Longzang

Chapter 82 The Best Strategy
Wei Yuan looked up to the west and could faintly see a red light flashing on the distant horizon. It was the light of a signal arrow, actually 120 miles away.

Before Wei Yuan could discuss rescue strategies with Fang Hetong, another arrow suddenly soared into the sky. This arrow was eighty miles away, in the same direction as the previous distress call. The distress call was also from a cultivator of the Yingtian Sect, requesting reinforcements while the enemy attacked.

Immediately afterwards, two more places requested assistance, these two being quite far apart. This was the first time Wei Yuan had encountered multiple requests for help simultaneously. Fang Hetong marked the locations of the requests for assistance on the map, and after a moment's thought, said, "The Liao barbarians have launched a large-scale operation to test our strength. Although the Liao barbarians haven't appeared here yet, we are in danger just as much. My point is that we cannot act rashly."

"Isn't that just letting someone die?"

Fang Hetong shook his head: "The situation is different today than yesterday. Yesterday, only you were attacked, and I was nearby, so I naturally had to come to your aid. But today, the places that need help are all far away. If we had gone there, we would have been exhausted long ago. Not only would we not be able to rescue you, but our own defense zone would also be vulnerable. If I'm not mistaken, the Liao barbarians must have deployed a large number of scouts, just waiting to intercept and kill all the reinforcements."

Wei Yuan climbed to the top of the wall and looked into the distance. He could vaguely see the military fortress at the edge of his vision. The fortress was quiet, and the garrison was motionless, showing no intention of coming out to provide reinforcements.

Fang Hetong also came to Wei Yuan's side and said, "There's no need to look. Liao Jingwu is very protective of his life. Now that he has military merits, he thinks he's invincible and is definitely planning to retreat to Liaoman. He will never risk sending troops to rescue him."

"What should we do?"

Fang Hetong then said, “At this moment, the Liao barbarians have mobilized their entire force, likely in three waves. The first wave will attack from all sides, luring us into a defensive maneuver so we can observe their strengths and weaknesses and find vulnerabilities. The second wave will roam back and forth in key areas of the battlefield, intercepting reinforcements; this wave should be stronger than the first. If I were the Liao barbarians' commander, there would definitely be a third wave. This wave is the elite; once they find a weakness in the defenses, they will strike with lightning speed. What I'm most worried about is actually the third wave. Soon, the Liao barbarians will discover that Liao Jingwu is afraid to fight and will most likely launch a strong attack on Quyang. The best course of action now is to hold this place to the death and support Quyang County.”

Wei Yuan frowned in thought. The complex battle situation was beyond his capabilities, but he dared not fully believe what Fang Hetong said. After all, Fang Hetong had never actually commanded a large army. Although he was full of talent, to put it bluntly, he might be a theorist.

Wei Yuan pointed to the map and said, "This place is the closest, only ninety li away. I'll go there myself and see what the Liao barbarians are doing."

Fang Hetong sighed and said, "Then be careful, my brother."

Just then, another distress signal appeared 150 miles to the east: besieged by a powerful enemy, holding firm and awaiting reinforcements. (Tai Chu Palace, Bao Yun)

Wei Yuan was taken aback. Bao Yun had already cultivated to the Immortal Foundation several years ago, and needless to say, her family would give her their full support for this battle. Even Li Zhi could muster sixty personal guards, so there was no reason for Bao Yun to have fewer than Li Zhi. The fact that she needed to request reinforcements despite her strength showed how perilous the battle was.

Wei Yuan didn't hesitate any longer. He said to the other party, "I have to go to the east this time. I'll leave this place to you, sir. If anything happens, send a signal arrow, and I'll be able to sense it no matter how far away it is."

Fang Hetong knew he couldn't persuade Wei Yuan, so he said, "Don't get entangled with the Liao barbarians on the way. Go quickly and come back quickly."

Wei Yuan nodded, pulled over a warhorse, hung up a spear and holster on it, and then placed a bow and several quivers of arrows on it. Wei Yuan wasn't very skilled with a bow and arrow, but after yesterday's battle, he realized that bows and arrows were indispensable.

Wei Yuan mounted his horse, but Fang Hetong suddenly pulled on the reins and said solemnly, "There is one more thing! If you find the Liao barbarians besieging Quyang County when you return, do not come back. Go somewhere else!"

"Why?" "If the Liao barbarians attack Quyang, they will surely send their elite troops in large numbers, aiming for a swift victory. You have not yet established your Dao foundation, and your path to immortality is still long. You should avoid their sharp edge and absolutely must not act rashly at this time. If you die in Quyang now, you will be utterly worthless!"

