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In the evening, for some reason, the outside was occasionally filled with the inquiries of the Soldiers, almost non-stop throughout the night. Just as it was getting light and I wanted to sleep for a bit, I was awakened by the hurried arrival of Lu Youdao. It seemed there was an urgent matter, so Luzi had no choice but to give up on sleep and quickly head out to meet him. Before I even stepped out of the house, I heard Lu Youdao speaking with Wang Jian in the courtyard.
"Your Majesty! Our perimeter encountered something unusual last night; it should be scouts from the Qin Army. I'm afraid this place is no longer safe; you should leave here quickly."
Such frequent disturbances at night are generally considered to be someone deliberately trying to prevent others from sleeping. However, that is not the case; it is actually an extension of reconnaissance tactics. Various methods are used to continuously provoke reactions from enemy Soldiers in order to gather sensitive information about their numbers and equipment. In other words, the so-called disturbances are merely superficial actions; the real purpose is reconnaissance. When the disturbances suddenly cease, it indicates that the reconnaissance team has gathered all relevant information and retreated.
Who would disturb the Zhao Army in the middle of the night? The answer is obvious. Upon hearing this news, Wang Jian immediately realized that the vanguard of the Qin Army would soon arrive at this village. He dared to make such a deduction because he believed that reconnaissance data indicated they could take down this force. With this thought in mind, he hurriedly asked, "Do we have any missing Soldiers?"
Lu Youdao was slightly taken aback; he wasn't sure if there were any missing personnel. He immediately stated he would go check and reminded Huayang Jun to pack up quickly.
Once Lu Youdao left the courtyard, Luzi finally stepped out of the house. "It looks like the Qin Army is coming! We should hurry up and pack."
It seemed there was no time to waste! Wang Jian called over Chang Yu and instructed him to notify their comrades to pack up and load the vehicles. This place was not suitable for staying long; they needed to evacuate quickly. If there wasn't a Zhao Army unit in the village, they could wait for the Qin Army to come for negotiations. The problem was that with enemy forces in between, there was no room for discussion. Once fighting broke out, amidst a rain of arrows, it was uncertain who might get hit. As for how to reconnect with their own troops, finding an unoccupied area would be most appropriate.
Just as they finished packing everything up, Lu Youdao hurried back after checking outside. Seeing that all the cavalry in the courtyard were ready, he felt somewhat relieved. "Your Majesty! When I gathered the troops just now and counted heads, we indeed have one officer missing. If he didn't flee overnight, then he must have been captured. We shouldn't delay any longer; let's part ways here!"
After Lu Zi finished speaking, he turned to leave but quickly grabbed a half-bag of rice left in the courtyard before heading out. He pulled out a simple map from his pocket and handed it to Lu Youdao, explaining quietly, "This is a route map given by my master for you, General; you just need to follow the markings above to reach Changzi County City as quickly as possible."
Lu Youdao nodded gratefully and instructed his Soldiers to carry away the rice. Looking at the clear arrows on the simple map in his hand, he bowed deeply and thanked him, saying, "The green mountains remain unchanged while clear waters flow long; please convey my thanks to Your Majesty. Let's agree to meet at Changzi County City!"
Luzi clasped his fists in salute. "Be careful on your way; see you at Changzi County City!"
If it weren't wartime, following an army would be the safest option. However, during wartime, it was completely different; getting too close could invite unnecessary disaster. After all, weapons do not discriminate; when two armies meet, it's bound to lead to conflict. Even if one wins, there's no guarantee they won't be struck by a Fleeting Arrow; losing would lead to an even worse fate!
Fortunately, Lu Youdao understood the situation well, which is why he urged Wang Jian and the others to leave quickly. As long as Huayang Jun and his remaining troops distanced themselves from the area, they would be much safer.
The two hurried groups met at the village entrance and exchanged fist salutes to bid farewell. Just as they were about to take the small path leading to the main road, they heard a rumbling sound of hoofbeats in the distance. Having dealt with armies for some time, they naturally recognized what that sound indicated. They exchanged glances, reading the despair in each other's eyes.
It seemed they might not be able to leave the village after all!
Lu Youdao shouted orders for the soldiers to retreat and organize defenses at the village entrance. At that moment, dust began to rise at the end of the small path outside the village. As the mountain wind blew away the dust, a contingent of black-armored Qin Army suddenly appeared on the main road.
The scouts leading this Qin Army had clearly completed their mission, pointing towards the nearby village to inform their troops. Wang Jian wanted nothing more than to charge forward with his team, but he knew that would be too risky. With the Zhao Army appearing behind them, they had already been classified as part of the Zhao Army by their allies. If they recklessly charged ahead, they would likely be shot down like a swarm of bees.
Luzi assessed the situation and quietly suggested they return to the village for safety. It would be ideal if they could clarify their identities and be escorted back to their main camp by this sizable Qin Army. However, given the current circumstances, that plan seemed quite difficult.
Lu Youdao was unaware of the predicament facing Chu People, noticing that Huayang Jun and others at the village entrance were sweating with anxiety. The army before them was none other than the ruthless Qin Army; they wouldn’t listen to any explanations. "Your Majesty! Quickly retreat back into the village! Don’t just stand there; see if there’s a way to escape from behind the village!"
Chang Yu heard this suggestion and was about to turn his horse around to find an exit behind the village when Luzi stopped him. If last night’s poor visibility had obscured their understanding of the terrain, it was now clear with the sun up.
This village was called Shanqian Wang Village. There was indeed a path leading to the back mountains, but it had an endpoint. After traversing the winding mountain road, one would find only a three-sided valley surrounded by mountains. Given such terrain, it made little difference whether they took that route or not. Moreover, riding horses up a mountain would likely prove challenging. Therefore, the best option at present was to stay in the village and wait until after the fighting outside was over before negotiating with their brother troops outside.
At this moment, regardless of whether Wang Jian and others had exposed their whereabouts at the village entrance, it seemed insignificant due to prior reconnaissance by Qin Army scouts. Even if this sudden appearance of Qin Army did not see anyone in the village, they would still search inside!
Seeing that Qin Army had already stepped onto the small path leading into the village, Lu Youdao glanced back at the mountains behind them, drew his sword, and shouted: "Zhao Army soldiers, listen up! Prepare for battle!"
Zhao Army soldiers peeked out from various hiding spots and noticed that the incoming cavalry nearly filled up the entire small path. The main road still displayed many military flags, indicating that their numbers were at least over a thousand! Faced with this harsh reality, this Zhao Army unit of fewer than seventy men exchanged worried glances.
Changzi County City! It seems I will never be able to go there in this lifetime!
The Qin Army Cavalry Unit halted before entering the range of the Zhao Army, and a Qin General emerged from the ranks. He disdainfully glanced at the occasional heads bobbing at the village entrance and shouted, “Listen up, Zhao Army! I am Centurion He Zeng of the vanguard unit of the Qin Army! I have heard tales of the bravery and ferocity of Zhao cavalry, but what is this hiding and sneaking about? Hurry and bring out your highest-ranking officer to speak!”
Lu Youdao was not one to back down, responding immediately, “Speak your mind or let it out! If you want to fight, then bring it on!”
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