🚨 To get the full story and future chapters purchase it from patron shopÂ
Inside the City Lord's Manor, lights blazed. Lan Canghai and a few others gathered around a sand table, analyzing the battle situation.
"We only have a hundred thousand troops at our disposal, while the enemy has at least three hundred thousand," Ji Huaiyan analyzed. "Furthermore, their equipment is superior. We cannot engage them head-on."
"Indeed," Jun Mo said. "Look, here is the First-Line Gorge. We can set up an ambush there, but we don't need too many men. Everyone knows gorges are prone to ambushes. The purpose here is simply to mislead the enemy, making them believe this is our only ambush point, so they'll let their guard down later."
"Are there other ambush points then?" Wei Yuanling asked.
Ji Huaiyan pointed to a spot. "Look here."
Lan Canghai, his daughter Lan Yan, and Wei Yuanling looked confused.
Ji Huaiyan explained, "The terrain here is gentle and flat. They'll definitely lower their guard. This place is most suitable for an ambush."
Jun Mo nodded, looking at Lan Canghai. "General Lan, please send men to dig a wide trench overnight. It needs to be at least three zhang wide, and the deeper the better."
"After our sneak attack tonight, the enemy will certainly counterattack tomorrow, so we must act quickly."
"I'll have a team start digging right away!" Lan Canghai said.
The night was deep and still; every sound had ceased.
A group of figures in black moved swiftly, not many in number, perhaps around two hundred. Like phantoms, they headed towards the enemy camp.
The sentries fell silently before they could even make a sound.
This contingent was the elite of the elite. With the Ink Guards present, entering and exiting the enemy camp was like strolling through their own private garden.
These black figures moved through the various large tents, and many Southern Border soldiers died in their sleep.
The pungent smell of blood was like the Nine Nether Hells, so choking it dimmed the stars and moon.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Quick, tell the Young Lord, enemy attack!"
"Tianqi is ambushing us! Defend!"
"Kill!"
Shouts of battle echoed, shaking the very heavens.
The heavy armor that protected the Southern Border soldiers on the battlefield now became a hindrance. The Tianqi forces were all dressed in black, the night their best protection.
Each one was as light as a swallow, suddenly flashing out from the darkness, followed by several Southern Border soldiers falling.
All at once, cries of agony and wails erupted.
Liang Xuanting awoke with a start. By the time he dressed and came out, the military camp was already in chaos.
"Deputy General! Deputy General!" Liang Xuanting shouted.
"Young Lord, it's Tianqi's Prince Jing!" The Deputy General came over, covered in blood, a hint of panic in his voice.
"What's there to fear! We have more men! Since he dared to come, we'll leave his life here tonight!" Liang Xuanting roared, then mounted his horse and charged forward.
Countless torches formed an endless wave of fire, smoke billowing upwards, dimming the bright moon and paling the stars.
There, Jun Mo was clad in a green robe, his long brows slightly raised, thin lips pressed together. His jade-like, gentle profile suddenly revealed a heroic aura.
Man and horse, the steed galloped. His long-tasseled spear was wielded so swiftly that only afterimages could be seen, and all who came near him fell to the ground.
Beside him, Wei Yuanling, Ji Huaiyan, and the others also stood tall, their expressions solemn and resolute.
Jun Mo led his men, riding through the midst of the Southern Border's thousands of soldiers, charging back and forth.
The two hundred or so men, cooperating perfectly, were as steady as Mount Tai.
They made it so that no enemy soldier dared to approach them.
When Liang Xuanting arrived, he witnessed this very scene, and a surge of anger immediately lodged in his chest.
"Jun Mo! You've come at just the right time!"
"Useless scum! Attack for this Young Lord! Anyone who dares to retreat, this Young Lord will cut them down first!"
"Arrow volley!"
The Deputy General came over, stopping him. "Young Lord, we have many men, and they only have one or two hundred. There will be friendly fire!"
Liang Xuanting said coldly, "As long as we can capture Jun Mo, what does a little friendly fire matter!"
