The Second Volume of Water Margin

  Zeng nodded and said: "The teacher's words are not wrong, now I am short of troops, my fourth and fifth brothers have also died, and we need to re-plan the defense of the outer perimeter."

  "Originally, there were five strongholds surrounding the city of Zhenzhou, but now two of them have been lost. We should withdraw our troops and concentrate on defending the remaining three strongholds that face Liangshan Mountain." Shi Wengong agreed with this plan and led everyone to open up the defensive map: "For now, there is no other way, we can only gather the remaining troops in the three strongholds facing Liangshan Mountain, supporting each other."

  Associate Professor Su Ding also reminded: "If the military strength is insufficient, among the 3,000 households in Zengtou City, one more person can be drawn from each household to quickly supplement the military strength."

  "Even so, the new recruits can't even get on the battlefield, and without a month's worth of training, they won't be able to do anything." Shi Wengong shook his head and said: "Distant water cannot quench present thirst. We will abandon the two outposts behind us, no matter how Liangshan attacks, we will only defend ourselves to the death and not go out to battle, that's our only chance."

  "The Liangshan troops have been away from home for a long time and have been delayed for many days, so they must be in short supply of food and grass. Even if they gather grain from nearby villages, it won't last long. As soon as the city of Zengtou is unable to provide enough food, the morale of the Liangshan side will be constantly worn down. At that time, we can concentrate our troops and launch a fierce attack, and we must win!"

  Su Ding had a thoughtful expression, and Zeng Suo couldn't help but ask: "Although this strategy is steady, it's too suffocating. Not to mention that the morale of the Liangshan troops will be worn out, the morale of our own army will also be low. I think it's better to raid their camp at night!"

  "Liangshan will have a small victory, and perhaps they will let their guard down." Zeng Tu also echoed: "Tonight's surprise attack on the camp may be a way out, and we can also take the opportunity to retrieve the head!"

  "This is a reckless move, if the Liangshan side has already taken precautions, wouldn't we be sending ourselves to death for nothing?" Shi Wengong shook his head like a rattle drum: "With this number of troops, if we reduce our numbers again, it's questionable whether we can even hold out."

  "He..." looked at Shi Wengong and then at his two sons who were present, apparently hesitating.

  "Father!" Zeng Tu saw that Shi Wenguang did not agree, and hastily looked at Zeng Quan. Although Shi Wenguang had the right to command, after all, his father's words still carried weight in Zengtou City.

  "Father!" Zeng Suo also looked forward to his father nodding in agreement with his own escape plan.

  Shi Wengong also turned to Zeng Quan, after all, the head of the city was still in charge of Zeng Quan, and he was just a teacher who made money by doing things for others. Although there were some rumors outside that the Zeng family was a spy sent by the Golden Country, Shi Wengong was still very grateful to Zeng Quan for his kindness.

  So in this matter, Shi Wengong respected Zeng Quan's decision.

  Deputy teacher Su Ding also had the same idea in mind, so now all eyes in the room are focused on Zeng Quan, waiting for his decision.

  For a moment, there was no sound in the house, only Zeng Quan's heavy breathing, apparently hesitant.

  It wasn't long before this silence was broken.

  "Oh no! Oh no!" A soldier rushed over and reported: "Second Master has mobilized 300 soldiers, saying he's going to go capture the enemy general and bring him back!"

  Everyone's face changed color, and Zeng Tu and Zeng Suo were greatly shocked by the sudden turn of events. Zeng Mi was too rash, bringing only 300 soldiers to try to seize the head, now regardless of success or failure, the plan to raid the camp has been ruined.

  Zeng Quan originally had some determination, but it was thrown to the back of his mind. He angrily said: "What...is this! It's already nighttime, who has eaten bear heart and leopard gall, daring to open the door and let this scourge out!"

  The soldier cried out: "When the young master's whip comes down, who can stop it? The gatekeeper tried to intervene for a while and was beaten until he rolled all over the ground..."

  "This scoundrel, he's killing me!" Zeng Quan stamped his foot and pounded his chest, gasping for breath.

  Zeng Tu knelt down and said: "Father, I will ride a fast horse immediately and bring back my second brother!"

  "Ride my Night Jade Lion and go!" Shi Wengong hastily said: "You must pursue it back!"

  "Good!" Zeng Tu also knew the situation was serious and didn't bother to say anything more, calling for soldiers to bring over Shi Wenguang's Night Jade Lion Treasure Horse.

  That precious steed was a thousand-mile galloper, said to be the very mount ridden by General Zhao Zilong of Changshan in legend. It was said that on the Long Plank Bridge, he rode into and out of the enemy's formation seven times, killing as he went. Although General Zhao was indeed a divine general, the credit due to his horse cannot be overlooked. Ever since Zeng Quan gave this horse to Shi Wenguang, Shi Wenguang treasured it like a precious jewel and refused to let anyone else ride it. Tonight, if not for this unexpected turn of events, Shi Wenguang would certainly not have lent out that precious steed, the Night-Shining Jade Lion.

  "If that scoundrel doesn't come back, take a whip and flog him for me, the harder the better!" Zeng Tong ordered viciously.

  Zeng Tu flipped over the horse's body, hastily nodded his head, picked up a steel gun, and rode to the gate. Sure enough, the soldier guarding the door was wounded all over and lay on one side, humming.

