The western part of Yunwu Mountain in the Yan Yang Dynasty, a trumpet-shaped gorge.
It was already the hour of Xu, and the sky had darkened. Whether it was due to the mountainous terrain or not, a thin mist began to fall, intermingling with the faint moonlight, creating an otherworldly, blessed land.
Wang Baobao, clad in armor and with a tiger hook on his back, stood at a vantage point, gazing towards Yunzhou.
"Swish!"
A figure darted out of the woods and quickly approached Wang Baobao, kneeling on one knee, fists clasped, head bowed low. "General, the twenty thousand troops of Yunzhou have already approached the northwestern foothills of Yunwu Mountain and will enter the trumpet gorge in approximately two hours!"
Wang Baobao nodded, looking at the army hidden in Wuzhou on the other side of the trumpet gorge. He couldn't help but frown. He had a feeling something was amiss, but he couldn't quite pinpoint it. The only thing was that his predictions had been too smooth; everything was proceeding according to his assumptions.
Wang Baobao gripped the sword at his waist. Water droplets clung to the fur hat on his head. He turned to look at the mountain range to the west. The mountains were steep. Though at first glance, they seemed unsuitable for ambushing an army, it was often the overlooked places that proved most dangerous.
"We've stumbled into someone else's ambush!" Wang Baobao's tone was laced with sarcasm.
"General?" The副将's face paled. He stepped forward and asked, Wang Baobao's words leaving him bewildered.
"I've hunted geese all my life, only to be pecked by one today. Inform the troops to retreat!" Wang Baobao turned, a cold smile on his face.
"Yes, General!" The副将 glanced at the distant trumpet gorge, truly a pity. It was such an excellent spot for an ambush, capable of wiping out the forces of both Wuzhou and Yunzhou. However, he trusted the general's judgment.
The hundred thousand troops quickly retreated deeper into Yunwu Mountain. Not long after they had moved, a line of torches several miles long flickered deep within Yunwu Mountain, connecting to form a long fiery dragon.
Wang Baobao immediately crouched down, channeling his internal energy to shield the fluctuations of the army's energy. With a wave of his hand, the副将 behind him understood immediately: "Conceal yourselves!"
The army quickly crouched down, circulating their internal energy and suppressing any fluctuations. The hundred thousand troops rapidly vanished into the vast night.
"General, I doubt Zuo Bo could have imagined that we would cut across Yunwu Mountain, bypass the trumpet gorge, and strike directly at Wuzhou City!"
From afar, a dark-faced man, revealing a row of white teeth, grinned widely as he looked at Wen Tao, who stood before him clad in Qilin-carved armor and wielding a blood-red great ringed saber. Wen Tao was one of Xiao Beilong's five tiger generals, with a cultivation of the fourth level of the Tongling realm.
"Hahaha, what do you know? This move by the strategist wasn't aimed at dealing with that insignificant pest Zuo Bo. What is Zuo Bo, anyway!" Wen Tao's face remained impassive, but his tone was extremely arrogant, showing no regard for Zuo Bo at all.
"Indeed, indeed. What kind of person is King Xiao? He is the pillar of the Yan Yang Dynasty, destined to become a Human King! At that time, General, you will also be a minister who followed the dragon, achieving the highest rank!" The副将 smiled obsequiously, flattering him.
"Hmph, Zuo Zheng and Zuo Lengchan are indeed remarkable individuals. I intended to use Zuo Bo in the trumpet gorge area to lure out Zuo Lengchan and Zuo Zheng. I never expected these two to have such keen eyesight and decisively abandon their kin, disregarding Zuo Bo's fate." Wen Tao's eyes glinted with malice. This grand net had cost considerable effort, yet it had only caught the small fish of Zuo Bo.
"General, will General Shen Yu be alright? Wuzhou has set up an ambush in the trumpet gorge. General Shen Yu..." The副将 looked worried. Among Xiao Beilong's generals, Shen Yu was the most well-liked, being guileless and forthright.
"Rest assured, brother Shen Yu is a capable general of King Xiao. King Xiao will make arrangements," Wen Tao said softly.
"Do you have any news of my brother?" Wen Tao suddenly looked worried. His younger brother, Wen Hao, had been ordered to go to Tian Yue, and several months had passed without any news.
"General, according to what I've heard from above, General Wen Hao should have arrived at Tian Yue by now," the副将 said, looking towards the dark forest ahead.
"Indeed. This is a great opportunity. If I weren't here, he wouldn't have gotten it. Have the army increase its speed. Shen Yu is likely already in the trumpet gorge. Wuzhou is now an empty city. This time, we will completely devour Zuo Bo!" Wen Tao's face hardened, and he beckoned to the副将.
"Understood! Army, accelerate your advance!" the副将 shouted loudly.
Meanwhile, Wang Baobao, in another location, felt an instant sense of relief. Wen Tao's army's marching route would pass their previous position. If there had been the slightest hesitation, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"General, General!" the副将 called out softly.
A scout from the Great Sui elite army approached. The副将's face lit up with joy: "General, General Han is a few miles away. He instructs us to attack from both sides and eliminate this army!"
"General Han?" Wang Baobao looked confused. Wasn't Han Qin hu supposed to be in the eastern part of Yunwu Mountain, heading towards Huizhou? Why had he suddenly appeared on the west side of Yunwu Mountain?
"General Wang, this morning, General Han Qinhu and General Shi Wansui, combining the intelligence you provided, discovered that Xiao Beilong, the One-Character King of the Yan Yang Dynasty, had set a grand trap to ensnare Zuo Bo in the west, Zuo Zheng in the east, and Zuo Lengchan in the south."
"The western part of Yunwu Mountain was their planned strategic ambush point. General Han was concerned about you and General Lu Junyi, and thus abandoned the plan to advance eastward!" the scout said sternly, his tone carrying a hint of worry.
"What does General Han say?" Wang Baobao's face broke into a smile. He also wanted to eliminate this army, but there was an army tens of miles behind them in the trumpet gorge. If General Han hadn't come, he might have given up this offensive.
"General Han said that General Wang is to lead fifty thousand troops to the trumpet gorge and find a suitable opportunity to eliminate the Beifeng army and Shen Yu's army. The remaining fifty thousand troops are to cut off the rear of the army in front of us, thus completely trapping this army within our encirclement," the scout stated decisively, without any hesitation.
"副将!" Wang Baobao turned to look at the副将 beside him.
"General!" The副将's face was solemn, and his pupils held a hint of excitement.
"You will lead fifty thousand troops and cooperate with General Han Qinhu to annihilate this army!" Wang Baobao's tone was slightly angry. He had almost been tricked by these scoundrels, though he had stumbled into it by chance.
But this resentment had to be vented!
"Your subordinate obeys!" The副将 solemnly accepted Wang Baobao's command, turned, and led fifty thousand troops to stealthily circle around. Meanwhile, Wen Tao's army, several miles away, was advancing towards Wuzhou City, carrying torches.
Wang Baobao glanced at them, then turned and led the remaining fifty thousand troops back to the trumpet gorge ambush point. At this moment, the direction of the Yunwu Mountain foothills in Yunzhou was already illuminated by firelight.