Chapter 322: Sword Leaving Throat, Blood Bursting Out
It was almost dark at that time, and Yang Chang originally wanted to wait until dark to sneak in and confirm who the Jin army's commander was. However, he did not expect that the defeated army had returned to the camp, and the camp suddenly became restless.

Have I been discovered?
No, it's two miles away, who can see it? There must be something else.

Yang Chang continued to observe and found that this group of Jin troops had broken camp and were heading towards the mountains on the left.

This mountain range is the continuation of the northern part of Taihang Mountain. It inserts into Xinzhou and is cut off by Hutuo River. The mountain at the very end is Chenghou Mountain.

Part of the Jin army's cavalry went ahead, with the infantry in the middle escorting baggage and food, and the rear being the defeated heavy cavalry. It was a typical wolf pack movement tactic.

Yang Chang moved around, following and observing secretly all the way, and made a preliminary estimate of the number of Jin soldiers, which turned out to be as many as 60,000.

Although he was more or less fearless, the soldiers under his command did not have such confidence, especially the 10,000 heavily armored cavalry, who could not be defeated in a head-on confrontation.

The Jin army could choose any of the three key places, Xiurong, Dingxiang and Shiling Pass, as an attack point. Even though they could reach the enemy camp and decapitate them, they were afraid that if they killed one or two generals, the remaining Jin soldiers would have to continue fighting.

Yang Chang cannot afford to play the game of exchanging living forces with his small number of soldiers. The best result would be like what happened to Wuliebu, where the whole army retreated after slaying the dragon and beheading him. However, these 60,000 men are always a threat, and it would be a shame not to take the opportunity to wear them down.

Yang Chang saw that the Jin army first approached the mountains on the west side, and then moved southwest along the foothills. It was obvious that they were heading for Chenghou Mountain. He estimated that they would reach Xiurong tomorrow.

After guessing the Jin army's intentions, Yang Chang had a clear idea in his mind.

During his tracking and observation, he captured several Jin army cavalrymen, who were probably on guard and scouts on the periphery. After several interrogations and trying his luck by picking up corpses, he finally learned that Marshal Xie had also arrived.

A fish larger than the walrus.

Yang Chang dragged the bodies of several people to the Hutuo River and threw them away. Then, relying on his master's riding skills, he drove six horses back to the city.

It was already the next morning when we returned to Xiurong.

As expected, Liu Tang didn't get anything out of the interrogation, and Ruan Xiaowu rushed to Xiurong overnight. After receiving the order last night, Yang Zhi also led his troops to Caozhuang to wait for orders.

However, Lu Zhishen took leave and returned to the mountains, so he could not make it to this battle.

Yang Chang did not have time to rest when he returned to the city, and immediately went to the provincial government to deploy combat tasks.

On the morning of the 21st, in the lobby of Xinzhou government office.

Yang Chang glanced at the generals around him, pointed to the northern part of Xinzhou on the map, and introduced: "Xieye's 60,000 troops were probably stationed at Chenghou Mountain last night. The Night Snack Army has just been deployed, and their movements will be under our control soon. I predict that they will arrive at Xiurong today, but they don't have siege equipment, so they shouldn't attack right away."

"What's wrong with 60,000? As long as my brother is here, I will kill him without leaving a single piece of armor." Liu Tang shouted loudly in flattery, but seeing that no one spoke, his voice became smaller and smaller.

Seeing this, Lu Junyi took over the conversation, stroking his beautiful beard and expressing his opinion: "Including the 2,000 new sailors, Xiurong already has 7,000 troops. If Yang Zhi's 12,000 are transferred, the total force will be close to 20,000. By then, defense will not be a big problem. We can imitate Yangqu and defeat them one by one, and the 60,000 Jin troops can be defeated."

"No, if we transfer those 12,000 troops to Xiurong, what will happen to Dingxiang, which only has 3,000 defenders?"

"Brother Shi Qian is right. There are only 3,000 sailors left at Shiling Pass. My second and seventh brothers are not good at land warfare."

"Don't be nervous, Fifth Brother."

