Chapter 24
“Foolish emperor, don’t you dare feel smug!”
The Emperor of the Mo Kingdom retorted sarcastically: “The reason for my defeat is merely bad luck, having been beaten by fate, not by you! Give me another chance, and I will surely lead my army southward, flatten the Xia Kingdom, and take your head!”
Even if defeated, one must not lose their spirit!
Lin Beifan let out a cold laugh, “Long Paopao, stop with the empty talk! You’re now short on troops and have lost your territories. Whether you can even preserve the Mo Kingdom is in question!”
The Emperor of Mo Kingdom’s mood grew heavy.
Lin Beifan was right. He had lost 600,000 troops, and now only 200,000 remained to defend the Capital City, even less than Lin Beifan.
This was a huge piece of fat, indeed. Even if the Xia Kingdom didn’t attack, neighboring kingdoms would covet it.
With only 200,000 troops, defending a nation was too difficult!
He couldn’t understand how the once favorable situation had turned out this way.
He hadn’t done anything to outrage both gods and men!
Ever since his ascension to the throne, he had worked tirelessly to maintain his ancestors’ legacy. Although he might not be considered a wise ruler, he was certainly not a mediocre one, and he was much better than that foolish emperor!
But why did the heavens favor that foolish emperor and not him?
The Mo Kingdom Emperor stubbornly said, “Our Mo Kingdom is large and our army strong; we will surely hold our ground. There’s no need for your concern! If you don’t believe it, just try attacking and see if I can defend it or not.”
Lin Beifan snorted, “I don’t want to attack at all!”
With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “Withdraw the troops. We’re returning to the capital!”
Everyone was stunned. “Your Majesty, are we really going back and not fighting anymore?”
Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, “Of course! Although the Mo Kingdom has been greatly defeated, they are firmly defending the Capital City. Their military strength is on par with ours, and they have the advantage of defending the city. It would be too difficult to defeat them! Continuing the fight would inevitably lead to heavy losses, which I do not wish to see.”
The generals all nodded in deep agreement.
“What Your Majesty says is very true. But what about the territories we have conquered?” An Lushan inquired.
Lin Beifan made a grand gesture with his hand: “We don’t want any of them!”
The generals were all dumbfounded: “What? Why not?”
This was the territory they had fought so hard for. How could they just give it up?
Lin Beifan gave a faint smile and said, “Because our total military strength is only 200,000, how can we defend such a vast territory? The Mo Kingdom will certainly not rest easy, and the neighboring kingdoms won’t just stand by and watch!”
“If we take over this territory, we will face enemies from all sides, and the pressure will be too great. It will plant the seeds of our nation’s downfall! Our Xia Kingdom is small and our military is weak; it’s not the time to make enemies on all fronts! So, it’s better not to want this piece of territory!”
Everyone nodded again, agreeing with Lin Beifan’s words.
They were extremely surprised in their hearts. This foolish emperor actually had such foresight; suddenly, they found themselves unable to see through the emperor before them!
Sometimes he was particularly foolish, and sometimes he was exceptionally wise…
Truly a very complex contradiction!
“But Your Majesty, the soldiers have fought so hard to conquer this land. We can’t just abandon everything!” someone advised.
Lin Beifan secretly smiled. He had already taken the greatest benefits; this land was nothing but an empty shell now. What use was there in taking it?
It would easily arouse the covetousness of various forces. Better not to take it at all!
“Alright, my ministers, let’s return. Take all the valuable things we find along the way! In addition, I promise that once we return, I will surely reward each of you based on your contributions!”
In the end, under Lin Beifan’s leadership, everyone returned to the capital in triumph.
……
And the final outcome of this battle spread throughout the land.
The Mo Kingdom Emperor was utterly defeated by Lin Beifan, who led a massive army against him, forcing him to flee in a disheveled and disgraceful retreat back to the Capital City.
Due to the heavy loss of troops and generals and being unable to resist, the entire territory of the Mo Kingdom fell, leaving only the Mo Kingdom’s Capital City standing.
However, the Xia Kingdom’s army withdrew after reaching the Mo Kingdom’s Capital City.
They didn’t even keep the conquered territories, returning them all.
In this battle, the greatest beneficiary was undoubtedly the foolish emperor Lin Beifan. Not only did he defend his own land, but he also invaded the Mo Kingdom’s territory for the second time. His might greatly increased, and he also plundered a wealth of valuable goods.
The Mo Kingdom Emperor suffered a huge loss, losing 600,000 soldiers in less than a month, and the nation’s power was greatly diminished!
Moreover, having lost territory twice in a row and being pursued all the way to the Capital City, with all other places falling, he lost both face and substance.
The name Long Paopao became a laughingstock throughout the land, spreading far and wide.
On the way back, Lin Beifan was cuddling with his consort, enjoying her tenderness, while in his mind he unfolded the Empire Sandbox.
……
Empire Sandbox (Beginner Level)
Territorial Area: 640,000 square miles (Arable land 240,000 square miles)
Domestic Resources: 81 million taels (1 iron mine, 2 coal mines, 1 copper mine…)
Population: 2.8 million (Wealthy people 1%, Common people 18%, Poor people 71%)
Military Strength: 300,000 (2 Innate-level, 200 martial artists…)
Comprehensive National Power: 640 (small kingdom level)
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