“It seems that the General is determined to make the Seventh Prince suffer.”
The deputy general sighed and then summoned the school officer to assign tasks.
After receiving the orders, the school officer quickly arrived at the death camp, but in stark contrast to his earlier arrogance, he now appeared much more cautious.
Previously, when Ye Chen and others were brought to the death camp, it was just a verbal dispute. As long as the name of the garrison general was invoked, they wouldn’t make a fuss.
But this time was different. With the Tartars suddenly attacking and the General making the death camp the vanguard, it was clear that the entire death camp was being sent to their deaths.
It was unthinkable to agree to such a death sentence easily. Mismanaging this could very well lead to a mutiny in the ranks.
The school officer, holding his breath and focusing, arrived in front of the death camp, only to find that the once desolate death camp seemed a bit different today.
“What… what is going on?”
As soon as the school officer stepped into the death camp, he was stunned by the scene before him.
The once fierce-looking prisoners were now seen arm-in-arm with Ye Chen’s personal guards, seemingly becoming good brothers.
Such scenes were visible everywhere within the death camp. Even on the training ground, prisoners and personal guards were sparring with each other, and their interactions were extremely harmonious.
At the front, prisoner leader Zhang Zhi and the captain of the personal guards were walking side by side behind Ye Chen, with their heads bowed and no trace of their previous arrogance.
“Has Ye Chen taken control of the death camp?”
Noticing the school officer standing at the gate, Ye Chen approached and asked, “Is there something urgent that you need?”
The school officer then reacted, looked at Zhang Zhi, and said, “The General has issued an order. The Tartar army is less than a hundred miles away. You are to immediately prepare the death camp to march out of the city to meet the enemy!”
“What? Less than a hundred miles? What have the scouts been doing outside the city?”
Zhang Zhi immediately exploded in anger. Although the death camp had been designated as the vanguard, this was the first time encountering such a hasty situation.
Ye Chen waved his hand, and Zhang Zhi immediately calmed down and lowered his head.
The school officer was even more astonished, wondering what method Ye Chen had used to subdue Zhang Zhi in just one day.
“Please report to the General that we will set out in half an hour!”
“Oh… alright!”
The school officer did not expect Ye Chen to agree so readily. He thought there would be a lot of verbal sparring, but Ye Chen agreed so easily.
Indeed, it was the prince who had never been on the battlefield, unaware of the dangers of war!
After the school officer left, Zhang Zhi questioned Ye Chen with confusion: “Your Highness, with the Tartar army invading, how can we, with just a few hundred men, go out and not be sending ourselves to death?”
Old Huang also had some doubts but did not echo Zhang Zhi, waiting quietly for Ye Chen’s instructions.
At this moment, Ye Chen was rather excited. With the Tartar army coming, wasn’t it a great opportunity to become a battle god on the battlefield?
He had subdued the death camp with thunderous methods just for this moment!
Now, with a team of seven hundred men, each enemy killed would earn him seven hundred points!
Ye Chen explained to Zhang Zhi, “Don’t panic. This Tartar invasion is different from the past!”
Zhang Zhi, hearing this, asked with curiosity, “What do you mean, Your Highness?”
Ye Chen had Old Huang gather the men, and while explaining to Zhang Zhi, said, “When the news came, the Tartars were less than a hundred miles from Yunzhou City. Do you know why?”
Zhang Zhi thought for a long time but still couldn’t figure it out and scratched his head, “I don’t know.”
At this point, all the men had gathered, and Ye Chen loudly declared, “The Tartars are making a surprise attack, and to avoid detection, they must have taken the mountain paths.”
“The mountain paths are rugged, and scouts can’t travel fast, so the Tartars could clear the way quietly.”
“However, after several days of relentless pursuit, the Tartars must be exhausted. Even if they are at the city gates, they won’t be able to stir up much trouble. We will sortie and meet them when they are at their weakest!”
After Ye Chen finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement, and Zhang Zhi had an epiphany: “So, Your Highness means that being the vanguard against the enemy now is actually the easiest part!”
Ye Chen nodded and then ordered, “Prepare everyone. We will immediately sortie and catch the Tartars off guard!”
In the main general’s tent, An Lushui was playing with his sword: “Has there been any unusual movement from the death camp?”
The deputy general replied, “General, the Seventh Prince, upon hearing of the Tartar invasion, immediately assembled his soldiers and is now at the city gate.”
An Lushui paused momentarily, then suspiciously said, “This prince is so eager to go to his death?”
He then sneered and ordered the deputy general, “You immediately go to the city wall and record everything about the Seventh Prince’s actions during the battle.”
“Yes!”
Outside the city, in the mountains and forests, thousands of Tartar troops were assembled, turning the lush green mountains into a sea of black.
The invading force was the Tartar Tu Man tribe, a prominent tribe from the north.
“Fourth Prince, the warriors have been marching for three days and are somewhat tired. Should we rest for a while?”
The leader was Tu Man Khan’s fourth son, Aye Lin, who was also the vanguard general of this Tartar expedition.
Aye Lin wore a luxurious fur robe, a silver fox hat, and had a gem-encrusted golden knife hanging from his waist, all showcasing his noble status.
His mount was a king of the grasslands, a pure black steed with shiny fur, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day.
Aye Lin glanced at his subordinates and then at Yunzhou City.
“We, the Tu Man tribe, haven’t attacked Yunzhou for a long time, causing the Chu people to think that we are nonexistent.”
Saying this, Aye Lin shouted towards the troops, “Haduo Gu!”
A muscular, fierce-looking man emerged from the ranks: “Prince!”
Aye Lin drew his precious sword and pointed at Yunzhou City, ordering, “I command you to lead a thousand men to raid Yunzhou City!”
Haduo Gu laughed heartily and accepted the order: “Rest assured, Prince. With my thousand men, we will easily crush the Chu defenses!”
Aye Lin nodded in approval and then turned to let the soldiers rest.
Back in Yunzhou City, Ye Chen and the seven hundred soldiers lined up at the city gate, ready to march out and engage the enemy as soon as the gate opened.
Ye Chen stood tall and resolute, with a determined gaze.
Behind him, the seven hundred soldiers were neatly arranged, their armor, though scarred, still gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
The cold wind howled and lifted the dust. Ye Chen drew his sword with a clang and raised his arm high, shouting:
“The Tartars have been pursuing us relentlessly and must be exhausted. Let’s go out and make sure not a single enemy escapes!”
“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
The soldiers roared in unison, their voices deafening.
On the city wall, soldiers looked into the distance and saw a large number of Tu Man troops appearing. They immediately called out:
“The Tu Man vanguard is attacking! Open the city gate!”
Boom!
The heavy city gate slowly opened. Ye Chen stood at the forefront, holding the hilt of his sword with imposing presence.
Perhaps under the circumstances, Ye Chen’s previously calm demeanor was ignited, and his eyes were filled with burning fury as he looked at the enemy ahead.
Once the gate was fully opened, Ye Chen shouted fiercely, “Charge!”
“Rush! Rush! Rush!”
The seven hundred soldiers surged forward with overwhelming momentum, fearless of the enemy ahead, charging out with Ye Chen leading the way.
Like a sword thrusting straight at the enemy!
Comment