Vol 8 Chapter 12 (1/2)

VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 12: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A SKIRMISH AT JIANGXIA (2)

“What’s happening!” Liu Qi yelled out in alarm as she took 1 hand off her reins and pulled out her sword.

“Looks like there’s a battle up ahead.” Wen Ping said as she pulled out her long spear.

“I’ll protect you, my lord.” Zhou Cang as she rode up to me and pulled out a large machete that was at odds with her slim figure.

I really don’t know how her slender arms are able to wield that machete so effectively. It looks like it’s even heavier than both my twin swords. But despite that, her hands are steady and she looks calm as though the weight was nothing to her.

“Wen Ping, what’s up ahead?”

“If I’m not wrong, Jiangxia should be about 2km out.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, doubtful because Wen Ping said that without even looking at the map.

“Don’t worry. Wen Ping grew up on this side of Jing state and after she joined the army, she served as a courier for some time. There’s n.o.body who’s more familiar with the geography in this area.” Liu Qi said with full confidence in Wen Ping.

“My lord! Lord Liu Qi!” Just then, a voice came from afar. I looked over and saw that it was Chen Dao.

“Chen Dao, what’s happening up ahead?” I hurriedly asked when I saw her galloping back.

“My lord, Jiangxia city is up ahead and the Jiangxia garrison has begun fighting with Jiangdong troops!”

“Is it a siege battle or a battle below the city?” Liu Qi asked.

“n.o.body’s sieging the city. There are a lot of flags all over below the city so it should be the latter!”

“d.a.m.n it! Huang Zu must have succ.u.mbed to taunts and left the city to meet the enemy! And we don’t know what the numbers on both sides are like now…” Liu Qi cursed as she slammed her fist on the saddle. It’s the first time seeing her lose herself to rage since we met, “Wen Ping, tell the main body to get ready. We’ll reinforce them at once.”

Wen Ping bowed when Liu Qi finished and went to give the orders to Chen Gong and Yi Ji.

“Uncle, what about you? What will you do? Will you reinforce with us or do you have other plans?”

“Me?” I was a little surprised at this question but then I remembered that I held one half of the command token which meant that 2,500 troops were under my direct and legitimate command.

“Then I’ll…” I was about to answer immediately, but I immediately stopped and changed my reply, “Liu Qi, you go and reinforce them directly. I’ll see if there is another way to help.”

“Un, alright. I’ll be at ease with uncle taking charge.” She didn’t say any further agter this, and led half of the troops in a fast march to the battlefield.

“My lord, why aren’t we attacking together?”

“Yeah, dispersing your forces is a really bad move.”

Chen Dao and Zhou Cang voiced their doubts after Liu Qi went off.

If it were me from before, I would have probably done as they said, and charged in along with Liu Qi. But I’m quite different now. I’ve learnt a lot from Zi Long and the rest.

For e.g., if you want to attack a cavalry unit, you need to have a cavalry unit of your own.

“We don’t have a solid grasp on the enemy yet so attacking headlong will be dangerous. It’s best to get some intelligence first before making our move.”

“But Lord Liu Qi and the rest have charged ahead already? What will we do about them?” Zhou Cang frowned.

“That won’t be a problem. The reinforcing troops will charge in and combine with the garrison so they won’t be decimated so quickly.” I paused and thought for a moment, “Moreover, the enemy won’t think that there will be another reinforcing army after one has already appeared.”

“Oh! My lord is so smart! You actually thought so far ahead!” Chen Dao jumped up as she exclaimed very exaggeratingly. If she weren’t on a horse, she might have begun dancing.

“No, this is thanks to Zi Long’s teachings. She taught me to always think before I act.”

Of course, the methods I choose in the end may not be the right ones.

“Oh? I think it’s worthy of praise that Imperial Uncle didn’t attack immediately.” Just then, some light claps could be heard. When I turned around, I saw that Chen Gong had made her way here from the main body.

“Have the troops been divided already?”

“Yes, Yi Ji has taken command of half of the main body.” Chen Gong said, not forgetting to send a jibes my way, “By the way, I spoke with Yi Ji earlier, and learnt that Jing state treats its officials well and promotes them quickly. Won’t my lord learn from this?”

She never forgets that huh.

“I’ll do my best.” I gave some patronising words for now, and looked at our surroundings, “Chen Dao, where did you observe the battle?”

“There’s a slightly steep precipice up ahead which provides a good vantage point to see everything happening outside Jiangxia city.” Chen Dao reached out and pointed at a point in the distance. When I looked in the direction she pointed at, I saw a small hill.