Chapter 60: Enemy Presence

ion, if Zhang Liyang couldn't control it, his heartbeat sounded like a muffled thunderclap, booming within a radius of ten or so meters, as if exploding right beside their ears!This situation persiste...Whew, whew~.

A biting wind swept across the boundless expanse of the wasteland, where flags fluttered in the breeze. The fervent bloodlust surged like a plume of smoke reaching for the heavens, an unyielding force that even the cold wind could not deter.

"Sir," Yuanli, clad in armor, said with boundless excitement in his eyes, "The troops are ready."

Likewise clad in armor, Zhang Liyang patted his own armor and said, "Let's go then."

Upon receiving Zhang Liyang's order, Yuan Licé rode his horse to the front of the ranks and shouted in a loud voice, "Listen up everyone, we are departing!"

This two thousand troops were given by He Houde. However, the one leading these troops wasn't someone from He Houde's side, but Yuan Li. This was a requirement put forward by Zhang Liyang at the time.

Only when your own people are in command can you be guaranteed the greatest safety!

As a school captain, Yuan Li was at most in command of a hundred men. Now that Zhang Liyang had him directly command two thousand troops and horses, how could he not be extremely excited

"My lord, since General He could give us two thousand soldiers, why doesn't he lead them himself and fight instead of sending us"

During lunchtime, Yuanli posed his inner doubts to the group.

All the soldiers and horses are under He Houde's command. Wouldn't it be better if he led them himself

Hearing Yuan Li's confusion, Zhang Linyang stretched out his hand to roast the fire while squinting slightly. "He's looking for a scapegoat!"

"Scapegoat"

"Think about it, outside the city walls, there are scouts searching for enemy movements. No matter if he sends troops or not, he takes a risk. But now we're leading the army, so the risk isn't on He Houde anymore, it falls on us."

"Then wouldn't we be working hard for nothing"

"It's more than just thankless work," Zhang Liyang sneered. "Since we led the troops out of the city, He Houdé has been waiting for a reward."

"Why is this again"

"We lead troops out of the city, if we eat that thorn-stick enemy army, what merit does He Houde have"

Zhang Liyang's words left Yuan Li stunned. Although unwilling, he still nodded, "Yes!"

Two thousand soldiers were all under his command, He Hou De. No matter what, he had a share of the merit.

But what if we…

"If we get eaten by the Zhaire, what then" Zhang Liyang smiled. "Then He Houde's initial policy of sitting on his hands would be right, wouldn't you say that the superiors will reward him"

"Regardless of the outcome, he's a winner"

As for Yuanli's question, Zhang Liyang remained silent this time. There were some things he couldn't say or shouldn't say.

At first glance, He Houde seemed to have gotten the upper hand. Zhang Liyang was played around by He Houde like a fool, but for Zhang Liyang, with those few warhorse stallions, he was the winner!

A small seed, if carefully nurtured, can grow into a towering tree. Now Zhang Liyang has received the seed and planted it. What he cares about is not the present but years from now, even decades later!

Furthermore, besides this advantage, Zhang Liyang had another good point. Thinking of this, Zhang Liyang looked up at the void that others couldn't see. There, a system task was released in the morning.

"Attention, system task launched: Eliminate the enemy forces of Spike!"

"Ding, triggered the Battlefield Ten Thousand Enemies mission. Rewards will be issued based on the final number of enemies slain by the host. Current enemy kills: 0!"

For Zhang Liyang, system tasks were a form of sustenance, a reward comparable to mountains of gold and silver!

Looking at Zhang Liyang from his cultivation to the present, all his resources come from the system. Just as long as the system has a mission and Zhang Liyang can complete it, he won't have to worry about resource problems!

Here, seeing Zhang Liyang remain silent, Yuan Li also fell silent.

Seeing Yuan Li's silence, Zhang Liyang smiled and said, "No matter what others think, our top priority is to find that hidden enemy force and destroy them. After all, we are the leaders, and the credit will naturally belong to us!"

"None can take it, not even He Houde!"

Zhang Liyang was able to say this with confidence not only because he had Mu Yinghua, the Huaqing Princess, backing him up, but also because he was still a member of the Black Prison Mansion.

If He Houde takes credit for this at the time, hehe... there will surely be an incredibly detailed account appearing in the imperial palace of the capital.

Suppressing his thoughts, Zhang Liyang looked at Yuan Li, "Have the scouts been sent out"

"They've been sent out," Yuan Li, now revitalized, nodded. "Ten people per group, I sent out twenty groups. Each group is heading in a different direction, and they have to report back once every hour."

One can only enter the Stone Fortress camp and become a Captain if they are not only brave and strong, but also possess outstanding leadership skills.

This is also why Zhang Liyang felt at ease letting Yuan Li directly command these two thousand soldiers.

"Good." Zhang Liyang nodded. He wasn't good at leading troops or going to war, so Zhang Liyang decided to delegate everything completely, "The army is under your command. Just tell me the results when the time comes."

"Yes!"

Zhang Liyang's delegation of power ignited Yuan Li's eyes with fervent passion. He felt the blood within him begin to boil with excitement.

On the first day, it was likely due to being too close to Fei Long City that Zhang Liyang and his men did not discover traces of Ci Lai. It wasn't until the third day that scouts reported back, stating they had found numerous hoofprints and substantial evidence of human activity.

Following the scouts to the scene, Zhang Liyang saw hoofprints and piles of horse manure all over the ground. He felt that this must be the enemy force they were looking for.

Only Ci Lai could have so many warhorses.

This is also why Dàqián has been repeatedly harassed by the Cìlái but has been helpless against them.

Besides relying on almost a nation of soldiers, the main reason for Zi Lai's success was that he nearly exclusively used cavalry!

Although the boundless prairie cannot grow a large amount of food, the vast grasslands provided plenty of pasture, which allowed the Clack tribe to raise a large number of cattle, sheep and warhorses!

"Send word to have the scouts report every half hour."

"Yes!"

As the enemy drew closer, Yuan Li also began to become more careful and cautious.

Before noon, Yuan Li discovered that one of his scouting parties had failed to report on time. This discovery prompted Yuan Li to dispatch additional scouts while also preparing the main army for action.

Among the two thousand troops, there were only five hundred cavalry, the rest being infantry. To capture the enemy force composed entirely of cavalry, one must prepare for a tough battle.

"Master, look, our scouts!"

Just as Yuan Li was waiting, a figure of his scout suddenly appeared in front. But seeing the scout running wildly while occasionally looking back, Yuan Li's face sank immediately, "Prepare to meet the person!"

As soon as Yuan Li spoke, a sharp sound suddenly rang out from behind the scout.

All soldiers who have ever fought on the battlefield know that roar is the sound of an arrow piercing the air!

"Ah!"

At a distance of only three or four miles from Yuan Li and his men, a scout was shot off his horse by an arrow fired from behind. Afterward, several horsemen appeared on the horizon as well, they belonged to Ci Lai's cavalry!thing."At this point, He Houdé's only thought was to find a way out for himself. It was difficult to practice deviant cultivation in the Jianghu, but it might be more acceptable within the court.Ther...