Chapter 329 (1/2)

Liu Mang did not need to admonish any of the soldiers or raise their morale. All of those that entered the Urban Army were good soldiers. None of them retired or captured. The ones that ‘left’ are the ones that were killed in battle. The ones with serious injuries also chose death over dragging down their teammates.

“Brothers! Let us depart!” Liu Mang waved his hand. Everyone took enough provisions to last for three days and started their journey.

Outside Guangzhou city was an endless plain. Liu Mang’s Army marched such that they hid the ballista. They also covered the ballista with white cloth to conceal it.

After walking for a long time, Liu Mang saw the slope of a hill. The hill was not too large but it was enough to hide fifty ballista. Besides that, they could see everything at the plains from on top of the hill. It was a good place to set an ambush.

“Ziyang. Let us prepare the ambush here.” Liu Mang was satisfied with this hill. It was not easy to find such a hill on Yangzhou and Yuzhou. This showed that Liu Mang had good luck.

Liu Mang had thought that the place he chose would be agreeable to Liu Ye but Liu Ye had shook his head and replied, “Milord, we cannot prepare the ambush here.”

“Is this place not good?” Liu Mang thought that this was strange as he believed that finding such a hill was good luck.

“It is certainly a good place for an ambush but you must remember that we are trying to be bait. Do you think anyone would take the bait if we set up an ambush here?” Liu Ye explained. The hill could be used for an ambush and it would be hard to find a better place. However, if they could tell that this place was good for an ambush, the enemy could also do the same. The Xiliang Cavalry came not only to escort the provisions but also to show off their strength. With such an action, Liu Mang could tell that the one leading the Xiliang Cavalry was not a useless person. The man did not yell out or send messengers when he came to Guangzhou. That was simply telling Liu Mang not to act blindly as they only came for the provisions and would not provoke Liu Mang’s Army needlessly. That is unless Liu Mang were to act shamelessly.

A commander such as this could easily tell that there would be an ambush at that location. At that time, not only would he not take the bait but he would become even more alert. At that time, he might cause more damage the next time they were to set an ambush.

“So where should we go to set out ambush?” Liu Mang was less experienced compared to Liu Ye in such matters. Naturally, he would let Liu Ye deal with this. He knew that all first-rate advisors during that era were not simple people.

“Milord. Look over there!” Liu Ye and Liu Mang had climbed the hill and gazed over to the distance. Liu Ye pointed to the plains and said to Liu Mang, “That is the place that would determine our success.”

“There? How could that be possible?” Liu Mang looked at where Liu Ye pointed and suddenly felt that this was not possible. It was a wide open field with nowhere to defend. At that location, the heavy infantries would not be able to match against the heavy cavalries even with their battle formations as the location was too wide. The Xiliang Cavalry would be able to make use of their charges. Besides that, it was also near a small hill. If Liu Mang was the one that led the Xiliang Cavalry, he would have the cavalry charge down that hill for greater momentum and a more powerful charge. The Xiliang Cavalry’s fighting strength would increase further.

At such a location, they would not have good surveillance and have nowhere to place the fifty ballista. Their every move could be seen from the hills and ambushes would be impossible. It would be impossible to catch the Xiliang Cavalry unprepared.