Chapter 24: Two Armies Face Off

Lei Ying, the chieftain of Vulture Mountain, stood at the highest point, gazing into the distance. Messengers continuously arrived to report on the movements of the imperial army. Lei Ying was a man of formidable build, his skin bronzed by the sun. With a massive broadsword strapped to his back, he exuded an imposing presence. Upon hearing the reports, he frowned, finding the news hard to believe.

"What did you say? The Imperial Court has sent only five thousand troops? We previously repelled an elite force of twenty thousand; what could five thousand possibly achieve? Do they hold me, Lei Ying, in such low regard?"

"Could this be a trap set by the Great Yuan Dynasty? Perhaps they are using a small detachment to lure us out, intending to launch a surprise attack with their main force?" suggested the second-in-command.

"What good would such a scheme do? All the roads are sealed; a surprise attack would be futile," Lei Ying retorted without hesitation.

"It is truly baffling. We at Vulture Mountain have not gone out to pillage for years. Everyone lives within the mountains, farming for a living. Why does the Great Yuan Dynasty refuse to let us be?"

"I heard they recently won a major battle, defeating the barbarian army. Perhaps that victory has misled them into believing they can wipe us out as well."

"Hmph! They may have defeated the barbarians, but they cannot defeat us! Let them come if they aren't afraid of death. No matter how many troops they send, we shall crush them all."

"It's only five thousand men. Why don't we launch a surprise raid and crush them in one stroke? Our stronghold is in dire need of iron; we could melt down their armor and weapons to forge quite a few farm tools!" Some of the men were already eager for action.

The entire Vulture Mountain was home to ten thousand bandits—men, women, and children alike were prepared to take up arms, a true nation-in-arms. Relying on the advantageous terrain, they were difficult for the imperial army to breach. They held the five thousand imperial troops in complete contempt and even contemplated taking the initiative.

"We must not be reckless. As long as we hold the mountain gates, the imperial army can do nothing to us. But if we strike first, they might have set a trap to surround us. That would be troublesome!" Lei Ying was cautious.

Over the years, the Great Yuan Dynasty had grown increasingly powerful and had quelled all internal rebellions, allowing them to turn their attention to cleaning up the bandits. Had it not been for frequent foreign invasions, they likely would not have survived to this day. After all, no matter how treacherous the terrain of Vulture Mountain was, if the imperial court threw its full weight into the assault, they would surely fall. Until the situation was fully understood, caution was paramount.

"Tell everyone to stand guard in shifts and be vigilant. Keep your eyes peeled. Do not let the enemy sneak up on us."

"Yes!"

"Furthermore, even the cliffs and precipices must be patrolled. Prevent them from taking desperate risks!"

"Yes!"

Order after order was issued. Every bandit on Vulture Mountain entered a state of combat readiness.

Li Ye had his men locate a high ground with a water source to establish a camp, effectively guarding the road leading into Quartz Mountain. He issued no order to attack. Leaving a portion of the soldiers on guard, he had the rest set up camp and rest in shifts.

Wisps of cooking smoke rose into the air. It was time for a meal. The soldiers were all beaming; their daily rations were as grand as a festival feast. If they could eat like this, they would be willing to fight every day. After a few days of full meals, everyone’s physical condition had improved significantly, no longer as gaunt as when they first arrived.

Inside the command tent, the officers were discussing how to proceed with the assault. As Li Ye studied the increasingly detailed topographical map, he finally understood why the bandits of Vulture Mountain had existed since the founding of the nation. It was a vast expanse of continuous, steep mountains where an army could not maneuver. No matter how elite the troops, their power could not be brought to bear. For an army of five thousand to breach Vulture Mountain was nothing more than a pipe dream.

"Your Highness, we believe we should blockade all roads and have the main force make a feint of attacking. Then, we can select an elite group of men to find a path up the mountain and launch a surprise raid. Only by seizing the gate will we have a chance to take the mountain," one of the generals suggested. They were aware that the army's grain supplies would only last for ten days of operations. Whether they succeeded or not, they had to attempt an attack. If they did nothing and just turned back, they would have no way to answer to the Ministry of War. If the Emperor were enraged, the generals themselves would likely face punishment.

"That plan is unreliable! Based on years of experience attacking Vulture Mountain, these bandits are meticulous. They won't give us a chance for a surprise raid! Moreover, even if a few hundred men managed to climb up, they wouldn't necessarily be a match for the bandits; it would only lead to needless casualties," Li Ye immediately rejected the proposal.

The generals exchanged glances. Finally, one voiced their concern: "But our grain supplies only suffice for ten days of fighting. We simply cannot employ a siege tactic."

"Do not be impatient. I have my own conclusions! First, wait for the scouts to finish mapping all the hidden paths. Furthermore, you must maintain defenses to prevent the enemy from launching a surprise attack," Li Ye instructed with a stern expression.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. We have already deployed visible and hidden sentries, and have men on rotating duty. We will not be caught off guard by the bandits."

"That is good. Get some proper rest for two days!"

Li Ye stretched and took Ling Yue and Xiao Cui out for a stroll to inspect the camp. Master Xiao followed along, silent and observant. Yet, in his eyes, a keen interest flickered. Master Xiao knew Li Ye’s character well. Since he had led the army out, he would never return empty-handed. He surely already had a tactical plan in mind. As for how he would annihilate the bandits, even Master Xiao could not fathom, which only made it more intriguing.

Master Xiao could remain composed, but Ling Yue was stifled. Finally, she could not help but ask, "Your Highness, how exactly do you intend to deal with these bandits? You won't let me intervene, and Master Xiao won't act either. Relying only on these exhausted troops, this servant feels there is no possibility of victory."

"Indeed! Even without the treacherous terrain, if our five thousand men were to clash head-on with the bandits, the chances of victory would be slim," Li Ye replied bluntly.

Ling Yue’s eyes widened, staring at Li Ye in disbelief. "Then aren't we in great danger? If the bandits really attack, won't we face defeat?"

"Rest assured. The bandits of Vulture Mountain have closed their gates and are defending with all their might. It is clear they do not wish for a war. If they defeat us, they will only face the suppression of even larger imperial forces. They might even suspect that our five thousand men are mere bait, a trap to lure them down the mountain. It seems the chieftain of Vulture Mountain is a cautious man," Li Ye explained with a smile.

"Does that mean Your Highness never intended to fight at all? Are we just waiting for the grain to run out before returning?" Ling Yue asked.

"Not quite! Since we have come out, we must resolve the bandit problem at Vulture Mountain. Otherwise, I will have no way to answer to the Emperor upon my return," Li Ye replied.

Ling Yue was completely bewildered, her mind struggling to process this. It was clear they couldn't beat the enemy, yet they had to resolve the banditry—how on earth was this supposed to be done?