Chapter Twenty-Five: Dark Night

  The two people in front of Zhao Shi were real soldiers, their armor stained with blood after the battle. After being washed by the rain, they looked disheveled, but as soon as they stood there, from inside to outside, they emitted a chilling aura that was awe-inspiring.

  Zhao Shi shifted his gaze away from the two people, and this feeling that was both familiar and strange made him feel a little closer to them. "My name is Zhao Shi, I'm the captain of the third battalion's fifth squad of the Grain Protection Army."

  That tall and thin man was taken aback, clearly not expecting the young lady's late-night visitor to be just a small team leader, and still so young. He also remembered how Li Shu had stopped him from entering earlier, and his gaze towards Li Jinhua became suspicious.

  Li Jinhua's face turned red as she hastily explained: "It was he who killed the leader of the Western bandits, and this method was also his idea..."

  The tall and thin Han man carefully sized up Zhao Shi, he was straightforward and didn't think as much as Li Shu, burst out laughing, "Indeed, heroes emerge in youth, speaking of which, it's you who saved our lives, good... If I, Li Huan, happen to not die tonight, this friend I've made is settled, we'll wipe out the Western Xia bandits and then have a hearty drink with my younger brother..."

  With the participation of these two old soldiers, Zhao Shi no longer spoke much. He wouldn't be arrogant enough to think that having knowledge from a thousand years later would make him look down on people here, and he had to point out everything before it was done. He was still unfamiliar with the military system and combat methods of this era, so he naturally wouldn't say anything ridiculous to make people laugh at him. Therefore, most of the time was spent listening carefully, only occasionally inserting a sentence or two when he was sure, but these few words already made the two men look at him in a new light. To say that before, the two men still had some idea that this young man's luck was too good, after the plan was set, the two people's gaze towards Zhao Shi had become distinctly different.

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  As the flames rose in the camp, 132 Qin soldiers, stripped of their cumbersome armor, holding horizontal knives and wearing only light clothes, quietly left from the back of the hill under Li Jinhua's leadership.

  The dark clouds in the sky obscured the starlight, making this night as black as ink, and the patter of spring rain also largely covered up the sound of their footsteps as they left.

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  Zhao Shi walked at the front of the team, closely following behind Li Jinhua. Originally, Li Jinhua wanted to leave him in the camp, but Zhao Shi just shook his head. Li Jinhua didn't say much either. After what happened in the tent, she couldn't use her authority as the commander to pressure him, so she had no choice but to bring him along. Zhao Shi wasn't trying to show off his bravery; he didn't think staying in the camp was safer. This group of over 130 people seemed small in number, but they were actually the elite of the Grain Escort Army. Each and every one of them was a robust and tall man, not a single one was a recruited civilian. Following these men would naturally increase his chances of survival.

  The cold rainwater flowed down Zhao Shi's face and into his collar, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. This made him especially miss the chocolate from his previous life in the army. If only he could chew on a few pieces, he wouldn't be made such a sorry sight by the rain.

  Look at these men around you, although they are a bit far away and can't be seen clearly, but each one is silent, even their breathing sounds are intentionally suppressed. Occasionally, someone falls down, no need for help, just gets up quickly and follows closely behind the team. They all drank some wine before setting out, but after a day of battle, they were already very tired. In such weather, they marched rapidly without anyone complaining, not even a single word. They had walked for about five miles, when one of the men suddenly fell to the ground, his body convulsing into a ball. The people around him went to take a look but didn't help him up, just leaving him there. It's estimated that it won't be long before he loses his life. Seeing this, even someone like Zhao Shi with an iron heart couldn't help but sincerely admire in his heart. In the past, the equipment of Chinese soldiers was considered third-rate globally, but the quality of the officers and men was not something anyone would look down on. It seems that there has been such a tradition for a long time.

  He circled around for a long time and only stopped when he arrived at the outskirts of the Western Xia camp. The Western Xia camp was quiet, with only occasional sparks flying out from the fires, but it was unclear if there were any guards on patrol. Li Jin Hua waved his hand, and everyone gripped their horizontal knives tightly, vigilantly watching the dark surroundings. It wasn't until half a period of time had passed without any unusual movements that Li Jin Hua lowered his arm, and the Northwestern Han men suddenly relaxed. They counted their numbers in small groups, huddled together to drink wine and warm up their bodies. No one said anything unnecessary; they were all rushing to rest. Zhao Shi crouched beside Li Jin Hua, whose face was pale and who was shaking uncontrollably, but in his heart, he had a new understanding of the Qin army's military discipline. These were just the grain-protecting troops among the Imperial Guards; if it were the real Imperial Guards or the garrisoned troops on the borders, what would they be like? He couldn't help but feel some anticipation.

  "Don't worry about whether they have patrols or not, wait another hour and we'll make a rush for it, I'm sure they won't be able to react in time." Li Xunyi's voice was intentionally lowered, with a hint of joy in it. The fact that they had arrived safely here boosted his confidence, indicating that the Western Xia people were indeed unguarded. He, Li Shu and another middle-aged Han man gathered around Li Jinhua, next to Zhao Shi and two traveling officials who had followed voluntarily. Everyone nodded after hearing his words.

  Zhao Shi hesitated for a moment, then interjected: "No, let's wait until the fire has died down a bit before we act. At that time, we'll charge in directly, best if we split into several teams to create the illusion of having many people. As long as they're confused, we'll shout some confusing things... confuse their military heart. If they really have no defense and it's dark, under the chaos of mutual slaughter, this battle will definitely be won. However... however, the darkness will also affect us, so casualties will certainly not be small. It's best if everyone doesn't stay in the camp for too long, after breaking through the camp, hide immediately. If they're not chaotic enough, we'll attack again. Of course, at that time it'll depend on everyone's luck. If our own people are killed by our own people, there's nothing to be resentful about..."

  "What's going on with the new book chart? I, Acao, can't see my name anymore. Yesterday I was still ranked 11th, but today it's gone... so unlucky..."