knife

Chapter 250 My Hand Slipped

Che Zhe couldn't believe what was happening before his eyes.

But the scouts galloping back on horseback were proving a cruel truth.

He was surrounded.

Jebe led 30,000 troops out of Longgou Fort. On the left flank, An Xuan led 5,000 Hu cavalry through Jiuwanxi, while on the right flank, Jebe led 5,000 cavalry through Zhilan Valley. In the middle, Jebe led 20,000 main force troops straight towards Tai'an City.

I, who took the right-hand path, was the last to set off.

With the two preceding armies making a grand entrance, his own force traveled lightly and simply, heading straight for Baoping City.

If An Xuan's forces were a conspicuous package to attract the enemy's attention.

Jebe's army was a sharp blade piercing the enemy's heart.
That means our troops are the kind that sneakily stab the enemy in the backside.

It makes no sense that the Anxi Protectorate would ignore those two clearly visible troops and instead pinpoint its location to ambush it.

The interior of Zhilan Valley is indeed large enough. It is said to be a valley between two mountains, but the valley between the two mountains is fifty miles long and more than ten miles wide, which is more than enough to serve as a battlefield.

However, if both ends are blocked, it will cause trouble for oneself.

Moreover, the enemy cavalry force numbered in the tens of thousands.

More importantly, the opponent is Xiao Changche!

Che Zhe looked with some despair at the imposing army amidst the withered yellow grass, the fluttering military flags, and the general in a white robe and black horse, holding a spear and standing before the large cavalry force.

Xiao Changche felt very satisfied.

So even though the weather was gloomy and overcast today, she felt cheerful.

To be honest, since partnering with Li Dachui, fighting the Yuan people has become increasingly easier.

Previously, it would have been unthinkable to trap and beat such a Yuan cavalry force in such a place.

More importantly, in the past, I could never have supported so many soldiers!

Looking back, thousands of cavalrymen stood ready for battle, each equipped with gear that he could only dream of in the past.

Hassle-free!

She chuckled softly, then pulled a demon mask from her bosom and put it on her face.

"Protector, the young master said that you are no longer allowed to charge into battle. You are the commander-in-chief and should be in command!" Gu Xiaoman rode up to Xiao Changche and said.

Xiao Changche tilted his head and glanced at Gu Xiaoman. Even though there was a mask between them, his cold gaze immediately made Gu Xiaoman rein in her horse and take a few steps back.

Xiao Changche snorted, turned his head, and gently squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs. Xiao Hei immediately snorted excitedly and trotted forward with small steps.

As soon as Xiao Changche made his move, the banner behind him immediately moved.

As soon as the banner was raised, the entire cavalry column began to slowly advance.

Gu Xiaoman sniffed, drew her Tiger Wing Blade, and consciously moved to the back to hold the line.

Xiao Changche took a light breath, circulating the True Qi of the Heavenly Sword throughout his body. With the surge of True Qi, the spear seemed to be coated with a layer of silver light, and the True Qi flowed like water on its blade.

In the past, whenever I used the Heaven-Slaying Qi at full power, the slight feeling of fine silver needles pricking my meridians disappeared. The domineering and incomparable Heaven-Slaying Qi was becoming more and more mellow day by day.

The hidden worries that I had been concerned about in the past are no longer a problem that bothers me.

However, that damned Li Dachui has become his new problem.

Thinking of Li Dachui, a blush rose on his face beneath the mask, and he became somewhat excited. He slapped Xiao Hei's butt with his backhand, and Xiao Hei let out a long hiss and suddenly accelerated forward.

Che Zhe had no choice but to fight back.

Five thousand to ten thousand.

Che Zhe addressed Xiao Changche.

Therefore, the result is quite obvious.

Gu Xiaoman watched helplessly as Xiao Changche killed Che Zhe with a single spear thrust within ten moves. Then, relying on Xiao Hei's speed, Xiao Changche galloped back and forth, specifically targeting the officers in the Yuan army. In just a short while, more than a dozen Yuan officers died.

So when the Yuan army officers saw Xiao Hei moving in their direction from afar, they immediately turned their horses and fled.

Fighting others gives you a chance to survive, but fighting Xiao Changche means certain death.

The ambush quickly turned into a pursuit.

Unlike Li Dachui's side, Xiao Changche had a huge numerical advantage, so it was a war of annihilation. Li Dachui's strength was not much stronger than An Xuan's, so he could only fight a battle of defeat.

As the sun set, the Yuan army finally collapsed completely.

Apart from a few who escaped, the rest either died in battle or were taken prisoner. Xiao Changche also underwent many changes.

At least now they don't build mounds of skulls, and they're willing to keep prisoners.

These Yuan warriors are all strong and capable men. Why not capture them and use them to pave roads and build bridges?

It's better than killing him with a knife.

Gu Xiaoman cautiously approached Xiao Changche.

Xiao Changche, who was cleaning the blood off Xiao Hei, turned his head and glanced at him, asking, "What is it?"

