The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1558: Seizing Military Provisions

Thirty li west of Wan City in Nanyang County.

"Faster, move it! These two thousand dan of military grain must not encounter any issues."

"Yes, sir."

On the open plains, a detachment of Qin Army soldiers is escorting a shipment of grain. The vicinity of Wan City boasts numerous villages, a substantial population, and wide expanses of fertile land. Nanyang County has historically been a significant contributor of taxes to the imperial court. However, two thousand dan of grain is no trivial amount, necessitating the accompaniment of several hundred Qin Army soldiers for the convoy.

"You men in the rear, pick up the pace, don't lag behind!" A mounted officer cracked his horsewhip, his voice booming. In addition to the hundreds of Qin Army soldiers, several hundred civilian laborers were also present, assisting with the grain escort.

"Sir, reporting! Cavalry is approaching us from the rear." A soldier sprinted over with news.

"What is it? Who are they?"

"We're unsure, sir. They don't appear to be numerous, and they're wearing our army's uniforms. They should be Qin Army as well."

"What's their bearing?"

"Fully armed, but they're not moving with any urgency. They don't seem to be in a hurry."

"Have the men prepare themselves. Be on high alert."

"Understood, sir."

Hundreds of Qin soldiers readied their weapons, congregating at the rear of the convoy. They formed two lines as dust kicked up in the distance, revealing the faint shapes of warhorses.

"Five Hundred Master, judging by their numbers, it looks like about one to two hundred individuals."

"One to two hundred? We cannot afford to be careless. Let's observe their intentions."

"Yes, sir."

Soon, Wan Qi Yuan arrived, leading the cavalry. Crucially, he maintained a leisurely pace. Witnessing this, the escorting officer felt a measure of relief.

"Halt! Who are you?" The commanding officer of the Qin Army drew his sword and advanced, bringing the group to a stop.

"Can't you discern these garments?" Wan Qi Yuan questioned disdainfully. He dismounted and approached the officer.

"No one has ever dared to point a sword at me! Who do you presume to be?" In a flash, Wan Qi Yuan drew his own blade. The two swords met with a clang, and a powerful force instantly numbed the officer's arm. His grip loosened, and his sword clattered to the ground.

Gazing at the sharp sword now pressed against his neck, the grain convoy officer felt a surge of apprehension. Despite the encounter lasting only a single move, it was sufficient to reveal Wan Qi Yuan's exceptional martial prowess.

"Ahem, brother, my apologies for my earlier insolence. My eyes failed to recognize your true standing. Seeing as we are fellow soldiers, I implore you to show leniency." As he spoke, the officer retrieved a liang of silver from his pocket and offered it.

"Very well. Your sincerity is noted, and I shall harbor no ill will." Wan Qi Yuan sheathed his sword and cast a glance at the sacks of grain stacked on the carts.

"I am merely here to offer a word of caution. Rebel groups have become increasingly active lately, specializing in intercepting military grain supplies. You must remain vigilant," Wan Qi Yuan stated calmly.

"Yes, yes, I shall certainly heed your warning."

"Good, I shall not detain you further."

"Understood. We shall be departing. Men, prepare to move out!" The officer let out a deep breath and loudly turned to issue his commands.

Slaaaaughter.

Slaaay.

Unexpectedly, a thousand cavalrymen materialized from the front, charging forward with incredible speed. In mere moments, they reached the vanguard of the grain convoy.

"Five Hundred Master, a large cavalry force is charging at us!"

"What in the blazes is happening..."

Before the officer could fully process the situation, a crimson stain bloomed on his neck. He emitted no sound of pain, a testament to the swiftness of the strike. The perpetrator was none other than Wan Qi Yuan, positioned directly behind him.

"Attack!" With the command issued, Wan Qi Yuan's cavalry descended upon the convoy from both the front and rear, unleashing a devastating surprise assault. The unsuspecting Qin soldiers, caught completely off guard, fell in pools of their own blood before they even comprehended the danger.

