Su Fan led a contingent of infantry from the Bandit Suppression Camp and the Vanguard Camp to attack Fierce Fang Stronghold, while the rest of the Vanguard Camp, under Xu Tian's command, was tasked with blocking reinforcements from Spirit Snake Stronghold and Silver Moon Stronghold.
Su Fan felt it was fine.
Even if Xu Tian was Fang Shijie's man, he wouldn't dare to cause trouble on the battlefield, or he would be beheaded.
Therefore, Su Fan was not afraid of Xu Tian ambushing him from behind.
Moreover, they planned a night raid to catch them off guard.
At this moment, these three strongholds must have just received news of their arrival and were likely gathered to discuss countermeasures. This was the best time to attack the mountain.
It was a pity about the cavalry; they couldn't be used on the mountain and had to dismount to serve as heavy infantry.
"Brothers! Quietly ascend the mountain, no gunfire, and try not to let them discover our whereabouts!"
Su Fan instructed his men before climbing the mountain.
"Yes!"
A thunderous response left Su Fan speechless.
"Remember, our objective is harassment. When they react, we retreat. Don't tell the Vanguard Camp, understand?"
Su Fan confirmed with his soldiers again.
"Understood!"
Su Fan nodded. These bandits, under the leadership of experienced veterans, were now quite disciplined.
"Good, let's go up the mountain!"
Su Fan immediately ordered everyone to advance towards the mountain.
Su Fan did not go up this time. This mission was purely for harassment, and he wouldn't encounter the enemy leader. Without elite monsters, it wasn't very useful to Su Fan.
At Fierce Fang Stronghold, their chief had already gone to Spirit Snake Stronghold to discuss countermeasures.
By the time the men of Fierce Fang Stronghold discovered someone attacking the mountain, dozens of their own brothers were already dead.
"Brothers! They've attacked the mountain! Come out and meet the enemy!"
Bandits in Fierce Fang Stronghold shouted at the top of their lungs.
With the reminder from their own men, the people of Fierce Fang Stronghold finally reacted, gathered, and began to counterattack.
The soldiers of the Bandit Suppression Camp, following Su Fan's orders, immediately commanded their men to retreat upon seeing this situation.
But this put the Vanguard Camp in a difficult position. With less than two hundred infantry, and without support from the Bandit Suppression Camp, they were quickly routed by the men of Fierce Fang Stronghold.
"Commander, the Bandit Suppression Camp has retreated. We should go too!"
"What!"
The centurion of the Vanguard Camp was shocked by these words.
"Retreat!"
Without any hesitation, he immediately announced the retreat.
The camp commander had told them to set up the Bandit Suppression Camp, but these guys ran faster than them!
The Vanguard Camp also retreated immediately, but by the time they descended, they had already suffered a quarter of their casualties.
"Damn it!"
The centurion cursed under his breath.
He immediately found Li Changmin and confronted him.
"Why did you desert the battlefield!"
The centurion asked Li Changmin with a furious expression.
"This mission was primarily for harassment. Did you think we could take them down with just one night raid? Besides, you were here to assist us. We notified you when we retreated. Who's to blame if you didn't leave?"
Li Changmin said calmly.
"You're talking nonsense! When did you notify us!"
The centurion was certain that the Bandit Suppression Camp had not notified them.
"Don't speak carelessly. We are all brothers. It's not good to be on bad terms,"
Su Fan walked over at this moment, his expression cold.
The centurion knew that Su Fan was the commander, and the bandit suppression operation was under Su Fan's command. Since Su Fan had spoken, he dared not say anything more.
Soon after, Xu Tian also returned. They had suffered no losses, just as Su Fan had planned.
After encountering the enemy, Xu Tian offered only a brief resistance and then took the opportunity to retreat, also intending to trap Su Fan. Little did he know that the Bandit Suppression Camp had run even faster than them.
"Oh, Commander Xu, you're back quite quickly."
Su Fan said meaningfully.
Xu Tian felt a little awkward.
How could he not understand the implication in Su Fan's words?
They were supposed to block reinforcements, yet they returned almost at the same time as the main force. What kind of blocking was that?
"Set up defenses, and everyone go back and rest."
Su Fan spoke. This matter was over, and no one needed to mention it again.
Neither side had good intentions, which was obvious to anyone.
But in the end, it was the Vanguard Camp that suffered, losing dozens of men.
Fierce Fang Stronghold also lost a considerable number of men. They lost dozens under the surprise attack of the Bandit Suppression Camp, and dozens more in the fight with the Vanguard Camp. Their casualties were approaching a hundred.
The chief of Fierce Fang Stronghold was nicknamed "Big Front Teeth" because of his particularly distinctive large front teeth.
Big Front Teeth had just returned from Spirit Snake Stronghold. Upon hearing that the stronghold had been attacked, he was filled with rage and vowed to fight back and reclaim their honor.
"The Bandit Suppression Camp dared to launch a surprise attack! Brothers, follow me and fight back! Let them know the might of our Fierce Fang Stronghold!"
Big Front Teeth roared angrily at his subordinates.
"Roar! Fight back! Fight back!"
The men of Fierce Fang Stronghold immediately shouted in unison, their morale reaching its peak.
"My lord, absolutely not!"
Mr. Zhou, the strategist of Fierce Fang Stronghold, quickly stopped Big Front Teeth and appeased the men below.
"The Bandit Suppression Camp did not come alone this time; they have the assistance of a military camp of over a thousand men. We cannot act rashly. Relying on the terrain of Fierce Fang Stronghold, we can still hold them off. Once we descend the mountain, we will lose our advantage. My lord, please reconsider!"
Mr. Zhou earnestly advised Big Front Teeth.
Big Front Teeth wasn't actually planning to attack the Bandit Suppression Camp; that would be suicide. He was merely using this method to win over his men, letting them know that he cared about their lives.
"Then what should we do! I can't just watch my brothers die in vain, can I?"
Big Front Teeth said, his imposing manner slightly diminished.
"My lord, you can discuss with the chiefs of Silver Moon Stronghold and Spirit Snake Stronghold to jointly resist the attack of the Bandit Suppression Camp, and send someone to seek support from King Kaoshan. Once King Kaoshan arrives, this Bandit Suppression Camp will be nothing to fear."
Mr. Zhou offered Big Front Teeth a plan.
"Will King Kaoshan come to our aid?"
Big Front Teeth asked uncertainly.
Although they were backed by King Kaoshan, he might not come to their aid for such a matter. If King Kaoshan didn't come, wouldn't they still have to rely on themselves?
"My lord, rest assured. I heard that King Kaoshan has a feud with the commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp. He will definitely come, and he will come personally!"
Mr. Zhou said with certainty.
A few days ago, he had heard that a certain inn had been ransacked and San Niang had died, and the culprit was the commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp.
One must know that San Niang was one of King Kaoshan's people, and they had an ambiguous relationship. San Niang's death must have enraged King Kaoshan. If he learned of the whereabouts of the commander of the Bandit Suppression Camp, he would surely come.
"Then so be it. You arrange for someone to send a message to King Kaoshan, and I will go find the chiefs of Spirit Snake Stronghold and Silver Moon Stronghold to discuss jointly resisting the Bandit Suppression Camp."
Big Front Teeth saw the opportunity and followed his strategist's advice.