The clear paths are mend for traversing while the secret movements have deeper intentions.
Tantai Xianming, having been away for over a year, under the Prime Minister’s strategy had gradually become blunted, the python regained its original decisiveness and style, displaying a hint of aggressiveness in its maneuvers.
Still, he subconsciously had the wish to maintain a balance of power, and therefore did not send figures like Ye Buyi or the Junior Officers of Zhou Liuying, nor the seasoned generals like Lu Youxian.
Instead, he appointed Qi Junsong, who had recently gained merits at the border.
With Qi Junsong as Commander, Ye Buyi, and Zhou Liuying were merely logistic officers.
Qi Junsong was cautious; he followed the strategist’s advice. The troops did not all advance via the main road; instead, the logistics troops disguised as the main force, spread the flags in all directions, elongating the formation to mimic a large army moving slowly.
Secretly, a thousand elite soldiers took a minor mountain path, planning to emerge from a concealed position and surge into the Gongsun Family’s territory unexpectedly, causing significant pressure.
Being able to effortlessly control a thousand-man formation, splitting forces, feigning the rear as the main force, and then silencing the main troop precisely, Qi Junsong might not be a renowned general, but he certainly wasn’t a mere rice sack.
Following the strategist’s suggestion, he completed the deceptive maneuver of circling to the rear.
Qi Junsong relaxed inwardly, lightly lifting his whip, pointing towards the distant location of the Gongsun Family and laughed, "The Gongsun Family dominates the Martial World, haha, just martial folks, what strategies do they know?"
"I deliberately released news to let them know we’re coming; by now, they must be gathering forces, waiting on the main road. When we emerge from behind them, we can catch them completely off-guard."
"This should work indeed."
The strategist also laughed, "It truly relies on the general’s awe-inspiring presence, so let me congratulate you in advance. After this major operation’s success, His Majesty will surely bestow more titles and rewards."
"But we should still be cautious. If we rush through the mountain paths and the enemy has deciphered our strategy, they just need to set an ambush on the cliff, and our troop might be doomed here."
Qi Junsong was unfazed and said, "What the strategists have stated, I am well aware of. But what you mention is about battle tactics within military formations, confrontations between two armies, how many people and how many ambushing soldiers could a mere Martial aristocratic family have to affect us?"
"The army has its combat skills, and the Martial World has its rules."
"As we tread through the Martial World, we naturally aim to dominate all directions."
"How could I let Li Guanyi alone take all the glory?"
Qi Junsong was laughing when suddenly a loud noise erupted ahead.
The mountain path ahead roared, boulders fell, blocking the path, startling both men and horses. Then, from the cliffs on either side, flags waved ceaselessly, large red flags stretching unbroken, making it seem as if a large army was ahead.
Qi Junsong’s expression froze, after one glance, his face drastically changed:
The deep roar ahead was followed by flames rising, and the Qilin stepped forth. A young man appeared, dressed in ordinary robes, holding a Battle Halberd in his right hand and an amber gold face mask in his left, which he then casually placed on his face effortlessly.
Before thousands of troops, the Qilin paced, the Battle Halberd resting on the ground.
His presence here managed to stir morale amongst the elite forces of Chen Country, especially when Chen Country’s Fierce Soldiers recognized the renowned general’s achievements and saw his composed demeanor, as if he had been waiting there all along, the impact on their morale was enormous.
Jiangnan Qilin·Li Guanyi!
Qi Junsong cursed internally; the young general stretched out his hand, tapped the face mask, took it off, revealing his face, smiling composedly, with a certain grandeur, he said:
"Li Guanyi, has been waiting here for a long time."
"Gentlemen, why are you so late?!"
Qi Junsong gritted his teeth: "You, weren’t you and the Qilin Army supposed to be heading to Central State?!"
Li Guanyi smiled, "Chen Dingye knows how to split his forces into two, wouldn’t Li Guanyi at least match him?"
"While you’re here, I shall capture you and head to Central State, then return you to Chen Dingye to reminisce over the old days." Li Guanyi raised his arm, the wind roared behind him, and from the cliffs on either side, sounds of crossbows started.
The red flags stretched unbroken, seemingly hiding thousands of troops, and then the mountains shook as if they were about to tumble down.
Qi Junsong knew of the Qilin Army’s bravery; as a commander, realizing that his strategy had been seen through in an instant, his mental state was already disturbed. He initially planned to approach the Gongsun Family via a small path, but now seeing the situation, he changed his color and ordered, "Retreat! Retreat!"
Li Guanyi’s Qilin charged forward.
The silver-haired girl controlling these flags made a decision, creating a formation, not for any practical use, but just for the shouts of killing, and recreating those voices of famous generals in his memory: "Hahaha, Ling Pingyang is here, lay down your weapons!!!"
"Fan Qing, following the Lord’s command, have been waiting for a long time!"
The silver-haired girl subconsciously recreated the voice of that cold-faced uncle who would bring her candies and nectar, decisively stopped seeing no one noticed, the silver-haired girl exhaled a breath.
Then she stretched out her hand and gently patted her chest, her usually expressionless face showing a relieved look, then she stealthily looked around.
At a distance, the silver-haired man instinctively covered his heart.
The Jianghu Legend felt his heart melting away.
Yet as the young general continued to dash back and forth, swinging his Battle Halberd, the forbidden area of Military School was through the mountain path, and the cliffs on both sides were occupied by enemies. Qi Junsong felt the tremors in his heart upon seeing Li Guanyi appear, realizing his neglect of military tactics at the sight of this Martial Family’s capabilities.