Chapter 69
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They didn’t know where these enemies had come from, cutting off their retreat. The horse sabers at their waists, deadly weapons when on horseback, were rendered almost useless due to the terrain. This battle was truly frustrating. He could only watch helplessly as his comrades fell one by one, unable to do anything. He had initially thought about fighting to the death but was held back. Someone had taken a blow meant for him and pushed him out of the battle circle.
“Go back alive and tell the general about the situation here.” It was their final cry.
Ba Bucuo staggered, taking in the words. Yes, he had to go back and tell the general everything, or they wouldn’t know how many more of their comrades they might lose.
With tears in his eyes, he recounted the events. Nuha’s face had turned grim. According to this, they couldn’t recklessly send more people down, or they’d just be sending them to their deaths. However, letting them off the hook after they had lost so many comrades was also difficult to swallow.
They were trapped, but they couldn’t be starved. They had provisions down there, and they could last for ten days or even half a month. They might not die of hunger, but rather, they themselves might run out of supplies first.
“Is there any way to force them out?” Nuha’s anger had somewhat subsided as he inquired.
Da Mu’er thought for a moment and stepped forward. “General, the usual tactics against enemies are flooding or fire attack. Perhaps we can think about using something along those lines.”
Ba Bucuo shook his head. “I’m afraid that won’t work. The tunnels below connect in all directions, and flooding or fire wouldn’t have much effect.”
Nuha furrowed his brow, feeling uncertain. This situation was like a turtle shell—impenetrable and without any vulnerabilities. Trying to tackle it felt like reaching in and getting bitten unexpectedly, making it truly frustrating.
“General, why don’t we try to smoke them out?” Ba Bucuo suggested. In the past, on the grasslands, they used smoke to drive out animals from rabbit holes and rat nests. It worked there, but they weren’t sure if it would work here.
At that moment, Ba Bucuo’s strongest desire was to avenge his fallen comrades, so he was naturally very eager to come up with ideas.
Da Mu frowned on the side and reminded, “General, since the signal fire has been ignited here, it’s likely that the news has already spread. If we wait for enemy reinforcements, we might find ourselves vulnerable from both the front and the back.”
Nuha weighed his options, considering both sides. He knew that what Da Mu had said made sense; they still had their mission to consider, and risking it all might not be the wisest move. But simply leaving the situation unresolved was also problematic.
Ba Bucuo became anxious, “This area is remote. Even if reinforcements arrive, it won’t be so quick. And even if they do come, they’d likely be minor forces, like small fry coming to deliver goods. Most of the stationed Red Robe Army soldiers are dealing with the Shi Chongguan. The potential reinforcements would likely be that ‘Guard Battalion’ or something. We’re the Suixi Iron Cavalry, are we afraid of facing an untested force like them? It’s the perfect opportunity—let them come, one by one, we’ll deal with them!”
The entire group grew indignant, all echoing Ba Bucuo’s sentiments. They were right; they weren’t afraid of a fair fight, but these sneaky tactics were infuriating. If enemy reinforcements came, it would provide an ideal chance to release their pent-up anger through combat.
Nuha calculated in his mind. Their mission on this journey was to divert the garrison army, and perhaps after forcing the enemy out, they could retreat in time.
With this thought in mind, he stopped hesitating and directly adopted Ba Bucuo’s plan. The group sprang into action, gathering firewood and igniting flames, determined to smoke out the people in the underground passage.
However, they seemed to overlook the fact that the underground tunnel was initially proposed by Ming Yu. He had already anticipated these possibilities when he shared his ideas with the craftsmen during the design phase. They collaborated to enhance the construction, and precautions were taken to ensure that tactics like flooding or smoke would have minimal effect. As for the use of smoke, well, the tunnels were interconnected with proper ventilation shafts—such tricks wouldn’t work.
Ming Yu’s purpose in designing the tunnel was to safeguard the villagers, ensuring their utmost safety within.
At this moment, within the expansive underground chamber of the tunnel, Xiao Liuzi paced around Ji You, his eyes shining brightly with admiration. General Ji, almost single-handedly, had managed to eliminate nearly half of the enemy forces that had entered the tunnel. How could this not inspire profound admiration in Xiao Liuzi?
