Way of Overlord
Chapter 147: Approaching Danger

Chapter 147: Approaching Danger

In that battle, Mayeux had finally confirmed what he had always believed. The Yan has grown weak.

Or maybe, they were never strong in the first place. Luck and circumstances favour them at that time, and now, it favours the Steppe tribes

Skirmishes erupted along the Wall perimeter as small raiding parties launched hit-and-run attacks.

The clash of steel and arrows filled the air, and it didn’t take long for the defenders to respond.

They believed a significant force was descending upon them.

It was at this time that Mayeux make sure that they did not let up

Intensity the attack

And so, the warrior under him intensified their provocations, sending a storm of arrows and projectiles over the Wall defences.

Drums beat like a thunderous heart, and horns blared like a chorus of war cries. It seemed as if the Steppe warriors were an unrelenting tempest, an unstoppable force.

Just as the defenders mobilized to counter the apparent siege, the raiders executed a masterful retreat.

They appeared in disarray, as if they were hastily abandoning their assault on the Wall.

The defenders, sensing victory, pursued the retreating raiders with fervour.

They ventured beyond the Wall, intent on crushing the enemy and securing a triumphant victory.

But in the vast expanse beyond the Wall, they found not a retreating foe but a well-prepared and hidden force of Steppe raiders.

Mayeux warriors had set an ambush, concealed by the undulating terrain.

The battle that ensued was a brutal clash of wills and steel.

Mayeux forces, though outnumbered, fought with unmatched determination.

They utilized their superior knowledge of cavalry tactics and the terrain to gain the upper hand.

The battle was fierce, intense, and fraught with danger, but the Steppe raiders emerged victorious.

The defenders of Yan had been outwitted and outmanoeuvred. With the Wall defences momentarily weakened, the path to Nurshira lay open and undefended.

Mayeux’s victory came at a cost; around three hundred of his warriors lay fallen.

However, it was a resounding achievement, considering the formidable defense of the Wall and the initial numerical disadvantage.

As Mayeux’s relentless cavalry army charged forward, they left a trail of chaos and conquest in their wake.

The defenders of Yan, no matter how valiant, were no match for the seasoned Steppe warriors who moved like a devastating storm.

In village after village, his horse riders swooped down upon the unsuspecting Yan residents.

They were met with scattered resistance, but it crumbled swiftly in the face of the Steppe’s terrifying cavalry.

Mayeux, however, was initially sceptical that their raids would have any substantial impact on the northern reaches of the Yan dynasty.

Nurshira had been their primary target, but the news that reached his ears changed the equation entirely.

Reports of other tribes joining the raid spread like wildfire.

"Now, with such variables, things has just got easier" he thought in his mind.

Mayeux couldn’t help but smile at the development. The addition of these tribal allies made their campaign even more potent.

Rested and ready, Mayeux emerged from his tent, his presence inspiring his warriors.

He smiles as he come out of his tent

"Ready to ride!" he shouted and then he jumped onto his horse.

"Forward to Nurshira!" the moment he said this, the warriors moves again.

With a booming command, he rallied them, and they surged forward as one, like an unstoppable tidal wave.

The thunderous gallop of horses echoed across the vast plains, their hooves kicking up a shroud of dust that veiled the sky.

War drums resounded in a rhythmic symphony, a herald of the impending clash.

Nurshira, a city that had stood for centuries, now stood on the brink of an unprecedented confrontation with the Great Steppe.

The fate of both sides hung in the balance as the clash of cultures and armies became inevitable.

Nurshira and the people of the Great Steppe will finally clash!

....

Qiao Meng’s heart raced within his chest as if it sought escape from the mounting tension.

The newfound information had him contemplating fleeing the city as fast as his feet could carry him, and he suspected he wasn’t alone in this desire.

Among the military officials on the city wall, reactions varied but were equally grim.

Some faces paled, others found their throats too dry to speak, and a few perspired despite the cold winds. The situation had taken a dire turn.

"This is... unexpected," one official mumbled, his voice quivering.

Panic simmered beneath the surface, though none would admit it openly.

But Qiao Meng understood the gravity of his position.

Abandoning his post now would brand him a deserter, and the Ji family would undoubtedly exact a severe price for such treachery.