Yang Chang waved his hand to interrupt Ruan Xiaowu, looked at everyone and said seriously: "No matter how good the strategy is, it cannot be used repeatedly. The Jin army failed in Yangqu because several commanders had their own ulterior motives. Now the opponent is the commander-in-chief Xieye, and Wushi and Talan also have to obey his orders, so this trick will not work on him."

"That's what the commander meant."

Lu Junyi had a hard time offering advice, but after hearing the explanation he felt that he was too naive. He no longer cared about embarrassment in front of others and immediately clasped his fists to ask Yang Chang for advice.

Yang Chang nodded with relief and said, "It's not difficult for me to kill Xieye. I could have waited for the opportunity last night. The reason why I didn't act rashly was to use the opportunity of killing him to eliminate some of the Jin soldiers. So I used Xiurong City as bait and then attacked with Caozhuang's troops..."

"No, wait a minute, brother."

Liu Tang interrupted halfway through, "Do you want us to defend the city and take Yang Zhi to fight?"

"Hmm?" Yang Chang did not comment, and replied: "It depends on the situation. If the Jin soldiers quickly surrounded the city, you will naturally have to stay in the city to defend it. If the Jin soldiers do not split up and rest first, after Yang Zhi's troops attack, the Xiurong defenders can also attack, but Xiaowu brother will lead the navy at home."

"Don't worry, General. I can save it."

"Can you take me with you?"

Liu Tang was halfway through his words when he looked at Lu Junyi guiltily. Thinking of how generous the other party was, he felt embarrassed to continue.

Lu Junyi didn't care. He smiled and asked Yang Changjin for help, "Liu Tang is murderous and is an old friend of Yang Zhi. It's okay for the general to take him to the battle. I have no problem defending the city."

"Alright." Yang Chang nodded in affirmation, "Then it's settled. Liu Tang will follow me out of the city, and Shi Qian will stay in Xiurong to help. Also, send a hundred Night Owl soldiers with me so that we can convey military intelligence at any time. We will defeat the enemy tonight."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

After arranging the combat mission, Yang Chang waited for news from the Night Owl Army at the provincial government office. However, the intelligence was not transmitted back until long in the afternoon.

It turned out that the Jin army slowly set out from the Chenghou Mountain camp near noon, and based on their walking speed, they would arrive before dusk.

After hearing the intelligence, Liu Tang shouted, "Is Xie playing a trick? He didn't hurry in the morning when the weather was so good, but waited until noon to set out. It seemed like he was deliberately delaying it until the evening. What's going on? Does he want to fight a night battle?"

"If the general is not present in the night battle, I really don't have much confidence." Lu Junyi frowned and looked at Yang Chang with an embarrassed expression after hearing this.

Yang Chang shook his head and laughed, "Why are there so many conspiracies? The other side with superior military strength does not need conspiracies, only the weaker side seeks tricks."

"Then why are they?"

"It's very simple. The Jin army hurriedly moved their camp last night and was still resting this morning. They planned to arrive at dusk and set up camp directly. They probably didn't plan to attack the city today."

“So that’s how it is”

Lu Junyi and Liu Tang both nodded, Yang Changze stood up and waved to Liu Tang, saying, "Let's go, it's time for us to leave."

"okay."

Liu Tang nodded excitedly.

"By the way, bring the slave Puchashi with you."

"Hmm? What's the point of bringing that guy along? Isn't he a burden?"

"Sacrifice flag!"

Yang Chang uttered two cold words and strode out of the door before Liu Tang.

If we defeat Xieye tonight, we won't have to threaten Puchashi's slaves anymore. Yelu Yudu will also cooperate in the anti-Jin campaign, so we don't want to waste any more rice.

Besides, the drops from this fellow are pretty good. He also has a [Sword Perfection] on him, which was reserved by Yang Changte for Hu Sanniang. It's time to take this drop.

After a while, the troops left the city.

Liu Tang sent half of his troops to Caozhuang, while Yang Changze led the other half to conduct reconnaissance personally. He had to control the distance between Yang Zhi and Xiurong to ensure that the Jin army did not discover this army, but he had to get as close to Xiurong City as possible so that he could launch a surprise attack at night.

An hour later, Yang Chang successfully targeted the main force of the Jin army with his farsightedness.