The reputation of those barbarian intruders was as fearsome as a raging flood or ferocious beasts. Now, it seemed they weren’t much more than that. They effortlessly annihilated over a dozen individuals, with the enemy showing no resistance whatsoever.
Xiao Liuzi muttered with a pout, expressing his regret, “Why didn’t they send someone in? I didn’t even get a chance to kill a barbarian before you all finished them off.” It was a pity. One of them managed to escape too; he didn’t get his fill of action.
Ji You smiled and ruffled his little head. This kid, still trying to seize an opportunity, huh? Originally, he was a close guard and junior officer in the Red Robed Army, but his family’s General Xie lent him to Duan Wang. Now, he should have been due to return, but here he was, Wang Ye had successfully convinced him to stay in the Guard Battalion.
Wang Ye’s reasoning went something like this: “There’s no distinction between you and General Xie. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is yours.” So, as General Xie’s personal guard, why bother differentiating between the Red Robed Army and the Guard Battalion? It was all the same wherever they were. Might as well just stay.
Ming Yu’s twisted reasoning was a whole system in itself. Surprisingly, it managed to persuade even General Xie, who had always been difficult to sway. He gave his consent with a nod. Well, with the big boss agreeing, their hopes of returning to the Red Robed Army were completely dashed.
But what Wang Ye said was true. The Red Robed Army and the Guard Battalion had engaged in several joint training exercises. They had even exchanged members to learn from each other. The cooperation was mutual, and the two sides were on very friendly terms, helping each other out. So, for Ji You, staying with either of them made little difference.
As for why he ended up in this remote village, it was all part of following orders.
Since Ming Yu learned from Xie Yixiu that a group of invaders had entered Liangzhou, he ordered Mo Jiang to have the Guard Battalion split into several teams and patrol the area. Liangzhou was vast, and his manpower was limited, so they had to conduct mobile patrols. Whenever villagers spotted signs of enemies, they were to immediately light signal fires, alerting the nearest patrol team for swift assistance.
As for Ji You and his ten-person squad, their responsibility was to notify each village and ensure they were on high alert and well-prepared. To maximize efficiency, they split up and acted separately. Coincidentally, when Ji You arrived in this area, news of the invader’s presence was exposed.
So, Ji You decided not to hurry and leave. After all, what mattered now was dealing with the invaders. Whether it was killing them here or elsewhere, the outcome would be the same. He thought that when the other patrol teams saw the smoke signals, they would immediately rush to the scene. Since that was the case, he might as well wait here in advance.
At first, the members of the patrol teams were quite nervous. After all, the invaders had a notorious reputation, and it was their first encounter. They were a bit flustered and didn’t know how to handle the situation. However, upon learning that General Ji would stay behind to protect the villagers, they immediately gained confidence.
General Ji was a remarkable figure in the Guard Battalion. He was said to have come from the Red Robed Army before, it wasn’t easy for Wang Ye to have him join the Guard Battalion. Among the Liangzhou commoners, the Red Robed Army was held in high regard. They were experts at eliminating the invaders, as if walking through an uninhabited land in enemy territory. Just mentioning the Red Robed Army would send shivers down the invaders’ spines, and encountering them would make them retreat without a fight. With General Ji around, it was like having a protective amulet!
The patrol teams had spent at least two to three months at the training base and had gotten to know the members of the Guard Battalion. General Ji was often responsible for leading their joint training sessions, and they had become quite familiar with the members who went for training. Everyone had immense respect for him.
Following Ji You’s arrangements, the first few invaders sent to infiltrate the tunnels were dealt with effortlessly, thanks to the advantage of the terrain. Their victory was swift and complete.
Finally, they understood that the tunnels they built could serve this purpose too. Not only could they protect the villagers, but they could also be used as a tool for eliminating enemies.
Their initial victory brought great joy to everyone. They had successfully killed the invaders, proving that even the fearsome and ferocious invaders were not invincible.
The young members of the patrol teams were ecstatic and thrilled. For generations, their ancestors had tilled the land peacefully. Whenever the invaders came to plunder and kill, they were defenseless and treated like livestock, mercilessly slaughtered. They had no means of resistance and could only endure passively. However, it wasn’t that they lacked the desire to resist; they were simply too weak and powerless.
But now, they had realized they could fight back. It felt like a dream come true, an unreal sensation. They could actually… do this!
