Raiding the Camp

As someone who enjoyed the benefits of being a small fry in his previous life, Sheng Huai'an couldn't help but be delighted at his sudden promotion to Captain.

After all, in the Great Wei Dynasty, a Captain was a ninth-rank military official, meaning he was no longer a commoner.

Furthermore, in the army, he could command a hundred men.

In his previous life, he would have been considered some kind of leader in a factory or company.

Sheng Huai'an was appointed as the Captain of the Tenth Squad. The previous Captain of the Tenth Squad had died in battle yesterday while defending the city, and more than half of the soldiers in the Tenth Squad had also perished.

The squad was now at full strength because some new recruits and conscripts had been brought in.

"Kid, lead these hundred men well. I'm entrusting them to you," the Martial Commandant said, patting Sheng Huai'an's shoulder.

"Yes, I will lead them well," Sheng Huai'an nodded.

He was a little excited to be in charge for the first time.

The Martial Commandant didn't know what the General Who Pacifies the North saw in Sheng Huai'an to issue him a direct appointment.

In the army, having military merits didn't always guarantee a promotion.

Especially for them, the border troops, where the emperor was far away. Often, promotions for their subordinates were decided by themselves.

"We have no battles today, so everyone rest well. There will be battles waiting for us later," the Martial Commandant said before leaving.

Sheng Huai'an sized up the soldiers in his squad, and the soldiers of the Tenth Squad were also sizing up their new commanding officer.

"Brothers, you might not know each other yet, but now I am your Captain, and my name is Sheng Huai'an.

Remember me. In the future, when we charge, I will definitely be in front of you, or fall in front of you," Sheng Huai'an said loudly.

These words earned him some recognition from the soldiers of the Tenth Squad.

The other Captains in the same camp were also observing Sheng Hu'an. With someone suddenly appearing and becoming the Captain of the Tenth Squad, they were naturally curious.

Many people in the camp knew Sheng Huai'an. They had fought together, and during battles, they would naturally help each other, leading to familiarity.

"It's him, the Kidney-Stabbing Divine Hand," someone muttered softly.

Deng Wu looked at Sheng Huai'an, his face turning green. How did this Kidney-Stabbing Divine Hand become their Captain?

"It's over, it's over. How could it be him!" Deng Wu muttered softly.

"What's wrong? Do you know him!?" Yuan Yong inquired.

"How could I not know him? The Kidney-Stabbing Divine Hand, the one I told you about," Deng Wu replied.

"It's him? He doesn't look like it!" Yuan Yong looked at Sheng Huai'an in disbelief.

He appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a delicate face, looking more like a scholar.

"Doesn't look like it? That's because you haven't seen how fierce he is on the battlefield. He can stab an enemy's kidney without batting an eye," Deng Wu said, swallowing.

"What are you two muttering about?" Sheng Huai'an saw people whispering in the crowd, and one of them looked somewhat familiar.

"Nothing, nothing, Captain!" Deng Wu quickly replied.

"It's good that it's nothing."

Sheng Huai'an nodded. He thought they had an opinion about him becoming Captain, but it seemed they didn't.

"Alright, everyone dismissed. Rest well and be ready to face battle at any time."

Sheng Huai'an dismissed the soldiers of his squad.

New armor, military saber, battle robe, and waist token were also issued. In a flash, he had transformed into a junior officer.

After putting on the new armor, draping the battle robe, and with the saber at his waist, his demeanor instantly improved by a large margin.

He looked imposing and majestic!

He found the Old Soldiers.

"Uncle, I've come to see you," Sheng Huai'an said.

"You're not here to show off, are you!" Zhang Da Niu said with a smile upon seeing Sheng Huai'an.

"How could I be? You misunderstand me, Brother Zhang. Am I that kind of person?" Sheng Huai'an replied.

"You are exactly that kind of person," Wang Wu said sourly.

He had enough military merits and sufficient cultivation, yet he hadn't been promoted to Captain.

He couldn't even get promoted to Sergeant and was still a common soldier.

He didn't know what stroke of luck this kid Sheng Huai'an had, as if he had activated a cheat. In just three or four days after enlisting, he had been promoted to Captain.

