After over a month of marching, the huge army finally entered the Man Kingdom. They camped in a strong border town, 100 meters north of the Man Kingdom's capital. The military flags fluttered in the wind, and the armor gleamed brightly. Although the soldiers had endured a long journey, they maintained strict discipline, and the marching formation remained as orderly as ever.
Lin Jiwu stood in the center of the command tent, his face solemn as he stared at the unfolded sand table. The positions of various cities, the advancing route of the Hu Kingdom's army, and the defensive layout of the Man Kingdom were all clearly presented on it.
Lin Jiwu's voice dropped to a grave tone as he said, "The Hu Kingdom has seized four cities already. Lose three more, and they'll be at the Man Kingdom's imperial city's doorstep." His fingertips drummed softly on the cities' positions on the map.
The master of the Divine Doctor Valley stood beside him, his eyes narrowing slightly. He slowly said, "The Hu Kingdom's tactical style has always been fierce and swift. According to common sense, they will choose to force their way through the middle route and reach the imperial city of the Man Kingdom within three days."
Lin Jiwu shook his head firmly. "If I were the enemy, I'd avoid that path. They'll stage a fake attack in the middle to draw attention, then sneak north and grab those five grain cities fast."
He tapped the cities in the northern part of the sand table with his finger and continued to analyze, "Once the northern region is captured, the imperial city of the Man Kingdom will be left isolated and without support. At that time, the Hu Kingdom can advance from both the northern and middle routes. The main force will break through the imperial city, and the auxiliary army will provide support to ensure that the battle situation is foolproof."
Upon hearing this, all the generals showed a thoughtful expression, believing that what the general said made a lot of sense.
By the side of the military tent, Lin Yuan listened quietly. Young as he was, he grasped the gravity of the war. Eyes locked on the sand table, he searched desperately for a way to turn the tide.
Just then, an urgent alarm came from outside the tent.
"Alert! Assassins!"
Lin Ran's voice carried a hint of anxiety. She held a long sword in her hand and rushed out of the tent first. At almost the same moment, several black shadows flashed into the tent from outside at high speed. The cold light flickered, and their targets were Lin Jiwu and the master of the Divine Doctor Valley in the center of the tent.
"Guard the general!" the vice-general barked. Guards unsheathed their swords at once. Steel clashed, sending sparks flying.
Seven or eight assassins were quick in their movements and had excellent coordination. One held a long knife and launched a frontal attack, while another quickly circled around to the side to try a sneak attack. Lin Jiwu's eyes flashed coldly. He suddenly drew his sword, and a flash of cold light appeared. With a single sword strike, he forced back two assassins. However, his attention was drawn by a low shout...
"There's gunpowder! They're carrying gunpowder!"
When Lin Yuan heard this, his heart skipped a beat, and his gaze immediately fell on a shorter assassin. His chest bulged, betraying the hidden bundle, and the faint red glow of a fuse peeked out. Eyes wild, he reared back, ready to hurl the explosive with all his strength.
"Not good!" Lin Yuan reacted very quickly and immediately lunged forward, trying to stop him.
At this critical moment, the master of the Divine Doctor Valley waved his sleeve lightly, and a cloud of purple powder was instantly sprinkled on the assassins. The seven or eight of them were immediately stiffened, unable to even blink their eyes. The whole scene froze instantly.
However...
Lin Yuan's figure was just in the middle of his rush. He couldn't dodge in time and was hit directly by the powder.
He suddenly stopped, his eyes wide open, and his body immediately stiffened. Frozen mid-lunge, he looked ridiculous: one hand stuck in the air, mouth agape, and a foot still lifted.
There was a moment of silence in the tent.
The next second, Lin Ran split the still-burning fuse and couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Lin Yuan, you... Hahaha!"
Lin Yuan's eyes were filled with helplessness, and he silently complained in his heart, "This poison powder is so indiscriminate! It affects friend and foe alike!"
The master of the Divine Doctor Valley glanced at Lin Yuan indifferently and said casually, "This was an accident."
At this time, the subdued assassins had been dragged out, and the gunpowder had been quickly disposed of. Lin Jiwu stared intently at the captured assassins and commanded in a steely tone, "Question them. I want to know who's pulling the strings."
