Chapter 292: First Volume, Chapter 292: Blood Soaked the Battlefield

First Volume, Chapter 292: Blood Soaked the Battlefield

Xu Mo's forehead veins bulged: "Damn it! Ambush!"

Almost as soon as Xu Mo finished speaking, dozens of arrows shot from the Cao Cong, forming a dense ArrowRain that rained down on the New Army, killing over ten New Army soldiers instantly.

As the second wave of ArrowRain arrived, the helmets of Beidi soldiers hidden in the Cao Cong emerged; Xu Mo's eyes burned with near madness, yet he did not slow—he whipped his horse's flank hard, urging it faster, roaring: "A hundred archers lying in wait? They're only trying to delay our reinforcement of Beixi County—ignore them!"

"Rush to Beixi County!"

Under Xu Mo's lead, the First Battalion of the New Army charged across the Official Road through the ArrowRain at astonishing speed, heading straight for Beixi County; only when the hoofbeats faded did the Beidi Dead Soldiers rise from the Cao Cong, staring at the distant dust cloud, coldly muttering: "No wonder he's a commander of the Tianji Camp—so decisive."

Meanwhile, in the Beidi direction.

Chen Si sat atop his horse, calculating the time, his face growing colder: "Why is the fighting still raging on the City Wall? The garrison's morale should have collapsed by now."

The Beidi Vice Commander replied grimly: "The soldiers are slaughtering the city."

Hearing this, Chen Si cast a sidelong glance, his icy gaze making the Vice Commander break into a cold sweat: "Who gave that order?"

The Beidi Vice Commander dared not hesitate a moment, quickly defending: "No one ordered it. After repeated battles, we've lost many men, and Zhong Ling's death is tied to this Beixi County—so the soldiers took revenge on their own, offering the blood of the entire city to honor Zhong Ling's spirit."

Chen Si's face turned pitch black, his voice sharp and final: "If we take the City, fine. But if this battle fails, every soldier who first entered the city to slaughter—beheaded and displayed!"

Had the massacre not occurred, the defenders inside would have had no choice but to fight to the death—this City would have fallen long ago. Even Chen Si, a master strategist, could not control every chaotic outcome once two armies clashed.

To this day, the Beidi had never committed a massacre.

Not because Beidi soldiers were kind, but because this door could not be opened.

If news of the massacre spread, two extremes would follow: either the Liang garrisons would be terrified into surrender, or their morale would harden into desperate resistance.

The Beidi army's advantage had not yet reached the point where they could massacre at will.

Chen Si's anger vanished; he regained his composure: "What time is it?"

The Vice Commander answered quickly: "It's nearly Chen hour."

Chen Si exhaled softly: "It seems the ambush at West of the City has succeeded. Those who were supposed to come have arrived; those who weren't won't come now. Beidi War Command: all forces except the Cavalry, advance on the County City. End this battle within one Envoy."

As the order spread, the infantry battalion remaining behind began advancing toward the County City.

Taking Beixi County was now merely a matter of time.

Just as Chen Si pulled his reins, preparing to return to the Camp, a rapid clatter of hoofbeats rang out.

Chen Si frowned, turning toward the sound—saw a light cavalry messenger galloping toward him, nearly tumbling off his horse, too breathless to salute before shouting: "General! Disaster! The Liang reinforcements did not engage the ambush—they left over fifty corpses behind and are charging full speed toward Beixi County!"

What?!

Chen Si's eyes widened; he barked: "Quickly, Beidi War Command: recall the infantry battalion—"

As Chen Si gave the order, an arrow shot from the night sky, striking him precisely in the left shoulder.

Caught off guard, Chen Si tumbled from his horse; though the arrow was not fatal, it sent a chill through his scalp.

This was the Beidi Camp—how could there be hidden arrows?

As Chen Si was attacked, over a dozen Heavy Infantry surrounded him, shielding him; the Vice Commander pointed to a small hillock twenty zhang away, roaring: "Cut that scout to pieces!"

Whoosh—over a hundred Beidi Cavalry surged toward the hillock.

Chen Si's eyes widened in disbelief: "This scout… did he spring from a crack in the Stone? How did he infiltrate this deep?"

As the hundred cavalry horses thundered past, the Tianji Camp Guards hidden behind the hillock were trampled to death under the hooves.

One soldier dragged the Tianji Camp Guard's corpse back to Chen Si: "General, from his attire, he appears to be a Tianji Camp Guard."

Chen Si's face turned ashen, his heart filled with shock.

One of the twenty Tianji Camp Guards inside BeixiCounty had split off, crawled on the ground under cover of night, and secretly infiltrated the Camp—reaching within striking range of Chen Si himself.

This terrifying combat will, this infiltration skill—both sent a chill down Chen Si's spine, even after years of battlefield command.

"This… is the army Qin Feng trained?!"

Had the distance been shorter, that arrow would have killed Chen Si.

Chen Si yanked out the arrow, too stunned by the Tianji Camp Guards' horror to dwell on it—he roared: "Quickly, Beidi War Command: recall the infantry battalion, prepare Beidi War Response! Cavalry Battalion, prepare to intercept!"

Almost as Chen Si gave the order, Xu Mo arrived with the First Battalion of the New Army, charging from West of the City.

The thunder of hooves and the roar of battle filled the night sky.

Xu Mo raised his Sword, pointing at the Beidi Cavalry Battalion, roaring: "Kill!"

The Beidi Cavalry Battalion had not yet mounted their horses—they were still standing idle awaiting orders—and now faced the sudden assault of the Liang New Army, they could only scramble to defend.

The New Army, riding on momentum and armed with prepped horse lances, slammed straight into the Beidi Cavalry Battalion.

The moment contact was made, the battle turned fierce; though outnumbered, the New Army held the initiative, shattering the Beidi Cavalry's line.

Then, the New Army split into three units, charging back and forth through the enemy ranks.

Meanwhile, atop the blood-slicked City Wall, Qi Meng, his eyes blazing with renewed battle fury upon seeing the reinforcements, raised his arms and roared: "Reinforcements have arrived! Beixi County is saved! Brothers, kill!"

The response from the City Wall was faint.

Most of the defenders had already been scattered.

Hearing the weak replies around him, mixed with deafening curses and shouts, Qi Meng realized—his own defenders were nearly all dead; dozens of Beidi soldiers had surrounded him.

At that moment, a searing pain stabbed into his lower back—he looked down and saw a dagger had pierced clean through his waist.

Qi Meng gritted his teeth, spun, and cut down the Beidi soldier who attacked him—then four more rushed forward.

Qi Meng swung his already chipped battle blade desperately, cutting down three Beidi soldiers, but a spear from the press pierced his chest; his strength drained, three more spears thrust in, using their length to stab him from multiple points on his upper body.

In an instant, Qi Meng's final, hoarse scream echoed across the City Wall: "Young Master, I entrust my parents, wife, and children to you!"