Chapter 223: Where the Flag Points is Where My Heart Goes!

Yu Huaji rode on the Fire-Eye Golden Beast, holding a painting lance in one hand and the Death Soul Banner in the other. With swift attacks from left to right, he killed numerous generals of West Qi, causing chaos among the enemy forces.
But there were too many enemy forces in Xiqi, even if his elite squad of five thousand gave their all, it would be difficult to break through the gates for the time being.
And in his anxiety, Yu Hua was also pondering a question.
This question has been bothering him for a long time.
That is, Dr. Shen, as the commander-in-chief of the army, could have left first by himself.
But why did everyone withdraw to Qishan, and yet Dr. Shen stayed inside the city gate?
When I think of this, Yu Hua finds it difficult to understand.
However, now he finally understands that Doctor Shen did not leave, but stayed behind to take care of the soldiers and personally defended the rearguard of the army.
As the commander-in-chief, achieving such a feat, truly unmatched by anyone.
At first, he secretly guarded near Qishan, originally even when he saw the army retreat without a fight, he also mocked Doctor Shen's lack of military knowledge.
After all, West Qi really seemed not worth worrying about. Even Yu Hua thought that Zhang Guifang could easily defeat West Qi.
Who is Jiang Ziya? I have not heard of him.
Ji Fa? A naive child, a mere puppet.
But today, the war has reached such a point that Zhang Guifang and the Wind Forest have all been defeated by an unknown junior general.
Yuhua held the weapon in his hand, feeling slightly heavy-hearted and still not calm.
Upon careful consideration, things seem to be not as simple as they appear.
As the commander-in-chief of the army, how could Doctor Shen not be knowledgeable in military affairs? How could he not see the big picture?
At this moment, withdrawing the troops is truly a well thought-out plan, a foresight.
The Western Qi army launched a surprise attack in the middle of the night, setting fire everywhere.
If the army continues to camp here, they will surely suffer a major defeat, and who knows how many of the 100,000 soldiers will survive and return to the Yin dynasty.
But Dr. Shen had the foresight to withdraw the army from Qishan, which was a feat beyond the reach of ordinary people. It is truly commendable that he is an exemplary strategist in warfare.
To know that I came here with a heavy responsibility, my purpose is to ensure the safety of Dr. Shen. If I cannot rescue him from this predicament, I will truly have no face to face the Grand Minister.
Yu Hua began to tense up and charged forward without hesitation, smashing a large area with the painted halberd in his hand. Several enemy soldiers were sent flying, and in that moment, he had made significant progress towards the gate.
But this did not make Yu Hua happy, instead, his brow furrowed because the more he charged forward, the fewer soldiers there were around him.
Facing an enemy force several times their number, everyone was caught up in a melee.
Moreover, on the battlefield, the sound of raging flames, soldiers' shouts, and the clashing of swords and knives were constant.
Even though he had led the army for years, he was unable to effectively command in this situation. It was chaotic, everything had turned into a mess.
A soldier doesn't know the general, and the general doesn't know the soldier, not knowing where they are deeply trapped, with enemies surrounding them from all sides.
In the midst of my contemplation, I suddenly caught a glimpse of that towering flag, which seemed like a guiding beacon, and a burst of hope ignited in my eyes.
As long as generals go out to battle, a general's flag, known as "the Great Banner," will be raised beside them. It is an important reliance for generals in commanding combat.
During marching and fighting, morale and military morale are both very important. Once military morale wavers, defeat is inevitable.
When the war reaches chaos, if soldiers cannot see their own flag, they will panic and naturally think that the situation of their own side has gone, and they will not have the confidence to fight desperately.
On the contrary, if they only see their own flag and do not see the enemy's flag, they will think that the enemy is doomed to lose, their confidence will double and their killing power will increase.
Said in white, it means that when the general's banner stands tall, the soldiers' morale gathers and becomes as stable as Mount Tai; when the general's banner falls, the soldiers' morale disintegrates and becomes vulnerable to defeat.
Now, Doctor Shen's command flag is still there, the flag is life, is the spirit of the army, Doctor Shen has not fallen.
We should not give up either.
But now the Zhou army is strong, will Dr. Shen still be alive by then?
I, Huace, galloped with a spear, shouting loudly. Every time I saw a soldier of the Shang army, I led everyone to charge towards the direction of the great banner and the commander's flag.
"Soldiers, today is the day we die bravely in the battlefield, our horses' leather will wrap our corpses!"
"Doctor Shen, Yu Hua from Sikou Pass has come to assist!"
It seems that Yu Hua's loud shout had some effect as the soldiers of the Yin Dynasty also saw the grand banner waving proudly in the wind amidst the fire.
The people and horses gradually gathered, with no more confusion in their eyes. Everyone had a firm direction and charged towards the banner of the general.
"Dr. Shen, do not worry. The soldiers of Sishui Pass have come to rescue!"
A soldier covered in blood was surrounded in the center by enemies several times his number, but his eyes remained resolute.
