willing to repay with their lives to oppose Kushan.
The other part had completely lost their essence, qi, and spirit, utterly defeated by the might of the Kushan navy. In terms of numbers, they were roughly equal. Otherwise, the larger faction would have already influenced the other to be like themselves.
After all, this gradually awakening collective will, after a significant defeat, was in a state of condensation and fermentation, much like the soldiers following Hua Xiong’s defeat by Juo Yi in the past. However, unlike the pure nature of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, these soldiers’ will was vastly inferior, with too much negativity mixed in.
Additionally, there was no one to guide them. This type of will, not to mention achieving the Military Spirit, was far from achieving an elite soldiers’ will. But thankfully, Taishi Ci had awakened.
Without going into the details of Taishi Ci consolidating the remaining navy, suffice it to say that Gan Ning traveled westward. As an Inner Qi Manifestation, although he couldn’t move too fast due to internal injuries, his basic speed wasn’t very slow, and it took him several days to reach the western coast of the Indochina Peninsula.
Following the coastline northwest, Gan Ning had no idea that the South Asian Subcontinent was in chaos, with Vasu Deva I having smashed domestic dissent and freeing up over two hundred thousand troops, directly sending a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry to attack the Indian Peninsula.
Although Shendu had decent combat power, possessing most of India and benefiting from the Ganges River and India’s fertile land, making its agriculture very formidable, Shendu was essentially a tribal alliance. It appeared large and strong, but in terms of combat power, it had almost none.
Therefore, with virtually no combat power, Shendu was utterly battered by Kushan. These wealthy tribes transported carriages of supplies back, and the title of Vasu Deva I’s revival became increasingly resounding. As for being called a tyrant, Vasu Deva I no longer cared. As long as the profits were great enough, it didn’t matter if he was privately called a tyrant.
As a result, Kushan’s infantry and cavalry grew more confident with each battle, advancing faster and faster, fully realizing the strength of a united empire.
Of course, had the subsequent events not occurred, Shendu, this regional tribal alliance, would likely have been annexed by Kushan. But sometimes, things just happen unexpectedly.
"Your Highness, we are willing to offer a thousand miles of land, a million bushels of grain, ten thousand pairs of emerald jade, a hundred thousand cattle and horses, and submit to you as our ruler, paying tribute every year." The envoy of the Shendu alliance knelt anxiously at the feet of the very handsome Zhang Su, pleading for help.
With no choice, the entire South Asian Subcontinent was almost conquered by Kushan, and the Shendu alliance was on the brink of destruction. At this point, grabbing a big leg to hold onto was crucial. As for the promises of these things, who cares? Get them involved in the mess first. It’s better to find someone to die with than to die alone.
The catalyst for the Battle of Changping was Feng Ting giving Shangdang to Zhao State, allowing Hann State to escape the quagmire and become a bystander. Shendu now had the same idea. They wanted to become bystanders too!
