The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1517: 1517: A Stroke of Luck

Chapter 1517: A Stroke of Luck

Concealed like elusive leopards deep within the immense mountains, Xue San and his contingent of over twenty men moved with practiced stealth. Their reconnaissance had thoroughly mapped this treacherous terrain, and for days, they had navigated the dense forests, their movements as primal as wild beasts.

“A cave! Everyone, take shelter from the rain in here,” Xue San announced, his voice steady as he gestured towards an opening in the rock face amidst the sheeting downpour.

“Understood.”

“Got it, Commander.”

The group quickly sought refuge within the cave. The rainy season brought relentless precipitation, its intensity fluctuating. Xue San directed his men to consume their dry rations, urging them to replenish their depleted energy reserves.

“A stroke of luck that the general provided us with these rain cloaks; otherwise, with this weather, if our clothes became soaked, we’d be certain to freeze by morning,” remarked a soldier, shedding the cloak he wore. The men ignited a fire, huddling around its warmth. These were no ordinary straw cloaks. Common folk’s straw cloaks, while offering protection from rain, proved too cumbersome for combat. Ye Shikai had drawn inspiration from modern raincoats, utilizing a specialized material to equip his team with cloaks that boasted superior waterproofing without impeding their agility.

“Indeed. What’s there to even say about our general? He’s a celestial being. If he wished to level Beast Mountain, it would be as simple as uttering a command,” Xue San declared, his voice filled with pride as he munched on his dry food, amplifying Ye Shikai’s past triumphs.

“But why didn’t the general foresee the enemy’s scorched-earth tactics against us?”

“You naive boy, it’s because Yan Yu is cunning, resorting to petty tricks. Such ploys can, at best, instill fear. But the end result, is it not still a dead end for them? We have completed the map for the general, and this time, victory is assured,” Xue San reassured them.

“Yes, the general has guided us to countless victories; this occasion will be no different.”

“Precisely, you are absolutely right. Back at Stone Peak Fortress, the general faced the Wolf Clan with unwavering resolve, cutting them down like withered blossoms. The rebel army is insignificant in comparison.”

“That’s the truth.”

Unanimous agreement rippled through the group. Witnessing their spirits lift, Xue San felt a sense of deep satisfaction. Unlike soldiers engaged in open warfare, their missions often carried a heavier burden—deep infiltration behind enemy lines, surrounded by thousands of hostile troops. A single misstep could spell total annihilation, their demise unremembered. Their roles encompassed reconnaissance, infiltration, and assassination, mirroring modern special forces operations, demanding exceptional skill and robust psychological resilience.

“Operating within enemy territory necessitates extreme caution. The fire should burn for no more than an hour. Once the time elapses, it must be extinguished, and all traces must be meticulously concealed. Do you understand?” Xue San instructed.

“Understood, Commander.”

“We understand.”

“Commander, look! It appears there’s a light emanating from within this cave,” a team member suddenly exclaimed, pointing towards the cave's interior.

“Is that so?” Xue San turned his head, and indeed, a faint glow flickered from the darkness within. If no one was inside tending a fire, it could only signify one thing… the cave passed all the way through, possessing an exit on the opposite side.

“Everyone, take cover and ready your weapons. Follow me,” Xue San’s demeanor shifted, his expression hardening as his tone grew grave.

“Understood.”

Xue San led his team into the cave. For the sake of maintaining concealment, only Xue San at the forefront held a torch, with the team advancing in single file, each man placing a hand on the shoulder of the one ahead, their free hand gripping a crossbow. They scanned the cave ceiling with heightened vigilance, anticipating a potential ambush.

“Everyone, tread lightly and minimize any noise,” Xue San cautioned.

“Commander, there’s a considerable amount of dust in here; it indicates that no one has frequented this place,” a team member observed, noting the undisturbed layers of dust. Numerous bats clung to the cave's upper reaches, suggesting it was not a place frequented by humans.

“Indeed,” Xue San remarked, his gaze fixed on the light source as they moved steadily closer. Soon, the small luminescence grew considerably larger until they finally arrived at their destination.

It was, in fact, an exit.

“Remain here. I will proceed ahead to scout. Remember, do not emerge unless you receive my signal, is that understood?” Xue San commanded.

“Yes, Commander.”

Xue San cautiously extended his head beyond the cave’s opening, and the vista that unfolded before him almost caused him to cry out in astonishment. Arrayed below were barracks, swarming with soldiers clad in armor, engaged in patrol duties within a military encampment. This was not the Qin Army’s camp; it was… the rebel army’s stronghold.

Xue San surveyed the scene with meticulous care; the cave was situated at a higher elevation, overlooking the entire valley where the camp lay nestled. A solitary access road led into and out of the area. From his vantage point, he possessed a clear view of everything, including the watchtowers and sentry posts.

“Great heavens, such a multitude of soldiers,” Xue San whispered, estimating their numbers to be at least two to three thousand. Even if this wasn’t the rebel army’s primary base, it was undeniably a significant stronghold. Its destruction would inflict a grievous blow to the rebel army’s core strength, potentially precipitating their collapse.

Carefully examining the topography, Xue San noted the valley's enclosure by formidable mountains, rendering passage arduous with a sole ingress and egress. From a strategic military viewpoint, this location represented a desperate last stand. If encircled, rescue was impossible, and a breach would spell inevitable doom for all. However, the exit passage was protracted and confined, densely populated with numerous trees. Without intimate knowledge of the terrain, venturing inside was foolhardy, and its concealed secrets, so effectively hidden, were only stumbled upon by Xue San through sheer fortune.

"Hmph, hiding here now, it's no wonder the general couldn't locate you. Now that you've encountered me, prepare for your demise," Xue San re-entered the cave, releasing his assembled contingent.

"Commander, our search has been lengthy, and it turns out they were concealed here all along," his team members exclaimed with palpable excitement, as if unearthing a treasure trove. After all, their prolonged pursuit of the rebel army's main stronghold had finally concluded, bringing immense satisfaction.

"Very well, temper your elation. Fetch the paper and writing implements. Sketch the terrain here, detailing the entrance and exit points, alongside the camp's arrangement. Ensure meticulous accuracy before we depart this forsaken place," Xue San directed.

"Understood, Commander."

"Judging by the numbers, this appears to be a substantial rebel encampment. The granary's roof is thatched with straw to ward off moisture. Towards the rear of the camp, an adjacent storehouse likely houses armaments. The enemy force predominantly consists of infantry and archers, conspicuously lacking organized cavalry units," Xue San deduced while surveying the rebel camp. "The rebels are clad in common attire, primarily leather and wooden armor. Their weaponry seems largely self-fashioned and quite basic, indicating their armory possesses little significant value."