Chapter 92

Wuwei Army's vanguard could break out of Yulong Mountain at any time, while the He Xiang Army's troops stationed along Hechuan Ridge were confirmed not to hastily move north to aid Yanchuan and other cities. Chen Hai thought that they could take advantage of the panic and chaos, holding the order letter issued by the He Xiang Army from Hechuan Ridge, to enter Chishan County, and there was a possibility of passing off as someone else.

However, entering Chishan County meant they would have to interact with the local garrison and various parties, and there was always a risk of being exposed. Once their cover was blown, the He Xiang Army would no longer treat them as ordinary bandits.

Chen Hai gathered everyone to discuss the matter. Zhao Shan had already thought that infiltrating enemy territory was risky enough, but he never imagined that Chen Hai's boldness would exceed his imagination. He stood there with his mouth open, not knowing what to say.

"Within two days at most, the He Xiang Army's northern defense line will be torn apart. At that time, Yanchuan and other prefectures and counties will be in complete chaos, with fleeing soldiers everywhere. Even if someone sees through our disguise, the Wuwei Army's vanguard should soon advance into Chishan County."

Chen Hai calmly outlined his initial plan.

"In fact, as long as we confirm that Wuwei Shen Hou leads his troops to attack Yanchuan Prefecture, we can send the message to Nantianmen Fort. It will only take two days..."

Zhou Jun looked at the dozens of bandit slaves hidden in the depths of the forest, lowering his voice and expressing his concern, "These people are all under our watch, with no chance to contact others separately. There's no need to worry about any problems. But once we enter Chishan County, we will have to interact with the locals. If even one of them loses control, the situation will be dire."

"We should send someone to investigate the situation in Chishan County first. If the garrison is weak, even if something goes wrong, we still have a chance to break out," Wu Meng suggested.

He knew the risk of infiltrating Chishan County was great, but if they could successfully pass off as someone else, the thought of being able to boast that they, with over sixty people, could capture an enemy city before the main force arrived, was quite appealing.

After discussion, Shen Kun and Zhao Shan also agreed that sending someone to investigate the situation in Chishan County first was more prudent.

They had intercepted two military letters from Hechuan Ridge, so the sixty people could enter Chishan County in two batches, making it harder for the locals to see through their plan.

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The He Xiang Army had a total of 100,000 elite troops stationed north of Hechuan Ridge, forming a defense line against Wuwei Shen. However, these elite troops could not be evenly distributed among the more than forty prefectures and counties north of Hechuan Ridge.

Chishan County, located about 500 li from Yulong Mountain, was in the rear of the He Xiang Army's northern defense line. Although it had 700 to 800 garrison troops, they were all local militia.

Just like the Yulong Prefecture army that was defeated by the rebel forces, the local militia had no significant combat capability, and the county magistrate did not have the cultivation of the Spirit Realm.

As long as no elite troops from the He Xiang Army were sent to Chishan County, even if Chen Hai and his group were exposed, they could still break out of the city without much trouble.

After investigating the situation in Chishan County, Zhao Shan and Shen Kun led a dozen riders with one military letter to enter Chishan County first. Chen Hai, Zhou Jun, and Wu Meng followed two hours later.

Chishan County was surrounded by undulating hills, though not as steep as the sky-piercing peaks, the roads were still rugged and difficult to traverse. Chishan County town was located in a valley, and the road from Hechuan Ridge to Yanchuan Prefecture passed through Chishan County.

Chen Hai and his group rode to the southern city gate of Chishan County, seeing the city in chaos, with countless people and carts blocking the narrow city gate, obstructing the passage.

The guards on the city wall saw Chen Hai and his group galloping from the south, wearing the uniforms of the He Xiang Army. Since a messenger had already entered the city, they naturally assumed that Chen Hai and his group were messengers from Hechuan Ridge.

A junior officer on the city wall shouted loudly, "The northern gate is still clear. Please go through the northern gate."

The city wall was only about seven to eight meters high, built of brick and stone, and the city gate tower was a simple wooden arrow shed.

More than a hundred soldiers, looking like birds startled by a bow, were stationed in the city gate tower.

A narrow path along the city wall had not been blocked, with soldiers guarding both sides to prevent refugees from entering and exiting at will. They could go around the city to reach the northern gate.

Chen Hai glanced at the city wall and smiled lightly to Wu Meng and Zhou Jun, "If we obediently go through the northern gate, wouldn't that make us seem less domineering?"

Wu Meng and Zhou Jun did not understand his meaning, but saw Chen Hai already spur his horse forward, dismounting and using his Frost-Quenched Golden Halberd to lift a carriage that had slid off the road and was stuck in a mud pit, with half of its body still blocking the road. He pushed it to the side of the road with force.

"Ahh!"

There were still people in the carriage who had not managed to get out. They felt the carriage fly up and screamed in terror inside.

