My Cultivation Starting from Archery

All the remaining men, like fools, had no idea what would happen next and could only blindly follow orders.

"What about me?"

Deng Feng could barely contain himself, "Commander Chen, do I not need to come along?"

"I almost forgot."

Chen Sansi added, "I will trouble General Deng to take off your Qing Country General Armor and put on a set from our Great Dasheng, along with swapping your weapon for a different one,"

"So, I am to disguise myself as someone else?"

An air of discontent arose in Deng Feng's heart, feeling that being a captured general and yet having to stay hidden gave off an undignified and embarrassing impression. He found it suffocating and yearned to distinguish himself in battle more than anyone.

Of course, he didn't show any displeasure: "I understand and accept the command!"

"General Deng, a moment of patience,"

Chen Sansi informed, "Keeping you hidden has a greater purpose; one general like you is worth three others."

"Yes, General Deng."

Fang Qingyun spoke, "Moreover, I have need of people. Without you, the plan cannot succeed."

With all said and done,

Chen Sansi quickly left with twenty of his subordinates.

Inside the Central Army Tent,

Only Fang Qingyun, Sha Wenlong, and Deng Feng remained.

"General Fang, just give the order."

Deng Feng bowed with his fist and said, "Apart from anything else, below Martial Saint I can slay any foe, and above Martial Saint, I can hold my own for several exchanges. If there's a tough nut to crack, leave it to me!"

"General Fang..."

Sha Wenlong's tone was noticeably more courteous when speaking to the green-robed scholar, "What do we do next?"

"Vice General Chen's shout from the Nanxu Camp."

Fang Qingyun said leisurely, "Do you remember how many defenders he claimed there were inside Hu Lao?"

"Thirty thousand."

Sha Wenlong retorted, "Bluffing about having ten times the soldiers we truly possess, such exaggeration surely can't be very meaningful, right?"

"Exaggeration? No."

Fang Qingyun's usually gentle demeanor vanished as his gaze turned steely while looking at the sand table. The jade flute in his hand seemed like a sharp sword as it landed on the terrain, "If the junior brother says thirty thousand, then as his senior, I shall produce thirty thousand men.

"Transmit my military order!

"At evening, thirty thousand troops shall pour out and strike directly at the Nanxu Camp!"

...

Silver Pine Cliff.

Nan Xu Camp.

"Excellent horse!"

Fan Jiuxiao, mounted on the green horse, felt as if he was flying through the air as the scenery on either side whizzed past.

This horse,

was one of the three Exotic Beast Horses possessed by Nan Xu, notable for its explosive power allowing it to travel over two thousand miles a day, with a burst speed that could rival a Martial Artist of the Profound Image Realm.

Beyond that, each soldier had a thick iron shield.

No matter how formidable Chen Sansi was,

he was still just a Meridian Passage Martial Artist!

Even a few months ago in Ming State, he was merely a Hua Jin Warrior; even if he was a genius, at most by now he could have a small achievement in the Meridian Passage, and even if he was heaven-defyingly talented,

he was a Great Success Meridian Passage Martial Artist with an innate Martial Body and an exceptionally solid foundation, unbeatable within his realm, not to mention when facing lower realm Martial Artists.

Now, with the green horse combined with the thick shield, he could perfectly counter the enemy's tactics of rapid cavalry movement and tricky archery.

Not to mention, his shield was forged from Pure Darksteel!

The majority of so-called darksteel weapons in the army were actually alloys with a mixture of some darksteel, as it was exceedingly rare and impossible to mass-produce.

But that didn't apply to high-ranking officers.

Fan Jiuxiao's shield was made of Pure Darksteel, allowing him to channel his power into it, possessing an extraordinary defensive power. Even Martial Artists of the Profound Image Realm would need several strikes to get through.

Once he could close the distance, Chen's advantage in agility would evaporate.

At the very least, it would intimidate him!

Otherwise, the situation where he swooped in day after day to kill over a dozen riders before retreating unscathed was seriously undermining the troop's morale; it had even progressed to the point where no one dared to go out to urinate at night!

Even for relieving themselves, they had to go in groups of three or five, with one person doing their business while the others held up shields.

This...

Was simply too humiliating!

Through all of history, whose troops had ever been scared into such a sorry state by a solitary man?!

Moreover, not long ago, King Tang Li Gong had sent a letter.

This time, he personally guaranteed that there were indeed only three thousand men in Hu Lao, with only one Profound Image Realm General—meaning everything Chen had done thus far was nothing more than bluffing!

Because he didn't have the troops, he had to risk coming alone and use these tactics to slow their advance.

A hero!

Truly, a hero!

But ultimately, a mere paper tiger, easily torn apart with a poke.

"Report—"

"What, is Chen here again?"

Fan Jiuxiao understood the answer just by looking at the messenger, and said coldly, "With many shielded ambushing soldiers set up around the camp now, he still dares to come alone courting death?!"

"Not alone this time."

The Scout replied, "He's leading about twenty riders, and all outfitted in finely-crafted General Armor, claiming to be twenty Meridian Passage Generals. They're not approaching the camp; instead, they're outside, slaughtering our ambushing soldiers. Within two hours...already, over two hundred of our brothers have fallen!"

"Twenty Meridian Passage Generals? A huge joke!"

Fan Jiuxiao cursed, "My hundred thousand-strong army has only about thirty-something Meridian Passage practitioners in total. To say nothing of his three thousand, even if there really were thirty thousand, at most they wouldn't have more than ten Meridian Passage practitioners unless he brought all his main forces to Hu Lao. This Chen, his bluffing is a bit too exaggerated."

"Among them..."

The Scout said, "Half of them are wearing Qing Country Armor."