Kong Jice immediately stepped forward, grabbed a cavalryman and asked, "What happened to Chiyan Temple?"
The cavalryman said helplessly: "Master Deshan, the national division commander, abandoned his army and ran away. Master Fuhai from the prison was captured and surrendered. We are defeated."
Kong Ji felt a chill in his heart. If Deshan led his troops to fight Long Chen and lost in the end, the result would be acceptable.
Can Deshan abandon his army and run away? This will bring great disgrace to Zhaoti Temple.
Shi Le also saw the rebels coming, stopped him and asked, only to find out that the Chiyan Temple had been lost.
"National Preceptor, what do you think we should do?"
Shi Le looked at Kong Ji coldly.
Since the battle with Long Chen, Kong Ji has been defeated repeatedly, and Shi Le is extremely disappointed with him.
"The poor monk suggested to camp on the spot, send out waiting cavalry to investigate the situation, gather the defeated troops at the same time, and then make a decision."
Kong Ji's face was very ugly, and he felt helpless that the battle ended like this.
Shi Le didn't say anything, and the army camped on the spot. Kongji sent people to collect the remaining soldiers, and at the same time sent people to search for Deshan's whereabouts.
Chiyan Temple originally had an army of 200,000, but Kongji took away 50,000 cavalry, leaving 150,000.
The defeated soldiers who were fleeing to the west gradually gathered, and Kung Ji counted their number, only less than 100,000 were left.
In other words, more than 50,000 people were killed in the battle at Chiyan Temple.
In the Chinese army tent, Shi Le looked gloomy. Shi Haoran and Lu Qichang were sitting next to him. Below him were a group of generals. Kong Ji sat down on the right side.
"A total of 100,000 people were gathered, including 40,000 cavalry and 60,000 monk soldiers. The monk soldiers suffered the most losses."
"Fortunately, the generals are basically here, and the army can be reorganized quickly."
Monk Kongji shamelessly reported the situation.
During the battle, the monk soldiers were in the front and the cavalry suffered little loss.
When escaping, the cavalry were fast and the monk soldiers did not escape, but many were killed.
Shi Le asked coldly: "Where is Deshan?"
Kong Ji replied awkwardly: "I haven't found it yet."
Everyone's faces were not pretty, and it was difficult to say anything.
Shi Le sneered: "You won't die in Long Chengen's hands, right?"
He was speechless and silent, with his head lowered and silent.
Seeing Kong Ji's embarrassment, Shi Haoran tried to persuade him: "Father, Long Cheng'en is full of tricks. This battle was indeed unsatisfactory. The Imperial Master also worked very hard."
Privy Councilor Lu Qichang also comforted him by saying: "Long Chengen has repeatedly resorted to tricks and it is really difficult to prevent him. We cannot blame the Imperial Master for this."
Other generals also spoke for Kongji.
Shi Le sighed and said, "That's all. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's talk about what to do."
"What do you think of the situation ahead?"
Lu Qichang replied: "Hunting Qi reported that Long Chengen has occupied the fortress near Zhenguo Temple and is building fortifications. It seems that he is preparing to expand the country to the west."
Shi Le frowned and said: "Zhenguo Temple is an important town in the east of our country. Although the temple was burned down, other fortresses are still there. If it is occupied by him, the door to the east of our country will be wide open."
Deshan operated in Zhenguo Temple for many years and built many fortifications, just like the Jade Buddha Pass built in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
Now that Long Chen occupies Zhenguo Temple, he is equivalent to owning a fortress.
Shi Haoran said: "Father, we still have 350,000 soldiers and horses. Even if we attack by force, we will take back Zhenguo Temple."
Privy Councilor Lu Qichang seconded the proposal: "Your Majesty, if the Zhenguo Temple is lost, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty can advance into our hinterland of Daxia, and retreat to defend the Jade Buddha Pass. It will be very disadvantageous for us."
Shi Le looked at Kong Ji and asked, "What does the Imperial Master think?"
Monk Kongji said: "What the king said is true. Zhenguo Temple is extremely important, but... our army is already exhausted. A frontal attack will probably cause heavy losses."
The 250,000-strong army was driven around by Long Chen's 500 cavalrymen for several days, almost without rest.
