Chapter 664: then translation of chapter title

This time, no one again stopped Chen Wuji from charging into battle.

Not having time is one thing.

More importantly, they needed the morale of Chen Wuji, the pack leader.

The soldiers were caught off guard by the sudden arrow rain, and the scene fell into some chaos for a moment.

As Chen Wuji's Command Flag beside the Great Banner fluttered, the chaotic order was instantly straightened; the soldiers quickly found their places, the sword-and-shield troops rapidly formed a defensive formation, raised their shields, and protected the outer perimeter of the entire army.

Chen Wuji led the cavalry, numbering less than five thousand after the Battle of Wuyang Mountain, around the western side of the forest, and then charged into the dense woods like a brute who cared only for strength, not tactics.

The terrain of Wuyang is completely different from that of Hezhou; the forests here grow on extremely low rolling hills. There are many pristine woods, but they are not entirely untouched—most have been tended by human hands.

Underbrush is rare in the forest, and dead branches are even rarer; locals have gathered them for firewood, and the forest's outskirts are mostly planted by residents for firewood.

In this environment, warhorses face little difficulty entering the mountains.

"Family Head, be careful, they're on the slope!" Chen Wuyi shouted loudly.

Chen Wuji took a crossbow bolt from the side of his saddle, "Load the crossbow! It's as if someone thinks we have no bolts."

Since Xiao Zong, this hardworking treasure, appeared, hand crossbows have equipped most of the regiment; we are close to full army outfitting.

Chen Wuji lifted the reins with one hand and leapt down from his warhorse.

In the forest, warhorses can't run; it's better to go on foot.

Chen Wuyi saw the situation and loudly ordered, "Abandon the horses, go up the mountain!"

Over four thousand cavalrymen swiftly abandoned their warhorses, took up bows and crossbows, followed Chen Wuji's steps up the left side of the hill, and boldly approached the Qiang People's position.

The Qiang People's position was clearly chosen deliberately; from high ground they could see the army marching out of the river valley, could launch projectile attacks, and avoid being overrun by the main force.

Such ambushes are usually at the forest's edge.

Hidden too deep, the tangled trees prevent their arrows from being shot.

After marching only a few hundred meters up the low hill, Chen Wuji collided with the Qiang People.

A round of Arrow Rain suddenly came head-on.

The Qiang People must have spotted them earlier, but the complex woods delayed their attack until Chen Wuji was about to pounce in their faces.

Chen Wuji twisted his body and ducked behind a large tree.

When the enemy's Arrow Rain ceased, he immediately raised his hand crossbow, "Finished? Then it's our turn."

At this close range, the hand crossbow's effectiveness far surpasses that of the Qiang People's bows.

Crossbow bolts are shorter, faster, and stronger.

Twang!

A series of tearing-through-air sounds, like countless hornets' wings buzzing through the thicket, fell into the Qiang People's camp.

Immediately followed by a series of muffled groans.

The Qiang People's reaction was also steady; they quickly organized a counterattack, and another round of Arrow Rain came.

Chen Wuji ducked behind the tree again, waited for their Arrow Rain to subside, then raised his crossbow once more.

"Suppress them, prepare to charge!" Chen Wuji barked in a low voice to his left and right.

The Command Flag fluttered again in the forest.

The Linked Crossbow's assault instantly became dense, showering down upon the Qiang People's camp.

At this close range, each volley consists of thousands of crossbow bolts.

The Linked Crossbow was fast enough that, in an instant, the Qiang People's position, which appeared to hold about three thousand, was deluged with tens of thousands of crossbow bolts in a frenzied barrage.

The lucky emerged unscathed; the unlucky, however, were truly done for—struck down like porcupines, killed beyond revival, and after death their corpses were whipped.

"It's the Linked Crossbow—we can't let them keep using bows and crossbows, charge!"

A shout suddenly came from the Qiang People's position.

The two sides were only a mere one or two hundred meters apart—practically nose to nose—so orders from this side could be heard crystal clear on the other, with unimpeded communication.

Chen Wuji once again loaded a crossbow bolt onto his bow‑crossbow, then glanced sideways at Chen Wuyi.

Chen Wuyi instantly understood, personally waving the Command Flag a few times.

The soldiers who had already stowed their bow‑crossbows, ready to charge, upon seeing this took them out again and loaded crossbow bolts.

The Qiang People launched the first charge.

This blood‑loving nation's charge still looked terrifying.

Each seemed to resent moving slowly, their faces fierce, wielding curved blades as they raced forward; some even had crossbow bolts stuck in their faces, yet ran no slower than anyone else.

Chen Wuji raised his hand, and the Linked Crossbow fired again.

Twang!

The fine tearing‑through‑air sounds instantly wove, over these short hundred‑odd steps, into a dense net of slaughter.

One after another, Qiang People fell to the ground, kissing the damp earth with unwillingness and hot blood.

Chen Wuji slung his bow‑crossbow at his waist and picked up the inherited broad blade.

There was no deafening battle cry, nor any words to rally morale.

Chen Wuji quietly bound the hilt to his right hand with a cloth strip, then lowered his head and charged forward.

Just then, an abrupt change occurred.

Suddenly, an infantry unit surged up from the other side of the slope.

At the forefront, a commander gripped a long spear, leapt violently, and crashed into the Qiang People; with a perfectly executed horse stance, he thrust, then swept the spear left and right, instantly flinging several Qiang People airborne.

Judging by their agony, at least bone or viscera was broken.

One spear cleared the space around him, creating room to maneuver; this valiant commander suddenly pulled his long spear to his left hand, swung up his fist, and greeted the Qiang Soldiers rushing at him.

Long spear block, swing fist.

Boom!

Chen Wuji personally saw that Qiang Soldiers's eyeballs explode; the originally clear black-and-white eyes instantly protruded outward, turned into a sheet of blood‑red, and then squeezed out two streams of blood‑tears that looked extremely gruesome.

"This kid will from now on be called Southwest Chu Wang; this is way more awesome than Northwest Chu Wang!" Chen Wuji drew his Knife and knocked down a Qiang Soldier who lunged at him, then remarked to Chen Wuyi, who constantly guarded him like a shadow.

This unit that suddenly came charging out from the diagonal thrust was none other than Feng Linchuan.

Xie Fengxian's forces happened to be on the left side of these low hills; perhaps noticing the movement here, he sent Feng Linchuan leading troops over to investigate.

"Family Head, who is Northwest Chu Wang? I've never heard of him!" Chen Wuyi shouted.

The fighting around Chen Wuji was easy; his Personal Guard protected him so tightly that he rarely had a chance to act, merely walking forward holding his Knife.

"You don't know Northwest Chu Wang; he's a very interesting and ambitious person." Chen Wuji could only say that, he was a character from a film or TV drama, and he really had no other way to explain.