Jun Mo saw him emerge and watched him with cold eyes.
"Liang Xuanting, you massacred one of my cities. I swear I'll take your dog's head! Just you wait!"
Having said that, he showed no desire to prolong the fight. He turned his horse's head and shouted, "Retreat!"
"Shoot arrows! Stop him! Stop him for this Young Lord!"
Seeing the arrows falling like a dense forest behind them, no one wanted to rush forward to their death, so naturally, no one dared to stop him.
Anyone who tried to stop him would either be killed by the enemy or shot dead by their own side.
Arrows rained down densely towards them. Fortunately, they were dressed in black, and the night was their best protection.
Liang Xuanting was furious and spurred his horse to give chase.
"Young Lord, don't go, it's dangerous!"
"Chase them for this Young Lord! They're just a few hundred men, while this Young Lord has hundreds of thousands of troops! Chase them!"
With that, he led his troops, chasing after the direction where Jun Mo and his party had disappeared.
When they reached First-Line Gorge, the Deputy General stopped Liang Xuanting, cautiously surveying the surroundings.
"Young Lord, this kind of terrain is most prone to ambushes!"
Liang Xuanting's face darkened. Did he need reminding?
Because he had held him back, Jun Mo's silhouette was now nowhere to be seen!
Liang Xuanting said coldly, "Go back and tally the casualties. Rest well. Tomorrow morning, we attack the city!"
"Yes, sir!"
Meanwhile, Jun Mo and his party cheerfully returned to Lan'an City.
"Exhilarating! Absolutely exhilarating!" Wei Yuanling exclaimed loudly.
Lan Yan smiled, "It truly was exhilarating. This was the most satisfying battle we've had in days!"
"I roughly estimate we eliminated twenty to thirty thousand enemy soldiers tonight," Ji Huaiyan said with a smile, wiping blood from his face.
"Then let's go again when it gets dark!" Wei Yuanling said.
Ji Huaiyan shook his head. "Do you really think Liang Xuanting is a fool? The reason we could kill so many this time was because we caught them by surprise, completely unprepared. He never expected us to reach Lan'an so quickly."
Back at the City Lord's Manor, Lan Canghai was waiting for them.
"How did it go? You're back so quickly, it hasn't even been an hour."
Lan Yan stepped forward and said, "Father, in just this one hour, nearly twenty thousand enemy soldiers fell beneath our blades!"
Although Lan Yan's expression remained cool and detached, her tone and sparkling eyes betrayed the excitement swelling within her.
Lan Canghai was startled. He looked at Jun Mo and asked, "Twenty thousand?"
Jun Mo nodded. "Approximately, but we also lost nearly thirty men."
Lan Canghai clicked his tongue in amazement. He had lost over twenty thousand men to eliminate forty to fifty thousand of the enemy, but with Prince Jing's arrival, they had achieved such a great victory.
It seemed he was truly old. These young people were extraordinary.
Lan Canghai's cheeks trembled with excitement.
Ji Huaiyan said, "Don't celebrate too soon. Southern Border suffered such a heavy loss this time; there's still a tough battle ahead tomorrow."
Wei Yuanling laughed. "That's what we're waiting for! I can't wait to see tomorrow's battle!"
Lan Canghai said, "What Prince Jing instructed, I've already arranged overnight. That pit is full of sharp blades; if anyone falls in, they'll surely be mangled beyond recognition, and climbing out will be impossible."
Jun Mo nodded. "Excellent. I will lead the Ink Guards to the gorge and lure the enemy into this deep trench!"
Wei Yuanling objected, "No, you can't go. I'll go."
Jun Mo shook his head. "It must be me."
Liang Xuanting desperately wanted his life now, so he would personally lure him onto the hook.
As long as he was at the forefront, Liang Xuanting wouldn't have time to think; he would definitely charge forward!
Lan Canghai said, "You all go down and rest for a bit. There's still a fierce battle tomorrow."
Everyone was exhilarated and had no desire to sleep at all.
🚨 Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +400 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update