Isn't the frequent glancing westward by the soldiers just a longing for home?
If the Wuchuan soldiers only started looking westward frequently upon approaching the Hanzhao Region, then the soldiers from Jin Mountain, who were leading the way, looked south the entire journey. Additionally, a small number of soldiers escaped at regular intervals, clearly intending to return to Aikou.
The army of one hundred thousand was simply too large. Although Cai Qiu had many strong fighters, they couldn't watch over everyone. Initially, when only a few people escaped, the high command of Jin Mountain executed them and suppressed the situation for a while. However, as more soldiers began to flee, they dared not kill randomly anymore and could only try to persuade them.
But in such matters, going soft only makes things worse.
"Without a home, what's the point of fighting the Xia Army? If my wife, children, and parents are killed by the Xia Army, can Cai Qiu's army bring them back to life?"
