https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-184-First-Stage-Mission-Reward-Part-1-/13030980/
Chapter 183: The Choice
Chapter 183: The Choice
September 25, 2017
Zhao Xue was dumbfounded. He had seen and experienced much in his life, even encountering tribes skilled in archery and horsemanship.
Yet, none of those encounters compared to the tactics of the Black Wind Legion. This was a completely new strategy he had never witnessed before.
The Black Wind Legion's tactics relied purely on the charging power of their horses and the individual strength of the bandits to execute long-distance throws. The range of these attacks far exceeded that of bows and arrows, and their power was significantly greater.
Under this tactical approach, Zhao Xue's soldiers couldn't get close to the Black Wind Legion. They could only watch helplessly as the enemy picked them off one by one from a distance with these strange hidden weapons.
The subsequent battle confirmed this reality. The Black Wind Legion had no intention of closing in; instead, they repeatedly charged, practicing their new technique of long-range assault.
After just a few charges, Zhao Xue's side had lost several hundred soldiers. Nima, this kind of battle was impossible to fight!
But that wasn't the most critical part. What was crucial was that Zhao Xue suddenly realized the enemy seemed to have no intention of negotiating with him. They seemed determined to kill them from the start.
This was terrifying. It meant that if they lost the battle, they might not even keep their lives.
At this moment, Zhao Xue had given up on the idea of conquering Lu Hai Kong's mountain camp. He even regretted his hesitation earlier. If he had left as soon as he realized he couldn't take the camp, things wouldn't have come to this.
Just as Zhao Xue felt a sense of despair, the Black Wind Legion's offensive halted. They stopped their long-distance iron block-throwing attacks.
In truth, this long-distance iron-throwing tactic was still in its experimental stage. Lu Hai Kong had only prepared it the night before, and the weapons were makeshift, crafted from scraps found in the blacksmith camp. After a few waves of attacks, the Black Wind Legion had exhausted their iron blocks.
"Excellent, their weapons are spent! Quickly organize our troops into a tight formation, and we'll retreat!" Zhao Xue's eyes lit up, and he immediately gave the order.
"Want to retreat? Isn't it a bit too late for that?" On the defensive wall, Lu Hai Kong's eyes narrowed, revealing a cold glint.
The Black Wind Legion's debut had just begun. If one side left, what was the point of continuing?
As the Strong Yin County troops slowly retreated under Zhao Xue's command, the Black Wind Legion started to gather, seemingly preparing for a full-on charge.
"Does the Lord intend to let them go?"
Li Xiong, who had returned to the mountain camp the previous night, watched the movements of the Black Wind Legion below with a furrowed brow.
"My Lord, please show mercy. If you destroy them, it will undoubtedly attract the attention of the Yan Men Prefecture for a siege."
"Now that my identity has been exposed, even if I spare them, won't the Imperial Court still send a siege force?" Lu Hai Kong said this, but he turned to look at Li Xiong, waiting for his response.
"No, no, no, my Lord. You are unaware of certain matters. If you release them, I guarantee that not only will the Yan Men Prefecture's siege not come, but they will also do their utmost to conceal your presence."
Li Xiong, the second-in-command of the Black Wind Camp, had the most contact with the aristocratic families. He knew all too well what kind of people they were. If Lu Hai Kong were just a small mountain bandit they could toy with, the exposure of his eccentric bandit identity would immediately bring about a siege, perhaps even an endless one.
However, in reality, Lu Hai Kong had already weathered the most challenging period. He had now become a formidable force, especially after the construction of the defensive wall, which significantly reduced the risk of exposure.
At this point, Lu Hai Kong could be considered a Great Bandit, a Tyrant of the Bandits. To take him down, one would need over ten thousand troops, an impossible feat without a significant force.
It's not that Bingzhou couldn't muster such numbers; even Yan Men Prefecture could easily provide ten thousand soldiers. But the question is, would it be worth it to deploy such a force to besiege Lu Hai Kong?
Absolutely not. Even if they managed to kill this Eccentric Bandit, the aristocratic families would gain no substantial benefits. On the contrary, they would have to pay a hefty price for attacking Lu Hai Kong.
Don't assume that war is cheap. A battle involving over ten thousand soldiers incurs a terrifying financial cost. Who has money to burn on a campaign against a mountain camp that poses no real threat to their interests?
Moreover, if the siege results in even minor casualties for the Imperial Court, the aristocrats of Strong Yin County will suffer.
"My Lord, if you trust me, let me handle this. As long as we can release the Strong Yin County Troops, I can work within the county to ensure the Court won't bother our mountain camp again."
Lu Hai Kong listened to Li Xiong's analysis, his head lowered in silence. Li Xiong's proposal was tempting.
At that moment, Wang Jun spoke up, "My Lord, the construction at the rear of the mountain camp, leading to the pasture, will be completed soon. While the pasture itself is not a significant project, we must consider the vast grassland beyond. If the Court besieges us now, we'll have to halt work on the pasture."
Hearing this, Lu Hai Kong felt a chill.
Animal husbandry was the foundation of his mountain camp's future, and with the current conditions unsuitable for farming, it was their only option.
Even with all the supplies from the Dark Wind Fort, they had barely enough for half a year. If they couldn't establish the pasture, the impending food crisis would be a significant headache.
"My Lord, if the Court besieges us, regardless of whether we can hold the camp, our external environment will become extremely challenging. Even if we survive, without the pasture, our situation will be dire."
Lu Hai Kong listened to the analyses of Li Xiong and Wang Jun, breaking into a sweat.
Previously, Lu Hai Kong had been cautious about the Court's siege, carefully concealing his identity as an Eccentric Bandit. Over time, this caution had given him a false sense of security, leading him to believe that once his identity was exposed, it would be an all-out war with the Court.
He thought that only by destroying his camp or repelling the Court's attack and defeating their forces could he ensure his safety.
Initially, this belief stemmed from Lu Hai Kong's anxiety about the siege, but as his confidence grew, he became convinced he could withstand the Court's assault and emerge victorious.
While this confidence wasn't entirely misplaced, Lu Hai Kong's subconscious limited him to a combat-only response. In reality, he could have explored alternative strategies.
(End of Chapter)
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