Chapter 482: First Volume_Chapter 482: Trapped in Enemy Territory

First Volume_Chapter 482: Trapped in Enemy Territory

At first, even Ning Hu felt this would be the Tianji Camp Guards' final battle—after all, Yangchang Mountain was already surrounded by several thousand enemy troops.

But when the fighting actually began, Ning Hu discovered that the soldiers scouring Yangchang Mountain were not Front Line Elite Troops at all—to be precise, they couldn't even be called Regular Army.

Dozens of Scouring Soldiers formed into tight formations, yet were often broken apart by just three or five Tianji Camp Guards.

Moreover…the enemy's weapons were mostly Zhan Dao and leather shields, not Long Weapons, which showed they were merely second-rate troops hastily conscripted.

Presumably the Front Line fighting was extremely tight, leaving no proper Army to be recalled for the encirclement.

Ning Hu was secretly delighted, and immediately led the remaining Tianji Camp Guards to form up and charge down the mountain.

Reinforcement Scouring parties kept coming, but they simply couldn't form any effective Combat Effectiveness—it was pure "adding oil" Tactics; often the moment a wave of Scouring Reinforcements charged up, they suffered over half casualties in a single encounter.

The Tianji Camp Guards transformed directly from a cornered beast's fight into fierce tigers descending the mountain, charging and killing all the way, with no one able to stop them.

In less than One Envoy, Ning Hu led the Tianji Camp Guards down to the Mountain Foot. A few dozen Scouring Soldiers did tail them the whole way, but having witnessed the Tianji Camp Guards' outstanding Combat Effectiveness, they only dared watch from afar, not daring to engage in close combat at all.

Even Ning Hu himself couldn't believe that, facing an encirclement of several thousand men, they could truly escape with their lives.

Ning Hu led the remaining Two Hundred and twenty Tianji Camp Guards, supporting one another, running toward the North.

"Comrades, we're going home!" Ning Hu shouted, immensely excited.

The SecondPlatoonLeader couldn't believe his own ears: "Ning Qianhu, going home? Are we not fighting anymore?"

Ning Hu was already in a sorry state by now, but his expression was more relaxed than ever: "The Enemy Army can't even recall a proper Army to encircle us, which shows how intense the Front Line fighting is. Our mission is already complete, and besides there's no Granary or Jun Xie Ku left for us to burn. Staying any longer has no meaning."

Though the Tianji Camp Guards were all fearless tough men, upon learning the mission was over and they could go home, the guards still cheered and jumped for joy—some were so overjoyed they wept on the spot.

"That's wonderful, we're finally going home."

"Hahaha, damn Beidi people, your grandfathers are leaving—no need to see us off."

"If it weren't for the limited Military Rations and Materials and Supplies we're carrying, even if we fought another month or so, I wouldn't give a damn. The Beidi people got lucky. Speaking of which, if Young Master Qin sees us withdrawing to Beixi County, he'll surely be very happy."

"Not so—our three hundred Tianji Camp Guards left eighty Comrades behind in Beidi territory. Young Master Qin will surely feel great pain over this."

Just as the guards were supporting one another, stumbling along toward Shedynasty, a figure suddenly appeared before them.

Ning Hu raised his hand, and everyone immediately halted, grabbing their halberds and watching the approaching black shadow with extreme vigilance.

Ning Hu simply raised his halberd, aiming it like a javelin at the shadow, ready to take it out on the spot—after all, this was Beidi territory, there certainly wouldn't be Reinforcements.

Just as Ning Hu was about to throw the halberd, a voice with an unmistakably Shedynasty accent rang out.

"Are those Tianji Camp Guards ahead?!"

Ning Hu's motion slowed, his brow slightly furrowed: "Who goes there?"

The shadow drew closer as it replied: "Jinyi Guard!"

Hearing those three words "Jinyi Guard," Ning Hu's taut body instantly relaxed. He hurriedly stepped forward a few paces, and by the faint moonlight saw that the other's attire was indeed identical to that of the Jinyi Guard.

Ning Hu didn't know whether to be surprised or delighted: "Brother of the Jinyi Guard? How did you end up here?"

The Jinyi Guard cupped his fist, his eyes full of reverence: "Ning Qianhu, as early as Ten Days ago, Young Master Qin gave orders for the Jinyi Guard to carry Military Rations and Materials and Supplies and conduct Secret Infiltration into Beidi territory, to support you at any cost. But the Beidi Border region is vast and sparsely populated, with armies of all kinds marching back and forth, making it truly hard to locate your trail. We had no choice but to disperse into small groups, searching everywhere for traces of you."

At these words, Ning Hu was instantly overwhelmed with gratitude: "Brothers of the Jinyi Guard, you've worked hard!"

The guards behind him were fired up, growling low in succession.

"I said it—Young Master Qin would never forget us!"

"Young Master Qin knew full well we were trapped in enemy territory and hard to support, yet he still sent people. Just like the phrase Young Master Qin always has on his lips—we are all Hand and Foot Brothers. To give our lives for Young Master Qin, we would die ten thousand deaths without complaint."

Just as the guards were excited, the Jinyi Guard poured cold water on them.

"You absolutely must not go any further ahead. The news that you were trapped on Yangchang Mountain has already been learned by the Beidi Qian Xian Garrison Troops—a Cavalry force is already heading this way."

What the Tianji Camp Guards feared most was Cavalry. Once entangled by Cavalry, facing harassing fire from horsebows and the trampling ChargeOrder of mounts, even the Tianji Camp Guards—堪称 the pinnacle of Ji Zhan—could only suffer one-sided slaughter.

The smile vanished from Ning Hu's face, his brow tightly furrowed: "If that's the case, couldn't we just go around the Cavalry's必经 route?"

The Jinyi Guard shook his head repeatedly: "Useless. The entire Front Line is now a complete mess—the Beidi Army has spread from the Front Line all the way into our Liang Kingdom's territory, with Military Garrison everywhere along the way. Moreover, Chen Si was once ambushed by Tianji Camp Guards and lost an arm; he harbors deep hatred for the guards and has issued orders to every Garrison to defend with strict vigilance. Not just the Front Line—Garrison Troops in every county along the Beidi Border are also looking for you."

"Rashly returning to the Northern Border would certainly expose us. The safest course right now is to find a hiding place and take temporary shelter. We've already chosen the spot—follow me."

Ning Hu knew perfectly well that this Tianji Camp Guards operation had caused the Beidi considerable trouble—especially the burning of Granaries, forcing Grain and Forage everywhere to be reallocated, indirectly causing the war to start early.

Let alone Chen Si—even the various Beidi armies would absolutely not let the Tianji Camp Guards leave Beidi alive.

For now, the only option was to hide temporarily and make further plans.

Ning Hu no longer hesitated, and immediately led the Tianji Camp Guards to follow the Jinyi Guard eastward, taking shelter in a mountain hollow on a peak called Qingyu Mountain.

……

Shedynasty, Yongshou County.

Dawn was just breaking when the Chariot and Cavalry General was woken by the Deputy General.

"General, hurry outside and look!"

The Chariot and Cavalry General thought there was enemy activity. He flipped out of bed, didn't even have time to put on his shoes, and ran barefoot toward the City Gate Tower. Upon reaching the top of the City Gate and seeing the scene outside, even the Chariot and Cavalry General—who had seen countless great storms—was stunned.

The once wide-open terrain outside Yongshou County had now taken on an entirely different appearance.

In just one night, the moat on the County City's front had been dug—fully one zhang wide and nine chi deep—and the Engineers were continuing to dig along both sides of the City.

At the same time, atop the moat stood rows of brand-new Horse-Rejection Formation stakes.