“Now they probably won’t dare to send anyone down again. Assign a few people to monitor the movements of the invaders at all times, and the rest can take turns resting,” arranged Ji You.
“Yes!” everyone responded obediently.
“Are the villagers’ emotions still stable? Have you noticed any unusual feelings? As members of the patrol and guard teams, your responsibility goes beyond just killing enemies. You also need to protect your own loved ones, the elders, and your fellow villagers. Pay attention to their thoughts,” Ji You expressed some concern, worried that the villagers might have been affected by the intensity of the situation. They had likely never witnessed such a display of force before, and he wanted to ensure they were coping well.
“I’ve got it all in mind!” Xiao Liuzi spoke loudly. “The villagers are doing well. With General Ji You here, they believe he can protect everyone. When they heard that we killed the invaders, they were very happy. The village chief even said that once we’ve driven the invaders away, the village will hold a three-day feast to reward us for our success in defeating the raiders.”
Ji You smiled and nodded, “That’s good to hear. Don’t worry, the invaders won’t escape, the reinforcement guard will arrive soon.”
With these words, everyone felt relieved. Indeed, the guard battalions were a force to be reckoned with, and they had confidence in them.
Finally learning about the exposed invaders’ whereabouts, Ming Yu was relieved. As long as their movements were known, it was only a matter of time before this group of invaders would be eliminated.
He understood the capabilities of the guard battalion well and was confident that they could annihilate this group of invaders.
“Your plan is good and can be implemented. This is a great opportunity for a battle. The guards lack real combat experience. We can mobilize the guards and have them engage in combat with these invaders,” Ming Yu threw a piece of candied fruit into his mouth, looking at Mo Jiang beside him.
This was indeed a valuable opportunity. Although the guard battalion often practiced and sparred with the Red Robe Army, these routine exercises couldn’t compare to real-life combat situations.
A military force that has never truly experienced combat and shed blood cannot be called a real army. In comparison to Xie Yixiu’s Red Robe Army, Ming Yu’s guard battalion were still lacking that extra edge.
Indeed, no matter how they trained, Ming Yu believed that the guard battalion were still lacking a certain quality called “ferocity.” This was something that couldn’t be compared to the Red Robe Army, which had honed its skills on the actual battlefield. This quality of ferocity was intangible, yet unmistakable – it radiated from soldiers who had experienced countless battles. Just standing among them would emanate a sense of impending danger, causing others to retreat instinctively.
Ming Yu’s goal was to create a perfect imperial guard battalion, capable of defending the nation and its people, ensuring their safety and well-being. To achieve this, he recognized the importance of rigorous training and real battlefield experience. He believed that the kind of experience gained on actual battlefields couldn’t be matched by routine training over several years.
Currently, this is the opportunity presented by the invaders, allowing these youngsters a chance for training that cannot be missed. That’s why, upon hearing the news brought by Xie Yixiu, Ming Yu eagerly took charge of this matter in the guard battalion. Opportunities like this are rare, and seizing them when they arise is essential. This is why Ming Yu decided to send all the members of the guard camp.
Upon hearing his words, Mo Jiang furrowed his brow, visibly disagreeing. According to Wang Ye’s wishes, sending all members of the guard battalion would leave no one to protect him. This was highly inappropriate.
Ming Yu’s guards rotated in teams within the guard battalion. As the Wang Ye, how could he be left without protection?
“Wang Ye, this should not be done. The purpose of the guard battalion is to protect you for legitimate reasons. How could you sacrifice the core for trivial matters like a few invaders? This is absolutely unacceptable.” Mo Jiang shook his head firmly, stating that Wang Ye’s safety was paramount, and he couldn’t let Wang Ye be whimsical again.
In theory, the five hundred guards assigned to Wang Ye by the emperor should be guarding the residence. However, Ming Yu disagreed, arguing that his residence would be turned into a prison if it were surrounded by a group of guards. He insisted on keeping only a few dozen guards in the residence and having them rotate every ten days.
Ming Yu remained resolute in his stance, leaving Mo Jiang with no choice but to compromise. However, if all the guards were sent away now, Wang Ye’s side would become vulnerable. If there were individuals with ulterior motives, it could lead to a serious crisis. Mo Jiang was adamant and would never agree to such a proposition.
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