Where did this cavalry unit come from?!
Before the battle began, Liu Cong had specifically dispatched scouts from the rear guard to guard against ambushes. For most commanders, the best time for a surprise attack was when two armies were facing off. A well-timed diversionary force could disrupt the enemy’s formation. Liu Cong, deep in enemy territory, had no intention of letting his guard down.
However, to everyone’s surprise, the scouts hadn’t spotted any signs of an ambush, and during this fierce battle, there hadn’t been a single person or horse harassing the flanks of the army. That’s why Liu Cong had decided to withdraw and get out of the enemy’s attack range as quickly as possible.
But who would have expected that just as they were retreating, the ambush arrived? And it was a cavalry unit! Even though they had lost half their soldiers and were fleeing in defeat, their morale had hit rock bottom. Despite the Jin cavalry being traditionally weak, they were not to be underestimated!
Fire practically shot out of Liu Cong’s eyes, but he refused to stand by and be slaughtered. He shouted sternly, “Sword and shield troops, form up! Stop them!”
At this point, there was no time for organized volleys of arrows, so the best approach was to use shields to obstruct them momentarily and then rely on the numerical advantage to encircle and eliminate the enemy cavalry one by one. Even if they were defeated once more, Liu Cong still had nearly ten thousand infantry, while the enemy had only a thousand riders. What could they do against us?
The command was flawless. The sword and shield troops quickly formed up, holding their ground in the front while using long spears to guard the flanks. Whether it was a direct assault or an attempt to outflank them, breaking through this solid defense seemed impossible.
However, the enemy cavalry showed no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, they accelerated their pace, charging forward like a hurricane. In their hands, the long spears tore through the fierce winds, producing a thunderous roar.
“Spear cavalry?!” Liu Cong exclaimed.
It wasn’t until this moment that he got a clear look at the weapons in the enemy’s hands. They were long spears, approximately seven feet in length, specifically designed for cavalry commanders! But spear cavalry was incredibly expensive, taking three years to make a single one, with a success rate of less than forty percent. It was a weapon beyond the means of anyone other than the noble families. Moreover, the spears were heavy and could only be used by mighty warriors. How could they possibly equip a thousand-strong spear cavalry army?
He couldn’t afford to think any longer. With a thunderous roar, the cavalry collided with the shield formation, and the unpleasant sound of wood cracking immediately followed! The long spears held by those riders broke one after another with just one strike, clearly not matching the quality of the famed “horse spear1“.
But one strike was enough!
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The human wall was torn apart, and the tremendous force of the charging horses was all concentrated on the shields, causing anyone holding them to stagger. Some of the spears even pierced through the shields and impaled the soldiers behind, killing them instantly. No one could stop such a terrifying assault, and the carefully formed defensive formation was torn open.
The riders quickly discarded their broken spears and drew their swords to charge in. Riding at full speed with sharp blades, they left a trail of blood and screams. They resembled tigers among sheep, leaving only mutilated corpses in their wake!
“Stop them! Stop them!” Liu Cong roared loudly, urging his horse forward to intercept them.
However, the enemy was cunning and did not engage the central army. Instead, they skillfully maneuvered, effortlessly piercing through the tightly-knit formation, charging from the front to the rear of the formation, leaving behind a trail of death. The entire army formation was split in half!
This was the most effective tactic of cavalry, one that only the Xiongnu were known for – driving away the enemy and tearing through their camps. When had they ever encountered such a tactic? But the enemy cavalry was so skilled that it drove them mad, as if they were born on horseback, no less formidable than the terrifying Xianbei cavalry.
One pass was not enough. The cavalry swiftly changed direction and charged back from the left flank! Without bugles, without shouts, without any orders signaling an attack, they were like silent predators, unsheathing their claws and pouncing on their prey’s throats.
This time, Liu Cong didn’t hesitate. He led his personal guards to confront them. He had to stop this cavalry, delay their advance, and use the numerical advantage to overwhelm the enemy. These five hundred personal guards were his elite, and they would not falter even when facing Xianbei cavalry, let alone the Jin forces!
But these people were not Jin soldiers.
