Chapter 108: Western Xia's Three Ace Troops

"Although the Revolutionary Army's power is formidable, they have just unified all the steppe tribes, and each tribe must now station troops; their forces are scattered, and they have not yet transformed the various tribes into their own combat strength. At this moment, if the Lord of the State dispatches a large army and cooperates with our internal agents inside and outside, we will inevitably inflict heavy damage on the Revolutionary Army."

Inside the military tent, the atmosphere was solemn and grave. A group of Western Xia generals were fully focused, as if even their breathing was deliberately slowed, fearing to miss a single word from Temujin's mouth.

Just a few days ago, their spies sent north returned with news, dusty from the journey. What they saw and heard was as shocking as Temujin had previously predicted.

The slaves launched fierce denunciations and trials against the slave owners.

They angrily accused the slave owners of their crimes, their voices resounding through the clouds and shaking the entire earth. After the trials ended, the slaves ruthlessly executed those evil slave owners, and then they divided up the cattle, sheep, and property that the slave owners had once possessed.

These were not the most terrifying part; the most terrifying were the slogans they shouted and the regime they established: "The world belongs to everyone; the republic belongs to the masses; the world is not the world of one family, nor the world of one clan, but the world of everyone."

When the Great Dao is practiced, the world is for the public.

The masses are the creators of history; the proletariat has nothing to lose but their chains in this struggle, and they will gain the whole world.

"Proletarians of all countries, unite!" Such words of great treason made their hearts tremble with fear.

That Huaxia Democratic Republic openly claimed to be a government serving the people, that its army was composed of sons and daughters selected by the masses, that they would prove the masses could live well without these exploiters, but these exploiters could not prove the same.

This regime, bordering their own, would subconsciously influence the lowly people to rebel even if it did nothing; moreover, they would actively attack. Such a regime must be destroyed; all slaves who killed their masters and seized their masters' property must have their entire families exterminated.

With such feelings, the crowd continued to listen to Temujin's narration.

"First, we will lead a large army to attack my Qiyan tribe. This tribe has the smallest population and the fewest distributed troops. Judging by the scale of the army Guo Jing led to pursue us that day, he left about five thousand men in my Qiyan tribe. Moreover, compared to other tribes, I believe I treated them better than other tribal chiefs, so it will not provoke resistance or dissatisfaction from the herdsmen."

As for the dream that the herdsmen would flock to him the moment he returned to the Qiyan tribe, there was no need to indulge in such a fantasy.

After all, what he could offer, the Huaxia Republic could offer and offer much more, but what the Huaxia Republic could offer, he might not be able to offer.

"The Kereit tribe currently has three hundred thousand herdsmen; their Revolutionary Army must leave at least ten thousand to garrison. The Naiman tribe is too far from us. The Taichiut and Ongud regions are the Revolutionary Army's base areas; in a critical situation, they can mobilize all able-bodied men, women, and even children from the base areas to fight a defensive war."

These places are only easier to chew than the Qiyan tribe stationed there, but their actions must be swift; they must launch troops before the Revolutionary Army establishes its base areas, otherwise, who will chew whom is uncertain.

Thinking of this, a determined light flickered in Temujin's eyes. He turned to the highly esteemed and famous general in the tent and asked in a deep voice.

"General Wei Ming Linggong, please tell me, how long does it take to dispatch a force of tens of thousands of troops from now on?"

Hearing this question, Wei Ming Linggong pondered for a long time before answering: "Although our Western Xia practices a system of universal conscription, you must understand that mobilizing tens of thousands of troops is no small matter, let alone launching an expedition across the great desert. The grain and logistical supplies required are not a minor issue. It would take a few months at the shortest, or up to a year."

Hearing this answer, Temujin's head swelled. A year? In a year, the Huaxia Democratic Republic would have integrated all forces on the grasslands, with a total strength of at least one hundred thousand. At that time, even if the Great Jin Kingdom personally intervened, victory would be uncertain; as for Western Xia, was it not just delivering itself as a gift?

"No, this time is too long; we do not have so much time," Temujin said without room for argument.

"Speaking of this, I am still confused. Why do you insist on requiring us to mobilize tens of thousands of troops for a fierce attack? According to your description, what we face is merely a tribe with only five thousand garrison troops."

"To annihilate such a tribe, we could simply dispatch the elite Tieyaozi troops to handle it easily. Even if the Tieyaozi cannot achieve victory quickly, we can fully mobilize the Bubazi and Poxi armies to participate in the battle. Such forces are already powerful enough to crush any resistance."

Wei Ming Linggong asked, puzzled and confused.

"It seems the General has great confidence in your Western Xia's three ace troops," Temujin could not help but sneer coldly.

"That is natural." When speaking of Western Xia's three ace troops, Wei Ming Linggong seemed driven by an invisible force, naturally straightening his back and chest, his face filled with an indescribable sense of pride.

"The Tieyaozi were originally the elite troops of Emperor Yi Zong's personal guard. They could travel a hundred li and arrive in a thousand li, able to come and go suddenly like lightning striking and clouds flying. Their armor, even at fifty paces, could not be penetrated by powerful crossbows. In the Battle of Sanchuan Kou, the Battle of Hao Shui Chuan, the Battle of Ding Chuan Zhai, and the Battle of Yongle City, they all decisively defeated the Song armies, killing many."

"The Bubazi can climb up and down slopes, enter and exit streams and ravines, best at leaping high and running far, with light feet and excellent running ability."

"And although the Poxi Army has only two hundred men, the small catapults mounted on the backs of camels—the Whirlwind Cannons—can hurl stones as large as fists. Lord Temujin, imagine: on the battlefield between two armies, tall and sturdy Bactrian camels stand with torsion catapults on their backs, continuously shooting out fist-sized stones from their saddlebags. What a shocking scene that would be."

After Wei Ming Linggong finished speaking, he glanced proudly at Temujin, expecting to see the other's shocked and disoriented expression. However, to his great disappointment, Temujin remained calm, showing not a trace of shock.

"Are you finished, General? If you are finished, I will show you something. If, after witnessing the power of this weapon, you still have such confidence in your three elite troops, then I will agree to your plan." Having spoken, Temujin took out the Wu Liu Ban he had obtained from the Revolutionary Army.

"Put the Tieyaozi's armor on a straw man and place it four hundred paces away from me," Temujin ordered Wei Ming Linggong.

"Four hundred paces? Don't tell me this thing can pierce cold-forged armor at a distance of four hundred paces," Wei Ming Linggong asked in disbelief.

Temujin did not answer. After the dummy was placed, he fired a shot at it. As the gunshot rang out, everyone eagerly went to look at the dummy.

When they witnessed the huge tear ruthlessly ripped open on the armor by the bullet, all calmness in their hearts was instantly shattered, replaced by an indescribable shock. The tear resembled a ferocious beast opening its bloody maw, fierce and terrifying, making people shudder with fear. Gazing at this tear, they seemed to feel the immense power of the bullet piercing through the armor.

Temujin's single shot directly shattered all the pride in their hearts.