Chapter 451: The Horn Call

On the streets of Thirty-Li Post, a mass of gleaming white figures approached from the south, the sound of footsteps filling the streets, metal clashing noisily whenever they bumped into one another.

Manda'er's mouth hung wide open. Qin Jiuze and Yang Shisan turned their heads to look and froze on the spot as well, then their bodies slowly rotated until they faced south.

Iron Armor Soldiers in full battle gear came straight toward them, their figures bloated, swaying heavily from side to side as they walked, their movements somewhat sluggish. Dense ranks of silver helmets bobbed back and forth in the column, and along the formation's edges countless blade staffs, heavy swords, two-handed axes, line spears, and wolf tooth clubs crisscrossed. From Manda'er's vantage, the entire street seemed to be shaking.

At a shouted command, the head of the Iron Armor Soldiers' column finally halted at the Small Square. The column behind stretched on, with no end in sight on the street to the south. When the formation stopped, these men all planted the heavy ends of their weapons on the ground and gripped them with both hands to prop up their bodies.

Manda'er kept his mouth open. After a long moment, he said, "These are your household's infantry."

Yang Guangdi nodded. "Lord Pang's Personal Guard Thousand-Leader Headquarters. The Martial Academy calls them Heavy Infantry. My household also has the Land Battalion and the Water Camp Marines. The Marines are Light Infantry, and the Land Battalion is a Mixed Army."

The Iron Armor Soldiers over there stood in place, most of them slightly bent at the waist, using their weapons to help support their bodies. When the officers dressed the ranks, they only made minor adjustments to the formation and did not demand that they line up neatly.

Manda'er turned his head toward Yang Guangdi. "Your household's Lord Pang has this many Bright Armor Retainers?"

"Many." Yang Guangdi answered offhandedly. Apart from the Anqing Battalion, he had only seen the Wusong Camp, so he had no idea what counted as many. In any case, the Wusong Camp had hardly any Bright Armor Retainers. "One Company is over a hundred. No idea how many Companies came."

Yang Shisan tilted his head over. "If you have this many retainers, why didn't you send them out earlier?"

"None of them ride horses. What would be the point of sending them?"

Manda'er asked doubtfully, "Retainers who don't ride... is this how Southern Troops fight wars?"

Yang Shisan turned to Qin Jiuze, his face full of suspicion. "Are these troops Southern or Northern after all? Is Anqing south or north?"

Qin Jiuze hesitated a moment. "South, I suppose."

"Then they're Southern Troops. You were the one who told me back then — Southern Troops are useless."

Qin Jiuze said with some embarrassment, "I was just repeating what the Old Hundred-Household Commander said."

"My household's artillery is here." Yang Guangdi's voice suddenly rose in pitch, and he jumped up, gesticulating wildly. The team leader ahead turned and shot him a fierce glare, and Yang Guangdi hastily shrank back into the column.

He said in a low voice to Qin Jiuze, "See that? My household's great cannon."

The three turned to look and saw a small cannon being dragged by four horses, just arriving at the post road in front of the square from the eastern road of Cross Street. Its path was blocked by the ranked Iron Armor Soldiers. The barrel looked unimpressive, and the muzzle was very small too.

Yang Shisan swept a glance over it and then turned back to the Iron Armor Soldiers. "What great cannon is this? Yang Guangdi, listen to me — even bigger cannons are pretty useless. What can a cannon this small do? It's the Iron Armor Soldiers that are useful."

A staff advisor went over and stood in front of the cannon cart's packhorses, forbidding them from advancing further. The artillerymen began arguing with the staff advisor. Soon, an officer beside Chen Rulie walked over, gave the artillerymen a few instructions, and then together with them began unlimbering the cannon cart. He also pointed out a position to them, apparently to be dragged by manpower into an alleyway beside the Stage.

Yang Guangdi turned to the other two again. "This cannon is formidable. They draw the highest pay. See that? So impressive."

Qin Jiuze and Manda'er paid him no mind and turned back to look at the Iron Armor Soldiers again.

Manda'er stared at those Bright Armor Retainers, still somewhat confused. "Your household already has these several hundred infantry. What did we come here for?"

