Chapter Fourteen: Abandonment and Holding On

At this moment, Liu Zeqing obediently returned to the central army of Shandong Town.

Watching the two thousand infantry on the left wing steadily advancing toward the central army, Liu Zeqing had no doubt that with the right wing—led by Li Zhen, Liu Kecheng, and Ruan Yingzhao—already engaged in combat with Hong Niangzi’s troops, the combined forces of the three armies could crush her forces.

All that was needed... Liu Zeqing thought, just as Zhu Cilang had ordered, was to block Li Yan’s assault! Once the two thousand infantry encircled and defeated Hong Niangzi’s troops...

But was this really what Liu Zeqing wanted?

A cold snort rose in his heart. Those two thousand infantry—did Zhu Cilang really think they were all elite soldiers? They were a bunch of craftsmen who had been playing in the mud just a month ago. Could they possibly hold back Li Yan’s seasoned troops?

Beside him, Liu Kui, one of Liu Zeqing’s personal commanders, watched him solemnly as he prepared for battle. “Commander, both wings have advanced, and Li Yan is pressing forward! Should we engage Li Yan?”

“Engage? Nonsense! Liu Kui, listen to my order!” Liu Zeqing shouted sharply, “Sound the retreat!”

Liu Kui was momentarily stunned by the command. After receiving a stern glare from Liu Zeqing, he hurriedly responded, “Yes, I obey the order!”

Immediately, Liu Kui cried out with a distracted tone, “Commander, the order is to retreat!”

Soon, the clanging sound of the retreat signal echoed across the battlefield.

Within the central army’s formation, Hong Niangzi, who had been fighting fiercely, suddenly felt a wave of relief wash over her body. Before her eyes was a scene she would never forget, a sight that filled her with unparalleled joy.

Liu Kecheng and Ruan Yingzhao, who had been yelling for battle with bloodshot eyes, instantly seemed as if pardoned from a death sentence upon hearing the clangs. Liu Kecheng roared, “Pull back swiftly!”

Without leaving a single one behind, thirty or so of Liu Kecheng’s personal guards surrounded him, mounted their horses, and immediately fled.

Ruan Yingzhao cursed silently at their lack of loyalty and bellowed, “Retreat! Fall back!”

As Liu Kecheng and Ruan Yingzhao fled, the entire battle formation descended into chaos. Over three thousand soldiers from Shandong Town were left bewildered, stunned by the sight of their two commanders running away.

Just moments ago, they had been fighting desperately—so why were they suddenly retreating now?

“Why bother fighting? Our commanders have fled—who are we supposed to fight for?”

“Run!”

“I’m not fighting anymore! Save me!”

The entire central army wavered instantly.

Liu Zhen’s eyes reddened slightly as he looked upon the chaotic scene, filled with rage. “How despicable! They actually ran away! After I came to save you all—ahhhh!”

With that, Liu Zhen swung his crescent-moon blade fiercely, cutting down all the invading soldiers around him, clearing the way for the officers behind to regroup. Then he listened to the panicked voices around him.

“Captain Liu, should we run?”

“They all ran away. Should we keep fighting?”

“Let’s run too! There are nearly ten thousand enemy soldiers coming. We only have just over a thousand—how can we possibly fight?”

These voices came from cavalry officers, all riding horses and skilled in swift attacks. If anyone were to flee, it would be these horsemen, who had the best chance to escape and save their lives. These men were highly trained, critical on the battlefield, and precious. Now that their comrades had fled, each was panicked and looking toward Liu Zhen.

Within Zhu Cilang’s army, none could forget the ironclad rule: no retreat without orders.

Facing the bewildered, pleading eyes turned toward him, Li Zhen inwardly cursed Liu Kecheng and Ruan Yingzhao and their entire ancestry.

“Under Qin Yiming’s command, no one abandons their comrades-in-arms!” Li Zhen suddenly recalled Zhu Cilang’s words. Looking into the eyes before him, he declared, “Liu Kecheng and Ruan Yingzhao fled, abandoning their brothers-in-arms. All three thousand officers and soldiers of Shandong Town were deserted! But our Linqing Camp has no cowards like that!”

“We will not run! If we run, we are no longer soldiers of Linqing Camp! I, Li Zhen, may be unworthy before Heaven and Earth, but I cannot betray Lord Qin! Our Lord Qin himself said that those who defend this great Ming kingdom are upright heroes! From top to bottom, our Linqing Camp is full of such heroes. Heroes do not retreat!”

“Our Linqing Camp will not run! Even if our heads are split open, eighteen years later, I, Li Zhen, will still be a true hero!”

“Fight! Damn it! What’s there to fear!”

Suddenly, a captain, stripped of his armor but wearing a beast-faced helmet, stopped himself from throwing his helmet away. He looked toward his comrades who were being slaughtered and driven to retreat, and after hearing Li Zhen’s rallying words, his eyes grew moist.

“We of Shandong Town also have brave men! We will fight to the death!”

Another flag bearer hoisted his spear and shouted, “Soldiers of Li Hu, come to me! Shoulder to shoulder, form ranks! Fight!”

“I’m not running anymore. Follow me—kill!”

“This group of officers and soldiers is truly different today,” Hong Niangzi watched the scene with deep confusion. She had rebelled for many years and always crushed government troops, but never once had she witnessed a counterattack like this. Whenever a general fled, the entire army would collapse, with no survivors.

Yet now, two officers at least of deputy general rank had fled, and one captain, barely even that, was still holding the line!

“This is uncanny! Where is Li Yan? Tell him if he doesn’t come soon, the cooked duck will fly away!” Hong Niangzi scolded sharply.

Li Yan arrived.

Seeing Liu Zeqing flee with Shandong Town’s troops at the very start of the battle, Li Yan’s heart settled: “This battle is ours for sure!”

Suddenly, Wu Yi’s voice came to Li Yan’s ears. He had brought over a thousand stalwart soldiers and blamed Liu Zeqing for the failure.

“Brothers, fight the government troops! Follow me, pursue them!”

“Take down a government soldier, loot their packs, and we’ll get rich!”

“We’re about to win—chase them!”

In the distance, Liu Zeqing, who had left a horse behind, mounted it and looked back at the chaotic retreat of his army. He laughed wildly and unrestrainedly, “That Qin fellow—he really thinks Shandong Town belongs to him? Ha! How dare he offend me; now he’ll pay with his life!”

Three thousand men, at least half of them battle-weary veterans, facing nearly ten thousand fresh rebels. Liu Zeqing was already delighted just imagining the outcome.

Suddenly, Liu Zeqing pulled his horse to a stop. Seeing the battlefield was a thousand steps away, he felt reassured and said to Liu Kui, “Send my order: regroup and withdraw!”

Liu Kui was slightly confused, unsure whether they had won or lost.

Or maybe... this was a tactical retreat?

“Why are you standing there dazed? Haven’t you done this before?” Liu Zeqing snapped at Liu Kui’s vacant expression.

Liu Kui hurriedly replied, “Yes, I understand.”

Liu Zeqing frowned slightly, suppressing his emotions, then said, “Also, send orders to Qin Xia. Tell him there’s been a mutiny in our army and request one hundred thousand taels in military pay to stabilize the troops. Without that, our Shandong Town will never be able to return to the battlefield!”

[Thanks to the reader Tie Changkong for the generous support~]