Chapter 274: Each Using Their Own Means

He Lingchuan felt that this operation involved nothing that couldn't be openly discussed, which was why he sent this straightforward person.

Of course, it was also because Jiao Tai had the best navigation and positioning skills in the wild. If his father decided to fight, Jiao Tai would be a reliable guide.

At this moment, Elder Liang from Chuanyun Pavilion also arrived and sat down to listen in.

When Jiao Tai reported that the remnants of the Xunzhou Rangers were hidden in the abandoned mine, that they had gunpowder, and that they had found the mine's back entrance, He Chunhua couldn't help but exclaim "Good!" repeatedly. He slapped the table and stood up. "Can you still find the way to the mine?"

"Of course I can!"

He Chunhua could finally make a decision. "You lead the way, we're leaving immediately!"

As he said this, he felt a deep sense of relief. He then turned to Elder Liang and said, "I'll be relying on you here in Xinhuang, Elder Liang."

"It's no trouble," Elder Liang gestured, and a disciple beside him translated, "Chuanyun Pavilion is willing to do its utmost."

He Chunhua immediately ordered the entire army to prepare for departure.

Fifteen minutes later, He Chunhua personally led a force of 1,200 people west out of Xinhuang, heading directly for the abandoned mine in Bailu Town. Wu Shaoyi was left in charge of the Xinhuang military camp with 500 men, assisted by Elder Liang of Chuanyun Pavilion.

The Abandoned Mine.

Hong Chenglüe was eating, wolfing down a yellow millet bun with a gulp of hot water.

The yellow millet bun was coarse, a bit dry, and slightly hard to swallow. But Hong Chenglüe ate it with great relish; it was the best bun he had eaten in nearly two months.

Once ingested, the millet expanded with the hot water, giving a satisfying feeling of fullness.

On the table there was also half a golden-brown roasted wild chicken.

Although not all the feathers had been plucked and the skin was a bit burnt, the soldier temporarily acting as a cook had done his best.

Hong Chenglüe didn't touch the roasted chicken. Instead, he picked it up and brought it to Baili Qing's sickroom.

The general was still deeply unconscious.

A commanding officer was attending to him and stood up upon seeing Hong Chenglüe enter.

Hong Chenglüe waved his hand. "No need to be formal. How is General Baili?"

"He's recovering well; he should wake up soon."

Hong Chenglüe placed the roasted chicken on the table. "When General Baili wakes up, heat this up for him to eat."

"Understood."

Hong Chenglüe had given up his own share, but the officer, suspecting he was trying to win people over, didn't even utter a "yes."

This officer had originally been promoted by Baili Qing.

Just then, pounding footsteps echoed from outside, and a soldier rushed in, breathless. "General Hong...!"

Hong Chenglüe waved his hand to stop him, then stepped out of the room into an open area. "Come here to speak. Don't wake General Baili."

Noticing the commotion, the other officers also gathered around.

"A large number of Xiazhou troops, nine hundred or even a thousand, have appeared at the foot of the mountain! They seem to be searching the mountain and are generally heading this way!"

Everyone's scalp tingled with dread upon hearing this.

So, the Xiazhou army had indeed tracked them down?

Coincidentally, their second scout sent to Bailu Town also returned at this time, reporting that the first scout had died in Hong Chenglüe's empty house! Moreover, according to feedback from the townspeople, people from Xiazhou Prefecture had indeed come to inquire about last night's events.

Hong Chenglüe's concerns were finally confirmed.

The two officers immediately looked at Hong Chenglüe, feeling a hint of regret.

If only they had withdrawn in the afternoon...

Everyone waited for Hong Chenglüe's decision. His expression was solemn as he made a decisive command: "Xu Yingxian, Tao Ze, you will come with me to divert the Xiazhou army!"

Then he turned to the other two officers: "You two stay behind to look after General Baili and the wounded brothers. If we can't hold them off, withdraw to Xinqiao Village."

As the commanding general issued orders in this moment of crisis, the two immediately accepted.

The soldiers and officers all felt a degree of admiration.

Fortunately, the Xunzhou Rangers had developed the habit of being ready for battle at any moment, always prepared to rise and fight the enemy. They were saddled, dressed, and ready to depart in less than ten minutes.

So, Hong Chenglüe left another fifty men to guard the abandoned mine, while he hastily set off with two hundred seventy or eighty others.

After running out more than two hundred zhang, there was no sign of the enemy.

They continued along the mountain path for another two or three hundred zhang, but still saw no sign of the enemy.

It wasn't until the group was nearing the foot of the mountain that another scout rushed over:

"Report! The Xiazhou army has turned north!"

What was to the north? No one knew.

So, if the Xiazhou army wasn't coming anymore... The soldiers and officers looked eagerly at Hong Chenglüe, but he simply beckoned Tao Ze over, whispered a few words to him, and then assigned him thirty men.

This thirty-man squad then headed to the rear.

What now?

Hong Chenglüe swept his hand and commanded, "Deliver my order: the entire army will head east to Xinhuang Town!"

The soldiers and officers were alarmed.

"What?"

Hong Chenglüe cast a stern glance their way. "Are you not going to issue the order?"

Someone foolishly asked, "Should we send a message back to the mine?"

Xu Yingxian pulled him aside. "The general has given an order; we follow it. Don't complicate things unnecessarily!"

The ranger force, nearly three hundred strong, immediately set off eastward, neither returning to the mine nor sending back any messages along the way.

Seeing Hong Chenglüe leading the way alone, Wu Qing spurred his horse to ride alongside him and asked, "General Hong, was this intentional?"

Hong Chenglüe didn't even lift an eyelid. "What?"

