Finest Servant

Chapter 530 Surprise Attack

"According to Sheng Dan, we are currently about twenty miles away from Bayanhot. A fast horse could reach it within an hour. Up ahead, the Turkic Left Prince Batur and the National Tutor Lu Dongzan are fully committed to attacking the Helan Mountain Gorge. They launched their first round of heavy assaults on the entrance of the gorge yesterday. Our forces held them off for a day, thanks to the natural fortifications. The Turks suffered heavy losses. As a result, they are currently mobilizing a large number of reinforcements, including warhorses and supplies, through Bayanhot to sustain their frontline," Hu Bugui's voice was tinged with excitement and agitation. Indeed, this was the first news they had received about the Helan Mountain Gorge after being separated from the main army for nearly five days. From the Turks’ heavy mobilization, it was evident that the war was not going well for them. Miss Xu was keeping her promise through her actions.

"Good, we finally have news from Helan Mountain," Lin Wanrong let out a slight sigh. "Since the Turks have suffered heavy losses, our side must also have sustained considerable damage. Advisor Xu must be under a lot of pressure."

Hu Bugui nodded gravely, "Indeed, that's the case. Fortunately, we're already close to Bayanhot and can act at any time."

Lin Wanrong gave a nod, "Brother Hu, did Sheng Dan mention how many Turks are currently stationed at Bayanhot?"

"Of course he did," Hu Bugui replied. "In their quest to take Helan Mountain Gorge, the Turks have mobilized three hundred thousand elite cavalry, practically depleting their manpower. Only a little over three thousand remain at Bayanhot. Including small contingents that have arrived with supplies, the total number won't exceed five thousand."

On the open plains, although their eight thousand soldiers had numerical superiority over the five thousand Turkic warriors, the Turks were formidable fighters. The battle would not be easy. Fortunately, they had the element of surprise on their side.

"Who leads the Turks stationed at Bayanhot?" Lin Wanrong further inquired.

"He is another fierce general under Batur, named Labuli. I encountered him on the battlefield ten years ago. He excels in wielding a wolf-headed iron mace, has a menacing appearance, and is extraordinarily strong. He is highly esteemed among the Turkic cavalry, even once cutting down hundreds of our soldiers in a single night. He was subsequently titled 'Hundred Man Slayer' by the Khan."

Labuli? Hundred Man Slayer? Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Brother Hu, since he's an old acquaintance of yours, I'll leave him to you. Remember my principle—don't bother with chivalry or fair fights when dealing with the Turks; it won't work. The more deceitful and ruthless you are, the more they'll fear you. I suggest you prepare some quicklime, ropes, and hidden weapons. When you encounter Labuli, aim for his eyes with the quicklime and use your hidden weapons. Disable him."

Serving under General Lin, even the most upright men would be corrupted. His tactics were crafty and vicious, markedly different from the traditional combat style of the empire, but it specifically targeted the Turks' weaknesses. The Turks would probably find it hard to adapt to this sudden change in fighting style.

Hu Bugui chuckled and nodded, "I understand, General. This time I'll bring Old Gao along. No matter how capable Labuli is, he won't be a match for Old Gao's methods."

Lin Wanrong squinted his eyes and grinned, ‘Gao Qiu is an utterly rotten man, head to toe. With him on our side, we have enough to give Labuli a run for his money.’

"Then go ahead and do it," Lin Wanrong gestured dismissively. "If you mess this up, you'll disgrace me, and I won't let you off lightly."

"Understood!" Hu Bugui responded excitedly before rushing out of the tent. Just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and turned back, "One more thing, General. What should we do with Sheng Dan now that we've questioned him?"

"Sheng Dan? Who's Sheng Dan? I've never met the man!" General Lin opened his hands wide, a picture of innocence.

"Exactly, exactly, we've never met him," Hu Bugui chuckled. "I get it, I'll go take care of it."

"One more thing," Lin Wanrong pulled Hu Bugui closer and whispered something into his ear. Hu Bugui's face lit up, and he gave Lin Wanrong enthusiastic thumbs-up. "Brilliant! General, your wisdom and courage surpass others. You are truly the backbone and cornerstone of our army. To serve under you is my greatest fortune!"

‘Old Hu really couldn't stand the test, could he? He used to be such an upright man. How did he become this sycophantic after following me? It's all my fault!’ Lin Wanrong sighed, lamenting the loss of one more "upright person" from the world.

After days of rapid marching and restless nights, the soldiers slept peacefully by the lakeside that night, cushioned by the fresh blood of the Turkic warriors. Even Lin Wanrong had a vivid, long-forgotten dream.

Beautiful women roamed the vast grasslands, their smiles enchanting. Their silk robes slipped off, revealing legs like jade and soft, glowing chests, outshining even the moonlight. Qingxuan, Xian'er, Luo Ning, and Eldest Miss—all were irresistibly charming, their eyes seemingly capable of drowning men. Just as he was about to touch them, a fierce roar broke through the wind and sand. A vicious lion leaped out of nowhere, its jaws gaping wide, menacingly lunging at the beauties. Even the skilled Qingxuan couldn't dodge in time and was about to fall prey to the beast...

