Tiger Guards

Chapter 632 Skilled at Covering the Rear
Thirty li south of Jincheng, the vanguard Yan Xing caught up with the enemy and found that vehicles, clothing, flags, fodder and the like piled up on the mountain road had all been set on fire.

They didn't know how it started, but Zhu Ling's troops, who were covering the rear, set fire to it right in front of them, and the fire spread rapidly.

The north wind blew southward along the road between the mountain gorges, and with the help of the wind, the flames that were ignited also grew extremely rapidly.

Yan Xing reined in his horse and looked at the hillsides on both sides. He saw that the terrain was quite steep and there were no signs of enemy soldiers climbing or setting up ambushes among the withered grass.

Since the fire was blocking the road, he couldn't pass through until it was cleared and extinguished.

Therefore, he first cautiously looked around, but the Jincheng soldiers and young men who followed him out of Jincheng in an attempt to seize the spoils of war had already broken away from the group. These people wore tattered armor pieces, which could only protect their heads and chests.

These people, bound by hometown ties and kinship, formed groups of a dozen or more, without raising any banners, simply and openly climbing up the hillsides on both sides of the road, taking a detour.

Others held long spears and approached the fire, trying to salvage some usable items from it.

Yan Xing looked around again, and after confirming that there were no ambushes on the hillsides, he lightly waved his spear to one side: "Scouts, scout ahead!"

"Here!"

The military officer in charge of scouting stepped forward, bowed, and selected a dozen elite lightly armed knights. They then led their horses and took a detour along the left and east slopes that Yan Xing had indicated. They did not participate in extinguishing the fire or fighting for the items.

Yan Xing reined in his horse and circled around a few times, making sure there was no ambush. He then gestured with his spear, "Let's rest here!"

"Here!"

The surrounding officers responded, and the drummers who followed Yan Xing changed the drumbeat. The buglers also sounded the horn for rest. These horns spread in succession, and more than three thousand officers and soldiers dismounted and unsaddled. Some fed the horses, some lit fires, and some chose a place to lie down and rest.

After Zhu Ling decisively discarded the burdensome baggage, the army's marching efficiency greatly increased.

After traveling another thirty li, the column became sluggish and disorganized, and finally caught up with Zhang He's troops who were resting.

Zhang He's troops had already set up camp on the road and were harvesting pine trees from the nearby primeval forest. They had also arranged for officers and soldiers to form a battle formation on the road to deal with the pursuing troops.

Meanwhile, the 7,000 auxiliary troops from the four counties of Hexi assigned to Zhang He were also digging ditches, laying pine logs, and erecting pine log fences.

Zhu Ling even saw that a watchtower and command tower were being built with pine wood about thirty steps behind the fence.

Zhu Ling then looked to both sides. To the east was a dense forest slope, where Zhang He's auxiliary soldiers and some officials were wielding axes to cut down trees for timber.

To the west lies the wide Tao River, which runs close to the road at this point.

Further north, the Tao River turns northwest and flows into the Yellow River upstream of Jincheng.

Here, surrounded by mountains and the Tao River, the pursuers could not bypass the area from the east or west, making it a kind of 'pass'.

Zhu Ling spurred his horse to Zhang He's banner, then dismounted and asked, "General Zhang, where is General Yang now?"

"He retreated eastward. I wonder if the enemy troops split up to pursue him, or if they were chasing our army?"

Zhang He was sitting by the campfire drinking tea, but now he could only pick up an empty cup to receive tea. He stepped forward and handed it to Zhu Ling with both hands, saying, "Brother Wenbo, please have some hot tea."

Zhu Ling was furious that Zhang He had taken the lead in withdrawing and was reluctant to accept the order, but now that all the army's burdensome supplies had been abandoned and there were no tents left for the night, he could only grit his teeth and accept the order with both hands, saying sarcastically, "Why didn't Junyi consult with our army before withdrawing his troops?"

Seeing this, Zhang He could only force a smile and say, "Brother Wenbo knows that my troops have many auxiliary soldiers, and I am worried that they might mutini. That's why I have to trouble you to lead the army to cover the rear."