"I don't know." Yang Guangdi shook his head. "Last year, when we were fighting Roving Bandits and it came down to a life-or-death moment, we relied on the artillery and this Personal Guard Division. They charged over and smashed the Roving Bandits' Right Wing."

"Roving Bandits can't possibly withstand a beating like this." Yang Shisan also shook his head. "Cannons are useless. Just send these Iron Armor Soldiers — a hundred would be enough."

The Personal Guard Division's square-faced officer called over several officers. Chen Rulie kept pointing toward the northern street. The cavalry and Personal Guard Division officers mingled together, discussing noisily for a moment, and no one knew what was being said. Soon, an Iron Armor officer received an order. Roughly three Banner Teams of Iron Armor Soldiers marched north along the street. One of the Banner Teams walked to the street opposite the Horse God Monastery and halted. At the Iron Armor Banner Commander's shouted command, they turned in unison to face this direction.

The scouting cavalry's mounts stirred slightly. Yang Guangdi saw that Big Fire's ears were tilting backward, a sign that it was feeling tense at the moment, and he immediately stroked its neck.

Now that they were closer, Qin Jiuze carefully scrutinized these Iron Armor Soldiers. Most wore padded armor with scale armor, and a small number wore chain mail. Most used two-handed weapons suited for streets and alleys; those in chain mail used one-handed weapons. Only one in ten of these men was equipped with a bow and arrow — he could not tell if this was only for today's town fighting or if it was always the case.

Most of these Iron Armor Soldiers had broad cheeks, and once armored, their physiques were brawny. As they passed by, they did not even glance at the scouting cavalry, bearing themselves with an air of swaggering arrogance. After they halted, they again propped themselves on their weapons. One of them suddenly noticed Manda'er over here.

Manda'er's Eight-Petal Helmet was still hanging from his mount, exposing the small queue on his head — a sight extremely rare in the interior provinces.

The Iron Armor Soldiers across the way immediately spotted this amusement. They dared not talk in the ranks, but they nudged each other's arms, alerting their comrades to watch the spectacle, their faces full of mocking expressions.

The most distinctive among them was especially tall and large, half a head taller than the Iron Armor Soldiers beside him. His breastplate was like a single solid iron plate, polished even brighter than the Tartars' White Armor Soldiers. His weapon was a wolf tooth club, its head larger than the others', fitted with an iron tip on top to add weight, and its long shaft was also longer than the others'. His gaze at people was blank and fixed, staring at Manda'er without even blinking.

The opposite side was dazzlingly bright, a row of various heavy weapons arrayed. Being stared at by a group of Heavy Armor Soldiers made Manda'er's hair stand on end all over his body. Even Qin Jiuze beside him felt uncomfortable. He coughed. Manda'er looked left and right, then turned back and put his helmet on, but it seemed a bit too late — those men across the way still kept their eyes fixed on him.

"Xu Squad Leader!"

Yang Guangdi called out in a low voice, but the giant across the way did not react, still staring dumbly at Manda'er.

Manda'er simply turned his head away toward the inside of the temple gate and stopped looking at those Bright Armor Soldiers.

With the team leader up front, Yang Guangdi dared not shout loudly and could only wave toward the opposite side. The burly man finally noticed and shifted his gaze over.

The moment he saw Yang Guangdi, an enthusiastic smile suddenly squeezed onto his blank face. He lifted his wolf tooth club and started walking over. Yang Shisan immediately edged half a step aside slightly, but an Iron Armor Soldier beside him forcefully dragged the burly man back.

At that moment, the Banner Commander had already run over. "Turn the corner and hand the horses over to the Fire Soldiers to take away. Scouting cavalry, enter the Horse God Monastery."

The team leader immediately led the team. The scouting cavalry went west from Cross Street to the street corner. There was a bit of chaos there — dismounted cavalrymen, newly arrived artillerymen, and the Martial Academy's experimental team carrying fire lances. The Cavalry Battalion Commander Department's Fire Soldiers were waiting there, each man taking four horses and leading them south out of the town.

The Squad returned to the Horse God Monastery. Inside the second courtyard, over ten Heavy Armor Soldiers were already standing there, tying red cloth strips onto their arms, probably for easy identification, since it was hard to tell from armor alone whether they were the Tartars' White Armor. Once battle was joined, there would be even less time to pay attention.

