The tents of three hundred and eighty thousand combat troops and one hundred thousand support troops stretched on without end. Beneath the torchlight in the darkness, figures bustled throughout the vast camp in utter chaos.
Horses neighed, wagon wheels rumbled, and officers barked curses, mingled even with scattered cries.
Fang Yun rode through the Personal Guard Army, inspecting the troops and issuing orders without pause.
"Quick! Leave the tents! Throw them all away!"
"Keep your weapons with you! This is a retreat, not a rout! Even when fleeing, a soldier should keep a weapon. We cannot choose how we live, but we can choose how we die!"
"Do not discard your dry rations! Pearl City is still some distance away. Bring at least three days' provisions in case something unexpected happens!"
Between orders, Fang Yun used Tongue Blossoms Thunder to contact the nearby commanders of the Pearl River Army. Even though many refused to obey his orders, they still gave brief replies.
Fang Yun deliberately asked questions that would steady the troops' hearts. Soon, the entire Pearl River Army settled down and prepared to leave in an orderly fashion.
Before long, the Deer Gate Army also steadied itself. Both armies turned around and advanced toward Pearl City.
"Advance at a run!" The Deer Gate Marquis's aged, steady voice rang throughout the city.
Hearing that voice, Fang Yun realized the crisis was even more serious than he had originally imagined. Unfortunately, he could not take to the air now, or he would certainly have been able to see whether enemies were in the distance.
Then the Deer Gate Marquis issued orders: the Deer Gate Army would take the lead, while the Pearl River Army's rear division would bring up the rear.
Beneath the starry night, the army ran swiftly. For dozens