Chapter Fifty-Nine: Open Conspiracy
The trusted aide replied, “It is said that Hu San acted erratically within the Wolfheart Fortress; the leaders grew suspicious of his involvement in the deputy chieftain’s death and the disappearance of the Da Wan merchant caravan. Thus, they sent him to the Wolftooth Fortress, perhaps hoping the trials there might temper his nature. Unexpectedly, upon arrival, Hu San seemed already aware of the impending trial and began a frenzied campaign, recruiting soldiers and expanding his forces.”
“He has now turned Wolftooth Fortress into what resembles another major stronghold, commanding a bandit army of five thousand, armed with every manner of weapon—blades, spears, swords, halberds.”
“It was Hu San’s Wolftooth Bandit Army that attacked us. Rumor says they are his elite, akin to General Kang’s renowned Breakthrough Battalion.”
One must admit, Black Halberd’s assessment of the bandits was exceedingly accurate; a little torture and the bandits spilled every scrap of intelligence they possessed without a shred of honor.
This was, in truth, a result of the unique circumstances in the Qilian Mountains. The lower ranks of bandits cared little for loyalty; whoever fed them, they served. Betraying their own caused them not the slightest pang of conscience.
“All right, you may go. Instruct the officers to record a merit for those who captured and interrogated the prisoners,” Black Halberd said, dismissing his trusted aide with a wave and smiling. “So this is why the enemy fights so fiercely—the elite troops of the fortress, led by Hu San himself. No wonder the outcome is as it is.”
“At this moment, Hu San must be astonished by our fighting power. He knows that if he faces us directly, his forces may collapse entirely. Since he fears direct combat, we must force him into one.”
“If I am not mistaken, now that Hu San knows of our strength, his next step will be to try to eliminate our scattered units, hoping to accumulate small victories toward a greater triumph.”
“If any of our detachments break formation and, finding no reinforcements nearby, Hu San will surely gather superior numbers to crush them—no fewer than twice their strength.”
“At that time, if we can hold fast to the troops Hu San sends, our main army can charge from behind. The bandits, lacking discipline and the will to die for their cause, will be driven toward our forces like rabbits fleeing a hunter.”
“With Hu San’s experience, he would never willingly abandon such a large force, but would send even more troops to reinforce them. Then we can defeat them all in one fell swoop.”
“Of course, even if he cuts his losses, we can sever one arm first and terrify the bandits, then systematically conquer them. This battle is assured.”
“So as long as Hu San sends troops to wipe out our detachment, his defeat is already sealed. What do you two think?”
Wang Can and Xu Yu exchanged glances, each seeing the stirrings of intent in the other. Yet, Wang Can’s own men had suffered heavy losses, making him more cautious. With evident worry, he asked, “The plan is clever, but what if, in drawing their troops, we fall into their trap and are wiped out first?”
“What if they bring their entire army to bear against us?”
Black Halberd chuckled, “General Wang’s concerns are valid, but not insurmountable.”
He stroked his short beard and explained, “The detachment to draw their troops must be elite—preferably better than General Kang’s Breakthrough Battalion. That requires your support. Only such troops can hold the enemy and give our main force time to catch up.”
“As for falling into their trap, there is no need to worry. Before battle, we will send out our best scouts, seize several mountain folk as guides, and under threat of life or death, surely they will reveal the enemy’s deployments. If they have a trap, we simply avoid it.”
“Then, when the opportunity arises, we break through, rejoin the main force, and destroy them together. This tactic is sound.”
“If the enemy brings their full army against us, that is precisely what we desire. We then simply inform General Kang, and together we face them. Are we to fear direct combat?”
Wang Can and Xu Yu nodded repeatedly at Black Halberd’s words.
Wang Can spoke forth, “General Black, your plan is ingenious. What do you require of us?”
“It is simple. I need you, General Wang, to personally lead your remaining five battalions, mixed with elite units selected from each of our armies, reorganized as a separate force to search for the enemy in the jungle and serve as bait.”
“As soon as Hu San takes the bait, I will pursue with Generals Xu and Zheng leading the main army.”
“The vanguard’s task is heavy—not to scatter the enemy’s advance entirely, but to cling to them tightly. Only an experienced master can direct such a battle, and of course, you must contend with Hu San himself.”
“General Wang, your skill has reached the fourth realm. So long as you beware their Nine Ox Bow, you can surely suppress Hu San. Moreover, we will gather all martial masters in the army under your command to aid you in battle. Does this suit you?”
