Li Ji Kui’s advisor had been waiting for the Iron Forest Army’s next move, but he never expected them to be so ruthless.
Standing a hundred metres away, the advisor felt the heat of the flames.
A dozen metres away, Li Ji Kui was so furious he was stomping his feet, with two corpses on the ground nearby.
No need to say they were killed to vent his rage.
The entire Dangxiang camp was in chaos. Miles away, at Grey Wolf Mountain, Qing Huai was leading the Iron Forest Army’s main force, working feverishly.
Over three thousand men were frantically digging under the cover of night.
Behind them, a trench over two metres wide stretched deep into the forest.
“Have we confirmed the drainage channel below is blocked?” Qing Huai asked.
“Rest assured, Marquis, it’s completely sealed,” Xu Xiao said, patting his chest. “Once we divert the water, the Dangxiang won’t get through.”
“There can’t be any mistakes. We mustn’t waste Mr. Jin’s efforts,” Qing Huai said, looking at the flames lighting up the north. “A fire this big, no matter what it’s burning, will deal a heavy blow to the Dangxiang. They’ll surely attack the mountain. I hope Mr. Jin can hold out.”
“Mr. Jin is unmatched in wisdom and courage. He’ll be fine,” Xu Xiao said, his eyes full of admiration. “Marquis, you don’t know, when I first heard Mr. Jin’s plan, I thought he was mad, thinking our few thousand could stop tens of thousands of Dangxiang. But when he explained Grey Wolf Mountain and the water channel, I had to believe.”
“True. For someone like Mr. Jin, if he dares to act, he must have a plan,” Qing Huai nodded slightly, then asked, “Have we set up ambushes to intercept their scouts?”
“Don’t worry, Marquis. We’ve laid wire nets and dug pit traps on the roads. Any Dangxiang scout who comes will die,” Xu Xiao said confidently. “Besides, they’re busy putting out the fire. Where would they find time to send scouts?”
“The more chaotic it gets, the more vigilant we must be. Send men to keep watch. If a scout appears, they must not escape,” Qing Huai ordered. “Also, tell everyone to work harder. We need to divert the water before dawn.”
“Yes, sir!” Xu Xiao ran off.
By midnight, the final section of the channel was dug through.
Xu Xiao followed the channel to the rear of Grey Wolf Mountain.
At its end was a lake halfway up the mountain, spanning hundreds of acres.
Only three metres separated the lake from the channel. Once breached, the lake’s water would flow into it.
With Xu Xiao’s command, dozens of Iron Forest soldiers swung their hoes, digging furiously.
With a roar, the moment the channel was breached, floodwaters surged down.
Half the digging soldiers were swept away, but they were chosen for their swimming skills and soon climbed out.
The water roared through the channel, passing Grey Wolf Mountain and reaching the road.
This mountain path was the only route from Qingshui Valley to Weizhou City.
When Jin Feng passed through, he noticed the low terrain and asked a soldier if it ever flooded. The soldier explained that centuries ago, this was a lake, drained by Dakang nobles for trade with the Dangxiang, creating the road.
When Jin Feng took command of the Iron Forest Army and studied the local terrain, he spotted the reservoir on Grey Wolf Mountain and immediately thought of flooding the road.
He had Xu Xiao consult soldiers familiar with the area, refining the plan through discussion.
The plan proved successful.
By dawn, the wide road had become a lake dozens of metres wide and seven or eight metres deep.
“So this is how you fight a war. Mr. Jin is a genius. A simple channel has completely blocked the Dangxiang’s path south!” Qing Huai marvelled, looking at the lake. “If he can hold Qingshui Valley, the Dangxiang’s southern campaign will be a joke. They’ll be trapped here!”
“Don’t worry, Marquis. Mr. Jin built dozens of catapults. He’ll hold the valley,” Xu Xiao said.
“Are catapults that powerful?” Qing Huai asked.
“Absolutely. I saw one hurl a basin-sized rock hundreds of paces, smashing a huge crater,” Xu Xiao said. “Mr. Jin said in the valley, they’d throw even farther, covering the entire area.”
“Good,” Qing Huai said. “Send the second, third, and fourth battalions to guard the drainage channel. Anyone who approaches, kill without mercy.”
“Yes, sir!” Xu Xiao nodded, knowing the channel’s importance.
The drainage point was on the south side, inaccessible to the Dangxiang’s main force. Only a few elite scouts could try.
With three battalions guarding, no one could reopen the channel.
Besides, the Dangxiang were still unaware their path was flooded, focused on extinguishing the fire.
The blaze burned until dawn.
Directing the firefighting, Li Ji Kui’s hair was singed, his face blackened by soot.
Worse, the entire grain storehouse was burned to ashes, and nearby tents were caught in the fire.
“Zhuo Ban, attack Qingshui Mountain. I want the Iron Forest Army dead!” Li Ji Kui roared, his face twisted with rage.
“Yes, sir!” Zhuo Ban agreed, immediately assembling his forces.
The advisor wanted to object but, seeing Li Ji Kui’s expression, sighed and stayed silent.
Half an hour later, the Dangxiang army began the assault.
Qingshui Mountain had steep cliffs on three sides, with only a narrow path less than two zhang wide on the south side, making it the main battlefield.
Countless Dangxiang soldiers, wielding curved blades, charged up the path.
Jin Feng deployed most of the heavy crossbows and several catapults.
When the Dangxiang reached within a dozen zhang of the crossbows, Zhong Wu, commanding the battle, gave the order. The ready crossbowmen fired.
With a whoosh, spear-like bolts shot from the bushes.
At such close range, the crossbows’ power was devastating.
The tightly packed Dangxiang were hit hard. One bolt killed over twenty soldiers before stopping.
The noisy battlefield fell silent.
This was just the start. With the twang of bowstrings, more bolts flew.
The two hundred Dangxiang crowding the path were decimated, bodies littering the ground.
“Charge! The Iron Forest Army’s crossbows take time to reload. Kill them!” the commanding lieutenant roared.
The terrified soldiers, hearing this, regained their courage, stepping over their comrades’ bodies to charge again.