It must be said that Xie was also an experienced veteran. During the march, he deployed a large number of cavalrymen on the periphery, and also had cavalrymen conducting reconnaissance in the direction of Dingxiang, for fear that Xiurong and the scouts of Dingxiang would discover their true situation.

Xie also deliberately delayed until dusk, and slowly approached Xiurong before nightfall. He also set up the Jin camp three miles north of Xiurong. It seemed that the number of torches was strictly controlled, and only a few tents had lights. From a distance, there were only a few thousand people on the city wall, trying to give the defenders the illusion that the enemy was small.

Yang Chang saw through everything when he saw this. Even though Xie Ye was hiding today, he would quickly split his troops before dawn tomorrow morning and would most likely surround the four gates of Xiurong and catch the defenders off guard.

Xie Ye's caution today seemed familiar to Yang Chang.

To advance tens of thousands of troops quickly, one must take into account the physical strength of the soldiers, their hidden strength, and the safety of their baggage. One can only make a good marching plan first, and then implement it in stages.

Although the plan was well executed, it was discovered by Yang Chang, who obtained the location of the Jin army camp and headed to Yang Zhi's temporary garrison.

He killed the general and offered sacrifice to the flag to motivate the soldiers, then led more than 10,000 soldiers with their mouths sealed and their horses' hooves wrapped, and slowly moved towards the Jin camp in the dark. At the same time, he sent the Night Owl Army back to Xiurong to deliver a message, agreeing that a fire in the Jin camp would be the signal at night.

Around the hour of Chou, Yang Changcai sneaked into the Jin camp alone.

Even though the Jin camp of 60,000 people tried to hide with lights, it still occupied a huge area. Yang Chang often sneaked into the enemy camp, and he was the leader of a region, so it was easy for him to find the central army.

The improvement in agility from the sixth level of Qi Refining allowed Yang Chang to move around the enemy camp easily without using the item [Camouflage Feather]. However, he was carrying a gift with him tonight, so there was a slight smell of blood when he moved.

Of course, the soldiers were accustomed to the smell of blood, and with Yang Chang using his light skill [Flowing Light and Shadows], this abnormality did not cause him any trouble.

Not long after sneaking into the Jin camp, Yang Chang reached the vicinity of the big tent.

Observing through his [Eagle Eyes and Owl Vision], the scene in front of him opened his eyes. He saw hundreds of iron men in full armor, guarding the big tent in three layers inside and outside.

This was the biggest scene Yang Chang had ever witnessed in his undercover career.

Marshal Xieye, is this your show? You are too scared to death.

That's right, you are the commander-in-chief of the three armies, so it's normal for you to be more cautious and cherish your life. Unlike a small soldier who only earns a few hundred dollars a month, you can only work hard to climb up.

The inside and outside of the big tent were like an iron barrel, and if I broke in from the front I might have scared him away. Fortunately I brought him a gift.

Yang Chang took off the package from his waist and threw it onto the head of a soldier at the door of the tent, making a dull thud.

"Ouch, who hit me on the head?"

"Hey, what is this?"

“It looks like a human head!”

"No, Marshal, this is..."

The slaves of the Pucha Shi family were beheaded, and there was a sudden commotion at the door of the big tent. Although Yang Chang could not understand the Jurchen language, he could see the panic on their faces.

Just when someone shouted "alert" and looked around for the person who lost the head, Yang Chang had already activated [Flowing Light and Shadow], flashed into the big tent in front, and met the eyes of the bearded man.

This person is the commander-in-chief Xieye, the brother of Aguda and Wuqimai from the same mother, and the current leader of the Jin Dynasty, Anban Bojilie.

(Anban Bogile, also known as Da Bogile, was the leader of all Bogiles. Aguda founded the Bogile system, which was originally intended for tribal leaders to assist in government. Wuqimai succeeded to the throne with Anban Bogile. In order to make up for the legitimacy of his own succession, he gave Anban Bogile the meaning of crown prince, hoping to slowly transition to the Han-Liao throne inheritance system. However, the Jin Dynasty had not yet gotten rid of the "brother-to-brother" inheritance system, so Xie at this time was also the crown prince of the Jin Dynasty)
Although Xieye was surrounded by guards inside and outside his tent, he was not timid when he saw Yang Chang. Instead, he looked at him with deep eyes and asked in fluent Chinese: "Are you Yang Guo?"

