What was wrong was not the empty camp that the horses' hooves had trampled over, but the middle camp that was still silent so far.
The patrol sent out a signal just now, and our own side has made a shocking noise. Even if the bandit army is slack, it is definitely impossible for them to be sleeping soundly now, right?
They may signal, raise fire, organize the army, and form a formation; or they may panic, run, howl, and flee.
There are only two possibilities for the camp that was attacked at night, and there is no third possibility! unless……
The smile on his face disappeared immediately.
Zhou Han suddenly reined in his advancing horse and shouted "Slow down!"
But how can the galloping cavalry stop at the drop of a hat?
Even he himself was carried forward a little further - he had reached the sixth fence.
Wow——
He saw the fence shake suddenly.
A chill exploded, sending chills all over his body.
"Lift..."
Uh-huh! ! !
Before the word 'Shield' was shouted out, thousands of arrows were fired from the fence.
Under the dark moon and firelight, long arrows seemed to condense into flying insects, and like floating smoke, they rushed towards the crowd quickly.
puff--
After the dull sound erupted, pieces of blood mist rose.
This distance is too close, so close that even the armor cannot withstand the arrow attack.
The tenacious warriors of Great Xia were like withered grass, cut down by a scythe.
"ah!"
Screams rose.
A knight was shot along with his horse, and his horse hit the antlers in front of him.
Just hearing a 'pop' sound, his flesh and blood were separated, and he died tragically on the spot.
"Your Highness!"
The roar of General Jiang Ning came from the flank: "A large amount of hay and firewood were found on the outside!"
boom--
Zhou Han was not given any chance to react.
As soon as the news came, the fire started.
The soldiers crowded on both sides were unable to retreat, and many of them were killed in the fire.
Fortunately, the middle camp was relatively empty, and the fire lacked a medium to continue spreading and could only spread along both sides.
"Hahaha!"
When the people and horses in the field were in chaos, a burst of laughter came from above: "Is Zhou Han dead?"
On the fence, torches were raised, reflecting a huge shadow like a bear and tiger.
He was extremely majestic and tall, covered in thick black iron armor, like an indestructible iron tower.
"Xu Ponu!" Tang Jiye recognized the other party and his face turned ugly: "Did you know we would come?"
"Yes." Xu Ponu grinned and nodded: "Not only did I know that you would come, I also knew that those who went to Beiyang City were decoys. Now your army camp is also very empty."
After the first wave of arrows and flames, the chaotic army gradually subsided and order was slowly restored.
Seeing this, Xu Ponu had to sigh secretly: The elites of the imperial court are indeed much stronger than the mud-legged army in Hedong.
Zhou Han's face changed slightly and he sneered: "What are you talking about?"
"You're panicking." Xu Ponu's smile grew thicker: "Let me tell you something that will make you even more panicked. Now Mr. Guo has led an army of 70,000 people and headed straight for your camp."
Zhou Han suddenly changed his expression, and then roared: "This is impossible! You are adding more to Beiyang City..."
"Hahaha! What we are adding to Beiyang are civilian husbands!"
"Mr. Jia mobilized the civilian men who delivered food, and asked them to bear the banners of various armies, and also asked those on the periphery to wear sergeant uniforms, so as to hide it from the outside world."
"Actually, Beiyang has not added a single soldier!"
"I have 30,000 people under my command and will stay in this camp until you come."
"Guo Gong drives the main force and destroys your camp in one battle!"
Xu Ponu did not hide anything at all and informed Jia Dao of all his arrangements!
For Zhou Han and many generals, this was like a bolt from the blue!
Zhou Han's face, which was filled with fighting spirit, turned pale in an instant.
The hand holding the knife is shaking!
how so?
How could this be?
Seventy thousand people attacked the camp... Huangfu Longting was absolutely unstoppable!
Although it was said to be on the defensive and awaiting attack, the imperial camp was not in any natural danger. Secondly, it had not been here long and the defensive fortifications built were quite limited...
These gaps cannot be reversed by the fighting will of Huangfu Longting alone!
Once the camp is broken, he and more than 20,000 people will be isolated in the mountain road.
No progress, no retreat, not even logistical supplies!
Once the food and grass are exhausted, the only option is to go to the mountains to chew tree bark - to put it bluntly, it is a dead end!
What should I do... Zhou Han can be considered a person who has experienced battles, but this is the first time he is so panicked today.
Xu Ponu had already given the answer, but as the commander-in-chief, Zhou Han's choice was even more difficult.
Withdraw troops directly?
What if Xu Ponu deliberately frightened himself because his headquarters was empty?
Keep fighting?
But if what he said was true, then he would lose everything.
"Hu...he..."
He wasn't fighting yet, but he was already breathing heavily.
Sweat rolled down his forehead - this was a sign of extreme nervousness.
Around him, the armies who heard the news also fell into panic.
Tang Jiye's throat rolled and he looked at Zhou Han with difficulty: "Your Highness..."
"shut up!!!"
Zhou Han suddenly raised his head and let out a loud shout, which shocked everyone.
After drinking this, Zhou Han calmed down.
He raised his horse, looked back at everyone, and said loudly: "Everyone, we have reached this point today. Is there a way to survive if we retreat?"
"Hedong has been in chaos for a long time. We are here because we are entrusted by the country. How can we retreat in the face of battle?"
Having said this, he swung his horse and pointed at the top of the fence: "There are only two to three thousand people in the bandit camp."
"The two to thirty thousand people are bandits who prey on the weak and bully the good; and the troops are from the Forbidden Army and are world-renowned elites and true warriors of Great Xia!"
"Now that the disaster of gold and fire has been endured, how can there be any room for warriors to bow their knees to the bandits?"
"We bear the vengeance of Paoze being killed, and we also have the ambition to serve the country. This is the time to make ten rounds of ten battles, break through the bandit camp, and establish achievements!"
He urged his horse and walked slowly among the crowd.
There was silence everywhere, only the flames on both sides were still burning and making crackling sounds.
"I am the emperor's heir, but here today, I am just like you all, just a warrior."
At this point, he suddenly got off his horse and his voice became louder: "I have said everything I want to say, and the rest can only be discussed at the celebration banquet."
"The thieves in the city listen -"
"The second prince of Daxia, Zhou Han, is here, come and break the camp!"
He held the big spear, shield on one side, looked at the fence, and strode forward:
"Everyone, listen -"
"There is no heir to the emperor, there is no head of Guizhou today. You and I share the same bloody clothes, follow me in the formation, and break through the bandit camp!"
After saying this, the prince, who was born into an extremely noble family and was usually extremely arrogant, actually ran towards the fence himself.
His pace became faster and faster, and his back was extremely firm.
The surrounding sergeants looked attentively and looked at... Boom!
They were instantly ignited and erupted into a terrifying roar:
"Destroy the bandit camp!"
"Destroy the bandit camp!!!"
Like thunder, like waves, like wild flames, it rolls towards the fence!
On the fence, Xu Ponu was stunned for a moment.
Then, he grinned again: "Interesting, he was born into wealth, but he is not a coward."
"The princes of Daxia all have some tricks, otherwise they will surely die at the hands of their brothers." A man who looked like a scribe next to him looked worried: "Brother Xu, can we stop him?"
"The courage to fight for one's life is commendable, but it cannot reverse their inevitable defeat!" Xu Ponu was extremely calm.
