Mountain Patrol Military Officer-Chapter 1100 - 723: Retreat

The Beiliang rebel army bypassed Longxi, took a sudden action, like a sharp sword thrust slantingly into Baoqing, and attacked!

Above the Baoqing Prefecture City walls, the generals had gathered: Mu Yuntian, the Three Qin General, the Vice Envoy of the Northern Expedition, West Chang Bo, and other main generals donned their armor, each with an intimidating gleam in their eyes, gazing at the distant wilderness. Among them, Prefect Li Xun of Baoqing ranked last.

Eyes were on the approaching Beiliang rebel army, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, casting a shadow over everyone’s hearts.

Since the rebels breached inside the border, they have already captured two cities in the Western Pass, with the court-dispatched troops suffering heavy losses.

Suddenly, the rebel army bypassed Longxi, their sword pointing directly at Baoqing, the throat leading to Guanzhong, catching the main forces guarding the Western Pass and the Dragon Taming Two Gates off guard. Short-term redeployment was too late, only the main general led a small number of troops to rush here, while the main forces were Baoqing Prefecture Army, with reinforcements from the front and wings from the Western Pass on the way.

At present, the strategy was not to proactively leave the city to battle, their task was to hold the strong city and await reinforcements.

Watching the black line spreading across the far horizon, a general roughly estimated the number of Beiliang rebel troops, his brow slightly relaxed, speaking:

"General, the numbers aren’t many, estimated to be around twenty thousand. It seems the rebels chose a surprise attack to avoid exposing their strategic intentions, hence did not gather too many troops. This battle may be fought well, perhaps we can even teach them a lesson." His voice carried an eager excitement.

Mu Yuntian, the Three Qin General, who had dealings with Chen Yuan when he passed through here years ago, now showed no sign of relaxation, riding on an exotic beast covered in black scales and bearing horns on its head, resembling an Ink Qilin, exuding might.

"No right!" He spoke out, with ineffable keenness, "The King of Beiliang wouldn’t just send these few troops to attack Baoqing. Once he makes a move, there must be a scheme. Doesn’t he know that once time drags on a bit, this force will face the predicament of being encircled on three sides, waiting to be captured?"

"Who is their main general this time?" He suddenly tightened his brow, abruptly asking, his voice sharp.

"Replying to the general, it hasn’t been detected yet. Our scouts found their rapid marching tracks thousands of miles away, no previous information was received from the spies, so we also don’t know who the commanding general is this time." The subordinate general hastily replied.

Beside him, ordered by the court to serve as the Vice Envoy of the Northern Expedition, West Chang Bo, originally stationed at the front with a Patrol Angel in the Western Pass, received the thousand-mile transmission from Baoqing Prefecture. Exhibiting Great Divine Power, he led a small group of personal soldiers to reinforce. Hearing Mu Yuntian’s analysis, beneath his helmet, his eyes flickered with suspicion, he spoke:

"General Mu suspects there’s a deception here?"

"Should I lead a troop out of the city to probe the depths?"

"Old General, hold on." Mu Yuntian stopped the old general, "At this moment, the opponent’s cards are unclear; we should mainly fortify the city, respond dynamically, and observe the enemy’s intentions."

"Transmit the order."

"Defend the entire line."

Immediately, orderly officers raced along the city walls, transmitting commands, shouting and the clashing of soldier armor echoed, creating a chilling atmosphere.

Within this oppressive atmosphere, the horizon’s black line swept over dust, blocking out the sun, rumbling toward the city quickly, the earth roared like thunder, deafening, causing the battlements to tremble.

Fifteen miles... ten miles... eight miles... five miles...

As it reached three miles, the Beiliang Iron Cavalry stopped, swiftly forming a line below the city, blades of armor gleaming coldly, black gold armor spreading like ink waves, black cloaks billowed in the wind, tens of thousands of capes flew like dark clouds pressing the city, the wind whipped with dust, rushing toward the walls.

Suddenly, a row of horns blared within the Beiliang army formation, breaking the clamor, in the center of the army, a huge banner slowly rose, black as iron, piercing the skies; on the banner, the pattern of a five-clawed black python emerged, golden claws embroidered with gold thread glittering in the wind—this was the Beiliang King’s Banner. Where the king’s banner stood, the Beiliang King’s Banner fluttered in the swirling dust, crashing straight into the eyes of the Baoqing defenders.

Above the Baoqing city walls, Mu Yuntian and others narrowed their pupils, some unable to resist exclaiming,

"What?"

"Beiliang King’s Banner!"

"Could it be that Xiao Zhongtian isn’t stationed at the rear, instead personally leading the attack on Baoqing?"

"....."

Mu Yuntian’s expression changed, turning extremely unpleasant. No one expected the rebel king to appear on the front lines. Although reports confirmed that this prince had reached the Martial Saint Realm, there’s enormous risk involved, wasn’t he afraid of the court having a super powerful presence sitting in wait, ready to capture this rebel leader?

Why did he insist on taking such a risky move?

"Xiao Zhongtian personally led the charge; what merit does I, Mu Yuntian, have to earn such regard?" He spoke this aloud, although inwardly, his alarm grew heavily.

With the Beiliang King personally leading the conquest of this small region, it surely meant the elite troops were out in full strength; these tens of thousands of government soldiers would likely hold out for only a short duration, not to mention the presence of the rebel king at the Martial Saint Realm, they essentially couldn’t await the reinforcements from both sides.

The others too showed unsightly expressions, gripping tightly.

"Issue the order, fight to the death, any who flee combat will be executed!" He pronounced each word of the command, knowing the inescapable bloody battle ahead.

On the city walls, the sound of drawing swords and bowstrings was unceasing, the garrison stood ready.

Meanwhile, three miles away, the horn still blared, amidst swirling sands, the Beiliang King’s Banner at the central army fluttered fiercely.

Before the Beiliang Iron Cavalry army formation, "Clang——", simultaneously, long knives were drawn, the dark iron blades shimmered coldly under the sun, like a black lightning bolt suddenly splitting open. The blade fell heavily, gripped in iron-gloved hands, ten thousand streaks of cold light connected as one. Meanwhile, beneath them, the warhorses uneasily pawed at the ground, making a muffled "clink, clink" noise, one sound layered on another, merging into a thunderous drumbeat, the mane of the horses raised by the wind, nostrils puffing white mist, bronze bell-sized eyes burned with wildness, forehooves occasionally leaping.

Just waiting for the command to trample the gates!

Time silently slipped by, the battle situation brewing ready to erupt at any moment.

Only, unbeknownst to when, at the rear of the Beiliang Iron Cavalry’s army, a tiny disturbance started, spreading toward the central army direction.

Briefly, the blaring horn suddenly fell silent.

Soon, under the astonished gazes of the city wall defenders, the Beiliang army formation, which was just preparing for the first wave of charge, unexpectedly sounded the retreat horn.

Subsequently, this massive force of cavalry started retreating.

Under the stunned eyes of the defenders, they retreated like an unstoppable tide.

Beiliang suddenly withdrew troops!