Chapter 832: The Turning Point of the Battle

The South Gate army also sustained nearly a hundred casualties. The battle’s ferocity surprised everyone.

Wasn’t it said that both the Andong and Blackwater City armies were mediocre in combat, and that this battle would simply be a clash of the inexperienced? Why then did it devolve into such a bloody and desperate struggle, with combatants fighting to the death?

However, the irregular forces suffered minimal losses. Only one person from the Baling contingent was injured, and that was due to their own carelessness, struck by a stray arrow. The Heavenly Palace and Jianyang Gate contingents remained completely unharmed. Only the elite of the elite were chosen for the treasure hunt in Coiling Dragon Desert. Now, fighting on behalf of Blackwater City, they had no intention of fighting to the death; naturally, they sought to preserve themselves as much as possible.

Just then, a cannon boomed from the flank, and over three hundred enemy soldiers surged forward! Feeling uneasy, Liao Shan dispatched his reserve three hundred men as well. This sudden reinforcement significantly increased the pressure on the South Gate army. Ultimately, the Blackwater City army failed to gain an advantage on any of the three battlefields.

Liao Shan had already seen through He Chunhua’s ploy. Since the Blackwater City army had committed all its forces, there was no turning back.

Zhang Lianhai’s attendant pushed his way to his side, hissing, “My Lord, the Baling people are about to slip away!”

“How do you know?” Zhang Lianhai, controlling his lamp spirit, batted away a stray arrow. Weapons on the battlefield are indiscriminate; even he had to be careful. If the tide of battle turned, they would certainly need to retreat as quickly as possible.

“They’ve been moving north!” The attendant gestured with his chin towards the north. “Look, they’re almost at the edge of the battlefield!”

Their objective was the Coiling Dragon Ruins in the desert, so why should they risk their lives here fighting for the Blackwater City people? With the Baling people about to leave, why should their own forces remain here and be made fools of?

Zhang Lianhai stated decisively, “We’re heading north too!” Heading north might offer an opportunity to disengage from the battle.

Just as the Heavenly Palace contingent was about to move, the eastern sky was illuminated by several bursts of fireworks. With a series of whistles, red, blue, yellow, and green bursts lit up the night. These were actual fireworks, the kind Blackwater City residents commissioned artisans to make for celebratory or solemn events. Exploding in the sky now, they were particularly festive and dazzling.

Most importantly, they exploded directly above—the Andong logistical camp, located at the foot of Gourd Mountain!

The Andong army was startled, their ranks thrown into disarray: Was their base being attacked?

The commanding general immediately dispatched several hundred men to reinforce their position. But He Chunhua’s subordinate generals were no pushovers. Seeing this, they roared at the top of their lungs: “The Andong main camp is lost! Attack! Advance!” Countless voices joined in the roar.

The Blackwater City army, outnumbered, had initially been at a disadvantage, forced to retreat step by step. Upon this sudden reversal, the Blackwater City army was as invigorated as the Andong were shocked. Morale surged for one side and plummeted for the other, affecting even their elemental energy levels.

Just as the situation was turning, another contingent burst from Blackwater City’s East Gate, fully armed and armored, their men and horses invigorated, boldly charging straight towards the enemy. This contingent proudly carried a large banner emblazoned with the character “He,” signaling that He Chunhua himself had entered the battle! With their commander on the field, the Blackwater City army became even more galvanized, pushing the front line eastward in a single surge. At that moment, no one noticed that the “He” banner, fluttering in the wind, was actually quite old and worn. This was an old item He Chunhua had instructed someone to retrieve from the Blackwater City armory; it had been nearly ten years since its last use.

He Lingchuan and his companions climbed out of the secret passage, circled around the Andong encirclement, and made their way in the dark toward Gourd Mountain. Thanks to his intimate knowledge of the nearby terrain, he could navigate it perfectly even with his eyes closed. This allowed him to lead everyone through winding paths, stealthily bypassing the enemy lines and reaching their rear camp. At that moment, the Andong camp was still brightly lit and bustling with activity.