If he hadn't known that Sheng Huai'an was a conscript caught from the city a few days ago, he would have thought that some noble young master had come down for training.

This promotion speed was simply terrifying, almost like leveling up once a day.

"Why do I smell a hint of sourness? Brother Zhang, do you smell it?" Sheng Huai'an said with a smile.

"Alright, stop joking. Since they've promoted you to Captain, you need to lead your soldiers well. Promotion is not easy. Also, go back and get some good sleep now," the Old Soldier said.

"It's not even noon yet. Why should I go back and sleep?" Sheng Huai'an was completely bewildered.

"Just listen to the Old Soldier. Go back and get some good sleep now," Li Bu Si said meaningfully from the side.

The Old Soldier's squad was also refilled. Sheng Huai'an was transferred to the Tenth Squad as Captain, while Li Bu San was seriously injured and receiving medical treatment.

Six new faces had joined.

"Get lost, don't linger in front of me. I'm annoyed just seeing you," Wang Wu said grumpily.

"You're just envious, jealous, and hateful," Sheng Huai'an said, deliberately flashing his Captain's waist token.

"I'll beat you to death!" Wang Wu feigned anger.

Sheng Huai'an went back. The Old Soldier had called him back to rest. Although the Old Soldier hadn't explained why, Sheng Huai'an did as he was told.

Now, he had been assigned his own barracks. It wasn't large, but he didn't have to share a crowded bunk with others, and it was right next to the Tenth Squad's barracks.

Outside the city, the Xiongnu army continued to launch attacks, and the fighting on the city walls was incessant.

Today, the Xiongnu army had sent over ten thousand men to attack the city, intensifying their assault.

What was ten thousand men? It could only be described as a dense mass of people.

Ten thousand men forming a forest was no mere saying.

By dusk, the Xiongnu army still hadn't managed to take the city walls.

Sheng Huai'an woke up from his nap, which had lasted from noon until evening. He stretched and realized the Xiongnu attack had just ended.

Another day had passed. The setting sun shone on his face, and Sheng Huai'an could already feel a hint of the northern chill.

In his past life, he had yearned for the clang of swords and the thunder of hooves, as if in a dream. Now, after fighting on the battlefield for two or three days, Sheng Huai'an felt it was almost unreal.

He looked at his clean, slender hands. Who would have thought these hands had already killed one or two hundred people?

"But it's Captain Sheng Huai'an."

A messenger boy ran over, pulling Sheng Huai'an out of his daze.

"That's me. What is it? Is there military business!?" Sheng Huai'an nodded and asked.

"The Commandant has ordered you to come over," the messenger boy said and then hurried away.

Before Sheng Huai'an could ask what was happening.

Having received the military order, Sheng Huai'an headed towards the Martial Commandant's tent.

Upon entering the tent, about a dozen Captains were already there.

The Martial Commandant sat in the main seat. The two people seated to his immediate left and right were the two Battalion Commanders (Chieftains) of their battalion.

One Chieftain commanded a thousand men, and a battalion had two Chieftains.

Sheng Huai'an took a look and casually found a seat by the door. Seeing everyone in silence, Sheng Huai'an didn't know what the matter was.

Soon, all twenty Captains of the Seventh Battalion of Anning Pass's defenders had arrived.

The Martial Commandant then slowly began to speak, "Perhaps some of you have already guessed why you were summoned here."

"General Who Pacifies the North has issued a mission to raid the enemy camp, and this mission has fallen upon our battalion."

Upon hearing the order to raid the camp, many Captains' expressions changed.

Hearing this, Sheng Huai'an finally came back to his senses. No wonder some of the Captains had looked so grim when he entered earlier.

To raid an enemy camp, as the name suggests, was to attack the enemy's camp at night.

Relatively speaking, this was a mission with a nine out of ten chance of death.

One had to know that the Xiongnu camp outside the pass had at least seventy thousand men.

Their battalion had two thousand men. Charging into the enemy camp, the consequences were something one could guess without even thinking.

At the same time, he now understood why the Old Soldier had told him to go back and rest during the day.

It turned out the Old Soldier had already guessed it back then.

