Chapter 210 Ghostly Fist Style
Cheng Xu's words energized Bai Yuan. He looked forward, and by the moonlight, he could see a large group of people standing under the trees opposite them. It was the reserve force of the Seventh Detachment, not yet engaged in battle, comprised entirely of the elderly, women, and children.
Bai Yuan instantly grasped Cheng Xu's strategy: attack what the enemy *must* defend. The rebels would undoubtedly turn back to protect their families, and anyone blocking them then would be from the Seventh Detachment—there was no mistake.
Pointing toward the group of elderly, women, and children, he commanded, "Feint an attack there!"
The Gao Family Village Militia roared, charging first toward the Seventh Detachment's reserves.
This charge genuinely startled the Seventh Detachment; those were their families, their vulnerable points.
The able-bodied men of the Seventh Detachment abandoned their Second Detachment foes and wheeled around to confront the Gao Family Village Militia.
In the thick of battle, armies most feared such chaotic scrambling. Only bandit forces would be so undisciplined, and the scene instantly devolved into utter mayhem.
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu, the two formidable generals of Gao Family Village, led the charge. Both were towering, brawny figures clad in heavy armor, an unstoppable force.
A young, strong man from the Seventh Detachment rushed from the side, blocking their path. Gao Chuwu, with a sweep of his spear, sent the man flying a considerable distance.
"Wham!"—against the man's chest, knocking him to the ground.
Another fierce bandit from the Seventh Detachment, thinking Zheng Daniu hadn't seen him, thrust a spear from the side. But the bamboo shaft, sharpened though it was, struck Zheng Daniu's iron armor with utterly no effect.
Zheng Daniu didn't even pause. He leaned forward, and with a snap, the bamboo spear broke against him, sending its wielder sprawling onto his backside.
A villager from Qingjian County, part of the Second Detachment, leaped out from nearby, swung a stone lock, and crushed the bandit's head, instantly finishing him off.
At this point, the battlefield situation became quite interesting.
The Seventh Detachment's bandits desperately charged to save their families, making the Gao Family Village Militia seem like a magnet drawing everyone in, while the Second Detachment members relentlessly pursued and hacked at the Seventh Detachment.
The battle was fought with absolutely no discernible strategy.
Bai Yuan, seeing his position become a magnet, with everyone rushing toward him, was genuinely startled. He disliked being the focus of all attack, but he had prepared himself for this outcome the moment he decided to feint against the enemy's elderly, women, and children.
Now, witnessing the bandit forces surge forward with reckless abandon, he quickly roared, "Close ranks! Spears up!"
Having undergone some training, the Gao Family Village Militia reacted swiftly, instantly coalescing into a tight formation, spears raised.
Their spears, tipped with iron, were far superior to the sharpened bamboo wielded by the rebels. Grouped together with spears raised, they presented a respectable defense. The bandits, charging chaotically, found themselves helpless against such a spear formation. Even if an occasional bamboo spear managed to slip through, it was stopped by the militia's armor.
The Seventh Detachment's bandits couldn't breach their defense.
Meanwhile, the Second Detachment seized the opportunity to unleash a barrage of attacks on the Seventh Detachment from behind.
A chaotic three-way melee ensued.
This chaotic scene desperately needed a true commander!
Whether among the bandits or the militia, someone needed to step forward and shout orders on how to proceed.
But Bai Yuan had never witnessed such a spectacle and lacked experience. Zhao Sheng, knowing nothing of command, could only fret helplessly on the sidelines.
All depended on Night Scout and Cheng Xu now!
These two leaders were still locked in a duel.
In the midst of the chaotic battle, Cheng Xu had just exchanged blows with Night Scout. With a clang, Night Scout's blade sprang away, while Cheng Xu's saber landed with a "thwack" on Night Scout's cotton armor, still unable to penetrate it.
Night Scout grinned, letting out a chuckle. He'd finally found a moment to breathe, about to utter some taunt, some declaration, but his mouth hadn't even opened...
...Cheng Xu's hands clamped around Night Scout's head, twisted, and *snapped*.
Cheng Xu suddenly released his grip, letting his waist saber fall. Simultaneously, he lunged forward, and with a swift crack, Night Scout's neck broke, his body slumping to the ground.
"Heh, good thing I just learned the Ghostly Fist Style!" Cheng Xu muttered.
It turned out that Cheng Xu, realizing his saber couldn't pierce the armor, simply abandoned it. He instead utilized the modern military combat techniques he'd secretly learned from the mountain wall. That swift neck-snapping move was utterly clean and impossibly elegant, killing in an instant. What good was armor if it couldn't protect one's neck?
Having finally killed the one who knew his true identity, Cheng Xu breathed a sigh of relief. As far as he could see, all traces of the "Grandmothers" (a humorous mental image of his pursuers) had vanished. Safe, truly safe now; the Jinyiwei wouldn't come knocking.
He bent down, retrieved his saber, and with a single stroke, severed Night Scout's head. Holding it high, he bellowed, "Night Scout is dead!"
At that cry, the Seventh Detachment immediately descended into complete chaos.
No one needed to give orders now; everyone screamed in unison and fled.
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu strode forward, eager to pursue, but Cheng Xu barked, "Stop! Don't chase them! In these dark, desolate mountains, pursuing the enemy is a death wish! Even if the enemy doesn't kill you, you could slip and fall into a ravine and break your necks!"
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu halted abruptly.
On the other side, the Second Detachment members had also intended to pursue, but seeing the Bai Family Fortress men stop, they naturally followed suit.
The Seventh Detachment scattered in a panic, fleeing down the western slope, and soon vanished into the night.
It was finally over.
Cheng Xu chuckled, heading toward the militia to assess casualties. After a thorough count, to his astonishment, there were no fatalities. Only two militiamen had sprained their ankles, and a few others had minor scrapes.
Li Daoxuan's "armor-first" development strategy, though seemingly insane and in violation of the Great Ming Code, was undeniably effective. After all, something ineffective wouldn't even be illegal.
Cheng Xu chuckled twice, then turned to check on Zhao Sheng's side. They hadn't lost many men, only a handful, but the wounded were numerous.
However, in their line of work, injuries and death were always expected. The people of Qingjian County were notoriously tough; they endured without complaint, their wounds simply exposed, leaving their fate to the heavens.
Bai Yuan approached, "Carry the wounded. We'll descend the mountain tonight; Bai Family Fortress has miraculous healing medicine."
Zhao Sheng was overjoyed and immediately ordered them to set off.
Over three thousand people, with their children and families, carrying the wounded, evacuated from Huanglong Mountain that night. Upon reaching Bai Family Fortress, Zhao Sheng, with customary deference, instructed his subordinates not to enter the fortress but to rest in the open ground outside.
Bai Yuan also quickly produced the "Heavenly Healing Ointment" bestowed by the Heavenly Lord, applying it to the wounded Qingjian County villagers. He also sent people to bring out many steamed white buns, providing them with an extra meal.
Since killing the officers to save Zhao Sheng and rising in rebellion, these villagers from Qingjian County had never received such thoughtful treatment. They finally understood the meaning of "peace of mind," and, deeply moved, wept openly outside Bai Family Fortress.
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