Chapter 22: The Great Escape of a Thousand Miles
It was originally planned, and Ma Kui didn't take long to deploy the task. Looking at his colleagues who were coming out in a steady stream, he sneered in his heart, after all, it wasn't as noble as he thought, 15,000 people were all direct descendants of yesterday's account military officers, and no one arranged for real insiders to cut off the rear.
Seeing the heavy desolation on his face, Shi Wei stepped forward and patted his shoulder, wanting to say some comforting words, but couldn't find a suitable phrase.
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On the watchtower, Qin Lei looked at the peasant army that had already formed up behind Dazhai, then turned back to look at those who seemed to be unaffected and were still fighting fiercely in the front line. Suddenly, he felt that these peasant armies were not as incompetent as they were described in history books. At least in desperate situations, that tenacity and sacrifice spirit was not something that ordinary troops could possess.
The sound of footsteps echoed in his ears, and it was Hou Xin, Shi Yong, and Xu Ge who stood behind Qin Lei, quietly waiting. Qin Lei turned around, a warm smile floating on his face. He carefully examined each of his three squadron leaders before saying softly, "This is your first time leading the army, and it's such a critical situation. I'm truly sorry."
Three people had different expressions, Shi Yong's face was firm and tight-lipped, not saying a word; Xu Ge's face was worried and wanted to speak but stopped, while Hou Xin seemed to have not felt the atmosphere of life and death separation, still smiling at his lord.
Qin Lei took over three hand crossbows, each about a foot long and two inches wide, with a shiny black finish, from Shen Qing's hands and distributed them to the three people. Qin Lei had entrusted Shen Luo to customize a batch of parts, but most of them were not up to standard, and only eleven crossbows could be assembled. He himself took three, Shen Luo, Guan Tao, and Tie Ying each took one, and Shen Qing took two, which was all that was left.
These crossbows are small and exquisite, with flexible operation. What's rare is that their lethality is not inferior to hard crossbows, and they can also be fired seven times in a row. The several team leaders have been coveting this treasure for a long time. At this moment, when they hold it in their hands, each of them is overjoyed, throwing away the worries from just now.
Qin Lei couldn't help but strike them with his words: "This is my defensive treasure, now I'm lending it to you."
Hou Xin heard this and exclaimed in surprise: "Is it going to be withdrawn?" The other two also looked at Qin Lei with pitiful eyes.
Qin Lei said with a sly smile: "Whoever can make it alive to the rendezvous point, I'll let him go."
Hou Xin and Xu Ge nodded with a smile, but Shi Yong was somewhat silent. After a moment, he asked in a rough voice, "If we can't make it, will Your Highness take back the order?"
After finishing speaking, he also reacted and smiled awkwardly.
Qin Lei saw the tense atmosphere dissipate. He then seriously told the three people: "You must remember three principles: First, if you can escape, don't fight; Second, when it's time to give up on outsiders, resolutely give up; Third, protect yourself well."
The three stood solemnly at attention, their right fists clenched over their left chest armor, paying respects to Qin Lei.
Qin Lei also stood up straight, his right hand clasped to his left chest in return courtesy.
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The rear village gate opened, and a cavalry team led the way out. Behind them was a large army of thousands of people in tattered clothes. This strange team ran out for six or seven miles before splitting into five parts in the vast bugle sound, each with 70-80 knights leading 3,000 infantrymen, heading in different directions.
At the place where they set out, there were 20,000 peasant soldiers who were desperately resisting the increasingly fierce attack of the Qi army. Despite the heavy casualties, they refused to retreat and their simple yet terrifying conviction was: if their own death could allow their companions to live on, it would be better than dying together. More importantly, among those who left were their own brothers and sons.
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Under the desperate blocking of 20,000 peasant soldiers, the Qi army never had a chance to intercept another fleeing part. This is the disadvantage of using 20,000 people against nearly 40,000, it's possible to disperse and defeat them, but it's impossible to annihilate them completely.
In fact, Ma Kui could also lead half or even more of the peasant army to break through. He just didn't have the courage to cut off his own wrist. Qin Lei, on the other hand, never lacked this kind of bravery, this courage to cut off others' wrists.
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After the five-way split, Qin Lei led one of them to the northwest. After leaving the Qianzhou mountain range and heading west, there was a vast plain of over 1,000 miles - this is also the root of Qi State's prosperity, and the auxiliary capital Heyang of Qi State is located here.
Because most of them were infantry, the team's speed was not fast. At most, they marched 80 miles a day. According to intelligence, the two regiments of elite cavalry that the Bai Sheng army had mobilized this time could march over 300 miles day and night. When Qin Lei heard this news, he was very surprised. Even in this era where the Han Dynasty's measurement system was used, it was an incredible speed.
That large-scale military map of the Qi State was deeply etched in Qin Lei's mind. The route he chose for his troops happened to allow the Baisheng Army to annihilate at most two branches of their forces. As long as they could hold on and march eighty miles a day, three branches of their forces would be able to escape. There were a total of 10,000 people.
It's like throwing yourself onto a roulette wheel with a three-in-five chance of survival. Since the probability of success is greater than half, go for it!
The troops took away all the rations from the big camp and could hold out for ten days. Eight hundred miles was just the right distance to reach their destination.
Qin Lei strictly demanded that the troops maintain a marching speed. Along the way, they did not enter villages or cities and insisted on marching 80 miles a day.
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The Hundred Victories Army is the ace of Qi, and the pride of the Great General Baisheng. After more than thirty years since its formation, it has been known as "a hundred battles, a hundred victories". In fact, the number of victorious battles has long exceeded one hundred.
So this unit was born to be responsible for victory. Even if it's two battalions of reserve troops, no mistakes are allowed.
When Zhao Gang and Zhao Ben, the two deputy military commanders, received the task of intercepting and killing the hostages returning to their country, they did not slack off at all due to the lack of challenge. After carefully studying the composition of the escort team, they unanimously believed that there was a mole in the Qi army who would inform them of the team's itinerary, which would be entirely within their grasp.
In a situation where the strength contrast is great and there is an intelligence advantage, the two finally set the ambush location at the edge of Zhūlù Yuán. The terrain is flat, suitable for cavalry charges. Moreover, it is located in the central part of the Thousand Miles Plain, and the enemy will not escape back to the mountains.
Even if they had waited for another month, the two school lieutenants did not think of changing places. They were always at ease in the state army camp, resting comfortably and waiting for their prey to come to them.
However, Zhao Gang and Zhao Dian were undoubtedly furious. The sluggish team suddenly mounted collectively in Ninggu County and rushed forward like wolves, leaving the Qi army's surveillance escort far behind.
If it weren't for the mysterious informant, the two school lieutenants would have lost their prey. When they received the news, the team had already marched more than 300 miles away. Fortunately, the Hundred Victories Army could march day and night to cover 300 miles, and at most, they could catch up in two days. However, the interception turned into a pursuit.
Under the guidance of a mysterious person, Bai Shengjun's army was less than ten miles away from Qin Lei. At this time, 20,000 rioters blocked the way. It took a day and a half to open up the passage. Through interrogation of prisoners, it was learned that the target had escaped with 15,000 rioters. Two people showed Bai Shengjun's token and transferred all 3,000 cavalrymen from General Xue. They chased after them in a mighty manner.
