I asked you to go hunting, and you ended up wearing a yellow robe?

Zhao Bingkun's words came crashing down.

None of them spoke.

Chen Chong wiped the black ash off his face.

Looking at that pile of soldiers and armor.

My throat is dry.

"Your Excellency, this is not something we can think about."

He smiled.

"It was earned by tying my head to my waistband."

"He's different from the border general."

Meng Da was touching a black horse nearby.

The horse snorted.

The hot air sprayed all over his face.

"Who cares if they're the same or not?"

Meng Da said.

"With these guys here, I'd dare to challenge even if another five hundred barbarian cavalry came."

He patted the horse's neck.

Looking back at Mount Qi.

Eyes light up.

"County Magistrate, this thing is much faster than two legs."

"I used to hear people say that one cavalry charge was worth ten infantrymen, but I didn't believe it."

"Now I believe it."

An old soldier tending the horses nearby chimed in.

"Officer Meng, you've underestimated the situation."

"If two hundred cavalrymen really charge, let alone a thousand infantrymen, even two thousand..."

"Once the formation is disrupted, it's like cutting melons and vegetables."

The county soldiers around them all had red eyes.

He stared at the warhorses.

When has Qingyang County ever been so wealthy?

In the past, we couldn't even gather enough decent-sized waist knives.

Now?

It has iron armor.

And warhorses.

Warhorses capable of forming cavalry.

Zhao Bingkun listened to their conversation.

The joy on his face gradually faded.

He recalled the intelligence that Qi Shan had extracted from the Yelü princess.

The fire burning inside me.

It got cold very quickly.

He walked quickly to Qi Shan's side.

"Qi Shan, come with me."

The two entered the gate of the barbican one after the other.

The light was dim.

The smell of blood and the stench of burning were mixed together.

Zhao Bingkun turned around.

Staring at Qi Shan.

"A considerable amount was seized."

"But Yelüda's main force is still intact."

He pulled out the blood-stained leather map.

Pointing his finger at the location of the Yinma River.

"Three thousand barbarian cavalry."

"Three thousand. Not five hundred."

"We killed his own nephew."

"The heads are still hanging on the city gate."

Do you think he'll let this go?

"He'll go crazy."

"He will lead those three thousand men to grind Qingyang County into dust."

He spoke faster and faster.

The hands gripping the map were straining.

"There's also Zhao Wuji."

"Those three hundred fierce bandits from Black Dragon Village."

"If they come with the barbarian cavalry, what will they use to defend themselves?"

"Take these five hundred county soldiers who can't even stand in a proper line?"

"Or should we take those city dwellers who carry hoes?"

These words came crashing down.

The joy of victory I just felt.

Gone.

Chen Chong and Meng Da followed them in.

The smile on his face froze.

Meng Da's brute force also dissipated.

Yes.

They defeated five hundred.

There are still three thousand outside.

It's a dead end no matter how you look at it.

The doorway was deathly silent.

The torches crackled and popped.

Qi Shan remained silent.

After Zhao Bingkun finished speaking...

He then raised his head.

His eyes were very calm.

Like a deep well.

"Your Excellency, you are absolutely right."

Zhao Bingkun was taken aback.

He thought Qi Shan would refute him.

They can say some encouraging words.

Unexpectedly, he admitted it directly.

"Then... what should we do?"

Zhao Bingkun's voice was hoarse.

"Abandon the city?"

"But what about the 20,000 people in the city?"

Qi Shan shook his head.

"Abandon the city, there's no escape."

"The Yelü tribe's cavalry will catch up with us and kill them all one by one."

The tone was flat.

It's like talking about today's weather.

"Even if we defend the city, we can't hold it."

He continued.

"The city walls of Qingyang County could not withstand the repeated attacks of three thousand Hu cavalry."

"Not to mention they also have siege equipment."

despair.

Utter despair.

Even Meng Da, who was usually fearless, clenched his fists.

"Then what the hell is the point of fighting?"

He held it in for a long time.

"Either way, I'm going to die."

"Why don't we open the city gates and fight them?"

"Take a few down with you."

"Who said I'm going to die?"

Qi Shan suddenly spoke.

The sound wasn't loud.

He walked to the doorway.

Looking at the busy county soldiers outside.

Looking at the mountain of spoils.

His gaze fell upon the restless warhorses.

"If we can't defend, we can only attack."

"attack?"

Zhao Bingkun doubted that he had heard correctly.

He stared wide-eyed at Qi Shan's retreating figure.

"What did you say?"

"Go and attack?"

"The three thousand troops that attacked Yelüda?"

crazy.

Chen Chong gasped.

"County Magistrate, you're not joking, are you?"

"Send these men to attack the camp of three thousand barbarian cavalry."

"An egg hitting a rock?"

Qi Shan turned around.

A smile appeared on his face.

It carried an indescribable chill.

"Who said we were going to attack their main camp?"

He pointed to the herd of warhorses.

"Three hundred and seventy live horses."

"Choose two hundred horses that can be used in battle."

"Gather two hundred fearless men."

His voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Yelüda thought we were turtles hiding in their shells, waiting for him to smash us."

"Then we'll not let him have his way."

"With his army marching out in a long line, their supplies and provisions must have fallen behind."

Qi Shan's gaze sharpened.

"Go around behind him."

"We don't aim to kill their main force, we just want to set fire to their supplies."

"Three thousand men, without supplies, how many days can they stay outside Qingyang County?"

These words struck like a thunderbolt.

It exploded in Zhao Bingkun and Chen Chong's minds.

All their previous thinking was limited to how to defend the city and how to passively resist.

I never thought I would be able to take the initiative.

And it was such a tricky move.

Salaries are drawn from the bottom of the pot.

Zhao Bingkun's breathing became rapid.

He stared intently at Qi Shan.

What exactly is going on in this young man's head?

"But...it's too risky."

Chen Chong still felt his heart pounding.

"Two hundred cavalrymen, deep behind enemy lines, once discovered, will be annihilated."

"There's not even anyone to collect the bodies."

"There's no war without risks."

Qi Shan interrupted him.

"Would you rather sit in the city and wait to die, or rush out and fight for your life?"

Chen Chong was speechless when asked the question.

Meng Da's eyes, however, grew brighter and brighter.

He slapped his thigh sharply.

"Fuck him!"

"The county magistrate is right!"

"Rather than die a miserable death in the city, let's go all out!"

He stepped forward.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qi Shan.

Kneel on one knee.

"County Magistrate, with just one word from you, my life, Meng Da, is yours."

"I will bring a hundred brothers with me."

"If you can't burn all the grain and fodder, I'll twist my head off and use it as a chamber pot for you."

Zhao Bingkun looked at the scene before him.

His lips moved.

I'm torn between my inner thoughts and my own.

Reason told him that this was crazy; it was a gamble, betting the most elite forces in Qingyang County.

But his emotions and intuition told him that this might be the only way out.

He looked into Qi Shan's calm yet confident eyes.

He recalled the decisiveness with which he killed Li Long.

The ruthlessness with which they forced donations from gentry.

The ruthlessness of beheading Yelü Mulang with a single stroke.

This young man seems to always be able to create miracles.

a long time.

Zhao Bingkun took a deep breath.

How confident are you?

Qi Shan shook his head.

"have no idea."

He answered frankly.

"On the battlefield, things can change in an instant."

All I can say is that this is the only chance.

He paused.

His gaze swept over the people present.

"I need two hundred daredevils, and I will lead them myself."

"This journey is fraught with peril, with only a slim chance of survival."