Chapter 1302: New Troubles

Yang Meng’s troops charged into the enemy like tigers among a herd of cattle, shouting, "Kneel down, you will not be killed!" as they headed straight for Commander Liu.

To catch the bandit, first catch the king. His objective was clear: as long as this despicable scoundrel was cut down, tonight’s mission would be complete.

Soldiers suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea couldn't even lift their arms, so they naturally knelt. Seeing the tide turn, the others quickly realized their situation and also knelt, unwilling to get up.

After all, they were all colleagues from the city. They figured Yang Meng wouldn't slaughter them all, so why resist to the bitter end?

The pay wasn't even much. Who would truly risk their life for Commander Liu?

Commander Liu knew this battle was a complete loss. He had no choice but to order a retreat.

At this point, only six or seven hundred men remained by his side.

Yang Meng wouldn't let him off so easily. With a single command, his entire army gave chase.

But their weakness quickly became apparent—a shortage of horses.

After being besieged for over twenty days, most of the livestock and poultry within the city had been consumed. Though warhorses were crucial, with even snakes, insects, rats, and ants having been eaten, horses were slaughtered one after another.

If people couldn't survive, what future was there to speak of?

Therefore, Yang Meng's garrison had to be primarily infantry. Upon charging into the enemy camp, their first priority was to seize horses, but they only managed to get a little over a hundred.

Just as he sighed in frustration, he noticed that the fleeing enemy wasn't faring much better:

There was sparse, watery horse manure all along the path.

After following for another hundred *zhang*, horses were frequently seen collapsing along the way.

Dong Rui's specially prepared medicine took effect slowly, but it worked indiscriminately.

Since both men and horses in Commander Liu's large camp needed to drink water, it was inevitable...

The chase continued for several more miles.

Both sides were in an awkward predicament, but neither was willing to stop.

Commander Liu's surrounding troops dispersed as they fought, dwindling in number. He was surrounded in the middle, and could even smell the stench of excrement.

This was truly the most humiliating retreat for everyone present since they were born!

The pursuing garrison troops saw a glimmer of hope and became more invigorated. After all, by this point, Commander Liu had fewer than a hundred cavalry left by his side. If they pressed harder, they might be able to pull Liu off his horse.

But just then, two garrison soldiers suddenly pointed diagonally downwards and shouted anxiously: "Lord Yang, below the city, below the city!"

They had pursued Commander Liu up to the mountainside, winding around. From here, they could perfectly overlook the Shizhoutou city gate:

It was now dotted with red lights, and torches blazed to the sky!

Just by looking at the torches, they knew there were many people, and they were all crowded beneath the city gate.

Most of Shizhoutou's garrison had come out to fight the enemy. Commander Liu's army had also been scattered and fled. Where could another large army have come from?

"Zhao Guangzhi."

Yang Meng's expression changed to one of horror as the thought crossed his mind.

Zhao Guangzhi, the Cannibal King, had attacked Shizhoutou before but retreated hastily. However, he had never gone far, lingering in the vicinity.

Commander Liu had returned with his troops to retake the city, attacking for so many days with a huge display of force. It was impossible for Zhao Guangzhi not to know.

He had remained silent all this time. Was he waiting for the most opportune moment?

Like tonight.

The garrison and Commander Liu's forces had been locked in battle and had pursued each other so far. Shizhoutou's city defenses were empty!

Cold sweat trickled down Yang Meng's back as he realized this.

If Shizhoutou were captured by Zhao Guangzhi, the fate of the city's inhabitants would be far worse than if it had been retaken by Commander Liu!

Had he just driven away a wolf, only for a tiger to enter Shizhoutou below?

The only plan now was to immediately return and reinforce!

There was a shortcut down the mountain from their current position.

But looking at the fleeing enemy ahead, Yang Meng felt a strong surge of unwillingness.

Commander Liu, that bastard, had caused immense suffering to the city's people. Why should he be allowed to escape?

But... but... Yang Meng looked at the enemy's retreating figures, faintly visible in the forest, then at Shizhoutou, imperiled below. He finally let out a long sigh:

"Retreat and reinforce Shizhoutou!"

In those few brief moments, Yang Meng had thought things through. Although he hated Commander Liu to the bone, their immediate priority was to ensure Shizhoutou's safety. After this battle, even if Commander Liu escaped, he would be severely weakened and pose no threat for a while.

At crucial moments, one must always make a choice.

However, before the order could be relayed by the officer, a sudden rush of hooves was heard. A troop of cavalry suddenly charged out from the side!

The night was dark and windy. The newcomers nearly collided with them, startling Yang Meng's warhorse into a long whinny.

The garrison troops were startled, and quickly drew their weapons, facing the new arrivals.

Yang Meng tightened his reins and took a closer look, then raised his wrist to stop his troops from advancing.

In the dim light, Yang Meng could barely make out that the horsemen were all clad in black light armor and wore masks!

The leading rider wore a wolf-head mask. Yang Meng found the two golden eyebrows on it quite familiar. He had encountered two masked figures in the temple a few days ago, and this was one of them.

"It's you!" Who else would paint two golden eyebrows on a wolf's face?

He subconsciously looked for the dragon-head mask, but it didn't seem to be among these few individuals.

"What brings you here?"

These people had supplied him with food and delivered a great victory tonight, but that didn't mean he could fully trust these individuals of unknown origin.

The wolf-head mask wearer extended an arm and pointed at Yang Meng, then pointed at Shizhoutou city below.

The meaning was clear: he should go back to reinforce the city.

Then the wolf-head mask wearer turned his horse around and rode in pursuit of Commander Liu's fleeing army.

The black-armored cavalry followed closely. Within a few breaths, the sound of their hooves faded into the distance.

These uninvited guests were actually chasing Commander Liu? Yang Meng paused for a moment, then ordered his entire army to swiftly return to the city.

Yang Meng didn't know what these sudden arrivals intended, but their clear hostility towards Commander Liu was certainly a good thing.

Perhaps they were Commander Liu's enemies? That scoundrel had committed many acts that incurred divine and human wrath. It was no surprise he had offended some powerful factions.

At this critical juncture, Shizhoutou needed all the help it could get.

He looked at the city gate below, his heart burning with anxiety.

The wolf-head mask wearer also paused to glance back. Seeing Yang Meng's garrison troops hurrying back to the city, he then turned his horse around and continued forward, saying:

"Hurry up, or we'll miss the excitement."

This person was, of course, Dong Rui.

Commander Liu galloped furiously on his horse.

He wasn't sure if it was psychological, but he felt increasingly unwell, as if he too was about to experience vomiting and diarrhea.

"Faster, even faster!" They needed to reach Qucheng. It was his cousin's territory, where his remaining troops could find temporary refuge.

He constantly looked back. He didn't need his trusted aides to report; he could see for himself that the pursuers were dwindling.

"They don't have enough horses!" Commander Liu was overjoyed. "They can't catch us!"

Not only were his own horses suffering from diarrhea, but the mounts Yang Meng had seized from his camp also couldn't withstand the medicine's effects. What good was it for hundreds of infantry to pursue if they couldn't catch up? Even if those few dozen cavalry caught up, they'd be easy pickings!

"Haha, haha!" Commander Liu was panting from riding, but his mood relaxed. "Yang Meng and his ragtag bunch used such despicable tactics; it's an unfair victory! Once I return to Qucheng and borrow an army, I'll definitely cut him down from his horse!"

These words were not just to comfort himself, but also to reassure his loyal followers around him.

Commander Liu, feeling he had escaped danger, had already begun to plan for the future.