Chapter 66 – Battle of Mount Taibai Canyon (4)

Chapter 66 – Battle of Mount Taibai Canyon (4)

The canyon at the entrance of Mount Taibai. A desperate and bloody battle was in full swing.

At the front of the Hanzhong ranks stood the hundred members of the Wolf Fang Squad. Gripping their shields, they pushed forward against the enemy with thunderous roars.

“Push them back!”

“Aaaah!”

Thousands of enemy soldiers stumbled back. The moment they retreated five paces, one of the squad members shouted urgently, “Now! Quickly!”

The soldiers waiting in the rear thrust out hook-like poles, dragging back their wounded comrades who were rolling on the ground.

Squeak! Squeak!

They retrieved dozens of wounded soldiers in the nick of time. But before they could even move away, groans erupted from the Wolf Fang Squad.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Having been pushed back, the Wolf Fang Squad was forced return to their original positions. Only So-mu stood firm, maintaining his ground.

The Hanzhong army and the Hui forces continued their seesaw battle in this narrow canyon.

Three days had already passed like this. The Hanzhong army had lost hundreds of men, and over a thousand were wounded. Fortunately, the wounded were transported to the rear and recovered quickly.

In contrast, the Hui army's casualties were twenty times higher. Unlike the Hanzhong army, they lacked a field medical unit, meaning those with severe wounds were as good as dead. Yet, the disparity in their overall numbers did not seem to shrink at all.

“Wolf Fang Squad, retreat!”

Looking back, So-mu saw Commander Wi Jin-cheol leading two thousand infantrymen. It was time for another rotation.

“Phew. Finally!”

“I thought I was going to die this time!”

The squad members were all exhausted. The archers' arrows had run out long ago, and the cavalry charges were no longer effective. Only the close-combat infantrymen took turns holding the line day and night.

The biggest headache was the Hui army's Salatai unit, which launched hit-and-run attacks whenever there was an opening. The Wolf Fang Squad was the only unit capable of stopping this elite force, meaning they could never truly rest.

“We'll be back soon, Captain!”

“Watch yourselves!”

Leaving So-mu behind, the squad members withdrew.

Except for a single hour of meditation each day to circulate his qi, So-mu spent the entire day on the battlefield. Furthermore, he had slain five enemy generals over the course of three days. To the Hui army, So-mu, along with the Wolf Fang Squad, was the greatest threat.

In the rear, Commander Baek Mun-hwi, who had just finished meditating, approached Jang-yang.

“General, the soldiers' stamina has reached its limit.”

Jang-yang, still holding the command flag, looked grim.

“I know. But we cannot retreat first, can we?”

The Hui army's offensive was far more ferocious than anticipated. Jang-yang had expected them to withdraw and reform at least once within a day, intending to use that opportunity to retreat.

Yet, they had attacked continuously for three days without rest. It was completely unexpected.

“We cannot guarantee how long we can hold out in this state. If the front line collapses even once, it will be the end.”

“The enemy won't just let us retreat peacefully either. Let us hold our ground with all our might.”

A look of grim resolve crossed Baek Mun-hwi's face.

“Leave five hundred men with me. I will buy time for the army to retreat.”

He was volunteering for a suicide squad. Jang-yang refused flatly.

“I cannot permit that. Just as we are exhausted, the enemy's stamina must be depleted as well. If we hold on with strong mental resolve, we can all return home alive. The battle is not over, so do not give up until the very end.”

Jang-yang patted his shoulder in encouragement.

Bowing his head, Baek Mun-hwi gripped his sword tightly, preparing to support the infantry once more.

However, he was forced to halt his steps. Suddenly, the deep blast of horn trumpets echoed continuously from the rear of the enemy lines.

Tooooot!

“G-General?!”

“Haha…”

A look of disbelief crossed the faces of Jang-yang and Baek Mun-hwi.

The Hui army was suddenly retreating. They withdrew from the canyon like a ebbing tide, showing no hesitation.

Seeing them fall back, the Hanzhong soldiers let out deafening cheers.

“Wooaaah!”

“We won!”

The voices of the soldiers, who raised their weapons high into the sky, were filled with indescribable joy.

Yet, something was strange.

Jang-yang had assumed the retreating enemy would reform their ranks in the rear. However, they were withdrawing their main camp entirely. This was not a temporary retreat, but a full-scale withdrawal.

“Do not withdraw the soldiers from the canyon yet. First, summon the commanders.”

“Yes, General.”

After a quarter of an hour, all the commanders assembled at the command post. Having fought without proper food or rest, they looked haggard.

“You have all worked hard. Since the enemy's sudden withdrawal is suspicious, I would like to hear your thoughts.”

Adjutant Yang Yeon-jeong replied with a puzzled expression, “The enemy commander, Temur, is not an easy opponent. He must know that our stamina is depleted, so there is no reason for him to retreat so easily.”

Commander Gwak Cheol agreed, “Could it be a feigned retreat? They might be waiting for us to leave the canyon so they can seize it.”

It was a plausible theory.

The canyon floor was piled so high with the corpses of Hui soldiers that they had been used to build defensive walls. The enemy's losses were indeed massive.

Commander Baek Mun-hwi offered a different perspective, “Perhaps they plan to bypass Mount Taibai entirely. Even if it takes longer, once they bypass it, there will be nothing stopping their march to Hanzhong.”