  "Which direction did Zeng Mi take him?" Zeng Tu hastily asked: "How long has he been gone?"

  A soldier replied: "The second young master has taken his men and horses and rushed down the small road to the left, probably for a meal."

  Zeng nodded and ordered the soldiers to open the gate. He urged his precious horse forward, recognized the small path on the left, and hastily chased after him.

  "Brother, has the young master left?" The soldier who was lying on the ground groggily got up: "Is it the small path to the left?"

  "Brother, why do you want me to lie? If the young master finds out, we're both done for." The other soldier complained: "Second Master clearly went down this road on the right, but you told the young master to chase after him on the left. Isn't that just going to make it harder to catch up?"

  "Hum, who made Zeng Mi that fellow hit me? Anyway, both roads lead to Liangshan Village, it's just that the left road is more winding and has a large forest, making it difficult for horse riding."

  "Brother, your heart is really black!"

  Zeng Mi led the troops forward with torches, riding a war horse and holding his trusty ring-headed knife. His heart was burning with anxiety as he urged his soldiers to quicken their pace.

  Those three hundred soldiers had been somewhat resentful of Zeng Mi to begin with, and having just finished dinner they were called out again for a night march, gradually some complaints arose.

  "Second Master, you ride a horse with four legs, but we have only two meat legs given by our parents, how can we keep up?" A soldier complained, instantly triggering a chorus of agreement.

  "Why don't I give you the horse, and I'll follow on foot?" Zeng Mi was already anxious and couldn't listen to half a sentence. This time, seeing the soldier complaining, he coldly sneered: "I think you're itching for a whipping, thinking of Second Master's whip!"

  The soldiers heard Zeng Mi's words and quickly shut their mouths, not daring to speak further. The other soldiers also lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.

  "Listen up, all of you! I'm letting you out to go to the Liangshan bandits and take back my fourth and fifth brothers' heads. If there's even a hint of complaint, I'll use this whip to lash you, and it won't be enough - this ring-headed knife can kill the Liangshan bandits, and it can also chop off your dog heads!"

  With a fierce swing of his hand, the first knife in the ring shouted: "Not far ahead is the Liangshan Mountain stronghold, run for your life!"

  Many soldiers were discontent in their hearts, but they also had no choice, and could only follow behind Zeng's horse, running along...

  Tonight, the night watchman was Bao Gong's son, Sun Li. He held his iron whip and stood beside his steel spear, staring blankly at the heads of Zeng Kui and Zeng Sheng by the gate.

  As for Ximen Qing's outstanding performance, Sun Li, although having some resistance in his heart, calmly thought that Ximen Qing's actions had indeed surpassed most of the leaders on Mount Liang. Loving soldiers like sons was also Sun Li's creed. Hearing that Ximen Qing led 100 men against 500 and not a single man was lost, Sun Li's heart was deeply shaken.

  "Although the Zengtou City gang and the peasants who took the shovel are not much different, but the Liangshan side is not strong either. Those thorns are more capable of fighting, but in such a short time, they can make those thorns, especially Liu Laozi, listen to them obediently, which is even more remarkable than their military achievements."

  Sun Li sighed and thought bitterly: "I, Sun Li, also have some reputation, but since I joined the Liangshan Mountain, I don't have any soldiers under me, nor do I have the opportunity to make achievements. On the mountain, it's just a dull life. When will this uninteresting life come to an end?"

  "General Sun!" The sentry soldier on the temporarily set up high platform shouted loudly: "A group of people with torches are rushing towards our camp!"

  "How many people?" Suddenly, Sun Li came back to life: "Someone, bring me a horse!"

  The sentinel soldier looked carefully and shouted: "One hundred... two hundred... about three hundred people!"

  "Three hundred men?" Wei Chi Sun Li burst out laughing: "Tonight's night watch is really worth it! Everyone, cheer up!"

  "General Sun, shouldn't we call up other generals to respond to the enemy?" A soldier who had brought over a warhorse asked in confusion.

  Sun Li tidied up neatly, mounted his horse, slung the whip over his back and grasped the steel spear: "What's to fear from just three hundred men? Get all the night watchmen who are dozing off to wake up, and assign fifty archers to keep an eye on the main gate!"

  The soldier hastily left, Sun Li looked at the distant troops that were already vaguely visible, coldly smiled twice, urged his war horse to move forward two steps, and quietly waited.

  "These guys are too arrogant! With just 300 people, they actually want to raid our camp! And they're doing it openly and brazenly, aren't they afraid of death?!"

  Sun Li observed for a while, secretly grumbling to himself, and tightened his grip on the steel gun: "Today you deservedly ran into your grandfather's hands!"

  He had been gazing intently ahead, the Liangshan stronghold was not far away, and he repeatedly urged on his warhorse. The three hundred soldiers behind him, how could they keep up? One by one, they ran panting, their formation scattered and disorganized.

  "Huh? Who is that!" Zeng Mi caught sight of a lone figure standing in front of the Liangshan stronghold, one man and one horse gazing coldly at his sworn brother, Sick Yitian Sun Li.

  At the same time, the two heads hanging on the poles beside him made Zeng Mi see stars, and he shouted: "You scoundrel, come and take my life!"

  No matter what was blocking Zeng Mi and the two heads, Zeng Mi's only thought was to rush over and kill!

  Bai Yitian Sun Li also sneered and raised his steel spear: "You bird man are looking for death, look at the spear!"