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As they charged to the front of the formation, Liu Cong finally saw the appearance of these cavalrymen. They were not Jin people but instead had high noses, deep-set eyes, and distinct features, resembling the Jiehu! Some of the riders even looked like experienced Xiongnu warriors!
Buddha save us! A chill ran down Liu Cong’s spine as he realized these were not Jin forces. He clenched his teeth and shouted loudly, “Attack! Scatter them…”
Before he could finish his command, a fierce wind roared! A barrage of crossbow bolts flew towards them!
Among the enemy cavalry, more than a hundred hand crossbows suddenly appeared, their arrows gleaming like serpents’ tongues, heading straight for their faces!
Liu Cong’s reaction was lightning-fast. He desperately dodged the critical shots, but one bolt still found its mark in his shoulder, sending a searing pain through his body. This only fueled his anger. Why did these people have hand crossbows now? Why didn’t they use them during their initial charge?
Unfortunately, no one answered his questions.
A silver streak came at him, and Liu Cong raised his longsword to meet it head-on. The clash of blades rang out, and even though Liu Cong was known for his strength, this time he failed to hold onto his sword firmly. His arm went weak, and the silver streak kissed his cheek, staining his vision with blood. It also revealed the terrifying and emotionless otherworldly gaze of the enemy.
In the blink of an eye, Liu Cong realized the truth. This remarkably skilled warrior must be the leader of the enemy forces!
“General!” Four or five personal guards rushed in to intercept the assailant.
Liu Cong shouted desperately, “Hold him back!”
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The personal guards had suffered losses, but they still had the strength to fight. If they could detain this enemy leader, it might slow down the enemy’s advance. There was hope to turn the tide of the battle. He was willing to become the bait, tying down the enemy leader’s movements!
However, those gray-blue eyes didn’t linger on Liu Cong. His Wusun steed let out a long neigh and charged forward. With cleaves, slashes, thrusts, and sweeps, the warrior moved as if he were born on horseback, swiftly maneuvering and killing. Every strike claimed a life, right up until he reached his target.
With a crisp sound, the flagpole was split in two, and the commanding flag wavered and fell into the dust.
“You…” Liu Cong covered his injured cheek with one hand, his heart turning ice-cold.
The warrior’s target wasn’t him; it was the commanding flag! Capturing the flag meant defeating the commander! This warrior aimed to undermine the morale of these ten thousand troops. Passing through the camp twice, he effortlessly severed the flag. Could the remaining soldiers hold out any longer?
Just then, the sound of drums filled the air, thundering incessantly like a death knell. The enemy left behind in the rear had caught up!
The last glimmer of hope was mercilessly extinguished. Chaos enveloped the camp as the scattered soldiers, who had been routed by the cavalry, turned and fled in all directions. They couldn’t stop the cavalry, let alone the terrifying spear formation. Escape was their only chance to survive! No one cared about military discipline anymore, and no one remembered the commander. With the flag down, who could save their lives?
It was like a beehive being pierced, and the soldiers scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.
“General! Escape quickly!” An aide urged beside him.
An arrow in his body, and a facial injury, but the impact of the fleeing soldiers was even greater. Liu Cong clenched his teeth so hard it sounded like grinding, whether it was out of anger, hatred, or fear. He pulled on the reins and galloped away from the battlefield. Two hundred loyal aides closely followed, protecting their commander as they fled.
Another cleave, blood splattering on his face, he didn’t even bother to wipe it away as he looked back. There were no enemies left by his side; everyone was in full retreat, running in any direction they could. Such a broken army couldn’t be rallied. He had completely defeated the invading enemy.
“Captain, over there should be the enemy’s commander. Should we pursue?” Wang Long rode up to Yiyan with excitement. Slaughter had left his face flushed, and victory had him yearning for more blood and trophies.
Watching the distant galloping cavalry, Yiyan shook his head and said, “No need.”
For this major battle, he had made countless preparations, from the initial psychological warfare to the choice of the first battlefield, to the position and timing of the ambush. Behind every seemingly effortless victory lay meticulous planning and extensive preparation. Therefore, even when encountering the enemy commander in the midst of battle, he had just passed by, heading straight for the commanding flag. Now that he had routed the enemy, he wouldn’t waste precious troops for the life of that enemy leader.
