Chapter 644

Countless winding fire dragons suddenly blazed forth in the vast night.

They moved swiftly, and in an instant coalesced into five.

"My lord, the largest contingent must be the central army," Xu Zengyi said, pointing left forward and explaining to Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji nodded, "After several troop reinforcements, I never expected the central army to become second only to Lao Yang's forces, yet it is now the largest unit."

Chen Li's central army, despite leaving three thousand to guard Daying, still numbered twelve thousand.

And this still does not include the five thousand six hundred of the guilty army.

The guilty army also belonged to the central army, but in this reorganization of the Dingzhou Conscripts, it received the same treatment as other units, underwent a reorganization, and its strength instantly swelled.

Xu Zengyi spoke with meaning, "The central and right armies are your true elite forces; logically they should be the largest, but in my view they are still somewhat lacking."

"That's enough; the central army has always prioritized selecting men, and this privilege is sufficient," Chen Wuji said. Although he had been expanding forces, he still adhered to his long-held principle that quality matters more than quantity.

However, due to various constraints, he now has no choice but to accept the reality of mass recruitment, watching helplessly as his forces grew from fifty or sixty thousand to one hundred thousand, and now to one hundred thirty thousand Bīngmǎ.

This even includes uncounted Qingzhou conscripts.

Qian Fugui's reorganization of the Qingzhou Provincial Troops is not yet complete, and the exact numbers have not been delivered to Chen Wuji.

"How is General Chen Li accelerating?" Xu Zengyi muttered suddenly.

Only see, the largest fire dragon of the unit, having just gathered the scattered troops from all places, swiftly launched a charge at the Qiang Ren Da Ying; its marching speed was clearly a desperate rush.

Chen Li's tactic left Chen Wuji puzzled, "Is he planning to catch the enemy off guard? But over such a distance, such a rapid charge—can the troops' stamina endure it?"

"Hey, stop!" Xu Zengyi shouted.

Chen Wuji also kept a close watch on the front, and upon seeing this said, "Chen Li is going to use an arrow formation!"

"Ah, I see!" Xu Zengyi laughed, "General Chen Li truly is a veteran of the battlefield; a forced march charge—seeing it, the enemy could not help but tense. They will surely hurry to gather, to counter Chen Li's surprise attack; I estimate the Qiang are now using a kill-to-intimidate method to forcefully muster their troops."

"They have gathered together, yet what greets them is not our infantry's charge assault but an arrow volley; the Qiang will probably curse."

"When did you also learn to praise people indiscriminately?" Chen Wuji laughed.

"When have I ever praised indiscriminately? Isn't General Chen Li a battlefield veteran? Or are you saying this feint isn't clever enough?" Xu Zengyi asked.

"The former!" Chen Wuji said, "If I recall correctly, this is the first time my eleventh uncle Shi Yi Shu has personally led troops into battle."

Previously, Chen Li had always been Chen Wuji's shadow.

"Although this is his first time personally leading troops onto the battlefield, General Chen Li understands battle formations; to call him a battlefield veteran is not an overstatement." Xu Zengyi said, "Hey, still rockets—did General Chen Li prepare these in advance?"

"Probably not; perhaps they took apart torches and hastily assembled a few rockets." Chen Wuji said, "Tonight's night raid was his spur-of-the-moment decision; before Chen Wuyi led troops out to hurl Shocking Heaven Thunder, the other commanders were still laying ambushes according to the wolf-pack tactic."

Chen Li's first volley of rockets was fired.

A sky-filling arrow rain like crimson meteors, brilliant and dazzling, poured down over the Qiang camp.

One volley had just landed when the next was fired again.

Two volleys of arrows poured forth, and Chen Li again led the troops in a rapid charge.

This time they truly plunged headfirst into the Qiang camp.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant!" Xu Zengyi praised.

Chen Wuji nodded, "Chen Li's move does have some merit."

Advance then halt—truly all technique.

Over a mere three li, he led the troops in a rapid charge; anyone seeing it would think Chen Li intended a surprise assault, and in the hurry the enemy would hastily muster forces and set up defenses—a perfectly normal reaction.

The result was that Chen Li charged halfway, then suddenly stopped, immediately followed by two consecutive volleys of arrow rain.

These two volleys of arrows caught the enemy off guard while also giving our troops a brief respite to catch their breath.

Although the time was short, that brief interval could save the troops countless stamina, allowing them to sustain the ensuing charge and battle.

This practical combat lesson truly taught Chen Wuji something.

The old eleventh uncle's half‑lifetime of military texts was not read in vain.

Xie Fengxian's pace of advance there is completely different from Chen Li's side.

They marched leisurely; when they came within about an arrow's range of the enemy camp, a single fire dragon suddenly became seven or eight, after which they surged forward in a rapid charge against the enemy camp.

This resembles Li Yunlong's tactic.

The laborers have no main force; all are main force.

But Chen Wuji had a small doubt.

The Qiang had just reinforced their camp in daylight; he lacked siege equipment, not even a ladder—how could he scale the Qiang's ramparts? Gnaw through them raw?

"That Xie Fengxian fellow is going berserk again," Chen Wuji said gloomily.

These commanders each have their own ideas; they like to introduce variations and personal flair into established tactics.

Naturally, this is understandable; Chen Wuji also encourages them to adjust tactics according to battlefield changes. Yet Xie Fengxian's approach tonight truly leaves Chen Wuji puzzled.

Could it really be that they intend to build a human ladder and storm over?

"Can you tell what Xie Fengxian is trying to do?" Chen Wuji asked.

Xu Zengyi shook his head, "It looks like they're dodging the Qiang's arrow barrage, but I'm not entirely sure either..."

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

All the troops have gone out; he can only watch helplessly, unable to lift a finger.

In the bewildered gazes of Chen Wuji and Xu Zengyi, the seven or eight fire dragons of Xie Fengxian's unit slid smoothly and without obstruction into the Qiang camp.

Xu Zengyi suddenly sat up, "How did they get in? Where is the Qiang's rampart?"

Chen Wuji suddenly realized, "Sir, we two really are—hahaha—we overlooked it, we overlooked it; the Qiang do have a rampart, but theirs now is about as good as chewed by a dog."

"Six thousand Shocking Heaven Thunder thrown in—how could their rampart remain intact?"

Xu Zengyi suddenly fell silent, then after a while said gloomily, "My lord, I suddenly realize that occupying the role of strategist seems somewhat inappropriate; I've made too many oversights."

"If that's what you mean, then I shouldn't be lord either—my oversights are even greater." Chen Wuji laughed, "Even sages err at times; you're no saint—do a few mistakes break heavenly law?"