Chapter 126

At this moment, at the center of the Luozhou battlefield, a unit clad in green armor was thrusting left and right within the Great Qian army.

The green battle armor, like vigorous green dragons, galloped across the battlefield.

The battle flags snapped, the azure dragon banners fluttered; from afar, they seemed like a host of heavenly soldiers descending, shaking the soul of every onlooker.

It was, in fact, the Azure Dragon Regiment bearing Meng Zhang's mark, which Meng Zhang had just begun to create for Su Ye in Yunzhou as part of the Celestial Spirit Army.

After Su Ye arrived in Cangzhou and summoned Li Jing.

After the Azure Dragon Regiment followed Li Jing to exterminate the foreign army led by Jishunfu that had penetrated deep into Cangzhou.

Su Ye then disbanded the Celestial Spirit Army.

Thereafter, the Xuanwu Guard, this heavy infantry unit, followed Wu Xuan and continued to serve as Su Ye's personal guard.

Likewise, the Vermilion Bird Battalion and the White Tiger Cavalry continued to follow Zhu Que and Bai Hu respectively, fighting alongside the army.

They remained active within Su Ye's main combat echelon.

Meanwhile, the main force of the Celestial Spirit Army, the Azure Dragon Regiment, was secretly arranged by Su Ye to be sent in batches to Meng Zhang's command.

While Zhang Jiao and the others of the Yellow Turban Army watched, the Azure Dragon Regiment, clad in archaic green armor and clearly extraordinary, kept arriving.

In their hearts, they all understood tacitly; everyone knew what a sorry state the Taiping Sect was now in.

It had long been a sieve.

The crowd-funded rebellion was thus.

Therefore, no one felt surprised that Meng Zhang's command suddenly gained an Azure Dragon Regiment.

At this moment, the soldiers of the Azure Dragon Regiment were arrayed in neat battle formations, their eyes resolute, their expressions stern, like a group of swords about to be drawn.

Although the opposing Great Qian army was numerous, before the Azure Dragon Regiment's fierce aura, they could not help but feel apprehensive.

As the commander's banner in the rear kept waving, the entire Azure Dragon Regiment operated like a precise machine, beginning to run frenziedly.

They launched their first charge.

They brandished their spears and great knives; their green armor, illuminated by the azure dragon banners, resembled green dragons soaring and dancing across the battlefield.

Swiftly crossing the battlefield, they struck straight at the Great Qian army's central command tent.

This sudden assault left the Great Qian army somewhat unprepared; the troops of the Azure Dragon Regiment were originally the elite reserves selected from the Nine Heavens Army.

Moreover, they had undergone Meng Zhang's focused training during that initial period.

Later, even if Meng Zhang departed, Li Jing, a Saint Rank Commander-in-Chief, provided seamless continuity.

Furthermore, they fought several campaigns under Li Jing's leadership.

Having undergone the baptism of blood and fire, they now fully possessed all the qualities of an elite regiment.

Thus, upon initial contact, the opposing Great Qian army clearly felt it.

This regiment is completely different from the earlier Yellow Turban mob that merely relied on numerical advantage and fought wildly.

Their progress was orderly, their coordination tacit.

Even with a commander's orders, the Yellow Turban army, still useless on the battlefield, is entirely two tiers below this regiment.

After all, most of the Yellow Turban army were merely farmers who swung hoes on the ground.

Even after receiving a little training from Meng Zhang and others.

But they still cannot compare to the Azure Dragon Regiment, the specially trained reserves of the Nine Heavens Army.

Whether in physical fitness or combat will.

Thus, the Great Qian army, unable to react in time, could only respond hastily.

However, the soldiers of the Azure Dragon Regiment are not merely prone to reckless charging.

While charging, they also flexibly adjusted their tactics according to the battlefield situation.

Some soldiers used the terrain for cover, while others employed flanking maneuvers to divide and encircle the Great Qian army.

Under their fierce assault, the Great Qian army's vanguard was quickly breached by the sudden Azure Dragon Regiment, and even the temporary commander—who had not even stepped into the rank of divine general—was directly surrounded and slain by the regiment's soldiers.