"Now, I have summoned you all to issue the mission orders. After you return, gather your respective squad members, exit through the south gate, circle around to the rear of the Xiongnu camp, and do your best to burn, kill, and disrupt the Xiongnu camp to slow down their daytime assault and buy time for the defense."

"Do you understand?" the Martial Commandant asked loudly, looking at all the Captains.

"Understood!" the Captains replied.

"Good, now go and assemble your troops. Of course, I will be with you," the Martial Commandant said.

Sheng Huai'an and the others received their orders, returned to their barracks, and assembled the soldiers.

"Assemble, there's a military order!" Sheng Huai'an shouted loudly at the soldiers.

Upon hearing Sheng Huai'an say there was a military order, the soldiers of the Tenth Squad quickly assembled.

Once a military order was issued, any delay would be punishable by death!

"Captain, what is the military order?" a Sergeant in the formation asked after the troops had assembled and stood at attention.

Within a squad, there were two Sergeants, each managing five 'shi' teams of fifty men.

One 'zu' formed a platoon, one 'shi' formed a squad, and one 'bai' formed a company.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't. It's not time to relay the military order yet. Just follow me," Sheng Huai'an said indifferently, glancing at the Sergeant.

Since Sheng Huai'an didn't say anything, they couldn't press further.

Sheng Huai'an was the captain of this unit, their superior officer.

He led the army, taking advantage of the night, and quickly arrived before the Martial Commandant's camp.

Others from different captaincies also gathered.

The Martial Commandant stood with two Battalion Commanders. After seeing the soldiers assembled, he simply said in a low voice, "Move out!!"

The Martial Commandant personally led the team. Under the cover of night, two thousand soldiers quietly exited through the south gate.

By this time, many of the old soldiers had a rough idea of what assembling the army late at night was for.

Only the new recruits and recently supplemented soldiers were still unaware of their objective.

Exiting the south city gate, they took a small path, crossing mountains and ridges. It took an hour and a half to get over the mountain range and out of the pass.

After another half hour, they had circled around to the rear of the Xiongnu army's camp.

"Battalion Commander Tu, take five hundred men and attack from the left flank. Battalion Commander Li, you take five hundred men and attack from the right flank. I will lead a thousand men to attack from the rear of the Xiongnu army."

"Yes!" The two Battalion Commanders responded.

"It is currently Zi Shi (11 PM to 1 AM). We will launch the attack precisely at Yin Shi (1 AM to 3 AM) to raid the enemy camp. Does everyone understand?" the Martial Commandant asked.

"Understood!" The two Battalion Commanders and a group of captains replied in low voices.

"Alright, let's go!"

Battalion Commander Li led five captaincies towards the right flank of the Xiongnu army. Sheng Huai'an's team was among them.

Arriving at the right flank of the Xiongnu camp, they could see the campfires of the Xiongnu army from a distance.

After approaching within five hundred meters, the squad stopped. Illuminated by the firelight, they could see Xiongnu soldiers patrolling the night.

The moonlight was covered by clouds, and the visibility at night was not far.

"Sir Battalion Commander, will we be launching our surprise attack from here?" Sheng Huai'an asked, coming up beside Battalion Commander Li and speaking softly.

Seeing it was Sheng Huai'an, Battalion Commander Li knew he was one of the captains favored and promoted by his superiors.

He opened his mouth and asked, "Do you have any objections?"

"At this distance, the commotion will be too great when we charge, and it will easily alert the Xiongnu army. I believe it would be better to get within a hundred meters. When we charge, it will be much easier, and it will also be less likely to alert the Xiongnu army," Sheng Huai'an said.

"You speak too lightly, young man. Is it that easy to get within a hundred meters of the enemy camp? Don't mess up the camp raid plan, or we might both lose our heads," Battalion Commander Li replied.

"Sir Battalion Commander, I have a way to get within a hundred meters of the enemy without being discovered," Sheng Huai'an said.

Seeing the enemy, he was now thinking only of how to kill more to gain Slaughter Value and improve his cultivation.

"You?"

Battalion Commander Li looked at Sheng Huai'an, not entirely believing what he said.

"I dare to sign a military order. If I fail to complete the mission, I will present my head," Sheng Huai'an said confidently.

In this darkness, if they didn't even dare to approach within a hundred meters of the enemy, what was the point of a night raid?