To further reassure Wang Can, Black Halberd added, “After this battle, your merits shall be foremost.”
“Good, let’s do it!” Wang Can gritted his teeth, unable to resist his desire for glory.
Black Halberd rejoiced at his agreement, immediately dispatching envoys to contact General Zheng Qiang and select the sharpest warriors from each battalion. These were placed under Wang Can’s command, forming a formidable force of twelve hundred men, heading straight to the site of the previous ambush.
Without informing General Kang, Black Halberd, Xu Yu, and Zheng Qiang led their armies out, leaving only Bai Shan’s unit isolated near Shixia Village.
Since the encampment was not close to the village, and Bai Shan was still deliberating strategies with General Kang, while Black Halberd’s actions were meticulous, by the time Bai Shan received word from his subordinates, the other four forces had vanished.
Upon hearing this, General Kang smashed everything in the room he could, finally leading five hundred Breakthrough troops and Bai Shan’s thousand men in pursuit, hoping it was not too late.
As Black Halberd predicted, once Hu San learned of the twelve hundred-man detachment and saw no sign of other armies nearby, he did not hesitate. He personally led fourteen spear battalions, eight broadsword units, and eight special squads to intercept them.
Unlike Black Halberd’s expectations, Hu San also temporarily transferred several hundred strong bows from his archers and equipped countless iron arrows to the eight special battalions, then ordered them to scale the inaccessible Redstone Cliff.
Redstone Cliff was strewn with boulders and crawling with venomous creatures—difficult enough to traverse, let alone with the many obstacles Hu San had set upon it.
Anyone new to the area would never expect troops atop the cliff, focusing instead on the other side of the mountain path.
This was Hu San’s contingency; whether it would prove useful, he did not know, but the first twist in the battle had appeared.
An hour later, Hu San’s forces reached the designated spot, and, as expected, Meng Si appeared before him.
Despite an uneasy feeling, Hu San ordered the attack. Yet at the moment of engagement, his eyes narrowed sharply.
On the surface, the opposing force seemed unremarkable, but once the battle began, their terrifying strength was revealed.
Hu San’s Nine Ox Bow, famed for never missing, could shoot through men like paper. Yet, after the battle started, five or six out of every ten arrows were blocked.
These battalion leaders, though not martial artists, managed to parry Hu San’s attacks with shields, suffering some wounds but not enough to diminish their fighting power.
Later, Hu San used the Nine Ox Bow to kill several martial masters, but that was the extent of his success.
When Hu San smashed a martial master’s head with his fist, a piercing scream rang out, and his position was thoroughly exposed.
Once his location was identified, three dark figures darted from the enemy formation—most ominously, all three were martial artists, and formidable ones.
One was a middle-aged man wielding a long sword, whose swordplay was so sharp he completely suppressed Hu San’s horizontal blade. His cultivation had reached the second great realm, with internal energy flowing outward.
Each clash left Hu San’s body trembling violently, pain threatening to tear him apart. If not for his sevenfold strength, he would not have lasted.
Even so, Hu San’s situation worsened, for he saw his force—twice the enemy’s—gradually being destroyed. The central ranks had been breached several times, leaving him often amidst chaos.
If it were not for his Nine Ox Bow keeping the opposing commander wary, he would have long since fallen.
Within the army’s ranks, Hu San felt for the first time the impotence of a lone martial artist.
Bang!
Another desperate collision. Hu San’s form shook, nearly losing his grip on his blade, but the commander in purple fared little better, tumbling aside from the force of the internal energy.
Yet, faced with such a prime chance to pursue, Hu San made no move; as expected, two more figures attacked, each a master of the third internal realm and expert in close combat.
Hu San could only defend with his blade—alone, he could dispatch any one of them in two or three moves, but together, he would need ten or more.
In a normal duel, ten moves might mean little, but in this army battle, it could decide several lives.
Within five or six exchanges, a flash of sword light swept toward him, laden with fierce murderous intent. Hu San knew without thinking that the commander was attacking again.
Having experienced the power of this move, he did not wish to resist directly. He twisted his foot, employing the Fish Step, darting from their encirclement like a swimming fish, returning to the bloodiest part of the melee.
“What strength! What skillful movement! This youth is fascinating!”
The sword-wielding commander in purple was, of course, Wang Can. He had hoped to capture Hu San with his two trusted martial artists, but found such hopes unrealistic.