Chapter 561
(Unedited)
…
Shin Jiao did not reject the proposal of the captain of their infantry company as he too wanted to see the strength of the enemy and also protect these fellow soldiers who are still green on the battlefield. Though he didn't want to show off, he also could not let these simple people whom he discovered to be just normal farmers and hunters before being recruited as a soldier in the empire.
Unlike most of the companies in the battalion, the company where Shin Jiao belongs to lacks the training needed to be a proper soldier.
Currently, their training is enough for them to be able to protect themselves, and that is enough for now.
However, what Shin Jiao noticed is that he is actually not given any weapons of even simple armor.
He wasn't able to detect any malice from the captain, why is this situation like this? In fact, what he saw from the captain's eyes is guilt and helplessness.
"Is the captain being forced to act this way?" Shin Jiao thought as he mounted a Neigh (a horse-like creature native to the cultivation land).
Suddenly Shin Jiao saw a tall man wearing the same silver armor as the captain walked beside him. Then from their conversation, he can read their mouths saying that the captain only needs one medical doctor on his team. He does not need it anymore. It is best that he gets rid of the younger one so that he would not be in trouble.
As the tall man said that, the tall man sneered and patted the captain's shoulder.
Then the tall man walked away, leaving the captain of Shin Jiao's infantry company showing a forlorn and helpless expression on his face.
"Hmm… I guess this captain is being bullied by the others… Well, it can't be helped. As a soldier, he needs to follow orders. Sigh… this is one of the reasons why I left. No freedom, you can only sacrifice yourself… for the country." Shin Jiao thought as he followed behind the group.
Around 30 men are chosen from the infantry company and only ten were given their own Neighs.
As they march forward, Shin Jiao can feel the other soldiers shaking their heads as if they are already looking at some men approaching towards the jaws of death.
On the side of the stronghold, there is a narrow passage that was created to accommodate a small group and exit at the side of the cliff.
This same passage could be used to escape this stronghold if ever it would fall. But of course, only a number of people can pass through this passage at a time.
And this time, their group is using this passage to go out and attack the area where the catapults are being assembled.
It is estimated that it would take the enemy until dusk before they would finish this task. And that is around 5 hours from now.
And so their group quietly exited the stronghold and would ambush the group of enemy engineers. From their vantage point, they can see where the enemy is assembling the catapults.
The group is being led by a tall and burly soldier that Shin Jiao knew. This particular soldier named Gao Fung is a very loyal citizen of the empire. He has a heroic spirit and is willing to even sacrifice himself in this battle just to serve the empire.
When he heard that he would be leading a group of men to attack the enemy he was thoroughly excited that he even boasted that he would bring honor to the empire.
…
Meanwhile in the make-shift camp of the Golden Dragon Empire, General Li Kong, and the other two remaining generals are sitting on a table with a large map of the whole continent spread on it.
As of right now, they are currently planning an assault towards the stronghold of their enemy.
"We have already positioned a lot of our troops around this area. We can't make large movements else we risk the enemy learning of our plans." General Kong said as he looks at the map with carved stone figures on it.
One can see the Silver Moon empire army figures and the Golden Dragon army figures.
"We have already confirmed that the enemy has already seen our engineers building the catapults… however, general, are you sure that the enemy would attack our engineers with their weakest soldiers?" asked one of the generals to General Kong.
General Li Kong just nodded his head in agreement.
"In that camp, there is an influential figure that even their great general Jingxi Hu would not disobey. No matter what that person does, General Hu would follow… and if I am correct, that person would fall for our tricks… Hehe…"
"Do you mean?..."
"Yes… I am talking about that person… in the Silver Moon Empire, they call him 'the prince of the wild'. Although he is strong, he does not think and likes to use his basic instinct. With this person on their side, I am sure that we can win this battle with little casualty… Haha…"
"Haha…"
The rest of the soldiers laughed with their General as they imagine what would happen if they can capture that 'wild' prince.
…
The wild prince they are talking about is one of the captains of a very strong company. This company is just a camouflage, in truth they are all decorated imperial soldiers of the Silver Moon Empire. They are very strong and can be considered as one of the best soldiers in the empire.
Numbering up to 100 strong forces, with their number, they can easily defeat five times their number. And the sick emperor assigned them to guard his son the 3rd prince of Silver Moon Empire, Prince Mingwa Dong.
When he was resting with his cronies (the other captains of the battalion), he receives the news and decided to send the weakest and deemed as the most useless company to test the enemy forces. Although General Hu objected to this decision as he didn't want the enemy to capture any soldiers no matter how weak they are, the 3rd prince still insisted that his decision is correct. And his decision was backed by the other captains.
Hence General Hu felt helpless in this situation. He just gritted his teeth and obeyed. In the Silver Moon Empire, soldiers have made an oath to follow the royalties no matter what the consequence is. Hence he just made plans as a countermeasure.
Meanwhile, outside of the stronghold…
Shin Jiao got off his Neigh and decided to walk like the others as they got near their target area.
Not long later they soon arrived and watched behind the thickets under the trees. They can now see many people busying themselves and can also see at least one catapult already constructed.
"Guys… we must destroy that thing. If not, then our base would be in deep trouble. I know we can do this… Those people are just a bunch of scholars and peasants." Gao Fung said in a low voice.
The rest of the people nodded their heads. And immediately draw out their swords.
When Shin Jiao saw this, he just sighs. He knew that there is no stopping these people now. If he does, there might even be great trouble. At least he can help them while staying behind.
However, what Gao Fung said next made Shin Jiao knit his brow.
"Doctor Ji, you must walk ahead of us and we will follow you…" Gao Fung said with a smile.
But Shin Jiao can see contempt hidden in that smile. Even the other soldiers looked at Gao Fung with confusion. They can see that the young doctor does not have any weapons on him, why would Gao Fung ask him to lead the group.
"What? You don't trust me? Don't worry I won't let others harm you…" Gao Fung said.
"Gao Fung, you know that Doctor Ji does not have any weapons, how can you send him ahead of us? Do you want him to die? Are you crazy?" said one of the soldiers which Shin Jiao has helped before.
When Gao Fung heard the words of that soldier and the saw the faces of the rest, he sneered.
"This is the captain's order, if you dare not obey, I will tell this to the captain and you all will be charged with insubordination and would face capital punishment. Now shut up and follow my command." Gao Fung said not hiding his animosity anymore while looking at the rest.
Meanwhile, two more soldiers step forward and stood behind Shin Jiao.
"We suggest you follow the orders from the captain young man… or else we will not hesitate to take your life…" the two soldiers said without expressions on their faces.
Shin Jiao has already noticed these two and knew that they are experts on their own right in a fight. He also knew that these ordinary soldiers who are helping him would not even be able to resist these two. Hence he decided to play the part and follow the command of Gao Fung.
"It's all right guys… we should follow orders as soldiers. I will scout the area and you follow behind me, okay?" Shin Jiao said with a smile to the rest of the soldiers.
He then slowly crouch and began moving like a weak scholar who does not even know how to sneak silently. His every footstep would make a noise.
Upon seeing this, Gao Fung and the two soldiers look at each other and sneered. With the action of the young doctor, they would not need to make a move and the enemy will be able to catch him and then kill him. And with that, the command of the 3rd prince would be completed.
As they watch the young doctor approaching near the camp, they could not wait to see a show where he would be caught by the enemy and killed.
Then suddenly they saw a group of soldiers coming towards the young doctor. In their excitement to watch, they all stood and craned their necks.
Then suddenly, a loud sound alerted the guards.