"My God!" Lin Wanrong jolted awake from his dream, his forehead slick with cold sweat, his body shivering. He looked outside; the night was still young, barely the third watch. After catching his breath, he wiped the sweat from his face, his heart still pounding.

The dream, a mixture of fantasy and nightmare, had shaken him. Though not superstitious, he couldn't help but see this as an ominous sign. Even the formidable Xiao Qingxuan was almost devoured by the lion in the dream. Where did such a fearsome lion come from?

Lost in his thoughts, Lin Wanrong was jolted back to reality by the rustling of the tent's entrance. The curtain lifted, and a ferocious Turkic man stormed in.

‘An attack by the nomads?!’ In his shock, Lin Wanrong drew his war blade and slashed at the intruder.

The "nomad" dodged quickly and exclaimed, "Brother Lin, it's me, Old Gao!"

Lin Wanrong hesitated, then looked more closely. The man who had rushed in had a high-arching mustache and a fierce appearance, but his facial features were familiar. Wasn't this Gao Qiu?

"My God, Brother Gao, are you attending a masquerade?" Lin Wanrong sheathed his war blade and eagerly patted his chest, looking at Old Gao with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Gao Qiu chuckled, "Didn't you ask Hu Bugui to choose men to disguise as nomads? How do I look? Do I pass?"

‘You more than pass; you scared the soul out of me,’ Lin Wanrong thought to himself. Old Gao was tall and plump. With a felt hat on his head, dressed in nomadic clothes, a smudge of yellow powder on his face, and a tuft of whiskers, he looked like an unevolved Turkic seedling—save for the blue eyes.

Lin Wanrong sized him up and down before nodding, "Brother Gao, with your physique and your methods, you're even more 'nomad' than a real nomad. You're perfect for the role of their leader."

"Thank you for your kindness, General!" Gao Qiu responded with a laughing bow of his fist.

Another "nomad" burst into the tent; this time it was Hu Bugui. With his robust build, when he donned a felt hat and nomadic robe, he was just as convincing as Old Gao, maybe even more so. Having fought against the nomads for years, he was quite familiar with their customs and temperament.

Hu Bugui handed a nomadic robe to Lin Wanrong, smiling, "It's getting late. Time for you to get dressed, General."

Lin Wanrong put on the felt hat and threw on the robe haphazardly. Having been on the march for several days, his facial stubble had already grown full. From a distance, he resembled a bandit more than a general.

"How do I look? Do I resemble a Turkic man?" He grinned with delight as he strapped his war blade to his waist.

Gao Qiu looked him up and down, and after a while, said, "You do, for the most part. But there's one regrettable flaw we can't fix."

"What's that?" Lin Wanrong asked, puzzled.

Gao Qiu stared back with a solemn expression, "The biggest flaw is that you're too handsome, too striking. There's not a man in the nomadic tribes that could match your looks. In a crowd, they'll spot you first. So the biggest vulnerability in our army is, alas, you."

"Come on, Brother Gao, stop focusing on my flaws. I've been trying to fix this natural disadvantage for years," Lin Wanrong chuckled, clearly enjoying the flattery.

As they left the tent, thousands of "Turkic men" were already mounted on large Turkic steeds, awaiting them. These were all sturdy young men that Hu Bugui had picked out overnight. Apart from the eye color, they looked 70-80% like actual nomads. Lin Wanrong nodded approvingly, "Not bad, not bad at all. Never seen such good-looking nomadic lads before. Both of you, tell everyone to slow down. Let the horses eat more grass, and the men run slower. By the time the sun sets, we should just about reach Bayanhot. We don't want to arrive too early."

Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu exchanged puzzled looks. The distance from the lake to Bayanhot was only about 20 miles. Reaching there too early was actually the tricky part. But since General Lin had spoken, they could only obey. They ordered their men to unload and reload their baggage repeatedly, wasting time and treating it as physical training.

By the time the sun approached its zenith, the bellies of the warhorses were full. Lord Lin had already completed a leisurely lap across the lake, while the slow-moving "nomads" finally got themselves organized. Thousands of cavalry, leading a seemingly endless herd of warhorses, marched magnificently towards Bayanhot.

This was their first time marching across the vast plains. The sky was clear, the sun shone brilliantly, and the endless stretches of green grass beneath the azure sky lifted everyone's spirits—a stark contrast to the sandy winds beyond the Great Wall.

‘No wonder these nomads are all excellent horsemen. With such fine plains, who wouldn't prefer horseback to bicycles? It'd exhaust them to death!’ Lin Wanrong grumbled to himself, unimpressed by the horsemanship the Turkic people had been forced to adopt.

