The battle had ended, but the war on the field of honor was far from over. Victory cries mingled with the moans of the fallen, while the sun slowly descended toward the horizon, painting the sky with reddish and golden hues.
The army of Li Wei's grandfather, despite being outnumbered, had dealt a crushing defeat to the barbarians. Of the 15,000 men that made up the enemy horde, barely 10% had survived and fled into the forest, wounded, demoralized, and in disarray. The elite infantry, archers, and light cavalry of the barbarians had been annihilated or scattered after the fierce charges and disciplined formations of Qin's troops.
As the battlefield cleared, the old lord of the fortress personally inspected the combat zone alongside his grandson, Li Wei, who watched silently. His gaze settled on a magnificent steed that had survived the battle, saddled and tamed by the enemies. Its silvery gray coat seemed almost ghostly under the fading light.
"Grandfather," Li Wei said in a calm but firm voice, "that horse... that steed is special. It's called Gray Wind, right? It belongs to one of the barbarians."
The old general nodded.
"Yes. It's a fast and resilient beast. It will serve us well if we manage to tame it."
Li Wei lowered his gaze toward the horse and slowly extended his hand, allowing the creature to get used to his presence. He was well acquainted with war horses and their behavior. It was a crucial moment.
"May I ask you a favor?" Li Wei continued. "I'd like you to give it to me. I feel that with it, I can improve my horsemanship and skills."
The grandfather looked at him with a mixture of pride and surprise, but also with the wisdom of a veteran.
"I grant you that, Li Wei. If you tame it well, it will be a worthy companion for you."
Meanwhile, the troop squads organized the retreat and the wounded were tended to. Li Wei moved aside to inspect another find: a reinforced wooden bow with a taut string, marked with tribal symbols that denoted its barbarian origin. However, what caught his attention was its precision. When he mentally activated his system, it indicated that this bow had 20% more accuracy than the standard Qin bows.
"This is a treasure," Li Wei thought. "If I learn to master it, I will have an important advantage on the field."
Inside, the system automatically displayed the stats and possible upgrades the weapon offered, opening new possibilities for his training.
Meanwhile, the surviving barbarians, scattered and exhausted, could barely hold onto their morale. Of the original 15,000, only 1,500 managed to escape alive, and few of them would ever be capable of fighting again. The band leaders had fallen or disappeared, and the enemy's organization was broken.
The Victorian era complete.
Li Wei felt a mixture of satisfaction and determination. He had not only witnessed the brutal reality of war but had also taken another step on his path to becoming a capable leader.