Chapter 71: The Second Wave of Attacks Begins
Chapter 71: The Second Wave of Attacks Begins
September 25, 2017
Many thanks to 'Lin Yiyan' for the generous rewards!
And to 'Jiuzhe Jiumeiyou' for the support!
Also, gratitude to 'Heiye Yan' for the kind gesture!
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The 30,000 skill experience points were a significant amount, enough to effortlessly raise Man Niu Jin to level 4, upgrade Fundamental Inner Strength to level 10, or even directly boost Mountain Splitting Axe Technique, which Lu Hai Kong had just acquired, to level 5.
However, with so many options available, Lu Hai Kong couldn't help but hesitate. Normally, he wouldn't have second thoughts; he could just pick any one of them. The problem was that Gao Shun, that freak, was in Shanwu County. To avoid running into him, Lu Hai Kong decided to hold onto these experience points for now, keeping them in reserve for future needs.
Lu Hai Kong had one more crucial task to accomplish.
After confirming that Zhang Ke had left, the tightly shut gate of the mountain fort opened once more. A squad of mountain bandit soldiers, led by Wang Ti, ventured onto the previous battlefield to collect the spoils of war.
Lu Hai Kong's battle seemed effortless, but his preparations had been far from easy.
For this battle, he had spent three days preparing. Just gathering that batch of horses took a considerable amount of his time. Some were bought, some were from the previous group of horse bandits, and some were taken from the merchant caravan they had raided. It had been a massive undertaking.
The wooden stakes and vines along the mountain path also required a significant amount of effort. These three days were spent primarily on these preparations, so Lu Hai Kong's victory was not merely a stroke of luck.
The only thing that slightly dampened Lu Hai Kong's mood was the absence of Gao Shun from Shanwu County during this wave of attacks. Lu Hai Kong couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, as he had wanted to test the skills of this 'historical vassal.'
As Lu Hai Kong pondered this, Zhang Ke, who had retreated to the foot of the mountain, surveyed the field of defeated soldiers. Well, defeated and injured soldiers, as Lu Hai Kong and his group had taken care of the rest.
At this moment, Zhang Ke was deep in thought, considering who could revive the low morale of the soldiers before him and, more importantly, how to capture Lu Hai Kong's mountain fort.
"Send someone back to bring another unit of troops, and call Gao Shun and his men here immediately!" Zhang Ke, jolted by Lu Hai Kong's sudden attack, realized that Lu Hai Kong was not as simple as he had imagined. Without hesitation, he ordered more troops from Shanwu County.
"Also, before they arrive, secure all passages up and down the mountain. Don't let a single bandit escape. Additionally, send a section of soldiers to keep an eye on the fort. Report back immediately if there's any unusual activity!"
Zhang Ke's biggest concern now was that Lu Hai Kong and his group might use this opportunity, while their morale was low, to break through the siege. If that happened, Zhang Ke knew he would be helpless to stop them.
However, Zhang Ke was overthinking it. Lu Hai Kong had clearly lured them here, and with his strategic goal unaccomplished, there was no way he would leave so easily.
Although the distance from here to Shanwu County was only about ten kilometers, the movement of troops required careful pre-battle planning. So, by the time Zhang Ke saw his troops arrive at the foot of the mountain, night had already fallen.
Without the setback during the day, a night raid would have been a viable option. However, the defeat had not only dampened the troops' morale but also shaken Zhang Ke's confidence. He feared that the cunning Lu Hai Kong might have more tricks up his sleeve.
Yet, Zhang Ke was not ready to give up. He sent for Gao Shun, seeking his opinion. After all, Gao Shun's talent was widely acknowledged as the best among the Shanwu County troops. Zhang Ke, who had once looked down on Gao Shun, now valued his strength, especially after his own defeat.
However, Zhang Ke's men returned with news that Gao Shun couldn't be found in the barracks.
Zhang Ke was furious and almost ordered Gao Shun's arrest. Fortunately, he managed to calm down, recalling Gao Shun's formidable strength. Having survived countless battles, Zhang Ke respected such a warrior and knew they might need Gao Shun's help to conquer this mountain fort.
Suppressing his anger, Zhang Ke ordered his men to fetch Gao Shun the next morning, even if they had to bring him by force.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Zhang Ke woke up early, and his confidence, shattered by Lu Hai Kong, seemed to have returned.
Although he still sent men to find Gao Shun, Zhang Ke didn't wait idly at the foot of the mountain. Instead, he assembled his troops and, with the addition of a thousand elite soldiers who had joined the day before, launched another assault.
This time, Zhang Ke was much more cautious. He sent a platoon to clear the path, and at the slightest sign of trouble, they would investigate. They made their way smoothly, and when they arrived at Lu Hai Kong's mountain fort, Zhang Ke immediately ordered a hundred-man spear formation to be set up, which eased his worries. Now, even if Lu Hai Kong launched another Flame Horse Formation, Zhang Ke was confident they could handle it.
"It seems you all miss the hospitality of Lu Hai Kong," Lu Hai Kong said, standing atop the fort's wall, looking down at Zhang Ke with a smile. "But I'm afraid I can't offer you another batch of warhorses. We're just a small fort, and I don't have that kind of wealth."
"Attack! Take this fort!" Zhang Ke ordered, his face grim.
"The second wave of Shanwu County's attack begins!"
As the system notification sounded, the county's soldiers charged towards the fort's walls.
The fort's walls were not traditional structures but were made from natural boulders, with stairs and platforms that made climbing possible, albeit challenging.
Soon, some soldiers began scaling the walls, and the most agile among them were almost at the top.
Just as the first soldier reached the top, a long spear pierced his chest, sending him plummeting down. Simultaneously, over a hundred bandits with long spears appeared on the fort's ramparts.
The fort's walls were only a few dozen meters wide, and the hundred bandits formed an impenetrable line, sealing off the fort.
Lu Hai Kong and his men had only taken action individually yesterday, giving the impression that there were only a few of them. But now, with so many appearing, Zhang Ke's face darkened. "Damn, this fort has more than just a handful of them."
(End of Chapter)
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