Chapter 902

The eastern city wall of Shenjing.

At Shi Ding’s command, the three thousand archers poised for action launched volleys of arrows toward the outer slope of Shijia Mountain.

Each synchronized twang of the bowstrings sent three thousand arrows skyward, blanketing the air above the hill in a dense rain of shafts.

These arrows were not meant for precision; their purpose was to disrupt and hinder, scattering the remnants of the Mongol cavalry’s own arrow volleys and inflicting some casualties.

Under the cover of the arrow rain from the city walls, thundering hooves echoed along the rear path of Shijia Mountain as over a thousand firearm cavalrymen streamed out, hugging the city wall as they raced northward.

The Mongol cavalry quickly noticed; many riders shouted orders, and Manhai, spotting the surprise force emerging from Shijia Mountain, commanded his men to pursue immediately.

The central unit of the Mongol cavalry, which had just retreated and counterattacked, struggled to reorganize in haste, causing disorder that prevented timely pursuit.

Shi Ding closely monitored the battlefield from the wall; seeing the Mongol cavalry slow slightly, the thousand-plus firearm cavalry seized the moment, galloping to join Jia Cong’s vanguard.

Shi Ding barked: “Archers, advance forward! Cover the outer flank of the Shenjing camp with arrow volleys—hinder their pursuit and let the firearm troops break free!”

At Shi Ding’s command, the three thousand archers on the wall marched forward in formation, advancing to the northeastern corner of the wall, where they reformed and launched concentrated volleys.

The thousand-plus firearm cavalry below, seemingly forewarned, kept strictly to the wall’s edge, ensuring they remained always within the protective arc of the wall’s arrow rain.

From atop the wall, the advance route of the thousand firearm cavalry was densely covered by arrow volleys across a ten-zhang-wide perimeter.

Any Mongol cavalry that drew near to pursue would be met with a synchronized barrage from the wall.

After losing over a hundred riders, the Mongol cavalry maintained pursuit but dared not close in on the firearm troops.

Battlefields shift in an instant; whoever gains even the slightest advantage can expand it into dominance—and decide the outcome.

Under Shi Ding’s command, the three thousand archers atop the wall and the seventeen hundred firearm cavalry below moved in perfect harmony, blocking the Mongol cavalry’s pursuit.

As the thousand firearm cavalry moved beyond the wall’s range, the arrow rain still tracked and shielded them; the cavalry veered right in a wide arc, widening the distance from their pursuers.

…

Manhai watched as Jia Cong led three hundred cavalrymen still fleeing northwest, while the other thousand-strong firearm cavalry seemed to retreat in a different direction.

His deputy said: “Second Prince, now they’ve split into two groups fleeing—should we pursue one, or divide our forces to chase both?”

I believe Jia Cong’s tactics are too devious and cunning. We launched a surprise strike, yet he had already set ambushes on Shijia Mountain despite having no preparation.

If he could set an ambush here, could he not set another elsewhere? For safety’s sake, I suggest we withdraw now and wait for a better opportunity.”

Manhai frowned: “Withdraw? You speak lightly. We’ve already lost two thousand-man units—do you mean to let Mongol blood be spilled in vain?”

Jia Cong’s tactics are cunning, but they end here. Ahead, over ten li, lies open plain—no hills, no cover for ambushes.”

Moreover, from these two engagements, I’ve seen the weakness of the Great Zhou’s firearms: reloading is painfully slow, so they rely on three-rank volleys to compensate.

Every time we turn and counterattack, these firearm troops immediately retreat, never daring to stand against Mongol iron cavalry. Do you know why?”

Because Jia Cong knows full well: though firearms are devastating, their rate of fire is far slower than the speed of Mongol arrows and galloping steeds.

So his firearm troops only strike hard or ambush—once we regroup and counter, they flee at once, cowardly and treacherous.

And I’ve found another fatal flaw: once mounted, their firearms become useless—no matter how powerful, they’re just burning sticks.

Now that they’ve split into two groups, it’s merely a ruse to confuse us, hoping to slip away from our pursuit.

Their firearms are now useless on horseback; this is their weakest moment. We must not falter now and miss this chance to annihilate them.

Our sortie has already revealed our position; the Great Zhou will surely mobilize troops to surround and cut us off from all sides—our footing grows ever more precarious.

If we miss this chance, we gain nothing, lose nearly three thousand men—how will we face our soldiers? How will we answer to my father, the Khan?”

