Thief Emperor

Chapter 449: Using Tricks to Compete
At this moment, Chen Da was undoubtedly under considerable pressure. After all, his troops were divided into two groups. If he did not take action, the other side would be under considerable pressure. No one knew what would happen over there.

What's even more terrible is that the one leading the other troops is his own leader. In this situation, if he does not perform actively, even if he wins the subsequent battle, he may still be made trouble by his leader.

Moreover, Chen Da has followed Li Yun all the way, and the relationship between the two is very deep. It is actually quite difficult psychologically to ignore this big brother at this moment.

But Chen Da still held back.

He ordered his troops to hide as much as possible. It was not until after noon that Chen Da ordered the entire army to move out and attack the county seat of Liuhe County.

On the other side, Li Yun was already at Liuhe Ferry, fighting against the third wave of enemies.

At this time, the heavy rain that lasted all night had almost stopped. Li Yun and his subordinates built a defense line at Liuhe Ferry. He was still at the forefront of the battle line, but he did not hold a gun, but a bow.

He pulled the heavy ox-horn bow again and again until the bowstring was almost fully drawn.

Once the arrow hits, it can almost penetrate the armor as long as the distance is not too far.

Yang Xi and others were guarding beside Li Yun. When they saw the enemy soldiers falling one by one, they couldn't help but praise him, "Your archery skills are really good!"

Li Yun shot an arrow, took off the ring on his hand, looked back at Yang Xi, and said with a smile: "When I was fifteen years old, I shot and killed a wild boar weighing three or four hundred kilograms."

The person who could shoot the wild boar was naturally the former village leader Li. Since he grew to be thirteen or fourteen years old and his body gradually became stronger, he became the nightmare of all large animals near Cangshan Mountain. Even the tigers in the mountains were shot and injured by Li Yun.

However, the big wild boar back then was his greatest battle record. Even now, he would still mention it subconsciously.

“Growing up in the mountains.”

Mr. Li put away his bow and picked up his gun, and said slowly: "If you shoot accurately, you will be full for a few days. If you shoot inaccurately, you may be eaten by wild animals. There is no way not to practice."

He looked forward. About a hundred feet in front of him, a team of Pinglu soldiers were charging towards him. Unlike the previous two times, the number of Pinglu soldiers in the previous two rounds was not large, but this time, the number of enemies that Li Yun saw with his naked eyes alone might exceed a thousand!

Yang Xi frowned and said, "It's already afternoon. What's going on with General Chen? Why are there still endless enemy troops crossing to Liuhe?"

Li Yun didn't say anything, but just looked at these enemies and said in a deep voice: "There won't be too many Pinglu troops nearby. This Pinglu army should be the Pinglu army in Liuhe County."

"Yang Xi, what are our casualties?"

Yang Xi looked back and said, "Sir, our casualties are not that great. We estimate that there are more than a hundred people. However, we attacked in the rain all night yesterday and fought for most of the day today. Most of the brothers are exhausted."

Li turned around and looked at the brothers behind him. Although most of them were still standing, their spirits had declined a lot.

Some people just lay in the mud and fell asleep.

Most people cannot endure high-intensity fighting for a whole day and night. Those who can hold on until now can be considered elite. If they continue like this, subsequent casualties may increase dramatically.

Li Yun thought for a moment and said, "Yang Xi, pick fifty energetic guards from the guards to cover my retreat. You lead the rest to retreat!"

Yang Xi shook his head and said, "Sir, I can obey you in everything, but not in this matter. The matter of cutting off the rear should naturally be done by me!"

"Envoy, please take your brothers and retreat!"

Li Yun glared at him and cursed angrily: "I am only the last one to leave, not to die. Don't worry, they haven't formed an encirclement, so they can't trap me."

Yang Xi still stood there, motionless.

Li Yun was about to lose his temper, but after thinking for a while, he stood up, patted Yang Xi on the shoulder, and sighed: "These enemy troops have suffered losses and dare not advance rashly. You and your brothers stay here for half an hour at most, and then start to retreat."

Yang Xi responded and said with a smile: "Don't worry, sir. I will definitely retreat in half an hour!"

The situation was urgent, so Li Yun didn't waste any words and turned around and walked away. As he walked, he shouted to his subordinates, "Move immediately and retreat!"

At this time, apart from Yang Xi's remaining troops, there were still about 500 people left. After hearing Li Yun's words, they immediately began to follow Li Yun and started to retreat in an orderly manner.

The road was muddy at this moment, and the retreat speed was very slow. Fortunately, the enemy's pursuit speed would not be very fast. In less than half an hour, Li Yun's 500 men had basically withdrawn from Liuhe Ferry and left the battlefield.

The rear guard troops led by Yang Xi and others, who were bluffing in the back, also began to separate from the enemy, but their numbers were too small, and after they began to retreat, the enemy chased them without hesitation.

