Chapter 166: Fierce Battle

Generally speaking, destruction is always easier than protection.

This grain depot battle fully demonstrated this point.

The fifty Human experts Gu Xuan sent to set fire, though few in number, were each agile and had prepared in advance.

They split off some men to entangle with the Jie Tribe soldiers blocking them.

On the other side, they threw the remaining few fire oil jars all over the grain depot, and did not forget to shoot fire arrows, reigniting the nearly extinguished flames in an instant.

Fire and water are merciless; once they spread, they are far beyond human power to stop.

The Jie Tribe soldiers watched helplessly as the last grain depot was destroyed in the raging fire; amidst despair, their anger reached its peak, eyes turning red, and they charged at the Human brave warriors before them.

However.

Seeing the grain depot already ablaze, those fifty warriors did not entangle with them at all; they lifted burning wooden beams to span between the two sides, then retreated swiftly.

And on Gu Xuan's side, upon receiving the signal from his subordinates, he likewise chose to retreat.

He let out a loud roar, and with his great axe executed a sweep of a thousand armies; under the full eruption of the Great Zhou Divine King Art, a full seven or eight Jie Tribe heavy-armored warriors before him were cleaved in two, armor and all.

Such terrifying martial power, in the narrow terrain of the city corridor, was virtually an invincible existence.

Even the Jie Tribe warriors, driven mad by the grain depot's destruction, felt dread facing such a killing-god-like existence.

And Gu Xuan's personal guards behind him seized the gap, lifting several thick burning beams with their great spears to block the road, stopping the Jie Tribe's advance.

Finally.

Since the city corridor was narrow to begin with, and dozens of corpses plus blazing beams blocked the way, the remaining thousand-plus Jie Tribe soldiers could only watch helplessly as the Human armored soldiers retreated; even with anger reddening their eyeballs, it was to no avail.

And also.

With Gu Xuan's divine aura, plus the martial valor of his eight hundred Tiger Ben Warriors, they naturally feared not the two thousand-plus Jie Tribe heavy-armored warriors opposite; even routing and slaying the enemy was entirely possible.

However the enemy were also not weak troops; they were likewise hundred-battle veterans.

In a fight to the death, the Jie Tribe side would certainly be annihilated, but Gu Xuan's warriors would also inevitably lose at least half, with few surviving.

This is a war of iron and blood; no one can escape it.

Just now, the Jie Tribe army's grain is cut off; its collapse is in these few days.

As long as the Great Zhou side holds its ground and employs proper tactics, waiting for them to fall into chaos, a great victory can be harvested then.

Of course.

It's not to say it's a sure thing; one must still guard against these ten thousand-plus Jie heavy cavalry jumping the wall in desperation, otherwise it's easy to flip the chariot.

Therefore.

Gu Xuan immediately dispatched several mounted messengers, using the pre-arranged token as signal, to convey the military intelligence to Jiang Bu Shi's side.

The intelligence was very short, only ten-odd characters.

"Enemy grain destroyed, hold the line, wait for opportunity to strike."

And speaking of Jiang Bu Shi, as a veteran general he had long been observing the fire situation in Chanshan City.

When he saw the flames in the city blaze up once again, and smelled the peculiar scent of burning grain in the air, he involuntarily guessed at the emergence of a certain situation, feeling both shock and joy.

Therefore, upon seeing the military intelligence Gu Xuan sent.

Amidst great joy, Jiang Bu Shi instantly understood how to fight next was the most correct choice, and also roughly knew Gu Xuan's intent.

Dong dong dong!

As the war drums sounded in a certain unique rhythm, flags in the Human grand array danced wildly; that was the flag language for holding the line.

The Human soldiers who received the order frantically contracted their camp, stood on strict alert, to guard against the Jie Tribe's desperate counterattack.

Seeing this scene.

No matter how overbearing and fierce the Jie Heavy Cavalry Corps commander Mangu was — he who didn't even put his own Jie King in his eyes — at this moment he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

Obviously.

He had also seen the movement in the city behind him, and smelled that scent of burning military grain; this meant the rations of these ten thousand-plus elite heavy cavalry were completely destroyed!

Without food, no matter how brave and skilled the soldiers, how long can they persist?

Not to mention, after such high-intensity battle, consumption is enormous, and the desire for a full meal is even more intense!

And at this moment, more than half the morning had passed, but their lunch had obviously become a bubble's shadow!

"Dai Shang, deserve to die!"

Thinking here, even though Jie King Dai Shang had already left, whereabouts unknown, Mangu still cursed loudly in uncontrollable rage.

He placed the karma of the grain supply's destruction entirely on Dai Shang.

