The night was deep and quiet. The soldiers stationed outside the camp were patrolling when suddenly a flash of light appeared. A projectile flew in an arc from outside the camp and crashed into the ground, bursting into flames. However, the flames gradually diminished after landing and eventually went out.
"What is that?!"
The guards were alerted and quickly gathered around. They saw that the ground was scorched black after the fire was extinguished, and there was also a slightly irritating gas. Before they could investigate, they saw clusters of "fire" being thrown in one after another from outside the wooden fence and wagon camp.
Snap—
When people get close enough, they can spot some traces within their field of vision. What they see as "fire" is not just a ball of fire, but a round can that has been lit. It is continuously emitting flames, which spread out in patches when it hits the ground, and eventually extinguishes.
“Someone is launching a sneak attack from outside. Quickly notify the watchtower to monitor the situation, light the campfire, and check if the defensive measures such as the deer stronghold and horse trap are still intact.”
The centurion reacted quickly, immediately carrying out basic deployment tasks, while he went to report the situation without stopping.
However, the centurion clearly underestimated the danger of this nighttime "sneak attack." After he left, the soldiers who went out to scout the situation outside the wagon camp were knocked unconscious by a group of lurking men. After disguising themselves, the men easily bypassed the watchtower, quickly infiltrated the interior, and began to set fires.
Normal arson requires contact with an object, but they carried fire pots on their bodies. As soon as they threw them at various flammable materials, the fire would quickly engulf them like wildfire. In a very short time, the camp was engulfed in flames, and the heat instantly melted the ice and snow that had condensed on the eaves.
"Oh no! Enemies have broken into the camp! Quickly, put out the fire and drive them away!"
Large numbers of troops rushed out of the barracks, and the two sides quickly engaged in battle. However, the Ye army, dressed in the same uniforms, was prone to friendly fire when fighting each other, especially in the dark, resulting in chaos.
Zheng Quchi was awakened by the scorching firelight and deafening noise outside. She hadn't been sleeping well for days, and today she had finally managed to fall into a deep sleep, but unexpectedly, a major change occurred.
The noise outside was chaotic, like a world war had broken out. The war was happening right under her nose. She got up and quickly dressed, only to find that Yuwen Sheng in the cage had already woken up. He clearly wanted to get out of the cage and was twisting the steel bars with all his might, trying to break free.
"Stop making a scene at a time like this."
She covered her mouth and nose and threw the prepared sleeping potion into the brazier. White smoke immediately filled the entire tent. Soon after, Yuwen Sheng slumped down, while Zheng Quchi immediately rushed out of the tent.
She put the sleeping pills in not only to restrict Yuwen Sheng's movements, but also because she was worried that someone would break in while she was away. Now the place is filled with sleeping powder, and whoever goes in will be unlucky; they will all be knocked unconscious.
"Where are the guards, Gan Xin?"
All the guards outside her tent had disappeared. She heard footsteps running ahead, and shadowy figures flashed across the tent flaps. She was certain that the situation must be serious and urgent to have everyone in such a state of chaos.
"lady--"
Wei Yao and Fu Rong arrived at the same time. They were now wearing military armor, looking solemn and dignified, a far cry from their usual casual and relaxed demeanor.
"What happened?"
Zheng Quchi quickly inquired.
"It was an enemy attack. There must have been an inside traitor in our camp. The enemy figured out the timing of our patrols and shift changes, and carried out the breaches one by one. Then a group of people broke into the camp, setting fires and killing indiscriminately, creating chaos."
"It's the dead of winter, the snow hasn't even melted yet, how could they set a fire?"
Zheng Quchi watched as the flames in front of him spread out in a continuous manner, turning half of the sky red. Even though the Ye army was attacked by surprise, their vigilance was still excellent. They had been tricked, but it was too late to react when the fire was already so fierce.
Furthermore, she is a light sleeper. Even if she slept more soundly today, she would still be aware of the commotion outside. This can only mean that the other party's plan was both urgent and risky, seizing the opportunity with lightning speed.
"We were also surprised, so we sent someone to find out what was going on. The enemy was throwing oil cans outside the camp. They were lit on fire and then thrown inwards. The flames continued to burn."
"...Is it kerosene?" Zheng Quchi guessed.
Currently, all countries have "oil," which is basically made of animal and vegetable oils. However, due to its high cost, it is not widely used in major battles, but is often used in surprise attacks, ambushes, and traps set in small battles.
Fu Rong shook his head. He knew about "kerosene" and had also checked the situation near the camp. He then made a decision: "No, it not only has a pungent smell, but it also has an amazing ability to burn continuously. Once the fire spreads, it is difficult to extinguish. Even in heavy snow, it can cause a huge fire."
Zheng Quchi felt a sudden tightness in his chest as he listened, thinking, "No way."
"So what's the situation now?"
"Most of the enemy were annihilated, with only a few survivors left for interrogation. However, our camp suffered heavy losses this time," Wei Yao said with a grim expression.
Fu Rong also said, "The fire has not yet been extinguished. Wang Zebang is leading people to put out the fire and treat the wounded."
At this moment, Zheng Quchi was very calm. She said, "The other side must have a purpose in doing this. Damaging the camp is probably not their ultimate goal."
The camp can be rebuilt if it's destroyed, but after they destroyed it, they didn't launch a major battle. It was as if they were using a feint to attack one side while attacking another, or a diversionary tactic to relieve the siege of Wei and rescue Zhao...
"Quick, over there at Lech—"
Wei Yao reassured her, "Don't worry, Madam. Kuang Dao is guarding Leqi's side. Even if they really came for him, I'm afraid they won't succeed."
Zheng Quchi looked at them: "So you came here because you're worried that the other side might harm Yuwen Sheng?"
“Yes, Lech has the highly skilled Mad Blade and guards on his side, but the general…”
As soon as they finished speaking, Zheng Quchi had a vague premonition that things were going badly. What if the other party was in a state of confusion because they couldn't find Yuwen Sheng's location? Wouldn't their arrival be exactly what the other party wanted?
"Whoosh—"
The accompanying guards fell to the ground, struck by hidden weapons. When Wei Yao turned around, he saw a group of masked men rushing out from the shadows. Fu Rong quickly protected Zheng Quchi and retreated to the side, while Wei Yao, being the most skilled among them, was naturally in charge of dealing with these assassins.
"You all better get out of the way!"
Wei Yao knew immediately upon engaging these men that they were no ordinary fighters. One against five was a stretch for him, and he could only try to hold on until the Ye army came to his aid. However, it was clear that the enemy was not there to deal with him. They moved in perfect unison, splitting into two groups. Some of them engaged Wei Yao in close combat, while the other group circled around to his left and right to reach the rear tent.
"General—"
Fu Rong had been keeping a close eye on the other party's actions. When he saw the other party break into the tent, his expression changed drastically. He didn't care about anything else and was about to rush forward to stop them.
But Zheng Quchi grabbed him from behind.
"Don't go—"
“Madam…” Fu Rong turned to look at her in shock.
Zheng Quchi, however, said with a determined look in his eyes, "Don't go, he'll be fine."
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