Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 552: Night Raid (Part 1)

At this moment, it was the third hour of the night.

The moon was shrouded by thick clouds, and a few faint stars flickered. The Rouran Army Camp was still five miles away.

More than three thousand people dismounted from their steeds, tied their muzzles with cotton cloth to prevent the horses from neighing and alerting the opponent’s sentries. A dozen shadows quietly sneaked over under the cover of darkness.

After waiting for less than an hour, a sudden crisp bird call was heard.

Yu Chong secretly let out a sigh of relief. This was the agreed-upon signal, indicating that the sentries ahead had been dealt with.

The front of the Rouran Army Camp was heavily guarded, but the rear was much weaker and more careless. Three sentries were set within five miles, with two people at each post. In the deep hours of the night, it was when a person was most drowsy, furthermore, the Rouran Cavalry had been pressing on the border army aggressively, gaining the upper hand. The border army had been hiding behind the city walls, struggling to hold out. Who would have thought that a surprise troop would silently sneak around to the rear of the Rouran Army Camp for a raid?

These sentries were killed in their sleep, unable to warn others in time.

After dealing with the sentries, Yu Chong remained cautious, leaving the steeds in the forest, then led the more than three thousand men to move quickly.

By now, it was close to the fourth period of night, and the Rouran Cavalry slept soundly in their respective tents. The soldiers on guard patrol yawned repeatedly, lazily scanning their surroundings.

Even as over three thousand people lightened their footsteps, they still revealed their presence as they swiftly approached the camp. The patrolling Rouran Cavalry froze for a moment upon hearing the noise, then shouted loudly: "Someone is raiding the camp!"

Before the words were finished, shadows charged in, slicing through the camp’s fences like wolves and tigers. This team of patrolling Rouran Cavalry counted twenty, all fierce warriors skilled in mounted archery.

On regular days, these twenty men charging on steeds could scatter hundreds in the front. But against the tide-like surge of shadows this time, they were overwhelmed after a few screams.

Yu Chong didn’t even glance at the figures lying in the blood pools, continuing to lead his men inward.

Their group of more than three thousand had not raided the camp just to kill; the most critical task was locating and burning the supplies. With over half of the Rouran Army of ten thousand cavalry garrisoned in the camp, losing the supplies would cause a collapse in morale, possibly prompting them to retreat.

They must not engage in prolonged battles or get caught up; they must burn the supplies while the Rouran people are caught off guard, disrupt the camp and quickly retreat.

The sleeping Rouran Cavalry gradually awakened to the sound of screams. They angrily shouted while hastily donning clothes and drawing long knives, rushing out of the tents, only to be stabbed in the chest or have their heads chopped off before even seeing the enemy clearly.

Li Tie killed with enthusiasm, his face and body speckled with fresh blood, eyes shining with exhilaration: "Men, tonight we kill to our heart’s content!"

As fierce as the Rouran Cavalry were, they were still flesh and blood. Awakening abruptly during sweet sleep, rushing out without their armor, the Rouran people without their steeds and bows weren’t that frightening. And there were Nanyang Army soldiers storming into the tents, slicing the throats of Rouran Cavalry in their sleep before they could even open their eyes.

Amidst continuous cries, the camp suddenly plunged into chaos.

"General Yu, that’s where the supplies are stored."

Li Tie killed fiercely, drawing the attention of the Rouran people. Yu Chong meanwhile led hundreds to search for the supplies’ location. Fortunately, the camp was organized similarly, and it didn’t take much effort to find several large supply depots.

Yu Chong immediately lit torches, hurled them forcefully, the torches flipped several times in the air, landing on the supplies. Second, third, one after another, countless torches were thrown out. The dry supplies quickly caught fire, illuminating half the night sky.

Nearby Rouran soldiers awoke in panic, brandishing weapons and rushing over, most hurriedly searching for water to extinguish the flame.

After igniting the supplies, Yu Chong knew the mission was accomplished. The next key task was to escape with as many people as possible.

While waving his long knife to kill the enemy, he rushed toward the camp’s exit, shouting wildly, "Everyone follow me out."

After a few dozen paces, he encountered a tough adversary.

A stout man, nine feet tall, blocked Yu Chong’s path with a spear. This man had flourishing hair, now his eyes blazing with anger, hair and beard spread like they were exploding. The headman was extremely strong, his spear like lightning; Yu Chong’s heart tightened, hastily parrying with his knife.

The long knife clashed heavily with the spear, emitting an extremely harsh sound.

Yu Chong felt a sharp pain in his right arm, the long knife almost slipping from his grip.

This man was a true master!

Yu Chong’s heart sank yet remained silent, gripping the knife handle forcefully and continuing to swing it forward. The headman sneered, parried while shouting loudly in Rouran Language, "Kill all these raiding bugs!"

Yet the supplies were ablaze, the camp chaotic and disorderly. Around the headman, there were only a few dozen personal soldiers.

Yu Chong, however, led hundreds. Though not as skilled as this strong man, he was also adept. With the advantage of numbers, they soon broke through the enemy’s formation.

The fierce nature of the strong man flared, stubbornly entangling Yu Chong, while shouting for reinforcements. Watching a crowd gathering, continuously people coming to hinder.

A night raid demands surprise, swift entry and exit. Once caught up, the Rouran camp, holding tens of thousands, could crush them alive.

Yu Chong felt anxious, the knife’s momentum no longer smooth, allowing the headman to seize the opportunity for a spear thrust. His left shoulder instantly was pierced with a blood hole, blood splattering.

The personal soldiers behind him were anxious, with two rushing with knives, desperately tangling with the headman. Several others guarded Yu Chong, advancing swiftly.

Yu Chong endured the pain, gritting his teeth and running outward.

After the headman speared to death two personal soldiers, he sneered and pursued.

At this moment, another alarmed shout came, "Not good, the stables have caught fire too."

The Rouran people’s luck tonight was truly poor. The stables weren’t far from the supplies; thick smoke from the burning supplies spread to the stables, alarming the warhorses. One by one grew restless. Unable to stem the flames, the fire spread rapidly, even the stables caught ablaze. Several warhorses were scorched by the flames, neighed wildly, breaking free of reins, running chaotically in the stables. Such a commotion led all horses to neigh and run wildly.

The Rouran people cherished horses dearly; seeing the stables burn, they fell into utter chaos. No longer minding the enemy, rushed toward the stables’ direction. With steeds on fire charging out, trampling a Rouran underhoof. That Rouran’s intestines spilled, yet barely alive, his cries were truly harrowing.

That stout man’s aim was resolute, still closely pursuing Yu Chong relentlessly. He was immensely strong, exceptionally fierce, and a single spear thrust could overturn one person. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

To protect Yu Chong, the personal soldiers desperately resisted the headman. And then one by one perished at the headman’s hands.

Listening to the ceaseless cries from behind, Yu Chong’s heart ached, eyes filled with bloodred rage.