readytorunbook Chapter 480 Meeting the King of Lingnan
Chapter 480 Meeting the King of Lingnan
"Yes."
As evening approached, the small units that had been sent out finally returned.
"General, the Allied forces are stationed 20 miles away from Lizhou, and we haven't been able to gather much information. However, based on our observations, the enemy force is estimated to number around 400,000."
After hearing this, Lu Zhijin realized, "No wonder. With 400,000 troops, Litun only has 100,000. How could they possibly defeat so many?"
What they need to do now is not to attack immediately, but to find the King of Lingnan first, understand the situation, and then make arrangements.
The King of Lingnan has disappeared, and his army has been here for a day now, so they must know by now.
Just as Lu Zhijin was thinking, a soldier ran in.
"General, someone requests an audience."
Lu Zhijin's eyes lit up. Here it comes.
"Please come in quickly."
Not long after, the tent flap was lifted, and a burly, tall, and imposing man strode in. He wore a suit of black armor, which gleamed with a chilling light in the candlelight. The armor was stained with blood, as if it had just witnessed a fierce battle, and the stench of blood was overwhelming.
Lu Zhijin looked closely and realized that the person who had come was someone he recognized; they had met once before. This man was none other than the personal guard of the King of Lingnan.
"Your subordinate greets General Lu!" Guard Jiang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in salute, and performed the movements crisply and neatly, clearly demonstrating his high level of training.
"Guard Jiang, please rise quickly!" Lu Zhijin quickly stood up and personally stepped forward to help Guard Jiang up.
"Thank you, General Lu!" After expressing his gratitude, Guard Jiang stood up and stood opposite Lu Zhijin.
Looking at Guard Jiang, Lu Zhijin couldn't help but admire him. This man truly lived up to his reputation as the King of Lingnan's personal guard; his aura was indeed extraordinary. He continued, "Guard Jiang, we've been waiting for you all day! We've finally been waiting for you!"
“We knew about General Lu’s entry into the city today, but His Highness was afraid of being discovered by the enemy, so he ordered me to come and find you again this evening,” Guard Jiang explained.
"I see. Guard Jiang, it seems you were ambushed on your way here."
"Just as the general said, I encountered an ambush outside the city. Fortunately, they were not many, which allowed me to get here safely." As the personal bodyguard of the King of Lingnan, he was naturally quite skilled, and ordinary people could not stop him.
"It's good that Guardian Jiang is alright. Where is the King of Lingnan staying now?"
"We are currently in a large mountain outside the city, a relatively well-hidden place where the enemy cannot find us," Guard Jiang quickly replied.
"Oh? Deep in the mountains?" He frowned. While the mountains were indeed secluded, they also meant that food supplies could be a major problem. "How is the King of Lingnan?" he asked immediately.
"His Highness is alright, but there's a shortage of food in the mountains. The soldiers are doing well, but the women and children are having a tough time." Guard Jiang's tone was heavy, clearly showing his helplessness regarding the current situation.
"Your Highness, it's been a difficult task. His Majesty has ordered me to lead an army of 500,000 to provide support. I will surely avenge the people and soldiers of Lizhou." He clenched his fists tightly, a resolute glint in his eyes.
Upon hearing Lu Zhijin's words, a hint of joy flashed in Guard Jiang's eyes. Their Lizhou had suffered heavy casualties in the recent enemy attack, and everyone had been carrying a heavy burden in their hearts, hoping that the imperial court would send troops to help. Now that they had finally arrived, they could avenge the fallen soldiers and civilians.
"General, the remaining soldiers and civilians in the mountains are all exhausted. They need your help to return to the city. I wonder if you can send troops to help them?"
"Of course, Guardian Jiang, don't worry. I'll send troops immediately to bring back the King of Lingnan and the rest of the people," Lu Zhijin quickly replied, as this was originally his plan.
Afterwards, Lu Zhijin sent people overnight to bring back the King of Lingnan and his entourage.
By the time the others returned, it was already getting light.
Lu Zhijin personally greeted them.
"Your Highness, this humble subject pays his respects," Lu Zhijin said respectfully, his gaze falling on the Prince of Lingnan at the front.
Although his face looked slightly haggard, his dignified aura was still undeniable.
"General Lu, please dispense with the formalities." The King of Lingnan smiled and helped Lu Zhijin up.
After arranging the people, Lu Zhijin and the generals of the Lingnan King gathered in the camp to discuss important matters.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered me to bring 500,000 troops this time. We have ample supplies and a strong army. I plan to attack the allied forces in three days. What do you think?"
The King of Lingnan already knew about it from Guard Jiang.
“General, I’m afraid this is not a good idea?” The King of Lingnan shook his head, his face grim.
"Oh? What concerns does Your Highness have?" After all, the Prince of Lingnan had fought against the enemy for some time, so Lu Zhijin was willing to listen to his opinion.
"General, you may not know this, but the enemy's general is of unknown origin, as if he appeared out of thin air. This man is not only meticulous and cunning like a fox, but also has a deep mind that makes him hard to fathom. What is even more amazing is that his combat skills are superb. Whether it is strategic planning or tactical application, he is very skilled, as if he were a veteran who has been through many battles."
Whenever he thought of that person, the King of Lingnan felt a deep sense of fear and lingering dread. He couldn't help but recall his former self, when he was a renowned general, his fame resounding throughout the land, known to all. Yet, this very man, with his illustrious reputation, suddenly became like a novice, utterly powerless in the face of that person.
He commanded a full 100,000 troops! That's a considerable army, and being on his own territory, it should have been incredibly powerful. Yet, unbelievably, this seemingly formidable army was utterly routed and routed by that person in just over ten days!
This was a nightmare! They had thought they could use their 100,000 troops to fight the enemy, or at least hold out longer for reinforcements. But reality was cruel; they could only watch helplessly as their army was routed.
Faced with such a crushing defeat, he had nowhere else to go and ultimately had no choice but to flee.
"Appeared out of thin air? Your Highness, could you tell me about what happened?" Lu Zhijin was very curious about that person. What kind of general was he that made the King of Lingnan so wary of him?
The King of Lingnan sighed: "General, you must already know that the enemy now has about 400,000 troops. But you don't know that initially, they didn't send that many people. They only had 50,000 troops to conquer Lizhou."
"What?" Lu Zhijin was stunned. He stood up involuntarily, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at the person in front of him.