The Empress’s Gigolo

By the time the sky was getting bright, the battle was drawing to a close.

After all, the other side wasn’t like the aboriginals. They were unable to withstand the heavy casualties and fell apart.

The brainwashing done by Xie Kun could already be considered a success for them since they were able to hold out for one night. In fact, it was close to the level of MLM. (TLC. Maybe add a footnote for this term?)

According to the report from the Rearguard Commandery, the high end estimate for the number of people that withdrew from the city overnight was about half.

In other words, about half of them died in the chaotic battle last night.

In ancient times, an army could be considered as among the strongest if it didn’t collapse after suffering a 30 percent casualty rate.

In a confrontation with the aboriginals, there was basically only fatalities and no injured.

To go so far as to retreat only when the casualty rate reached 50 percent, it could be deduced that this mixed force of city defenders and new recruits really believed that the aboriginals would decimate their city. Therefore, they fought desperately before retreating.

However, a mixed force was ultimately still a mixed force.

After suffering such a big loss and finding out that their adversaries were unshakable, they finally retreated.

Early in the morning, the whole of Xueyang City was filled with a bloody atmosphere. The streets where the fighting took place were full of mutilated bodies and stained with blood.

After a fearsome night, all the people in Xueyang City realized that the worst had happened as the aboriginals had occupied their city.

A woman looked at her child, whose face was still stained with tears while asleep in her arms. With her bone knife aimed at the back of her child, she was feeling conflicted…

“To die at the hands of the barbarians—I might as well let my child die this way! At least there’s no suffering and no fear!” the woman mumbled to herself as her tears dripped down.

“Submit and prosper, resist and die! The obedient ones will live, those who resist will die! Ordinary citizens, keep the peace and everything will be alright. It’s strictly forbidden to harbor rebels and weapons. If anyone dares to harbor the rebels or intends to rebel, there will be no mercy! If anyone finds such rebels, they can report to the Rearguard Commandery and will be rewarded with 100 taels of silver.”

At this moment, a loud voice announced this from the street.

“What?” The woman was stunned, and the hand holding the bone knife shook, cutting the back of the child. The pain woke it up, and the child started crying.

“Submit and prosper, resist and die. The obedient ones will live, those who resist will die! Ordinary citizens who abide by the law will be safe…”

Clang!

As the bone knife dropped to the floor, the woman rushed out of the house with the child in her arms. She saw two bloodstained men who were carrying long sabers and shouting as they walked along the street.

They were indeed barbarians… .

The woman immediately sat on the ground while hugging her child and cried nonstop.

After a long time, the woman inspected her child’s back, saw a shallow wound, and was relieved. If the announcement had come later, the consequences would have been inconceivable.

She hoped that what had been said was the truth… It was the only hope that could give her the courage to live…

It wasn’t only her, the other commoners in the city also raised their hopes after hearing this.

After being indoctrinated by Xie Kun for one month that the barbarians would exterminate everyone once they occupied Xueyang City, everyone felt desperate. However, when everyone was feeling desperate, they suddenly received a message that gave them a glimmer of hope.

Everyone was like a drowning man clutching at a straw as they put all their hope in it.

…

“Your Majesty!” Ren Baqian was at the entrance of the warlord’s residence to greet the empress.

“Hmph!” The empress sighed coldly and left with a disgusted look, leaving him stunned.

“Hmph!” Qing Yun and Hong Luan also sighed coldly and left with the empress.

One of the guards had a strange expression as he told Ren Baqian, “Sir, the street we came from was very smelly… We made a big detour to come here.”

Everyone knew the culprit who had caused this stench.

That place had become a ghost town now. Even the original residents there had taken refuge elsewhere.

Ren Baqian gave a bunch of White Rabbit Creamy Candies to the bewildered guard.

The previous night was too chaotic. He was too preoccupied and forgot about the skunk bombs that he threw.

“Your Majesty has had a tiring journey. Do you want to rest for a while in a room or do you want to hear about the battle from last night?” Ren Baqian asked as he eagerly followed the empress. “Is Your Majesty hungry? Do you want me to cook you some porridge? How about century egg and lean meat porridge?”

“Do you have century eggs?” The empress looked at him coldly.

“I don’t have century eggs, but I have eggs… Do you want egg and lean meat porridge?”

Ren Baqian chuckled and then the empress kicked him to the wall.

In an instant, the crowd witnessed Ren Baqian turning into a dog, and naturally, they turned their heads away.

After a short while, the empress decided to put aside the matter of being exposed to the skunk bombs and asked, “On the way here, I heard people shouting about followers being forgiven for submitting… What are you trying to do?”

Ren Baqian answered solemnly, “Xie Kun has been infusing the citizens with rumors about the brutality of the aboriginals. He claimed we would not leave anyone alive and would exterminate the city. After the fall of Xueyang City, its citizens were anxious, but this announcement helped to alleviate their fears.”

“I don’t intend to leave any survivors,” the empress said coolly.

“But these people are your subjects. You rule the aboriginals as well as these people.” Ren Baqian rolled up his sleeves as he tried to change the opinion of the empress.

“Are you trying to challenge me?” The empress squinted at him. He had the nerve to roll up his sleeves!

“The sight of Your Majesty arouses me and raises the temperature of my blood and body!”

“Let it be. I know that these commoners are also my people, and I am tired of hearing this from you. I will give them a chance, but you better keep them well-behaved. As for the rebels, none must be spared.” The empress gestured with her hands.

“Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not make any mistakes.” Ren Baqian laughed.

Upon hearing of the arrival of the empress, Xi Wanya rushed over to report on the battle casualties.

The number of casualties they suffered the previous night was considered low. The Protectorate of the South had about 1,000 casualties, whereas the winged cavalry did not suffer more than 20.

About half of these casualties could recover from their injuries and return to serve again.

The casualties suffered by the other side was estimated to be more than 50,000.

After all, it was night in the streets and the great personal strength of the aboriginals was a huge advantage. The soldiers they were facing had been a mixed batch of troops who had practically nothing besides an imposing manner.

After reporting on the situation, Xi Wanya said to Ren Baqian, “Sir Ren, I have already sent someone to transport the grain from the granaries.”

Ren Baqian nodded. The granaries were currently occupied by the Rearguard Commandery, and these people wouldn’t dare to stop the aboriginals from transporting the grain.

Just in case something unforeseen happened, he thought it would be better to get his guards to inform them first.

Subsequently, Ren Baqian summoned the people from the Rearguard Commandery and ordered them to deploy some lishi in the city.

The lowest rank in the Rearguard Commandery was tiqi, and the lishi were at an even lower rank. They were just temporary or reserve workers.

Nevertheless, in the mind of Ren Baqian, these lishi were needed in large quantities and were extremely important.

By distributing them in every city and spreading their tentacles into every corner, the Rearguard Commandery would then be able to monitor for any signs of disturbance using these lishi.

They were the eyes and ears of the Rearguard Commandery

Anything they saw or heard would be transmitted to the Rearguard Commandery and given to Ren Baqian after some vetting.

This was what Ren Baqian considered the most important.