207: Chapter 208 The Enemy Advances, We Retreat

The transmission of orders within the military formation faltered for a moment.

Lord of Qinghe City turned his head sharply.

The face of the Lord of Nanchang City also darkened.

City Lord Fengye even instinctively gripped the weapon at his waist.

What were they most afraid of?

They were most afraid that Flower City had discovered them long ago.

They were most afraid that all of this was a trap set by Flower City.

They were most afraid that while Lei Lie and Strategist Zhu Ge appeared to be away, they had actually already ambushed an army halfway to wait for them.

As the shouts of battle rose from the rear, the first thought in the minds of many generals was:

"Have we been surrounded?"

"Did Flower City have preparations long ago?"

"Is this an ambush?"

Cold sweat broke out on some people's faces immediately.

Even City Lord Liefeng felt his heart tighten violently.

He knew best how terrifying Flower City was.

The clearer he was about it, the more he feared it.

He turned his head abruptly, his gaze locked tightly onto the dust and smoke rising from the rear.

The next moment, however, his brows slowly furrowed.

"Something is wrong."

"The momentum is wrong."

"The equipment is also wrong."

He had seen the army of Flower City.

That kind of military formation, that kind of armor, that kind of oppressive Aura—once seen, it was impossible to mistake.

But the army charging from behind had a loose formation, chaotic speed, damaged armor, and banners that had absolutely nothing to do with Flower City.

City Lord Liefeng stared at that flag, and after a moment, his face suddenly darkened.

"It is Banhe City."

The Lord of Qinghe City was stunned.

"What?"

City Lord Liefeng squeezed these words out from between his teeth.

"It is City Lord Zhao Kun."

"That minor City Lord who was almost taken down by me last time."

"If Flower City hadn't intervened, he would have been a corpse long ago."

As this was passed on, the terror within the Four-City Allied Forces formation suddenly paused.

Immediately following, the terror turned into shame and annoyance.

The face of the Lord of Qinghe City also became unsightly.

They were actually frightened by such a remnant army just now?

The Lord of Nanchang City said coldly, "A minor City Lord who only survived because of Flower City dares to come and stop us?"

City Lord Fengye was even more enraged by the shame.

"Kill him!"

"Crush him first!"

City Lord Liefeng did not speak immediately.

He originally did not want to create extra complications.

The true target of the Four-City Allied Forces this time was Flower City.

Every moment of delay increased the possibility of Flower City reacting.

But the cold sweat from that moment just now was still clinging to his back.

The people from the three cities were all looking at him.

If he didn't even dare to act against City Lord Zhao Kun at this time, then all those words about urging to send troops and moving forward and retreating together would become a joke.

City Lord Liefeng raised his hand.

"Adjust the rear army."

His personal soldiers immediately responded.

"Yes!"

City Lord Liefeng's eyes were gloomy.

"First, destroy this troop from Banhe City."

"Crush them!"

The sound of horns rang out quickly.

The rear of the Four-City Allied Forces began to turn.

Squad after squad of armored soldiers turned around, shield bearers pressed forward, long spears formed lines, and cavalry spread out from both sides, like a massive behemoth slowly turning its head.

The army on City Lord Zhao Kun's side was still charging forward.

Looking from afar, the formation of the Four-City Allied Forces was like a great river.

Thick and heavy.

Weighted.

Once it pressed forward, it would be enough to swallow everything in its path.

And the troop that City Lord Zhao Kun brought was like a narrow stream.

Shaky.

Thin.

It didn't even make enough sound.

Yet that stream still crashed into it.

...

Heyang.

Inside the Council Hall, City Lord Qin Fang was standing in front of a map.

Ever since the Four-City Allied Forces excluded Heyang, he had kept scouts watching the directions of The Four Cities: Liefeng, Qinghe, Nanchang, and Maple Leaf.

In the past few days, the atmosphere throughout Heyang had been very tense.

No one said it explicitly.

But everyone knew that the Four-City Allied Forces would move sooner or later.

They just didn't expect this day to come so quickly.

