Chapter 136: The Blood-Soaked Battle Begins

The bugle call of the allied forces' attack.

Like ice water thrown into a boiling oil pot, it instantly ignited the entire High Flat battlefield!

First to move was the Northern Han army's infantry formation.

They were like a moving forest of steel, amidst the thunderous war drums.

With heavy steps, they pressed toward the Zhou army's center and right flank.

Immediately after, the earth began to violently tremble.

That was the Khitan cavalry beginning to charge!

Numbering in the thousands, the cavalry split into several streams, like a bursting flood, carrying the momentum to crush everything.

Mainly sweeping toward the Zhou army's right flank, the thunderous sound of hooves trampling the earth.

It even drowned out all the clamor on the battlefield!

"Archers—ready!"

Officers at all levels bellowed hoarsely, their shouts rising and falling along the Zhou army's line.

The twang of taut bowstrings rang out densely, the cold-glinting arrowheads slanted toward the sky.

Aimed at the surging wave of death.

"Release!"

At the command.

Like a swarm of locusts blotting out the sun, the dense arrow rain carried a piercing whistle as it tore across the horizon.

It poured down upon the charging Khitan cavalry and Northern Han infantry!

"Pfft-pfft!"

The sound of arrows piercing flesh was unceasing; in the charging ranks, men and horses were instantly thrown to the ground, and cries of agony rose and fell.

Warhorses neighed in misery as they collapsed, flinging their riders into the air;

Northern Han infantry raised their shields, the sharp thuds of arrows striking them like rapid raindrops.

The Khitan cavalry's charge faltered for a moment.

But the cavalry behind immediately fearlessly filled the gaps.

They continued to spur their warhorses, waving their sabers, letting out wild howls, and surged forward madly!

Relying on superb horsemanship and speed, after paying a considerable price,

they finally slammed hard into the Zhou army's right flank line!

Boom!

That was the terrifying roar of flesh and steel colliding!

The front-line spearmen fiercely thrust their spears into the warhorses' chests.

But the immense impact also broke their bones and tendons, sending them flying backward.

The Khitan cavalry waved their sabers.

Using the horses' speed, they easily sliced through the Zhou soldiers' leather armor, spraying warm blood.

The entire right flank instantly descended into an extremely brutal melee of blades!

Chen Wen stood before the Tranquil Peace Army's formation.

His fists clenched unconsciously, nails digging deep into his palms.

From his left-rear position, he could relatively clearly oversee the state of the entire right flank battlefield.

His sixteen-fold vision let him catch many details

—the Khitan cavalry's ferocity and madness.

After the initial panic, the Zhou army's right flank soldiers also began to rely on their formation and bloody courage to make a desperate stand.

The battle line was like a dam battered by impacts, violently warping and swaying in the continual spray of blood.

But it had not yet collapsed.

"Hold fast! Hold fast for me!"

The hoarse shout of the Commander of the right flank faintly came through.

Under the central army's great banner.

Chai Rong's face was calm as water, but the veins on the back of his hand, gripping the sword hilt, bulged, revealing his inner turmoil.

He continuously issued orders.

He mobilized the central army's crossbows and reserve forces to provide long-range support to the right flank, attempting to steady the footing.

However, the Khitan cavalry's impacts came wave after wave, each stronger than the last.

They were like tireless wolf packs, repeatedly tearing at the right flank's defenses.

The Northern Han infantry also seized the opportunity to increase pressure, the entire right flank bearing a far greater pressure than other directions.

Just at this stalemate, bloody saw-tooth critical moment, a sudden change occurred!

A sizable force of Zhou army cavalry.

Originally meant as the right flank's mobile force, after enduring a particularly fierce side-wing assault by the Khitan cavalry,

it… collapsed!

Like an avalanche!

Under the initial flight of some officers (historically the units of Fan Ainai and He Hui), fear spread like a plague.

Those cavalry turned their horses' heads, no longer charging toward the enemy.

but instead fled desperately toward the rear, toward their own lines!

They screamed in terror, even recklessly colliding and trampling their own infantry positions, just to escape!

"Damn it!"

Chai Rong of the central command witnessed the scene, the veins on his forehead throbbing, his anger uncontrollable!

The infantry on the right wing had been locked in a bitter fight, relying solely on their blood and qi to hold on.

At that moment, seeing the cavalry they relied on flee first, the army's morale instantly wavered!

"Defeated! Defeated!"

"Run!"

"The cavalry all ran!"

Desperate cries rang out in the right wing's ranks.

Like the last straw that breaks a camel's back.

The infantry line that had been barely holding up began to show partial collapse.

The soldiers lost their will to fight, turning and joining the fleeing ranks.

The entire right wing collapsed at a visible speed!

How could the allied army pass up such a good opportunity?

The Khitan cavalry sounded excited whistles?

Like sharks smelling blood, they frenziedly chased and slaughtered the fleeing Zhou army soldiers.

The Northern Han army's morale also surged, their attacks becoming even fiercer.

The Zhou army's right wing collapse was like a breach in a great dike.

Like a flood of ferocious beasts, the enemy army surged toward the exposed flank of the Zhou army's central command!

The battlefield situation deteriorated rapidly in a short time, perilous as a stack of eggs!

"Military Envoy!"

Shi Dun's eyes were blood-red, he urgently begged to go into battle.

"Let me lead men up to plug the gap!"

Chen Wen's heart also rose to his throat.

He could feel the heaviness and anxiety coming from the central command direction.

He could also see the fleeing soldiers surging in like a tide!

He could also see the enemy's blades flashing with a bloody, cold light!

They surged toward the central command, toward the direction where Chai Rong was!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to charge out immediately.

His voice, hoarse from tension, was unusually firm:

"Hold steady! Without the commander's order, do not act rashly! Form ranks! Defend against the impact!"

He had to remain calm.

The role of the reserve team is to be used at the most critical moment, in the most vital position.

Although the situation is dangerous now, it has not yet reached the moment that decides life and death!

He stared fixedly at the direction of the central command's banner, waiting for that order… or… the moment when he would have to act.

The Fortune Momentum Vortex in his sea of consciousness violently trembled due to this sudden defeat and the surge of pressure.

Its light seemed to dim a little, but it continued to spin stubbornly, supporting his will.

【Personal Ability Multiplier: Lv. 4 (16x)】

【Growth Progress Bar: 99%】 (It trembled slightly under the immense pressure, yet remained steady)

【Fortune Momentum Vortex: violently trembling, light slightly dim, but core solid, steadfastly supporting】

The Battle of Gaoping had already fallen into a desperate situation from the outset!