Seeing Zhu Ling's solemn expression, Zhang He also suppressed his smile and said, "General Yang withdrew his troops from the eastern route first, and Han Sui's rebel army could not catch up. If they were to pursue, General Zhang would also follow from behind and join forces with General Yang to attack the pursuing troops from both sides. Therefore, there is no worry about the eastern route. The hidden danger lies with me and Wenbo."

Zhu Ling remained silent, still sulking. She picked up her teacup, took a small sip to moisten her throat, then splashed the rest of the tea onto the ground and handed the teacup back: "So now it's Junyi who's in charge of the rearguard?"

"This is the natural order."

Zhang He remained calm: "Brother Wenbo covered the rear earlier, and now it's naturally my turn. However, please don't delay, Brother Wenbo, I will burn the camp and evacuate at midnight."

"Midnight?" Zhu Ling frowned, her gaze falling on Zhang He's face as she scrutinized him repeatedly.

After a moment, seeing that Zhang He did not offer any explanation or hints, Zhu Ling felt a chill in her heart, yet also felt it was only natural, and asked, "What will General Anxi do?"

How could I know?

Zhang He countered with a question, followed by, "Judging from Brother Wenbo's troops, have all their baggage trains and wagons been abandoned?"

"Yes, the Grand Tutor also gave instructions that when retreating from the enemy, in urgent situations, one should abandon baggage and even armor. My officers and soldiers are fully equipped with armor, spears, halberds, and crossbows, and still have the strength to fight."

Zhu Ling explained for a moment, then asked, "Junyi, if I mishandle the situation and am surrounded by the enemy... what should I do?"

Zhang He looked up at the sky, avoiding Zhu Ling's gaze: "When I evacuated, I was ordered to set fire to the camp. With such clear instructions, if Brother Wenbo cannot evacuate properly, wouldn't that be letting down the Grand Tutor's expectations?"

Zhang He showed no remorse whatsoever as he spoke.

Zhang He was more afraid of being betrayed by Zhu Ling than of betraying his teammates.

Zhang He's army consisted mostly of members from his clan and hometown. If they were betrayed, the loss would not only be of one generation, but also of the entire clan's ability to compete in the chaotic world.

Without the ability to negotiate, one can only be at the mercy of others, and how much benefit one can ultimately reap depends on Grand Tutor Zhao's conscience.

As Zhu Ling's anger subsided, he came to understand that by not raising troops to join Han Sui's rebel army, he had essentially passed the initial test.

After another fierce and bloody battle in the upcoming fight, I will naturally gain Grand Tutor Zhao's trust.

Thinking of all this, Zhu Ling calmed down and remained silent for a long time. He simply turned to look at his men, who had followed him away from the place, panting and unable to fight.

Due to Zhu Ling's strict supervision, the officers and soldiers of Zhu's troops who were leaving the area straightened their backs and kept their distance from the nearby squads after noticing Zhu Ling's gaze, forming a general military formation.

Zhang He also observed carefully, and naturally had no doubts about Zhu Ling's ability to train and command troops.

However, Zhang He, like most of the officers, suspected Zhu Ling's stance.

A man who would sacrifice his parents, wife, children, and clan, now has a new wife and children... It would be very stressful to be his colleague, given that he is a man who would kill his wife to gain a generalship.

"Report! Enemy scouts are approaching!"

A scout sergeant rode swiftly to Zhang He's command post and loudly reported the news. Zhang He bowed, reached out, grabbed his helmet, and put it on his forehead, asking, "How far away are General Zhu's rearguard troops?"

"It's about four miles away!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang He turned to his personal guard and said, "Go and provide support, but do not linger in battle!"

"Here!"

The guards would respond loudly; at this moment, Zhang He would never leave to meet Zhu Ling's rearguard.

Even other troops will not be mobilized, so as to avoid exhaustion and affecting the suppression of a possible mutiny.

It wasn't that Zhang He was cautious and suspicious, but rather that he truly couldn't afford to lose.

Moreover, Zhu Ling's ability to easily shake off her pursuers is certainly a testament to her skill, but it also raises suspicions.
This battle was not only a test for Zhu Ling, but Zhang He also felt it was a test for him, as well as for Yang Qiu and Zhang Xiu.

Their respective performances will directly determine their future standing.

However, Zhang He did not consider Yang Qiu and Wang Qi to be his competitors, because both of them were over forty years old and not in his age group.

(End of this chapter)