Chapter 1639: Assault on the City—He’s Always the Unlucky One

Chapter 1639: Chapter 1639: Assault on the City—He’s Always the Unlucky One

The reinforcements on both sides are none other than the troops of Duan Changling, the Central State Deputy Commander Vice Magistrate, and General Dai, the nephew of the Minister of War.

These two, one with his own schemes, the other fearing death, both were reluctant to come to the Northwest for battle early, merely wanting to dawdle and seize merit.

They had previously stopped in Yongcheng Prefecture without moving, but after being shocked by the killings by impostor Juntian Guards, they hastily fled Yongcheng Prefecture. Upon learning that Xing’an Prefecture was under siege, they were again scared stiff.

However, the troops they led numbered nearly ten thousand, how could Luo Ying let them off? He dispatched someone to send them a message urging them to immediately march to Xing’an Prefecture for rescue.

Duan Changling didn’t even hold General Xu in high regard, so how would he fear Luo Ying’s message?

After receiving the message, Duan Changling outright ignored it and even ordered the army to retreat thirty miles.

Upon learning that Xing’an Prefecture was besieged and Qin San Lang went to sweep out the lurking Rong people, Luo Ying was already anxious. Discovering that Duan Changling not only failed to hurry to Xing’an Prefecture but dared to retreat thirty miles, he flew into a rage. Unable to wait for dark, he immediately led men to attack the camp, slaughtered over a hundred soldiers, and captured General Dai alive.

General Dai was scared senseless and cursed his own bad luck. Previously in Yongcheng Prefecture, he had been poisoned unconscious by the Juntian Guards. Now, near Xing’an Prefecture, he got caught again.

Why is it always him who is unlucky?

Can’t someone else be caught instead?

Duan Changling also holds a high position as a Vice Magistrate, couldn’t he be captured for once!

Luo Ying said no, pointing out that General Dai was easy to catch because he was useless.

Duan Changling learned of the fierce bandits raiding the camp and capturing General Dai, and was so furious he wanted to tear General Dai’s heart out... Damn, that Dai is indeed a useless drag, always holding things back.

But considering that General Dai had a good uncle in Minister Dai, Duan Changling still relied on Minister Dai, so he had to go save him personally.

"Bold rebel, a court criminal, you dare to kidnap a court official, you..."

Whiz!

With a glance from Luo Ying, Pang Hai slashed General Dai’s neck. Blood gushed out immediately, scaring General Dai into screaming crazily, rolling his eyes and nearly fainting.

Pang Hai was speechless: "Why are you rolling your eyes? The slash is near your collarbone, not your trachea, you’re not going to die."

Are the court’s military generals nowadays all like this? With such courage, how can they fight the Rong people?

General Dai heard this and managed to hold on, looking at Duan Changling, crying: "Brother Duan, save your elder brother!"

Duan Changling felt disgusted but said on the surface: "Brother Dai, rest assured. We are comrades traveling west, I will surely save you."

After speaking, he looked at Luo Ying, saying: "General Luo, General Dai is the nephew of Minister Dai, appointed by the Emperor as one of Kangrong Generals. If anything happens to him, Minister Dai and the Emperor might not let General Luo continue to roam freely in the Northwest, so please reconsider."

Duan Changling had not seen Luo Ying before, but he was not foolish. Before coming to the Northwest, he had carefully inquired into the various forces in the Northwest, thus knowing about Eagle Food Gang and its leader, Luo Ying.

And this Luo Ying was precisely the fugitive from the Duke Wei’s faction case.

However, this fugitive was very arrogant, not thinking of hiding, instead leading bandits to oppose the court everywhere.

Luo Ying sneered: "You speak as if the court is mighty, it’s nonsense! I can roam in the Northwest because the damn Emperor himself has ruined the court, he can’t spare any men to climb the mountains and exterminate me."

This statement sounded quite treacherous.

But would you dare to criticize a bandit leader who defies the court everywhere, not even putting the Emperor in his eyes?

If you dare to say a word more, Luo Ying would slash General Dai one more time.

"Nephew Luo, Uncle Dai knows you’ve suffered grievances, don’t worry... ah!" General Dai initially sought to cozy up with Luo Ying, but before finishing his words, Pang Hai cut him again.

This time it was two inches above the collarbone, deeper and it would reach the artery.

General Dai was scared half to death, trembling all over looking at Luo Ying, as if seeing a demon!

Luo Ying took a sip from the wine bottle in General Dai’s tent, spat it out, and threw the bottle at General Dai, sneering coldly: "What kind of thing are you, daring to call me uncle. Not even you, even Old Man Dai in the past, must address me as ’Young Master’ upon seeing me."

Lord Ghost watched General Dai and was silent... Is this Dai having issues? Does he not know that his uncle’s position as Minister of War was stolen from whom?

Before the fall of Duke Wei’s faction, Minister of War was Luo Ying’s grandfather.

After the fall of Duke Wei’s faction, the vacancy as Minister of War lasted over a year, Emperor Jingyuan fearing the insecurity of his military power, thus chose Minister Dai, an easily manipulated yet incapable person, to sit in the position.

Due to these relationships between former and current Ministers of War, the Dai Family and Luo Family are enemies. General Dai saw Luo Ying and instead of shutting his mouth, he tried to cozy up with him, isn’t this seeking death?

Duan Changling said: "General Luo, say what you want directly, what Duan can do will surely be done, just please refrain from unnecessary actions."

He added: "It doesn’t matter if you kill some minor soldiers, but if General Dai dies, it will be difficult to resolve."

"Difficult to resolve?" Luo Ying laughed and looked at Duan Changling, saying: "You still haven’t learned not to negotiate with me. Pang Hai!"

"Yes." Pang Hai answered, and directly chopped off one of General Dai’s fingers, throwing it in front of Duan Changling.

"Ah!" General Dai was in so much pain his face turned pale, nearly fainting, but he dared not pass out, fearing fainting might lead Luo Ying to have his head chopped off.

"General Luo, calm down, it’s my mistake!" Duan Changling secretly hated, this damned Luo Ying, wait for the Rong people’s retreat, he’ll certainly request the Emperor’s decree to lead an army to wipe out Eagle Food Gang.

"What does General Luo need Duan to do, just say." Duan Changling, having learned his lesson, dared not speak more unnecessary words, asking Luo Ying to state his demands directly.

Luo Ying smiled in satisfaction: "This is the right way."

He then turned to General Dai and said: "If he had agreed earlier, you wouldn’t have suffered this pain. Remember, it’s his fault. If you’re displeased, seek revenge on him."

Saying this, Duan Changling’s face turned dark as water.

But Dai is easy to fool, even if angry now, a few kind words from him later, and Dai will be placated.

Moreover, he saved Dai, Minister Dai will certainly remember his favor.

"Speak, please." Duan Changling said.

Luo Ying: "Immediately lead troops to Xing’an Prefecture for rescue. If Xing’an Prefecture is breached by the Rong people, Dai will be torn apart!"

Duan Changling frowned: "I can lead troops for rescue to Xing’an Prefecture, but what do you mean by that?"

Could it be that he intends to detain General Dai?

That’s right, Luo Ying indeed meant that: "Dai is just a waste propped up by his uncle, unable to fight. His troops are all yours, take them to Xing’an Prefecture for rescue. Whenever you drive away the Rong people from Xing’an Prefecture, that’s when I’ll release Dai. Otherwise, you’ll have to prepare to collect his corpse."