That Xu Squad Leader was among them. Besides that especially conspicuous wolf tooth club, a short-handled axe was also tucked into the leather belt at his waist, and on the other side was a short blade with a guard.

The Banner Commander called the scouting cavalry to gather around him. He looked at everyone and said, "We are going to ambush the Tartar Vanguard here."

Though the scouting cavalry had all guessed as much, they still stirred for a moment. The Banner Commander continued, "Lord Pang has mobilized the Cavalry First Division, the Cavalry First Headquarters' Directly Subordinate Artillery Division, all scouting cavalry, the Martial Academy Firearm Experimental Team, the Distant Scout Experimental Team, and three Personal Guard Companies. The Iron Armor Soldiers are the main force of the ambush, but we didn't bring Light Infantry this time. Commander Chen has ordered us to coordinate with the Personal Guard Division in foot combat and annihilate every Tartar that enters Thirty-Li Post. Scouting cavalry are the Army-Crushing Tramplers — dismounted, you are still the finest infantry."

Everyone nodded in unison. The Banner Commander said carefully, "Here is the battle plan. Listen well. The Tartar Vanguard is generally divided into two waves. The first wave is small, the second wave large, with a one-li gap in between. Commander Chen's arrangement this time is to let the first, smaller wave of Tartar Mounted Armor pass and ambush the second wave of Mounted Armor. The Cavalry First Division is concealed in He Village, five li from here. They will only rush here after the cannon sounds. They will pursue the first wave of Tartars. All other mobilized units are inside Thirty-Li Post. We are responsible for wiping out the second, larger wave."

"The Cavalry Second Company will draw the Tartars here. We only act once the Tartars have entered the town. Do not alert them prematurely. The deeper they come in, the better. Before battle is joined, no readying fire lances, no lighting fire ropes, powerful crossbows must not be drawn in advance, no leaving mounts inside the town. Anyone who makes a sound after the area is cleared will be summarily executed." The Banner Commander paused deliberately, waited a moment, and then continued, "Remember, only when the Anthem Sound rings do we charge out and kill. There is a cannon hidden in the alley to the left of the Stage. It will fire toward the intersection south of the Stage. Everyone take note."

None of the scouting cavalry gathered in a circle spoke. Manda'er's face was flushed red as he nodded repeatedly. Qin Jiuze looked at the ground, but his clasped hands were subtly rubbing together. Yang Shisan kept stroking the body of his bow.

"Old Qin, I got two throwing axes for you. Good in tight spaces." The Banner Commander drew two axes from his lower back and handed them to Qin Jiuze.

Qin Jiuze was slightly surprised. This Banner Commander had actually noticed that the three from Xuan-Da lacked blunt weapons. He immediately took the axes and passed them on to Manda'er and Yang Shisan respectively.

The Banner Commander clapped his hands and looked at everyone. "Brothers, kill every last Tartar!"

Everyone shouted in unison, "Kill every last Tartar!"

The nineteenth day of the twelfth month, Chongzhen 11th Year. The Hour of the Horse, three quarters past noon.

Beneath an overcast sky, Thirty-Li Post was eerily quiet. The streets and alleys were utterly deserted, but looking down from the sky, in every street, alley, and courtyard, countless figures clad in silver armor were gathering.

The gate of the Horse God Monastery was half-closed, while the door of the Main Hall stood open. Inside the walls of the Main Hall, there was one Squad of Iron Armor Soldiers and one Squad of scouting cavalry.

The Iron Armor Soldiers were now sitting on the ground in circles of three, leaning against each other, their helmets and weapons set aside. These Iron Armor Soldiers seemed to have gotten used to it as well and no longer kept staring at Manda'er. And that Xu Squad Leader had actually fallen asleep, emitting faint snores.

The scouting cavalry were off to the other side. Yu Lao'er conferred briefly with the Personal Guard's team leader, then came back and said to the other scouting cavalry, "Remember the sequence we just drilled. Me, Old Qin, and Yang Shisan go to the outer courtyard first. Fire one volley with the armor-piercing bodkin arrows, then wait for the Heavy Armor Soldiers to go out first before we go out. When you see a Tartar, kill him. Remember, we are coordinating with the Iron Armor Soldiers — don't go running off on your own."

