My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"As commanded!"

Xiang Tian and the others left to carry out their orders.

The hall became empty and desolate.

Sitting in the Grandmaster Chair, Liang Jinian felt the Immortal Item within his body and his face looked ugly: "How could this happen..."

"Husband."

A woman carrying a food box walked gracefully over, efficiently setting bowls and chopsticks on the table: "Come and eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

Liang Jinian, with his eyes closed: "Wife, you eat."

"Husband, you haven't eaten anything for almost a day."

Gao Peiwen tugged at the man: "Come on, just keep me company and eat a little."

"Alright, I will eat a little."

Only then did Liang Jinian stand up.

Sighing, he said, "What's wrong with all the sighs?"

As Gao Peiwen served the scholar some soup, she asked, "Is it about that item..."

"Mhm."

Liang Jinian nodded: "It's almost exhausted. Previously, every victory would lead to a surge, but lately... it must be because the situation is at a stalemate. Once this battle is over, we'll certainly be able to forge a truly invincible army."

He was a true scholar with no strength to truss a chicken.

Since seeking refuge in Meishan Mountain Village, being revered as the leader by groups of vicious and evil men relied solely on the Immortal Item in his hands. Without it, he'd be the first to die.

On the contrary, as long as he maintained a tight grip on the item, these men would obediently follow orders.

"Husband, let's just forget it,"

Gao Peiwen said worriedly: "Why should we continue fighting every day when we can run away and live freely together?"

"Woman's view!"

Liang Jinian said indignantly: "We've come this far, do you think it's still possible to get out? Besides, once this battle is over, the West Qi Kingdom will crown me as the King of Mingzhou, granting me a vast territory! Then, I will be able to recruit soldiers and horses, and gather strength."

"Given enough time, plus the Immortal Item, this realm – I too might contend for it!"

"At first, I only wanted to pass the scholar exams, but now, I want to kill all the scholars in the world!"

"I'll make them never dare to look me in the eye again!"

...

Yingzui Mountain.

"Only two more days to go!"

"We're nearly there!"

"We of the Reserve Camp's left flank are the last to arrive, stay sharp, don't disgrace ourselves!"

"..."

News came from the front.

The Red Eyebrow Army suffered another defeat.

Now, the Liangzhou Soldiers are pursuing them all the way to the Wushui River Shore.

Chen Sansi looked at the location on the map and felt terrified.

This meant they were practically handing their backs to the Golden Spring Manor. The development of the situation was becoming more in line with his predictions. The Red Eyebrow Army didn't seem to be retreating but rather luring the enemy deeper into their territory.

It wasn't that the Liangzhou Soldiers were shortsighted, as if only he and Xu Wencai were clever. Aside from them, nobody would think so far outside the box to suspect the Governor of Mingzhou of treason. This was a Sealed Border Governor appointed by the court. On the surface, he lacked nothing and even had prospects of being ennobled. Why would he risk his wealth and life to defect?

But no, there was one person who might suspect it.

The Fourth Senior Brother!

He and the master had left Liangzhou long ago, claiming to go to the Capital City, yet there had been no news from there. Instead, the reserve camps started to expand in an organized manner before their departure.

The suppression of the rebellion in Mingzhou wasn't orchestrated by the Eight Camps, but rather by the Ministry of War in the Capital City, which controlled operations remotely.

Pi Ji, Hou Bao, Zhao Wuji, and others were merely executing orders.

Time had passed.

The master and the Fourth Senior Brother should be aware by now, and it was even possible they had taken remedial actions.

But due to the great distance, communication was too delayed.

"General Chen, you really aren't the least bit anxious,"

"To think you actually wanted to stay until the end to escort the supplies, aren't you afraid everything will be over by the time you arrive?"

"We're moving ahead!"

"..."

Lu Shuhua, Xie Sishu, and others felt it was unreasonable. If they hadn't witnessed this man kill Wen Qiushi in front of everyone, they might have thought he was afraid of battle.

Watching them leave, Chen Sansi still did not speed up. Moreover, being responsible for escorting the supplies, he would arrive at the destination three to five days later than the others.

"Has Zhao Kang not returned yet?"

Two more days passed, and just as he was about to send someone to hurry him, he saw dust rising from the rear.

Zhao Kang returned covered in blood, with only two surviving cavalry out of the ten he had led out.

Xu Wencai stamped his foot in frustration: "Damn it!"

"..."

Chen Sansi's suspended heart finally sank.

The report from Zhao Kang was almost word for word what he had suspected.

"Sir, disaster has struck!

"Sword Gate Canyon suddenly had thirty thousand ambush troops, and large numbers of West Qi Kingdom's soldiers have crossed the border from the west. The exact number is unknown, but our forty thousand soldiers are about to be surrounded from both front and back!

"What's going on, sir? Has the Great Wall in the West Territory already been breached? Aren't the soldiers under General Dong An of Golden Spring supposed to handle it – aren't they getting paid to fight?"

"..."

Having been prepared, Chen Sansi closed his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he quickly made a decision: "Ditch all the supplies and provisions. Set up an ambush in the valley ahead and prepare to support our retreating forces!"

"Yes, sir!"

The others looked at each other, unclear about what had happened, but they followed the orders.

The next evening.

The soldiers guarding near the valley first saw a cloud of dust, followed by...

The collapsed and defeated Liangzhou Soldiers!

Seeing the ambush in the valley, they were almost frightened into disbanding a second time, but they gradually stabilized after realizing it was their own forces.

"You... you guessed this already?!"

Sha Wenlong's armour was completely ruined, and Cao Fan beside him was also injured.

He didn't say much, simply ordering: "The whole army retreats two hundred miles, regroup at Longyang County, and then... we'll make further plans!"

The defeated army continued to fall back.