Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 399 - 241: It’s Simply the Reincarnation of General Qin Kaiyun!_3

Chapter 399: Chapter 241: It’s Simply the Reincarnation of General Qin Kaiyun!_3

Wang Fang’s complexion changed instantly, and he was momentarily dumbfounded.

Zhao Haiping didn’t intend to give these people a chance to argue, and he directly flicked the reins, "Let’s go!"

...

A hundred-strong cavalry unit galloped across the ground, kicking up dust.

Yet in comparison to the Jin cavalry that encircled Taiyuan like dark clouds over a city, they were but a leaf-boast amidst raging waves, at any moment likely to be overturned and shattered to pieces.

As they ventured deeper into the dangerous territory, the complexions of Wang Fang and many of the cavalrymen grew increasingly pale.

But under Zhao Haiping’s leadership, they dared not desert the troop, only gritting their teeth and following closely behind, continually praying that they wouldn’t encounter a large Jin troop.

"Our lead general’s luck shouldn’t be that bad, right?"

Many cavalrymen would likely think this.

Yet when they recalled that Zhao Haiping, merely a minor soldier, had been bizarrely selected to execute such a perilous mission, they felt that relying on their general’s luck seemed uncertain.

Reaching a high slope, Zhao Haiping used his hand to shield against the sunlight as he looked toward a distant official road.

This was his target for the reconnaissance mission, the official road from Shouyang to Yuci.

This road was essential for access to Taiyuan—if the enemy situation on this stretch was unclear, it would be easy for future forces heading to aid Taiyuan to fall into an ambush and be completely annihilated.

At this moment, Jin cavalry continuously traveled on the road, striking terror in the onlookers.

Given its importance as a thoroughfare, the Jin naturally understood its significance.

Their forces were certainly substantial.

Wang Fang was already terrified; on this small hill, he even contemplated hunching down on his horseback a bit to reduce the likelihood of being spotted.

"Brother Zhao, it’s about time!

"We have reached the line between Shouyang and Yuci, and our reconnaissance task is essentially complete. If we don’t leave now, and truly encounter a Jin cavalry unit, it would be troublesome!"

Zhao Haiping was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then let me ask you, if the superior asks how many Jin soldiers there are on this stretch? Where are they stationed? How do they patrol and stand guard typically? How are their camps arranged? How would you answer?"

Wang Fang found himself speechless, "That..."

Clearly, he couldn’t answer any of these questions.

But he then said, "But Brother Zhao, these questions aren’t something that our mere hundred men can clarify! Are we supposed to actually go and check out the Jin camps?"

Unexpectedly, Zhao Haiping nodded decisively: "That is exactly what I was thinking!

"Follow me, let’s go have a look at the Jin’s large camp in Yuci!"

With that, he turned his horse around and galloped down the hill.

Wang Fang and many other cavalrymen were petrified.

Going to the Jin’s large camp?

That wasn’t just courting death!

But since Zhao Haiping had already taken the lead, and since they all knew each other from regular times, fleeing back now would make it impossible to justify themselves, and they might even be punished for desertion in the face of the enemy...

After much contemplation, these men could only grit their teeth and reluctantly follow.

"Brother Zhao, think it over again, the large Jin camp in Yuci is not a place we should venture into... We only have a hundred men...

"If we encounter Jin cavalry, we...

"I..."

Wang Fang was initially persuading Zhao Haiping, but his words halted mid-sentence.

The rest of his words were stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

Because in front of his eyes, a terrifying scene had unfolded, freezing his expression.

Indeed, a squad of Jin cavalry had appeared ahead.

And their numbers were about two hundred!

As Zhao Haiping and others spotted the Jin soldiers, the Jin soldiers naturally saw them too.

Both sides were a bit baffled, confronting each other.

For Zhao Haiping’s cavalry, they had continuously prayed not to encounter Jin soldiers along the way, and now that they had, most of them were unprepared psychologically; while the Jin were accustomed to moving freely in this area and hadn’t expected to actually encounter Qi Dynasty forces.

Thus, both sides were somewhat at a loss as to what to do.

Wang Fang looked at Zhao Haiping with a pale face.

"Run... run... we can’t defeat them..."

Wang Fang’s assessment wasn’t without merit.

This squad of Jin cavalry was over two hundred strong, more than double their number.

Moreover, Jin horses were naturally superior to those of the Qi Dynasty, and the overall combat capability of their cavalry likely surpassed that of the Qi Army.

In such a fight, even if they could hold their ground, what then?

They were too far from the Qi Army’s position and too close to the Jin troops!

If entangled in battle, they might quickly be discovered by other Jin forces, by which time it would be too late to run, leading only to total annihilation!

But even running now would likely carry a severe cost.

Again, the Jin horses were better and faster.

In a rout, if the Jin pursued, how many of this hundred-man cavalry unit would escape?

Moreover, there was another crucial factor at this time, the unclear enemy situation.

Who knew if these were just a few Jin soldiers cut off from the rest, a regular patrol, or the vanguard of a larger force?

If there were more Jin forces behind, rushing forward to fight, even if they won, would still be courting death.

Zhao Haiping, holding his long spear, said calmly, "Now, trying to make a speech to boost morale seems a bit too late, doesn’t it?"