CHAPTER 295: CHAPTER 8 SWIFT NIGHT WIND_1

The hooves thundered. There was a profound difference between the sensation created by four hundred cavalrymen and that of fifteen hundred, a difference that Zheng Fan understood intimately.

The first time he had arrived, he had been somewhat reckless, somewhat exhilarated, somewhat unaccustomed, and somewhat anxious, fearing unforeseen events.

This time, however, his attitude was calm, so calm that he could sit down to casually choose his strategy as though lighting a cigarette.

In the era of cold weapons, cavalry could be used like a lever. The first Earl of North Border using thirty thousand to defeat five hundred thousand was an exemplification of this lever used to its utmost.

At the same time, the difference in equipment often manifested as a major discrepancy in war.

Green Willow Fortress relied on the financial support of the Sixth Prince. For this army and for Zheng Fan, the Sixth Prince had spared no cost—even something as valuable as a casket.

It could be said that the equipment of Zheng Fan’s fifteen hundred cavalrymen was luxurious. Simultaneously, the cost of maintaining a good horse was significantly more than sustaining a person. Even so, for this expedition, every man from Green Willow Fortress was equipped with two horses.

That was why Blind Bei was too hesitant to request more from the Sixth Prince. He had been extremely generous, fulfilling his initial promise of "full support" genuinely.

The troop halted again before a fortress at the border of Qian State.

This was Liang Cheng’s command. Each time they entered Qian, it felt like breaking into someone’s house; one first had to get past their security door. You could choose not to break it and force your way in, but that would attract the owner’s attention, and then the owner would call the authorities.

Indeed, during these days, the various military leaders on Yan State’s side had stirred up a storm along the Qian State’s border through constant frays. However, their troops were considerably numerous compared to those small raiding parties. To achieve the same element of surprise as last time, they had to conceal their tracks at the outset.

The Jingnan military of Yan State had been silent all along, while the soldiers from the three towns in Qian State kept shrinking back.

Therefore, the military leaders on Yan State’s border could only spar with the defending garrisons in the fortresses of Qian State. The outcome of these clashes was often less than satisfactory.

Overcoming a fortress was not too challenging unless you were stubborn enough to choose the largest one to gnaw at. But the problem was that every time you finished gnawing, you would find you had broken several teeth.

If it were not for the orders from Lord Jingnan urging them on, these military leaders would be genuinely reluctant to attack these fortresses. But to complete their missions, to earn credit, and to take heads, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and charge forward.

Now, before Zheng Fan’s troops from Green Willow Fortress, stood a modestly sized fortress. In terms of scale, it was no different from the Chicken Fortress Zheng Fan had encountered during his first visit. There were estimated to be only a few dozen guards inside.

The previous time, while attacking a fortress, Zheng Fan and Liang Cheng had led more than a dozen barbarian soldiers and, battling wits with the air, put on a show for themselves for a good while. Upon entering, they discovered that there was no one on the watchtower, and the people inside were occupied with their business or lining up for something.

However, at that time, both sides were not officially at war and were in a period of long-lasting peace. Now, the border conflicts were escalating. Even if the frontier army of Qian State was lax, it was unlikely to let Zheng Fan re-experience that blissful ease of entering an uninhabited territory.

Xue Three dismounted and began to warm up, twisting his neck and buttocks. A moment later, Xue Three took a long breath. He smiled at Liang Cheng beside him and Zheng Fan behind him, then squatted down slightly.

WHOOSH!

Xue Three sprang forward.

Under the night sky, one could see what looked like a shadow moving, yet it made no sound at all. Within moments, the shadow disappeared, as if Xue Three had vanished completely.

"Once we have the resources, we can have San’er train some scout soldiers," said Zheng Fan to Liang Cheng.

"Yes, I have the same idea."

However, now was not the time. They were not yet qualified to employ a diverse range of troop types.

As an assassin, his greatest skill was concealment. In this regard, Xue Three was a professional. When he arrived beneath the fortress wall, its ancient and crude surface presented no challenge to him.

His body moved upward rapidly, like a gecko. It was straightforward, without any unnecessary flourishes, just breathtakingly fast.

There were two Qian soldiers on the watchtower. One was leaning against the battlement, snoring, while the other stood watch, occasionally looking around.

Indeed, the tension along the border had reached this point, and the fortresses of the Qian army finally started to resemble proper military fortifications.

However, even though the watchtower of this fortress was operational, and when the two soldiers took turns on their shifts, the other soldier did maintain his vigilance and did not slack off, when Xue Three appeared behind one of them, the soldier remained utterly unaware.

Xue Three drew his dagger, adjusting his breath. Life required a sense of ceremony. For instance, whether eating steak or stew, one should always have a knife and fork at their disposal.

He thrust the dagger forward. There was no sound, no cry. The soldier’s mouth was covered, while blood gushed from his neck.

