Chapter 70: Qianqian's Killing Frenzy
Chapter 70: Qianqian's Killing Frenzy
Upon hearing the plan to attack the city, everyone was stunned.
The night was already upon them, and they were expected to attack without any preparation?
Moreover, he had just arrived; shouldn't he first familiarize himself with the recent military intelligence?
The six generals, led by the elderly General Song Biao, exchanged uneasy glances, a foreboding feeling settling in their hearts.
After some hesitation, they entered the tent together.
Instead of focusing on the matter at hand, their eyes immediately fell on the two female guards standing beside the Grand Marshal—one on his left and the other on his right.
They had met one of them, Qing Shuang, on their journey; she was responsible for protecting the Grand Marshal's daughter.
The other woman was a stranger, her face unfamiliar.
Meng Qianqian was unmasked, a rarity as she had been widowed for many years in the capital. Although her relationship with Lu Lingxiao was the talk of the town, these generals had never laid eyes on her before.
Lu Yuan sat in the main seat, his gaze cold as he swept it across the group. "Have you come to discuss military affairs or to admire my bodyguards?"
The group quickly averted their eyes.
Meng Qianqian poured a cup of tea for Lu Yuan.
A trace of contempt flashed in Song Biao's eyes. A bodyguard? She was most likely a concubine entertaining her master with her body!
He cupped his hands in a perfunctory salute. "May I ask, Grand Marshal, which city are we attacking first?"
Lu Yuan picked up his teacup. "Whichever is closer."
Song Biao's eyebrows furrowed.
The rest of the group wore identical looks of disagreement.
Among the three strategic locations occupied by the rebels, Feng County was the closest to Yumenguan, while Yanggu Town and Chi County were both near Fengshazhen. However, although Chi County was farther away, the road was flat and smooth, and the number of rebels there did not exceed five thousand, making it the easiest to capture.
Winning the first battle with ease would undoubtedly boost the army's morale.
On the other hand, Yanggu Town was closer, but the cavalry would have to go over a mountain, which would tire the horses. Engaging in battle in such a state would result in low morale and exhausted troops.
"Is there a problem?" Lu Yuan asked, his tone sharp.
"What are your plans for the battle, Grand Marshal?" Song Biao inquired.
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "You've all been in battles before. Why are you asking me about such trivial matters? What's the point of the court maintaining an army like you?"
Fists clenched, the group seethed with anger.
"We only have one cavalry division, and the infantry hasn't arrived yet—" Song Biao frowned.
Lu Yuan's voice turned icy. "I'm giving you all my troops. I only care about results. You must capture Yanggu Town before daybreak!"
After leaving the tent, the generals were seething with anger.
"Damn it! That treacherous official only knows how to play with power and has no idea how to lead an army. Isn't he just messing around?"
"Military orders are like mountains. Who made him the main general of this expedition?"
"We all know how he became the main general. He only got this position by plotting against your uncle, Han Ci. Han Ci, don't you have anything to say about this?"
The young man addressed as Han Ci maintained a calm expression. "The Grand Marshal has ordered us to set off immediately. I should go and muster the troops."
"Hey, you... General Song, what do you think? Are we really going to fight? If you stand up to him, we will definitely follow you! That kid might be able to throw his weight around in the capital, but we don't tolerate that here on the border!" Zhang Feihu, the first warrior under General Han, spoke up.
On the border, strength was revered. The brave warriors who risked their lives respected only the strong—people like General Han and the late Grand Marshal Chu.
Song Biao's eyes narrowed. "To undermine his authority, we need a reason."
Zhang Feihu's eyes lit up. "You mean—"
"We lose the first battle," Song Biao stated.
Half an hour later, the army was ready to march.
With the entirety of the cavalry force departing, only the original city guards of Fengshazhen remained, totaling less than two thousand men. Among them were five hundred elderly, infirm, and disabled soldiers, as well as five hundred raw recruits.
Deep into the night, the border region was once again blanketed by heavy snowfall, quickly covering any traces of the cavalry's movement.
The camp was now deserted, and the patrolling guards, their hands nearly frozen stiff, finished their rounds and returned to their tents to rest.
Suddenly, two dark figures took advantage of the heavy snowfall to sneak into the camp using their light martial arts skills.
"General Zhou, the imperial cavalry has left, leaving only a hundred or so men to feed the horses! That emperor brat thinks he's so clever, sending someone who doesn't know how to fight to lead the troops. He never expected that by sending everyone to attack the city, he'd fall right into our trap of luring the tiger away from the mountain!"
"There are still two thousand guards in the town."
"Those guys are just making up the numbers. If they come, they'll just be throwing away their lives. Once we kill the Grand Marshal sent by the court, we'll return to Yanggu Town and kill those cavalrymen too!"
"Good! Let's begin!"
At General Zhou's command, his deputy sounded the horn to signal the attack.
A massive force of rebel soldiers charged out from the woods behind them.
Leading the charge were fifty cavalrymen.
General Zhou located his mount, leaped onto it, and brandished the long spear in his hand as he shouted, "Brothers, the one sitting in the main tent is the Father of the Emperor himself, the Grand Marshal sent by the court! Whoever takes his head will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"
"Tasteless."
Lu Yuan sat on a meditation cushion, blowing on the hot air in his cup. "My life is worth at least ten thousand taels."
"Charge!"
The rebels' blood boiled as they rushed towards the main tent.
The first to reach the tent was General Zhou's deputy, who drew his sword and leaped into the tent.
A horrified scream echoed, followed by a spray of blood that stained the canvas.
"Look! Deputy Wu is out!"
Was that... it?
Too fast!
Deputy Wu clutched his throat, from which blood gushed, and fell to his knees. He died unresisting, his eyes wide open in disbelief as he fell into the snow.
Everyone was shocked by what they saw.
General Zhou pointed his spear and shouted, "Who hurt Deputy Wu? Come out and die!"
Whoosh!
A dark figure darted out, moving so fast that it was almost impossible to react. In the blink of an eye, it was just a fleeting shadow in front of everyone.
Meng Qianqian, holding the embroidered spring dagger, stopped beside General Zhou and said coldly, "I'm here."
General Zhou's eyes bulged, and the spear in his hand fell to the ground. Like Deputy Wu, he raised his hand to his throat, but he couldn't stop the gushing blood.
He fell from his horse, his eyes wide with terror as he looked at Meng Qianqian in the snow, "You... you are..."
An arrow suddenly flew towards them!
Meng Qianqian caught the arrow in her hand and, with a swift spin, sent it flying back.
The archer fell, pierced by his own arrow!
This girl had only made three moves, and she had already killed three of their generals! Even the leader, General Zhou, had perished by her hand! What would happen if she made a hundred moves?
The last person this fearsome was the Great Marshal Chu.
But the Chu family had died out long ago. Where did this girl come from?
Another deputy, surnamed Li, took over the command with well-trained efficiency. "We outnumber her, and she's just one person. What's there to fear? Kill her!"
The rebels rushed forward as one.
Meng Qianqian nimbly weaved through the cavalry, her dagger striking true with each move. Soon, half of the fifty cavalrymen lay dead or wounded, but there were still a thousand of them left. They just needed to wear her down!
Once she was taken care of, the Grand Marshal's head would be theirs!
(End of Chapter)
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