Chapter 293: Playing with Firecrackers in a Small Camp

Dusk fell, the distant mountains like iron‑cast beast spines gradually sank under the bloody setting sun.

Beside the lifeless lake reflecting the orange sunset and trees, the village chief of the Qiang people's camp rose a great deal of cooking smoke, they were happily eating dinner, and the scent of roasted lamb drifted over the dry riverbed.

They were extravagant, eating whole roasted lamb plus wild vegetables gathered from the mountains.

And there was alcohol.

Dozens sat in a circle, eating and drinking, occasionally someone jumped up to twist a few steps, providing a lively dance for the crowd.

The Qiang people's chief and elders sat inside the camp tent; although we couldn't see inside, women occasionally came and went, and faint drumming music could be heard drifting out.

"These damn fellows are living it up; they don't look like they've come to fight, more like out on a sightseeing trip." Qian Fugui snapped angrily, "I wouldn't dare do this even at home—how can these people indulge like this while on campaign? Aren't they being too careless?"

Chen Wuji gave a faint smile, "What's the point of getting angry? Their behavior is actually more to our advantage."

Qian Fugui blinked, "Ah, that's true. If so, I ought to praise them a bit—this was handled well, and that's how it should be done. They're still a bit reserved; the drink should be plentiful—how can dozens share a single vat of wine? Who would that be enough for?"

The orange‑yellow sun sank completely into the hills, and a gray haze shrouded heaven and earth.

"Pass the order, prepare!" Chen Wuji suddenly shouted in a low voice.

"Yes!"

The left and right deputy commanders immediately straightened up and accepted the order.

Qian Fugui, the commandant, grabbed the basket full of stones and pulled it before him, eyes gleaming as he lifted a fist‑sized rock, "Today I'll make my name with this little stone, hehe!"

Chen Wuji produced the secret weapon he had prepared for this battle—the Shocking Heaven Thunder.

Five bamboo tubes made a bundle, and the chest held a full forty bundles.

Chen Wuji handed the Shocking Heaven Thunder to Chen WuYou, solemnly instructing, "After lighting the fuse, let the soldiers launch them quickly, without the slightest hesitation. If one is accidentally dropped, don't panic, don't hesitate at all—throw it away as fast as possible."

"Yes!"

Chen Wushuang carried the Shocking Heaven Thunder over, clamped it onto the slingshot, and sternly repeated Chen Wuji's words to the soldiers.

Each slingshot had two soldiers assigned—one to ignite the Shocking Heaven Thunder, the other to throw it outward.

"Everyone, hear my command—stones, get ready!" Chen Wuji shouted in a low voice.

He hadn't yet learned to use the command flag, and the soldiers didn't know how to read it, so orders could only be given by shouting.

Fortunately the force was small, so even if those on the flanks couldn't hear, they could simply follow the actions of those nearby.

"Throw!" Chen Wuji ordered.

Moments later, the thousand soldiers swung their arms not in perfect unison.

Fist‑sized stones flew in arcs like hail toward the Qiang people's camp.

Thud… thud… thud…

The stones struck the fire pit, sending sparks flying.

Those that landed on the camp tent instantly punched holes in it.

The Qiang people, mid‑meal of lamb and wine, instantly fell into chaos, their shouts rising and falling in a jumble, and the whole camp became a mess.

Clang clang clang.

Inside the enemy camp a metal clang rang out—they sounded the alarm of an attack.

"Throw again!" Chen Wuji shouted in a low voice.

Another volley of stones rained down.

The soldiers had aimed their stone throws; most had landed near the fire pits, and many Qiang were hit.

But now the Qiang people were running about in disorder, making aim difficult.

"Throw!"

……

"Throw!"

……

After several rounds of stone barrages, the Qiang forces regrouped.

They withdrew to the northwest corner, pairs of eyes fixed on the hill where Chen Wuji and his companions hid.

The stones were no longer effective.

The Qiang people had taken cover there; unless possessed of extraordinary strength, most soldiers could not throw stones that far, and only a few stray stones had any effect.

Chen Wuji made a snap decision and ordered, "Beat the drums, raise the flags!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A deep drumbeat rose, flags sprang up from the woods, and the soldiers dashed about the forest, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Kill!"

The voices of a thousand men merged; whether or not it made sense, the sense of power was still exaggerated, shaking the mountain birds into frantic fluttering, as if the whole landscape echoed the cries of slaughter.

But Xu Zengyi's estimate was wrong.

The Qiang people did not therefore fall into panic.

They sat upright on horseback, neatly arrayed in the northwest corner, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Chen Wuji realized he had to raise the stakes now, or else they'd surely be exposed.

"Chen WuYou, northwest corner, release!" Chen Wuji shouted in a low voice.

At the command, the soldiers stationed by the slingshots quickly pulled out fire starters and lit the fuses.

Immediately, bundles of Shocking Heaven Thunder shot up, tracing faint bright arcs that fell into the Qiang formation.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three muffled blasts, dust and dirt flew up.

Even Chen Wuji's own soldiers were stunned by the commotion, eyes bulging like oxen, their breath catching.

As for the Qiang People's military formation, it was even more bleak.

No one knows what state the people were frightened into, but the Warhorses were visibly mad.

In the dust and smoke, the Warhorses scattered and fled, charging and colliding wildly within the Yíngzhù. Even many directly charged out of the Yíngzhù, carrying the Qiang People warriors on their backs, they ran off helter-skelter.

"Fire again!" Chen Wuji gave the order again in a deep voice.

At this point, the chaos was still not chaotic enough.

Another three bundles of Shocking Heaven Thunder flew up.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Such a commotion would be nothing in later ages, but right now it absolutely counts as a grand spectacle.

In the Qiang People's Yíngzhù, there were cries of people and neighing of horses; the Warhorses, frightened and out of control, were like headless flies—no matter how the Knights on their backs shouted, it was of no avail.

However, in this matter, Chen Wuji also saw the superb horsemanship of the Qiang People warriors.

Although many Warhorses charged out of the Yíngzhù, even more were kept under control by the Qiang People warriors, running circles inside the Yíngzhù while they soothed the Warhorses' emotions.

The entire Yíngzhù seemed to have turned into a large racetrack.

Unfortunately, such racing was accompanied by death.

Countless Knights were thrown off by the Warhorses, and immediately trampled into pulp by their beloved steeds.

Seeing that gruesome sight, Chen Wuji's scalp went numb.

They must have been in great pain, right?

"Chen Wuyou, keep firing!" Chen Wuji gave the order again.

Another three loud booms sounded.

The chaos escalated again.

Countless Qiang People warriors could no longer control the Warhorses, which were thrown off and then naturally turned into pulp, while even more Warhorses charged straight out of the Yíngzhù, pursuing their own path to survival in the vast distance.