Even facing the direction of the battle flag, his steps quickened.
Whether he would survive or not, he was determined to go and rescue others, as Doctor Shen wanted the army to retreat safely.
Who can compare to the one who disregards danger and sacrifices himself for the greater good?
Unlike those generals who only think of themselves, he truly cares for the low-ranking soldiers. People are willing to follow someone like him, someone they are willing to sacrifice their lives for.
The number of soldiers gathering behind Yu Hua continued to increase. The reputation of Dr. Shen has spread throughout the feudal lords and the common people, permeating the Yin Shang dynasty.
His legendary experience, his loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and his heroic spirit of serving the country and the people have influenced countless individuals.
If it is said that there is a person in the Yin dynasty who is the idol of all the people, that person can only be Doctor Shen.
"Doctor Shen, hold on..." Yu Hua continued leading the army towards the Yanmen Gate.
Only hope that Doctor Shen has good fortune, as long as he persists, we can break through on our own.
But when he looked at the battlefield, he shook his head, difficult!
Very difficult! The Western Qi army has come prepared, Doctor Shen only has a hundred or so guards by his side, Zhang Guifang is also injured, perhaps they can temporarily hold off the attack from Western Qi, but they won't be able to hold on for long.
And Shen Da's strength can be ignored in the eyes of cultivators like them.
At this moment, Yu Hua's mood has hit rock bottom.
However, he did not know that Jiang Ziya's current situation is even more difficult.
Yuhua’s sudden attack made it impossible for him to determine how many people the Yin merchants had actually ambushed.
Jiang Ziya could no longer remain calm.
Because the morale of countless Yin merchants' soldiers soared, and everyone looked towards the direction of the giant banner and advanced without hesitation.
Moreover, facing these elite soldiers, it often takes Western Qi soldiers several times the cost to eliminate them.
They are fearless and truly brave warriors.
This assault has caused significant trouble for Western Qi, with a high casualty ratio.
So that's why! Jiang Ziya looked at the battlefield and the soldiers constantly rushing out from within Qishan, and suddenly understood Shen Xin's intention.
Perhaps all of this was his strategy, to have a decisive battle with the Western Qi army?
The Yin dynasty is powerful, with a large number of soldiers and numerous capable generals, while the Western Qi is trapped and defending on one side, with both its military strength and renowned generals inferior to the Yin dynasty.
For the Western Qi, for every person lost, its strength decreases by one point, and the gap in the number of soldiers also widens.
Under such fierce fighting, the strength of Xiqi is completely depleted, while Yin Dynasty can continue to send reinforcements.
Furthermore, the defeat of Beichong greatly damages the vitality of Xiqi, and in this game of equals, Xiqi is sure to be defeated.
This is not a battle, it's a competition of national power.
While the Yin merchants can afford it, the Western Qi can't compete with their limited resources.
Shen Xin, oh Shen Xin, this is a bold strategy, a clear strategy, deliberately using your own life to bring our great army to the decisive battle.
Jiang Ziya not only looked up and sighed: "Shen Xin is truly a talented individual! I cannot compare!"
"All troops, listen to the order, we will return to the city!"
At the crucial moment, even if the desire to kill Shen Xin was tempting, he had to give it up for the future of Western Qi.
When Jiang Ziya announced his decision to retreat, the surrounding generals immediately panicked. Countless people stepped forward to advise against it, but Marshal Mao died at the hands of Zhang Guifang out of anger. Everyone was filled with discontent and hurriedly asked:
"Prime Minister, Sheng Xin's army has been defeated and is in a desperate situation. It is the perfect opportunity for us to attack; why are we retreating upon seeing the enemy?"
Jiang Ziya calmly said, "I am not afraid of Yu Hua. I know Sheng Xin possesses unparalleled strategy and intelligence. If he realizes that I am unaware of his true intentions and engages me in a life-or-death battle, even if I were to win, it would be a Pyrrhic victory."
"However, Xiqi can no longer afford such a cost, do you all want every family to mourn?"
"Besides, our main army has already accomplished most of its objectives, and Nezha has been out of touch for a long time, maybe he has encountered huge trouble."
"We should organize our troops and wait for the right opportunity, which is the best plan."
After hearing Jiang Ziya's analysis, everyone was suddenly filled with cold sweat.
No wonder, no wonder Shen Xin was so bold and arrogant, daring to stand alone inside the city gate."
Originally, he had evil intentions and wanted to lure us into a wilderness battle, in order to weaken the strength of West Qi!
Upon hearing this, everyone sighed secretly and stared firmly at the unyielding flag, feeling that they had encountered a formidable opponent, an immensely powerful one.
Moreover, the death of Mao Gong Sui has caused great concern among the generals of Xi Qi. There may be spies, traitors lurking within this mighty army.
This matter must be guarded against!
Regarding the deductions made by everyone, Lu Xiaobing immediately stood behind Jiang Ziya and nodded earnestly.
He agrees very much.
"Traitor, Prime Minister, I confirm that there is definitely a traitor in Xiqi."