He Lingchuan and his group then hid themselves in the outskirts. They remained hidden for three hours. During this time, they had to evade sentry patrols, avoiding any running, noise, or careless urination, and not even farting against the wind.

He Lingchuan observed the two groups beside him: the Rongshan people, led by Qiu Hu, were as quiet as stones. Apart from occasionally stretching their limbs and shifting positions at He Lingchuan’s instruction, they made no superfluous movements. The elite of the Kite Army, however, had many minor flaws. One soldier even failed to secure his long spear, almost letting it roll down the hillside and strike a rock. In Qiu Hu and the others’ eyes, He Lingchuan appeared far more at ease. He seemed as comfortable in the damp, snake and ant-infested mountains as if he were relaxing in his own bedroom. Yet each time he led them to a new location, his movements were precise and safe. This “Young Master He” possessed both remarkable composure and patience.

Everyone was yawning incessantly when the war drums suddenly thundered from the east, sending the Andong camp into a chaotic scramble. Blackwater City’s counterattack had finally begun.

He Lingchuan waited as the Andong troops departed in wave after wave; the final group consisted of over a thousand men. Only three hundred and forty men remained in the camp.

Qiu Hu asked him, “Shall we take it?”

Harassing an enemy’s logistical camp doesn’t necessarily require overwhelming numerical superiority. He Lingchuan had just returned from the mountain front, evading sentries along the way. The Andong’s choice to establish their camp at Gourd Mountain was indeed sound; from halfway up the mountain, they could easily survey the battle unfolding at Blackwater City’s East and South Gates. Now, He Lingchuan found it equally convenient to observe the battle.

“No rush,” he replied. “I see that the Heavenly Palace and Jianyang Gate auxiliaries are fighting well; the camp’s garrison won’t be able to hold them.”

He Chunhua’s assigned task for him was to launch a surprise attack on the Andong rear camp. As for how the team would infiltrate and precisely when to strike, He Lingchuan was to make those decisions himself.

As if to confirm his words, it wasn’t long before the three hundred Andong men remaining in the camp were also dispatched. Now, the sprawling, empty camp held fewer than fifty men, looking like an easy target in the eyes of He Lingchuan and his group.

He Lingchuan then waved his hand: “Charge!” He always preferred to outnumber his opponents, to overwhelm the few with the many!

First, several camp soldiers wielding spears were struck in the throat by arrows. Then, seventy men leaped down from the hillside, aiming to strike first like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, creating the overwhelming momentum of two hundred despite their fewer numbers. The enemy quickly moved to intercept, but He Lingchuan and Qiu Hu charged at the forefront, striking down four or five in the blink of an eye. Qiu Hu even grabbed an Andong soldier by the collar, flung him two *zhang* (approximately 6.6 meters) away to crash against a large tree with a thud. Then, he reached out, snatched an arrow that had been shot at him, and plunged it directly into the chest of another charging Andong man. That unfortunate soul slid away, headfirst, and by the time his feet touched the ground, he had already breathed his last.

Not only the enemy but even the Blackwater City soldiers themselves were struck with fear at the sight. He Lingchuan was more agile in combat, but nowhere near as fierce and brutal as Qiu Hu. When Qiu Hu entered the fray, he was like a fierce tiger cloaked in human skin; no one dared to stand in his way. With these few “sharp knives” leading the charge, the Andong interception force was immediately torn to shreds.

The remaining men then retrieved their prepared oil, doused it over important tents and wagon supplies, and with a flick of their wrists, set everything ablaze. Soon after, fierce flames raged throughout the camp. It was then that He Lingchuan launched several flares skyward, bursting into a dazzling display. Someone, it’s unknown who, brought out several large gongs and began banging them, their resounding clangs carrying far into the night.

As the main camp was sacked, the panicked Andong forces found themselves instantly surrounded on three sides: from the south, east, and west. It seemed as if enemies were everywhere, and the shouts of battle shook the heavens. This contingent was not a battle-hardened army to begin with; it was incapable of maintaining cohesion when in disarray. He Chunhua seized the opportunity, directing the Blackwater City army to make several penetrating attacks, tearing apart the Andong army’s formation.

The battle had instantly reached its turning point.