Chapter 160: A Blind Cat Feeling for a Rat

What Meng Chengping took out was a special squad carrying out a special mission.

The entire squad was directly appointed by Huo Jiang.

They quietly left the camp at sunset, and aside from the Grand General himself, no one in the garrison knew where these people had gone.

At midnight, the vigilant troops suddenly received the Grand General's order; all cavalry of the Northwest Army launched a surprise attack on the Bei Li main camp.

Behind the cavalry, two battalions controlled stone‑throwing machines and rocket bows, creating chaos at a distance in the Bei Li army camp while providing cover for their own side.

The sleeping Bei Li troops were awakened by the burning stones, scrambling out of their tents to untie their warhorses.

The Northwest Army cavalry moved swiftly; their vanguard charged into the Bei Li army camp, and just as the blades clashed, something strange happened.

A Bei Li warhorse suddenly swayed, staggering unsteadily as if drunk.

No matter how that Bei Li cavalryman jerked the reins, cursed, or kicked the horse's belly, the warhorse refused to obey.

Finally, the poor warhorse's legs trembled uncontrollably and it collapsed helplessly to the ground.

Looking across the battlefield, the scene seemed contagious, with more and more Bei Li warhorses collapsing to the ground.

The mounted soldiers kept falling off their horses.

Seeing such a great opportunity, the Northwest Army didn't bother to investigate what had happened; they pressed the attack relentlessly, cutting down the enemy like melons and vegetables, growing braver with each fight.

At dawn, the Northwest Army camp sounded the recall to withdraw.

The cavalry kept the Grand General's advice in mind—know when to stop—and while retreating they also set fire to the Bei Li army's two largest granaries.

After that night, the Bei Li army's strength, including horse losses, was reduced by at least one‑third, and their supply losses were so heavy they could hardly be counted.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Army suffered not a single casualty—a triumph of using four ounces to move a thousand pounds, a great victory in their first battle.

Several generals reported to Huo Jiang with pleased expressions.

But when Meng Chengping's absence was mentioned, nobody could smile.

They only learned this morning that the Bei Li warhorses' sudden loss of control in battle was entirely due to the efforts of Meng Chengping's small unit.

According to the tactics previously agreed upon by Huo Jiang, Meng Chengping, and the others.

First, under cover of night they sneaked to the vicinity of the Bei Li army camp, waited for the moment when the camp's guard change and personnel were weakest, killed people, stripped their clothing and armor, disguised themselves, infiltrated, and mixed mad goat grass into the horses' fodder.

Meanwhile, the Bei Li customarily fed their horses a night snack before midnight, and it had to be fresh fodder.

After the horses ate their night snack, and the Bei Li troops were allowed to go indoors to sleep for half an hour, it was time for the Northwest Army to launch the attack.

Judging by the aftermath, everything must have gone very smoothly.

Following Huo Jiang's plan, after Meng Chengping's team completed their mission they were to stay as hidden as possible, wait for the main force of the Northwest Army cavalry to arrive, then rendezvous with their own side and return safely.

But now…

Huo Jiang slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Where are they?"

The generals present remained silent, for they truly didn't know what to say.

Before coming, they had already asked their subordinates; sure enough, nobody had seen any member of Meng Chengping's team the previous night.

Since the Bei Li army showed no disturbance, it meant Meng Chengping's group had not been exposed.

How could an entire squad of living people just vanish into thin air—surely they didn't fly up to heaven or dig down to earth?

Huo Jiang seemed to think of something, gritted his teeth and said, "Meng Chengping, I sent you to keep an eye on him, yet you let him lure you away!"

The generals didn't quite understand what the Grand General was saying.

Who is this "him"?

However, the Grand General looked very displeased.

One person plucked up the courage to ask, "What about sending out more scouts to have a look?"

Huo Jiang said in a low voice, "No need for now; you may all disperse."

The generals rose to take their leave.

In the Northwest Army, the Grand General's word is never questioned,

The Grand General has always cherished every soldier under his command; if he says he's not looking for now, there must be a reason.

Dependents Village.

The newborn's cries made the women gathered outside the Zhou family's courtyard relax.

But nobody rushed to celebrate just yet.

Until Madam Lin stepped forward, smiling, and said, "Mother and child are safe; you've given birth to a precious pearl!"

Then the women finally laughed, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

"Those who helped with the delivery have worked hard—come, a few of you, follow me to prepare the food!"

"Exactly, we've been busy since last night; we're surely hungry."

Indoors, He Jinglan laughed through tears as she jumped up to Gu Xixi and exclaimed, "Xixi, that's wonderful!"

"Hurry up and get up to look at the baby you delivered!"

"Everyone, including Madam Lin, says it's a beautiful little girl!"

Gu Xixi gave a wry smile and reached out, saying, "Could you give me a hand? My legs are weak—I can't stand."

Because she had been concentrating for a long time without moving, her circulation was sluggish.

Adding to that, this was her first time practicing medicine illegally—doing something she was neither skilled at nor had ever learned—made her extremely nervous.

Once the pressure was lifted, getting up and moving her legs made her feel much better.

The newborn had already been washed clean; Gu Xixi hobbled over to take a look.

Reddish and wrinkled, it looked like a little monkey with only hair on its head.

She couldn't help wondering, where did everyone see that this little girl … was beautiful?

Afterwards, several of the women who had assisted with the delivery came out holding the swaddled baby, showed it to everyone, and recounted how perilous the situation had been, adding that thanks to Boss Gu's few acupuncture needles, both mother and child had been saved.

Everyone exclaimed again, "Good thing Boss Gu is still in the village this time, otherwise... it would have scared people to death."

No wonder it's our boss Gu; I knew as soon as she acted, the Zhou family young lady would definitely be fine!

Gu Xixi couldn't stand hearing that, and hurriedly walked out.

Because her legs hadn't fully recovered flexibility, she accidentally tripped on the threshold and almost fell.

Thanks to He Jinglan's quick eyes and hands, she grabbed her in time, saying, "What's the rush? Let me help you walk for now."

Gu Xixi gave an embarrassed smile, then looked at everyone and said, "Please don't praise me so much."

I'm not a doctor; today I performed acupuncture merely because I happened to have seen an old Chinese doctor treat a difficult labor case, and in the critical moment I could only follow his example.

The Zhou family lady turned danger into safety entirely thanks to her fortunate appearance; it just happened that her symptoms resembled those of the woman I had seen, so my acupuncture worked. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what the outcome would have been.

Gu Xixi's sincerity left everyone stunned.

After a moment of silence, the women all burst into laughter.

Tsk! We all know, Boss Gu, what are you nervous about?

This morning even Aunt Lin couldn't handle it! Who doesn't know you and Miss He are still unmarried young ladies—how would you know anything about childbirth?

Isn't that right? Aunt Lin thought, maybe with two people there are two ways. And look, it worked!

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan looked at each other, exchanging whispers.

He Jinglan: "This is called... whether you have dates or not, you still strike two poles."

Gu Xixi: "This is like grabbing a random blind cat and it ends up catching a mouse."

Everyone was happy.

On the Xi Bei border, a squad of only twenty people crawled forward through the wild grass...