Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

The immense flames turned the sky red, and the clamor echoed to the heavens. The Allied Army was completely unprepared for Chen Xiong's surprise attack on their camp, and as they hastily met the enemy, they immediately fell into a defensive position.

Chen Xiong, leading the Cavalry, made sudden thrusts and deadly strikes to the left and right but remembered Lu Xun's admonition not to engage in prolonged combat. Often, they would charge, set a blaze, and then quickly retreat. The Cavalry's speed coupled with the darkness of night made it impossible for the Allied Army to form an effective encirclement in such a short time.

Lu Xun watched with his generals from atop the city walls, observing the flames that reached for the sky. Many faces among the commanders revealed expressions of joy, as this raid on the camp greatly boosted everyone's confidence in battle and optimism for the war's direction.

"Chen Xiong truly has courage in spades. The vastness of the Allied Army's camp, yet he charged in and out as if it were empty." Lao Han said with a laugh, the wrinkles on his face bunching together as he stroked his beard.

"Let's not get too carried away. Although we have repeatedly blunted the enemy's edge, they still have not lost their Primordial Qi and should not be underestimated," Lu Xun cautioned everyone like a splash of cold water.

He was well aware that a commander must find hope in despair and remind his overly confident men not to become arrogant in victory.

Taking Lu Xun's words to heart, the generals' faces turned solemn once again. They knew their Family Head spoke truly—the Allied Army, despite setbacks, had yet to suffer a crippling blow, and a tough battle still awaited them.

Meanwhile, amidst the conversation, Chen Xiong spotted the enemy's supply location. Spurring his horse forward, spear in hand, he charged with his soldiers. The supply officer was already there but was quickly unseated by Chen Xiong's spear and laid on the ground, life or death uncertain. Then, throwing a torch into the supplies, he set ablaze a fierce fire. The surrounding Allied Army troops panicked and scrambled to extinguish the flames.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Chen Xiong launched an attack and, seeing enemy troops beginning to surround him, blew the signal. All Cavalrymen ceased their assault and began an orderly retreat.

Once they broke out of the camp and returned to their city, Chen Xiong counted his troops and found that of the three thousand iron cavalry, less than fifty had been lost—a substantial victory indeed.

With unbloodied traces still on him, Chen Xiong approached Lu Xun with a smile on his face and, bowing respectfully, said, "I have not failed in my duty!"

Lu Xun smiled and patted his good friend's shoulder, saying, "Well done, this battle has not only crushed their spirits but also consumed a substantial amount of their supplies and pack animals. I'll credit you with a great merit."

Contrasting the laughter and cheers atop the city walls, within the Allied Army's main tent, the Feudal Lords sat with ashen faces. Wang Tao, who initiated this alliance, sat at the head of the table and asked the kneeling logistics officer, "Tell me, how are the supplies and pack animals?"

"Reporting to the Family Head, because of timely rescue efforts, we lost about thirty percent of the supplies."

"Thirty percent," Wang Tao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. After all, warfare hinged on logistics—if the supplies failed, the campaign would be lost before it even started.

"I don't care how much was lost, as long as my rations are not reduced," Han Shanyuan was the first to speak out, with other leaders also standing up to assert that their provisions must not be shorted.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Wang Tao's face, but he patiently responded, "Everyone can rest assured, your supplies will not be cut short. However, I do expect everyone to show their special skills. Don't forget, it was my troops that led the assault on the city today; tomorrow it's your turn. If anyone shirks from their duty or slacks off, naturally, their supplies will reflect that."

As Wang Tao spoke these words, his eyes swept across those present with a frosty gaze, making the Feudal Lords feel as if they had thorns on their backs.

"What do you mean by that, Wang Tao? We came to support you—don't judge us by your petty standards," Han Shanyuan banged the table and stood up, his voice filled with indignation.

"Oh! In that case, let's have General Han's troops attack the city tomorrow. It will give you an opportunity to make a name for yourself," Wang Tao said with a light smile.

Han Shanyuan's momentum instantly faltered. Seeing the smiles on the faces around him, he couldn't refuse and instead said, "Of course, there are no cowards among Han Shanyuan's soldiers. Tomorrow, I'll show you how I take a city."

However, his words lacked conviction. He vividly remembered the fierce battle during the day, with dead soldiers still piled beneath the city walls and the blood not yet dry.

So, after his statement, he stormed off from the tent in feigned anger. Watching his retreating figure, Wang Tao's gaze turned icy.

After everyone had left, Mr. Wu emerged from the shadows. Wang Tao sighed and said, "I was full of confidence, thinking that taking down Lu Xun would be effortless. But to think that we'd be thwarted so on the first day, now I cannot be too optimistic about this battle."

"The Allied Army is divided in their loyalties. When it comes down to a life-or-death struggle, I fear no one will be willing to risk their true resources. My Lord must take great care not to become so focused on the battle that you lose your foundation—for in this world, only with soldiers in hand can one have peace of mind," Mr. Wu advised.

"We shall see soon enough. Anyway, tomorrow it's Han Shanyuan's turn to attack," Wang Tao remarked.

At dawn the next day, Han Shanyuan began commanding his troops to launch an assault. Because of the previous day's battle, he advanced with extreme caution, and the soldiers' fighting spirit was not robust. He deeply regretted his impulsiveness from the day before, which had led to his troops being selected for the day's attack.

As the battle drums sounded, Han Shanyuan's army attacked the city walls. Unlike the previous day, the Defending Army proved more cunning. The top of the city walls had been smeared with flammable oil, and as the siege began, soldiers lit the oil ablaze. Flames roared, consuming and killing many troops.