Chapter 59 One After Another

Within the vanguard army of the barbarian tribes, Zamut was listening to the report of his scout. "General, our provisions should have arrived by yesterday evening, but up to this moment, there is still no sign of the supply train."

Zamut's expression turned somewhat grim. Following the successive surprise attacks by Li Ruochen, their provisions and supplies had inevitably suffered some losses. At the present rate, the army could only sustain itself for two more days at most.

Zamut pulled out a map. "Where exactly did you scout last time? Mark it on the map for me immediately."

The scout immediately drew a horizontal line on the map. This spot was more than a hundred miles beyond the frontier garrison, and going forward and back again would take even more time.

Liu Bai glanced at it and said, "I told you back then that arranging your provisions and supplies this way would make things extremely tight. Look, you wouldn't listen at all, and now you're in trouble, aren't you?"

Zamut snatched up a wine cup and hurled it straight at Liu Bai's feet. The shattered fragments of the cup splattered everywhere. "Shut your mouth! Since you chose to help me, why can't you help just a little more? If you had been able to help me prepare a batch of provisions, I should be standing right beneath the walls of Jiangyang City by now."

Liu Bai narrowed his eyes and said, "Hmph! Are you blaming me for your own mistakes? It seems the magnanimity of you, great general, is quite ordinary after all. I must ask you this: why should I help you this much, and what can you give me in return?"

Ignoring Liu Bai, Zamut barked, "Pass my order: immediately dispatch a small troop of cavalry to see what on earth has happened. If they were delayed on the road, execute that supply officer for me."

Before one wave of trouble had subsided, another rose. Another soldier rushed urgently into the tent. "General, that fellow Li has launched another surprise attack! This time, nearly half of our provisions have been burned to ashes."

Zamut was grinding his teeth to the bone. Ever since they breached the frontier, life had become harder day by day instead. How was it that he had never realized this Li Ruochen could be troublesome to such an extent before?

"All troops, march at full speed! From now on, ignore any and all of their surprise attacks. We must reach Qingyuan County City at the absolute fastest speed, otherwise we will end up as an isolated army out in the wilderness."

Under Zamut's resolute determination to push forward, all irrelevant items began to be continuously abandoned, and their speed increased significantly. However, upon reaching the Kan River, Zamut threw down a good many things once more, for a defensive line constructed of timber had already appeared across the river.

This defensive line could be described as utterly crude—it could not even be called a wooden wall—yet this very stretch of defense was capable of blocking Zamut's current army. After all, this river was bound to become a formidable obstacle for them.

Moreover, following a heavy downpour just the day before, the soil on both banks of the river was somewhat damp, making it entirely impossible to set up large catapults.

No matter how furious Zamut was, he still had to analyze the current battle situation. When he saw that only a handful of people on the ramparts were wearing proper military attire, he immediately realized that the majority were merely farmers who had been conscripted.

Against a mob like this, what good was a shred of geographical advantage?

His army could still easily crush the opponent. He immediately ordered a general under his command to lead five thousand men to launch a direct assault. Although the waist-deep water severely hindered their pace, it still did not prevent them from forcibly crossing the Kan River. Lin Changhe could not simply stand by and watch from the wooden wall either; he immediately ordered his men to start shooting arrows and hurling stones.

A new siege battle began once more, though no one knew how long it could possibly last. After all, everything was far too crude; if another heavy downpour struck, they might not even be able to hold their ground.

The combat effectiveness of the barbarian soldiers truly lived up to its terrifying reputation. Even while enduring the rain of arrows and stones, a large portion of them managed to fight their way directly to the edge of the wall.

Lin Changhe drew his long-handled broadsword. "Everyone, your own families are right behind you! Hold the line here for one more moment, and you win an extra fraction of survival for them. And the same goes for all of you—you will not be abandoned. Whether you can carve out a different life for yourselves depends on the outcome right here and now!"

These words did little to truly boost morale. When all was said and done, these men were still honest farmers, and expecting them to genuinely pick up swords and engage in a bloody battlefields was simply asking too much of them.

More than inspiring words, they feared that if they fled, they might be liquidated by the government forces upon their return. After all, they knew all too well how miserable the fate of deserters would be, even without being told.

With almost no help from the crude wooden wall, those barbarian soldiers were already biting their blades and climbing up using both hands and feet.

Though the crowd of cobbled-together farmers held weapons in their hands, as they watched the enemy about to charge up, every single one of their hearts was filled with boundless terror.

To change such a scene, they could only rely on the five hundred elite soldiers under Lin Changhe's command. It was like hot oil hitting cold water, instantly stirring up a violent reaction.

Having been subjected to so many surprise attacks, the hearts of these barbarian soldiers were also filled with burning rage. Now that they finally had an opportunity for a frontal melee, they were all the more eager to vent the fury raging in their chests.

Lin Changhe led his own men, holding the very front line, while the left and right flanks were held by the four thousand conscripted farmers. That was right—they were purely farmers. Having received not a shred of training, calling them militiamen was utter nonsense.

However, everyone soon realized that they had reached a life-or-death extremity. What did it matter if they did not want to kill? The excruciating pain of steel blades cleaving into flesh made them acutely aware that even if they did not resist, they would still die just the same.

Only when driven to a desperate plight can human beings unleash their full potential, and no matter how worthless a person might seem, they will struggle with everything they have just to stay alive.

Upon the crude rampart, scenes of flying flesh and blood were visible everywhere. From time to time, someone could be seen tumbling down into the water, never to make a sound again. Soon, the entire river of the Kan River was nearly dyed red.

This first wave of assault lasted for a full hour and more before Lin Changhe finally beat the enemy back. And this was not entirely due to Lin Changhe's arduous efforts, but rather because Li Ruochen had arrived with his men, launching a surprise attack on the barbarians' rear.

Afterwards, Li Ruochen made a wide detour and stealthily slipped back to the opposite side of the Kan River. After all, the river was not particularly wide, and crossing one by one was still feasible.