442: Chapter 442 The Night Raid on the Shule Tribe

The sky in the Hexi Corridor always darkens more slowly than in the Central Plains.

When the last rays of the setting sun finally vanished beneath the horizon, the night sky unfurled like a massive sheet of black silk, slowly enveloping the earth.

After clearing the battlefield from the day's fierce combat, Wei Zheng knew that danger had not yet passed and immediately threw himself into the tense arrangements for the night's defense.

He not only meticulously positioned sentries in plain sight around the camp to keep a close watch on any movement but also covertly stationed hidden sentinels in key locations, remaining vigilant against potential threats.

To ensure there were no gaps in the night defenses, Wei Zheng personally inspected the camp's perimeter, leaving no potential hazard unchecked.

His figure moved through the night from one sentry post to another as he carefully inspected every detail, remaining busy until midnight before finally dragging his weary body back to camp to rest briefly in preparation for the unknown challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, ten li away from the Great Qin Merchant Caravan's trenches, the Great Elder of Niao Rong was quietly gathering a large force of cavalry in the darkness.

He had mercilessly dismissed the cavalry whose morale had been shattered during the day. The five thousand riders now assembled had all been meticulously re-selected from the tribes subordinate to him.

The Shule Tribe's characteristic of being a nation of soldiers allowed them to mobilize quickly when war arrived. Furthermore, they held the right to divide the spoils of war; this enticing incentive caused the tribe's warriors to respond enthusiastically, rapidly forming a sizeable army.

The Great Elder of Niao Rong summoned the five Thousand-Rider Commanders to his side and discussed the plan for the night raid in low tones.

His voice was like a whisper from the darkness, carrying a chilling gloom.

"Listen well. This is a night raid, so we must launch our attack in total silence. Every horse's hooves must be wrapped in cloth; not a single sound must be made to alert those Great Qin people."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the Thousand-Rider Commanders, and said with a stern look, "Be extremely careful as you approach the trenches. If the Great Qin people hiding inside discover us, this operation will be a failure. Once you are close, surge forward with speed and strike before they can react. Like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey, charge into the trenches and kill every last one of them!"

The Great Elder of Niao Rong's eyes shimmered with a cold light in the darkness, like two eerie, freezing stars.

This time, his objective was crystal clear: to attack the guards hidden in the trenches.

He knew in his heart that the most formidable weapons these Great Qin Merchant Caravan guards possessed were the revolvers in their hands.

At night, with the dim light and poor visibility, the Great Qin people's shooting accuracy would inevitably plummet. For the Shule Tribe, this undoubtedly meant a significant increase in their chances of survival, and the gap created by their differing weaponry would shrink accordingly.

The Great Elder of Niao Rong looked up at the sky, waiting for the optimal moment to strike. Around the fourth watch of the night, when people are at their sleepiest.

A cruel smile touched the Great Elder of Niao Rong's lips as he gave a wave of his hand, directing the five thousand cavalry to slowly approach the Great Qin trenches like a swarm of ghosts.

These riders lacked a uniform formation, but they possessed absolute obedience toward the strong.

Led by the Thousand-Rider Commanders and Hundred-Rider Commanders, they crept forward silently like a wolf pack before a hunt.

Their silhouettes flickered in the darkness, and a bloodthirsty light gleamed in their eyes, as if they were a pack of starved beasts staring at their prey.

In this mission, they were not only to slay the Great Qin guards in the trenches but also to seize the revolvers from their hands.

Once their cavalry could be equipped with revolvers, it would be like giving wings to tigers for the Shule Tribe; their combat power would skyrocket to unprecedented levels.

They were convinced that tonight would be a bloody feast, and the guards of the Great Qin Merchant Caravan would tremble and perish beneath their blades.