Rapid footsteps came from outside the hall.

Sha Chenghu strode into the room, his armor still stained with dust from outside.

"City Lord!"

City Lord Qin Fang looked up.

Sha Chenghu clasped his hands in a salute, his voice kept very low, but he could not suppress the urgency within it.

"The scouts sent back news."

"The armies of Liefeng, Qinghe, Nanchang, and Maple Leaf have set out and are about to merge into one."

"The target has been confirmed."

He raised his head.

"It is Flower City!"

Inside the Council Hall, everyone's expression changed simultaneously.

City Lord Qin Fang, however, did not show much surprise.

He just looked down at the map, his gaze falling on the routes from The Four Cities leading to Flower City.

After a moment, he said in a low voice, "They really did make a move after all."

Everyone in the hall looked at him.

City Lord Qin Fang stood up.

"Old Liu!"

Chief Administrator Liu Wenheng immediately stepped out.

"I am here!"

City Lord Qin Fang said, "Contact Flower City immediately and inform them of the movements of the Four-City Allied Forces!"

Liu Wenheng bowed.

"Understood!"

City Lord Qin Fang turned his head.

"Old Sha!"

Sha Chenghu stepped forward.

"I am here!"

City Lord Qin Fang said in a deep voice, "Send out troops immediately! Intercept and kill the Four-City Allied Forces!"

...

On the other side, when the rear of the Four-City Allied Forces began to turn, City Lord Zhao Kun's heart sank as well.

In the distance, soldiers pressed forward.

Long spears were raised.

Cavalry flanked from both sides, the sound of hooves rolling over the barren slopes layer upon layer.

That momentum was completely different from the side of Banhe City.

The army of Banhe City had just caught its breath from the previous siege; many people's armor had not been repaired, their blades were chipped, and their quivers were not full.

What was even more fatal was that morale had not been restored.

They were almost broken through by Liefeng last time.

Now, standing in front of them was the allied force of Liefeng, Qinghe, Nanchang, and Maple Leaf.

City Lord Zhao Kun gripped his sword, his palms full of sweat.

Of course he was afraid.

He was more afraid than anyone.

But fear was fear; he had already come.

If he did nothing and just watched the Four-City Allied Forces press toward Flower City, even if he survived, he would no longer have the face to say that Zhou Yun had saved him.

"City Lord."

The deputy general lowered his voice, his throat tight.

"They have adjusted their troops!"

City Lord Zhao Kun saw it.

The rear of the Four-City Allied Forces was like a thick wall, slowly turning toward them.

As long as they charged forward a bit more, the two sides would collide.

What would happen after the collision?

City Lord Zhao Kun knew without thinking.

With this small number of troops from Banhe City, if they really clashed head-on with the rear army of The Four Cities, at most they would just splash a bit of blood.

Just as the distance between the two armies became closer and closer, to the point where even the iron nails on the front-row shields could be vaguely seen, City Lord Zhao Kun suddenly raised his sword violently.

The deputy general's eyes turned red.

He thought City Lord Zhao Kun was going to order a charge.

The soldiers behind also gritted their teeth.

Someone shouted in a low voice.

"Protect the City Lord!"

The next moment, City Lord Zhao Kun's sword blade swung backward.

"Retreat!"

The deputy general was stunned.

He even suspected he had misheard.

City Lord Zhao Kun had already shouted a second time at the top of his lungs.

"Retreat!"

"The whole army, retreat!"

The front line of Banhe City seemed to have been slapped by this order, and the entire formation faltered for a moment.

The breath that had just been summoned had not yet been unleashed before it was abruptly severed by City Lord Zhao Kun's sword.

Some were stunned.

Some instinctively reined in their horses.

Others reacted faster, hearing the word "retreat" and immediately turning around.

The deputy general's expression changed several times, and finally, gritting his teeth, he drew his sword and pointed backward.

"Obey the City Lord's order!"

"Retreat!"

The army of Banhe City turned and ran.

They didn't run very neatly.