Gao Qiu and Hu Bugui, the two who looked most like Turkic people, naturally took on the roles of leaders. "Both of you speak Turkic. If you don't lead, then who will?" said Lin Wanrong. Throughout the journey, Gao Qiu practiced his Turkic curses to perfection, proudly leading the way, adorned with an "I speak Turkic" badge.

Following General Lin's advice to take it slow, their marching speed was only marginally faster than a snail's pace.

As they approached Bayanhot, the number of nomads they encountered on the road increased. All seemed to be in a hurry, reinforcing the belief that the war situation near Helan Mountain was indeed tense.

To prevent any suspicions, Hu Bugui adhered strictly to Lord Lin's teaching: "I am a Turkic man; I shall strut as I please." He stretched the formation wide, filling the plains with their imposing presence. Anyone who dared look their way would be sternly rebuked by Hu Bugui from a distance, while Gao Qiu brandished his scimitar and roared beside him. Together they intimidated, looking almost wolf-like. Even the bravest of nomads would think twice before crossing them.

At last, the setting sun cast its reddish glow on the faces of the soldiers. The previously relaxed mood vanished, replaced by a spreading tension.

"After six hours of forced march, we're finally approaching Bayanhot. Now, only six miles remain to our ultimate destination," Lin Wanrong announced grandly, a flicker of killing intent flashing across his face.

Covering fifteen miles in six hours—such a "forced march" was laughable. Gao Qiu managed to keep a straight face and nodded gravely.

Unashamed, Lin Wanrong continued, "Brother Hu, have all the scouts ahead returned?"

"The scouts have reached Bayanhot and have all been recalled to avoid detection," Hu Bugui confirmed, adding, "According to their reports, everything in Bayanhot seems normal, with no unusual movement from the Turks."

Lin Wanrong sighed in relief. As he saw the sunset disappearing below the horizon and darkness enveloping the plains, he nodded slowly, issuing a grave command: "Order the men to abandon all nonessential equipment, carrying only dry rations and weapons. From this moment on, the entire army enters combat readiness and proceeds at full speed."

As the command filtered down, the soldiers were immediately both exhilarated and tense. The trials and tribulations of the past few days would soon bear fruit. This was going to be the first major battle that Great Hua's troops would engage in deep within the plains in a hundred years. The consequences would be earth-shattering, sending ripples of shock through both enemy and ally.

The rhythmic clopping of horse hooves shattered the silence of the plains as tens of thousands of galloping steeds were driven by the soldiers, racing northward. As night began to fall, there was no longer a worry about being discovered by the nomads. Lin Wanrong spurred his horse into a mad dash, covering a distance of three miles in one breath.

"General, look!" Hu Bugui's loud shout jolted Lin Wanrong out of his headlong rush. Lifting his eyes, he saw a green fortress rising in the distance, several miles away. This fortress looked like a protruding cylinder on the plain, its walls were about two men high and covered in lush, green grass. Hu Bugui had told him before that the fortresses on the plains were built from the earth itself. Although the walls were not particularly high, the greenery lent them a unique charm.

Inside the fortress, hundreds of wolf banners fluttered in the wind. Countless tents, like blooming white flowers, were scattered around. The towering stacks of grain and fodder seemed like an unending extension of the Helan Mountains. The occasional neighing of large Turkic horses sounded as powerful as thunder, making people's eardrums tremble.

Staring at the bustling fortress before him, Lin Wanrong clenched his fists and spat out a name venomously, "Bayanhot!"

Hu Bugui nodded solemnly, his expression gradually becoming more serious.

The most challenging moment was approaching. The soldiers' pace had imperceptibly slowed; their heart rates skyrocketed, gripping their weapons tightly. Lin Wanrong nodded to Hu Bugui, giving him a meaningful glance.

"Yah!" Old Hu cracked his whip, striking it heavily against the rump of a leading horse. Tens of thousands of Turkic steeds surged forward, their hoofbeats shaking the earth as they charged toward the fortress walls. Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu rode like the wind, leading thousands of soldiers closely behind the horses.

Two miles, one point five miles, one mile... Amidst the dust and commotion, the fortress drew nearer. The raised claws on the fluttering wolf banners became increasingly visible. Every clattering hoof seemed like a heavy hammer pounding on one's heart.

"Toqtat (Stop)!" From the fortress wall, a thunderous shout suddenly rang out, its depth and power somehow surpassing the noise of the galloping horde.

The man was burly, with arms thicker than a baby's head, a chiseled face, and deep-set eyes that glowed a radiant blue. In his hand, he held a massive iron mace topped with a wolf's head.

"It's Labuli!" Hu Bugui exclaimed in astonishment.

Labuli, the leader of the Turks in Bayanhot? Lin Wanrong's internal shock was no less than Hu Bugui's. As the green fortress walls loomed ever closer, and the massive gates remained tightly shut, Lin Wanrong's heart clenched involuntarily.

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