The Fate of Adipura Kingdom

53. The War Started XI

Aryo who heard the babble came from his soldiers immediately reprimanded the soldier, “It is still too early for you to be satisfied! War is still going to take place later, I do not want you to be caught off guard by this temporary victory!!”, Aryo's firm tone and his loud voice made his troops instantly silent noiseless.

In fact he did not want to disturb the excitement of his troops, it was only natural that they vented such great excitement as they were today able to repulse the opposing forces back into his camp.

But words that denigrate the opponent will not be good for his troops, if left alone his troops will become arrogant when they will meet the enemy troops again.

Aryo expects his troops to remain focused for the next battle because for sure the next battle will be very heavy, maybe much heavier than today.

***

Patih Purno and his army had wiped out all the enemy reinforcements who had crossed the sea of horse corpses. There was nothing left of them, now the land around them was full of the corpses of soldiers both from the opposing side and their side.

The fishy smell of blood and the smell of charred so stinging in the air, making anyone will close his nose tightly so as not to smell the smell. But for the army of iron horses that had filled many battles the fishy smell and the smell of charred was common and did not affect them at all.

The horsemen led by Patih Purno lined up neatly facing forward, they continued to watch the backs of the enemy who continued to run away from their place. None of the enemies dared to look back, they were afraid that turning would be the target of the cavalry led by Patih Purno.

With all his ability the enemy troops ran as fast as possible leaving the field today.

“We return to base, today will be a great blow to our enemy”, Patih Purno ordered to his troops.

His troops replied in unison before turning towards the base, while he was still looking at the retreating enemy troops, they had just entered the area where their army tents were located.

Patih Purno smiled bitterly, the victory they obtained today could be said to be quite a big victory. Although it was easy but the casualties from their side were also not small, he looked at the bodies of his soldiers with a look of sadness.

War will only bring together two armies that do not know each other for the ambition of two warring rulers. He had to plan again a new strategy for the next battle, he wanted to shrink the number of deaths from his side considering the number of enemies was still too much for their troops.

“Patih, why haven't we moved from this place?”, asked the soldier who carried the flag behind him, Patih Purno then turned towards the soldier, “Let's go back”, Patih Purno replied with a directed smile to the soldier making him choke on his own breath.

Patih Purno who was famously firm and quite fierce in the lead now smiled peacefully at him, a rare sight.

Both are now racing their horses, but shortly afterwards Patih Purno stopped the pace of his horse when it was at the place where the mysterious man's corpse was. He then got off his horse and walked towards the corpse of his dueling opponent today, he crouched down and then lowered his head while praying to the god.

Today he had killed many opposing forces, perhaps hundreds or even thousands he could not count. He prayed that the gods would understand his actions, because he thought this was something that should be done against evil on this earth.

After finishing praying Patih Purno then walked towards the corpse of a young man whose legs were tied by a mysterious man. With that bond easily she let go, she then carried the corpse of the young man on her shoulder.

The two now continued on their way and soon they reached the gate of the rebel headquarters. Aryo, Subani and several soldiers were waiting there, while the rest of the army was in the base resting to recover their stamina.

Subani clenched his hands because he saw his partner carrying a dead body of a young man wearing red clothes towards the fortress, he then walked slowly to where Patih Purno was.

“Sorry to have made this young man a victim of today's war”, Patih Purno expressed his condolences for the death of one of Subani's forces.

Subani smiled as she stroked the young man's hair, “Thank you, he is still young but his spirit will certainly not lose to us who are still alive today. Her spirit will live forever with me”, replied Subani.

Subani then carried the corpse of the young man and brought him into the fortress, Aryo who saw it gave orders to one of his troops, “Bring some soldiers back to the battlefield carrying every body of our soldiers who have fallen today and prepare a funeral ceremony for all of them!”, Aryo orders his troops.

"Good young master"

His troops immediately carry out orders from Aryo, immediately the soldiers divide the duty of loyalty of the soldiers who are there. Some are assigned to take care of the bodies of colleagues and others are tasked to arrange the wood as a funeral ceremony.

Because the job of finding and arranging wood is not too difficult it does not take long finally the pile of dry wood is now neatly arranged in the middle of the rebel headquarters yard.

Unlike the troops in charge of taking care of the bodies of his colleagues on the battlefield, the job could not be short but took a long time. Seeing that Aryo then ordered that the troops who still have the power to help the troops on duty.

The troops understood what to do, they made a simple wooden cart and tied it to a horse as a towing tool from the cart. That way their work could finally be completed not long after.

Aryo watched the work of his soldiers until his shoulders were patted by someone from behind.

"Ah... Uncle"

Aryo found that the old man was now behind him, the two of them then talked about the war that had occurred today.

"However, today's victory must sacrifice not a little effort" the man opened his voice.

"Right uncle", Aryo smiled bitterly, "I hope that everything we do will not be in vain"

"Uncle hope so too", replied the old man.

Aryo then inquired about the prisoner that Patih Purno had brought to the old man because of the old man who was asked to prepare and guard the place where the prisoner of war was being held.