It couldn't be called pretty either.

But they ran very fast.

The rear of the Four-City Allied Forces had just set up its formation and hadn't had time to press forward when they saw the fierce Banhe army that had been charging over suddenly turn around and run.

The generals in the rear were all stunned.

"Ran away?"

"What does this mean?"

"Weren't they the ones who shouted and charged over first just now?"

After a brief moment of shock, shame and annoyance immediately surged up.

Being frightened into adjusting their troops by such a remnant army had already made them hold back anger in their hearts.

Now that the other side didn't even dare to fight and turned and ran, what was this?

Provocation?

Mockery?

"Pursue!"

A Liefeng general's face was livid, and he swung his long sword forward.

"Pursue them for me!"

The rear army immediately pressed out.

The sound of hooves exploded.

The soldiers of Banhe City were not as elite as the Four-City Allied Forces to begin with; not long after running, the soldiers who fell behind were caught up by the cavalry.

Screams came from the rear.

City Lord Zhao Kun heard it.

His hand trembled.

But he did not turn back.

Turning back was useless.

Turning back at this time would only cause more people to die.

He gritted his teeth and continued to urge his horse.

"Faster!"

"Don't stop!"

"Whoever stops dies!"

The deputy general followed at his side, his face extremely ugly.

He completely did not understand what City Lord Zhao Kun was trying to do.

Just now, it was clearly City Lord Zhao Kun himself who ordered the advance.

Now that the two armies hadn't even clashed, it was City Lord Zhao Kun himself who ordered the retreat.

If he just wanted to run, then why did they leave the city?

If he really wanted to help Flower City, why didn't he even dare to touch them?

The deputy general had a belly full of words stuck in his throat, but he couldn't ask a single one because of the sound of hooves getting closer and closer behind him.

The Four-City rear army pursued for several miles, and a messenger rider rushed over.

"The City Lord has an order!"

"Do not pursue deeply!"

"Rear army, return to the formation!"

The Liefeng general who had pursued reined in his horse, his face gloomy.

Of course he was not reconciled.

The Banhe army in front was still running, their formation scattered, and their tail was dangling right before their eyes.

As long as they pursued a bit further, he was confident he could bite off at least a few hundred people.

But the military order had arrived.

He could only flick his reins heavily.

"Return!"

The rear army began to withdraw.

The dust and smoke on the barren slope slowly dispersed.

City Lord Zhao Kun stopped in the distance and looked back.

Seeing that the Four-City rear army indeed did not continue to pursue, he let out a long breath.

As that breath was released, his back was almost soaked.

The deputy general also stopped.

He looked at City Lord Zhao Kun, his expression still ugly.

"City Lord..."

City Lord Zhao Kun was still panting.

He forced himself to calm his breathing and, feigning composure, lifted his chin.

"They went back."

The deputy general was stunned.

City Lord Zhao Kun did not explain.

He also could not explain it too carefully.

At this time, if he showed even a bit of cowardice, the courage he had just barely dragged out would immediately dissipate.

He looked at the Four-City military formation in the distance, his heartbeat not yet fully calmed, but he already let out a laugh.

"Go again."

The deputy general raised his head sharply.

A question mark slowly appeared on his forehead.

Just escaped death, and now going back into the tiger's den?

However, before he could ask, City Lord Zhao Kun had already drawn his sword.

The sword blade pointed forward once again, his Aura as grand as a rainbow,

"Pursue!"

...

The Four-City Allied Forces had just reorganized their rear army.

City Lord Liefeng sat in the center of the army, his face as dark as if pressed by a layer of iron.

His order just now not to pursue deeply was not because he didn't want to kill City Lord Zhao Kun.

Quite the opposite.

He really wanted to.

A minor City Lord who almost died at his hands last time now dared to bring that bit of remnant troops to disrupt his plans.

This in itself deserved death.

But he knew even better that the one they really needed to catch this time was not City Lord Zhao Kun.

It was Flower City.

Flower City was busiest right now.

