Chapter 181

  "The big shots seem to have retreated."

  On the city wall, Xu Shenji said to Cheng Dali.

  Cheng Dalai's gaze swept past, and he saw that the Rong tribe was dismantling their tents, which was indeed a sign of breaking camp.

  "The great master, it's better if we rush out and take advantage of their unpreparedness, let's give them a good fight." Xu Shenji.

  Cheng Dali shook his head, and the reason for his denial was not just because this suggestion was made by Xu Shenji. Standing on the city wall, he gazed at the poplar trees on the Ox Horn Peak, the trees were still, Cheng Dali was still.

  Watching the Rong tribe pack up and leave, disappearing without a trace from sight.

  "Great master, give the order to chase them! If we don't, they'll escape far away." Xu Shenji.

  "Don't be in a hurry, they want to lure us out."

  "Lure the enemy?"

  Cheng Dalai nodded and gazed at the poplar trees on the Ox Horn Peak.

  The willow tree's branches were bent, like a spear, pointing to the location of the enemy army. As expected by Cheng Da Lei, the enemy's retreat was indeed a ruse, and once out of sight, their marching speed slowed down.

  "Go down and open the city gate?"

  "The master of the house is going to send troops."

  "What troops are coming..." Cheng Dairen spat: "Wait for them to return, hurry up and prepare more crossbow arrows and heavy stones, let's give them a good reception."

  The army approached from the front, but Chi Mei kept staring at the movement behind her back.

  "Did they chase him out?"

  "Not yet."

  "Re-explore!"

  The Red Eyebrows were anxious, wondering why the enemy had not yet pursued them. According to the Empire's usual practice of seeking a big victory, when their own troops retreated, they should have come out of the city to pursue and attack the defeated soldiers. But once they came out, the field of battle would belong to the Xiongnu.

  But how can they be so calm this time?

  "Prince, could it be that they have seen through?" Torum

  "How can they possibly tell whether we are really retreating or just pretending to retreat without having eyes that can see a thousand miles?"

  "Why don't they come out yet..."

  "Wait a bit longer, even if they don't come out. Wait for them to become careless and complacent, then we'll take them down with one swift stroke."

  Leading a large army in circles in the mountains, Red Eyebrows finally found an open space to set up camp, and from start to finish, they still haven't left the range of Qingniu Mountain.

  The Red Eyebrows have been keeping a close eye on the toad's nest, and for now, it seems that they have been scared out of their wits. Even if they retreat, they wouldn't dare come out. Of course, this is also in line with the character of the imperial people.

  Now, Chi Mei and others are not sending troops, but waiting for them to slack off.

  "Report! They seem to be celebrating!"

  "Report! The number of guards at the city gate has dropped to one hundred!"

  "Report! The number of defending soldiers has dropped to fifty!"

  "Report! There are only a dozen or so defenders on the city wall, and the city gate is open. They are gathering the weapons outside the city gate."

  When he received the last piece of intelligence, Chi Mei was gnawing on dried meat. When the intelligence arrived, he sprang up with a thud.

  "Charge! With me, storm the castle, slaughter them all!"

  The Rong tribe has extremely strong mobility, which is also one of the places where the empire can't compare. From the gathering of the army to arriving at the gate of Gama Castle, the process did not exceed half a time.

  Everything was going according to the intelligence received. The city gate was wide open, and there were only a dozen or so defenders. When they saw the large army approaching, their eyes widened in terror and fear showed on their faces.

  Didn't expect this, did you? I never left, and now I'm back to kill again!

  This annoying nail can finally be pulled out today.

  Chi Meng's general, Tuo Man, rode a horse at the forefront, leading the charge and yelling loudly.

  "Kill! Kill!"

  Tuoman led a dozen horsemen in a charge through the city gate.

  A gleam of joy flashed across his face - this city would fall! Next came the familiar and delightful task: massacring the city.

  "Warriors of the grasslands, follow me and kill!" Red Eyebrows brandished his sword and bellowed.

  Suddenly, something unexpected happened.

  The open city gate suddenly closed, separating Tuoban and the main force. There were only a dozen or so guards on the city gate originally, but in an instant, heads emerged from under the crenellations, and the crowd on the city wall was a dense black mass.

  They were met with crossbow bolts, heavy stones and gunpowder, boiling excrement.

  Not good! I've been tricked!

  Hongyan shouted out this classic line, he recalled the expression of the defenders just now, and suddenly realized that they opened their mouths wide, expressing not fear of how you came, but enthusiasm and joy of you finally arrived.

  And they had already prepared something to entertain their distinguished guests.

  "Fall back! Fall back!"

  The red eyebrow brandishes his sword and lets out a loud roar, but can he still retreat?

  Bodies fell to the ground all around, people and horses tumbling down with a loud crash, horses' bellies were torn open, blood gushing out of their nostrils, limbs and trunks separated.

  Inside the city.

  Tuoman had just charged into the city when his horse's hooves were tripped up by long spears, and immediately a group of people swarmed forward with sharp knives and swords.

  "Big boss, don't you want to leave a way out?" Xu Shenji said.

  "Leave no survivors." Cheng Dalai covered his mouth with a handkerchief and waved his hand, saying: "Use bows and arrows, kill."

  Looking at Cheng Dairen's appearance, Xushenji suddenly realized that Cheng Dairen's focus was not on killing, but on the embroidered handkerchief in his hand.

  "Master, this handkerchief is embroidered very intricately?"

  "Is there...?" Cheng Dairen feigned nonchalance and said: "Su Qiong's, I don't like using these."

  Outside the city, after paying a huge price, Chimei led his remaining soldiers and defeated generals to retreat out of the city gate range.

  Even he was shot in the shoulder with an arrow, and it can be imagined how miserable others were.

  He stared at the city gate, his eyes revealing extreme hatred, and his face was only left with ferocity, without the usual laziness.

  Cheng Dalai walked up to the city gate with a smile, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief: "The guest is coming, I'm treating this meal, are you satisfied?"

  "Dog thief!" Chi Mei gritted his teeth and said: "I will cut you into a thousand pieces!"

  "It's outrageous that you hurt someone at the exit, you're really an uncivilized barbarian." Cheng Darui curled his lips: "However, we are a country of etiquette. Even if it's for treating barbaric guests, we must maintain our etiquette and demeanor. This is a farewell gift for you, take it with you."

  Whoosh...

  An object was thrown from Da Lei's hand, rolling with a gurgling sound to the foot of the city wall. It was the head of Tu Man, his eyes wide open and teeth clenched tight, still maintaining a ferocious expression even in death.

  "Despicable!" The red-eyed Xue Mei glared at Cheng Da Lei: "You treacherous dog, you..."

  "Shut up! A defeated subordinate, what qualifications do you have to bark wildly in front of me?" Cheng Da Lei spoke word by word, like knocking on the heart's door: "You've already lost."

  The siege lasted nearly twenty days, with ten thousand iron cavalry fighting five thousand old, weak, sick and disabled people. The Red Eyebrows did not take down a single blade of grass or wood from the Hamao Fort, but their own side suffered heavy casualties, and now there are only about four thousand survivors among the troops under his command.

  "Even if the jumper is strong, it will be pierced; even if those who offend my mountains and rivers are far away, they must be punished. You, a beast with fur and horns, drinking blood, dare to covet our national treasure? Today, heaven's law does not punish you, I will! Besides, you're not even strong enough."

  Pfft!

  Ma Shang's eyebrows suddenly spat blood, and his body fainted.

  Wow, it seems like the eloquence has taken effect.