Chapter 1604: Chapter 1604: Conquering the Forward Camp

Late at night, at the Qin Army’s front camp.

"Damn, they only give us one bowl of porridge, you can count the grains of rice in it, how are we supposed to eat this, we came to fight yet we’re starving."

"Yes, three days in a row, every day we eat so little, before the rebels attack us, we’ll starve to death first."

"Haven’t you heard, the grain warehouse in our rear camp caught fire, I heard the fire burned for a whole day and night without stopping, tens of thousands of shi of grain were completely burned."

"What, that much grain, how many people could that feed."

"Yes, it seems what those rebels say is true, we’re really out of food. I heard from several nearby garrisons, many brothers have fainted from hunger. Don’t our generals care about this?"

"What generals, those officials probably already slipped away, leaving us brothers here as scapegoats."

"No way."

"You haven’t heard, on the night when the grain warehouse was attacked, our ferries at the dock were also attacked, all boats were destroyed, four to five thousand people, we don’t even know how to retreat. Those generals surely left by night before any mutiny happens."

"Then... what do we do."

"I don’t know, I heard the rebels treat the surrendered Qin Army quite well, otherwise... maybe we can quietly defect when no one’s around, after all a soldier eats wherever they go."

"Makes sense, makes sense."

Inside the Qin Army camp, many soldiers were discussing, of course, most were complaining. In these times, food determines the army’s strength; if soldiers can’t eat their fill or have nothing to eat, discontent is inevitable. After all, these are fifty thousand soldiers, not fifty thousand Death Soldiers.

"Brothers, I heard yesterday a village chief took dozens of his men and defected to the rebels, not only were they fine, they were even rewarded. Why don’t we go too?"

"Good idea."

"Good."

Bam.

"What was that sound?"

"It’s the rebels, they’re here."

Suddenly, a clamor erupted at the camp gate, it was the sound of the rebels, from the momentum alone you could tell this was a major battle with tens of thousands involved.

"Quick, get to the camp wall, release arrows to meet the enemy."

"Release arrows."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

"Forward, attack them." Man Cang personally led his five thousand Iron Armor Army at the forefront, the rebels moved quickly, many Qin soldiers were still in their dreams, hadn’t even dressed yet, and they were already at the camp gate.

But after all, this is the Qin Army’s front camp, the gateway of this defense line, Zheng Lang had stationed heavy troops here, reinforcing the defenses, the Siege Hammer couldn’t break through the gate instantly. Meanwhile, more and more Qin soldiers realized the situation, standing on the camp walls, shooting arrows at the rebels below, inflicting serious losses.

"Set up the ladders, attack." Man Cang personally commanded from below, the Iron Armor Army in triple-layer armor paved the way with shields, the soldiers behind carried machetes and spears.

"Why hasn’t the gate been breached, break it faster." Arrows rained down, the attacking soldiers were struck one after another. If this stalemate continued, casualties would increase. Man Cang was anxious, shouting loudly.

"General, the gate is reinforced with thick bronze plates, very sturdy, the Siege Hammer can’t break through easily."

"Damn it, follow me." Man Cang led his guards, charging directly to the gate. On both sides of the Siege Hammer were handles, soldiers held it and smashed it against the gate, Qin archers above shot arrows and dropped stones downward.

Whoosh, whoosh.

"Watch out, General." Arrows shot down, Man Cang’s guards promptly blocked with shields.

"Move aside." Man Cang pulled a dead soldier from the Siege Hammer, taking his place.

"Three, two, one, smash."

"Again."

"Quick, release arrows, don’t let them breach the gate."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Ah.

An arrow struck Man Cang, the length pierced his shoulder.

"General, are you alright?"

"These bastards, I’m fine, keep smashing." Man Cang shouted, pulling out the arrow with one hand, blood immediately gushed from the wound.

"Break it."

Rumble.

With a loud crash, the gate collapsed.

"All soldiers, follow me inside." Man Cang picked up a machete from the ground, charging in first.

"Breach the camp."

Tens of thousands of soldiers poured into the camp like a tide, the defense line collapsed completely, many Qin soldiers surrendered immediately, this was precisely what Ye Shikai wanted to see, and why he delayed two days for the attack.

"Those who surrender will not be slain."

"Surrender quickly."

The rebels who entered the camp shouted, the Qin soldiers had low morale to begin with, faced with the rebels’ sudden fierce assault, they were at a loss. Most either surrendered on the spot or scattered, fleeing toward the back mountain. In the chaos, dozens died from trampling.

"Lay down your weapons, and you’ll be spared."

"Quick, lay down your weapons."

..............................

"Report, the Qin Army’s front camp has been captured, over eight thousand surrendered, over ten thousand were annihilated, the remaining scattered troops are fleeing along the rear paths, Wan Qi Yuan is leading the cavalry in pursuit."

"Great." Ye Shikai excitedly said. At this moment, the camp was in disarray; after a night of bloodshed, the Qin Army lost nearly twenty thousand. Crucially, seizing the front camp left the remaining Qin camps undefended, easy to conquer.

"Order General Chen to continue the chase, the Qin Army is at its weakest now, we must press on, without the front camp’s two thousand, Zheng Lang doesn’t have much force left in his hands."

"Yes, I’ll go at once."

"In this night assault, how many casualties did we suffer?"

"Casualties... about over four thousand, of those, Man Cang’s Iron Armor Army suffered nearly two thousand." Shangguan Jian reported.

"What about Man Cang?"

"He was hit by an arrow, fortunately, it’s only a flesh wound, didn’t hit anything vital, he’s bandaging up now."

"That’s good then."

"Man Cang personally led the assault, first to charge into the camp, killing sixty-seven Qin soldiers. Without the Iron Armor Army’s desperate effort to break the gate quickly, we’d have more than four thousand casualties." Shangguan Jian answered, Ye Shikai nodded in agreement, speed is essential in warfare. Man Cang took only the time of two incense sticks to break into the Qin camp, enabled by swift action. If delayed, allowing the entire two thousand Qin soldiers to engage, the battle might still not have ended.

"By the way, any news on Xue San..." Ye Shikai suddenly asked.

"Not yet, the team just set out last night, Old Ye, no need to be anxious." Shangguan Jian comforted.

"Alright, if there’s any news, report back immediately."