The people of the Ten Cities had just entered the city, the main force of Flower City was away, and Lei Lie and Strategist Zhu Ge were not there.

Every moment that passed, this window of opportunity would diminish by one point.

He could not waste time on Banhe City.

"Pass the order."

City Lord Liefeng said coldly.

"The whole army, continue to advance."

The personal soldiers were about to respond when shouts of battle suddenly came from the rear again.

At first, the sound was not loud.

But quickly, the chaotic sound of hooves and shouts closed in again.

City Lord Liefeng's eyelid twitched slightly.

The face of the Lord of Qinghe City beside him also darkened.

"Coming again?"

The Lord of Nanchang City looked back, his voice cold.

"Does this guy think we dare not kill him?"

City Lord Fengye even cursed directly.

"This thing is courting death!"

The rear of the Four-City Allied Forces was forced to turn again.

City Lord Zhao Kun saw them move from afar and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Retreat!!!!!!!!!"

The Banhe army turned around for the second time.

The Four-City rear army pursued for the second time.

This time, they were obviously more ruthless than before.

Cavalry flanked in advance, archers blocked the retreat path, and Banhe City didn't run as smoothly as the first time.

After all...

Last time it was the City Lord who ordered the retreat, which was why they had to let you go.

And yet you still dare to pursue?

Rebellious and outrageous!

Shouldn't this be severely punished?

So quickly, the rear of the Banhe City army led by City Lord Zhao Kun was bitten off.

Dozens of people were caught up.

Screams, the sound of weapons clashing, and the neighing of horses mixed together.

The deputy general's eyes turned red watching this.

"City Lord!"

City Lord Zhao Kun's lips were pale.

"Run."

The deputy general gripped his sword tightly.

City Lord Zhao Kun's voice suddenly sank.

"I said run!"

The deputy general closed his eyes, and in the end, did not turn back to save the people.

The Four-City rear army pursued for a distance and was again forced back by City Lord Liefeng's order.

The deputy general panted, suddenly stunned.

They went back again.

It was like this the first time.

It was still like this the second time.

As soon as they closed in, the Four-City rear army had to turn back.

As soon as they retreated, the Four-City rear army had to pursue.

But the Four-City Allied Forces' true target was Flower City; after pursuing for a distance, they had to return to formation again.

Back and forth like this, it was the people of Banhe City who suffered losses.

But what was being cut away was the time The Four Cities could least afford to lose.

The deputy general began to understand.

He looked sharply at City Lord Zhao Kun.

"City Lord."

His voice was still a bit hoarse.

"Are you... stalling for time?"

City Lord Zhao Kun finally reined in his horse.

His back was already soaked, and his face was extremely pale.

But hearing the deputy general's words, he still managed to force a smile.

"You understand now?"

The deputy general's eyes lit up bit by bit.

Several generals beside him also looked at each other, and on their originally gray and defeated faces, there was finally some light.

They thought they were going to die just now.

Now they realized that City Lord Zhao Kun never intended to die from the beginning to the end.

He was stalling.

Stalling the Four-City Allied Forces' formation.

Stalling their time.

Stalling the momentum they had toward Flower City.

City Lord Zhao Kun wiped the sweat from his forehead, his hand still trembling slightly, but he was already looking smug.

"Although I didn't study military lessons well."

"But 'the enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue.'"

"I can still recite these sixteen characters."

The deputy general clasped his hands in a salute sharply.

"City Lord is wise!"

City Lord Zhao Kun felt a bit guilty inside, but his face smiled even more steadily.

"Stop flattering me."

The troop behind him was smaller than before.

Some people had blood on their faces.

Some people were already gone.

The excitement that had just risen was suppressed significantly by this wave of losses.

City Lord Zhao Kun looked at those empty positions, and the smile on his face faded.

It's not that he didn't know people would die.

He just had no other way.

The Four-City Allied Forces were too strong.

Banhe City was too weak.

To let a small city make a sound at this time, one could only trade lives for time.

But trading was trading, they couldn't throw everything in.

He gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white bit by bit.

"Come again."