As for the one who was asleep, Xue Three hesitated a bit. After gently lowering the body of the soldier he had killed, he retreated a few steps.

He bent his knees, held his dagger, and adjusted his breathing.

You are the one I, Xue Three, am about to kill. Even if you are sleeping like a dead pig, I will still respect you. Respecting one’s prey is respecting oneself.

Then, Xue Three lunged, and the sleeping Qian soldier was also killed, dispatched without suspense.

You couldn’t call Xue Three insane. It was just that after the long journey from north to south, he was incredibly pent-up. His only chance to act had been at the relay station outside Yin City, where he’d been soundly thrashed by Mr. Chen. Anyone, if suppressed for too long, can become a bit unhinged.

Xue Three quietly descended the ladder, still without making any noise.

At the entrance of the fortress, two Qian soldiers were sleeping, curled up in their bedrolls against the wall. Xue Three walked over and stood between them. He stretched out his hands, each holding a dagger.

Killing these two men simultaneously in this way would be quite cool.

It was a pity that no one was holding a camera. Otherwise, a continuous shot of this scene could have been taken.

Soon, Xue Three encountered a problem more serious than not having a camera: his arms were a bit short, and he couldn’t reach both men.

Feeling somewhat helpless, Xue Three could only go to the brother on the left, stabbing downwards with his dagger, then moving over to the other brother and striking again.

All of this left Xue Three feeling rather uninspired.

Xue Three began to open the gate, having smeared some oil on the hinges. He also slid his dagger into the door crack to minimize the sound.

Actually, Xue Three could have tried to sneak inside assassin-style and kill the remaining fewer than twenty Qian soldiers one by one.

But mere repetitive killing was not art.

Xue Three took the slingshot hanging from his waist, pinched a pellet, and shot it into the air ahead.

Blind Bei’s mental senses couldn’t cover such a distance, but adding the range of the pellet, it was just about right.

Standing next to Zheng Fan, Blind Bei nodded and said, "You may proceed, my lord."

Zheng Fan turned his head and gestured to Zuo Jiqian behind him.

Zuo Jiqian, somewhat excited, led dozens of Zuo family soldiers forward on foot, charging directly towards the fortress.

The fortress gate stood wide open. Xue Three leaned against the wall, a straw stalk dangling from his mouth.

When Zuo Jiqian and his men arrived, they saw Xue Three.

PTUI.

Xue Three spat out the straw stalk, pointed inside, and let out a yawn.

Zuo Jiqian was somewhat terrified of the dwarf’s horrifying methods, but this was neither the time for talking nor for currying favor. He immediately led his men into the fortress.

One side was in full armor and charging menacingly; the other was still asleep. The battle was, in fact, a one-sided massacre.

But the Zuo family members were extremely excited as they began collecting heads. Each head could almost exchange a family member’s freedom from slave status, which was why they couldn’t help but be thrilled.

Soon, Zheng Fan and the others outside had ridden over. They didn’t go in but waited outside.

When Zuo Jiqian and his men came out, the Huo family members looked at the heads hanging from their waists. Even in the dark, the red glint of envy in their eyes was visible.

Zuo Jiqian went to the front of Zheng Fan’s horse and knelt on one knee. "Reporting to my lord, all Qian soldiers inside the fortress have been annihilated."

Zheng Fan yawned, nodded, and said, "Rejoin the ranks."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Then, Zheng Fan looked at Liang Cheng. Liang Cheng raised his hand and ordered, "Move out!"

The cavalry thundered forward once more.

This was just the appetizer for the night. Even Xue Three, who had taken action, felt somewhat unfulfilled. The other Demon Kings hadn’t even warmed up.

Most importantly, Chief Zheng was feeling very confident today.

Also swollen with pride was Liang Cheng, leading so many soldiers on a campaign for the first time in this world.

It looks like tonight will be...

This was just Liang Cheng muttering to himself. Because everyone was galloping, with the thunderous sound of hooves, those nearby couldn’t possibly hear him.

But Blind Bei’s voice immediately roared in Liang Cheng’s mind:

Shut up!

「On the walls of Mianzhou City.」

A man whose corpulence could rival Hui Wenzu’s rested his massive belly on a crenellation.

He snickered coldly a couple of times before speaking. "Direct Thief! Can you believe this city was once breached by a mere Yan Commander with only three or four hundred cavalry?"

The few men behind him, some in armor and others in scholars’ robes, saw his anger and dared not utter a sound.

"Hmph... Laughable, utterly laughable! That Old Bastard Yang truly lives up to his reputation as a eunuch. He didn’t dare order an attack, letting those Yan bastards run rampant on our Qian State’s borders! Ahh... ACHOO!"

The man sneezed, his flesh rippling.

At that moment, a scholar spoke with concern, "The wind is strong on the city wall. For your precious health’s sake, let’s go down, Prince."