The soldiers and horses at Jade Buddha Pass had just been beaten by Long Chen, their morale was low, and they still felt fear in their hearts.
If you use such an army to fight, defeat is almost certain.
There is another problem. The 350,000 troops here are the capital of Xixia.
If they lose, Xixia will face the crisis of having no available troops.
"Then we have to fight! We can also use the method of fighting generals, kill Long Chengen, and then defeat the Eastern Zhou army."
Shi Haoran said very firmly.
Shi Le knew that the matter was not simple, but he could not think of any good solution.
"Your Majesty, give this poor monk a few days, maybe things will turn around."
"What are the plans of the Imperial Master?"
"Actually, this battle is not between me and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The Tianxiahui is also involved. Now that the situation is unfavorable, the poor monk wants to find a solution from the Tianxiahui."
Shi Le didn't believe it and said, "Can the Tianxiahui still ask Long Chengen to withdraw from Zhenguo Temple?"
Monk Kongji muttered: "Maybe..."
Neither Shi Haoran nor Lu Qichang believed that Long Chen would buy into Tianxiahui's account.
"Okay, you go and try."
"Please stay here, Your Majesty, and never have a decisive battle with Long Chengen."
Shi Le nodded, and Monk Kongji immediately took two horses and several monks and rushed to Xingqing City.
Not long after Kongji left, it was announced outside that Monk Deshan was back.
Shi Haoran and Lu Qichang looked at Shi Le.
Shi Le said coldly: "Bring it in!"
Two monks helped Monk Deshan into the tent. In the hot weather, Deshan was wearing thick cotton clothes and his body was still shaking.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Shi Haoran was shocked.
Shi Le was also surprised, he didn't expect Deshan to be like this.
Deshan trembled, his lips turned blue, and said: "That Long Chengen practiced vicious and cold skills. The poor monk... felt like he had fallen into an ice cave."
During the fight in Chiyan Temple, Deshan and Long Chen exchanged several blows, and the cold air entered their bodies. Their bodies were alternately cold and hot, and this was when the cold poison took effect.
"This... is actually so vicious!"
Shi Le grabbed Deshan's hand and felt it was as cold as a popsicle.
"Pass on the Imperial Physician!"
Shi Le immediately called the imperial doctor over.
The imperial physician immediately diagnosed and treated Deshan.
"Imperial doctor, how are you doing?"
Lu Qichang asked worriedly.
The imperial doctor said: "Master, the cold air enters the heart and lungs, so you must use warm medicine to slowly drive away the cold."
Shi Le said: "Decoct the medicine immediately and help the master go down and rest."
The monk helped Deshan out.
"What kind of sinister technique did this Long Chengen practice to be so vicious?"
Privy Councilor Lu Qichang was frightened, and Shi Le was even more afraid of Long Chen and said: "Order all camps to keep their eyes open and be on guard against Long Chengen's sneak attack!"
Lu Qichang immediately went out to deliver the order.
....
Zhenguo Temple.
Long Chen stood on the burned hall, shook his head and said: "It was a miscalculation, I shouldn't have burned down the Zhenguo Temple in the first place."
Emperor Lingyi said: "At this time and at that time, burning Zhenguo Temple at that time could disturb the enemy's military morale, so it had to be done."
Wu Jian asked: "Sir, do you want to rebuild the Zhenguo Temple? From now on, we will use this as the national boundary."
Emperor Lingyi agreed: "I agree. From now on, Zhenguo Temple will be the western boundary of our Great Zhou Dynasty."
Long Chen smiled and said: "I want to do it too, but it won't work this time, I have to do it next time."
Emperor Lingyi said in surprise: "You want to give up here?"
After finally conquering this place, Di Lingyi didn't want to give up.
"There are still variables in things. Those who plan for big things should not just focus on the gains and losses in one area, but should plan from the overall situation."
"Old Wu, go and make preparations."
"My lord, please give me your instructions."
Long Chen whispered something, and Wu Jian immediately went to prepare.
"What are you talking about? You still don't want me to listen."
Emperor Lingyi was a little unhappy, Long Chen said with a smile: "Princess, don't be angry, we will whisper more."
After saying that, Long Chen held the princess in his arms and wanted to put his hand in, but the armor was too tight and there was no place to start.
"You touch it, if you have the ability, touch it!"
