"What in the world is this! How can it fly in the sky!"
Cai Guangyao was completely dumbfounded. This was completely beyond his knowledge.
Even during the war between Dongjiang and Chen, Chu Chen had already used hot air balloons, but who would believe such a fantastical thing?
Things like ghostly soldiers borrowing grain, heavenly fires, or the water god's wrath – who knew if they were true or false? Instinctively, they didn't believe such absurd claims.
But who would have thought that this damned thing was actually true!
Amidst a meteor shower, they fell from the sky, and tens of thousands of Chen's army turned to dust.
This damned record was actually true! How could they fight this!
Cai Guangyao was on the verge of collapse. He had fought for half his life and had never seen anything so outrageous. This was truly outrageous, opening the door for more outrageousness, taking it to the extreme.
Just as Li Mengdie, the King of Liu, and others were trembling in despair, they discovered that the sky above them remained quiet, with not even a single stone falling.
"What's going on? Is Chu Chen not planning to attack from the air?"
After waiting for a long time with no reaction, Li Mengdie and the others couldn't help but wonder.
But no matter what, not being attacked from the air was a good thing, and they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Five hundred hot air balloons flew over the city walls of Qiancheng Commandery, leaving nothing behind.
The commoners who poked their heads out of the windows below also breathed a sigh of relief.
Despite the curfew, they heard the soldiers shouting in the streets and couldn't resist their curiosity. They opened their windows and followed the soldiers' gaze upwards, only to see this scene that was like a myth.
"That's it?"
Li Mengdie and the others were bewildered and couldn't understand why. Just as they were about to discuss, Li Mengdie suddenly remembered something, and her face turned ugly. "This damned Chu Chen, he's not planning to bypass Qiancheng Commandery from the air! That must be it!"
"Your Highness, what are you saying?"
"Quick, immediately order someone to investigate the imperial army surrounding the city. Are there any people left!!"
"Your Highness, what is this?"
"Idiot! Don't you understand? This is Chu Chen's scheme! He has already sent his army to our rear from the air. Even if it's not all at once, if he transports them multiple times, we'll be helpless. Do you understand? Go and do as I say!"
Li Mengdie was going crazy. If people and supplies could be transported from the air, how could she stop it? How could they possibly fight!
Now, they could only hope that Chu Chen thought few people knew about hot air balloons and hadn't moved all his troops, only a part of them. Otherwise, they were truly finished.
A moment later, a scout arrived at Li Mengdie, who was rushing towards the city wall, and said in terror, "Your Highness, outside the city, the large camp outside the city is empty, no one is there!"
"What! Is that true!"
Li Mengdie was greatly shocked and almost fainted. Fortunately, her strong willpower supported her until the end. If she fainted now, it would truly be a disaster with no one to command.
"Quick, immediately deploy scouts to all parts outside the city. Be sure to investigate the whereabouts of Chu Chen's army! Even a hundred miles outside the city!"
"Yes!"
The scout quickly retreated and relayed Li Mengdie's orders.
Soon, over a hundred scouts were dispatched.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they brought back intelligence from within ten miles.
"There are no traces of Chu Chen's soldiers within ten miles! We are finished!"
Hearing this news, Li Mengdie's legs went weak. Fortunately, the eunuch beside her was quick and supported her.
"Your Highness, even if Chu Chen transported his army away in this manner, wouldn't there be no one to stop us outside the city? Then we could cut off Chu Chen's retreat."
Cai Guangyao was full of confusion. It wasn't that bad, and they could even join forces with their allies to attack the imperial army from both sides.
"Then, do you think he would have left the three thousand cavalry behind, along with some scattered infantry?"
Shaking her head slightly, Li Mengdie asked faintly, trying to stay conscious.
"..."
This, this was truly troublesome. Cai Guangyao looked troubled but couldn't speak.
If the imperial army had three thousand infantry stationed outside the city to harass them, and then the scattered infantry attacked at night when they were tired or few in number, they truly wouldn't be able to pursue the soldiers in the hot air balloons.
Cavalry that only harassed and didn't fight was truly a disgusting unit. With four legs faster than two, they could just play around and be annoying.
Cai Guangyao sighed and asked, "Then, Your Highness, what should we do now?"
"We can only pray that Chu Chen's hot air balloons cannot carry all his troops except the cavalry."
Li Mengdie could never have predicted that things would turn out this way. Not only had they lost the initiative, but their rear was also in grave danger.
Fortunately, heaven had not closed all doors. Just as Li Mengdie was about to sell everything she owned to gather all the horses in the city and form a cavalry unit,
A scout suddenly reported that Chu Chen's main army had been discovered and was slowly retreating. Based on the number of torches, it was estimated to be over twenty thousand.
"Chu Chen's main army? Did you personally see Chu Chen's banner?"
Li Mengdie grabbed the scout by the collar, scaring the scout into lowering his head and not daring to look around.
"Reply, reply Your Highness, your humble servant, your humble servant saw it with his own eyes."
"Go! Gather the troops and pursue Chu Chen! As long as we kill or capture Chu Chen, half of this great undertaking will be successful!"
Li Mengdie became excited and waved her hand, striding away.
Even though some behind her were unconvinced, thinking that Chu Chen was not as important as the King of Liu had said, since the King of Liu himself was going, how could they not follow?
Thus, Li Mengdie led fifty thousand troops from the city, leaving only a little over ten thousand to guard the city, and rushed to pursue Chu Chen.
"It really is Chu Chen's banner!"
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Li Mengdie finally caught up with Chu Chen.
From a distance, using her cultivation to observe, she not only clearly saw Chu Chen's banner but also the tall and mighty Chu Chen beneath it, wearing his ostentatious white immortal-like attire.
After all, among the soldiers in uniform armor of the same color, Chu Chen, dressed entirely in white, was truly unique.
Li Mengdie had also seen this set of clothes. According to Chu Chen himself, it seemed to be a magic artifact.
"Chu Chen! Hahaha, where do you think you're running!"
Li Mengdie not only saw Chu Chen clearly but also saw that his army was carrying a large amount of supplies and was currently hastily turning to face the enemy.
This was a god-given opportunity! Li Mengdie rejoiced: "All troops, listen to my orders! Whoever captures Chu Chen alive, this King will bestow upon them the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households and reward them with a million taels of silver! If you kill him, you will be granted the title of Marquis of Hundred Households and one hundred thousand taels of silver!"
The fifty thousand troops behind them immediately erupted in excitement!