Jang-yang fell into deep thought at the commanders' words. Soon, his gaze turned to So-mu.

The Wolf Fang captain's black armor had long since turned into blood-stained armor, caked in the blood of his enemies. It was clear to anyone that he had fought the most brutal battles. In this campaign, he had truly established himself as the army's fiercest warrior.

“If they had pressed us for just a few more days, we would have crumbled. I suspect something major must have happened in their rear.”

“All of your opinions make sense. For now, let us keep the canyon guarded and wait for a day. Increase the number of scouts, tighten security, and focus on gathering information.”

“Yes, General!”

The order to rest was finally given, and the soldiers enjoyed a hot meal for the first time in days. After eating, they collapsed to the ground and fell asleep one by one. Even So-mu, who rarely slept, fell into a deep slumber.

A day passed peacefully. Around noon the next day, a scout rushed into the command post, panting heavily as if he had run without rest.

“G-General! The volunteer army has done it!”

The commanders in the tent looked at him in surprise. Jang-yang was equally curious.

“Done what? Speak clearly.”

“The volunteer army launched a surprise attack on the Hui army's supply base, destroying it and seizing all their military provisions!”

The commanders jumped to their feet, clapping their hands.

“Is that true?!”

“Not only did they launch a surprise attack, but they actually seized it?!”

Now, the reason for the Hui army's withdrawal was clear. Without supplies from the rear, they could not sustain the campaign. Until new provisions arrived, they were completely stuck.

“Hahaha. To think the female general named So-so would save us. She has achieved something truly incredible…”

Jang-yang could not stop smiling at the joyous news.

Yet, every time the name So-so was mentioned, So-mu's heart sank, even though he knew it could not be his daughter.

“Then we have bought enough time.”

“We've bought at least fifteen days. Where are the volunteers now?”

“They are heading south by boat and will set up camp at Mount Mingya. It seems they plan to build a base there.”

Mount Mingya was not far from Hanzhong. Having plundered the supply base, they had secured ample funds. Jang-yang stood up and said, “This is truly wonderful news. Our role here is done. Prepare to return to Hanzhong.”

* * *

Mount Mingya had once been a base for Green Forest bandits. The volunteers occupied the empty mountain fortress and reinforced their positions. Much of the captured supplies were sold at low prices to merchants in nearby counties or distributed to the villagers. Still, the storehouses of the fortress were bursting.

In the deepest part of the fortress stood a well-maintained wooden villa where the bandit chief had once lived. Sima Gang, the administrator of the volunteer army, came inside.

“General, we sold the excess supplies in Xiyou County and secured eight hundred silver coins.”

A young girl was sitting on a custom leopard-skin chair. It was a fancy chair, but it looked comical because it was small enough for a dog to sit on.

“Did you bring mine?”

So-so had no interest in silver coins. Sima Gang smiled and pulled out a wrapped cloth from his chest.

“Of course, General.”

Sima Gang ran over and handed it to her. As So-so unwrapped it, a wide grin spread from ear to ear.

“Thank you for the food~”

It was Tanghulu, fruit skewers coated in sugar. She had never forgotten the sweet taste of the Tanghulu she bought on the streets of Hanzhong. So-so licked her lips like a cat and smiled happily.

“Mmm, delicious! Hehe.”

“If you need anything else, please let me know.”

Suddenly, So-so's ears perked up. A beautiful melody was drifting from somewhere.

“What's that sound?”

“Ah. That is the tung flute played by Hero Yu Jeong.”

“I want to hear more…”

Wanting to listen closely, So-so walked out of the villa.

At the highest point of the mountain fortress, a middle-aged man sat on a tree branch, playing the flute.

The melody flowing down the mountainside stirred her heart. So-so watched with her head tilted up, completely forgetting the Tanghulu in her hand.

Sima Gang, who had followed her, asked, “He is quite skilled, isn't he?”

So-so was too captivated by the music to hear him.

Listening to the melody, she suddenly missed her father, her uncles, and her grandfather.

“Do you know where Grandpa Jang-yang is? I want to see him.”

She wanted to see General Jang-yang. Sima Gang looked at her in admiration.

“Are you planning our next move? The government army is returning, so we must go to Hanzhong to meet him.”

Since the government army was returning, there was no reason to stay here.

“I have to go now.”

Sima Gang tilted his head, confused by her sudden declaration. “Pardon?”

Licking her Tanghulu, So-so walked toward the entrance of the fortress. Just then, Song Gyeom and Mu-hyeon approached.

Seeing them, So-so bent ninety degrees and bowed politely.

“Goodbye, everyone~”

Mu-hyeon asked in confusion, “Where are you going, General?”

“I'm going home~ Hehe. I'll come back to play later.”

With that, So-so hopped and skipped down the mountain, holding her Tanghulu. Song Gyeom and Mu-hyeon were left standing dumbfounded, stretching out their hands.

“G-General?!”

“Wait, where are you going, General?!”

They stood frozen like scarecrows.

A gust of wind blew past, fluttering their hair. The two sighed and looked at each other in dejection.

“How can we ever understand her mind?”

“Eccentric masters who have reached the state of Return to Simplicity and Truth come and go like immortals, disappearing like the wind.”

“Will she return someday?”

“I can only hope so…”