“Order all units to pursue the fleeing soldiers and don’t let them stop. Send another force to Gaodu to support Zhang He.” No one understood better than Yiyan that the battle wasn’t truly over. While he had succeeded in defeating this group of enemy forces, there were still reinforcements waiting on the sidelines. One misstep could lead to unexpected changes.
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Gaodu and Liang Mansion were the foundations of their lord’s power and couldn’t afford any mishaps.
His own family was still in Liang Mansion, and Wang Long understood the importance. His expression turned serious, and he said firmly, “I’ll send someone right away!”
With that, he spurred his horse and rode towards the rear.
After a final glance at the nearly invisible fleeing soldiers, Yiyan pulled on the reins and galloped towards the direction of the main camp.
※
Flames and smoke billowed into the sky. Outside the gates of Liang Mansion, an endless inferno raged. Several evacuated villages were now on fire, turning the sky into a crimson sea.
Liu Yao rode on his horse, coldly observing the scene before him. Clearing the land of any resources? If they set a few more villages on fire, he wondered if the troops and horses of Liang Mansion could still hold their ground!
Ordered to attack Gaodu, Liu Yao had ridden directly with his light cavalry. However, upon reaching the city walls, he found himself facing a wilderness and sealed city gates. Gaodu had been heavily fortified in advance, with heightened walls, a newly dug moat, a multitude of soldiers and laborers atop the walls, and even bed crossbows—a defensive setup ready for anything.
With only five thousand light cavalry, there was no realistic chance of taking such a fortified city. So, Liu Yao abandoned Gaodu and went straight for Liang Mansion.
Who would have expected that upon reaching Liang Mansion, they would face an equally towering fortress. The massive stone and wood-constructed gate of the fortress was built against the mountainside, and its level of defensibility exceeded even that of Gaodu. Attacking such a well-fortified city head-on was not cost-effective, so Liu Yao chose another method: burning the villages.
Regardless of whether there were people in the villages or not, as long as they were turned into white ash, it would disturb the hearts of the people. This was the residence of the Prefect of Shangdang. If fires broke out nearby, would those county officials and commanders be able to remain calm? Could the home guards defending the fortress remain calm?
His mission was to capture the city and also to disrupt the enemy. Whether one came before the other was entirely at his discretion. Once the laborers captured from Shangdang’s territory arrived tomorrow, they could begin the siege!
He wondered where Liu Cong’s troops were at the moment. He couldn’t afford to lose the advantage!
“General, the last village has also been set on fire,” a scout reported swiftly.
“Set up camp on the spot! We will begin the attack on Liang Mansion tomorrow!” Liu Yao ordered with a cold tone.
This was also a method to lure the enemy. If those home guards couldn’t endure it and came out to fight or attempted a midnight raid, he would let these people know that his soldiers were different from the previous 5,000 troops who attacked Lu City!
In the backdrop of the blazing flames, the army set up their camp and began preparing meals. This night was destined to be difficult.
“Deputy Commander, aren’t we attacking?” Several generals on top of Liang Mansion’s watchtower ground their teeth audibly. Those Xiongnu people had set fire to the villages belonging to the residents of Liang Mansion! How could they accept that their year-long effort to build those villages would be reduced to ashes so easily?
“We will attack, but we need to wait for the right opportunity!” Zhang He said in a deep voice.
He had just received a message that the frontal attackers had been dealt with by Yiyan’s camp, and reinforcements were on their way here. How to fight? That was the most critical issue at the moment.
With less than 4,000 troops in the mansion, another 500 had gone to reinforce Gaodu. It was highly risky to fight with these new recruits. How to drive away or even annihilate these Xiongnu cavalry was not an easy question to answer.
After pondering for a moment, Zhang He ordered, “Have the scouts and reinforcements make contact. We must find a way to change the battlefield!”
Annihilating the enemy on the predetermined battlefield was the primary strategy taught to all of Liang Mansion’s troops. If the situation was unfavorable, they had to find ways to create favorable conditions.
Since they had come, they had to take the risk and try their best!
a type of weapon designed for use from horseback
Where did this cavalry unit come from?!
