The Demon Lords

Chapter 527 37 Traps Within Traps_3

The most important thing is that the best way for primitive accumulation isn't toiling in the fields, but plunder. You always need a target nearby that you can beat up, right?

The wild people had already charged down, converging on the stockade from all directions. Thankfully, Zheng Fan had a good habit when it came to warfare, a habit born from a lack of confidence in his own military command abilities. He didn't understand any wildly imaginative military stratagems, but he at least understood the principle that making fewer mistakes was always a good thing.

When it came to constructing encampments, he was quite experienced. After all, the task wasn't difficult; all it required was "attention to detail." He knew how deep the palisade posts should be driven into the ground, how many feet wide the trenches before the camp should be, and how many lines of trenches to dig. He also knew how many sharpened bamboo stakes to bury in the pits, and the precise arrangement of distances for the pit traps, camp gate, and the cheval de frise obstacles behind it. As long as the main general paid close attention, inspected repeatedly, and the soldiers didn't shirk their duties, the defenses could always be set up properly.

At this moment, the outer defenses of this military stockade were making this group of wild people suffer considerably. Screams rose and fell incessantly. Added to this, the defenders inside the stockade were firing arrows and obstructing the enemy, greatly impeding the wild people's momentum.

Furthermore, the wild people's lack of organization became apparent. Often, even when a breakthrough occurred in one spot, other groups wouldn't receive word to converge there; instead, they'd continue to stubbornly attack their own difficult sections. The squad that did break through didn't even think of supporting their allies. Instead, they recklessly plunged deeper, only to be quickly repelled.

This made the fortifications of the stockade even more effective than anticipated, buying a considerable amount of time.

"Withdraw!"

"Withdraw!"

When the wild people began clearing the outer obstacles and fences, Zuo Jiqian and Ding Hao, almost simultaneously, ordered their nearby soldiers to fall back. They were to abandon the outer perimeter and withdraw to the core area, centered around Zheng Fan's command tent, to mount their true defense.

Archers remained inside, with heavily armored soldiers forming the outer line. Tufa Chengji, personally acting like a common soldier and following orders, led his kinsmen in a counter-charge against several dozen wild people who had just rushed from one direction. They slashed and drove that wave of wild people back, then quickly returned to formation.

"'This Tufa Chengji isn't half bad,' Zheng Fan commented."

"'He has the makings of a formidable figure,' Xue Three said. 'Since ancient times, heroes have often been hidden among the common folk. It just depends on whether a favorable wind allows them to rise to prominence.'"

Zheng Fan nodded, weighing the long blade in his hand as his gaze swept around. The wild people charging from several directions had all been repelled. Finally, they seemed to come to their senses, their reckless fervor cooling. They began to encircle the camp first, then launched an assault from all sides.

The attire of these wild people was quite strange. Some were dressed much like the Jin people, while others wore only animal skins, giving a mixed impression of civilization and savagery. Under the night sky, the shouts of numerous chieftains could be heard as they tried to control their subordinates.

Honestly, this wasn't an army; it was more like a group of shepherds trying to manage a chaotic flock. At this moment, Zheng Fan finally understood why the Jin people could achieve such an overwhelming advantage against the wild people. In terms of military organization and concepts, the two sides were almost an entire era apart.

"'My lord, are you itching for a fight?' Xue Three asked."

"'Having just been promoted, I want to test my new strength.'"

It was like getting a new toy and being eager to show it off to his friends.

"'My lord,' Xue Three said, 'forgive my presumption, but it's not yet time for you to join the battle. Please wait a little longer.'"

"'If I wait any longer, it'll just be an easy victory. Always snatching kills when the tide is in our favor... it gets boring after a while.'"

"'My lord, now you're talking!'"

Zheng Fan laughed and sheathed his blade. "'Is that so?'"

"Xue San, why have we been stopped for so long?" Xiong Lie asked, turning back with a hint of curiosity. He then noticed that only Xue Three remained behind him; the others were nowhere in sight.

Ahead lay a gorge. Crossing it would bring them above the wild people's settlement, allowing for a surprise attack from the rear.

"'Aren't we about to make our move? We need to rest our feet,' Xue Three replied. 'The soldiers have marched all day and then trudged through these mountain hollows for so long. They need to catch their breath to have the strength to fight, right?'"

Xiong Lie nodded. "'That makes sense.'"

Then, Xiong Lie sat on the ground and began to chew on dried rations and drink water.

Xue Three did the same, sitting down to eat and drink.

About an hour later, Xiong Lie looked at the short Xue Three and laughed.

"'I know what you're capable of.'"

"'Oh? Not calling me Xue San anymore?'"

"'Why bother? I know you. You're good at tracking.'"

Xue Three nodded. "'I know that you know I'm good at tracking.'"

Xiong Lie paused, then continued, "'I know you followed me into the mountains the day before yesterday.'"

Xue Three nodded again. "'I know that you know I followed you into the mountains the day before yesterday.'"

"'I deliberately let you follow me!'"

"'And I deliberately let you know that I was deliberately following you.'"

Xiong Lie's head was spinning a little. But he quickly said, "'I know you don't trust me!'"

"'We let you know that you know we don't trust you.'"

"COUGH. COUGH." Xiong Lie coughed twice, took a couple of large gulps of water, then scoffed, "'Don't think I don't know where those few thousand troops you brought along have gone. They've split up to sneak towards the high ground on both sides of the gorge to set up a counter-ambush, haven't they?'"

Xue Three looked at the smug Xiong Lie, shook his head, and said, "'We know there's no ambush on the high ground on either side of the gorge.'"