Chapter 556: First Battle

CaoCao is the foremost military strategist of the age, Mengde's new book will be recorded in history, Bai Lang is the era's greatest warrior, but his governance and use of troops can be said to be among the worst at the end of the Han; yet leading men into a charge requires little command skill, one only needs to rush first so everyone sees your bravery. After Bai Lang shouted, he rode ahead, and this time he still wielded the Yunshui spear, a long spear that has been reforged and reheated.

In the past, because it had killed too many, the spear's blade was heavily worn, so iron had to be added and it was reforged; yet even after high‑temperature forging, the emerald glow on the blade would not disappear. It is the color of blood‑light that has fused after countless killings, a hue that cannot be removed even by wiping. Bai Lang's green pheasant horse still bears a face veil, a chicken‑neck, and a chest‑covering, but the horse's body armor is not equipped.

After all, with Bai Lang's courage, he would never face the enemy with his back. He also does not wear heavy fish‑scale armor; instead he wears leather‑bound armor, saving horse stamina on long raids, so such heavy protection is unnecessary. In fact, Bai Lang knows his limits: organizing thousands with full logistical support for a multi‑thousand‑li expedition is beyond him. The reason his earlier fights against the Hu people were so easy is that their small tribes were scattered like stars, making a raid straightforward.

Moreover, the Hu also gather and disperse into armies, and their command skill is about equal to his; everyone rides light cavalry, so Bai Lang's bravery is unmatched. Each of his great victories over the Hu involved only a thousand or even a few hundred cavalry charging… In fact, the Ming White Minor Guard did the same in the past: when dealing with the Jianzhou folk, he led the charge, tore through their formation, killed their warriors, and caused the enemy line to collapse.

Since CaoCao entered Bingzhou, he has sent out scouting cavalry from afar and never seeks glory rashly; his daily march does not exceed forty li before camping. The counties of Bingzhou are undefended, so CaoCao was able to consume almost a third of Bingzhou in a short time, but he leaves the Hu lands and Liaodong, which are under Governor Bai Lang's control, alone. After all, the Hu there have already been killed off and driven away by Bai Lang, so there is no cause for concern.

At this moment CaoCao had not yet set up a camp, but the roaming cavalry had already reported Bai Lang's arrival with his troops to CaoCao, so the Cao army immediately arranged its formations. Generals Xu Chu and Dian Wei did not go into battle; instead Cao Xiu, Cao Hong, the Xiahou brothers, LiDian, Yu Jin and others set the lines. Xu Chu and Dian Wei were prepared to see where Bai Lang would strike, so they let these two hold Bai Lang. When Bai Lang's cavalry appeared before CaoCao's main force, Bai Lang was too lazy to issue a challenge and rode his warhorse straight to attack.

Bai Lang let out a fierce shout, his form like a massive white tiger, charging straight at CaoCao's central army. CaoCao, looking left and right, said, "Bai Lang's bravery surpasses even Lu Bu's!" He then shouted, "Zhongkang! Evil comes!" Two generals rushed out at once, each on foot or on a horse, charging directly at Bai Lang. Although Dian Wei was on foot, his sprint was no slower than a horse, and the two generals met Bai Lang together.

As soon as the two arrived, they unleashed their fighting spirit; Dian Wei brandished two massive iron halberds, each weighing eighty jin, while Xu Chu swung his great sword to clash directly, and another officer in CaoCao's line wielded an axe on horseback—this man was Xu Huang, also known as Xu Gongming. Bai Lang's long spear thrust twice in quick succession, as if without order, and both strikes collided with Dian Wei's and Xu Chu's attacks, even causing the green pheasant horse's charge to pause.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei were also taken aback; Bai Lang's strength still surpassed theirs, and the blow naturally left both men's hands a bit numb. At that moment Xu Huang surged forward, his axe coming down on the head, but Bai Lang's spear deflected it with a bounce. The four fought like a revolving lantern, while Bai Lang's cavalry was pinned and could not advance, forced to circle the outside and watch. Intervening was virtually impossible; the storm of fighting spirit generated by Bai Lang and the three Cao generals was impenetrable to ordinary soldiers.

Anyone who steps in meets death instantly.

The four fought fiercely for dozens of exchanges; Bai Lang showed not a hint of defeat, instead suppressing the three Cao camp's fierce generals before him. Bai Lang wielded the long spear with one hand; the spear's techniques, if not for charging, are a flower‑pattern, and a single hand can maneuver it freely. His other hand sometimes grabs a weapon, sometimes strikes with fist, palm, and claw in unison, and with his martial skill these attacks are no less effective than blades.

Sure enough, Dian Wei lost one of his iron halberds, Xu Chu's great sword was knocked aside, and his arm was slashed by the spear; Xu Huang was even knocked back by a punch, and his Heart‑protecting Mirror shattered. CaoCao, seeing this, sounded the bronze signal to withdraw; the three generated a feint of fighting spirit and slipped away. Bai Lang did not pursue; even with his bravery, fighting three opponents at once left him somewhat weary. Moreover, the three still possessed life‑risking ultimate techniques, and if they combined, Bai Lang might not emerge unscathed.

The green pheasant horse let out a heavy snort; the warhorse, exhausted from the recent combat, was weary of advancing and retreating. Bai Lang turned the horse, preparing to withdraw thirty li to set up camp. "Return without merit!" he had no intention of speaking with CaoCao, and led his cavalry to the riverbank to establish a camp. The camp was placed along the river, so the horses could drink and feed from it. He sat in the main camp, removed his leather armor, placed the long spear on the weapon rack, and someone took care of cleaning everything.

Bai Lang simply walked into the river to wash himself; after a thousand‑li raid and a day of fierce fighting, his body was drenched in foul sweat, so he washed it off quickly. After bathing, he put on his robes, ate dinner, and went to sleep; he never bothered with camp inspections, and his command style resembled that of a Flying General.

That night, CaoCao raided the camp…

Bai Lang's cavalry camp was spread out far more than a typical army, and they also kept mastiffs like the Hu did. Among his cavalry were surrendered Xianbei, Xiongnu, and Wuheng riders, each bringing mastiffs they had domesticated within their own tribes. These were indeed mastiffs; Bai Lang had seen dogs whose heads were already widening and squaring—a more primitive mastiff breed. The dogs were ferocious and only half‑tamed.

CaoCao's night raid was foiled by the mastiffs, and the sprawling camp, while dispersing forces, also prevented the night raiders from overwhelming Bai Lang's entire camp in one go. One dog barked and the pack responded; the bark woke Bai Lang, who, after donning his robes, heard the outside messenger: "Cao army night raid!" Bai Lang hummed, "It's Cao who rides the wind! No matter, I will crush him. By the way, who led the night raid?"

It turned out the night raid was led by Xu Chu and Xu Huang; Bai Lang did not mount his horse, saying, "Watch that warhorse, go and come!" He then grabbed his long spear and rushed straight toward CaoCao's forces.