Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 670 - 668

Chapter 670: Chapter 668

General Zhao looked into the thick fog ahead and spoke: "The enemy’s army in front must’ve known they can’t beat us so they ran off in a hurry. Let’s save the praises for the Sixth Prince for after we attain victory! Brothers, are you ready yet? Let’s set off and chase them down relentlessly! Beat them until they’re in ruins and don’t leave a single one behind, then we can march back to the Imperial Court! It’s time to go home for New Year’s celebration!"

"General, isn’t the New Year just a couple of days away? You possess the ability to fly to the earth, which allows us to return home and celebrate New Year’s within two days?" A soldier teased upon hearing this.

"Even if the General possesses the ability to transport us, I don’t think he can send us all home within two days. After all, not all of our homes are in the Imperial Capital; they’re scattered across the northwest, southeast, all over the place!" As soon as someone started making fun, others would follow suit.

"Are you trying to overwork the General? The General doesn’t need to take me home, just pass the teleportation magic onto me and I’ll go home on my own!"

...

The soldiers quickly assembled, cracking jokes as they did so.

Hearing this, General Zhao feigned anger: "You cheeky brats, you’re mocking me, aren’t you? A real man makes the whole world his home! We will celebrate New Year’s on our way home! Have you forgotten our creed? We view the common people as our parents, and consider our station as our home! Alright, enough chit-chat. Anyone who I catch lagging behind in the lineup will be subjected to ten military whips!"

At the sound of this, the soldiers dared not speak another word, and the speed of assembly picked up!

Shangguan Xuanyi was riding at the front, leading the troops, marching orderly towards the valley.

The uniform sound of footsteps echoed in the valley, causing the fresh recruits among the enemy troops to panic and run faster, throwing their formation into disarray!

Situ Junjie saw these fresh recruits scrambling like stray dogs, in stark contrast to the disciplined soldiers under General Li’s command. He furrowed his brows tightly.

This was his maiden journey leading troops and managing formation battles. He initially wanted to catch the enemy by surprise, but now he had ended up in a messy retreat! This was beyond humiliating!

All because of these good-for-nothing troops!

If only these soldiers had a shred of combat capability, would he have had to resort to overshooting his objectives, forcing himself to flee?

How often would one see fifty thousand soldiers being forced to flee from thirty thousand soldiers? In all of history, besides him, probably nobody else!

Listening to the increasingly loud and orderly sounds of footsteps approaching, Li Zhi stressed, "Everyone, run faster! We have a formation set up in the forest up ahead, it should at least hold the imperial army off for a while. Once we enter the desert, we’ll be safe!"

Hold off the imperial army for a while at least? That’s nothing more than a dogged determination that only results in the inflation of the enemy’s spirits while dampening their own. Does he think so lowly of himself? Upon hearing these words, Situ Junjie felt his face darken.

That formation earlier was something he had newly researched and was still not fully familiar with. But the one up ahead in the forest, designed specifically to get people lost, would surely lead to people getting lost once they enter it. No, it was not just likely that they would get lost, they would definitely get lost!

That was a formation he had studied for ten years, of which he had a thorough understanding!

So, he firmly believed that even with a day or two, Shangguan Xuanyi would not be able to break the formation so quickly!

Originally, this formation was his ace to trap and annihilate the imperial troops. But now it had unexpectedly turned into their last line of life-saving defense in their retreat!

The frustration in Situ Junjie’s heart was unbearable!

Upon arriving at the forest, Situ Junjie looked grim as he addressed his troops in a serious voice:

"Alright, we’re about to pass through the forest now! Everyone, line up and follow the person ahead of you. Don’t deviate, or you’ll end up trapped in the formation and unable to get out. I will not have the time to lead you out again. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" the soldiers responded in unison, nodding their heads to show that they understood.

They also hastily started lining up.

"There’s no need to worry. The moment you step into the forest, you’ll be safe. The imperial soldiers won’t catch up so quickly. Perhaps by the time they do, all of us would’ve already entered the forest, and by then, it will be too late! Enough, I don’t want to say anything more! Li Zhi, follow my steps closely and don’t get lost! Everyone, keep an eye on the person before you!"

"Got it, strategist. Let’s go! Stop talking! With so many of us, their footsteps are getting closer and closer. Let’s run!" A soldier, who couldn’t bear the suspense, retorted. At such a precarious moment, why was he wasting so much time talking?!

Run faster?! Upon hearing this, Situ Junjie’s face darkened. If time hadn’t been pressing, he really would’ve liked to give this disrespectful fool a piece of his mind!

He glanced at the soldier, memorizing his features.

"Move out!" Situ Junjie ordered coldly.

"Everyone, stick close!" Encouraged by the initiative displayed by the boldest soldier, Li Zhi hastened to follow Situ Junjie.

Everyone watched carefully and walked attentively, not daring to be careless. After all, this was a matter of life and death!

When the last of the new recruits was about to enter, he looked back to see the imperial soldiers had arrived. Startled, he quickly turned back to follow the steps of the person before him.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t seen where the person ahead of him had stepped earlier. In desperation, he randomly took a step forward and found himself lost.

He was done for! He was doomed!

In his anxiety, he found himself getting farther and farther from his path, no matter how much he walked, he couldn’t find his way out. Even when he called out to the man ahead, no one responded.

It was over! He squatted down, not moving an inch. He had resigned to his fate!

In front of the forest, Shangguan Xuanyi likewise stopped.

The soldiers following him also halted.

Shangguan Xuanyi turned to the army behind him and said: "The forest up ahead is set up with a formation! Stay close to this prince and stay focused! The last person obviously got lost because he looked back."

Upon hearing this, everyone echoed in agreement: "Yes!"

This time, Shangguan Xuanyi did not venture into the formation alone to break it before leading the army in.

Situ Junjie must have realized that it was impossible for him to break the formation so quickly, and would not dare to stay in the formation to ambush them again.

He would only lead the fifty-thousand new recruits to flee as quickly as possible!

And the formation in this forest was only a ploy to delay their progress so that these new recruits had more time to escape.

As long as the new recruits entered the desert, they would be safe. The desert wind would soon erase their footprints.

Pity, Situ Junjie was wrong! There was a big demand waiting for them down the road.

Shangguan Xuanyi casually took his first step, continuing forward.

Just as expected, it didn’t take long for everyone to start feeling lost.

However, nobody was worried about not being able to find their way out; they all had faith in their Sixth Prince!

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