"Move swiftly!"

Wan Qi Yuan had orchestrated this cunning stratagem by first leading a portion of his cavalry to draw the attention of the Qin soldiers escorting the grain towards the rear of the convoy. Then, exploiting their momentary complacency, his forces struck from both directions, overwhelming them with an unexpected onslaught. Within the time it takes for a single stick of incense to burn, the entire Qin Army escort was annihilated.

"Commander, what shall we do with these civilians?" A soldier gestured towards the trembling laborers, seeking instructions from Wan Qi Yuan.

"Rest assured, our sole interest is the grain. We mean no harm to innocents. We are departing now. We entreat you to return to your villages and kindly refrain from reporting this incident to the authorities. We thank you for your cooperation."

Wan Qi Yuan clasped his hands together, mounted his warhorse, and directed his cavalry to load the captured grain onto their mounts. They then galloped away at full speed, leaving behind the stunned civilian laborers and a landscape strewn with the bodies of Qin soldiers.

The time elapsed was approximately that of one stick of incense burning.

"Reporting to General Ye, my mission is complete. The entire two thousand dan of grain has been secured." Wan Qi Yuan led his contingent to the pre-arranged rendezvous point, where Ye Shikai had been awaiting their arrival for some time.

"Excellent! That is outstanding work."

"Furthermore, the Qin soldiers responsible for the transport were all eliminated, not a single one survived."

"Excellent news. However, the Qin Army stationed in Wan City will soon realize what has happened. We must make our retreat immediately; delaying even for a moment is not an option."

"Understood."

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

At this time, approximately ten li north of Wan City.

"General Shangguan, the Qin Army pursuing us is far too numerous."

As Shangguan Jian led his contingent northward, he glanced back. Thousands of Qin cavalry were hot on their heels, raising a cloud of dust that obscured the sky. There were over two thousand pursuing cavalry, while Shangguan Jian commanded a mere hundred under his direct charge.

"Hurry! Do not look back! Everyone, follow me closely!"

Prior to this operation, Shangguan Jian had spent half a day earnestly requesting assistance in the barracks. It was only then that Ye Shikai entrusted him with the critical mission of diverting the Qin Army.

Throughout the entire operation, the army had endured several brutal engagements, with each camp suffering immense losses. Now, their numbers were reduced to less than a third of the original strength. Ye Shikai had intended to allocate two hundred cavalry to bolster Shangguan Jian’s personal escort, but his offer was declined. Shangguan Jian believed that this mission, aimed at drawing away the nearby Qin Army, was incredibly perilous. Adding more people, in his view, would not necessarily help. Therefore, Shangguan Jian insisted on leading only his guards.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

From behind, the Qin Army unleashed a volley of crossbow bolts. Shangguan Jian drew his sword to deflect the projectiles, but several guards by his side were struck.

"General, we are now within range of their crossbows. This is open plains; if this continues, we will all perish here."

"Damn it! There’s a hill not far ahead. Our horses are swift; we’ll charge forward to break their pursuit. Brothers, follow me!" Shangguan Jian bellowed.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The contingent galloped forward for over ten li. As anticipated, a hill appeared within sight. While not as towering as a mountain, its dense forest offered the potential to impede a large cavalry force in pursuit. Shangguan Jian was desperate to shake off the Qin Army, believing that once they entered the hills, he would devise a strategy.

"Brothers, into the mountains!"

Shangguan Jian guided his men into the dense woods. He turned his head to observe. The Qin Army had halted their advance outside the hills, not daring to enter.

"General, they seem to have stopped," a soldier reported.

"Indeed." Shangguan Jian turned, a sense of puzzlement washing over him. The Qin Army possessed thousands of cavalry; why would they hesitate to enter? Could there be some hidden danger within these mountains?

"Never mind that for now. Let's focus on escaping first, and we can discuss the situation later."