Chapter 116
Book 11 Chapter 07 – Pine Forest Ambush
Snowflakes fell relentlessly from the sky.
On the dark snowy plains, everyone is silently packing up the tents and getting ready to leave.
Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi, Jing Jun, Xiao Yuetan, Li Si as well as the twelve elite Wu family warriors are p.r.o.ne on the riverbank, scanning for any suspicious activity on the opposite sh.o.r.e.
Beyond the black pine forest, there was no other sign of life. If not for the capture of Deng Jia and knowing the enemies’ ambush from his confession, it will be hard to imagine that there were three thousands enemies spying on them with ill intentions.
Xiao Yuetan coldly snorted: "Yan really stooped so low just to relieve the siege by the Zhao army." However, Xiang Shaolong thought that it is rather common for such despicable acts during these warring times.
Lu Xiong appeared and reported: "Grand Tutor! Everything is ready. We can set off anytime."
Xiang Shaolong gave the order to depart.
The one thousand Qin soldiers were split into two groups of five hundred each. Pulling their horses and carriages, one group went upstream while the other group went downstream. Lighting their lamps, they resembled numerous fireflies.
Ji Yanran, the other girls and the three hundred Lu Family warriors retreated among the darkness into the red pine forest.
The stillness of the night was shattered by the galloping sounds of the horses and the movement of the carriages.
Teng Yi eyed the black forest opposite the river and laughed: "If I am Xu Yi Luan, I will be having a bad headache now."
Xiao Yuetan asked in a deep voice: "Will he be tricked?"
Jing Jun replied in a low voice: "We will know soon enough!"
It is difficult to navigate the paths in the dark and the armies moved at a snail’s pace. It was only two hours later that both groups are considerable apart from each other.
As agreed, they will meet twenty days later at Mount Yangchang which is situated besides Qinshui and at the Zhao-Han border. If they did not meet up after three days of waiting, they will meet up again at Mount w.a.n.g Lung Ling at the Zhao-Qi border.
The Qin army has undergone strict training and everyone is highly skilled in archery and horse-riding. With a smaller force, it is much easier to escape in this uninhabited territory.
Teng Yi softly whistled: "The enemy is moving!"
Footsteps and hoof beats sounded from a hill on the opposite sh.o.r.e. Hundreds of torches were lit and two groups of men chased upstream and downstream like two fire dragons.
Xu Yi Luan guessed that he has been discovered that there is no more need to keep hiding.
When the two fire dragons have gone far, Xiang Shaolong ordered: "Little Jun, please investigate the opposite sh.o.r.e again. If everyone is really gone, we will cross the river at dawn tomorrow."
Jing Jun grunted a reply and led the twelve elite Wu family warriors across the river on two hidden rafts. Li Si and Xiao Yuetan went along with them.
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi returned to the red pine forest leisurely.
This surprise ambush by the Yan army has caused them some panic but everything is resolved for the moment.
Xiang Shaolong was about to say something but he interrupted by what he sees in front of him. Trembling, Teng Yi shouted: "Not good!"
The edge of the red pine forest is filled with a thousand red flaming torches. Closing in like a fan towards the centre of the forest, the air is filled with battle cries and the attack is earth-shattering.
Both men thought of the a.s.sa.s.sination of Lord Longyang. The colour disappearing from their faces, they drew their swords and ran madly towards the red pine forest.
There were at least five hundred invaders and they had approached the forest in silence. When they were discovered by the sentries of the Lu Family Warriors, they charged straight into battle.
From the start, the Yan army has ambushed Xiang Shaolong’s entourage from three sides – upstream, downstream and within the red pine forest. Even if they wish to escape now, the river will block their escape.
In such freezing weather, jumping into the river is as good as committing suicide.
Their opponent employs the most vicious, bloodthirsty and well-planned strategies to kill them all.
Killing sounds filled the air as men and horses fell alike. Ji Yanran was directing the family warriors and was protecting Wu Tingfang, Zhao Qian and the four maids. Together with the Meng brothers, they escaped towards the river.
Luckily, the forest is very dense, the ground is uneven and it is dark at night. Otherwise, they would have perished under the arrows of the enemy.
However, they were being forced to the river by the attackers and they may not survive anyway.
Countless enemies are streaming over from all over. The Lu Family warriors may be top fighters and fought with their lives but the overwhelming majority of enemies soon overcome them.
Barely leaving the forest, Chun Ying gave a tragic cry. A long arrow has pierced her back and she died on the spot.
Wu Tingfang and the other maids wailed in agony.
Coolly, Ji Yanran pulled Zhao Qian and yelled: "Follow me!" Snaking through the edge of the forest, she advanced towards a small hill besides the river.
Only about a hundred warriors are with her. Half of them re-entered the forest to re-engage the enemy. The remaining sixty-odd men covered their retreat and rushed up the hill together. The snow-covered slopes only caused their ascent to take twice as long.
Behind them, torches can be seen everywhere and the forest is s.h.i.+ning red like blood.
On the side, ten odd enemies disguised as hunters came a.s.saulting. Mad on her killing spree, Ji Yanran pierced continuously with her lance and killed several men in a row, creating an opening.
Another enemy chopped down at Zhao Qian who is behind Ji Yanran, disregarding the fact that she is female and powerless.
Ji Yanran’s lance is embedded into another enemy’s chest and cannot rescue her in time. Meng Tian who is on her right dashed over and his sword flashed, severing the man head from his body.
As they are about to reach the hilltop, a shower of arrows rained on them and another ten family warriors were felled.
The enemies scrambled over and chopped furiously at those hit by arrows to ensure their deaths.
Qiu Ying slipped and fell onto the ground.
Xia Ying and Dong Ying were as close to her as real sisters. They turned back to help her up. With this lapse, a gang of unscrupulous invaders broke through their defences and in the chaos, murdered all three of them. It was a heart-breaking sight.
Wu Tingfang nearly fainted upon seeing this. Supported by Meng Wu and Meng Tian, they reached the hilltop.
The remaining thirty family warriors utilise their advantageous terrain height and managed to hold the attackers at bay but not for long too.
At this crucial moment, Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi arrived to help them. Noticing the maids’ absence, they could guess what had happened.
Xiang Shaolong exclaimed: "Get to the river. Jing Jun is there!"
Wu Tingfang wailed: "Hubby!" Meng Wu interrupted her and dragged her away.
Ji Yanran cried: "Don’t get caught up in the fighting!" Leading the four persons, they ran down slope towards the river.
Teng Yi had reached the hilltop. Waving his heavy sword, he ma.s.sacred everyone in his sight.
Xiang Shaolong cut off the pursuers of Ji Yanran and began his own killing spree. The fighting is simply horrendous.
As another hundred of attackers swarmed up the hill, someone shouted: "Xiang Shaolong is here!"
Xiang Shaolong just disembowelled two men. Scanning his surrounding, he can see more enemies advancing. Except for Teng Yi, there is no other survivor. He knew that if he still continued to fight, he will meet his end here. Roaring loudly, he brandished his sword and fought his way to Teng Yi, bellowing: "Go!"
By now, their bodies are filled with sword wounds. Teng Yi nodded and swept his sword, killing another two men.
Fighting as they retreat, they were hard pressed and found it hard to slip away.
Eyeing the countless fighters coming out of the red pine forest and climbing the hill to engage them, Xiang Shaolong called out: "Let’s roll down!"
Pulling Teng Yi, they bend down and rolled down