Chapter 105: Ambush on Thorn Mountain

While the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry was feasting and drinking, Mo Yu contacted one of the Four Young Masters of the capital, Guan Ning, through the game and sold the information about the Maxim heavy machine guns for 100 silver dollars. Within the Qi-Lu region, Mo Yu had already established a robust intelligence network, and his reputation was impeccable. Upon receiving the news, Guan Ning immediately called Xiao Mile, instructing him to lead the team to undertake a mission to attack bandits and seize two Maxim heavy machine guns.

After finishing his meal, Xiao Mile stood up and shouted loudly, “Brothers, we have a major mission; we set out immediately.”

More than thirty players surged out, each leading their warhorses, mounting swiftly and galloping toward the western gate of Penglai. The cavalry thundered across the lands, attracting many spectators along the way and knocking down numerous players. Yet, seeing the imposing might of the cavalry, no one dared voice their anger.

Chen Hao and Bai Huhu, both intermediate riders, after setting a trap for the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry at the Ruyi Tower, rode swiftly to the Thorny Mountains. Previously, when ambushing the Three-Life Stone squad, Chen Hao abandoned setting an ambush on the Thorny Mountains because the mission required the complete annihilation of NPCs. This time, their goal was to get revenge on the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry. Even if some players escaped, it didn’t matter—they had no defensive expectations, making the mountains an ideal place for an ambush.

The cavalry squad sent to Penglai County numbered over thirty, making it difficult to defeat them with fewer numbers. That’s why Chen Hao sold fake bullets and had Bai Huhu secretly add croton seeds to the horse feed.

Upon arriving at the Thorny Mountains, Lin Xiaofeng and four others were digging pits along the official road, burying earthen pots every two meters. The Guan Ning Iron Cavalry was no easy opponent; having decided to confront them, Chen Hao showed no mercy. He contacted Liu Yishou, a local bomb maker, and paid 200 silver dollars for 40 homemade landmines, intending to plant them all along the official road.

Since the road occasionally saw passing players, the depth at which the mines were buried had to be precise. According to Liu Yishou’s calculations, burying them half a meter deep allowed foot traffic to pass safely, but cavalry charging at full speed would trigger the explosions.

To avoid leaking their plan, Liu Zixuan and others hid in the thorn bushes beside the road, only digging and planting mines when no players were nearby. The Thorny Mountains were far from the county town and lacked high-level dungeons, so few players passed through. This was why Chen Hao chose this ambush point.

After planting all forty mines, the seven of them took up positions halfway up the mountain, just 30 meters from the road, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry.

When Xiao Mile led the cavalry into the Thorny Mountains, their horses slowed considerably. Experienced NPC riders would have noticed something was wrong, but players new to the game had never truly trained horses. Xiao Mile merely thought the horses were tired from hurrying and suspected nothing foul.

“Boom!” The buried landmines exploded. The black horse Xiao Mile rode was thrown into the air by the blast wave, and he fell into the nearby thorn bushes. The players’ horses, untrained as warhorses, panicked at the explosion, wildly running forward and stepping on more mines.

“Bang!” Chen Hao was the first to pull the trigger. At 30 meters, his aim was decent; the first shot felled a player. Liu Zixuan and the others, long brewing resentment, opened fire as well, bringing down two more players. Early in the game, players had limited funds and, upon injury, preferred to commit suicide rather than seek medical care. Thus, getting shot meant certain doom.

The Guan Ning Iron Cavalry had never been ambushed before in Qi-Lu. Xiao Mile’s cavalry was too complacent, and the sudden attack threw them into chaos. After five of his men were shot, Xiao Mile finally realized the situation, shouting for the players to dismount and lie prone on the road, firing blindly at the hillsides.

The landmines’ power was limited; their main effect was to cause confusion. Few players actually died from the explosions. Xiao Mile squinted, observing from behind the dead black horse, a cold smile spreading across his face. The enemy’s firepower was sparse; their numbers definitely did not exceed ten. To dare ambush a cavalry squad of over thirty was sheer recklessness.

After firing a full magazine, the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry roughly pinpointed the ambushers’ location. Reloading, they fired again—but nearly half the players were stunned: their eight-tenths-new guns jammed, bullets stuck in the chambers.

Usually, they would simply find an NPC to repair the guns, but jamming at such a critical moment was disastrous. Soon, they found that not only themselves but seventeen of the thirty players suffered jams, leaving hope resting only on the remaining thirteen.

To their despair, the second volley from these thirteen produced only two gunshots; eleven more guns jammed. Xiao Mile roared, “What the hell are you doing? Why are only two firing? Everyone else, shoot! The enemy is about thirty meters up the hill on the side!”

Hearing Xiao Mile’s furious shouts, the two players whose guns still worked reflexively pulled their triggers—only to find their guns silent. One player looked up innocently and said, “Boss, all our guns are jammed.”

“Jammed?” Xiao Mile bellowed, “More than thirty guns—all nearly new—and jamming at the same time? Damn it, what’s going on?”

As the enemy dismounted and fired from prone positions, Chen Hao and his group crouched behind a bluestone, avoiding the chaotic gunfire. When the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry collectively jammed, Chen Hao stood up, drew his Colt revolver, and charged down the mountain path.

Though thirty meters allowed some chance of hitting targets, the enemy was like a toothless tiger; closing in saved ammo. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaofeng and three others also charged down, shooting from about ten meters, often felling opponents with a single shot.

Xiao Mile grabbed a nearby chestnut horse, vaulted on its back, and shouted, “Retreat!”

The Guan Ning Iron Cavalry scrambled to mount their horses. Having lost twelve men, they still had enough mounts. During the chaotic escape, four more players were shot, but the majority managed to break out of the ambush.

Chen Hao and Bai Huhu had their horses tethered in a concealed spot beside the road. After Xiao Mile and his men fled, they mounted and gave chase. The fleeing group had barely gone a mile when their horses suddenly faltered, panting heavily. No matter how much Xiao Mile whipped his mount, it wouldn’t budge. Worse, the sound of hooves approached from behind.

Chen Hao and Bai Huhu fired their pistols relentlessly, killing six more players. Cornered, Xiao Mile shouted, “Fix bayonets! Fight these two to the death!”

The remaining thirteen players of the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, bayonets fixed to their rifles, charged at Chen Hao and Bai Huhu. It was a desperate struggle. Chen Hao didn’t even give them the chance to engage in close combat; as he spurred his horse to widen the gap, he kept loading bullets and pulling the trigger again and again...