Chapter 157 - Gao City

Thousands of people departed all at once. Wei Liuying could sense tremendous pressure that push her forward. Even though the men were only galloping on the plain and dry lands towards the direction of Gao City, she felt as if they were already in the middle of battle. Smell of dust and sweat combined together as time passed.

The pace was quick, and Wei Liuying kept her composure to maintain her speed. She was thankful that she had learned how to ride horse and practiced a lot during her journey to Prince Ji Sheng's City. If not, she knew that it was impossible for her to maintain the same speed as these men.

Prince Ji Sheng led them across the plain and dry lands while Wei Liuying kept her eyes wandering around.

There were so many places where spies and ambush could be hidden.

"General Sheng, I think it'll be better to send scout ahead," Wei Liuying said when she noticed the rocky areas they were heading to.

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. Actually, it was the same command as the one that Yang Xian used to give him whenever he rushed to Gao City. "Send the scout."

"Yes, General Sheng!"

The booming voice from behind her startled Wei Liuying. She had to admit, she was not used to have these rowdy men around her, yelling and screaming. Yet at the same time, she felt as if her body was filled with power with so many people uttering battle speech around her.

It was weird.

She didn't understand why.

"General Sheng, the front is clear."

"Continue."

They continued their march while sending scout in most areas. Looking at the terrain, Wei Liuying thought about the Huang River. However, it was supposed to be still very far on the south from here. 

Or, could it be that they made another route for the river to flow so that there was another source of water for them?

Wei Liuying needed to ask about this later when she had the time.

The soldiers didn't even stop to eat as they continued their march. In the battle, even stopping for a moment would be the same as allowing a lot of people to die. They all understood that, so they continued to march.

As the sun started to go down the west, Wei Liuying could see Gao City.

Gao City was a city under General Gao. It was given his name because it had already stayed under his command for years. The city used to be the only forefront city on the north that Han Shi Kingdom had. It was only recently that Prince Ji Sheng's City became the second city to protect the frontline.

"They're completely surrounded," Prince Ji Sheng said with a glint.

"Has the city fallen?" Wei Liuying asked, her heart tightened.

"No. Some Han Shi Kingdom's soldiers are still at the top of the wall, but they're getting suppressed."

Wei Liuying nodded. She averted her attention to the tribes who attacked the city and furrowed her brows. There were three different clothing that she could see from this direction, meaning that they were all collaborating together.

"What's your instruction, Apprentice Strategist Liu?"

"Split into four," Wei Liuying replied almost right away. "Create long formation from each wall and trap our enemies inside. Even if we have no numerical advantage, they're all facing Gao City, so they'll find it hard to fight at the two ends all at once. The last line shall be made with archers who will support with sending arrows."

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. "Commander Shu, Commander Zhao, Commander Bei, you all take the position on the east, west, and south respectively. I'll be taking the North."

"Yes, General."

"General, I…"

"You're coming with me, Liu Ying."

Wei Liuying shut her mouth and continued to gallop with Prince Ji Sheng. She was still unfamiliar with the soldiers, so she couldn't be the one to give command. Until the time she could stand on her own and give command like Yang Xian, she would have to stay near the general or leader.

The only exception would be battles that used their general as the bait.

She would stay behind at that time.

The soldiers were moving quickly to trap their tribes. But of course, the men there realized what happened and quickly split their soldiers to intercept. Unfortunately, there was nothing that they could do when they had to face so many soldiers all at once.

Wei Liuying stayed by Prince Ji Sheng's side as they marched forward. Her strength couldn't be compared to the elite soldiers, so she could only help a bit.

"Maintain the formation!" Wei Liuying shouted when she saw the breach on the east.

"MAINTAIN THE FORMATION!"

When Prince Ji Sheng repeated the command, Wei Liuying felt her ear would turn deaf. However, she focused on her enemies and swung her sword. Fighting on top of the horses were not easy at all. Wei Liuying already felt exhausted just from controlling the horse while swinging her sword around.

Still, she couldn't possibly go down because she would be trampled to death.

Suddenly, series of attack came to her. The soldiers were moving forward a bit too fast, leaving a gap where the enemies soldiers could come to her.

"Kill the horse!"

Jleb!

Wei Liuying's horse was targeted and stabbed. Wei Liuying's eyes narrowed as she pulled the rein and switched the horse's position. With a swing of her sword, she killed the soldiers.

'The difference in height is a bit too much.'

Sword was not an ideal weapon on top of horses because of the limited distance. Unless she was a great expert, it would be hard for her to make sure that the enemies would not hit her horses. The best weapon would be glaive, spear, or the likes that could reach further.

Well, it was impossible for her to learn new weapon so quickly.

"Liu Ying!"

Wei Liuying noticed that Prince Ji Sheng was close, so she left her horse and jumped to behind Prince Ji Sheng. Despite moving in the air, her movement was swift as if she had done this countless times before. "Pardon for my insolence, General Sheng."

"You need to learn how to ride horse again," Prince Ji Sheng said coldly, but his hand was moving to kill the enemies before them.

Wei Liuying had no words to reply.

They continued their advance and even as the sun started to set, the soldiers were still in deadlock. Han Shi Kingdom clearly gained advantage ever since Prince Ji Sheng came as they pushed the enemy soldiers from their wall. The enemies were now pressured by two sides as many were trying to escape to no avail.

Dead bodies piled up on the ground as the smell of blood reeked to every corner.

Wei Liuying could see everything clearer now that she was sitting behind Prince Ji Sheng. She could see that the sun was setting, which meant that it wouldn't be good for them to keep the battle going. Fighting in the dark was not easy.

"Open a gap on the north right."

"You'll let them go?" Prince Ji Sheng asked coldly, killing intent emanated from his body. His hands were still busy killing the soldiers before him.

"Fighting when it's dark is not ideal even for us. The sun is setting and it'll be hard for us to differentiate between enemies and comrades in the plain like this. Unless we're all inside Gao City, it'll be a battle where we might lose miserably," Wei Liuying replied unhurriedly.

"Tsk."

"General Sheng?"

"You're as calculative as Xian."

Wei Liuying: "…" I'm only telling my opinions. Besides, didn't you take me in because of my capabilities are similar with Strategist Yang?

Of course, Wei Liuying didn't dare to say it all out loudly. She didn't want to incur Prince Ji Sheng's wrath when they were outside like this. Internally, Wei Liuying was thinking whether this choice would be correct or not since it would be hard for her to calculate everything.

Prince Ji Sheng looked at the enemy soldiers before him. If he had to say, he wished to send them all to their graves for trying to harm his fiancée.

Yet, he also understood that it was not an ideal battle like what Wei Liuying said.

"Open the right side and we'll switch to archer. Kill as much as possible."

"Yes, General Sheng."

Wei Liuying sneaked a glance and understood all at once. Trying to pacify a man who wanted to kill everyone who tried to harm his woman wouldn't be easy. She sighed when she thought about that. 

At the same time, she was a bit curious just what kind of a woman Gao Ling was to be able to move Prince Ji Sheng's heart.

Hopefully, she wouldn't be like Wei Xiaohua who was so adamant to kill everyone on her path of happiness.

The battle didn't last for that long anymore. With Prince Ji Sheng's arrival, the enemy's advantage was gone. They were forced to retreat after losing more than half of their original soldiers. Prince Ji Sheng truly didn't give them any mercy.