Survival lay in the city’s defense holding out for a few more days, until reinforcements arrived from Bingzhou.

With determination masking their fear, the officials exchanged hurried words and desperate plans.

The city’s fate now teetered on a precarious balance; its destiny intertwined with the impending siege.

And how could Qiao Meng still stand here if he did not have certain confidence? If he did not have any confidence he would have fled a long time ago.

It is because he still have some hope

His hope is none other than that person in Bingzhou.

Qiao Meng knows that Dugu Yi is not in Bingzhou right now but one of his generals is in Bingzhou.

Nie Liao.

Nie Liao is a formidable figure in Bingzhou military circle. Qiao Meng had once met this man.

He is tall and imposing, and he cut an imposing figure with his well-built frame and broad shoulders.

His jet-black hair, often tied in a simple warrior’s knot, framed a stern face marked with battle scars

Qiao Meng heard that even when he was young, he fought with many people and when he is older he fights against bandits and fought against rebels.

He had been involved in countless skirmishes.

And when he look at someone, his eyes is as sharp as a falcon, always alert to the smallest details on the battlefield.

In battle, Nie Liao’s prowess is legendary.

His skill with a blade is unmatched, and his swings is as precise as they are deadly.

Qiao Meng bet his life and the safety of this city to this reinforcement. Any other men that is as cowardly as Qiao Meng might have run away from the city once they heard tens of thousands of Steppe barbarians comes down toward Nurshira.

But it is precisely because of his trust to Nie Liao that he did not run. Qiao Meng once follow Nie Liao in one of his extermination campaigns

At that time, there is many mountain bandits all over Bingzhou.

Dugu Yi had ordered Nie Liao to supress and exterminate these bandits. At that time, the Qiao family send him to work with the Dugu Yi.

He was ordered to follow and learn from Nie Liao. That is when he saw that even the generals of Dugu Yi is warrior of great unsurpassed strength

At that time, Nie Liao clad in iron armor became a relentless force, charging through enemy lines with an aura of invincibility.

There were many times that he led the first charge and single-handedly turned the tide of many battles.

Off the battlefield, Nie Liao is known for his unwavering loyalty and an unwavering sense of duty.

Nie Liao is a man that adhered to a strict code of honour and is revered for his discipline and integrity, a person with true embodiment of a warrior’s virtues.

And it is because of that Qiao Meng believe that Nie Liao would come to his aid if he got the letter asking for help

Nie Liao, while not possessing the same level of power and prowess as Dugu Yi, is undoubtedly a formidable general in his own right.

His battlefield capabilities is renowned and unquestioned.

During the early period of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the region of Bingzhou faced a dire threat.

In the face of overwhelming odds, where he led merely five hundred cavalry units against a formidable force of three thousand Yellow Turban rebels, Nie Liao showcased his military prowess.

Donned in resplendent armor and mounted on a valiant steed, he deftly maneuverer his troops on the battlefield.

In this chaotic clash of arms, his disciplined formations and precise tactics proved instrumental in securing a decisive victory.

His leadership inspired unwavering loyalty among his troops.

What truly set Nie Liao apart was not just his combat abilities but also his unwavering commitment to duty, unwavering discipline, and an unshakable code of integrity.

These qualities not only made him a respected figure within his own ranks but also earned him admiration throughout Bingzhou.

That is why Qiao Meng could trust such a person to come aid him

Qiao Meng held onto a glimmer of hope that Nie Liao would answer his plea for aid.

He knew that, unlike many others in their position, Nie Liao possessed not only the battlefield expertise but also a rare understanding of the Great Steppe tactics.

In the past, Nie Liao had ventured into the heart of the Great Steppe, engaging with the nomadic tribes in battles and skirmishes.

This experience had given him invaluable insights into their unique tactics and strategies.

He understood their way of warfare, their swift cavalry, and their mastery of hit-and-run tactics.

This knowledge, coupled with his military acumen, made him a formidable adversary against the nomadic tribes.

Qiao Meng had already sent message to Bingzhou hoping for them to send reinforcement.

Qiao Meng however believe that Nie Liao would surely answer the call and would bring reinforcement.

...