More than an hour later, until it was almost dark, Yang Xi and others barely caught up with Li Yun's large group. When they saw Li Yun, his clothes and armor were covered in blood, and he was obviously seriously injured.

Li Yun supported him and frowned, "Where are you hurt?"

Yang Xi grinned and said, "I got stabbed on the butt by those sons of bitches, and my arm was shot by an arrow, but don't worry, I'm very tough and won't die."

Li Yun shook his head helplessly and sighed: "How many people did you bring back?"

The smile on Yang Xi's face faded: "Less than half."

Li Yun nodded silently and said, "I understand."

He stood up and instructed the guards around him, "Send someone to keep an eye on the movements at Liuhe Ferry. If anyone comes after us, report immediately."

"The rest of you, set up camp here and rest." Up to now, Li Yun's troops have been fighting continuously for a day and a night. Even if they continue to move forward, they can't go fast. Instead of dragging their feet, it is better to stay here and rest to recover their combat effectiveness.

After all, the biggest task of the Pinglu Army at the moment should be to defend Liuhe Ferry, rather than to chase him. For the time being, there will not be any particularly great danger.

Following Li Yun's order, the remaining 500 soldiers began to set up camp on the spot. Due to the same problem of mud, the camping was much slower than usual. It was not until it was completely dark that the tents of Li Yun's troops were finally set up.

Li himself also fell headfirst onto the camp bed and closed his eyes.

After a day and a night, his abnormal physique was a little tired.

After all, during the battle at Liuhe Ferry, it was Li who contributed the most.

Yang Xi and other wounded were also taken to another large hospital for treatment.

Perhaps because he was too tired, Li Yun soon fell into a deep sleep. He slept soundly until the second half of the night, when he vaguely heard a voice: "Second brother, second brother."

Li Yun tried to open his eyes and saw Zhou Bi squatting in front of his bed, holding a candle in his hand and calling him carefully.

Li Yun rubbed his eyes and looked at him.

"What time is it?"

Zhou Bi thought for a moment and replied, "It's the hour of Mao, it's not even daybreak yet."

Li Yun looked at him, was in a daze for a while, and finally came to his senses. After sitting up from the bed, he felt sore all over.

After all, I haven't fought a life-and-death battle with others for more than a year. In addition, I shot the bow too many times yesterday. Not only am I sore all over, but my arms, in particular, are starting to hurt.

The aches all over his body made him more awake. He looked at Zhou Bi and asked, "Is there any news from Chen Da?"

"Yes!"

Zhou Bi whispered, "Yesterday evening, General Chen led his men to the city of Liuhe and launched a fierce attack. There were almost no defenders left in Liuhe County, only about four or five hundred people. General Chen personally went to the battlefield and launched a fierce attack for two hours. Finally, the defenders in the county could not hold on."

"General Chen broke through the gates of Liuhe City. Now Liuhe County has been occupied by General Chen and his troops. He asked me to find my second brother and explain the situation to him. He also asked him to enter Liuhe County immediately."

Hearing this, Li Yun woke up completely at noon. After rubbing his eyes, he stood up and put on his clothes. Looking at Zhou Bi, he finally smiled: "Good, very good."

"Chen Da finally didn't let me down."

Zhou Bi whispered, "General Chen was very brave when he attacked the city. He personally charged into the battle line, and his armor was almost shot through by the Pinglu Army!"

Li Yun smiled dumbly: "How come you, kid, became Chen Da's man after going there? Did you take his money?"

Zhou Bi shook his head and said, "My father has told me that people in our old village never accept bribes!"

Li Yun patted his shoulder with a smile and said, "I didn't accept it before because I couldn't accept it."

"Your father has received it now."

Zhou Bi was a little anxious and said quickly: "Second brother..."

"just kidding."

He stretched and said, "Second brother is very tired now. He needs to catch up on some sleep. When it's daybreak, we will set off for Liuhe County."

Zhou Bi breathed a sigh of relief and bowed his head and said, "Then Second Brother, have a good rest. I will be watching over you outside!"

Li Yun yawned. "Go contact Meng Hai and get all the nine officials to move. There must be no delay in the delivery of information."

Meng Hai is actually Zhou Bi's predecessor, and Li Yun's previous follower.

Now, Meng Hai no longer follows Li Yun all the time, and instead goes to do the work of connecting with Jiusi. However, Meng Hai also followed Li Yun to Jiangbei, so Zhou must have a way to contact him.

Li Yun needed this news to be passed to Luzhou as soon as possible, so that Su Sheng of Luzhou could bring the main force to Liuhe County as soon as possible.

Zhou Bi responded and bowed, saying, "I obey your command!"

He hurriedly left Li Yun's tent.

Mr. Li was lying on the camp bed, almost completely sleepy. He looked up at the top of the tent and muttered to himself.

"The trick has been taken, from now on..."

"It's a competition of strength."

(ps: The next chapter will be slower because I'm back home. I was out all day and now I'm very sleepy. If I don't update it, I'll make it up tomorrow morning!)

(End of this chapter)