Chapter 221: The Battle Begins
Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Haoran hid in the forest with his men and used his telescope to observe the situation at the checkpoint. Now, they were staying behind the checkpoint and Baoshan County was already under their control. As there were Jin soldiers stationed in Qinghe Town, Qi Haoran’s men did not dare to act rashly. They were afraid of alerting the garrison of Hanzhong Prefecture, so they planned to get rid of the people at the checkpoint first. After Jiang Ze brought his men over, they would knock down the garrison in Qinghe Town together.
Qi Haoran placed the telescope into the wooden tube he carried with him and said in a low voice, “Everyone, hide yourselves. We’ll attack while they’re having dinner. Don’t make too much noise. Mu Shi, bring people to guard the various intersections. No one is allowed to escape.”
Mu Shi agreed and left with a team.
Qi Haoran lay in the forest with his eyes closed to rest. When the time came, he opened his eyes. Fei Bai, who was dressed in a short outfit, lay beside him and said in a low voice, “Master, it’s time. They’ve all finished their shifts and gone to eat.”
“Act immediately.”
The people behind Qi Haoran split up and snuck into the house at the checkpoint. Qi Haoran brought Fei Bai and a few others to the checkpoint.
There were 18 soldiers guarding there. At this moment, the sky was already dark. Qi Haoran hid behind one of the trees and advanced. He slid down the dagger in his hand and covered the mouth of one of the men and wiped his nose when no one was paying attention…
45 minutes later, everyone gathered here. Qi Haoran asked, “How is it?”
“All 64 of them are here.”
Mu Shi nodded and said, “No one escaped.”
“Report to our people that they can come over now and move the checkpoint away. Take turns to rest now. We’re going to Qinghe Town later. We have to take down Qinghe Town before dawn.”
Everyone agreed.
Mu Yangling was sitting halfway up the mountain, looking down at the cornfield below. The rate at which the corn was growing was delightful. Two days ago, it had just rained heavily. Not only did it ease the drought in the field, but it also relieved the water situation for everyone.
Now, the corn in the cornfield had already grown corn kernels. Because of Qi Haoran’s instructions before he left, Mu Yangling paid more attention to the safety of the cornfield. Although there were soldiers patrolling here every day, she still sat halfway up the mountain every day and looked down.
However, with her eyesight, the places she could see were still limited.
Mu Yangling thought that it would be great if she had binoculars. Perhaps she could make a pair herself…
Knowing Qi Haoran treasured the telescope in his hand very much, she wondered what expression he would have after she successfully made one herself…
While Mu Yangling was letting her imagination run wild, a distant horn suddenly sounded from the direction of Xingzhou Prefecture.
Mu Yangling jumped up and tiptoed to look in the direction of Xingcheng Pass.
The people working in the fields below also heard the sound of the horn. They all stopped what they were doing and looked in the direction of Xingzhou Prefecture.
They were not unfamiliar with the sound of the horn after all these years. Since the Jin soldiers had often attacked the city this year, they often heard the sound of the horn signaling the retreat or defense. However, this was the first time they had heard such a drawn-out but somewhat impassioned horn signal.
Mu Yangling had already run down the mountain. The people at the foot of the mountain might not understand, but she understood. This was the signal to attack.
Qi Xiuyuan wanted to start a war with the Jin Kingdom? Did Qi Haoran go to Hanzhong Prefecture two days ago because of this? She’d thought that he was going to assassinate someone.
Mu Yangling ran down the mountain, but she had nowhere to ask for information. She was extremely anxious and worried about both her father and Qi Haoran.
Since it was such a large-scale military operation, his father would definitely participate. Was he in front or behind the enemy now? If she had known earlier, she would have prepared more medicine for him when he left last time, just in case.
Shu Wanniang also came out of the house. Seeing that her daughter looked a little anxious, she asked, “Ah Ling, what’s wrong? What did that horn sound mean? Are the Jin soldiers attacking the city again?”
Many villagers were loitering outside the Mu family’s courtyard. When they heard this, they pricked up their ears. They knew that Mu Yangling was close to the Little General and might know some inside information.
Mu Yangling shook her head and said with a dark expression, “Our people went to attack the Jin soldiers’ city.”
Shu Wanniang widened her mouth and eyes. “General Qi is going to reclaim our country’s land?” She was slightly excited, then a little worried. “Will your father go to the battlefield too?”
“Mother, Father is a soldier. There’s no soldier who doesn’t go to the battlefield.”
Shu Wanniang gritted her teeth. “Then, then what should we prepare for your father?”
“It’s useless to prepare anything since the war has already started. Before the war ends, it’s impossible for us to send anything in.” Mu Yangling only wanted to find out Qi Xiuyuan’s strategic goal. Was he only planning to alarm the Jin soldiers and make them restrain themselves, or take down the city? To what extent?
Mu Yangling thought for a long time, but after a while, she was discouraged. She used to be a soldier and knew that those questions were all confidential. Neither Qi Xiuyuan nor Qi Haoran could tell her.
The people outside the courtyard were also a little sad because all of them had family members in the military camp. Someone said hesitatingly, “The 5th Division doesn’t have to go to the battlefield, right? Didn’t they say that our 5th Division consists of leftovers and cowards?”
Xiuhong glared at him. “Who said that the 5th Division is cowardly? My uncle is a warrior.”
The person outside pursed his lips and said, “There’s nothing wrong with being a coward. As long as they don’t have to go to the battlefield.”
Mu Yangling didn’t say anything. She just sat on the steps with her chin on her hand and said, “Whether they’re cowards or not, we have to protect our crops amid the chaos.” Mu Yangling looked up at Old Man Sun and said, “Grandpa Sun, you still have to step forward for this matter. Please come forward and initiate a discussion among the various sections. Arrange for strong men from each section to patrol and ensure the safety of our crops.”
Old Man Sun also became serious, but his heart was surging. This was a good opportunity to establish his might.
He thought for a moment and agreed. After some deliberation, he said, “However, it’s best to get the approval of Little General first. That way, everyone will be more compliant.”
Mu Yangling lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. “I’ll help you handle this.”
Old Man Sun heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Ah Ling, don’t worry. I’ll definitely lead my men to guard the crops well. No one can take away a single corn under my charge.”
There were also people who suggested that the 5th Division send more soldiers to patrol. This way, they wouldn’t have to transfer strong men. After all, they assumed that the 5th Division didn’t have to go to the battlefield.
However, this suggestion was rejected as soon as it was proposed. This was because the 5th Division was also going to the battlefield. They were assigned to the logistics department to escort the rations for the soldiers at the front line.
Mu Yangling specially took the time to check the traces on the road made by the supplies, in order to infer the scale of this battle.
After calculating in her heart, Mu Yangling was both happy and worried. She was happy that Qi Xiuyuan dared to make such a big move because it must mean he had a certain level of confidence. However, she was worried that she did not know how long this war would last. Her father had not returned home since he left last time, and she did not know when he would return next time.
Mu Yangling looked at the marks on the ground and finally caught up with the team in front. Before they could appear to stop her, she grabbed one of them and pointed at the marks on the ground. “Ask two people to deal with the marks at the back.”