raid

"Husband, are they no longer chasing us?"

"Bayinnaung isn't stupid. His earlier pursuit was just a surge of hot blood. By now, he's likely tired from running, his mind has cleared, and he's preparing to attack the provincial capital of Phitsanulok."

"Then what should we do? Are we going to rendezvous with Commander Liu and the others?"

Gao Yuan shook his head.

"The provincial capital only has fifteen hundred defenders. If we abandon them, they won't hold out for more than a few days. We must do our best to delay the enemy's advance and buy time for Liu Renguis courtesy name and the others."

Hearing Gao Yuan's plan, the woman's expression changed instantly, and she reached out to grab him.

"Delay them? No, husband, that's too risky. We only have four hundred cavalry."

"Qingqing, don't underestimate four hundred cavalry. Used correctly, they can rival ten thousand elite troops."

Gao Yuan's confidence wasn't blind. In the original timeline, the Battle of Pengcheng during the Chu-Han Contention and the Battle of Hulao Pass at the end of the Sui and beginning of the Tang were both surprise attacks decided by a small number of elite cavalry.

The Personal Guards cavalry under his command, while perhaps not comparable to the iron cavalry under The Overlord or the heavy cavalry Xuanjia Army under Er Feng, were still elites meticulously trained by him and Xia Luqi.

They might not be much use on the northern battlefields, but bullying these tropical foreign tribes was well within his grasp.

Mu Qing opposed him with all her might, but being alone without her sisters, she eventually had to accept the result of her failed opposition. However, she secretly swore in her heart...

"When I get back, I must tell my sisters to give this stinky fellow a good lesson."

At dusk, fifty li east of Phitsanulok, Bayinnaung prepared to set up camp to rest and recuperate, planning to reach the city walls in one breath tomorrow.

Without a moment to catch their breath, the soldiers began to busy themselves—digging trenches, cutting wood, and unloading tents from the wagons—a scene of bustling activity.

Just as everyone was busy, the earth suddenly began to shake.

Some stood up curiously to look around and soon saw a sight that scared them out of their wits.

"Cavalry! Cavalry! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Four hundred and two riders, each clad in black iron armor and wearing ghost-faced iron masks, charged forward like death gods emerging from hell.

A distance of a few hundred paces was covered in the blink of an eye for cavalry.

The panicked toungoo people had no time to organize a defense before Gao Yuan led his cavalry into the crowd.

With the impact of the warhorses, there was no need to swing their spears or broadswords; the immense momentum alone easily tore through flesh.

Gao Yuan's spear soon became exceptionally heavy with two corpses skewered on it. He let go, discarded the spear, drew his broadsword, and continued the slaughter.

Coming and going like the wind, Gao Yuan and his cavalry quickly pierced through the enemy camp.

Turning his horse around and taking a brief breath, Gao Yuan spurred his steed and charged back once more.

Stunned by the sudden raid, the toungoo people hadn't even recovered before they realized the cavalry was back. This time they finally reacted, but not with resistance—they routed.

Gao Yuan found his discarded spear and successfully retrieved it; it was a reward from the System, so losing it would be a huge loss.

The second charge was even smoother. The fleeing enemy left their backs exposed to the cavalry, but they only had two legs; no matter how desperately they ran, they couldn't outrun four-legged warhorses.

After one round of charging back and forth, Gao Yuan didn't linger and led his cavalry away, leaving a scene of devastation for Bayinnaung.

Seeing the field of corpses before him, Bayinnaung's face turned livid. Although he didn't say a word, his clenched fists revealed his inner rage.

After tallying the losses, Pindalipha approached him with trepidation, his voice stuttering.

"Re... Reporting to Your High... Highness, our army has... lost over thirteen hundred men, with fifteen hundred wounded, and fifteen tents burned..."

"And the enemy?"

"No... no enemy corpses were found..."

Halfway through his sentence, a size 45 foot kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

"You are a dignified general, yet you only report losses? Go, take men to find Gao Yuan. I want to see his head tomorrow."

Pindalipha scrambled up from the ground, covered in dust.

"High... Highness, we have no cavalry; we simply can't catch them!"

"Then die out there. I will take care of your wife and daughter myself."

Bayinnaung walked away with a dark face, leaving a despairing Pindalipha kneeling there.

His colleagues stood far off, looking at Pindalipha with sympathy and sighing incessantly.

Others might not know, but they knew Bayinnaung meant it; he was truly capable of such things.

There had been generals who died in battle before whose property was 'accepted' by this prince, along with their charming wives and beautiful concubines; even their twelve-year-old daughters became Bayinnaung's playthings.

After everyone had left, Pindalipha slowly stood up with the help of others.

"General, what should we do?"

"What else can we do? Gather all the scouts and riders and follow me to search."

In the wilderness, a hopeless Pindalipha left the camp with dozens of scouts, their figures gradually swallowed by the night.

Twenty li from the Toungoo camp, in a mountain forest, was the resting place for Gao Yuan's group.

They were currently cooking mushroom and jerky soup. The perfect victory had everyone smiling, sharing their achievements from the day.

Not a single one of the four hundred cavalrymen had fallen behind, which made Gao Yuan very happy.

Even better, the System notifications arrived.

"Congratulations, Host. Horsemanship has increased from B- to B."

"Congratulations, Host. Leadership has increased from B to B+."

After a long period of stagnation, his strength had improved again, which was naturally delightful.

While he was rejoicing, a sentry covered in leaves suddenly ran over to report.

"Reporting to the Commandery Duke, a troop wearing Toungoo uniforms has been spotted on the mountain path."

More work! Gao Yuan was pleased. He finished his hot meat soup in one gulp.

"They're chasing fast. How many of them?"

"Only a few dozen riders, but judging by the leader's attire, he should be a Toungoo general."

"Daring to come to their deaths with just a few dozen men? Let's get them!"

The enemy was few and they were many; the advantage was his. Gao Yuan didn't hesitate to give the order.

Pindalipha knew from the start that coming out to find Gao Yuan's trail was a suicide mission.

He just didn't expect to be ambushed so quickly—or rather, surrounded.

Seeing Gao Yuan, the impulse in his heart could no longer be suppressed. He threw down his saber, dismounted, and knelt prostrate on the ground.

This completely bewildered Gao Yuan, and he couldn't help but blurt out...

"What the hell are you doing?"

Pindalipha didn't look up, shouting in broken Chinese,

"Pindalipha, defender of the Toungoo Ayutthaya, pays respects to Commandery Duke Gao of the Great Qian."

Gao Yuan was still confused but gracefully raised his hand.

"General, please rise. I wonder what brings you here today?"

Pindalipha then tearfully recounted his ordeal to Gao Yuan.

Gao Yuan was jaw-dropped after listening. Good heavens, this Bayinnaung was also a fan of The Prime Minister.

And he didn't even spare his own people; wasn't this just destabilizing the army's morale?

"So, you want to surrender to me?"

"As long as my wife and daughter's safety can be guaranteed, This humble general is willing to serve as the Commandery Duke's inside agent."

Gao Yuan was momentarily unsure of the truth and hesitated, which made Pindalipha think the stakes weren't high enough, so he hurriedly began to add more.