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墨書 Inktalez
As the commander of this anti-bandit operation, Gu Bei bore not only the physical strain but also the weight of various pressures.
From the moment they set out, they had drawn the attention of numerous factions from the capital. Some hoped for their triumphant return, envisioning a continuation of their lavish lives filled with pleasure. Others wished for them to vanish in this remote southern town.
These were sentiments that ordinary soldiers would not comprehend. Yet, even if Gu Bei was reluctant to admit it, he could not deny that these pressures significantly influenced the Army's movements.
For instance, several urgent letters had arrived from the capital, including one from the Emperor himself, urging them to swiftly eliminate the bandits and return home.
Upon receiving the orders, Gu Bei had no choice but to execute them without any alternative course of action.
Ye Xiaohan had seen Gu Bei's letters. After gaining acceptance among the soldiers in the camp, Gu Bei had become increasingly indifferent to any potential taboos surrounding Ye Xiaohan. Previously concerned about inciting discontent among the soldiers towards her, he no longer needed to worry about that.
However, for reasons even Ye Xiaohan herself could not fully articulate, she refrained from reading the contents of the letters. Perhaps deep down, she still resisted becoming embroiled in such troublesome matters.
Even without reading them, Ye Xiaohan could roughly gauge the contents of each letter from Gu Bei's expression. She understood the pressure he was under and recognized that this battle was unavoidable.
"Take these," Ye Xiaohan said, placing a large assortment of bottles and packages wrapped in oil paper before Gu Bei. "These are medicines I've been working on during this time."
Inside were various concoctions with different effects, mostly made from herbs gathered nearby. There were ordinary sedatives as well as deadly poisons capable of silencing a person instantly.
"All's fair in war. When necessary, rather than clashing swords directly, it's better to employ a few tricks and retreat unscathed—that's the ideal outcome."
Ye Xiaohan dismissed notions of battlefield honor or life being more important; such ideas were foolishness. Only by staying alive could one explore various possibilities; once dead, one was merely a corpse—regardless of whether it bore honors or not, it would decay just like any other body.
"Thank you." Gu Bei felt a deeper inclination towards dying honorably in battle rather than surviving at all costs. But since this was given by Ye Xiaohan, he could only feel gratitude.
Moreover, he was no longer the same person he once was; now he had people and things he needed to protect. He was no longer just a weapon content with dying on the battlefield.
With the concern for Gu Bei, there was a desire to live even stronger.
For Gu Bei, these versatile medicines were merely a sign of Ye Xiaohan's care. However, once Shen Ru saw them, their potential was unleashed to the fullest.
"General, this method of the lady's is brilliant!" Shen Ru exclaimed with excitement. "If the soldiers carry these medicines with them, they might play a crucial role in critical moments!"
For instance, when defeat seemed imminent, if the soldiers sprinkled the powder, the bandits could fall to the ground, allowing the soldiers to claim victory.
Gu Bei agreed with this proposal, and Shen Ru hastened the process, urging the military doctors to produce them quickly and distribute them among the soldiers. Ye Xiaohan also joined in, offering suggestions on packaging to make the medicines more convenient to use.
By the time everything was finally completed, the day set for Gu Bei's offensive was just around the corner.
After a brief rest, the formal assault on the Bandit Hideout began.
Gu Bei divided the soldiers into three teams. One team would enter through a secret passage and lie in ambush inside. Considering the narrowness of the passage, it effectively sealed off the entire route.
Due to the cramped terrain, once the soldiers entered and secured their position, they would be like an impenetrable barrier. If bandits attempted to enter, it would be like stuffing sausages; they would be blocked in front. Once they realized they were ambushed and tried to retreat, it wouldn't be an easy task.
The second team of soldiers would wait at the entrance of the forbidden area’s secret passage. Once the time was right and bandits were trapped inside, this team would rush in to eliminate any remaining bandits and seal off the entrance to prevent their escape.
One would come out while another would take its place.