At this moment, facing the crisis of having no food to eat, the several Partial Generals beside Mangu no longer cared about respect for the Jie King, and likewise showed angry expressions.

In their view, it was because Jie King Dai Shang failed to guard the military grain in the rear that the current extremely passive situation arose.

As for how Chanshan City actually caught fire, and how the Humans' Camel Fire Oil Bombs carried out a dimensionality-reduction strike, they naturally would not think of it.

Because at this moment, what they needed most was an object to vent their emotions, even if that object was the Jie King!

However.

Venting is venting, but Mangu and the others ultimately fell into a bout of helplessness!

The problem of where to go with no military grain was still placed most directly before them.

Undoubtedly, they had three choices.

First, continue a strong charge with this ten-thousand-strong heavy cavalry corps; as long as they break the enemy, they can seize the enemy's military grain and also win a great victory.

But this is obviously very difficult; for cavalry to charge a well-prepared wagon laager is to use the short to strike the long; not to mention hard to win, even a win would be a miserable victory.

Second, cease battle here, forcibly retreat under Human pursuit; as long as they can endure two days of hungry marching and withdraw to the Jie Tribe's last remaining third major city, Kuju City — though its reserves are neither much nor few — at least they won't have no rice to eat.

Just doing so makes the situation very unfavorable for them; marching hungry while fighting, thinking about it gives one a headache, yet this is also a path of survival.

Third, abandon all illusions, disperse into small groups and escape into the deep mountains and dense forests of this North Border.

This counts as keeping the green mountain, not worrying about no firewood; only it equals directly giving up the Jie Tribe's decades of glorious rise, and instead lingering on in hopes of waiting for that one-in-ten-thousand chance of revival later, and still suffering various Human sweeps.

……

This is a difficult choice.

It is also an imminent choice.

Regardless, the situation forced Mangu to make a decision as soon as possible, for the time was already approaching noon, and the Jie Tribe's heavy armored cavalry, after several hours of combat, were already nearing the point of starving.

At this moment, cold sweat broke out all over Mangu!

He never could have imagined that he, merely serving as the tribe's heavy cavalry commander, would now have to make a decision for the future of the entire race!

This was originally a matter for the clan's elders or sages; it clearly had little to do with a rough, domineering old warrior like him.

But the times and the circumstances — under a convergence of coincidences, this critical matter ultimately fell upon his head.

At the very center of his own cavalry's great array, Mangu discussed with several of his subordinates, the Partial Generals, and laid out the three choices above.

But those Partial Generals, as his capable subordinates, actually differed little from his own style; they were likewise rough, barbaric warriors.

"Everything is up to the General to decide!"

After looking at each other in dismay, the several Partial Generals simultaneously cupped their fists toward Mangu and spoke.

"This……"

Mangu was speechless in his heart, yet at this moment he could not show the slightest anger, anxiety, or other abnormality; otherwise, army morale would surely be thrown into chaos.

Therefore.

After his mind spun a few circles in panic and haste, Mangu ultimately regained a moment of clarity and made a comprehensive choice.

That was to charge the formation with all their might one more time; if it truly failed, then retreat back to Kuju City.

This was the result of combining Choice One and Choice Two.

As for the third choice, Mangu did not consider it, for that would be tantamount to completely giving up resistance, no different from escaping into the mountains to become savages again; it did not suit his character.

The military order was issued, and the several Partial Generals naturally had no objection.

For in the current situation, Mangu's decision was also almost the most suitable choice.

Rumble—!

The great banner waved, and the Jie Tribe's three heavy cavalry units, numbering fully over ten thousand, began adjusting their warhorses, preparing for an unprecedented charge.

They split into three directions, charging forward, like three sharp knives advancing without hesitation, murderous aura soaring!

Needless to say, this imposing momentum seized the soul; it could truly be called earth-shaking.

And on the human race's army formation side, they also welcomed this battle's most dangerous situation since it began!

Using the strongest charge to strike the strongest shield — who wins and who loses will determine the final outcome of this campaign!

And in fact.

Jiang Bu Shi and the others had also long since roughly guessed Mangu's decision, knowing what kind of test they faced.

【89】 "Steady, steady!"

"Steady, steady!"

After the frantic flag signals came the frantic shouts of numerous middle-rank officers, voices cracking with exhaustion, ordering their soldiers to hold the formation.

At the rear of the great array, various cannon carts and elevated bed crossbows fired desperately at the Jie cavalry, just to block one or two as best they could.

And under these circumstances, Gu Xuan and his two thousand-plus elite cavalry did not join the battle, but watched all this from afar across the burning Chanshan City.

Even the five thousand cavalry under Jiang Bu Shi, after several clashes and losing half their number, had the remaining men and horses take the opportunity to withdraw into the infantry great array under flag orders, no longer engaging.

