Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 741: Night Raid (Part 1)

"Young master, it’s bad news!"

Peng Sihai reported grimly, "News from the military camp says that over a hundred men have fled."

In fact, the number of deserters isn’t accurate at all. After Lu Cheng’s death, morale in the camp was unsettled, leading to chaos. Even the daily casualties from battles are hard to tally. Nobody knows exactly how many soldiers remain in the camp, just a rough estimate.

Now it’s known that several tents are empty and a group of soldiers secretly fled together. The exact number of people who escaped is completely unclear.

That’s certainly not a good sign. It must be curbed quickly, or there will be more deserters.

Zheng Chen raised his head with displeasure, "Have Lu Cheng send people to chase down the deserters, and kill them if necessary!"

Peng Sihai helplessly replied, "General Lu is already dead."

That day at the city gate, Lu Cheng was indeed injured. The truly fatal stab came quietly from Zhao Wu’s back.

Zheng Chen’s brows furrowed tighter, "Then let Zhao Wu handle it!"

Peng Sihai whispered, "Young master, General Zhao suffered five or six injuries today, he’s been treated but is still feverish. There are only two doctors in the city, both were summoned to tend to General Zhao. Neither is confident in healing him, perhaps General Zhao might not even make it through the night."

Zheng Chen’s forehead veins popped as he suddenly threw the pen in his hand, "I’ll go check on the military camp!"

Knowing Zheng Chen gets disoriented at night, Peng Sihai wasn’t at ease letting him go to the camp alone, so he hastily followed.

As Zheng Chen stepped out of the study, the chilly early spring wind cleared his mind somewhat.

He quickly entered the camp. Indeed, the deserters had caused extreme havoc, with some shouting to pursue them, possibly harboring thoughts of not returning.

Zheng Chen’s eyebrows twitched again and again, suppressing his anger, he said loudly, "It’s too dark to see where they’ve escaped to, no need to chase. Everyone, return to your tents and sleep. We’ll do a headcount at dawn."

Zheng Chen stood upright, his gaze fierce in the cold wind. The soldiers responded sparsely and reluctantly returned to their tents.

Once the camp quieted down again, it was at least an hour later.

Zheng Chen, suppressing the anger boiling in his chest, went to see Zhao Wu.

Zhao Wu took five wounds in total; four are minor, but the knife wound in his waist and abdomen is the most severe, likely harming his internal organs. Even after bandages wrapped layer upon layer, blood still seeped through.

The two summoned doctors wore bitter expressions and trembled as they spoke, "I’ve truly done my best."

"I’ve practiced medicine for twenty years, my skills aren’t poor. But General Zhao’s injuries are severe, I’ve dressed and medicated them, and concocted a herbal potion for him. From here on, it’s up to General Zhao’s fate."

These two civilian doctors were far inferior to the skilled physicians in the Imperial Hospital.

Zheng Chen’s face was grim, he coldly gazed at the two doctors, "If General Zhao survives, so do you. Otherwise, you’ll both be buried with him."

The two doctors turned pale and wished to cry bitterly.

Zhao Wu seemed startled awake by Zheng Chen’s icy voice, forcing his eyes open, his voice weak, "Young master!"

Peng Sihai perked up, "Young master, General Zhao is awake."

Zheng Chen waved his hand for the two doctors to be taken away, then sat by the bedside himself.

Zhao Wu’s gaze was scattered, only focusing after a while, his voice extremely weak, "Young master, you must leave."

Zheng Chen pressed his thin lips tightly.

"Yu State can’t be held," Zhao Wu struggled to speak intermittently, "Leave while the city hasn’t fallen."

"As long as the green hills remain, there’s hope for a comeback someday."

"Young master, save your life first! Flee!"

After speaking, Zhao Wu fainted again.

Zheng Chen sat in silence for a long time.

Outside the tent, the cold wind roared as if it were playing a dirge for the land.

The ambition and great endeavors were scattered and withered by this mournful melody.

"Young master, let’s go!" Peng Sihai’s voice sounded in his ear.

Zheng Chen seemed abruptly jabbed by a needle, he got up sharply, eyes wide in anger, "Go? Where to!"

The vast realm belongs to the Da Liang Dynasty. Where else could he go?

Peng Sihai gritted his teeth, "We could go to the border and seek refuge with General Fan."

Zheng Chen sneered bitterly, "General Fan only cares for his family’s prospects, even forced his own granddaughter to death with a letter! Why would he shelter me, a rebel of Da Liang!"

"Then let’s go outside the border, to the Outer Grassland," Peng Sihai swiftly continued, evidently having pondered the idea beforehand, "Beyond the border are the Rouran, the Tatar, and many small tribes. We can ride into the grassland and find a tribe to shelter us..."

"Silence!" Zheng Chen shouted in fury, "I cannot become a stray dog hiding outside the border! Do not mention it again!"

Peng Sihai had no choice but to remain silent, but in his heart, he resolved. In dire circumstances, he’d knock the young master unconscious if needed and escape Yu State City.

Living holds hope for a resurgence, death leaves nothing.

...

Zheng Chen did not leave; he slept in the military camp’s tent.

He slept uneasily, plagued by nightmares.

Peng Sihai, the trusted aide, could hardly find peace, waking frequently from fright. He had to stay by his master’s bedside, occasionally soothing him, "Did a nightmare disturb you, young master?"

"It’s just a dream, nothing to fear."

"Yu State City still stands!"

Zheng Chen stared, unfocused and lacking clarity. Who knows where he was looking. After a long while, he closed his eyes again.

Peng Sihai, extremely exhausted, sat by the bed clothed and eventually fell asleep.

During the fourth period of night, firelight suddenly appeared in Yu State City.

Initially, there were only one or two spots of fire. Quickly, they became two, three, spreading like stars into a large blaze. Accompanied by panicked cries, the fire echoed throughout Yu State City.

The chaos quickly spread to the Yu State Rebel Army camp.

"Young master, it’s bad! The camp is under attack!"

Usually composed, Peng Sihai was now completely frantic, forcefully shaking Zheng Chen awake, "Young master, we must immediately find a safe place to hide."

Anyone familiar with the military camp knows the horror of an attack.

In the dark, soldiers turned into mad beasts, some running aimlessly, yelling wildly, some wielding knives, slashing anyone they saw. In such times, no status matters, since even those in high positions can easily become targets.

Zheng Chenjun turned pale, said nothing as he quickly descended from bed, exiting the tent with Peng Sihai.

By coincidence, a group of attacking soldiers charged toward them. Without thinking, Peng Sihai swung his knife fiercely. The trusted aides guarding outside the tent drew their swords immediately.

Zheng Chen’s throat tightened, and he too unsheathed his long knife.