"How could it come to this?" Mi Wen stood there as if struck by lightning, staring blankly at the battle report in Ye Shikai’s hand, which included a personal letter from Huo Ziqing. Its main content was just four words.

The situation is urgent.

"Quick, summon the civil and military officials for a discussion," Mi Wen said sharply. Ye Shikai nodded and, as he walked towards the council chamber, his mind kept pondering solutions. Although the thirty thousand Qin Army troops from Xianyang had cut off the Chu Army’s retreat, Huo Ziqing still had an army of a hundred thousand, and the forces had not suffered any loss. They still possessed the capability for battle. It was indeed possible to turn the army’s strength to forcefully break through the blockage at the rear. However, Ba Shu is full of steep mountains, making it easy for the Qin Army to defend and difficult for others to attack from higher ground. Even if victory is possible, it will take a long time and a huge cost. Moreover, the Qin Army has not only blocked the Chu Army’s retreat but also its supply line. A hundred thousand troops consume a vast amount of food and provisions daily. Without supplies, the army will crumble without a fight.

Thus, the only solution is to send reinforcements to clear the supply route. However... only twenty thousand old, weak, sick, and disabled remain in the city. It is feared that there are no additional forces in the counties and prefectures across the Chu Territory. The new recruits are still in training, so how could people and horses possibly be mobilized?

Unconsciously, Ye Shikai and Mi Wen had already walked to the council chamber. The ministers who had arrived upon hearing the news were also discussing it incessantly. This battle report had been intercepted by Ye Shikai directly from the courier, so the civil and military officials still didn’t know what had happened.

"Gentlemen, a military report has come from the front line. The Qin Army has circumvented and attacked the supply line behind General Huo. The situation is extremely critical. Does anyone have good suggestions?"

"This..."

"How did it come to this?"

"Yes, a few days ago, everything seemed fine. How did the retreat suddenly get cut off?"

"Now, the forces in the city are empty. I’m afraid... it’s challenging to send reinforcements."

"Indeed, I’m truly at a loss for what to do."

The ministers began whispering when they heard this news, each wearing a worried expression, yet nobody could come up with a solution.

"What, do none of you have any idea?" Mi Wen showed displeasure. Historically, the kings who could unify the world always had capable assistants, certainly several outstanding advisors. But judging from their performance these days, Ye Shikai didn’t think any minister under Mi Wen was extraordinary, though not entirely useless either. In short, most were of average talent and ability. From a historical perspective, Mi Wen eventually failed. Perhaps lacking superior assistance was a significant reason.

"My Lord, General Huo commands most of our elite forces, including the direct lineage and the armor-clad cavalry. In my humble opinion, sending troops for rescue is necessary, coordinating from inside and out to break through the retreat route, then retreating the army slowly from Ba Shu, planning a counterattack later."

"Impossible! General Huo is already four hundred li deep into Ba Shu, having captured five to six cities. Retreating now would indeed be a pity, and in the future, the Qin Army will undoubtedly be on alert. It will be as difficult as climbing the sky to reclaim Ba Shu."

A few ministers stood up, engaging in a heated "debate," making the scene indeed quite "lively."

Ye Shikai stood silently on one side, with Mi Wen glancing occasionally in his direction. It was clear she wanted to seek Ye Shikai’s opinion, but frankly, he indeed had no solution. A cultivator is not a magician; it’s impossible to conjure up a million troops with a wave of a hand. Without an army, he had no solutions either.

"General Ye, you achieved great victory at Nanyang. Do you have any suggestions?" Mi Wen asked proactively when Ye Shikai remained silent, showing she wouldn’t let him "skate by."

With Mi Wen’s words, all eyes turned towards Ye Shikai, who was in the corner...

"General Ye annihilated Zheng Lang in Nanyang and defeated Wang Li, spreading the might of our Chu State and boosting our military prestige. At this critical moment, surely General Ye has a strategy?" Some ministers flattered, making it hard for Ye Shikai to retreat without saying anything. It seemed inevitable to say something.

"Ahem, I don’t have any significant suggestions, but... General Huo’s hundred thousand Chu Army is our capital. In my humble opinion, we must not lose it. Otherwise, even if we seize two prefectures of Ba Shu, losing this hundred thousand would mean we have no main force, and we would lose the ability to contend against the Qin Army."

"So, your idea is to dispatch troops for rescue?" Mi Wen questioned.

"Exactly."

"General Ye, forgive me for being blunt. The forces in the city are insufficient. If we wish to dispatch reinforcements, it may take a long time to prepare." This time, a minister stood up in opposition.

"The new recruits are barely starting their training, and the armor and weapons aren’t complete. We simply can’t set out."

"Indeed, besides, the provisions haven’t been prepared adequately." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

In the present situation, the ministers split into two factions. One advocated immediately dispatching troops for rescue, while the other favored waiting. Wait till the training is complete, armor, weapons, and provisions are prepared before setting out. In the meantime, Huo Ziqing would lead the hundred thousand troops and garrison in place, relying on a few fortified cities and the remaining provisions to hold out.

Ye Shikai leaned more towards the former; the key to warfare is swiftness. Delay invites unforeseen changes. If procrastinated, morale would eventually become unstable, making the situation uncontrollable. However, leading troops untrained and ill-equipped in armor and weapons to face the elite Qin Army from Xianyang would be seeking death.

The ministers debated the entire morning without reaching any conclusions, ultimately parting unhappily.

....................................

"What? Could it be you really haven’t thought of any way?" After leaving the council chamber, Mi Wen privately approached Ye Shikai to ask.

"Do you think I’m withholding? If there were a good solution, I’d have said it in the council chamber," Ye Shikai sighed. "Without troops, anything said is like ’firing blanks,’ just like the old saying, ’a resourceful woman can’t cook without rice.’

"What should we do if we don’t send reinforcements?"

"Alas, let Huo Ziqing lead the army to clear the retreat path first. With tens of thousands at stake, even losing half is preferable to losing the whole supply line," Ye Shikai sighed deeply.

"But... wouldn’t this mean the campaign against Ba Shu failed?"

"Mi Wen, oh no, my Lord, losing several thousand is better than being wiped out. You have to give up something to gain something. If you grasp everything tightly now, you’ll end up with nothing," Ye Shikai advised.

"Is there really no other way?" Mi Wen remained slightly unwilling, reluctant to withdraw unless absolutely necessary.