“Guardian, actually, it would be better not to kill Che Zhe!” Gu Xiaoman said, “This man is Jebe’s confidant. Capturing him alive will help us negotiate with Jebe later. Zhi Qiu Yuan said that things are progressing smoothly in Yandu, and the Yuan civil war is a foregone conclusion. We can’t weaken Jebe’s forces too much, otherwise he won’t be of any use when he goes back. What if this guy gets disheartened and goes to join someone else? Wouldn’t we end up losing more than we gain?”

Xiao Changche was naturally clear about the overall strategy.

However, the twists and turns here gave her a real headache.

Putting everything else aside, just thinking about all the things Li Dachui had planned in Yandu was like a tangled mess, completely beyond her comprehension.

It's still more satisfying to kill enemies on the battlefield.

One shot, and everything is clear.

"My hand slipped, I couldn't control it!"

Gu Xiaoman was speechless. What could he possibly say?
There's no way to explain it.

Originally, Li Dachui placed him next to Xiao Changche because he was older and more composed, and could control Xiao Changche's temper, which got excited whenever he saw Yuan people. However, Li Dachui overlooked his relationship with Xiao Changche.

If it were merely a superior-subordinate relationship, Gu Xiaoman would dare to speak frankly and even argue.

But considering that Xiao Changche would become the mistress of her household, Gu Xiaoman felt that for the sake of the future, she should not let Xiao Changche dislike her.

He coughed lightly and said, "Protector, we're heading towards Cheng County next."

"I know!" Xiao Changche finished washing Xiao Hei, then took a handful of beans from his pocket and stuffed them into Xiao Hei's mouth before leading Xiao Hei out of the stream. "Surround Zhebie on all sides, leaving this dog with nowhere to run!"

“Zhebie is still very brave. Even if we surround him from all sides, he will probably fight several battles until he is desperate before he sits down and talks with us!” Gu Xiaoman said with a smile.

"Will Chen Liang and Chang Jian arrive on time? Li Dachui is too carefree. What if these two stand us up? Then we'll be facing Jebe's 20,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry. We won't have any advantage, it will be hard to win, and we won't be able to stop them." Xiao Changdao said.

"Don't worry about that. Scholar Zhang Ruo is keeping an eye on Chen Liang's side. They have already taken control of Longgou Fort. Chen Liang is leading his main force to join them. Since the Chang family has already agreed, they won't risk the future of their entire clan. They've already offended Linghu Ye, so what's the point of offending us as well? Besides, after this battle, the Chang family's reputation outside the Great Wall will be elevated to a whole new level."

"I hope so! I hope everything will go as Li Dachui planned this time. If so, our Northern Expedition will be within reach!" Xiao Changche bent down, scooped up a handful of clear stream water to wash his face, stood up and shook his head. The crystal water droplets shimmered with golden light under the setting sun, highlighting his beautiful face. For a moment, Gu Xiaoman was stunned.

But he immediately realized what was happening and turned his head to look elsewhere.

"Then I will arrange the campsite. We will depart at four o'clock tomorrow morning to head to Cheng County to encircle Zhebie!"

Gu Xiaoman turned and left.

Since they learned about Xiao Changche's background, Xiao Changche no longer bothered to hide anything from her confidants. Some details that she used to pay special attention to were often revealed to Gu Xiaoman and the others. Since Xiao Changche's own people don't know her own affairs, some things she inadvertently revealed were extremely damaging to a normal man.

Cheng County is the only route for Zhebie to travel to Tai'an City.

The Juma River and the Qing River are dozens of miles apart here. To get to Tai'an City, one must pass through Cheng County, which lies between these two rivers. For Tai'an City, Cheng County is the gateway.

Chengxian was not highly regarded in the past because no one would have dared to attack Tai'an City. It was more like a fortified village than a city.

Li Kaixin, Xiao Dongwei, Liu Yi, and others led five thousand infantrymen to block Zhebie's path. Meanwhile, Ma Dacheng, the former garrison commander of Yangguan, volunteered to be an advisor. Since no one would hear him even if he wanted to interfere with the command, and his peak eighth-rank martial arts cultivation could enhance the top-tier martial force of Cheng County, Li Dachui let him have his way.

The army was commanded by the one-eyed general Xiao Dongwei, with Liu Yi in charge of logistics and equipment, and Li Kaixin serving as the top-tier military force.

Jebe's final destination can only be this place.

Li Dachui, Xiao Changche, Chen Liang, and the Chang family's troops will surround him from all directions and encircle him here.

Standing atop the castle, Xiao Dongwei watched the last rays of the setting sun sink below the horizon. Zhebie arrived later than he had expected; he must have already received news of the defeats on both flanks and had to slow down to support the defeated troops.

However, Jebe could never have imagined that this time he would be facing not only the troops of the Anxi Protectorate, but also Chen Liang and the Chang family's troops.

Jebe still believed he had an absolute advantage in military strength, unaware that the situation had already reversed.

He is currently at a disadvantage in terms of troop strength.

Logistics supplies were completely cut off.
With no way forward and no reinforcements behind,
He is walking step by step into a desperate situation.

With all news from the battlefield cut off, Jebe can now only know what his opponents want him to know.

Lengge, the only one who guessed that the situation was bad, did not try to inform Jebe.

For Lenge, Jebe was still an enemy.

(End of this chapter)