Chapter 150

First Volume, Chapter 150: Breaking the Formation, Final Battle

He merely threw the sugarcane away instead of hurling it at Qin Feng's head—a small gesture that made Li Xu's eyes flash with cruelty, though it vanished instantly.

Qin Feng turned and returned to the front of Xu Mo's army, watching the heavily pressured guards with a relaxed face, grinning: "They've got so many men—it's obvious they're bullying us! When the fighting starts, don't hold back—crush them to death."

At these words, Ning Hu trembled with rage.

This guy! Tells the enemy to go easy, yet orders his own men to kill—how can anyone be so shamelessly audacious?

Originally, the guards' hearts were in their throats, having lost all hope for this battle—but seeing Qin Feng so calm, their emotions steadied.

Qin Feng bit hard into the sugarcane, chewing: "Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Losing isn't terrifying—what's terrifying is losing your fighting spirit! If you all fight until your last breath, even if you lose, each of you gets ten taels of silver."

At this, the guards' eyes instantly lit up.

Qin Feng pressed on: "When this is over, brothers, follow Xu Mo north to fight the Di for our country. Rewards will be given according to merit—you won't be lowly soldiers anymore. You might rise above your current status, bring glory to your ancestors."

The ten taels of silver reignited the guards' fighting spirit.

But these next words set their blood boiling.

Though serving in the City Patrol Bureau ensured food and clothing security, upward mobility was nearly zero—if there was a real chance to earn glory on the frontier, one man's success would lift even his dogs and chickens.

The guards' fear vanished completely; they clenched their fists, staring at Qin Feng with burning eyes.

Qin Feng raised the sugarcane above his head and shouted: "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier! I wish you all glory for Shedynasty—your names will be written in history!"

The guards—even Xu Mo—had fire in their eyes, roaring in unison.

"For Shedynasty! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Just three hundred men, yet their momentum rivaled that of a Regular Army.

Qin Feng, satisfied, chewed his sugarcane as he waddled off, casual and unconcerned.

The entire scene fell silent; all civil and military officials stared in disbelief at Qin Feng's back.

The Second Prince's eyes held only shock, while the Seventh Prince's burned with fervor.

The Liang Emperor let out a soft hum and smiled with deep meaning: "Young as he is, his talent for swaying hearts is remarkably refined."

Qin Tianhu, who had previously given up all hope, now saw Xu Mo's army transformed by Qin Feng's few words—he too grew hopeful, and without hesitation, roared: "Begin!"

In previous trials, at Qin Tianhu's command, both sides immediately clashed.

But this time, neither side moved.

Ning Hu, born of a military family and raised on military texts, possessed tactical literacy no one else could match.

Ning Hu had already divided his thousand soldiers into four battalions.

First Battalion: three hundred Heavy Infantry; Second Battalion: three hundred Light Infantry; Third Battalion: three hundred Bow Infantry; Fourth Battalion: one hundred Cavalry.

Since the Finals rules lifted restrictions, all troop types could be deployed—Cavalry naturally couldn't be absent.

Though Ning Hu was an exceptional warrior, he immediately retreated to the Central Formation and shouted orders: "Third Battalion form up! Second Battalion protect Third! First Battalion advance steadily! Fourth Battalion conserve strength—advance!"

Following Qin Feng's instructions, Xu Mo divided his three hundred men into three battalions.

One hundred Heavy Infantry and fifty Light Infantry were merged into the Armored Battalion.

One hundred Step Bow were the Firepower Battalion.

Fifty Cavalry Archers were the Mobile Battalion.

Xu Mo glanced at the City Wall, where Qin Feng waved red and blue small flags—he understood instantly and roared: "Armored Battalion hold the center, protect the rear Firepower Battalion! Cavalry Archers, stand by!"

Watching Ning Hu's Heavy Infantry Battalion 1 advance steadily, Xu Mo's palms sweated; the guards beside him breathed heavily.

Seeing Xu Mo's Armored Battalion link shields into a Tortoise Shell Formation, Ning Hu sneered: "Breakthrough Weapons are now permitted—Qin Feng still uses the Tortoise Shell Formation? Has he run out of ideas? Order: continue advancing—break through head-on!"

From the rear command post, muffled drum beats sounded.

When the two armies were less than twenty meters apart, Ning Hu's First Battalion revealed its fangs: under shield soldiers' cover, the second rank raised Long Halberds, the third rank gripped Great Axes and Wolf Tooth Clubs.

Qin Feng, using the elevated terrain of the City Wall to oversee the battlefield, immediately waved flags to issue orders.

Xu Mo could only command the Central Formation; the Firepower Battalion and Mobile Battalion couldn't hear him—they relied solely on their battalion commanders reading Flag Signals.

The Mobile Battalion surged out from both flanks of the Central Formation, charging at Ning Hu's First Battalion with Cavalry speed, firing arrows from afar—crackling sounds erupted as soldiers were struck and eliminated.

Shedynasty's Heavy Armor was among the most advanced of its time, yet still primarily consisted of lamellar armor—effective against slashes and chops, but vulnerable to arrows with high penetration. Once hit, a soldier was eliminated.

Fifty Bow Infantry scattered around Ning Hu's First Battalion, firing arrows relentlessly, ignoring everything else.

Seeing his First Battalion taking only damage, Ning Hu ordered: "Cavalry support!"

Dense drum beats sounded—but as Ning Hu's Fourth Battalion charged out, the Mobile Battalion immediately retreated to the rear. Since no formation was required, simply escaping counted as a major achievement, so their mobility far outpaced Ning Hu's arranged Cavalry.

Seeing the Fourth Battalion charge into empty air, Ning Hu ordered them back—but as soon as they withdrew, the Mobile Battalion clung to them like a leech.

When Ning Hu ordered again, they ran off once more.

"Damn it!" Ning Hu cursed. "These damn Cavalry are infuriatingly persistent!"

Helpless, Ning Hu gritted his teeth: "Fourth Battalion Cavalry, flank and encircle Xu Mo's rear—break through the Bow Infantry line!"

The Fourth Battalion Cavalry surged forward with astonishing momentum, attacking Xu Mo's rear.

Qin Feng immediately waved his flags.

The Mobile Battalion's precious Bow Infantry fled instantly, avoiding any engagement with the enemy Cavalry; since they were Lightly Equipped, their speed advantage let them evade Ning Hu's Cavalry while continuing to harass the Heavy Infantry Battalion 1.

Seeing the Mobile Battalion abandon the Firepower Battalion, Ning Hu rejoiced: "The Bow Infantry are isolated—this is the moment to annihilate them! Qin Feng, even if you're brilliant, you're no Professional Soldier—you've made a fatal mistake!"

Qin Tianhu jolted upright as if shocked, watching the Cavalry charge toward the Bow Infantry, his face pale: "It's over—Xu Mo's army will suffer a fatal blow."

Li Xu, however, was ecstatic: "Flag Signals to issue orders? Novel! But what good are these flashy tricks? They're riddled with holes!"