"You avoided the shortest route to Xinhuang Town." Wu Qing, who traded in Yuanbei, was familiar with the local roads. "This way, we'll travel for an extra half an hour."

"But it's safer."

Wu Qing was startled and, after a moment's thought, said, "Are you saying someone has occupied that route? Is it... the Xiazhou army?"

This was Xiazhou territory, so Chief Steward He's army could travel without fear, unlike them who had to move stealthily.

Hong Chenglüe glanced at him. "Mr. Wu, you're a clever man. Nian Zanli should invite you to be his strategist."

"No, thank you. I'm naturally lazy and undisciplined."

"The scout didn't return, so I assume he was captured. That means we must prepare for our hiding place to be compromised. The safest option would be to move, but General Baili's two subordinates disagreed."

"If I were He Chunhua, once I learned that the Xunzhou people were hiding in the abandoned mine in Bailu Town, I would most likely send troops to suppress them," Hong Chenglüe slowly explained. "This man craves fame, and he came to Xiazhou to make a name for himself and get promoted. I burned his ten thousand *shi* of grain and fodder; he'll have trouble explaining that on the front line, and even more trouble back at the prefectural capital. He'll surely feel utterly humiliated."

"You also know the situation here in Xiazhou; it's been controlled by the Four Great Clans for years. He Chunhua only just managed to gain a firm foothold here with two victories. If he were to return like this now, his prestige would at least be halved. Would he still be able to control the military and government so easily afterward?"

Wu Qing chuckled. "Yes, I'm afraid the Four Great Clans would trip him up so badly he'd lose a leg."

"Furthermore, even if he doesn't come looking for us now, we might still intercept his grain transport team later. The rocky shoals north of Xinhuang are ideal for ambushes due to the complex terrain. So he's bound to try to redeem himself for his past mistakes. If he discovers our whereabouts, he certainly won't let this opportunity pass." Hong Chenglüe held the reins loosely, sitting casually, yet his tone was full of murderous intent. "I'll grant him his wish."

Wu Qing's smile faded slightly. General Hong was using Baili Qing, his two subordinate officers, and nearly a hundred old, weak, sick, and disabled men as bait! When He Chunhua led his army to take the bait, their rear would certainly be undefended, and General Hong would seize the chance to burn Xinhuang's grain and fodder!

This was a truly vicious move, pulling the rug out from under them. The Xiazhou army had wounded so many Xunzhou cavalrymen, thinking they would become a burden to Hong Chenglüe, but unexpectedly, they ultimately became the bait to lure themselves out.

However, General Hong was also truly ruthless towards Baili Qing and his two subordinate officers.

Wu Qing was well aware, after relaying Nian Zanli's military orders, that Baili Qing had originally commanded the Xunzhou Rangers. Now, Hong Chenglüe had suddenly been parachuted in, seizing his command. Baili Qing harbored resentment and hadn't been getting along well with Hong Chenglüe these past few days.

On the other hand, if He Chunhua eliminated these disobedient leaders and the old, weak, sick, and disabled, Hong Chenglüe could then legitimately take over the Xunzhou Rangers — an army can only follow one voice.

Wu Qing had originally thought Hong Chenglüe would use more conciliatory methods, but it seemed he lacked the patience for that.

He Lingchuan was fast asleep when someone unexpectedly patted his shoulder.

"Young Master, wake up!"

He Lingchuan shook his head, rubbed his eyes, and mumbled, "What is it?" He hadn't even dreamt of Panlong City; how boring.

"There's movement below," Maotao whispered. "It sounds like troops are being moved." The Young Master certainly had a knack for sleeping; he could use a roll of clothes as a pillow and sleep soundly on the ground, snoring away. His sleep quality was truly excellent.

He didn't know that He Lingchuan served as a patrol guard in the Panlong dream realm, where enduring wind and dew was a basic skill he had long grown accustomed to.

"Troop movement?" He Lingchuan instantly sobered up. "How many people?"

"Their horses were originally kept in the woods, but now they've mostly been brought back and saddled."

Where were they going? He Lingchuan's eyes darted around. Was Hong Chenglüe going out to raid for supplies?

He had defeated Wu Shaoyi, so he should have accumulated enough grain to not worry in the short term, even having extra to distribute to the people of Bailu Town. Was he going to raid for medicine instead?

But such a large force wouldn't be necessary for that.

Could it be?

Shan Youjun whispered, "Are these guys trying to withdraw?"

"Possibly," He Lingchuan mused. "After all, the scout they sent to Bailu Town never returned. Perhaps Hong is just that cautious."

The three decided to follow.

However, the Xunzhou people's next move left He Lingchuan somewhat confused:

The main force saddled up and set off in a great hurry.

But the sentinel guards around the mine had not been withdrawn. Maotao scouted again and reported that people were still down there.

Quite a few were left behind.

So, they weren't moving their camp elsewhere then?

But where were these two hundred-plus Xunzhou cavalrymen, who had suddenly surged out, going?

The three quietly retreated, led their horses, and stealthily followed.

The main Xunzhou force first descended the mountain, seemingly circling around, though it was unclear what exactly they intended to do.

As dusk fell, the mountain forest grew increasingly dim, making it harder for Maotao to scout for traces of the vanguard's passage, such as hoofprints and horse droppings.

He Lingchuan habitually gripped "Fusheng"; the coldness from the hilt aided his thoughts.

Just then, he suddenly felt a jolt of alarm, as if a great crisis was upon them.

He Lingchuan's ears twitched; he thought he heard suppressed breathing in the quiet wilderness, and it wasn't just one person!

He couldn't help but low-growl: "Watch out!"

The words had barely left his mouth when an arrow, seemingly from nowhere, whistled towards Maotao.