"Agreed," I stated plainly. What I lacked now were experts, not generals to lead troops.
Without a word, the little slave nodded. "Wait here!"
"Wait for what?" I asked, confused.
The little slave didn't answer. She scanned her surroundings, then walked to a corner and picked up a broken spear shaft, discarded by some soldier, before heading towards the city wall.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"To fight outside the city!"
"The city gate is over there!" I pointed. It would be madness to go onto the city wall; jumping from dozens of meters high would surely be fatal!
"No need to open the city gate!"
While I was still in a daze, the little slave had already scurried up the ramp to the city wall. By the time I caught up, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is that Kunlun slave artillery chief?" I asked the guard commander on the wall. They didn't call them artillery officers, as those who operated cannons were engineers, not soldiers, hence "artillery chief."
The guard commander pointed below the wall. "She just jumped down."
She actually jumped!
I quickly looked down at the battlefield. The smoke from the barrage had not yet completely cleared, but the general situation was visible. The imperial army had won a decisive victory and held the absolute advantage. Li Yuanhao, the King of Xiliang, had resolutely implemented my tactical plan—or rather, the King of Hell's orders to him—and had the remaining rebels surrounded within their formations. There would be no surrender, only annihilation.
This was for the greater good of the entire war. Imagine the impact on morale on both sides if the rebel's ten thousand elite infantry were annihilated by only fifty thousand imperial troops. The entire war could be reversed, much like the Battle of Stalingrad, where the capture of a single city turned the tide of the entire conflict.
However, it was too chaotic below, and with smoke occasionally drifting by, it was difficult for me to spot the little slave. I did, however, see Zheng Baobao charge alone into the enemy camp. Dismounting and fighting on foot, she carved out a small battlefield for herself amidst the enemy ranks, creating a small empty circle in their tightly packed formation. After a few exchanges, no one dared to approach her. Baobao, holding a sword snatched from an enemy in her left hand and a spear in her right, spun in place, seeking an opportunity.
A commotion erupted nearby. A tall, burly enemy leader pushed through the crowd and entered the circle, apparently intending to duel Zheng Baobao.
The distance was too great for me to see clearly, but I sensed this guy was not of the Yanhuang (Chinese) race. He was too tall, almost inhuman. I switched to my qi-sensing vision, and indeed, he was not human but a Jing (spirit/demon) race, a type of demon in the underworld. Fortunately, he was the only Jing in the enemy camp. If there were more like him, the King of Xiliang might not have won this battle!
As everyone knows, this is cheating. In both the mortal and underworld, armies are not allowed to use demons and spirits. This is a tacit understanding between the races cultivated over thousands of years, unless the war has already degenerated far below ethical standards.
Baobao, however, showed no fear and immediately engaged the Jing in a fierce exchange. The Jing did not use any weapons, relying only on its two powerful, iron-like arms to contend with Zheng Baobao. Swords struck, but had no effect; spears pierced, also without effect. It was invulnerable. I wondered what race it was. Perhaps an armadillo or a scavenger?
After a few rounds, Baobao found herself at a disadvantage. The Jing's attacks were like a heavy, unblunted sword, utterly without flaw, forcing Baobao to retreat repeatedly. Eventually, even her spear was knocked away, and she was cornered, with enemies lurking behind her. The Jing charged forward and kicked towards Baobao's chest. Though Baobao shielded her vital points with her arms, the powerful impact sent her flying, landing at the feet of the enemy soldiers. These scoundrels showed no mercy, raising their weapons to attack the fallen Zheng Baobao.
Dealing with them was still within Baobao's capabilities. A few spinning maneuvers and she dealt with them, rising to her feet again. However, the Jing also charged forward, delivering another kick to her chest. This brute, can't he aim anywhere else?
Baobao's stamina was depleted, and she could no longer dodge. She could only endure another kick, her body once again sent flying, landing at the feet of the enemy. This time, it seemed even heavier. Upon landing, Baobao stopped moving!
The enemy was also momentarily stunned. As they realized what was happening and prepared to finish Baobao off, a dark shadow flashed and quickly appeared, lifting Baobao up. With a half-circle arc in the air, she was directly thrown out of the enemy circle, landing amongst the imperial troops. This throw, over thirty meters, who could possess such strength?
I squinted and saw it was the little slave!
She truly was an expert, hiding her true abilities!