The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1487: 1487: Battle of Wits

“Just do it like that, everyone throw accurately,” Ye Shikai commanded loudly. The group instantly responded, following his lead by igniting the cloth at the bottle necks and hurling them towards the haystack. The bottles shattered upon impact, unleashing the liquor which instantly caught fire on the ground. These bandits, accustomed to preying on the defenseless common folk, had never faced such a formidable presence. They had anticipated a massive haul of grain but were suddenly overwhelmed as the flames consumed over a dozen of their comrades and their advance was cut off by the burning barricade.

“Understood.”

Ye Shikai did not immediately order a barrage of incendiary bottles; instead, he had them thrown one by one to conserve their limited supply, as no more wine was available. Ye Shikai’s objective with the fire barriers and incendiary bottles was not to annihilate the bandits but to stall them for the longest possible period until Man Cang arrived with reinforcements. In essence, the entire situation was under his control, with the timing meticulously managed. Nearly two hours had already passed; if his estimations were correct, reinforcements should be en route. At their fastest, they would arrive in another hour.

“Everyone, hold on tight; reinforcements will be here within the hour,” Ye Shikai announced. The soldiers felt a sense of relief, as if they had taken a calming elixir. Having already endured two hours, another hour seemed manageable. However, Ye Shikai harbored genuine concerns—only a little over twenty incendiary bottles remained, insufficient to maintain their defense for much longer. Once these were depleted, the bandits would undoubtedly resume their arrow volleys, extinguish the bonfire, and launch a full-scale assault. Provoked by Ye Shikai’s fiery tactics, their fury would be boundless and their pursuit relentless.

Ye Shikai had exhausted his strategic options. At this juncture, his only recourse would be to use cover for a desperate last stand, engaging in close-quarters combat, a confrontation whose outcome would be decided swiftly. For now, his sole hope lay in the swift arrival of reinforcements.

“My Lord, allow us to take a few men to stoke the flames,” several guards suggested, pulling straw from the grain sacks and holding it before them. This allowed them to approach the fire, using the straw as a makeshift “shield.” However, upon their return, they would inevitably become targets for enemy arrows.

“Are you mad? Everyone crouch down! Are you actively seeking death?” Ye Shikai, unwilling to see his men perish, immediately rejected their offer of engagement.

“My Lord, if the bonfire is not maintained, they will charge us. We have long ago cast aside thoughts of life and death, vowing to protect you until our final breath.”

“Vowing to protect the General.”

“Vowing to protect the General.”

Ye Shikai recognized the grim resolve in their eyes. These loyal men had served alongside him since the campaign against the Wolf Clan; they were seasoned warriors who displayed no fear even when facing the formidable Wolf Clan. Otherwise, they would not be Ye Shikai’s personal guard.

“I have an idea,” Ye Shikai suddenly conceived a method to counter the enemy, his gaze falling upon the cart behind them. He leaped onto it, grasping a bundle of straw and several grain sacks to use as a shield.

“Quickly, push me forward,” Ye Shikai commanded, and the soldiers immediately grasped his intention. They used grain sacks for cover and propelled the cart, akin to a chariot, directly towards the bonfire. Arrows rained down but were all deflected by the sacks. The cart reached the bonfire’s edge, and Ye Shikai hurled the straw and sacks into the flames before using two more sacks to shield himself as the soldiers pulled the cart back.

“General, are you unharmed?” As soon as Ye Shikai dismounted from the cart, a contingent of soldiers surrounded him. The grain sacks draped over him were riddled with arrows, yet he remained unscathed.

“Did you witness that? Proceed in the exact same manner,” Ye Shikai instructed. The guards emulated his actions, employing this method to reinforce the bonfire—a perilous but effective strategy.

“Villagers, gather the arrows,” Ye Shikai directed the laborers to collect the arrows embedded in the grain sacks and ordered their archers to return fire, as they too needed to take the initiative in the engagement.

After approximately the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a gradual realization dawned: there was no longer any activity from the opposing side, not even a single arrow was loosed.

“General, it has been quite some time without any movement. Could they have retreated?” a soldier inquired.

“I cannot be certain; the fire burns too intensely, and the smoke is too thick for me to see clearly,” Ye Shikai cautioned, refusing to lower his guard. Having persevered for so long, he could not afford a single misstep that would nullify all their efforts.

“So, what is our next course of action?”

“Continue as we have been, maintaining our defensive posture. As long as we hold our ground, they are powerless against us,” Ye Shikai’s strategy was simple—to endure. Reinforcements were expected in half an hour.

“Archers, release your arrows,” Ye Shikai commanded. It seemed they might be plotting something. A volley of arrows soared overhead, yet no sounds of attack followed—could it be they had truly retreated?

“My Lord, look! Our people are here,” alerted several laborers at that moment. Ye Shikai turned his gaze toward the hill and, indeed, observed a swirling cloud of dust. Upon closer inspection, a large cavalry unit was approaching. The brigands certainly couldn't possess such a number of horses, and they were clad in military attire – it had to be reinforcements.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves. Remain alert,” Ye Shikai cautioned, still not entirely at ease, and signaled for everyone to maintain their composure.

“My Lord, it is I, Man Cang. I have brought the reinforcements!”

Amidst the thunder of hooves, Man Cang’s voice boomed through the forest, audible to all present.

“It’s General Man returning!”

“Yes, that’s General Man! I recognize his voice.”

Ye Shikai, naturally, recognized Man Cang’s familiar voice and finally let out a breath of relief. Had he not returned, the predicament could have escalated into dire straits. Upon hearing that governmental soldiers had arrived to their rescue, the civilians erupted in tears of joy. After an arduous battle lasting an hour and a half, their gratitude was immeasurable. Before long, Man Cang and his reinforcements carved a path through the fiery barricades, and Ye Shikai led his guards to meet them.

“My Lord, are you unharmed?” Man Cang hurried over. Seeing Ye Shikai safe and sound, he felt a profound sense of relief, having fulfilled his duty to protect his commander.

“Rest assured, we are all well. We’ve merely sustained some losses of wine and grain,” Ye Shikai responded with a faint smile. Without those supplies, their situation today could have been far more perilous. It appeared his wedding banquet would have to make do with tea in place of wine…

“Ye, are you alright?” To Ye Shikai’s distinct surprise, it was Commander Han Hao himself who had arrived to render assistance.

“Upon learning of your predicament, Lord Han immediately mobilized the city’s cavalry and rushed here without delay,” Man Cang elucidated.

“If so much as a single hair on your head had been harmed, Ye, I would bear the blame. Both Miss He and your Commander Ma would surely hold me accountable.”