Chapter 203 They Defend the Rear Camp in Vain

Chapter 203 They Defend the Rear Camp in Vain

Jiang Yutang's heart tightened. Just as she was about to get up and go out to check, she saw a soldier rush in covered in blood.

"Madam! The enemy has broken through the defenses from the flank and rear, and the rear camp has been breached! General Cheng and Lieutenant Jiang are leading men to hold them off at the front. They sent me to inform you to take the wounded and evacuate as soon as possible!"

"The rear camp has fallen?"

Jiang Yutang stared wide-eyed in disbelief, clutching the back of her hand tightly. The pain brought her back to her senses instantly.

Most of the wounded soldiers are not fully recovered and are unable to fight. Charging out would only result in their deaths.

Her gaze swept around the tent, and she suddenly remembered an abandoned cellar she had found while sorting through supplies. It was in a secluded location and perfect for hiding.

"Quick! Everyone, help the wounded soldiers and follow me to the cellar!"

While directing the military doctors and personal guards to help the wounded soldiers, she rushed quickly toward the cellar.

Along the way, she caught a glimpse of mugwort and sulfur piled up in the corner.

A thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately ordered one of her personal guards to stop: "Go and bring all that mugwort and sulfur, and find a few broken pottery jars!"

"yes!"

Just as everyone had settled the wounded soldiers into the cellar, the enemy's footsteps and shouts grew closer and closer.

Jiang Yutang quickly stuffed the mugwort and sulfur into the broken pottery jar, lit the tinder he carried with him and threw it in, then put the lid on the jar, leaving only a small gap.

"Burning mugwort and sulfur produces a lot of thick smoke, which can confuse the enemy and delay them."

She instructed the medic beside her, "You stay here and take good care of the wounded soldier. I'll go out and see if I can help."

"Madam! Absolutely not! We can handle these things; you mustn't take this risk!"

Jiang Yutang frowned and ordered in a loud voice, "Now whatever I say goes!"

After she finished speaking, she distributed several prepared smoke bombs to the able-bodied soldiers, instructing them to throw one at intervals.

He then used the thick smoke as cover and ran towards the armory where Cheng Daier was.

The area outside the armory was already in complete chaos.

Jiang Yutang originally thought she would panic, but when it actually happened, she was braver than she had imagined.

In the smoke-filled camp, many tents had been burned.

Jiang Yutang covered his mouth and nose with one hand, gripped the sword he had found, and hunched over, using tents and haystacks as cover to hide and move with difficulty toward the armory.

At this moment, the rear camp is in grave danger, and it will be difficult for Cheng Daier to hold it up alone. She cannot stand aside under any circumstances.

Just as she rounded a burning tent, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side and collided with her.

"Ouch!"

Jiang Yutang staggered back two steps, and just as she was about to draw her sword, she heard the other party's surprised voice.

"Mrs. Cheng? It's you! I'm so glad you're alright!"

The soldier's face was covered in dust and blood, his expression flustered yet unable to conceal his joy: "Miss Cheng asked me to escort you away from here quickly! The enemy is coming too fast, please come with me!"

"I'm not leaving!"

Jiang Yutang grabbed the soldier's arm, her voice firm: "My aunt is still in the armory, and there are so many brothers here. I can't abandon them. Take me there quickly, I can help!"

The soldier froze, then stamped his feet anxiously: "No, it's too dangerous for you to stay here! We'll handle things here ourselves!"

"I really can help!"

Jiang Yutang's tone became more urgent, but also firmer: "Now is not the time to talk about this. It will be too late if we wait any longer! If you don't take me, I'll find it myself!"

Arguing at this point is useless; only a firm stance can force the other party to compromise.

Seeing her resolute expression and realizing that persuasion was futile, the soldier could only sigh heavily.

He cautiously observed his surroundings and quickly moved towards the armory with Jiang Yutang.

Along the way, the two nearly ran into the enemy several times, only managing to avoid it thanks to the experienced soldiers who helped her.

The sounds of battle grew closer, and Jiang Yutang's palms were covered in cold sweat.

