Chapter 1596: Chapter 1596: Retreating Unscathed
The Qin Army received Zheng Lang’s order, the entire army advanced into the camp, their speed was swift, intending to chase the uprising force. Ye Shikai led his army to the scene, but for Zheng Lang and Huo Ziqing, it was an unexpected event. As the commander of the Qin Army, Zheng Lang naturally dared not slacken in the slightest. Had Ye Shikai not come today, these fifteen thousand iron cavalry would have perished here, but now that he’s here, Zheng Lang will make them all "die together."
"General Man, the Qin Army has charged up, there are tens of thousands of them."
"General, the Qin iron cavalry have already fought their way in."
"Why panic, the entire army heed my orders, line up to meet the enemy." Man Cang drew his sword, standing at the forefront, directing the soldiers in formation. Huo Ziqing had already retreated with his iron cavalry through the back gate, allowing Man Cang to "display his full prowess."
"Yes sir."
"Yes sir."
Five thousand Iron Armor Army soldiers formed into several rows, the cold light reflecting off their armor like a wall of copper and steel, blocking the path to the back gate completely.
"Shield formation, line up."
"Long spears forward."
Soldiers in the front row hoisted large shields, forming a line, while those behind raised shields in both hands, blocking overhead. Soldiers further behind wielded long spears, thrusting through the gaps between the shields, from afar it resembled a "steel-clad porcupine."
"The rebel troops are over there, the general decreed, each enemy killed earns a silver tael, each rebel leader killed earns five. Brothers, kill them for me." Zheng Lang’s cavalry charged down from the mountain, storming into the camp, their speed was quick, inevitably leading to close-quarter battle.
"Prepare crossbows." On Man Cang’s command, the soldiers in the back rows replaced their weapons with crossbow arrows, raising the angle.
"Release." As the Qin iron cavalry reached two hundred paces, Man Cang shouted aloud, hundreds of arrows launched skyward.
Swish, swish, swish.
The arrows shot out, immediately felling two rows of Qin iron cavalry, as the camp was narrow, the cavalry charge, once struck by crossbowmen, had no space to evade.
"Just like that, continue firing."
"General, the Qin Army is fifty paces away."
"Throw the lances, cast them out for me." Man Cang angrily pointed with his drawn sword, soldiers took out lances from their backs, each lance was three feet long, as thick as a rolling pin. The Iron Armor Army under Man Cang were all sturdy men, their strength unmatched, throwing lances impaled Qin soldiers, man and horse alike, onto the ground.
"Long spears, thrust."
Aah, aah, aah.
The two armies clashed, just as the Qin iron cavalry advanced, the Iron Armor Army "attended" to them with long spears. These spears over six meters long, lifted by several soldiers from behind, struck through with unstoppable force.
Man Cang wielding sword in one hand, knife in the other, charged into the Qin army formation, hacking and slashing relentlessly, his battle robe stained with blood, his eyes crimson with fury, like a beast unwearied by pain, for a moment making Qin soldiers hesitant to approach.
"Damn it, who is that rebel commander?" Zheng Lang saw the unfavorable battles ahead, personally led his guards into the camp, spotting a black-skinned general among the uprising troops bare-chested shouting loudly.
"I am your grandpa Man Cang, come quick and kneel to beg for mercy." Man Cang shouted loudly.
"What a brute, men, kill him for me."
"Fire arrows."
..............................
"General Huo, the ferry is ready, hurry and board the ship." Meanwhile, Ye Shikai was standing at the ferry, organizing the retreat.
"General Ye, how... how could you be here." Huo Ziqing escaping with his troops was both surprised and delighted, still in shock at Ye Shikai’s sudden arrival.
"It’s a long story, General Huo should first board the ship, once we reach safety, I’ll explain it to you in detail."
"That’s best, if not for General Ye’s desperate rescue today, my ten thousand men and I would have been buried here. Big favors go unthanked, I will surely repay General Ye’s kindness later." Huo Ziqing bowed in thanks, then turned his horse around, leading his men onto the ferry. Ye Shikai originally planned to break through the front gate, but now it was completely impossible. Terrain outside the camp was sloped, the Qin army had already occupied the ground, so they could only retreat by boast, fortunately there were many ferries moored at Lu Lin Ferry, enough for tens of thousands to use.
"Brothers, quickly, get on the ship."
"Quickly, hurry up."
An hour later.
"General Man, the cavalry are all on board, General Ye has ordered us to begin the retreat."
"Alright, brothers, begin the withdrawal." Man Cang commanded efficiently, even in retreat, the entire formation was orderly, not in chaos.
"Everyone hurry up, quick retreat, board the ship."
"Pass my order, don’t let them escape, anyone who fights ineffectively will be killed." Zheng Lang saw the uprising troops about to retreat again, unable to let them leave unscathed.
"Yes sir."
"Pursue the enemy troops."
"Kill."
The front rows of Qin soldiers charged forward, attempting to slow the Iron Armor Army’s pace.
"Want to pursue, keep dreaming, shoot arrows to block them." Man Cang and his personal guards held the rear, covering the retreat, seeing the large-scale Qin charge, sneered, picked up a long spear from the ground, hurled it forcefully, the spear "carried" a man flying out, nailing him to the wall.
"Brothers, let’s go."
..............................
Two hours later.
"Man Cang, you... are you alright." Upon boarding, Ye Shikai was nearly dumbfounded by Man Cang’s appearance, what’s ending if not from a dye tank, his entire body soaked in blood, especially when bare-chested, with bright red blood staining him entirely.
"Rest assured, it’s all Qin blood." Man Cang waved dismissively like it was nothing "Fighting in battle armor wasn’t enjoyable, so I simply took it off."
"That won’t do, Man Cang, leading by example is commendable, but without armor, what if you get injured?" Ye Shikai was genuinely worried for Man Cang’s safety, as his closest aid, Man Cang was the top general under Ye Shikai, the entire army looked up to him.
"The general may relax, Man Cang isn’t afraid of death."
"General Ye, General Shangguan, General Man, this time you rescued us, I’m deeply grateful." Once safely aboard, Huo Ziqing hurried forward to express gratitude.
"General Huo, you’re too polite, we are all on the same side, of course we’ll save you in times of trouble." Shangguan Jian said lightly.
"How did General Ye know we were in trouble?" Huo Ziqing asked curiously.
"I learned the plans from the main lord, saw the faults but the lord ignored me, so I had to bring troops privately."
