Chapter 43: Narrow Road Encounter

  Those archers drew their bows and set arrows, preparing to shoot the second round. The salt peddlers' team of young men finally couldn't hold on anymore, they were all panicked and wanted to disperse. It was just that during daily training, Li Meng and other instructors had beaten them with bamboo sticks, so everyone hesitated, and a few people who lacked determination had already taken small steps towards the outside.

  As soon as the second round of arrows shot out, our side would collapse, and those cheap salt dings would rush back, fearing that this situation could not be salvaged.

  Li Meng looked at the bow and arrow of his opponent, also with some fear, this was his first time facing long-range weapons in this era, accompanied by the screams of young people around him, fear was gradually strengthening.

  "I cannot die here, I cannot go back to Wei Village and live that closed and impoverished life again..."

  Li Meng let out a loud roar, grasping his long spear and charging towards the archers. Some people in the team also followed with a loud shout, rushing towards the archers.

  Three bowmen in front, Li Meng calculated that now two people are rushing over, the third person is still a problem. Just as he heard the third person let out a loud roar and rushed out from behind. Li Meng's footsteps didn't stop, but he knew the second person was Zhao Neng, who was the third person?

  Those three salted fish holding bows and arrows were triumphant, they also saw that as long as they shot out the second round of arrows, the opponent would probably collapse, the expensive bows and arrows they bought were indeed useful.

  Unexpectedly, the other side had three people holding long spears and rushed over, within a distance of less than forty steps, they would be able to rush over quickly. Drawing a bow and shooting an arrow is a skill that requires many years of practice, these salt workers were originally inexperienced, seeing the ferocious enemy roaring and rushing over, they also became flustered.

  The arrow had been nocked for half a day without being drawn on the bowstring, but it was shot out before Li Meng and his men rushed over. In such a tense state, don't mention accuracy and strength.

  The arrow flying over Li Meng's head had no effect on him, and his footsteps accelerated. Seeing Xian Ding holding a bow and arrow in front of him preparing to shoot the third arrow, he suddenly threw away the bow and arrow and turned around to run. At this time, running was already too late, and he was caught up by Li Meng from behind, with one spear stabbing into his back.

  The other two archers also fell to the ground and were stabbed through the heart by their pursuers.

  The salt workers who were about to turn back suddenly stopped in their tracks. Li Meng drew out his long spear and, without stopping his pace, shouted loudly:

  "What's wrong with you all, standing there like fools? Come on and charge with me!"

  The young men who were still in a flurry behind him were suddenly awakened by Li Meng's loud shout, and they all charged forward with their long guns.

  The returned salt Ding was still hesitating to escape or fight, Li Meng had already rushed forward, and could only raise the big knife in his hand to meet him. However, this knife did not rise, Li Meng's double arm shook, and the long gun pierced straight into his throat. With a press and a lift of his arm, this man was picked up by Li Meng and thrown out again.

  The blood splashing out of the wound drew a line in mid-air, and the salt spears behind him were already charging up with loud shouts. The salt dings completely collapsed, dropping their weapons and fleeing desperately in all directions.

  Li Meng Chao ran a few steps forward, and then another one fell down. The salt stick men behind him rushed past, holding their weapons to chase and kill the salt Ding men. Chasing and killing fleeing enemies was the easiest thing to do, and deaths in battle often occurred during this process. These young people who were just frightened earlier now burst forth with courage, because what they had to do was very simple - just stab the long spear behind them.

  Li Meng planted the long spear in his hand on the ground, bent down and panted heavily. Although he had not made many moves just now, the situation was indeed thrilling and tense. At this moment, seeing that the overall situation was settled, he felt a sense of relief in his heart, and his whole body felt sore and aching all over.

  What was originally a battle with great confidence, did not expect to become such a mess, encountering bows and arrows is actually so unbearable, in this era, let alone bows and arrows, firearms and artillery have begun to be equipped on a large scale and applied, if encountered these long-range weapons, wouldn't it be a rout at the slightest touch?

  There were two more people panting heavily, Li Meng turned his head to look and saw that Zhao Neng's appearance was even more wretched, covered in cold sweat. Seeing Li Meng's gaze turn towards him, he couldn't help but open his mouth to complain:

  "As I watched that guy's arrow flying towards me, I was frozen stiff at the time. Fortunately, that turtle grandson didn't hit the mark."

  Another person, however, directly threw the long gun in his hand to one side and went to pick up those three bows and arrows. Seeing this, Li Meng couldn't help but laugh. It was that young and vigorous Ma Gong. Li Meng stood up straight and walked to Zhao Neng's side, laughing as he patted him on the shoulder and pointed at Ma Gong, saying:

  "Lao Zhao, it's either guys like you or those who have really been through the military."

  Zhao wiped away his sweat and looked at the young people still chasing and killing each other in front of him, cursing angrily:

  "Normally they seem like they know what they're doing, but when it comes down to it, they all become useless."

  "No wonder they are like this, look at us, we're also scared like this."

  Li Meng smiled and walked back, stepped forward and gave a kick on the horse's buttocks, scolding with a bad temper:

  "What are you still rummaging around for? You're going to be the deputy team leader, show some presence!"

  Ma Geng let out a loud "Ah yo" and jumped back. He didn't seem intimidated at all, but instead looked confused and asked:

  "What vice captain, what!? Brother Li! You say I'm the vice captain."

  Li Meng's salt transport team and salt cooking team leaders are all team leaders and deputy team leaders, originally to be called Lian and Pai, but it is estimated that others also do not understand, so they use the organizational structure of the escort company, until now the team leader is still Li Meng, and the deputy team leaders are Zhao Neng, Wang Hai, Chen Liu Zi, and the people inside Wei Suo are all very envious.

  Ma Gong had an incredible expression on his face, the bow and arrow in his hand all fell to the ground, he just knew how to smile foolishly, Li Meng didn't bother with him either. This kid usually looked dull and stupid, but at this critical moment, he dared to rush out with his gear, that's great.

  Just as he was about to speak, he heard Zhao Neng shouting in pain beside him. He quickly looked over and found that Zhao Neng's left arm had been cut open, along with his clothes, and was bleeding profusely. Zhao Neng was tearing a piece of cloth to bandage it, and when he saw Li Meng coming, he smiled bitterly and said:

  "Just got shot by a few arrows from the grandsons in front and only now feel the pain."

  It was fortunate that at such a close distance, seeing several people with ferocious expressions charging over with long spears, the untrained Salt Ding's heart was in a flurry, and his arrow shots were weak and off-target. If he had been slightly calmer, it wouldn't have ended up like this.

  Li Meng shouted loudly towards the front:

  "Don't chase, fall back and form ranks."