Lin Yuan could only stand there with a look of despair on his face. It was not until a military doctor relieved him of the poison that he could move his stiff body. He depressedly patted the powder off his clothes.
"I must obtain those things from the doctor who was originated from the Divine Doctor Valley. It could save me."
=================
浩浩荡荡的军队经过一个多月的行军,终于抵达满国境内,驻扎在皇城以北百里处的一座防御坚固的边镇.军旗猎猎,盔甲铮亮,兵士们虽长途跋涉,但纪律井然,行军队列依旧整齐如一.
林季无站在帅帐中央,面色凝重地望着展开的沙盘.各座城池的位置,胡国大军的推进路线以及满国的防御布置尽数呈现其中.
"胡国已连下四座城池,再丢三城,便能直逼满国皇城." 林季无指尖轻敲城池位置,沉声道.
神医谷谷主站在一旁,目光微眯,缓缓道:"胡国的战术风格向来刚猛迅捷,依常理推测,他们会选择从中路强行推进,三日内直抵满国皇城."
林季无缓缓摇头,声音沉稳而笃定:"如果我是敌军主帅,我不会走这条路.胡国必然会在中路佯攻,制造声势,同时暗中迂回北方,以迅雷之势夺取北境的五座粮食城."
他手指轻点沙盘上的北部城池,继续分析道:"北境一旦被夺,满国皇城就将陷入孤立无援之境,届时胡国可由北,中两路并进,主力攻破皇城,副军策应,确保战局万无一失."
众将闻言,皆面露思索之色,觉得大将军此言极有道理.
军帐一旁,林远静静听着,他虽年幼,却已能理解战局的凶险.他的目光紧紧盯着沙盘,似乎想从中找到破局之法.
就在此时,帐外忽然传来一声急促的警报.
"警戒!有刺客!"
林然的声音透着一丝焦急,她手持长剑,率先冲出军帐,而几乎在同一瞬间,数道黑影自帐外急速掠入,寒光闪烁,目标直指军帐中央的林季无与神医谷谷主.
"护好林大将!" 副将厉喝一声,众护卫立刻拔刀迎战,刀剑交错间,火星四溅.
七,八名刺客身形迅捷,配合默契,一人持长刀正面攻击,另一人迅速绕到侧翼,试图偷袭.林季无目光一凛,猛然拔剑,寒光乍现,一剑便逼退两名刺客.然而,他的注意力却被一声低喝吸引...
"有火药!他们带了火药!"
林远听到这句话,心头一震,视线立刻落在一名身形较矮的刺客身上.那人怀里鼓鼓囊囊,隐约可见火绳的红光,他双目狠厉,打算用力一扔.
"不好!" 林远反应极快,立刻向前扑去,想要阻止.
就在这千钧一发之际,神医谷谷主衣袖轻挥,一团紫色粉末顿时洒向刺客们,那七,八人瞬间身躯僵直,连眼睛都无法眨动,整个场面瞬间定格.
然而...
林远的身影正巧冲到一半,躲避不及,被粉末迎头洒了个正着.
他猛地一顿,眼睛瞪得老大,身子顿时僵住,保持着扑出去的滑稽姿势,一只手伸在半空,嘴微张,脚还悬着,整个人像是被定格了一样.
帐内一片寂静.
下一秒,林然把还未燃尽的火绳劈开并忍不住噗嗤一声笑了出来:"林远,你...哈哈哈哈!"
林远眼神满是无奈,心里疯狂吐槽:"这毒粉撒得也太不分敌我了吧!"
神医谷谷主神色淡然地看了林远一眼,轻描淡写道:"这是个意外."
而这时,被制住的刺客已经被拖了出去,火药也被迅速处理掉.林季无目光深沉地看着被擒的刺客,语气低沉道:"拷问,看看是谁派来的."
林远只能一脸生无可恋地站在原地,直到一名军医替他解了毒,他才活动了僵硬的身体,郁闷地拍了拍衣服上的粉末.
"这神医谷的东西,得想办法弄一点来保命啊!"