839 A Detour (2/2)

Liman couldn't disobey the order. ”Let's move.”

The Captain passed the order. Controlling the speed of his horse, Liman progressed as slowly as he could, followed by the rest of the contingent, which was proceeding at the same pace.

After waiting for a while, the herald shook his head and returned to the camp of the Left Corps.

Duodun issued a second order to urge Liman on, and this time he sent five heralds, including the fourth companion who had earlier been forced to leave by Liman. There was a palpable tension in the air, but Duodun didn't dismiss Liman from his post of Commander-in-chief. Instead, ge issued an ultimatum to Liman.

”His Highness ordered you to pick up speed and join up with the other three contingents immediately. There shall be no contingents. Disobedience at any extent will be deemed a capital offence.” The companion failed to conceal his complacency as he read out the orders, his voice sounding somewhat tinny.

While Liman was trying to think of an approach to handle this situation, another batch of scouts returned from the front and brought good news. ”The Naihang Tribe has surrendered, and we're now taking prisoners.”

After slapping his thighs heavily, Duodun's companion looked at Liman coldly.

Liman exhaled deeply. ”I'm glad I was wrong. Report this to His Highness.”

A scout hurriedly rode towards the rear. After exchanging a glance with each other, the fourth companion and other heralds raced to turn their horses and they all galloped towards the encampment of the Left Corps.

Everybody wanted to be the first one to deliver the good news. This was the most economical way of rendering meritorious service.

Liman ordered the army to speed up. He didn't feel ashamed, and he would still choose to be prudent if Duodun still allowed him to serve in the future.

Another batch of scouts returned and there were three of them, this time, all of whom were rejoicing. And the news they brought back was still ”The Naihang Tribe has surrendered”.

Liman ordered them to ride side by side with him so that he could ask them about some more details. ”How many of them surrendered?”

”About a thousand.”

”Just a thousand?” Liman was startled.

”These are the ones who fled relatively early. There must be more behind them,” the scout surmised.

”We captured a couple of officers and they're on their way here. You'll see them soon, General,” another scout said.

Liman ordered the army to slow down once again. He could sense that the troops were somewhat displeased — they believed their Commander-in-chief was being overcautious.

A small group of people rode towards them from the front. The two in the middle didn't wear helmets, and neither did they have any weapons on them. Apparently, they were those officers that the scout had previously mentioned.

The centurion who had been leading the group bowed to Liman, who was on horseback. ”General, these two are senior centurions of the Naihang Tribe's army. I have orders to escort them back to His Highness.”

Watching the two prisoners, Liman suddenly shivered and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his skin. He blurted out, ”You're not from the Naihang Tribe!”

Having served in the King Rizhu's army for many years with his father Zhesu, he knew all the centurions, not to mention the senior centurions, and these two were definitely not of the Naihang Tribe.

The two prisoners nodded repeatedly in a urgent manner. ”We keep telling them we're not, but they just won't listen.”

”Which tribe are you from?”

”Miesi. We're from the Miesi Tribe.”

Liman's heart sank. The Miesi Tribe was just a small tribe affiliated to some lord, and it had nothing to do with the King Rizhu. ”Why did you come here to surrender?”

”Actually, we came here to watch the battle after we receivedthe news. People were saying that we might have a new Khan after this battle. We didn't expect that — ”

”We didn't expect that Luoluo's army would suddenly launch an attack on all the tribes who had come here to spectate the battle.” The other prisoner beat him to it. ”We were blindsided and retreated all the way here, and then we surrendered. We're not members of the Naihang Tribe, really. And we're not moles sent by Luoluo either. But nobody asked, and nobody is listening to us.”

”Where is the Naihang Tribe?” Liman's voice was quivering.

”We didn't see them. They seemed to… seemed to have moved to the north.”

Suddenly it dawned on Liman that the Naihang Tribe was still planning on adopting the tactic of ”Sitting it out and reaping the spoils later.” Zhesu believed that Luoluo was a better alternative so he had made way for the armies in the east.

Duodun had once sent 5,000 cavalrymen to the north under Shulitu's banner. Now, it seemed that they had either been wiped out or had surrendered to the Naihang Tribe, which was why they had never received any news frp, them.

The centurion who had been leading the team still didn't understand the severity of the current situation, and he confusedly asked, ”Didn't the Naihang Tribe fight Luoluo's army?”

”Order the armies in the front to retreat right away!” Liman yelled. ”Ready yourselves for battle! Ready yourselves for battle!” Then he said to the centurion who was scared, confused and uneasy, ”Send a message to His Highness — Luoluo's army is coming. He and the Second Consort must retreat to the Middle Corps as soon as possible.”

The centurion suddenly understood what was happening and his face instantly went deathly pale. Swinging his whip at the horse frantically, he madly galloped towards the rear.

The Captain frantically ordered the troops to prepare themselves for a battle. Staring emptily into the air filled with sand and dust, Liman felt that the wind was too strong today.

The rumbling sounds of horse hooves mingled with the shrill yells that came from afar.