Wei Yuan pointed behind him, where arrows were constantly being launched into the sky. This indicated that the Taichu Palace and the various sects had discovered the unusual activity at the front and were beginning to mobilize reinforcements.

"My Taichu Palace is already mobilizing reinforcements, Brother Fang, you don't need to worry about me. Just hold this place. The military situation is urgent, I'll be going now."

The gates of Shayang Village opened, and Wei Yuan spurred his horse out, galloping towards Dongfang Baoyun. For both personal and professional reasons, Wei Yuan had to go to Baoyun's aid in her time of need.

Although Wei Yuan was anxious, he still controlled his horse's speed, maintaining a steady pace to conserve energy. After traveling several dozen miles, another signal arrow rose ahead, also fired by Bao Yun. The message read: the enemy had besieged the city, the city's defenses were currently secure, and all reinforcements should be wary of enemy guerrilla attacks.

Just as Wei Yuan saw the signal, he heard the sound of hooves. Several Northern Liao cavalry appeared, and seeing Wei Yuan alone on horseback, two of them came to intercept him. Wei Yuan spurred his horse to charge, dodging the heavy arrows, and thrusting two spears to knock his opponents off their horses. The remaining riders were shocked and surrounded him, but they were all dead moments later.

The Northern Liao cavalry, relying on their mounted archery skills, would often close the distance to within a hundred feet of the human cavalry and then maintain that distance to exchange fire. However, this played right into Wei Yuan's hands; his throwing pistols were incredibly powerful within a hundred feet, and by the time the Liao cavalry noticed, it was too late.

Wei Yuan didn't bother picking up the javelin, and continued forward, heading towards the place where the fighting was loudest. He hadn't gone far when he saw hundreds of riders fighting back and forth.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Wei Yuan discerned that there were over sixty human cavalrymen and over forty Liao cavalrymen. However, the Liao cavalrymen held a significant advantage, and human cavalrymen were constantly falling from their horses.

Wei Yuan immediately spurred his horse towards the battlefield, drew his bow, and fired more than ten arrows in quick succession. Wei Yuan's archery skills were poor; most of his shots missed, and he only managed to fall two Liao cavalrymen. However, after the first volley, Wei Yuan had already closed to within a hundred paces, his short spear whistling as he unleashed a flurry of arrows, instantly piercing through the Liao cavalrymen one by one!

The battle quickly turned around, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of the forty-odd Liao cavalrymen had been killed or wounded. The leading Liao cavalryman shouted a loud whistle, and all the Liao cavalrymen headed north. How could Wei Yuan let them escape so easily? A black aura emanated from his warhorse, which immediately grew larger and galloped like the wind, quickly catching up with the fleeing Liao cavalrymen. Wei Yuan fired his short spears one after another, shooting down five or six more riders, and the rest scattered and fled before he stopped.

The leader of this human cavalry unit was also a disciple of the Taichu Palace, nine years older than Wei Yuan. He had cultivated to the Dao Foundation stage for over a decade and this was his second time participating in the Grand Examination. He also came from a powerful clan and had brought a hundred private soldiers with him. Upon seeing Bao Yun's plea for help, he mobilized his entire force to provide assistance. However, they were intercepted by the Liao cavalry halfway there.

The Liao cavalry that intercepted them was a small squad of about 50 men, less than 100 in total. However, in just a few moments of fighting, nearly 40 of the human cavalry were killed or wounded, while only seven or eight Liao cavalrymen died. If Wei Yuan hadn't arrived in time, the disciples of the Taichu Palace would have fled in disarray.

Dao Foundation cultivators have many tricks up their sleeves. This disciple of the Primordial Beginning Palace can escape on his own, but his troops will all perish here.

After the bloody battle, the disciples of Taichu Palace needed to regroup and rest, while Wei Yuan bid farewell to them and continued his eastward journey. Before leaving, his fellow disciple expressed his deepest gratitude, presenting Wei Yuan with several boxes of high-grade javelins and numerous powerful talismans. He also wanted to send Wei Yuan some troops, but these ordinary soldiers would only slow Wei Yuan down at this point, so Wei Yuan politely declined.

After bidding farewell to his fellow disciples, Wei Yuan flew eastward. Along the way, he encountered several more fierce battles, including being intercepted by small squads of Liao cavalry and, like just now, engaging in a melee between two groups of men.

(End of this chapter)