The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1561: Settling Down

Mountain Pass.

"The rebels are descending the mountain, brothers, get ready." The Qin Army camp was in chaos. A large force had already entered the mountains, leaving only some old and weak soldiers behind to guard the camp. However, they had an overwhelming advantage in numbers, so they were not panicked, just a bit disordered. Shangguan Jian and his followers moved quickly, almost reaching the mountain pass in the blink of an eye, while the remaining Qin Army had just finished assembling.

"Don’t stop, just charge ahead, kill." Leading the charge, Shangguan Jian was at the forefront, wielding a sword in his right hand and a spear in his left. The Qin Army was numerous, and naturally required more time to form up, which played right into Shangguan Jian’s hands.

"Release the arrows."

Three rows of arrows shot out, instantly hitting several cavalrymen. Shangguan Jian swung his sword, deflecting the arrows. Archers were the nemesis of cavalry; a barrage of arrows, with cavalrymen being large targets, meant those hit and falling off their horses were likely trampled by rear cavalry even if they survived.

"Don’t stop, blindfold the horses, charge through." Shangguan Jian shouted loudly. With their eyes covered, the warhorses had no apprehension and charged directly at the shield formation of the army.

Bang.

The horse’s chest slammed into the shield, pushing it back, and the horse immediately lost its balance. Shangguan Jian, with his skilled horsemanship, forcefully twisted the horse’s head back to maintain balance. The cavalry behind him surged through the gap in the formation like a spear, piercing through this "shield" of the army formation.

"Break."

With just a single impact, Shangguan Jian and his guard directly "penetrated" the Qin Army formation, breaking through the front and charging out.

There was no moon tonight, the night was dark, perfectly providing Shangguan Jian the opportunity to flee. A hundred riders dashed into the darkness, disappearing without a trace.

"Brothers, head south; stop only at safe areas."

"Yes."

"Yes."

Southern County.

In two days, Ye Shikai led his team southward, encountering numerous Qin Army blockades along the way, mostly numbering in the hundreds or thousands. These were likely garrison troops from various counties. Though Ye Shikai continuously lost men, the spirit of this "ragtag army" remained. As long as Ye Shikai, the figurehead, was there, their combat strength should not be underestimated. These garrison troops from a few counties could not resist them. It seemed that though Nanyang County had received news of Ye Shikai’s uprising, they hadn’t had time to gather a large army. By the time they reacted, Ye Shikai had already led his team to Southern County.

"We finally arrived." Ye Shikai couldn’t help but sigh. Here was the border between the rebel and Qin Army territory. They were safe upon reaching here.

"Brothers, we have arrived at Southern County."

"What, we made it."

"Indeed, we’ve arrived."

"Yes, we made it."

The exhausted soldiers, eyes dull, faces grimy, appeared somewhat disheveled. But upon hearing Ye Shikai’s words, a trace of vitality appeared on their faces, followed by heartfelt excitement. Over these few days, they hadn’t slept for more than a few hours and faced constant blockades by the Qin Army, making it a true "hellish journey."

"Finally arrived." Ye Shikai dismounted. Arriving at Southern County meant there were no Qin Army pursuits, allowing them to find a place to settle, treat the wounded, and let the soldiers enjoy a full meal.

However, Ye Shikai wasn’t able to relax for long before a sense of heaviness gripped his heart. First, there was no news from Shangguan Jian and his guard; second, he didn’t know if He Linghan had safely reached Southern County.

"General, what do we do now?" Man Cang stepped forward to ask.

"We have no way to contact Hua Liandie, so we’re uncertain where to go. But since Southern County is already rebel territory, I think we should be able to find our way." Ye Shikai said lightly. In this era without telephones, finding someone wasn’t just a matter of convenience.

"But one good thing is that at least we’re safe now. I see a village ahead; why don’t we settle there and see if we can get some farmer’s meals." Ye Shikai pointed ahead. They had consumed countless rations over the past days, and the brothers were eager for some hot rice.

"Alright, let’s set off now."

Ye Shikai carefully observed the large village ahead. The surrounding terrain was flat, with many fields, appearing lively.

"This settlement should house over ten thousand souls," Shangguan Jian assessed, observing what appeared more like a fortified town, possibly a union of several villages. In these chaotic times, villagers naturally coalesced for safety, arming their young and strong men to form a militia, a bulwark against bandit incursions.

"A large village, give or take."

Despite its size, the village could only muster a few thousand able-bodied men when excluding the elderly, women, and children. Ye Shikai’s forces, numbering four to five thousand, far exceeded this capacity. A single village could not possibly sustain them. Unwilling to burden the populace, Ye Shikai ordered his army to camp outside the village perimeter. He merely requested the Three Elders to find unoccupied dwellings for his wounded soldiers and to seek assistance from village physicians for their injuries.

"Three Elders, my brothers are grievously wounded. I extend my sincere gratitude on their behalf for your village’s aid in saving their lives," Ye Shikai declared, offering a sum of gold and silver as a token of appreciation.

"There is no need for such formality, General. Furthermore, I have procured some provisions for you all. As new arrivals, you will undoubtedly find them useful. Regrettably, the village has limited vacant housing, so not all your soldiers can be accommodated within."

"The benevolence of the Three Elders and the villagers shall be repaid by Ye in due time," Ye Shikai vowed. He left Man Cang in command of the Iron Armor Army to secure the village, while he remained outside with the rest. The Three Elders provided them with essential cooking implements for their immediate needs.

"Wan Qi Yuan, what is the status of our cavalry?" Inside the makeshift camp, Ye Shikai was reviewing the overall military situation, noting that the losses were more substantial than initially estimated.

"They are holding up, General. Over twelve hundred remain in the camp. However, many horses have sustained injuries, and after days of relentless travel, even the steeds are exhausted."

"Very well, we have finally stumbled upon a settlement. Allow our brothers this opportunity to recuperate," Ye Shikai voiced with a sigh. The cavalry was his personal pride, his “direct lineage.” Under Han Hao’s command, he had led a cavalry force numbering close to three thousand. Now, with less than half remaining, his heart ached with the loss.

"Understood, General."

"Moreover, we cannot replenish our supplies here, and our remaining rations will soon dwindle. We must locate Hua Liandie with utmost urgency. Dispatch cavalry units to gather intelligence. Also, as newcomers, we need to ascertain the local power dynamics. Conduct multiple reconnaissance missions; this vital task, I entrust to you."