This is obviously somewhat cold-blooded, relying entirely on the heavy infantry great array to resist the Jie heavy cavalry's charge.

However.

Yet this is, at this very moment, the human race's most correct choice, and also one they had no choice but to make.

For after this, the ones who could deal the greatest blow to Mangu's legion while they were starving and their combat power declining were precisely these human cavalry.

Rumble—!

Ten thousand horses galloping, iron armor forest-stern, long spears like a forest!

This is the peak showdown of ten thousand iron cavalry and ten thousand heavy infantry, and also a contest of iron-blood against iron-blood; neither side will retreat!

Across the entire battlefield, arrows fell like rain, dust flew everywhere, no one could see anything clearly, only tightly gripping the long weapons in their hands, amidst closed eyes and unknown fear, they faced their own destinies.

Iron cavalry bursts forth, swords and spears ring, just like a silver bottle's liquid bursting out!

Accompanied by many thunderous booms, the two iron armies ultimately collided together.

Amidst waves of men and horses toppling over, there also accompanied countless casualties among the soldiers on the human side.

Yu yu yu……

The cries of falling warhorses, the miserable screams of soldiers suffering heavy wounds, continued unceasingly.

Just a single charge, and both the Jie Tribe and the human race each lost at least over a thousand soldiers.

At the human great array, even with Vajra Chariots for support, the Jie iron cavalry still broke through, and some even nearly charged to the inner side of the great array very close to Jiang Bu Shi.

However.

Ultimately it was only "nearly."

After paying the cost of one or two thousand soldier casualties, and the destruction of many Vajra Chariots, bed crossbows, and the like, the human race still blocked the Jie army's desperate charge.

As the saying goes, one drum raises the spirit, the second flags, the third exhausts it.

The Jie Tribe ultimately still failed to break through the human race's heavy infantry great array.

And this was actually within the expectations of high-level figures like Gu Xuan, Jiang Bu Shi, Mangu, and others.

"Ai……"

Mangu's face showed nothing, but in his heart he let out a long sigh.

Seeing that matters were beyond reconciliation, he decided on the spot, ordering the drums beaten and flags waved, directing the remaining heavy cavalry still capable of free maneuver to retreat.

Judging by the situation, he actually intended to abandon even those several thousand cavalry trapped in the human army formation.

Although this appears very cold-blooded, it is also a helpless measure; otherwise they would inevitably be drawn in even deeper.

Boom—

The roar of the earth rang out once more.

But this time, it was the signal for the Jie Tribe's army to retreat.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Bu Shi, the Northern Border Governor, and other high-ranking human officials were nearly overjoyed!

Even Gu Xuan and others observing the battle from horseback in the distance showed expressions of relief on their faces.

Such a scene obviously meant that the most difficult moment for the human race had ultimately passed, and what awaited them was the harassment and pursuit of the starving Jie Tribe Heavy Cavalry Corps!

At such a moment, Jiang Bu Shi did not need to communicate with Gu Xuan at all; as an old general, he naturally made the best choice.

As the flag signals were issued.

On one side, the human Heavy Infantry Corps continued to slaughter the remaining Jie Cavalry in the formation; after losing their speed, these heavy cavalrymen were no different from standing targets.

On the other side, Jiang Bu Shi also released the remaining two or three thousand cavalrymen, ordering them to join up with the cavalry under Gu Xuan's command.

A quarter of an hour later.

Gu Xuan led nearly five thousand cavalrymen, following from afar behind the seven or eight thousand heavy cavalry led by Mangu.

The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we strike; the enemy retreats, we pursue...

This was the simplest military order issued by Gu Xuan and his officers and soldiers for this cavalry battle.

Because under the current circumstances, there was no need at all to charge head-on against the Jie Tribe; one only needed to wait until they were starving and thirsty and had completely lost their stamina and strength, then charge in to harvest them at will.

Of course.

This still required extremely high cavalry command art, and relied on the human cavalry on Gu Xuan's side having the speed advantage of light armor.

During this process, Mangu and others had not thought of counterattacking.

Setting ambushes, sending scattered heavy cavalry to harass from the flanks along the road, and so on...

But although the ideas were good, they were all cracked one by one by Gu Xuan.

First, the human side had already sent out elite scouts who constantly monitored every move of the Jie Tribe from afar.

Second, the two sides of the road were mostly deep mountains and dense forests, completely unsuitable for cavalry harassment; separated from the main cavalry force and without grain or forage, they could only become existences like savages.

Like locking onto prey, Gu Xuan led his cavalry battalion in pursuit from afar behind, waiting for the moment the enemy was on the verge of collapse...

(Chapter End)