Chapter 272: Chapter 163 An Utterly Unfair Test_2 Chapter 272: Chapter 163 An Utterly Unfair Test_2 The crowd was immediately fired up, rubbing their hands together in eager approval.
After Lady Changsheng’s rigorous daily training, they could easily take on ten foes each, but the key was that they must not harm those people’s lives, which was quite a dilemma!
With their hands tied, unable to act freely, the best approach was just as Han Qiu had said!
So, after resting and reorganizing for two Shichen, the divided Elite Guards of the Dark Camp set out in twenty small groups, lying in wait on the inevitable path back to the Dark Camp, ready for Zheng Su’s realization and return.
As commanders, the individual combat abilities of Yhan Ting and the three others with the surname ‘Diao Chan’ were undoubtedly formidable, and to protect the women, each led a separate squad of the Female Army!
Han Qiu led one, the ‘Golden Jade Alliance’ sisters led two, and after such arrangements, they set up a safe rendezvous point, starting their operation with utmost caution.
Zheng Su, having searched the mountain fruitlessly for half a day, indeed noticed something amiss and immediately slapped his forehead, leading his troops back!
The unique signal of the horn echoed throughout the depths of Baili Mountain, as the scattering soldiers slowly converged towards the Dark Camp Fortress.
The scene was unprecedentedly tense, war about to break out at a moment’s notice.
Zheng Su, who had returned to the Dark Camp Fortress first, went on another fruitless search. Before he could even get angry, he received the news that his troops had suffered casualties.
More than ten small detachments, with over a thousand troops, had lost their combat strength due to broken arms and limping legs!
Zheng Su looked at the wounded soldiers in front of him and immediately flew into a rage!
“Those cunning mountain bandits are actually playing tactics with me! Send the order! Integrate two small detachments into one, each with two hundred men, and continue searching the mountain with me! We must capture those hidden mountain bandits alive!” With that command, nine thousand troops divided into forty-five groups once more entered the mountain!
Two hundred against fifty, the Elite Guards executed their task with sleek precision.
Two hundred against fifty, the Elite Guards, seizing the opportunity, could also engage in battle!
Cries of pain rose here and there in the depths of Baili Mountain, and another five detachments, a thousand troops, were lost. Zheng Su’s face swelled red with blood, ordering the units to integrate again, this time with four hundred men each!
This time, the lurking Elite Guards dared not make careless moves.
Fifty against four hundred, they did not have the assurance of a sure victory; thus, they began to play a cat-and-mouse chase.
“Oh my god, are these mountain bandits even human? They run damn faster than rabbits, vanishing in the blink of an eye!” Chasing breathlessly without success, a Bandit Suppression soldier flopped onto the ground.
“I’ve chased them all over the mountains for half a day and haven’t even seen what clothes they’re wearing! Damn it! Are they turned from mountain ghosts?”
It must be said, this soldier, you’re spot on! They really are the legendary Mountain Ghosts of Baili Mountain.
“If they’re beatable, we fight; if not, we run! These mountain bandits are really damn cunning, slipperier than mudfish!”
After a few more complaints, they caught their breath, got up, and continued the relentless pursuit.
Elsewhere, at the foot of Baili Mountain, Gu Changsheng looked worriedly at the moon hanging on the willow tips.
“It’s a deep night with heavy dew; be careful not to catch cold,” Zhou Mu took off his own overcoat, tenderly wrapped it over her shoulders, and comfortingly said, “Don’t worry, you’ve trained them well. If they’re smart, they should be safe.”
Gu Changsheng’s worry did not diminish, her brows slightly furrowed, “I’ve only trained their physique, not yet taught them military tactics and strategies. I really am a bit worried since Du Chenzhi said that the Zheng Su commanding the Bandit Suppression Army is no easy foe.”
“Didn’t Yuan Bao go to gather information? Once he has news, he will surely pass it on immediately, do not worry,” Zhou Mu embraced her, gently patting her shoulder.
Gu Changsheng was just about to nod when she heard Yuan Bao’s shouts from outside the door.
“Lady Changsheng, Lady Changsheng, something’s wrong!”
Gu Changsheng’s face instantly tensed, her hands unconsciously clenched into fists as she looked towards the approaching Yuan Bao, her voice so cold it seemed it could drop ice shards, “What’s wrong? Speak!”
“The Bandit Suppression Army has suffered heavy losses; over three thousand men with broken arms and limping legs have been carried back!” Yuan Bao then realized that the ‘something’s wrong’ he spoke of was relative to the Bandit Suppression Army and hastily began to gesture excitedly, “I heard that commander Zheng Su is so angry that he’s blowing his top. They have yet to claim victory, and we have won the first battle. Lady Changsheng, you’re truly amazing!”
Gu Changsheng finally relaxed, then asked again, “Has there been any news of casualties from the Dark Camp?”
“Zheng Su took to the field himself, capturing twenty personally, and thirty escaped right under his nose. You have no idea, the commander’s face turned green with anger!” Yuan Bao described vividly.
Gu Changsheng and Zhou Mu looked at each other and smiled, “That’s Han Qiu, divide and conquer, attack and overcome; this must have been Han Qiu’s idea.”
Zhou Mu affectionately pinched her cheek, “Feeling better now? In just one day, at the cost of twenty people, you wiped out three thousand of Zheng Su’s men. Your soldiers, indeed, should not be underestimated.”
“Heh heh…” Gu Changsheng smiled instantly, waving her hand to go back and rest.
The next day, the Dark Camp exchanged another sixty captives for one thousand crippled soldiers of Zheng Su’s forces. In just two days, Zheng Su’s forces had been cut from ten thousand to six thousand, and those mountain bandits didn’t even kill; they merely broke arms and snapped legs, which was a blatant slap in the face, outright contempt!
Thus, on the third day, the deeply insulted Bandit Suppression Army was agitated, their eyes bloodshot, ready to fight the mountain bandits to the death.
Zheng Su himself led three hundred trusted aides, personally joining the pursuit!
This time, unfortunately, Han Qiu, Xiao Cui, and Han Mo’s group were the ones who met the ambush.
A group of fifty Female Army members slowed down due to one person’s injury, giving Zheng Su the perfect opportunity to pursue them relentlessly.
“No, Sister Qiu, put me down, I can’t hold you back!” Ru Hua, her leg sprained while saving a comrade, desperately struggled to free herself from Han Qiu’s back.