"General Maogong Suifeng died unjustly. I suggest a thorough investigation to seek revenge and avenge the general."
He said it with two and a half tears, because he couldn't squeeze out any more.
Jiang Ziya also looked at the generals, but his expression was complicated, because at this moment, he saw everyone as a spy...
The Xiqi army withdrew, and Jiang Ziya, having made a decision, didn't hesitate for a moment.
The situation turned too quickly, and Doctor Shen hadn't reacted yet.
Of course, the first thing he wanted to know was why he didn't fall to the ground when facing the onslaught of arrows from the Zhou army.
Why didn't she die?
This is totally unscientific.
It was not until she saw two big pandas and several furry tails in front of her that she seemed to finally react.
沈大夫指着小狐狸整个人都麻了，他不可置信的问道：
“是你……？你什么时候过来的？”
小狐狸抖了抖熊猫，一脸单纯的回道：“我一直都在您身边啊。”
"But you were carrying the flag too seriously to charge at me, so I didn't want to disturb you. These mere arrows pose no threat to a powerful monster like me..."
Doctor Shen's voice trembled, and he carefully looked at the little fox, almost being angered to death.
What else is big about you besides your chest, you big demon?
"But..."
The little fox jumped up happily, just like the tapeworm in Dr. Shen's stomach, knowing what he was going to ask and eagerly answering:
"Dr. Shen helped me overcome the Celestial Tribulation, which is why I have such strong power now!"
After saying that, the little fox stretched out its hand and gestured in front of its chest, then infinitely enlarged it.
It seems that only by doing so can one show their strength.
However, Dr. Shen didn't feel anything impressive about her, but suddenly felt dizzy!
Dizzy!
……
Regarding the strength of the fox in front of him, Shen Xin actually hasn't paid too much attention to it.
Because no matter how much the fox cultivates, she is still just a fox. Even if she has the thousand-year cultivation of Daji, she is no match for the disciples of the Chan sect.
As for this one in front of us, she is even weaker. She has only been practicing for less than a hundred years. In terms of human age, she is still just an underage girl.
Aside from the unlucky and terrifying points on his body, he's just a weakling.
But Doctor Shen played with foxes all day and was tricked by a fox.
Karma, this is freaking karma.
Doctor Shen is now so angry that his liver hurts, which is a thousand miles away from the script I had in mind.
Director, change the script!
However, under the exhaustion, Doctor Shen was not too afraid of the strength of the little fox, because the later the story progressed, the more powerful the characters appeared in "Feng Shen Yan Yi".
By then, there will be formations such as the "Ten Absolute Formations", the "Nine Winding Yellow River Formations", the "Zhu Xian Formation", and the "Ten Thousand Immortals Formation", where immortals will be as common as dogs, and golden immortals will be running everywhere.
With her being an underage fox, she is completely incapable of intervening. Thinking she can save me? Absolutely impossible!
However, there still needs to be punishment for saving herself, Dr. Shen slapped her buttocks twice firmly,
telling that damn fox to quickly retract the tails that were entwined around him.
Because Dr. Shen suddenly realized that there might still be a chance with Jiang Ziya.
But when he turned around, he found that this opportunity seemed to have a slight unexpected twist...
Since Yu Hua and the remaining Yin business army rushed to join the battlefield, along with the addition of the Fenglin army.
The soldiers of the Yin clan, fearless of death, charged towards the command flag and banner of Master Shen.
Wherever they passed, the Western Qin troops began to retreat one after another.
Master Shen, standing on the battlefield, could naturally see everything clearly.
He is so anxious that his heart is bleeding.
Why, why is this happening? We were doing fine, why did you leave? Stay a bit longer, let's make another five thousand taels.
My life is valuable, let's discuss it again?
Watching the soldiers of Xi Qi retreat without hesitation, Doctor Shen can't help but feel that he has lost the game tonight.
What's more, he can see that the soldiers of Yin Shang are now following with high morale.
People are neither blind nor stupid, they can see and feel.
Dr. Shen could easily command remotely from Simaoguan, without having to be present on the battlefield, but he chose not to.
Not only that, but also to ensure everyone's safety, he bravely stayed behind as the last line of defense, fought to the death against the Zhou army, and hardly anyone has witnessed a commander personally waving the banner and charging towards the enemy's general, have they?
Maybe everyone's answer is no.
There is a saying that goes, "If the general leads by example, the soldiers will give their all."
No matter how many slogans are shouted or how many grand promises are made, they are no match for the reality on the battlefield.
When Dr. Shen charged out waving the handsome flag, it was destined that he would not lose.
Everyone who sees it will only feel more powerful, and will not be afraid of facing any more enemy soldiers.
Because what the banner points to is my heart's desire, Dr. Shen is mighty!
Dr. Shen looked as danger grew further away from him, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a bit dizzy and his vision began to blur.
It seems that I can faintly see the anxious cries of Zhang Guifang, Huang Tianxiang, and others:
"Dr. Shen fainted..."
……