Finally, after evading a wave of enemy patrols, the guards led Jiang Yutang to the outer perimeter of the armory.

Jiang Yutang spotted Cheng Daier directing from the back immediately and ran over quickly.

Cheng Daier was intently staring at the enemy soldiers ahead when she suddenly felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around abruptly and saw it was her. Her face instantly darkened, and she lowered her voice to scold, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to leave immediately?"

"If you don't leave, I won't leave either!"

Jiang Yutang, panting, looked at her with a determined gaze: "Besides, I really can help, I'm not here to cause trouble!"

Cheng Dai'er knew this wasn't the time to argue, so she could only grit her teeth and say, "Fine! You stay by my side and aren't allowed to act on your own!"

“Okay!” Jiang Yutang nodded quickly, her eyes scanning her surroundings rapidly.

She had never been to an armory before, and she was surprised to find that most of the soldiers there were women.

Cheng Daier explained, "They all volunteered to help. Most of them are wives whose husbands are also in the military or have already sacrificed their lives."

"I see..." Jiang Yutang looked at them with respect in her eyes.

By this time, the soldiers' defense was becoming increasingly difficult. They were running out of arrows and stones, and many were panting heavily from exhaustion.

The enemy's charge grew increasingly fierce, and they were on the verge of breaking through the defenses.

In a moment of quick thinking, Jiang Yutang's gaze fell upon the oil drums and hay piled up next to the armory.

She immediately shouted to Cheng Daier, "Auntie, use fire! Use the oil drums and haystacks!"

Cheng Dai'er frowned, thinking it was a good idea, and immediately ordered everyone to tighten their defenses.

Jiang Yutang ran to the oil drum and said to the female soldiers around him, "Quickly divide the dry grass into small bundles, tie them to long poles, and light them when I give the order!"

Then, they moved the oil drums to the front of the defensive line, leaving enough distance between them.

Seeing that the defending troops were tightening their lines, the enemy thought they had an opportunity and charged forward even more frantically.

Just as they were about to reach the oil drum, Cheng Dai'er shouted, "Throw it!"

Countless sparks were thrown at the oil drums, and with a loud "boom!" the drums ignited, instantly bursting into flames that formed a wall of fire, burning several enemy soldiers at the forefront.

Upon seeing this, the enemy troops were so frightened that they hurriedly retreated, and their momentum was instantly halted.

Jiang Yutang shouted again, "Spread the remaining dry grass around the fire wall, and then pour some kerosene on it!"

Everyone quickly did as instructed, and the fire wall burned even brighter. Thick smoke and flames intertwined, completely blocking the enemy's attack route.

"If the enemy tries to attack by taking a detour, they will definitely step on the caltrops, and then we can shoot them with arrows!"

Under her and Cheng Daier's command, the group readjusted their defensive strategy, relying on the defensive line formed by the firewall and barbed wire.

The wall of fire was still burning, billowing thick smoke, keeping the enemy out.

After temporarily stabilizing the situation, Jiang Yutang asked anxiously in a low voice, "Auntie, when will Lanzhou and the others be able to return to the military camp?"

Cheng Dai'er shook her head: "I don't know. The soldiers who were in charge of reporting haven't returned yet. I'm afraid they've encountered difficulties at the front and are too busy to take care of themselves."

Jiang Yutang's heart sank, and she instantly tensed up.

But now, retreating means certain death; we must hold the rear camp to have any chance of survival.

The time that followed became a contest of endurance and willpower between the two sides.

The enemy gambled that their weapons and resources would run out first, while Jiang Yutang gambled that the enemy's wounded soldiers couldn't afford to wait any longer.

Time ticked by, the sun gradually set in the west, and the smell of blood and smoke in the air grew stronger.

Finally, after a stalemate of two hours, the enemy's attack gradually weakened, and they eventually ordered a retreat.

As the enemy's figures gradually disappeared into the edge of the wasteland, the defenders were stunned for a moment before bursting into a weak but excited cheer.

Jiang Yutang's legs went weak and she almost fell, but she managed to hold on.