The Demon Lords-Chapter 576 - 73: Smart Trick Part 1

On the second day after the arrival of the two flanking armies, the Yan Army began to probe the area occupied by the wild people, dispatching groups of skirmishing cavalry. Almost simultaneously, the wild people also increased the coverage of their scouts by a similar measure. The main armies had not yet truly engaged, but their respective scouts had already opened the prelude to a bloody conflict.

"A familiar feeling."

Sitting on the back of a Pixiu, Tian Wujing looked at the distant encampment of the wild people and remarked.

At this time, Commander Wang Ge of the Jingnan Army stepped forward and teased, "That bunch from the Zhenbei Army, their skills in setting up camp are only so-so, yet this Wild Man King actually treasured this enough to learn it. Heh."

The Zhenbei Army was not particularly good at setting up camp because, for the past few decades, they had mainly taken an offensive stance against the barbarians in the desert.

The wild people's encampment ahead looked rather decent at first glance, somewhat resembling a proper one. However, in the eyes of experts, several key layouts and the overall structure of the camp were clearly problematic.

Tian Wujing then asked Zheng Fan, "What do you think?"

Zheng Fan glanced at Wang Ge, first clasping his fist to him in a salute, then said, "My Lord, in my opinion, it's rather surprising that the wild people have learned to set up camp at all."

Lord Jingnan nodded. "Indeed."

The wild people earned their name because they were considered unenlightened by the world. But now, this race was visibly learning and progressing. Regardless of how well or poorly they set up camp, the very fact that they were now *doing* so was the most alarming part.

It was like the difference between being nearsighted and being blind—two completely different concepts.

Wang Ge didn't feel Zheng Fan was intentionally trying to embarrass him. After all, he was a high-ranking commander, not some consort in the imperial harem competing for favor; he wouldn't stoop to such petty jealousy. He spoke up, "My Lord, allow this subordinate to take three thousand cavalry and test the mettle of this camp, shall we?"

Commanders like Wang Ge had previously been handling rearguard actions, essentially mopping up. They were sick of the constant burning, killing, and pillaging—even that could become nauseating. However, any sizable tribes along the way, the real troublemakers, had already been eliminated by the Lord leading the van. Now, from generals to common soldiers, everyone was incredibly restless and itching for a proper fight.

"Your unit has just arrived; the soldiers are fatigued."

"My Lord, my force..."

"Zheng Fan, hear my order."

Zheng Fan immediately knelt on one knee. "This subordinate is here!"

"I order your unit to attack the enemy encampment from the northwest. If you tear open a breach, press the attack inward for this Lord. If the enemy camp is solid and cannot be forcibly breached, you have the discretion to withdraw. Wang Ge, Zhang Cheng."

"This subordinate obeys!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

"Be prepared to provide support and cover their advance or retreat."

"This subordinate obeys!"

After receiving his orders, Zheng Fan returned to his own troops. He informed Liang Cheng, and the men began to mobilize, quickly departing from the Yan Army's encampment.

On the way, Zheng Fan muttered quietly to Liang Cheng beside him, "Why are we the ones to spearhead the attack?"

"My lord, I went to observe the front this morning, and San'er accompanied me."

"Oh? What did you discover?"

"Your subordinates believe that the number of wild people in the encampment ahead might not be as large as we initially thought. Although we don't know why the wild people suddenly massed their forces only to withdraw them, I imagine Lord Jingnan must have also noticed something amiss. That's why he assigned the task of spearheading the attack to you, my lord."

So, he's deliberately pushing me forward? Giving me a chance to earn military merit?

"That's likely the case. Wiping out those wild people settlements along the way doesn't count for much significant military merit. But these are the Wild Man King's own forces; that's an entirely different matter. It's like the difference between the Zhenbei Army in the desert clearing out ordinary barbarian tribes versus annihilating the Barbarian Royal Court's forces. If the wild people's encampment ahead is indeed largely empty and not just a feint, then your subordinate is confident he can lead our men to break into their camp and tear open a breach. Once that happens and the reinforcements follow up, the primary credit for this engagement will naturally be yours, my lord."

Zheng Fan quietly took out a cigarette. In Lord Jingnan's presence, he didn't dare to smoke so openly. Only in his own territory could he fully enjoy this little pleasure.

Heh, you know, this feeling of being specially chosen... it's actually not bad.

In the past, Tian Wujing had deliberately suppressed him, which he understood and accepted. But now, Tian Wujing was intending to push him to the forefront. Tsk, tsk. That feeling of having connections in high places making official life easier—he was finally experiencing it.

This was essentially taking the credit that would have gone to Wang Ge and the others and placing it on his own head.

The last person to help him out like this was Ji Chengjue. However, Ji Chengjue, that titular Prince, simply didn't have the same clout as Lord Jingnan.

The Shengle forces moved out first, with the other Yan Army contingents arrayed behind them.