The mission of the third team was to launch a frontal attack on the Bandit Hideout. In fact, this team's task was less about attacking and more about creating a grand spectacle to make the bandits believe that this was the main force of the army. This would allow them to lower their guard and concentrate their fighting strength within the secret passage.
The secret passage was both a trump card and a weapon for the bandits; they would undoubtedly utilize it in their quest for victory.
What the bandits did not know was that control over this passage had long since slipped from their grasp. Continuing to use it would be akin to walking into a trap.
To make the frontal assault by the third team appear convincing, Gu Bei personally led this unit.
The army halted at the grassy foot of the mountain, beginning to beat drums, raise flags, and shout loudly.
The Bandits and the Army were evenly matched, and it was clear that these Bandits were not foolish; they had sent a portion of their forces to engage in battle while concentrating their main fighting strength in the forbidden area, planning to launch a surprise attack through a secret passage to catch the Army off guard.
This wish was already impossible to fulfill, but the Bandits were completely unaware of this fact.
Leading the charge among the Bandits was Zhao Ren, the Second-in-Command of the Bandit Hideout.
Zhao Ren looked at Gu Bei, who was surrounded at the forefront, and revealed a fierce smile. "Last time we let this Dog Thief escape; he won't be so lucky this time!"
He took the lead, rushing to the front of the Army and shouting, "Defeated dogs! Who among you wants to die today? Step forward if you have the guts and face me one-on-one!"
Upon hearing Zhao Ren's arrogance, the soldiers of the Army could no longer contain themselves and clamored, "General, let us go and kill this ignorant Bandit!"
Gu Bei pondered for a moment. As a leader, if he could take the stage first and defeat Zhao Ren in one fell swoop, it would greatly encourage his troops and instantly boost their morale.
However, Gu Bei was indeed gravely injured. Although he had improved somewhat, he was far from fit enough to engage in a life-and-death struggle. Moreover, Zhao Ren was no ordinary foe. If Gu Bei were in good health, he might have had a chance; but now, even sitting on horseback caused him excruciating pain, making him no match for Zhao Ren.
"Left Wing, this man is yours!"
In the end, Gu Bei decided to let his subordinate take his place. It was common for someone else to answer a challenge during such confrontations. But if Gu Bei himself went out and lost, it would severely damage the morale of the entire Army.
If even the general was defeated, what hope would there be?
"Yes, General! I will obey!" Left Wing cupped his hands in salute before galloping forward straight towards Zhao Ren. Just as his horse's hooves were about to land on Zhao Ren, Left Wing suddenly pulled on the reins, causing the warhorse to rear up with a loud neigh.
Before the hooves could touch down, Left Wing leaped into the air, his long spear thrusting forward.
Zhao Ren was also bold and skilled.
As Left Wing galloped forward, charging straight towards him, he didn't even blink, glaring fiercely and waiting for the opponent to approach.
When Left Wing dismounted and brandished his spear, Zhao Ren let out a loud shout and charged in barehanded.
He didn't use a weapon; in fact, he had a short knife strapped to his waist, but he made no move to draw it.
Left Wing felt a surge of anger. This Bandit was looking down on him! To fight unarmed was a disrespect to him as the vanguard. It implied that even without any weapons, Zhao Ren could suppress his opponent!
On the open grassland, the two exchanged blows, each strike filled with intense aggression, neither willing to concede defeat.
The Bandit began cheering for Zhao Ren, while on the Army side, Gu Bei and several other Soldiers wore grim expressions.
“Left Wing is going to lose!”
Shen Ru gripped the hilt of his long knife at his waist, his fingers instinctively curling around it.
“This Zhao Ren…” Gu Bei’s expression darkened. They all realized that although the battle seemed evenly matched at the moment, Left Wing was already exerting all his strength, while Zhao Ren clearly still had more to give.
The spear whirled sharply, creating an afterimage as it lunged directly at Zhao Ren.
This time, Zhao Ren did not dodge; instead, he stood firm in place and let out a fierce roar.
The spear in Left Wing's hand came to an abrupt halt as if it had struck an impenetrable wall.
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