Vol 9 Chapter 182 (2/2)

“Here!” Several officers answered Yuan Zhi’s sudden call immediately.

“You lot, bring your troops and try to charge against the enemy on that side. Pull back immediately if you can’t get through.”

“Yes!”

Eh? What does she want from this?

“Telling a few hundred men to try to break out? That won’t work.” Chen Dao said with worry.

“I… Know that it won’t work.” Yuan Zhi nodded, “That’s why I’m telling them to… Come back when they can’t go any further.”

“Is there a need for that?”

“Un, it’s a test.” Yuan Zhi replied as she continued to look about, “Does everyone remember the report from the courier before?”

“The one about Lord Lu Bu tearing through the enemy formation?”

“Un,” Yuan Zhi nodded and smiled, “We might be in a dire predicament here but it’s only been 15 minutes and Lord Lu Bu should have drawn away a sizeable number of troops with her actions.”

“Ah…” Zi Long uttered as she came to a realisation, “Since they tore across, that means that a good amount of troops should separated from the formation.”

“Yes. This is something very simple that we failed to realise because we were mystified by the enemy’s formation.” Yuan Zhi replied as she lightened up and lookedt me, “This is thanks to this brutish general.”

“Hahaha, no way.” I laughed but then quickly stopped as I asked, “So what does that all mean?”

“That means that the enemy troops surrounding us is likely to be just slightly more than half of their entire force.” Chen Dao seemed to get it and explained, “That means we have virtually no disadvantage charging against them since we have almost 4,000 troops with us.”

“Ah, I understand now. That means the enemy strength is the same as ours, correct?”

“Yes, that. Hai, your ability to understand has not improved in the least.” Zi Long said, not forgetting to insult me as she did so, “So the only uncertainty that is preventing us from acting is the enemy’s numbers right? If they do indeed have the same strength as we do, then we can do as Shamoke proposed.”

“That is why I did a test.” Yuan Zhi smiled as she replied.

“Report!” A rather urgent voice came from behind and when I turned back, I saw that it was one of the 100-man generals Yuan Zhi had summoned before.

“What’s the status?” Yuan Zhi asked as she was the one who gave the orders.

“We couldn’t make it out! It’s my responsibility!” He said with anguish.

“No, that’s fine.” Yuan Zhi said as she waved her hand dismissively, “Let me ask you, were you surrounded and attacked? Were you the only one who made it out?”

“Ah, not at all.” He shook his head, “The enemy troops only blocked us but did not surround and attack us.”

“Un un un un.” Yuan Zhi nodded over and over, seeming overjoyed at what he said, “Then how far did you get before you were forced back?”

“We managed to get…” He replied and trailed off as he narrowed his eyes and thought back, “About 50 paces.”

“Good.” Yuan Zhi said as she patted her thigh. She really does not seem like a cultured individual at all and seems like a completely different person from how she usually is. Is this the effect of liquor?

“You may leave now.” Yuan Zhi said as she dismissed him, “If we should prevail, I’ll promote you when we return.”

“That’s fine right?” Naturally, this sort of thing could not be done at anyone’s whim so she asked Zi Long. I took a closer look at the 100-man general and found that he was one of Zi Long’s troops. It’s not like there is a clear marker. His serious expression that looks like Chen Dao’s is enough for me to tell.

“That’s fine.” Zi Long accepted easily.

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