After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 873 - 859: Ambush

Warfare is not that simple; except for the rapid assault of light troops who can move at once, the mobilization of a large army requires preparation in advance.

Logistics and battle readiness need to be coordinated.

When two armies are at a standoff, it is impossible for hundreds of thousands of troops to just stand there idly day after day, staring at each other with necks craned. You must understand, they consume an enormous amount of provisions every day.

Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang would disperse the army across various locations to alleviate pressure, ensuring that when a battle starts, reinforcements could come quickly and unite swiftly into one army.

Shi Le did the same.

So when he suddenly withdrew his forces, even with the original provisions supporting them, he was still somewhat distressed because the army transporting the provisions was halfway, and they could not change course quickly to pursue them.

The transportation of provisions naturally incurs losses since the troops escorting them consume a portion as well. Now mixed with Zhao Family Army and Shi Family Army, no one knows if the troops encountered at the next crossroads are the Shi Army, Zhao Family Army, or mountain bandits.

Shi Le never counted on any luxuries, so any provisions not yet in hand he considered nonexistent.

In this situation, he had to gather provisions along the way.

But this was Yan State, which he had just conquered not long ago and had not truly brought under his rule. The locals did not recognize him; in their hearts, the true authority was still the Jin, Gou Xi, and Zhao Hanzhang...

Hence, Shi Le could not collect provisions through demand; his method was to directly seize them!

When pulling back his troops, he initially did nothing to conceal from Zhao Hanzhang.

Once his rear troops were blocked and Zhao Hanzhang discovered them, he no longer hesitated, immediately unleashing his troops to plunder—ransacking every village chief, Wu Castle, and county town they passed.

Wherever the Shi Army passed, it was a horrific sight, corpses littered everywhere, and a large number of civilians fled their homes to avoid being slaughtered and looted, becoming refugees.

But with Shi Army covering the fields, sometimes fleeing civilians would run into a road only to confront the Shi Army and be looted and slaughtered.

This happened when they had provisions and money; if they did not, they’d be slashed and simply have a rope strung around their necks, tied like cattle or sheep to be dragged along, serving as rations for the troops.

The Shi Army would eat people; some did so from hunger, but others among the Assistant Generals did so to savor the fear on the faces of the Han people, deriving joy from such perverse behavior.

The troops became easily excited during the march, and to allow an outlet for their energy, Shi Le never prevented their depraved actions.

Thus, when Zhao Hanzhang pursued them, they often saw campfires burned out on spots where the Shi Army camped by the road, with humanoid bones roasted well and mostly devoured.

At first, Zhao Hanzhang would stop to observe, count their stoves to estimate their numbers, then silently examine those bones.

Later, she seldom looked and would lead her people on a rough count before continuing the pursuit.

Zhao Erlang was very obedient, having long led the main army alongside Xie Shi to reach ahead of the Shi Army by taking a detour. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Xie Shi calculated the Shi Army’s marching speed, and with Zhao Erlang took three days of provisions to set up ambushes on both sides of Broken Neck Mountain.

This mountain consists of two mountains with a wide official road running through, resembling two disconnected segments of a neck from a distance—the western hill resembling a fallen head and the eastern hill the shoulder that connects to the neck.

Locals called these two mountains Broken Neck Mountain, the best place within a hundred miles for an ambush.

Upon reaching the mountain trail’s entrance, Shi Le found the mountain not that high, and with the road being wide enough under the bright sunlight, it appeared anything but grim or scary.

Yet Shi Le felt his heart tighten. He frowned, didn’t rush in, but called over an Assistant General to lead two thousand men through first.

The Assistant General took the order and cautiously led two thousand men through the mountain trail.

Zhao Erlang peeked down from the grass, brightened at the sight of the extended army, and began to rise slightly...

Next to him, Xie Shi pressed him down with a hand, whispering, "Wait a bit longer."

With the troops about to pass, Zhao Erlang began to worry, "Sir, if we wait longer, we won’t hit anyone."

Xie Shi softly replied, "Shi Le’s main force is no less than fifty thousand soldiers. This is just a handful. Wait a bit longer."

Zhao Erlang obediently lay back down, waiting patiently.

Xie Shi glanced at him with a smile, continuing to lie still beside him.

Zhao Erlang wasn’t particularly smart, but he was obedient; even when he didn’t quite understand, he would listen if told to do so.

Knowing his limitations well, since Sister had instructed him to heed Mr. Xie and Mr. Wang, he did so.

Even if it was occasionally frustrating.

He watched as an army unit passed before him, and soon enough another unit ran back from the already-passed troops, gradually disappearing.

After waiting a long time without seeing anyone else pass, Zhao Erlang grumbled a discontented humph.

Xie Shi didn’t console him but concentrated on waiting.

After a while, people reappeared within their line of sight.

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up, focused intently.

Xie Shi too stared intently; once part of the troop passed, he raised his hand ready to give the order.

Zhao Erlang, puzzled, said, "Why do those people look so weary and frail, not quite like the Jie people but more like our Han people."

Xie Shi lowered his hand, looking towards Zhao Erlang’s back at Zhao Cai and Lv Hu.

Zhao Cai turned to Zhao Erlang, and receiving a nod from him, took out a treasured holder to bring out the Thousand-mile Eye from his pouch.

Xie Shi scrutinized carefully, then said, "These are captives, hold off for now."

Zhao Erlang grabbed the Thousand-mile Eye, quickly sweeping over the despondent crowd, then looking further back.

He moved the sight over the faces of the Jie, attempting to identify Shi Le, thinking to strike first when the battle started by killing Shi Le.

Sister told him: Capture the king under arms, and the strength of the rogues will dissipate.

Zhao Erlang carefully searched; meanwhile, Shi Le, dressed in a stolen Assistant General’s attire, felt the gaze brush over him. Chilled, he lowered his head and instructed, "Raise shields, hasten through, quickly!"

At the same moment, the gaze Zhao Erlang had passed over returned, examining Shi Le closely. Despite the incongruous attire, hat, and position in the column, he recalled Sister’s words that commanders sometimes disguised themselves.

He happily told Xie Shi, "Sir, I’ve found Shi Le."

Xie Shi, having noticed their accelerated pace, immediately issued the order to attack.

Once Xie Shi’s hand moved downward, there were immediate thuds of numerous rocks tumbling down both hillsides; many soldiers stood to hurl or push rocks down...

Simultaneously, bomb throwers lit fuses on explosive bags, casting them down...