The carriage flew over ten meters and crashed into a rock, shattering into pieces. The wheels, body, and shaft were scattered on the ground. A man and a woman, with bruised and swollen faces, crawled out of the carriage, ready to curse.

But seeing Chen Hai, who looked like a tower of iron on his horse, with a full beard and scars all over his face, and the forty to fifty people behind him, all exuding a murderous aura, the man and woman felt as if their necks were being squeezed by an invisible hand, their faces turning red, and they dared not say a word.

The carriage was stuck in the mud pit, and the two mules pulling it had just been unhitched. However, the body of the carriage and the two people inside were quite heavy, weighing over a thousand pounds. Chen Hai easily lifted it with his halberd and threw it over ten meters away, shattering it. The refugees blocking the city gate were all taken aback.

Chen Hai slowly rode his horse closer, and the refugees blocking the road hurriedly dragged their carts and horses to the sides of the road.

Chen Hai then saw that two carriages were stuck in the city gate tunnel. It was unclear whether the heavy load in the carriages or the collision of the two carriages trying to leave the city had caused the wheels to break, and the goods were scattered. A horse was injured and lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth, with a broken front leg.

The city gate tunnel was only about five to six meters wide and was completely blocked, making it impossible for people to enter or leave the city.

Two dozen servants in green robes were frantically unloading the goods from the carriages.

When the carriages and horses outside the city gate tunnel were hurriedly moved to the sides of the road, the person in charge was in a daze as Chen Hai, riding his horse, almost blocked half of the city gate tunnel.

"Thank you, sir, for clearing the way. These unruly people are causing chaos..." the person in charge bowed and said.

"Rubbish!" Chen Hai swung his Frost-Quenched Golden Halberd at the person in charge's left shoulder. Although the person in charge had some cultivation, he could not withstand Chen Hai's casual strike. He was thrown to the ground, blood gushing from his armor, and his left shoulder bone was shattered.

Of the twenty-three servants in green robes, half were armed, likely the slaves of a wealthy household in Chishan County. They did not expect the person in charge to be injured by a domineering military officer over a trivial matter. Two of them, enraged, rushed forward to stab Chen Hai's horse.

"Neigh!" The horse let out a long cry, rearing up, and its iron-like hooves kicked the two servants in the chest. They were thrown ten meters away, crashing into the city wall and falling, their fate unknown.

Just like humans, even the best-bred horses require proper training. Chen Hai's horse, a fine steed from the Hexi region, had been rewarded for its great service in breaking out of Yulong Mountain. For over a year, it had been fed special food and given two to three True Essence Pills daily to strengthen its blood and bones. Even carrying a thousand pounds, it could still gallop swiftly on rugged mountain roads. Its hooves, like iron hammers, could shatter even a half-meter-high stone, let alone two low-level servants.

"Sir, do you know whose carriage this is?" The person in charge, with his left shoulder bone shattered, was in pain, sweat rolling down his forehead. He struggled to sit up, believing Chen Hai and his group to be domineering soldiers of the He Xiang Army, and asked through gritted teeth.

"With the enemy at the gate, you scoundrels are fleeing in panic, blocking the military road, preventing the army from advancing north. That's a capital offense!" Chen Hai pointed the sharp tip of his halberd at the person in charge's face, his eyes filled with killing intent, ready to strike if the person dared to say another word.

At this moment, the military officer guarding the city gate, fearing Chen Hai's impatience, hurriedly pleaded for mercy, "Sir, please calm down, sir, please calm down. The small county has no knowledge, and we have offended the sir!"

Chen Hai threw the military letter at the officer's face, angrily shouting, "You useless scoundrels, with the enemy at the gate, you don't think about organizing people to strengthen the city's defenses, but let these unruly people block the road, preventing the army from advancing north. Do you want to keep your heads?"

The officer, seeing two of the wealthy household's servants almost dead, did not dare to examine the military letter Chen Hai threw at him, let alone verify Chen Hai's seal. He was terrified, saying, "I will immediately organize the soldiers to clear the road."

"All the carriages and horses north of the city gate must be driven back. I don't care how the refugees from other counties escape, but they must not block the road north of Chishan County. From now on, no wealthy household in Chishan County is allowed to leave. If even one person escapes, I will make them pay. Before the army advances north, there must be no trouble here. We will take over the southern city gate tower!" Chen Hai ordered, not allowing the officer to refuse. "Go and inform the county magistrate and the county captain to come and see me..."

The officer, around forty years old, was tough and capable, but he never imagined that Chen Hai and his group were actually enemy soldiers in disguise.

Fearing that Chen Hai would lose patience and strike again, the officer did not dare to delay, quickly handing over the southern city gate tower and organizing the soldiers to drive the carriages and refugees blocking the city gate north. He also sent people to invite the county magistrate and the county captain...

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