Ignore that thousand-man cavalry unit—it’s Jia Cong’s decoy. We pursue only his three hundred riders—and those five carts.”

After two ambushes, we’ve suffered heavy losses. The Great Zhou’s firearms live up to their reputation—we must capture Jia Cong and those five carts of weapons.

If Jia Cong escapes back to Beisan Pass and uses these weapons against my father’s army, the consequences for our southern campaign will be endless.”

Now, with only three hundred riders and no firearms, Jia Cong is at his weakest. No matter how cunning he is, he cannot turn the tide!”

Their horses have galloped for miles—their strength must be waning. If we capture Jia Cong alive, every cost we’ve paid will be worth it.”

The deputy, hearing Manhai’s words, found them entirely reasonable. Sixteen thousand cavalry chasing three hundred—what could possibly go wrong?

And the Second Prince was right: mounted firearm troops, stripped of their weapons, are like wolves with their fangs pulled—utterly defenseless.

His lingering doubts vanished at Manhai’s words; he issued the order to the entire force: pursue Jia Cong’s fleeing direction…

…

On the eastern wall of Shenjing, Shi Ding raised his telescope, and his deputy Wang Lin said: “Commander, the main Mongol force has abandoned pursuit of the thousand firearm cavalry.”

All their strength now chases the Marquis of Weiyuan—he has only three hundred guards, and his firearms are useless once mounted. If he’s surrounded, it will be dire.”

Commander, the Marquis of Weiyuan is one of the Great Zhou’s finest generals. If he’s harmed, it would be a terrible loss—should we not send reinforcements?”

Shi Ding said: “The horses allocated to the Marquis of Weiyuan by the Ministry of War were selected from the finest in Shenjing and its surroundings—each is top-tier.

You all witnessed how boldly and skillfully he maneuvered his cavalry just now. I’m certain that within these twenty li, he will not be caught.”

These past days, he has repeatedly sent arrow-borne messages into the city, discussing battle plans with me. So far, every development has followed his strategy exactly.”

I trust he will reach his final move. If this battle succeeds fully, we will seize the initiative in this campaign against the Mongols—and perhaps secure victory.”

The officers, hearing this, were all stunned. No wonder the Commander had remained calm, never acting rashly on the battlefield.

He had long planned with the Marquis of Weiyuan. Wang Lin recalled how, days ago, Shi Ding ordered him to select five thousand cavalry from the Five Armies—all expert archers.

They were meant for today’s battle. Yet when the Mongol army launched its surprise attack, the Marquis seemed to react hastily—was this all premeditated?

The same thought struck every officer present. To plan warfare to this degree goes far beyond mere military knowledge.

This young lord of the Rongguo Jia family has likely reached the realm of a ghostly genius—truly astonishing, even terrifying.”

Shi Ding said: “Wait another quarter-hour. I will lead the five thousand selected elite cavalry out personally to reinforce him. Wang Lin, you will hold the Nine Gates.”

While I’m out, keep close watch on Wawu Town. The Mongols have twenty thousand elite cavalry stationed there—they must have left troops guarding their supplies…”

…

In the vast, boundless wasteland northwest of Shenjing, ten thousand horses thundered, hooves like rolling thunder, a terrifying spectacle.

Two forces galloped fiercely, chasing each other; the dense pounding of hooves was urgent and heavy, as if shaking heaven and earth.

Yet the numbers were wildly unequal: Jia Cong led only three hundred cavalry, while over ten thousand pursued him.

But this lopsided chase felt strangely balanced, almost surreal—like bait trailing a frenzied school of fish.

When Jia Cong first detected the enemy and turned his army around, he had passed through these very places. He had carefully noted every detail of the terrain.

Though most of the route was flat, there were also highlands, depressions, grasslands, rocky shelves, and muddy bogs.

Some areas allowed hundreds of cavalry to gallop freely—but if thousands tried to surge through, they would become deadly bottlenecks.

Jia Cong deliberately chose terrain favorable for small cavalry units, avoiding terrain that hindered large forces, always maintaining the distance between pursuer and pursued.

This prolonged chase tested not only their horses’ stamina, but also their wits and patience.

One miscalculation from Jia Cong, and his three hundred would be swallowed whole, annihilated.

As he led his men across a narrow stretch of rocky highland, he finally saw the gentle slope ahead—and a smile broke across his face.

…

Jia Cong called out: “Jiang Xiao Liu, abandon those five carts immediately—hurry and charge to the other side of the slope!”