Chapter 117: Never Fought Such an Easy Battle

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Never Fought Such an Easy Battle ???? Important Note : For the continuity of this story consider to Support us on Pãtreon/Flokixy to access advance Chapters and To Support The Daily Update The disaster relief efforts were well underway. Most of the commoners had taken their grain and returned home. Only some elderly, weak, sick, and disabled individuals who truly couldn’t leave their homes remained, and Han Shi had also dispatched people to deliver grain to them. His generals and soldiers were stationed outside the city. After conferring with Jun Mo and the others, they quickly left the city, not daring to delay even for a moment. Upon arriving at the military camp, they immediately gathered their subordinates to discuss the battle plan. The generals and soldiers under him were all brimming with excitement. Ever since a major victory several years ago, they hadn’t fought a single battle. The soldiers had been training every day and were itching for a fight. Although this battle wasn’t even enough to whet their appetites, at least it could scratch that itch. "Rest assured, Governor, we will definitely win this battle!" Han Shi said coldly, "Don’t underestimate the enemy! They are familiar with the terrain, and moreover, they have more people." Everyone set aside their casual attitude and seriously analyzed the enemy’s situation. After the battle plan was discussed, everyone eagerly awaited nightfall. If their nearly ten thousand men were to move in broad daylight, it would be too conspicuous. The enemy might flee before they even arrived. After a long wait, the sky gradually darkened. Under the cover of twilight, Han Shi’s men began to set out in batches. Everyone was a seasoned veteran. They broke up into smaller units and then reformed before entering the mountains. The entire process took no more than half an hour. Thanks to the map drawn by Su Li and the medicine she provided, the march proceeded smoothly. "Halt!" Following the markings on the map, when they were less than five li from the enemy, Han Shi ordered the army to stop and rest. After resting, Han Shi dispatched a small contingent of a dozen or so experts, carrying the knockout drug given by Su Li, to first infiltrate the enemy camp. These dozen or so individuals were highly skilled, moving through the forest like phantoms, silently infiltrating the enemy’s military camp. They knocked out several sentries, changed into the enemy’s clothes, and swaggered around the camp, appearing as if they were on patrol. Reaching the center of the camp, they happened to find a brazier burning there for light. The leader looked around and quietly took out a medicine bottle. "Hey, what are you doing?" Just as he was about to act, another patrol team shouted at him. "I saw the fire was about to go out, so I’m adding some firewood," he replied without turning his head, pretending to pick up some wood. "Oh." Seeing that the other party didn’t suspect anything and continued their patrol, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief. With swift movements, he poured all ten-plus bottles of medicinal powder into the fire pit. The group covered their mouths and noses and quickly retreated. Shedding their clothes, they disappeared into the night, just as they had come. The colorless and odorless knockout drug, carried by the smoke and wind, spread throughout the military camp. The soldiers who hadn’t yet woken up slept even more soundly. The patrolling soldiers, however, found their eyelids growing heavier and heavier. They leaned against various things, yawning incessantly, and finally, unable to hold on any longer, they too fell into a deep sleep. Han Shi felt that the time was about right and ordered his troops to advance. At the crack of dawn, they arrived at the military camp and found that, apart from the snoring coming from various tents, it was eerily quiet everywhere. Han Shi was secretly astonished. Good heavens, this Princess Consort’s medicine is too effective! Not a single one of the thirty-six stratagems they had discussed yesterday was needed. Was there even a need to fight? "Go, capture anyone who looks like a leader for me. Tie up everyone else." Considering that most of the enemy had been forced to join the rebel army, Jun Mo had long ordered that no one should be killed if it could be avoided. Of course, any who resisted were to be killed without mercy. The generals and soldiers under Han Shi were also momentarily stunned. Weren’t they here to fight a battle? They had arrived, but the enemy was still sleeping. They had been rubbing their hands in anticipation for so long, and this was it? Although there was no battle to fight, they still entered tent after tent, dragging people out and tying them up in rows. The leaders were easy to identify. Those with ten or twenty people squeezed into one tent were definitely ordinary rebels. Those living alone or with just a few others were certainly the leaders. Just as everyone was tying people up, a group of rebels rushed out. "Not good! Quickly go inform Second Master!" These were some rebels who lived in the innermost part and hadn’t been affected by the knockout drug. They only came out to see what was happening when they heard the commotion. The eyes of Han Shi’s generals and soldiers instantly lit up, and they charged forward with their weapons. One part continued to tie people up, another part engaged in fierce combat with the rebels, while Han Shi led a contingent further in. He had just heard the rebels shout ’inform Second Master.’ If he wasn’t mistaken, this Second Master should be the Jiang family’s Second Master, Jiang Xiao. He led his men, searching cave by cave, and with each cave, his shock grew. Some caves were filled with gold, silver, and jewels, piled up casually like ordinary objects. Some caves were entirely filled with boxes of weaponry! How much manpower and resources would it take to hoard so much! "Governor, they’re over there!" Han Shi looked and saw a group of people protecting a black-robed figure heading towards the seventh peak. "Where do you think you’re going!" Han Shi raised his saber and gave chase. The two sides quickly became entangled in a fight. Han Shi’s men were, after all, battle-hardened and quickly gained the upper hand. Han Shi dealt with the people blocking his path and was about to capture the black-robed figure. Suddenly, two black shadows darted out. Their speed was too fast. Han Shi only felt a pain in his arm, and by the time he looked up again, the black-robed figure had been rescued. Han Shi clutched his slashed arm and cursed under his breath. If he wasn’t mistaken, those two men in black were imperial secret guards! "Governor, let’s bandage it." A subordinate handed him a strip of cloth. Han Shi casually wrapped his wound and continued inwards. He then found some imprisoned refugees. Han Shi had them released, and they would descend the mountain together later. At this moment, a subordinate came to report that all the rebels had been captured. Han Shi looked at the sun, which had only risen a short while ago. One hour, and this battle was over. He had never fought such an easy battle. Walking to the middle of the military camp, he saw the ground littered with captured rebels, sprawled everywhere, still sound asleep and snoring. "Are they all tied up?" Han Shi asked. "Only this large tent is left." One look and it was clear this tent was different from the others; it was larger and more ornate, even carpeted inside. As soon as Han Shi entered, he saw the situation inside and cursed, "Son of a bitch!" In the large bed inside the tent, a burly man was lying on his back, snoring thunderously, with two women nestled on either side of him. Han Shi directly went forward and hauled the man up. This man was wearing nothing but a pair of velvet trousers. Seeing their governor dragging out a naked man, everyone quickly gathered around. "Governor, this should be the leader of the rebels, right?" Han Shi spat. "The biggest leader got away, and I even got slashed." Although he said this, he knew clearly that the biggest leader was in the capital! ... "Second Master, now that things have come to this, what should we do?" The man in black asked the black-robed figure. The black-robed figure removed his hood, his eyes intensely red. He looked in the direction of the military camp, and after a long moment, said in a hoarse voice, "Destroy it." Never mind Jiang Xiao’s reluctance, even they, as secret guards, were reluctant. "So many weapons..." Jiang Xiao said coldly, "Better destroyed than falling into others’ hands! Go, do as I say!" "Yes!" The man in black flew off. Explosives had been planted on that mountain, precisely to prepare for the worst outcome. After a short while, the man in black returned. "Second Master, it’s done." Jiang Xiao looked in that direction, a crazed look in his eyes. In less than a quarter of an hour, that place would be completely destroyed! ... Over here, Han Shi handed a medicine bottle to a subordinate. "Go, pour it into the fire pit." "Yes!" After pouring the medicine into the fire pit, a short while later, the people who had been sleeping soundly gradually woke up. "This! What’s going on!" "Someone has attacked!" "I have no strength in my body!" "Me too, I’m sore all over!" "Heavens!" "It’s General Zhou! General Zhou, wake up, General Zhou!" The naked, burly man who had been snoring loudly finally woke up groggily amidst the calls. "Damn it! Who tied this general up!" Han Shi stepped forward and sneered, "General? What kind of general are you?" The burly man’s eyes widened. Realizing his situation, he immediately wilted. "M-my lord, sp-spare my life!" Seeing his cowardly demeanor, Han Shi couldn’t help but doubt the Jiang family’s judgment. This man was lecherous and afraid of death, completely useless. "My lord, my... my uncle is the Commandery Governor of Shu Capital. As long as you let me go, any amount of money you want is negotiable." Well, well, he hadn’t even asked, and he had already sold out the Commandery Governor. Truly his uncle’s good-for-nothing nephew! Han Shi sneered, ordered his subordinates to carry the confiscated weapons, and, dragging these weak rebels, was about to return to the city. "Governor, nature calls, I... I..." A deputy general stepped forward and stammered. Han Shi glanced at the deputy general and said disdainfully, "Go quickly and return quickly!" "Yes!" He walked to a patch of grass on the side, humming a cheerful tune, and relieved himself. "Damn it! I was about to burst!" After finishing, he walked back, feeling light and refreshed. Little did he know, the fuse Jiang Xiao was waiting for to detonate the weapons was extinguished by this very stream of urine. ... Jiang Xiao and his men waited for a long time but heard no explosion. "What’s going on?" The secret guard also looked bewildered. "I’m sure I lit the fuse." Jiang Xiao gritted his teeth, "Then why hasn’t there been any sound yet?" "This... this subordinate doesn’t know." It would be easy to be discovered if they went back now. Jiang Xiao gritted his teeth: "Let’s go!"