Chapter 213 Rescuing Lu Zhi (2/2)
As the center troops heard the shout, they regrouped with the right wing which strengthened its fighting force. The situation of the right side changed as the soldiers managed to break the stalemate, killing more enemies than they lost their soldiers.
By sacrificing the center formation, the two wings destroyed the flanks of the incoming troops.
Meanwhile, the center of the pursuing force was shocked that the rearguards allowed them to pass.
”Ha! They're stupid! Troops, charge with me! We'll ignore these bunches and go after the deserters!” The leading noble laughed.
After a brief fight, both sides lost a similar number of men. Seven hundreds of the pursuers disregarded the 800 rearguards and continued moving toward the family members of Lu Zhi.
”BOX IN! LEFT WING, RIGHT WING, CHASE AFTER THEM!” Lu Zhi shouted again.
”HAHAHA! What an idiot! It's too late to help them now!”
The noble still had not stopped laughing as he led the charge further. Before they could start slaughtering the peasants and the innocents, another group of 400 soldiers blocked their path.
”Ptut! Kill these fools! Get rid of them!”
The noble saw that their number was lower than his army, so he believed that it should be an easy fight.
*CLANK*
*SHAAAA*
The two platoons collided. As the noble had thought, they had the advantage in number. The Imperial men pushed hard on the rearguards that they were killing faster than the rearguards were killing their men.
However, he forgot about the army which was chasing after them from behind.
”SHAAAA!!”
Eight hundred men of Lu Zhi regrouped behind the noble's army and attacked their soldiers from the back.
”ARGH!”
”They caught up!”
”WHAT!?” The noble was shocked by the sudden development.
”Spread out! Surround them!”
Behind the pincer rearguards, Lu Zhi waved his arm, commanding the placement of the unit. The eight hundred men spread into thin files and began picking on the stragglers behind the noble army.
Meanwhile, the surviving reinforcement of rearguards managed to regain their ground from the distraction. They regained their momentum and killed more enemies than they lost.
One company on the front and the other one on the back, two companies had flanked the pursuers. The two troops chewed the surrounded army of noble in an instant.
”Impossible! This is impossible!!”
*SOEK*
An ordinary soldier killed the noble with his spear, ending the fight of the rearguards.
”YAAHH!”
”WE WON!”
The surviving soldiers roared a warcry. Some of the first-timers had been baptized from the short battle and increased their confidence.
”Good job. Let's go help the frontline.” Lu Zhi praised the surviving soldiers. Then, he gazed at the commotion over a kilometer away.
'Good job to you too, Tong. We'll see each other again soon.'
'This time, I won't be there as your mentor, but your loyal subordinate!'
'I'll make you my ideal Emperor!'
…
Without pursuers, Zhou Cang, Lu Zhi, the family members, and the surviving 3,000 soldiers managed to steal supply wagons from the reserve troops.
The non-fighting personals got on the empty carriages and wagons. The rest of the crew acted as rearguards while Zhou Cang and his elite troops guided them on the front.
”Those guys are deserting. Why don't you stop them?”
”Why should I? They're not coming after us, then why should I provoke them? Are you going to stop them?”
”Err … no.”
Although it was apparent to the reserve troops, who were guarding the supplies, that this battalion was deserting the army, none of them tried to block their path.
On the contrary, they also had a similar idea. Thousands of reserve troops also stole provision wagons and begged Zhou Cang's soldiers that they wished to tag along as well.
From the battered 3,000 men, their number increased to 6,000 men because the opportunistic soldiers decided to desert the army and follow them.
Zhou Cang and Lu Zhi were happy to welcome them because the more troops they could get at the moment, the better.
They knew that this prison break plan was not over yet.
From the spy reports, there was another army coming in their way, the Zhang Yang Army. These ex-Shangdang horsemen were rushing here to rejoin with the Emperor.
If Zhou Cang and Lu Zhi continued moving in this large group, they would eventually encounter them in the middle of the road.
”Everyone, I need to reform ranks and duties. Anyone who can shoot a bow, follow this scholar gentlemen. The others, report to me!”
Zhou Cang displayed his experiences which he had learned in Julu. He began organizing the men to prepare for the possible battle with the group of cavalries.
Thirty minutes later, the battalion was reorganized into a proper army. However, Zhou Cang was still worried.
”Senior Lu, do you think we can defeat Zhang Yang Army with these men?”
Lu Zhi shook his head, ”Impossible. Zhang Yang and his men are trained troops. Although they're not elite, they are still formidable enemies. We're also outnumbered. Instead of thinking how to win, we should first think how we can survive.”
”Then …”
The expression of Zhou Cang grimed. His face lost color as he lost his morale after hearing that it was impossible to win.
”Don't lose hope just yet.” Lu Zhi patted Zhou Cang's shoulder, ”We still have a way out.”