The terrain of Yangjuan Ridge and Qingshui Valley actually differs greatly.
Qingshui Valley has steep cliffs on both sides, while Yangjuan Ridge has a cliff on one side and a sheer drop on the other.
However, both share one common feature: there is only one path forward.
That is why Yangjuan Ridge is indeed very suitable for the Macedonian phalanx.
The only drawback is that there are too few shields in Tieguan Mountain, and with the enemy almost at Yangjuan Ridge, there is no time to make more. They can only use pot lids as substitutes for now.
Qin Fei worried that the female workers might not know how to use shields, and he also feared that if it came to close-quarters combat, the female workers might panic. So he pulled two squads from the escort guards who were stationed there, and assigned them specifically to hold shields and stand at the very front.
The female workers had never practised the Macedonian phalanx before, so Qin Fei could only ask Zuo Feifei to gather the team leaders. While the female workers were setting up the heavy crossbows and catapults, he used small stones to explain the formation to the team leaders.
In fact, the Macedonian phalanx is not complicated. The team leaders understood it quickly. After the meeting ended, they each took their own subordinates and began to practise.
……
West River Bay.
Ever since they learned that the bandits from Guazi Gully were coming, the whole village had been wrapped in tense anticipation of battle.
Guan Xiaorou, together with Tang Dongdong and Xiaoyu, patrolled the village again and again, afraid that some problem might appear anywhere.
According to the timing, the bandits should arrive at West River Bay around the Shen hour, but they waited until the You hour, when the sun was almost setting, and the bandits still had not come.
Unknown fear is the most terrifying. Guan Xiaorou feared the bandits attacking, but she feared even more the situation where they clearly knew the bandits were coming, yet the bandits delayed again and again.
At this moment, bandits surrounded the village outside. The scouts could not get in, and the spies inside the village could not get out.
Frequent message relays had already finished, and all the carrier pigeons sent out by the spies had returned.
In other words, West River Bay village had now become almost deaf and blind. They did not even know where the enemy was.
Guan Xiaorou very much wanted to ask Xiaoyu whether the intelligence was wrong, or whether the bandits had gone somewhere else.
But since noon, she had been together with Xiaoyu. Anything she did not know, Xiaoyu probably did not know either.
“Could the bandits be waiting for fog to rise before attacking?” Tang Dongdong guessed.
“Very possible.” Guan Xiaorou frowned deeply upon hearing this.
It was not yet night, yet the fog was already quite thick. By nightfall, it would surely be as bad as last night.
This was extremely disadvantageous for the West River Bay side.
Once thick fog spread, they could not even see where the enemy was. The heavy crossbows and catapults would become useless decorations.
The escort guards would also be unable to form formations to resist. They could only break into small groups to reinforce different places, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness.
“Xiaoyu, think of a way. We must find out where the Guazi Gully bandits are now!”
Guan Xiaorou said, “If they really plan to do this, we cannot just sit here and wait to be hit!”
“Xiaorou, are you thinking of taking the initiative to leave the village?” Tang Dongdong frowned and reminded her, “Think carefully. It is easy to leave the village, but if we fall into a bandit trap, it will be very hard to get back in!”
Not many escort guards and male workers remained in West River Bay now. The best option was to rely on the village defences and hold position.
Leaving the village was truly quite risky.
“I know, but the boss once said that offence is the best defence!”
Guan Xiaorou continued, “If we hide in the village, whether to fight, and when to fight, are all decided by the bandits. We are at too great a disadvantage.
It would be better to take advantage of the fact that we can still see now, and let Captain Fan organise the escort guards to strike first. Even if we cannot drive all the bandits outside the village away, we can at least kill a batch of them. Then fewer bandits will enter the village at night!”
“What you say seems quite reasonable!” Tang Dongdong nodded.
Right now the initiative was in the bandits’ hands. Pure defence was indeed very unfavourable for West River Bay.
“Xiaoyu, I will go and discuss with Captain Fan later to see if we can take the initiative to strike out. You find a few clever scouts. If Captain Fan agrees to my idea, let them follow Captain Fan and charge out together!”
Guan Xiaorou said, “Tell the scouts they must find out two things clearly. First, where exactly have the Guazi Gully bandits reached! Second, how many bandits are outside the village right now!”
“Yes!” Xiaoyu nodded and was about to call people when she saw a female escort guard running wildly towards them.
Her clothes were covered in mud and tears everywhere, and there was blood on her face.
“Xiaotian, are you alright?”
Xiaoyu hurried forward to meet her.
This female escort guard was one of her most capable assistants. She was agile and quick-witted. Earlier Xiaoyu had sent her outside to gather information.
After West River Bay was surrounded by bandits, she was the first scout to return.
“I am fine, just got my face scratched by branches in the mountains.”
Xiaotian wiped the blood from her face carelessly.
The bandits had surrounded West River Bay, so she could only come back by forcing her way through the old forest on the rear mountain.
Right now the snow in the old forest was deep enough to cover the knees. Travelling through it was extremely hard and very dangerous.
But Xiaotian had still made it through.
Xiaoyu confirmed she was really alright. While taking off her own cloak and putting it on Xiaotian, she asked urgently, “Do you know where the Guazi Gully bandits are now?”
Upon hearing this, both Guan Xiaorou and Tang Dongdong fixed their eyes on Xiaotian at the same time.
“I know. That is exactly why I came back in a rush!”
Xiaotian said, “The bandits from Guazi Gully were stopped at Yangjuan Ridge by Left Factory Manager from Tieguan Mountain. They have already started fighting!”
“What?”
Guan Xiaorou and Tang Dongdong both widened their eyes.
Xiaoyu also showed surprise.
Guan Xiaorou recovered first and asked urgently, “How is the battle going?”
“At the beginning, the bandits did not expect Left Factory Manager to dare block them with people. They were caught off guard. Moreover, the sisters from the soap factory used the heavy crossbows and catapults very skilfully. They held the bandits tightly outside Yangjuan Ridge. The bandits charged several times, lost many people, but still could not break through.”
Xiaotian spoke quickly, “But obviously someone among the Guazi Gully bandits was organising them. When they realised they really could not rush through, they stopped sending charges and halted the attack.”
“Did the bandits give up?” Tang Dongdong asked.
“I do not know. I saw they stopped fighting, so I hurried back to report.”
Xiaotian shook her head, “However, the bandits did not leave, and they did not light fires to cook. They were just sitting and resting in the valley outside Yangjuan Ridge. It did not look like they were going to give up.”
“Has fog risen at Yangjuan Ridge?” Guan Xiaorou suddenly asked.
“Yes, and the fog is quite thick…”
When Xiaotian said this, she suddenly widened her eyes, “I understand now. The bandits must be waiting for night to fall and the fog to thicken, so that Left Factory Manager and the others cannot see clearly!”
“Once the thick fog comes, we can only see the enemy when they are within one zhang. Last night we already suffered greatly because of the fog!”
Tang Dongdong said worriedly, “If that is the case, then Zuo Feifei is in danger!”
Guan Xiaorou clenched both fists tightly. Her brows had already furrowed into a deep line.
Tang Dongdong knew Guan Xiaorou very well. Seeing her like this, her heart tightened, “Xiaorou, you are not thinking of going to rescue Zuo Feifei, are you?”
