Chapter 368 (1/2)

Chapter 368: Supplies

“Retreat according to plan,” Nan Xun ordered. He knew he couldn't win this fight. His soldiers nodded in understanding and turned around.

Ji Bo was just getting started. He wasn't going to let them leave so easily. He scoffed and insisted on giving chase despite the others' objections.

Nan Xun's eyes turned cold. He and his officers lured Ji Bo to where they had set up an ambush.

Ji Bo hadn't noticed anything wrong. Seeing that Nan Xun and his men had fled to a hill when cornered, he ordered his soldiers to ascend as well. They soon climbed to the top.

Ji Bo had taken with him only a small troop, but it was more than enough to take care of Nan Xun and his men. Nonetheless, the general didn't seem at all nervous.

“You better consider surrendering when you still can, Nan Xun,” Ji Bo said arrogantly. “I may spare your life if you do.”

Nan Xun scoffed and lit a signaling flare. Ji Bo frowned, staring at the bottom of the hill, wondering if Nan Xun had put people here beforehand.

Suddenly, from the trenches emerged a group of soldiers. They had remained undetected with the snow as their cover. Caught off guard, Ji Bo widened his eyes. There was little he could do. They were already surrounded.

“How did you know I'd send my men to attack you?” Ji Bo asked, staring at Nan Xun with a mad glint in his eyes. “How do you know I'd have them pursue you to this location? Has everything been part of your plan?”

Ji Bo shook his head to himself. “No, You didn't know I would put water over the wall. You must have planned to break into the city at first, am I right?”

Nan Xun didn't waste his time answering Ji Bo's questions. His goal was to apprehend Ji Bo and found out where he could find Jun Hao and the cure to Jun Huang's poison. He scoffed and took out a dagger, stabbing at Ji Bo.

Adrenaline rushed through Ji Bo's system. Before the blade could cut him, he grabbed a soldier and used him to block the cut.

That ignited a fight. Ji Bo fell on his hip, startled by the intense fight happening right before him. If not for his men's help, he wouldn't even be able to get up.

Recognizing that he was going to fail or even get himself in danger, Ji Bo took a calming breath and ordered the soldiers to retreat, shooting Nan Xun a glare.

Sensing Eastern Wu's intention, Nan Xun's men wanted to give chase and made Eastern Wu pay. However, Nan Xun stopped them.

“General, we should chase them down,” said an officer.

Nan Xun narrowed his eyes at the direction Ji Bo had fled in. “A beast is most dangerous when cornered. We'll get back and recuperate first.”

He mounted his horse. The others obediently followed him back to the camp.

Ji Bo didn't let the soldiers stop until they were a good distance away, but then he realized that Nan Xun hadn't followed. He was both disappointed and angry.

“What do we do now, Gentleman Ji ?” asked a soldier.

Ji Bo cursed under his breath. Whatever had happened, happened. He stopped his men from setting up an ambush and told them to take a short rest. He tightened his jaw. They would return to the city later.

It was his first direct clash with Nan Xun, and he lost! Things had gone according to Nan Xun's plan.

Ji Bo had always fancied himself a talented and wise man. He didn't expect to lose to a general who knew only how to fight. He didn't take the defeat well.

Soon, though, he realized that Jun Huang must have been giving Nan Xun advice and pointing out Ji Bo's plan. Ji Bo had known Jun Huang for a while. He knew how clever she was.

They returned to the city on the high ground. He had barely rested when the burly man barged in, panting. “Bad news, Gentleman Ji. There isn't that much food left in the city. If things go on, we'll starve to death before we get killed.”

He was telling the truth. Ji Bo recognized the gravity of the issue and returned to his tent. He drafted a letter to ask when the supplies would arrive.

However, he didn't get a response. Ji Bo cursed out loud. After a few more letters, he received only excuses from the royal clan. It made his blood boil.

In a fit of anger, he grabbed anything and everything in his tent and threw them to the ground. His tantrum was interrupted when the scholarly man entered his tent. He turned a blind eye to Ji Bo's venomous stare. “It makes sense that the royal clan will be unwilling to deliver us supplies.”