update....
*********************************************
Xiang Shaolong thought of the time when he left Handan to go to Daliang, he’d actually passed by this place and was shown around the city walls. He’s forgotten the name of the city guard in charge of showing him around but he did not expect that on this day so many years later, he’ll be the one in charge of attacking the same city walls.
The uncertainty of life cannot be summed up more accurately than this.
He then thought about his two beloved that he had once escorted, Zhao Qian and Zhao Ya, who has since died one after the other and can’t help but feel a his heart breaking. He almost felt like crying out loud to ease the pain in his heart.
The night breeze blew at him, blowing away the tightness in his chest and only then did he feel slightly better.
Looking at the city walls far ahead, he remembered the ancient city of Handan just a distance away from behind those walls and a mixture of feelings welled up in him.
The scariest thing about wars is the unpredictable factor.
Just like now, he has absolutely no idea what is happening right now behind those walls that spans hundreds of miles.
He can only guess.
Or do an evaluation.
To know oneself and know one’s enemy, it’s indeed not so easily achieved.
Where exactly is Li Mu right now? They were once bosom buddies but now they finally have to become mortal enemies on the battlefield and what exactly are they doing all these for? Only when the day started getting bright that Xiang Shaolong composed himself and went back to the tent to rest.
That’s how the days were spent.
A month later, the messenger came with the news that Pu Hu has finally abandoned Tunliu and was ambushed and captured by Huan Qi’s hidden troops when he was escaping towards the Zhao borders and escorted back to Xianyang.
Strangely, there has been no activity from Li Mu up to this point in time.
Xiang and Teng were not too alarmed, for if Li Mu has been ordered to protect Handan, naturally he won’t be coming to Fanwu.
Since their goal has been accomplished, the two of them had a discussion and decided to retract their troops and they will do it that very night.
As usual, they left behind empty camps but with lanterns burning. As soon as it got dark, they retreated back to Zhongmou in batches. Xiang Shaolong and Zhou Liang were the last to leave because with Eagle King’s sharp eyes, they’re not afraid that the enemy will come up behind them.
Jing Jun left first with 2,000 Wu family warriors, followed by Teng Yi’s army.
Xiang Shaolong waited until about 10pm before he led the remaining 20,000 men and snuck away.
In a short while, the whole army has arrived on the official roads towards south, rapidly moving towards Zhongmou.
The bright moon is hanging in the sky to the left of them, casting a dim shadow on their right.
Xiang Shaolong rode alongside Zhou Liang in the middle of the army.
Zhou Liang commented with a sigh, “We were able to take down Tunliu this time all thanks to the wondrous plan of Great General. Even Li Mu has been fallen for your plan.”
Xiang Shaolong replied, “Li Mu did not fall for my plan, it’s the King of Zhao who fell for my plan.”
Zhou Liang said with a smile, “In war, only success or failure matters, no one cares how the victory is achieved but everyone will talk about how one is defeated.”
Xiang Shaolong nodded his head, “Your words sound very correct.”
Zhou Liang looked up into the sky and said, “It’ll be dawn in another hour and by then we’ll be able to travel at full speed. Once we reach Zhongmou, we’ll be able to advance or retreat at will without any worries at all. Besides, even if our enemy surround the city, we still have Huan Qi’s army as reinforcements.”
Xiang Shaolong immediately felt relaxed, feeling a little as if he has achieved the goals of this mission.
Hopefully this will be the last battle and the only thing to look forward to in future will be the arrival of Xiao Pan’s coronation ceremony.
The familiar sound of Eagle King flapping his wings was heard from the sky.
All the soldiers lifted their heads to look.
Looking at its behavior, they know that there’s no pursuing army.
Zhou Liang pursed his lips and whistled, ordering him to come down to rest.
However, Eagle King suddenly cried out and circled twice over their heads before soaring into the sky again, suddenly flying towards the woods on their right.
****************************************