The time entered the forty-fourth year of Wu Shi Huang, that is, in 470 BC, the eighth month of the lunar calendar.

Because of the sudden rebellion of mercenaries such as the Medes, Assyrians, and Lydians, the western expeditionary army of the Wu Empire suffered a crushing defeat and was defeated by Boeotia, but fortunately, not many Wu troops died.

In the naval battle that broke out in the Aegean Sea, the Wu Empire's naval army won a complete victory, successfully crushing the fleet organized by various Greek city-states, and won a lot of money.

This win and defeat made Qingji's mood very complicated.

The defeated Wu army had to flee with Qingji to the city of Sadi in Lydia.

Qingji then gathered the rout at Saadi City.

"Your Majesty, I have 250,000 horses in the western expedition, and only 60,000 have returned!"

“……”

Qingji was speechless.

So, just the battles of Hot Springs Pass and Boeotia, two battles, the Western Expeditionary Army was wiped out by 190,000 people?

No way.

The real Wu army, the cavalry of more than 40,000 people, is also the strongest in combat effectiveness.

The cavalry is one man and two horses, and it runs fast, how can the enemy catch up with two feet?

As for the 190,000 people, Qingji estimated that most of them were rebels, or they were missing, and they did not want to come back to assemble.

It's human nature.

The western expedition of the Wu Empire was very complicated.

The Medes, the Khorezmians, the Stygians, the Assyrians, the Israelites, the Lydians, and so on, were warriors of every nation.

Loyalty to the Wu Empire?

Of little consequence.

What they really care about is the bounty given by Qingji.

This fiasco also made Qingji realize that it may be that he didn't give enough money, and he was in a hurry, and often used mercenaries as cannon fodder to send them to death, which led to the rebellion of those mercenaries.

Of course, there could be other reasons.

"How many of my Wu army have returned?"

"Your Majesty, the casualties of our Wu army are also very serious, and there are about 30,000 cavalry returning to Sadi City."

That is to say...... More than 10,000 people died in battle? ”

"Yes. However, there should be some soldiers who have not yet returned in time. ”

Such casualties also made Qingji's heart uncomfortable.

"Woo woo woo ......"

At this time, a cry full of sad emotions sounded in my ears.

Qingji raised his eyes and saw that it was his eldest grandson Wu Ji squatting on the ground crying, still wiping his tears.

"Wu Ji, what are you crying about?"

"The three thousand Red Flame Army soldiers led by the emperor's grandfather and grandson have only returned less than fifty people...... At that time, my grandson was under siege, and it was they who desperately rescued each other, and Uncle Jiu (Wu Zhang) brought troops over to reinforce me, which rescued me. ”

Wu Ji sobbed and said, "If not, my grandson won't be able to come back." ”

Qingji squinted his eyes, patted Wu Ji's shoulder, took off the cloak on his body, put it on Wu Ji, and said earnestly: "Manly man, don't flick if you have tears." ”

"Three thousand dead, what's it? Grandfather Huang will give you another 30,000, 300,000 horses! ”

"You will definitely take revenge later."

"No!"

Hearing this, Wu Ji's mood was slightly soothed.

You can't say this kind of thing in front of the soldiers, otherwise it will be very "offensive......

"Laugh one."

"My grandson can't laugh."

"Laugh."

Wu Ji forced a smile at this time, but the laughter was more ugly than the crying.

Qingji shook his head, so he looked around, looking at the generals in the big tent of the Chinese army, they all looked dejected, and waved his big hand and said: "Second and third sons, a failure does not prove anything." ”

"Failure is the mother of success!"

"We can fail ten, a hundred, countless times! However, the Wu Empire still exists, I am still there, you are still there! ”

"What about the Greeks and Macedonians? They only need to fail once and they're done! ”

"We can afford to lose, they can't afford to lose!"

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

The generals shouted in unison.

After a pause, Qingji said again: "This time the defeat, the second and third sons have to learn lessons. ”

"Why was it defeated?"

"Is there not enough troops in our army? Not elite enough? Morale is not high enough? ”

"No, it's neither!"

"It's because we don't know enough about the enemy and aren't prepared enough!"

Qing Ji said earnestly: "The sudden rebellion of those Lydians and Assyrians in the army caught us off guard. None of this is a problem. ”

"In another year and a half, after our army has regrouped, we will still be able to regain the lost territory and destroy Macedonia, Thrace, Scythia, and the Greek city-states."

Wu Ming stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, do you still have to fight against Macedonia and the Greek city-states?" ”

"Are you scared?"

"It's not."

Wu Ming sighed and said: "Your Majesty, in recent days, the generals and soldiers in the army have been homesick, and they are not adapted to the local climate, and some of them are the same as you, Your Majesty...... Contracted with an unknown disease, which may be caused by soil and water adaptation. ”

"In the long run, I am afraid that the non-combat attrition of our army will intensify, which is not conducive to combat."

Hearing this, Qingji couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Today, it has been more than a year since the army marched westward, and it is understandable that the soldiers are homesick.

Besides, now Qingji's body no longer allows for high-intensity marching and fighting life, so what can I do?

"Class Teacher...... Back to the Dynasty. ”

In this case, Qingji had to give the order for the class to return to the court.

"Father, my son is willing to stay in Lydia!"

Wu Fan took the initiative to ask.

"Erchen is also willing!"

Wu Zhang bowed to Qingji and said, "Father, if you don't take revenge, your son will not be a man!" ”

"Okay."

Qingji looked at the two sons in front of him who were the most capable of leading the troops to fight, and he was very relieved.

"Wu Zhang, you stay in Lydia, and I will give you 30,000 foot cavalry and mercenaries...... No, you have to adapt the natives and train them into armies for combat, not simple mercenaries. ”

"No!"

"Wu Fan, if you stay in Syria, I will give you 30,000 cavalry, and you can also recruit troops by yourself and train them into an army."

"No!"

It is worth mentioning that over the past year or so, the Wu Empire has continuously sent troops over the country, and about 300,000 cavalry have been invested in front and back to carry out military occupation within the territory of the originally huge Achaemenid Dynasty.

Qingji now only leaves so many soldiers and horses for Wu Zhang and Wu Fan, which is also promising.

After all, they have the right to recruit and train on their own.

Over time, Qingji believed that Wu Zhang and Wu Fan, who had gathered the hearts of the people and had no shortage of money, food, soldiers and horses, would definitely be able to destroy the Macedonian kingdom and various Greek city-states.

After Qingji explained some more things, he boarded the ship to return to the Wu Empire, accompanied by Wu Ji and a group of guards.

At this point, the first western expedition of the Wu Empire also came to an end.

Of course, there was a defeat of Bootya, but for the powerful Wu Empire, it was still a painless defeat.

The Wu Empire essentially occupied all of the territory of the Achaemenid dynasty......

Wrong!

Qingji suddenly reacted.

"Wu Ji, and the Persians used to occupy a place, but our Wu army didn't defeat it."

"Grandfather is talking about the Indus River?"

"Not bad."

Qingji waved his hand and said, "I will give you 30,000 foot horses, you must capture there." ”

"No."

Seeing Qingji's persistence and his longing for the Indus River, Wu Ji had no choice but to go all the way and lead the troops to capture it, so as to get a matter of Qingji's heart.

After all, it is located in South Asia, a rich, fertile and ancient land.