The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1523: Escape Path

Ye Shikai found himself seated, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. Within the barracks, only a handful of deputy generals remained; the vast majority of the army had already marched to the front lines. The outer defenses of the camp had transformed into a brutal 'meat grinder,' where warriors from both opposing forces were relentlessly fed into the fray, resulting in the grim accumulation of countless corpses.

Both factions understood the critical importance of this outer wall – it stood as the final bulwark. Without it, the Qin Army would gain unobstructed access, capable of reducing the entire encampment into a 'slaughterhouse.' Consequently, the insurgents fought with a ferocity Ye Shikai had rarely witnessed, despite having faced them in battle a hundred times prior.

Just then, Wan Qi Yuan entered the barracks from the outside. Ye Shikai's gaze lifted, and a slight easing of his grim expression followed as he recognized the newcomer.

"Your subordinate, Wan Qi Yuan, pays his respects to the General."

"Rise quickly. The wartime situation is dire; such formalities are unnecessary," Ye Shikai responded with a nod.

"General, Wan Qi Yuan requests permission to lead the cavalry squad into battle."

"Your bravery is commendable, but I have strategic reasons for withholding the cavalry squad. They are my veteran guard, and I am acutely aware of the immense difficulty in forging such an elite iron cavalry. As their commander, you must understand the sheer effort invested in building this force of two thousand riders. Your true battlefield lies on open plains. Here, in these mountains, the treacherous terrain will serve only to immobilize your warhorses, preventing any effective charge and, worse, leading to a massacre."

"General, as a leader, my heart aches for my brothers. Yet, as a warrior, I cannot stand aside while the battle wages before us," Wan Qi Yuan replied, his voice steady and resolute. He spoke without raising his voice, yet Ye Shikai perceived the unwavering determination burning in the Wolf Clan man's eyes – akin to a pack of wolves on the prairie, silent and unyielding...

"Wan Qi Yuan, your actions have always been measured. For you to seek battle today, you must already have a plan conceived," Ye Shikai surmised, discerning the underlying intent. It seemed unlikely he would boldly request engagement without a well-thought-out strategy.

"The General possesses great wisdom. Indeed, I have devised a plan and hope you will consider it," Wan Qi Yuan stated.

"Proceed."

"General, I beg you to examine this map," Wan Qi Yuan gestured towards the map affixed to the wall. It had been freshly drawn by soldiers, compiling intelligence from reconnaissance teams regarding the enemy's camp layout.

"What is it about this map?"

"General, do you believe the enemy would place all their strategic assets in a single location?" Wan Qi Yuan inquired, his question immediately capturing Ye Shikai's full attention.

"Naturally not. The reports indicated this is merely one primary encampment."

"Reporting to the General, based on my investigations over these past few days, there is a concealed path situated behind the enemy's main camp. Should they find themselves unable to withstand our assault, they could potentially utilize this small passage for their escape," Wan Qi Yuan elaborated.

"What did you say?" Upon hearing this crucial intelligence, Ye Shikai's demeanor shifted, his finger trembling slightly. Wan Qi Yuan's revelation struck like a 'heavy blow,' for if the enemy managed to escape, the sacrifices made by thousands on the front lines would ultimately be rendered futile.

"Is this information reliable?" Ye Shikai turned away, his voice laced with a cold edge. "You understand the gravity of this; if your words prove false, there will be severe repercussions."

"I stake my life on the truth of every word. Should any part of my statement be inaccurate, I am prepared to face death as atonement," Wan Qi Yuan pledged solemnly.

"Wait. How did you come by this knowledge?" Ye Shikai pressed for details.

"Since our army entered these mountains, I dispatched my scouts to quickly survey the terrain. Upon learning of the enemy's camp location, I sent swift cavalry units to their rear, and through this reconnaissance, we stumbled upon this secondary route," Wan Qi Yuan explained, before suddenly kneeling on one knee.

"What are you doing?"

"I feared the enemy might attempt an early withdrawal. Therefore, without seeking your direct approval, I took it upon myself to mobilize the iron cavalry stationed below the camp and maneuver them to the enemy's rear, effectively blocking their escape route. They should be nearing their objective presently," Wan Qi Yuan declared.

"I understand." Ye Shikai released a deep sigh, placing a hand gently on Wan Qi Yuan's shoulder. "Very well. Your consideration for the broader strategic picture is noted, and I hold no blame against you. If the cavalry squad successfully intercepts the enemy, you shall be credited with significant merit."

"Thank you, General."

"Additionally, summon Shangguan Jian back here with haste."

"Understood."

..............................

Night descended.

"General, why did you signal the retreat and pull us back?"

"Indeed, General! Our brothers fought valiantly throughout the day; we were on the verge of breaching the outer wall!"

Inside Ye Shikai’s barracks, generals were amassed, their bodies stained with blood, their complaints a constant drone. As the sun dipped below the horizon, he commanded the soldiers to sound the retreat. Several chiliarchs and Five Hundred Masters, still caught in the throes of battle frenzy, had to be forcibly removed from the battlefield by guards.

Man Cang sat alone in a shadowed corner, utterly silent. It wasn't that he lacked the desire to voice his grievances, but rather... he was simply too spent. Bearing two knife wounds and an arrow injury, he had been unceremoniously dragged away by guards. He could no longer discern which splatters on his person belonged to the enemy and which were his own lifeblood. Having personally slain scores of adversaries, the blade in his grasp was chipped, and his spear lay shattered. He had merely resorted to snatching weapons from the ground to continue his brutal fight...

"I've just received intelligence regarding a small pathway behind the encampment that could serve as an escape route," Ye Shikai stated with composure. The information provided by Wan Qi Yuan was significant enough to completely alter the strategic landscape, compelling Ye Shikai to revise his initial plan.

"What course of action shall we take, General?"

"Wan Qi Yuan has already dispatched the cavalry to intercept any retreat. My apprehension is that if we were to fight to the bitter end today, it might compel them to seek an early escape," Ye Shikai elaborated.

"This..." The assembled generals exchanged uneasy glances, finding themselves in a predicament with no easy solution. They were simply reluctant to endure a full day of combat only to arrive at this unfavorable outcome.

"What are our losses?" Ye Shikai inquired.

"We have suffered over eight hundred fatalities and more than five hundred wounded. The enemy's casualties exceed two thousand. Furthermore, the outer fortifications of the camp have sustained damage; the assault tomorrow should prove considerably easier," Shangguan Jian reported.

"Ensure the fallen brothers receive a proper burial, and see that the wounded are swiftly attended to in the rear," Ye Shikai commanded.

"Understood."

Truthfully, ordering a full retreat was not Ye Shikai's preferred course of action. However, beyond the potential erosion of morale, the fact that they had sacrificed over a thousand men without successfully breaching the camp was difficult to stomach, especially for the more hot-headed generals. Moreover, the critical element in assaulting a fortified position is momentum. Had they fought for just one more hour, they might have breached the outer wall. But to withdraw now was effectively granting the insurgents a reprieve, ensuring that tomorrow's attack would require immense effort to overcome the defenses, and invariably costing more soldiers their lives.

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