Direction of Baoqing Prefecture’s camp.
Watching the Beiliang Iron Cavalry retreat like a receding tide, Mu Yuntian and the generals furrowed their brows, their eyes full of doubt as they tried to figure out which of the Thirty-Six Stratagems this situation referred to.
"Lord General, the enemy is retreating." The Vice Jiedu Envoy spoke nearby, his mind perturbed.
"I see it, I’m not blind yet." Mu Yuntian watched the black tide of iron retreat swiftly, wrapped in dust, his brow never relaxed, constantly furrowed.
It was so bizarre.
They were prepared for a fierce battle, their minds tense, only to be left with no place to exert their strength, a feeling of emptiness perated, and everything felt wrong.
"Old General, can you discern the rebels’ intentions with this move?"
"Feign retreat, trying to lure us out of the city for pursuit?" It was the most likely possibility he could think of.
West Chang Bo, puzzled as well, said, "It shouldn’t be, we haven’t even fought. To lure us out of the city, they should pretend defeat after a battle to tempt us. Besides, they have already raised their royal banners and sounded their horns. This logic does not make sense; I truly cannot see which military tactic this is."
"Could it be that reinforcents on both sides have arrived? But I understand that the reinforcents from the Western Pass won’t be so fast. Perhaps the main force at the frontline Dragon Taming Two Passes has already detected the rebels’ movents? Should we send soone out of the city to pursue and investigate the truth?" This West Chang Bo speculated.
"No." Mu Yuntian suppressed the suggestion, "Dragon Taming Two Gates sent no word of this before; if there were actions, they would surely communicate beforehand. Now I cannot figure out what this is exactly; let’s continue observing and be on guard for deception."
"Order to be passed down; no troops are to relax vigilance, maintain alertness. Also, send a few teams of scouts out of the city, to follow behind the rebels and observe their movents. I want to see what they’re up to."
"Yes!"
"Pass the order——"
....
anwhile, on the vast southwest plains of Baoqing Prefecture, atop the retreating Beiliang Iron Cavalry, a flying boat was concealed within the dust clouds. Its hull entirely crafted from Yin Mountain Xuantie mixed with Sinking Wood, stretching over thirty feet, like a lurking black giant serpent, erging and disappearing into the void, cloaked in a formation. The boat exhibits no traces of gold or color, only the bow sharply eagle-shaped, the ram crafted from Hundred-refined Steel. Arrow towers stand on the deck, each layer mounted with ten large chanical crossbows, crossbow arrows over ten feet, shining with distinctive patterns, arrowheads coated with Beiliang’s unique cold frost, arrow slots filled with latent danger, three hundred elite Beiliang troops positioned, the deck embedded with anti-slip iron ridges. The mast stood ten feet high with a black flag emblazoned with silver-stroked "Beiliang".
On the flying boat, inside the cabin, the atmosphere was somber as though it would drip water.
Inside stood two columns of fierce generals, armored and ard, their expressions unpleasant, eyes filled with fury.
In front, behind a desk, King of Beiliang Xiao Zhongtian similarly armored, decked in dark black armor, scales-like plates, arm guards wrapped with three layers of iron bands, interlinked with seven iron rings, a helt covering his face leaving only his eyes visible, topped with a vertical black plu like ink, presenting a fully armored battle-ready look.
At this mont, he sat low on his command chair, his keen eyes beneath the helt filled with murderous intent, focused on a Vice General kneeling before the desk.
The Vice General kneeling before the desk, sensing the murderous aura, couldn’t stop trembling, his head held low, muttering,
"Prince... calm..."
Just then, a general stood nearby, hands cupped, face furious, nearly grinding his teeth, "Prince, are we to just give up like this? We finally found an opportunity, are we to retreat like this? I believe we should take down Baoqing, what we’ve lost in the south, we shall reclaim here...."
Xiao Zhongtian at the desk lifted his head, his gaze sharply sweeping over the speaking general, pressing the remaining words back in his throat.
"Not retreat? Wait to be caught unprepared?" Xiao Zhongtian’s voice was cold and stern, hinting at severity, "If we don’t retreat now, we could be surrounded and trapped."
"Do you continue speaking, should we retreat or not?"
Saying this, his tone turned indifferent, his eyes fixed firmly on the speaking general.
The other’s face turned pale, daring not to respond, evidently realizing that the prince was in a state of anger.
"Prince, please calm down." Observing the atmosphere, another general stood, "None of us expected this critical mont, Shu would launch a surprise attack, hitting our rear lines, truly despicable."
Saying this, he was sowhat indignant.
These words caused the air to sink. Xiao Zhongtian’s eyes glimred fiercely, again, it was that Chen, his voice questioning, "I too am curious, why such coincidence?"
"The letter ntions they had only a few thousand troops, yet broke through the pass!"
His gaze, sharp as blades, scanned everyone’s face in the tent, causing them to fall silent, not daring to invite bad luck at this juncture.
At that mont, a voice suddenly ca from outside.
Outside, an armored soldier reported, "Prince, the Saint Monk seeks audience,"
Following the voice, a Buddhist chant echoed,
"Amitabha Buddha."
With the chant, a monk stepped inside with one hand raised, expression compassionate, slightly bowed, crossing the threshold into the conference chamber, his robe washed bare, a golden alms stick tilted to ground in his left hand, its brass rings chiming, with each stick point. His steps revealed lotuses, exuding overwhelming Buddha Nature.
The monk’s peaceful deanor, filling the cabin, invisibly calming the atmosphere.
"deng"
Jia Ye Luo Ye struck the Demon-Subduing Pestle on the ground, raising one hand, his face without joy or sorrow, he spoke:
"I ca uninvited."
"Why is the prince angry?"
Seeing the Western Saint Monk arrive, Xiao Zhongtian’s murderous aura subsided, he sat straight, although his voice was heavy.
"I fear I will disappoint the Saint Monk this ti."
"Over in Shu, that Chen fellow still refuses to relent against ; I just received news they dispatched thousands of troops to raid Lazi Pass closest to Beiliang, breaking through the pass, allowing rampant plunder behind our lines, infuriating ."
Just now, they received word, Shu’s troops raided Lazi Pass nearest to Beiliang successfully breached, rampaging through the military town.
A gap is now present in their rear, so upon receiving this notice, they had no choice but to imdiately retreat.
Xiao Zhongtian feared Shu’s troops would march straight into their rear like frightful birds!
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