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The entire White Wave camp was built along the mountain, thus very long and loosely constructed. From the rear camp to the front camp was at least three li. Fei Qian, along with Zhang Lie, was following behind Huang Cheng, cleaning up some remaining White Wave soldiers, gradually sensing something amiss...
Fei Qian reined in his horse, looking around.
Zhang Lie had already removed his White Wave robe, changed into Han army armor. He also halted his horse, stopping with Fei Qian, and asked, "Commander Fei, why stop?"
Fei Qian observed the situation ahead, turned to look back at the path taken. Something seemed to stir in his mind, but he couldn't quite articulate it. Just as he was pondering, the corner of his eye caught movement—someone seemed to be waving from the left hilltop...
Fei Qian turned his head. On the hilltop stood about a dozen people, waving their arms while seemingly shouting something...
"...Book cart? Book volume?"
Fei Qian muttered the words a few times, then suddenly jolted. He grabbed Zhang Lie, urgently saying, "Quickly order Shuye to retreat!"
Though Zhang Lie didn't understand why Fei Qian issued such an order, seeing Fei Qian's expression, he knew it wasn't the time for questions. He directly acknowledged the command, spurred his horse, chasing urgently towards Huang Cheng ahead!
Fei Qian's heart was anxious. He hoped they could make it in time...
He had been too careless, too hasty.
Though the terrain here somewhat resembled the Battle of Yiling, that battle used mountain fires for driving, not troops like now. Moreover, it was spring now, not blazing summer where a single spark could start a prairie fire. Plus, Xiangling blocked the road. Though the White Wave was still in rout, his own forces were too few. If the White Wave calmed down...
By now, Huang Cheng and his cavalry could barely gallop.
Originally, the White Wave camp was scattered, tents widely spaced, allowing men and horses to weave through. But now, all survivors had been pressed by Huang Cheng towards the front camp, drastically increasing White Wave soldier density...
Zhang Lie spurred his horse through a stretch of empty camp, caught up with Huang Cheng, and said, "The Commander orders: retreat immediately!"
Though somewhat puzzled, Huang Cheng didn't hesitate. He immediately shouted, leading the cavalry to wheel around, gradually disengaging, withdrawing.
Not long after, Huang Cheng returned to the rear camp with the cavalry, reuniting with Fei Qian.
Fei Qian roughly counted heads. Though they had been driving and herding, there were still some casualties...
"Shuye, gather tents and such here, pile them on the road, burn them to cover our retreat! Shucheng, take men, lead the commoners outside the camp, withdraw first!"
Fei Qian saw the dozen or so people on the hilltop still present. He swung his leg over, dismounted, then bowed towards the hilltop, expressing gratitude for the earlier warning.
The group on the hilltop seemed to return a salute, then vanished from sight, likely departing.
Huang Cheng followed Fei Qian's gaze, asking, "Lord, who are they?"
"Unknown..." Fei Qian mounted his horse, turned it around, began riding back. "Likely friends. Without their warning, I nearly ruined things by craving merit. Let's return to Yong'an. Send out small cavalry units to harass. The White Wave will have to split forces for defense, unable to attack Xiangling with full strength. Hold out three days. With no provisions, the White Wave will certainly fall into chaos..."
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In the White Wave front camp, many tents had been dismantled, thrown aside, clearing a large open area. On this ground, Han Xian and Li Le stood together. Flag bearers held their battle banners high. Their direct personal guards stood in three rows, facing the White Wave rout from the rear camp, forming a spear formation. Gleaming spear points at the front resembled a giant hedgehog, chilling to behold.
Han Xian watched the White Wave rout surging like a tide, coldly ordered: "Loose arrows!"
After two or three breaths, seeing the archery unit leader hesitate, he expressionlessly swept a glance over...
The archery unit leader's heart trembled. He hastily shouted: "Ready... loose!" A volley of arrows soared over the heads of Han Xian and Li Le's personal guards in front, whistling down!
The White Wave rout at the forefront had no defenses, immediately felling a swath. Some couldn't stop their feet, tripping over corpses. The entire frantic retreat momentum halted abruptly...
Han Xian shouted loudly: "Retreat from both sides! Those disrupting the formation—kill!"
Some White Wave minor leaders and commanders also shouted: "Go to both sides! Go to both sides! Those disrupting the formation—kill!"
The entire White Wave rout momentum stalled. Seeing their own commanders holding the line eased some panic. They slowly retreated from both sides of the square formation, soon gathered by their respective commanders and minor leaders, beginning to form up behind...
Seeing the routed troops gradually diminish, Han Xian immediately ordered the entire formation to advance towards the rear camp.
But ultimately a step too late. When Han Xian pushed the formation to the rear camp, they found a wall of fire blocking the road. The troops that attacked the camp had vanished...
Han Xian looked at the scorched remnants around the rear camp, gazed at the now-blackened area that once held provisions. The muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably.
Li Le approached, face full of worry: "Commander Han, what do we do now? Damn it, the provisions are all burned..."
Han Xian immediately shot Li Le a sharp glance for his loose tongue but helplessly so—the words were already out; couldn't make him swallow them back.
Han Xian remained silent a long while, then said quietly: "The only way now is to take Xiangling at all costs. Otherwise..."
"What about the Yong'an side? What if they come again... and provisions?" Li Le also realized his earlier volume was too loud, lowered his voice.
Han Xian ground his teeth: "Can't worry about that now. Only... if truly no food, we'll have to eat some 'two-legged sheep'..."
"...Two-legged sheep..." Li Le's expression changed, fell silent.
The matter of "two-legged sheep" (a euphemism for human consumption)—Li Le hadn't done it, but he knew reaching that point severely damaged morale. Some soldiers might even go mad unable to endure it...
Han Xian said through gritted teeth: "Immediately boil these dead horses for food. Then muster troops, attack the city tonight! If we miss today, there'll be no better chance!"
Li Le nodded, agreeing with Han Xian, but asked: "...Then do your men go first, or... shall I lead the first wave?"
Han Xian widened his eyes at Li Le, stood dumbfounded for a while, then sighed deeply. Suddenly, a foreboding sense of impending doom rose from within his heart...