Before the battle began, Liu Cong had specifically dispatched scouts from the rear guard to guard against ambushes. For most commanders, the best time for a surprise attack was when two armies were facing off. A well-timed diversionary force could disrupt the enemy’s formation. Liu Cong, deep in enemy territory, had no intention of letting his guard down.
However, to everyone’s surprise, the scouts hadn’t spotted any signs of an ambush, and during this fierce battle, there hadn’t been a single person or horse harassing the flanks of the army. That’s why Liu Cong had decided to withdraw and get out of the enemy’s attack range as quickly as possible.
But who would have expected that just as they were retreating, the ambush arrived? And it was a cavalry unit! Even though they had lost half their soldiers and were fleeing in defeat, their morale had hit rock bottom. Despite the Jin cavalry being traditionally weak, they were not to be underestimated!
Fire practically shot out of Liu Cong’s eyes, but he refused to stand by and be slaughtered. He shouted sternly, “Sword and shield troops, form up! Stop them!”
At this point, there was no time for organized volleys of arrows, so the best approach was to use shields to obstruct them momentarily and then rely on the numerical advantage to encircle and eliminate the enemy cavalry one by one. Even if they were defeated once more, Liu Cong still had nearly ten thousand infantry, while the enemy had only a thousand riders. What could they do against us?
The command was flawless. The sword and shield troops quickly formed up, holding their ground in the front while using long spears to guard the flanks. Whether it was a direct assault or an attempt to outflank them, breaking through this solid defense seemed impossible.
However, the enemy cavalry showed no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, they accelerated their pace, charging forward like a hurricane. In their hands, the long spears tore through the fierce winds, producing a thunderous roar.
“Spear cavalry?!” Liu Cong exclaimed.
It wasn’t until this moment that he got a clear look at the weapons in the enemy’s hands. They were long spears, approximately seven feet in length, specifically designed for cavalry commanders! But spear cavalry was incredibly expensive, taking three years to make a single one, with a success rate of less than forty percent. It was a weapon beyond the means of anyone other than the noble families. Moreover, the spears were heavy and could only be used by mighty warriors. How could they possibly equip a thousand-strong spear cavalry army?
He couldn’t afford to think any longer. With a thunderous roar, the cavalry collided with the shield formation, and the unpleasant sound of wood cracking immediately followed! The long spears held by those riders broke one after another with just one strike, clearly not matching the quality of the famed “horse spear1“.
But one strike was enough!
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AD
The human wall was torn apart, and the tremendous force of the charging horses was all concentrated on the shields, causing anyone holding them to stagger. Some of the spears even pierced through the shields and impaled the soldiers behind, killing them instantly. No one could stop such a terrifying assault, and the carefully formed defensive formation was torn open.
The riders quickly discarded their broken spears and drew their swords to charge in. Riding at full speed with sharp blades, they left a trail of blood and screams. They resembled tigers among sheep, leaving only mutilated corpses in their wake!
“Stop them! Stop them!” Liu Cong roared loudly, urging his horse forward to intercept them.
However, the enemy was cunning and did not engage the central army. Instead, they skillfully maneuvered, effortlessly piercing through the tightly-knit formation, charging from the front to the rear of the formation, leaving behind a trail of death. The entire army formation was split in half!
This was the most effective tactic of cavalry, one that only the Xiongnu were known for – driving away the enemy and tearing through their camps. When had they ever encountered such a tactic? But the enemy cavalry was so skilled that it drove them mad, as if they were born on horseback, no less formidable than the terrifying Xianbei cavalry.
One pass was not enough. The cavalry swiftly changed direction and charged back from the left flank! Without bugles, without shouts, without any orders signaling an attack, they were like silent predators, unsheathing their claws and pouncing on their prey’s throats.
This time, Liu Cong didn’t hesitate. He led his personal guards to confront them. He had to stop this cavalry, delay their advance, and use the numerical advantage to overwhelm the enemy. These five hundred personal guards were his elite, and they would not falter even when facing Xianbei cavalry, let alone the Jin forces!
But these people were not Jin soldiers.
