Chapter 291 – Dog Eat Dog (1/2)

Dog Eat Dog

“Hm?” Hu Che Er furrowed his eyebrows. Carriages and provisions were scattered everywhere on the road. Zhang Xiu had received news from the other scout that provisions were being sent to Shouchun from Lujiang. However, the one dispatched was Hu Chu Er. Although the provisions may be worth a bit, Zhang Xiu had no real need for it as he could obtain provisions from Liu Bei without any strings attached. On the other hand, plundering the provisions may cause casualties. So, Zhang Xiu had no interest and had Hu Chu Er dispatched. Hu Chu Er arrived around noon and thought that they could plunder.

However, the scene was in chaos. There were carriages and provisions but where was the enemy? Would they just leave the provisions on the ground to be taken? Hu Che Er felt skeptical but he was a person of Qiang. They all believe in strength. Hu Che Er sees his two hundred cavalry believing that none would dare oppose. He waved his hand and the Xiliang Cavalry nodded. They got down and put the provisions back into the carriage. They then used their horses to pull the carriage.

“They are really here for the provisions! Truly venomous intentions!” Liu Pi and Liao Hua looked at Hu Che Er from the bushes. It would be one thing if it was just for provisions. However, they attacked allies for merits. This made Liao Hua extremely angry. Barbarians would remain barbarians. This was his impression of Hu Che Er who was a person of Qiang. The evidence was the two braids at the side of his head and the ring at his nose. With a single look, they could tell that he was a foreigner.

“That person is Hu Chu Er! Zhang Xiu’s deputy general!” Liu Pi knows about Hu Chu Er. After all, when Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu spoke, Hu Chu Er was present. Hu Chu Er really admired Zhang Xiu. Even though he was a man of Qiang, he was Zhang Xiu’s confident. It was said that he was the one that killed Dian Wei and his strength should not be overlooked. Liu Pi began to hesitate. He wondered if Zhang Xiu would turn against him once he killed Hu Chu Er and if Liu Bei would kill him for Zhang Xiu.

“Leader. Why are you still thinking about such things at this hour?” Liao Hua saw that Liu Pi was being indecisive and worrying about offending others despite the fact that others want him dead. “Leader. If he does not die today, we will be the one dead!”

“I know!” Liu Pi took a deep breath. He also knew that he had no way out. He had to either put his all into fighting or be overtaken and killed. Liu Pi was still under forty years old and still have many good days left in him. Naturally, he did not want to die.

“General. What do we do?” Liao Hua’s deputy also had good luck. He managed to escape with his life after Zhao Yun’s a.s.sault. He asked Liu Pi and Liao Hua when he saw the cavalry at the road.

“Do not worry!” Liao Hua said indifferently. He had completely calmed down. He believed he could kill those that wish him dead.

Liao Hua saw the men under the command of the barbarian got down their horses. They then begun to pick up the scattered provisions from the floor and brought it back to the carriage and was sorted out.

“General. We must act quickly or it would be too late!” Liao Hua’s deputy was anxious. He had thought that Liao Hua had scattered the provisions on the floor and placed the carriages everywhere to prevent the cavalry from charging. It was a bigger surprise when they got off the horse to pick up the provisions. If they had waited for them to finish keeping the provisions, all the hard work would become wasted.

“It is not yet time!” Liao Hua was experienced in warfare. In fact, he was more experienced than Liu Pi. This was because Liao Hua’s luck during his time at the Yellow Turbans was not good. All of his superiors were defeated by the Imperial Army. It was no use even if Liao Hua had better soldiers. All of this had made Liao Hua improve. Although Liu Pi was a leader, he had better luck and slipped away from the Imperial Army several times. In comparison, Liao Hua had experienced more suffering and is more skilled than Liu Pi in commanding.

It was Liao Hua’s instincts as a commander that told him it was not yet time. He felt that if they were to rush out now, his five thousand troops would be annihilated. Liao Hua looked around carefully for his source of unease and then realized. “Can you see that barbarian general?” Liao Hua did not point at Hu Chu Er, fearing that his action would create a catastrophe.

“I can see him!” The deputy did not understand. He had only just begun following Liao Hua and have not fully understood him yet.

“Look at his eyes and his horse.” Liao Hua guided the deputy. However, his words were also for Liu Pi to listen. This is because Liu Pi was the main general and leader. If Liu Pi insist on rus.h.i.+ng out, Liao Hua would not be able to change his mind. This is why Liao Hua explained this to Liu Pi so that Liu Pi could understand and support his actions. Otherwise, bad things may happen and they both would get buried there. “Isn’t he looking around? Didn’t he prevent his horse from stopping to eat gra.s.s?”

“His eyes and horse?” Liu Pi and Liao Hua’s deputy took a look. They saw that it was not only the general but also the others from the Xiliang Cavalry. They looked vigilant and was not in a resting posture. Some of the cavalries were even walking up and down.

“General. Are you saying…” The deputy responded ith his eyes wide. If what he thought was true, it was truly horrifying.

“Yes!” Liao Hua nodded. The Xiliang Cavalry were first rate. They were very cautious. Even the horse’s eyes were watching. The ones that went down to pick up the provisions were just bait. If there were anyone preparing an ambush, they would rush out and get themselves killed.

One thousand or two thousand Xiliang Cavalry does not make a difference to Liu Pi’s Army. This is because the cavalry could easily tear their five thousand troops apart on the road. This was Hu Che Er’s plan. They would be able to respond quickly if there were enemies, accelerate their gallop and charge.

“Phew.” Liu Pi saw that what Liao Hua said was true. That means they were in peril a moment ago. He involuntarily breathed in the chilly air. He did not expect a brainless looking barbarian to make such a move such that his enemies would jump at the trap. However, Hu Che Er was not brainless. Otherwise, he would not have been able to kill Dian Wei.

On top of that, Hu Che Er looks stupid. Naturally, someone would relax their vigilance. At that time, Hu Che Er would show his sly smile. After that, when you hesitate, the honest faced man would send you straight to h.e.l.l.

After a few moments, the Xiliang Cavalry finally relaxed and their horses started to eat the gra.s.s. Their eyes stopped being wary. More than half of the provisions were already taken.

“The rest of you, go and help!” Hu Che Er finally gave the order for the others to dismount and help out. After all, it would take a while for them to clean up the mess left behind by the Yuzhou Yellow Turbans.

“Yes, General!” Rows of the Xiliang Cavalry dismounted and went to help.

“Listen to my orders!” Liao Hua finally smiled and raised his arm up high. He made too much movement and caused one nearby soldier from the Xiliang Cavalry to notice. However, he no longer cared. “Brothers. It is time for revenge. Kill these Xiliang barbarians!” Liao Hua was the first to rush out. He needed to vent his anger or else he would die.

Zhao Yun had killed over a thousand people and almost killed him as well. Anyone would become unhappy. So, Liao Hua released all this energy and became merciless to the Xiliang Cavalry. His blade was swung towards vital spots.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack! All units, prepare for battle!” Hu Che Er did not expect an enemy ambush. He had already set up a bait but it was not bitten. They waited until everyone became less wary before striking.