Yang Guangdi nodded hastily, running through the drill they had just practiced once more in his head.

At that moment, a burst of footsteps came from outside. Several officers ran past on the road. The Banner Commander came in through the gate and said, "Report from the Cavalry Second Company: the Tartars are here, five li away. The first wave giving chase is over forty Tartars. The second wave can't be seen clearly — the telescope estimates two hundred. Make ready and wait for the Anthem Sound."

The Banner Commander finished speaking and ran outside. The other two squads were positioned at the stage. Yu Lao'er went over and shut the courtyard gate to the second entrance tightly, sliding home every door bolt behind it. According to their intelligence, the Qing troops usually entered monasteries last, and sometimes not at all, which was why they had chosen the Horse God Monastery as one of the ambush sites.

The Iron Armor Soldiers in the courtyard rose one after another, helping each other don their auxiliary armor. They checked their weapons and helmets one by one. Xu Squad Leader was also woken. The teammate beside him hung an iron face armor onto his helmet and secured the retaining hoop. A fanged, demonic Demon-Fighting Mask covered Xu Squad Leader's face.

The mounted scouts also checked each other's gear. Yang Guangdi, following orders, could not prepare his fire lance; it could only be used after battle commenced. To avoid knocking over those bottles and jars holding gunpowder like last time, he placed all his fire lance equipment on the steps.

Just then he felt a sensation on his leg. Looking down, he saw Qin Jiuze handing him a small knife. The handle was rather crude, but the blade was sharp and thin, and it even came with a sheath, very similar to the one Qin Jiuze used himself.

Qin Jiuze said in a low voice, "I made it. Take it and use it."

Yang Guangdi hastily accepted it. "Thank you, Qin Shu."

Qin Jiuze waved his hand dismissively and went over to help Manda'er tidy his arrow quiver, placing the armor-piercing bodkin arrows in the outer positions. Then he took two armor-piercing bodkin arrows and held them between his fingers, squatting against the wall just like that.

Everyone quickly finished their preparations. After waiting for a brief moment, the sound of a watchman's clapper came from the north, clacking all the way southward. This was the signal to clear the area; from now on, no sound could be made.

Everyone placed their gag-sticks into their mouths. The two squad leaders slowly drew their weapons. The courtyard fell silent for a time. Because the area had been cleared, no one could speak, and even movements had to be made with great care.

Thirty-Li Post was utterly silent. Everything seemed frozen solid. The people in the courtyard exchanged glances.

Yang Guangdi's heartbeat quickened. He controlled his breathing and focused his mind, listening to the sounds outside.

The faint sound of hoofbeats came from the north, growing clearer by the moment. The first group to arrive should be the Second Cavalry Company, acting as bait.

The Second Company swiftly approached. Dense hoofbeats hammered against the bluestone slabs of the post road, rapidly departing toward the south.

Almost the moment the Second Company had passed, new hoofbeats rose from the north. Arriving now was the first wave of the Qing army's vanguard.

They did not pause either, roaring past along the post road. Occasionally a rider let out a bizarre howl.

The hoofbeats of the first Qing wave quickly faded. Thirty-Li Post returned to utter silence. Yang Guangdi let out a breath of relief. The Qing troops had grown so careless they conducted no searches at all. Battalion Commander Chen's plan was halfway to success. Now they only had to wait for the Qing army's second vanguard wave.

Another moment passed, and another wave of hoofbeats came from the north. This time it was not a crisp clatter, but a deep, muffled sound mingled from many sources.

The hoofbeats quickly reached the market town. The sound grew increasingly intense, far larger in scale than the Second Cavalry Company. The stone step Yang Guangdi leaned against transmitted tremor after tremor.

The hoofbeats arrived outside the Horse God Monastery. Everyone gripped their weapons. Yang Guangdi's palms were damp. He glanced over at Qin Jiuze. Qin Jiuze's wrinkled face was perfectly calm. He nodded toward Yang Guangdi.

Yu Lao'er placed his hand on the door bolt. Yang Guangdi closed his eyes and waited for that Anthem Sound to ring out.