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AD
As they charged to the front of the formation, Liu Cong finally saw the appearance of these cavalrymen. They were not Jin people but instead had high noses, deep-set eyes, and distinct features, resembling the Jiehu! Some of the riders even looked like experienced Xiongnu warriors!
Buddha save us! A chill ran down Liu Cong’s spine as he realized these were not Jin forces. He clenched his teeth and shouted loudly, “Attack! Scatter them…”
Before he could finish his command, a fierce wind roared! A barrage of crossbow bolts flew towards them!
Among the enemy cavalry, more than a hundred hand crossbows suddenly appeared, their arrows gleaming like serpents’ tongues, heading straight for their faces!
Liu Cong’s reaction was lightning-fast. He desperately dodged the critical shots, but one bolt still found its mark in his shoulder, sending a searing pain through his body. This only fueled his anger. Why did these people have hand crossbows now? Why didn’t they use them during their initial charge?
Unfortunately, no one answered his questions.
A silver streak came at him, and Liu Cong raised his longsword to meet it head-on. The clash of blades rang out, and even though Liu Cong was known for his strength, this time he failed to hold onto his sword firmly. His arm went weak, and the silver streak kissed his cheek, staining his vision with blood. It also revealed the terrifying and emotionless otherworldly gaze of the enemy.
In the blink of an eye, Liu Cong realized the truth. This remarkably skilled warrior must be the leader of the enemy forces!
“General!” Four or five personal guards rushed in to intercept the assailant.
Liu Cong shouted desperately, “Hold him back!”
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The personal guards had suffered losses, but they still had the strength to fight. If they could detain this enemy leader, it might slow down the enemy’s advance. There was hope to turn the tide of the battle. He was willing to become the bait, tying down the enemy leader’s movements!
However, those gray-blue eyes didn’t linger on Liu Cong. His Wusun steed let out a long neigh and charged forward. With cleaves, slashes, thrusts, and sweeps, the warrior moved as if he were born on horseback, swiftly maneuvering and killing. Every strike claimed a life, right up until he reached his target.
With a crisp sound, the flagpole was split in two, and the commanding flag wavered and fell into the dust.
“You…” Liu Cong covered his injured cheek with one hand, his heart turning ice-cold.
The warrior’s target wasn’t him; it was the commanding flag! Capturing the flag meant defeating the commander! This warrior aimed to undermine the morale of these ten thousand troops. Passing through the camp twice, he effortlessly severed the flag. Could the remaining soldiers hold out any longer?
Just then, the sound of drums filled the air, thundering incessantly like a death knell. The enemy left behind in the rear had caught up!
The last glimmer of hope was mercilessly extinguished. Chaos enveloped the camp as the scattered soldiers, who had been routed by the cavalry, turned and fled in all directions. They couldn’t stop the cavalry, let alone the terrifying spear formation. Escape was their only chance to survive! No one cared about military discipline anymore, and no one remembered the commander. With the flag down, who could save their lives?
It was like a beehive being pierced, and the soldiers scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.
“General! Escape quickly!” An aide urged beside him.
An arrow in his body, and a facial injury, but the impact of the fleeing soldiers was even greater. Liu Cong clenched his teeth so hard it sounded like grinding, whether it was out of anger, hatred, or fear. He pulled on the reins and galloped away from the battlefield. Two hundred loyal aides closely followed, protecting their commander as they fled.
Another cleave, blood splattering on his face, he didn’t even bother to wipe it away as he looked back. There were no enemies left by his side; everyone was in full retreat, running in any direction they could. Such a broken army couldn’t be rallied. He had completely defeated the invading enemy.
“Captain, over there should be the enemy’s commander. Should we pursue?” Wang Long rode up to Yiyan with excitement. Slaughter had left his face flushed, and victory had him yearning for more blood and trophies.
Watching the distant galloping cavalry, Yiyan shook his head and said, “No need.”
For this major battle, he had made countless preparations, from the initial psychological warfare to the choice of the first battlefield, to the position and timing of the ambush. Behind every seemingly effortless victory lay meticulous planning and extensive preparation. Therefore, even when encountering the enemy commander in the midst of battle, he had just passed by, heading straight for the commanding flag. Now that he had routed the enemy, he wouldn’t waste precious troops for the life of that enemy leader.
