Chapter 430: To kill, one must destroy the heart

Yunan City is not far from the Shenxianling Mountain Range; it is less than thirty li to the foot of the mountain.

Chen Wuji sent the scouts out ten li; before advancing even ten li, the scouts brought news that about a thousand infantry were resting in an abandoned village at the mountain's base.

Chen Wuji also ordered the troops to temporarily rest and sent the scouts forward to observe, to see what these people were up to.

"Deputy Commandant, the enemy troops have moved, heading south."

"Scout again!"

……

"Report to the Deputy Commandant, the enemy troops have moved south less than ten li, then suddenly turned east."

"Have you noticed anything else unusual about them?"

"Nothing, just normal marching."

"Scout again."

"Yes!"

Chen Wuji really couldn't figure it out.

Are these people drawing maps at the foot of the mountain?

"Old Qin, have you seen anything? I'm getting more and more confused!" Chen Wuji muttered, he really couldn't see clearly anymore, couldn't make sense of it.

Just now he was still guessing whether this enemy force was heading straight for the Shenxianling Mountain Range, wondering if there were troops hidden in the mountains that they had come to meet.

But before he could finish considering that, they suddenly went south and then east. Going east directly would have been fine—why turn south first?

Such a big place—is something blocking them?

This detour—doesn't it seem too far?

Chen Wuji regretted not bringing Xu Zengyi; Old Xu was good at this sort of thing.

Qin Feng said, "I do have an idea, but even I think it's somewhat absurd."

"What?"

"They got lost."

Chen Wuji stared, "You really shouldn't say that—you're definitely stretching it. But I have a feeling you might actually be right..."

According to the female spy, they were supposed to attack the city, but instead they bypassed it and headed straight for Shenxian Ling, did nothing there, then turned around and left, not going in a straight line but continuing to detour.

"But that can't be right? They don't know the way—wouldn't they look for a guide… I think I know the reason." Qin Feng's eyes suddenly lit up, "They can't find a guide!"

"After the military disaster around Yunan City, only one in ten villages remains; even the surviving villagers, upon seeing troops, are terrified and will hide at the first sign."

Chen Wuji suddenly understood, nodding firmly, "That must be it—there's no need to doubt anything further."

The troops from elsewhere also failed to find a guide.

They certainly have a map, but it only marks the official roads.

This force, aiming for a surprise attack, would certainly not march openly along the official roads; they would take remote side paths. Once on those side paths without a guide, trying to reach the right place with only a sense of direction would not work.

"Or we could wait a bit longer, in case they have another trick and are deliberately luring us in this way," Qin Feng advised.

Chen Wuji nodded, "Then let's wait and see."

Being cautious never hurts, but the fact is probably just that these people got lost.

Chen Wuji led the troops to rest a bit more in place, waiting for the next round of scouts to return with a report.

"Deputy Commandant, the enemy troops have suddenly sped up, heading east."

Chen Wuji frowned slightly; this sounded more and more wrong.

"Have you discovered why?" he asked.

"The enemy troops previously passed through a village, seized some people, apparently using the villagers as guides," the scout reported.

Chen Wuji pinched his brow; this weird situation gave him a bigger headache than scheming with the Snake Staff Old Man.

They found a guide, so why did they run in the opposite direction?

The guide deliberately pointed them in the wrong direction.

"No more waiting," Chen Wuji exclaimed, standing up and ordering the troops to advance.

Rather than suspecting back and forth, it's better to confront them directly and ask.

This enemy force was running all over this area; looking at it from any angle, it didn't seem like there were any other plots or tricks.

The main army quickly set out, pursuing in the direction the enemy had gone.

After a round of chase, sunset arrived.

As the splendid sun was about to set behind West Mountain, Chen Wuji finally caught up to Gu Wenjie's so-called elite special troops; without even catching his breath, he immediately ordered an attack.

He did not want to fight a night battle today.

The soldiers' stamina and morale were still good; they could press on in one go.

The great battle erupted on a relatively flat field where the terrain was gently rolling.

Then……

One strike shattered them!

Watching that scene, Chen Wuji's mind went blank for a while.

To be prudent, Chen Wuji placed the Personal Guard battalion and the Chen Clan Troops on the left and right flanks, inserting them into the battle.

This maneuver takes little time to engage the enemy and can sever its head and tail, preventing it from covering both ends.

It's like cutting a snake in the middle with two blows, turning it into three segments—front, middle, and rear.

Afterwards the left and right wings swap positions and charge again, mutually supporting each other, effectively breaking the enemy formation; if the enemy formation still hasn't collapsed, we repeat the process a few more times.

Chen Wuji laid out the attack steps six or seven paces ahead.

In the end, only the first step was used.

At the initial clash, the enemy forces instantly scattered.

Chen Wuji felt as if his feet were riveted with strength, gripping his fist and throwing a punch that smashed onto the tofu.

"I feel they owe me an apology!" Chen Wuji muttered resentfully.

Qin Feng rode forward on his horse, saying, "Isn't it good that we won the battle easily? This army looks like it's run ragged, already out of strength to fight."

Chen Wuji also saw that.

But seeing it is seeing it; feeling unhappy inside is also true.

He kept thinking back and forth there, which was purely unnecessary.

This battle started quickly and ended quickly.

So easy that it didn't even look like fighting, more like playing house.

The play Chen Wuji and Li Run previously performed on Sifang Shan was more realistic than this.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to go into battle and kill the enemy?" Chen Wuji suddenly realized and asked Qin Feng.

Qin Feng shook his head, "A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall."

Chen Wuji: ……

If you're scared, just say it outright; still trying to blame the sage, shameless.

"Deputy Commandant, our army killed over 270 enemies, the rest captured."

Chen Baojia came over with a strong smell of blood, striding forward, to report the battle results to Chen Wuji.

"Where is the enemy chief?" Chen Wuji asked.

"He was also captured by our army."

"Quickly clean the battlefield, set up camp, and bring the enemy chief here."

"Yes!"

Several personal guards escorted a short, sturdy man up.

The man, seeing Chen Wuji, was still a bit arrogant, but the guards kicked his legs, causing him to kneel honestly before Chen Wuji, sweating profusely from pain on his face.

"Weren't you supposed to coordinate inside and outside to launch a surprise attack on Yunan City? Why are you running over here?" Chen Wuji shouted.

The short, sturdy man suddenly lifted his head, "You, you how could you know?"

"Never mind how I know; I'm just asking you—why aren't you attacking the city and instead running over here?" Chen Wuji shouted, "As a commander, don't you know how to read a map or tell directions? Is this Yunan City? Come, tell me, where are you headed?"