The first battle ended in victory, directly breaking the Great Qian vanguard, greatly boosting the Azure Dragon Regiment's morale.

They did not relax their vigilance after the temporary victory, but swiftly reorganized their formations, preparing for the next round of combat.

Because they knew the Great Qian army would not simply let it go.

After the vanguard's defeat, the rear Great Qian forces would soon come forward.

Indeed, after a brief panic, the Great Qian army swiftly organized an effective counterattack.

They dispatched their elite cavalry from the rear, which spread to both sides like a giant pincer, seeking to envelop the Azure Dragon Regiment.

Attempting to break through the regiment's defenses from the flanks.

However, the Azure Dragon Regiment, having undergone training by two Saint Rank Commander-in-Chiefs, had already prepared countermeasures against cavalry long before.

They formed an impregnable barrier with spears and shields, firmly keeping the Great Qian cavalry outside.

Meanwhile, the regiment's archers and crossbowmen quickly readied their bows and crossbows, firing at the oncoming Great Qian cavalry and inflicting heavy casualties.

But, as the regular army of the Five Great Dynasties.

At this time, the Great Qian army faced by Meng Zhang and his companions was no longer the ragged second-line troops or militia encountered when the Yellow Turbans first rose in rebellion.

Rather, it was a hundred-battle elite force drafted from various quarters by Great Qian.

Some were even seasoned border troops engaged in constant warfare.

Faced with the Azure Dragon Regiment's response, they did not appear flustered.

Although it was somewhat surprising that the usually sluggish Yellow Turban army could change formations this quickly this time.

Nevertheless, this group of Great Qian cavalry promptly took appropriate measures.

They simply bypassed the Azure Dragon Regiment, simultaneously circling once, and swept in again carrying abundant armaments.

They ignited many torches and dry grass, hurling them toward the Azure Dragon Regiment.

This is why cavalry in ancient times is such a troublesome branch.

Even if the Azure Dragon Regiment could respond in time.

But as long as the cavalry doesn't clash head-on with the infantry, the Azure Dragon Regiment would struggle to inflict heavy casualties on the cavalry that comes and goes like the wind.

Instead, they would constantly be kited by the Great Qian cavalry.

However, facing the Great Qian cavalry's counter, the Azure Dragon Regiment's soldiers were not frightened by the raging fire.

Those soldiers among them who were caught in the blaze quickly removed their blue battle armor, used dirt and urine to put out the flames on their bodies, and then rejoined the original battle formation.

This tenacious fighting spirit left the Great Qian cavalry, which had always held an advantage over the Yellow Turban troops' quality, feeling dazed.

Meanwhile, Meng Zhang at the rear looked on, watching the cavalry that kept harassing the Azure Dragon Regiment, his eyes narrowing.

This really is a toad squatting on a foot—he doesn't harm people, he just annoys them.

The Azure Dragon Regiment is currently the strongest unit on the Lu Prefecture battlefield among the Yellow Turban forces, aside from the Yellow Turban Strongmen.

It hasn't even had a chance to take effect, and already it's disgusting.

However, Meng Zhang wasn't too panicked either.

He waved the commander's flag in his hand.

The Yellow Turban followers around the Azure Dragon Regiment quickly moved toward the regiment.

They began to squeeze the Great Qian cavalry's room to maneuver.

On such a large battlefield, once the cavalry is trapped,

with nowhere to run, the outcome is already decided.

Therefore, facing the Yellow Turban army continually closing in around the Azure Dragon Regiment,

This Great Qian cavalry could only reluctantly abandon the harassment strategy.

Using its mobility, it directly broke out before being completely surrounded by the Yellow Turban army.

Thus freeing the Azure Dragon Regiment once again.

Without the harassment of this Great Qian cavalry 'toad',

In the ensuing battle, the Azure Dragon Regiment displayed even more astonishing combat power.

They not only directly withstood the Great Qian army's wave after wave of attacks from the front, but also gradually pushed the battle line forward.

With the efforts of the Azure Dragon Regiment, the frontline situation gradually became clear; having this elite regiment act as the spearhead, the balance of victory began to tilt gradually toward the Yellow Turban army.

(End of chapter)