Zheng Fan silently pulled down the visor of his helmet and slapped his chest plate with his left hand. This is to remind Mo Wan that your dad is about to go to war. Hey, wake up.

"My lord, perhaps you could take two hundred cavalry to patrol and oversee the general situation?"

"Get lost! I've been feeling incredibly stifled over at Tian Wujing's side, and I'm itching for a fight!"

Liang Cheng nodded in understanding. Anyone forced back into a "student-like" existence after so many years of working would find it torturous.

"Old rules: you command."

"Then, my lord, you can give the order to charge."

"Hmm, ahem..."

Zheng Fan cleared his throat, drew his saber, and held it high.

"SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!"

Around him, all the cavalrymen raised their weapons in grave and silent unison.

They had specifically practiced this. Although Liang Cheng hadn't trained the soldiers in formal "parade ground marching," he had focused on several coordinated movements. The purpose was precisely to allow their lord to enjoy this moment to the fullest.

Of course, Fanli had been intentionally excluded from this particular training, lest he, like in the beginning, lead this group astray and get them all shouting "Ula" again.

Zheng Fan roared, "Yan Army!"

In response, all his men bellowed three times in unison, simultaneously striking their weapons against their armor three times:

"Certain victory!"

"Certain victory!"

"Certain victory!"

Phew... That felt good. So good.

Zheng Fan pointed his saber forward. "Charge!"

「...」

Inside the wild people's encampment, their King sat bolt upright on an archery tower, observing the distant situation, his banner planted behind him.

The unusual activity in the Yan Army's encampment naturally didn't go unnoticed. The wild people within their own camp also began to mobilize and prepare their defenses, but due to their unfamiliarity with such set-piece defensive tactics, they still appeared somewhat disorganized.

The Wild Man King sighed, rubbing his forehead.

He was actually well aware that confining his warriors within an encampment was akin to binding their own limbs; the wild people were far more adept at mounted archery and combat on the open field.

But there was no other choice. Who had asked them to face the Yan Army, renowned as the world's foremost cavalry?

Within the encampment, they might be able to hold out for a while. If they were to actually ride out for a field battle, they would likely be swept away in a single wave.

This kind of static, defensive warfare was what this Wild Man King disliked the most. But when the enemy surpassed his own forces in both individual and unit strength, he could only grit his teeth and play along.

The King stretched his neck, looking up lazily, then ordered the sole remaining iron-masked guard beside him, "Begin."

The guard squatted down and began to remove his clothes. The Wild Man King also squatted down and started to undress.

The wild people below would never know that, high above them on the archery tower, their King was undressing with a male guard.

"King, now this slave understands. When you gave me this iron mask, saying it was a reward for your most trusted and loyal warrior, you were deceiving me."

"Only realizing it now? Too late."

"And I was so happy about it for so long! I've always worn this iron mask, never taking it off even to sleep or bathe."

"I was wondering why it smelled so strong! Don't you ever wash it? It's even caked with a layer of black grime."

"King, you never told this slave earlier that I would have to be your body double."

"Well, who asked you to be so similar to me in height and build? Even your face bears a seven-tenths resemblance to mine."

"King, should the inner garments be removed as well?"

"Off with it, off with it! How many common tribesmen have you seen wearing silk undergarments? If you accidentally fell or your outer armor got scraped, and the silk underneath showed, wouldn't that expose you?"

"King, you truly are thorough in your considerations."

"And your undergarments?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"King, only a handful of people in the tribe wear undergarments."

"Doesn't it chafe?"

The two men squatted on the archery tower, quickly exchanging clothes.

The Wild Man King took the iron mask and placed it over his own face.

"King, should this slave make a request of you now? In those stories Angda used to tell about the Four Great Nations, the men of sacrifice were always rewarded before they went to their deaths."

"Speak quickly. This King is in a hurry to escape."

"King, there's one thing this slave can't let go of."

"You're an orphan, without kith or kin. What could you possibly not be able to let go of?"

"This slave has never... tasted a woman."

The Wild Man King patted the guard's shoulder and said earnestly, "A'lai, rest assured. In the future, this King will, at worst, endure a bit more hardship, suffer a little more, and help you... taste a few more women."

"Thank you, King. This slave can only repay your great kindness in the next life."

"Mm, don't worry. I'll find you in the next life and have you continue as my guard."

"King, this slave is so excited! This slave can actually be King!"

"You must let the warriors below see that their King is still here, with them."

"King, rest assured. All these years, this slave has been watching you. I can definitely impersonate you perfectly."

With that, the wild people guard named A'lai stood up. He gazed down, and at this moment, many wild people below were indeed looking up at the archery tower. They knew their King was up there, watching them.

A'lai leaned back in the chair behind him, turning slightly to the side. Simultaneously, his left hand began to stroke the long scar on his face, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

After settling into this pose and demeanor, A'lai asked, "King, why haven't you descended yet?"

The Wild Man King, now wearing the iron mask, stroked his jaw beneath it. Have I always looked this foolish?