“Order all units to pursue the fleeing soldiers and don’t let them stop. Send another force to Gaodu to support Zhang He.” No one understood better than Yiyan that the battle wasn’t truly over. While he had succeeded in defeating this group of enemy forces, there were still reinforcements waiting on the sidelines. One misstep could lead to unexpected changes.
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AD
Gaodu and Liang Mansion were the foundations of their lord’s power and couldn’t afford any mishaps.
His own family was still in Liang Mansion, and Wang Long understood the importance. His expression turned serious, and he said firmly, “I’ll send someone right away!”
With that, he spurred his horse and rode towards the rear.
After a final glance at the nearly invisible fleeing soldiers, Yiyan pulled on the reins and galloped towards the direction of the main camp.
※
Flames and smoke billowed into the sky. Outside the gates of Liang Mansion, an endless inferno raged. Several evacuated villages were now on fire, turning the sky into a crimson sea.
Liu Yao rode on his horse, coldly observing the scene before him. Clearing the land of any resources? If they set a few more villages on fire, he wondered if the troops and horses of Liang Mansion could still hold their ground!
Ordered to attack Gaodu, Liu Yao had ridden directly with his light cavalry. However, upon reaching the city walls, he found himself facing a wilderness and sealed city gates. Gaodu had been heavily fortified in advance, with heightened walls, a newly dug moat, a multitude of soldiers and laborers atop the walls, and even bed crossbows—a defensive setup ready for anything.
With only five thousand light cavalry, there was no realistic chance of taking such a fortified city. So, Liu Yao abandoned Gaodu and went straight for Liang Mansion.
Who would have expected that upon reaching Liang Mansion, they would face an equally towering fortress. The massive stone and wood-constructed gate of the fortress was built against the mountainside, and its level of defensibility exceeded even that of Gaodu. Attacking such a well-fortified city head-on was not cost-effective, so Liu Yao chose another method: burning the villages.
Regardless of whether there were people in the villages or not, as long as they were turned into white ash, it would disturb the hearts of the people. This was the residence of the Prefect of Shangdang. If fires broke out nearby, would those county officials and commanders be able to remain calm? Could the home guards defending the fortress remain calm?
His mission was to capture the city and also to disrupt the enemy. Whether one came before the other was entirely at his discretion. Once the laborers captured from Shangdang’s territory arrived tomorrow, they could begin the siege!
He wondered where Liu Cong’s troops were at the moment. He couldn’t afford to lose the advantage!
“General, the last village has also been set on fire,” a scout reported swiftly.
“Set up camp on the spot! We will begin the attack on Liang Mansion tomorrow!” Liu Yao ordered with a cold tone.
This was also a method to lure the enemy. If those home guards couldn’t endure it and came out to fight or attempted a midnight raid, he would let these people know that his soldiers were different from the previous 5,000 troops who attacked Lu City!
In the backdrop of the blazing flames, the army set up their camp and began preparing meals. This night was destined to be difficult.
“Deputy Commander, aren’t we attacking?” Several generals on top of Liang Mansion’s watchtower ground their teeth audibly. Those Xiongnu people had set fire to the villages belonging to the residents of Liang Mansion! How could they accept that their year-long effort to build those villages would be reduced to ashes so easily?
“We will attack, but we need to wait for the right opportunity!” Zhang He said in a deep voice.
He had just received a message that the frontal attackers had been dealt with by Yiyan’s camp, and reinforcements were on their way here. How to fight? That was the most critical issue at the moment.
With less than 4,000 troops in the mansion, another 500 had gone to reinforce Gaodu. It was highly risky to fight with these new recruits. How to drive away or even annihilate these Xiongnu cavalry was not an easy question to answer.
After pondering for a moment, Zhang He ordered, “Have the scouts and reinforcements make contact. We must find a way to change the battlefield!”
Annihilating the enemy on the predetermined battlefield was the primary strategy taught to all of Liang Mansion’s troops. If the situation was unfavorable, they had to find ways to create favorable conditions.
Since they had come, they had to take the risk and try their best!
a type of weapon designed for use from horseback