"Not accurate, I have another name, Yang Chang!"

Hearing someone talking, the armored guards reacted and quickly surrounded Yang Chang in the center of the army, but Yang was not panicked at all, and every word he said was full of provocation.

"It's really you!"

Xie Ye was startled when he heard this, and said coldly with empty eyes: "You are very strong, even terrifying. You may be the strongest opponent I have encountered since the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty. I guessed that you might come, so I was always prepared, but I didn't expect you to come so soon."

"Ready?" Yang Chang couldn't help but sneer. He looked around as if he was looking at a dead person, and said sarcastically, "You mean these chickens and dogs?"

"You are strong enough, and you are crazy enough."

Xieye crossed his arms and smiled slightly, saying, "If Xiao Longnu used magic, I might still be a little bit hesitant, but today she obviously didn't come with us, maybe she's not in Xinzhou recently? If hundreds or thousands of people attack you, even if they can just use their bodies, they can squeeze you into a pulp. I don't know how you can get away."

Yang Chang spread his hands and replied disdainfully: "If we kill everyone, won't we be able to get away?"

"Kill them all?" Xie Ye laughed loudly: "Perhaps ordinary soldiers can do it, but tonight, including me, everyone is wearing fine iron armor, and no swords or knives can hurt us at all. What makes you so arrogant?"

"Does this count? Want to try it?"

Yang Chang flicked his left index finger, and the Panlong Tunri Sword was immediately held in his right hand, with the sword's tip emitting a cold and sharp light.

Xie was so shocked that he took a step back, but he still responded stubbornly: "Come on!"

"Do it!"

"kill him!"

"kill!"

With a clang, sparks flew and blood splattered.

Xie also showed a look of horror, and saw Yang Chang swung a three-foot-long sword, cutting a guard's head and shoulder, along with the fine iron armor, into two pieces.

Cutting iron like mud? What kind of magic weapon is this?
Before Xie could even feel the shock, he saw another unbelievable scene.

As Yang Chang drew his sword to kill people, dozens of people who besieged him fell to the ground inexplicably, and some even vomited blood. The rest were so scared that they quickly stepped back, looking at the fallen people in surprise.

What's going on? Are these guards pretending to be dead? Isn't this too real?
"Come on, what are you waiting for?"

"kill!"

"Revenge for Kun!"

"I want you to die!"

Although Yang Chang didn't understand, he knew it was not a good thing. He raised his hand, twisted his wrist and swept it, easily cutting the nearest person in half, and at the same time, a group of people fell to the ground.

With just the power of two swords, no one else dared to come forward.

Not only can the sword cut through iron like mud, but even people nearby who didn't get touched would get hurt. This strange thing also frightened Xie Ye.

He swallowed and pointed at Yang Chang tremblingly, "You-you also know witchcraft?"

"It's not witchcraft, it's swordsmanship."

Yang Changqu flicked the sword with his fingers, making a crisp sound. He was shocked by the refined power that could break the armor without damaging the sword, and he was also impressed by the mystery of the [Lone Brave Man].

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it."

Xie Ye retreated while shouting hysterically: "Why are you standing there? Push me forward, call everyone outside to come and kill this monster! Oh, right, shoot arrows! Shoot poison arrows! Shoot fire arrows!"

"I still like it. The way you were just now, I'm a little rushed. Can you cooperate?"

"No, stop him now. Anyone who disobeys my order will be killed!"

Yang Chang stepped forward with his sword in hand, and Xie was so frightened that he shouted for help in panic.

A few people took up their courage after hearing what was said and pounced forward like hungry wolves. Unfortunately, Yang Chang did not turn around and looked back. He easily killed the nearest person with his Su Qin sword. Four of the five people behind him fell to the ground and died suddenly, and the only one who survived was shaking like a sieve on the spot.

"Ah? Him?"

"Why didn't he die? Because he was afraid of me."

"I also."

Before Xieye could finish his words, he saw Yang Chang's figure flash and his throat felt like it was a knife.

The sword left his throat and blood gushed out.

(End of this chapter)