Chapter 24: A Fierce Battle Before Dawn

"Report!"

A scout came galloping over.

"The Barbarian general Wudabu is leading an army of one hundred thousand, and they are about to reach the valley!"

Xiao Moting instantly pulled back his thoughts, his expression hardening, and he roared in a low voice.

"Prepare for battle!"

A series of rumbles came from the ground; the thunderous sound of hooves rolled in, moving from far to near!

A vast, black mass of thousands of troops appeared at the valley entrance.

The one hundred thousand Barbarian soldiers had arrived!

The massive army was so large that one could not see the end of it.

Ten thousand light cavalry led the vanguard; the Barbarian soldiers, wearing Rattan Armor and riding tall, spirited horses, held Iron Sabers, their fierce intentions fully exposed.

Wudabu rode on a Sweat-Blood Horse, his face covered in a thick beard.

Two great generals followed closely behind him, flanking him on the left and right.

Xiao Moting and his soldiers were wearing Snow Camouflage Uniforms, holding their breath and lying in ambush on the cliff.

They were just waiting for the enemy to enter the valley to launch an immediate surprise attack!

The atmosphere was on the verge of exploding!

Suddenly, just as the Barbarian army reached the valley entrance, they stopped!

At this moment, a general beside Wudabu stepped forward to block the horses, then pointed at the valley and said something in a garbled tongue.

Wudabu nodded, picked up a Telescope, and looked into the valley.

A Telescope!

The officers and soldiers hidden in the snow became tense in an instant.

The valley terrain was treacherous, and the enemy had grown suspicious.

This Telescope could see very far; if their ambush were discovered, everything they had set up would be finished!

They would all die here, too.

The atmosphere was filled with tension.

Wudabu looked very carefully, and only after a long while did he put down the Telescope in his hand!

The soldiers all let out a sigh of relief!

While feeling relieved, they could not help but feel a mix of respect and admiration for Shennü Daren!

Fortunately, Shennü Daren had sent the Snow Camouflage Uniforms, otherwise, they would have been seen through.

Just as everyone was waiting nervously!

Suddenly, a few Barbarian soldiers drove a group of commoners toward the valley.

"This is..." Xiao Moting's sword-like brows knit tightly, and a flash of cold light crossed his eyes.

The ambushing soldiers also saw clearly and were filled with shock and rage.

These dozens of commoners were actually all the craftsmen who had gone up the mountain last night to help build the fortifications!

The craftsmen had returned early in the morning, but they had unexpectedly been captured by Barbarian scouts.

The Barbarian soldiers brandished their blades, seemingly interrogating the craftsmen, asking them if there was an ambush by the Beijiang Army here.

All the soldiers broke into a cold sweat, their hearts hanging in their throats.

The craftsmen had come to help yesterday; they knew the locations where the Landmine Array was buried!

The Barbarian soldiers held whips and lashed out fiercely at the craftsmen.

The craftsmen were beaten until they were a bloody mess.

Puchi!

A Barbarian soldier swung his blade!

A craftsman fell into a pool of blood!

Fresh blood stained the snow red.

Yet, still, no one made a sound.

All the craftsmen remained silent, not uttering a single word!

The craftsmen would rather die than betray the Beijiang Army!

"A bunch of animals, actually killing innocent commoners!" Xiao Dabao could not help but grit his teeth.

The Barbarians used their blade tips to drive the craftsmen, forcing them to walk into the valley.

In an instant!

The hearts of all the soldiers hung in the air!

Ahead was the Landmine Array!

If the craftsmen stepped on a landmine, they would be blown to pieces!

However, none of the craftsmen retreated; everyone gritted their teeth and walked step by step toward the Landmine Array.

Among them, some had parents, wives, and children who had died under Barbarian blades, and some had wives and daughters who had been abducted and subjected to every humiliation.

Now, they were going to take revenge for their families!

Seeing the craftsmen facing death as if it were a homecoming, leading the Barbarian soldiers toward the Landmine Array.

The soldiers were filled with hatred and rage, gritting their teeth!

Xiao Moting's expression was icy, his fingers gripped the hilt of his Long Sword, and his eyes flashed with intense killing intent!

The craftsmen reached the edge of the Landmine Array.

They raised their heads one after another, looking in the direction of Xuancheng.

Suddenly, an old craftsman roared.

"Daughter, Daddy has come to avenge you all!"

After roaring, he charged violently toward the front...

Just at this moment—

"Whoosh."

A sharp arrow flew past his shoulder!

The Barbarian general behind him looked down in disbelief, staring at the arrow that had pierced through his Heart-Protecting Helmet.

Then, he fell heavily onto the snowy ground.

With the general shot dead, the Barbarian soldiers fell into chaos.

The old craftsman was stunned; after coming to his senses, he was moved to tears.

It was the Prince of the Beijiang who saved him!

He waved his arm, "Everyone, run!"

The craftsmen immediately sprinted away!

They knew the location of the Landmine Array and bypassed it from the side.

Wudabu roared.

"There's an ambush! Form ranks!"

Xiao Moting stood on the mountainside, his eyes bloodshot.

Just now, it was he who had shot and killed Wudabu's general with one arrow.

He waved his hand!

"Archers, loose arrows!"

The soldiers, already gnashing their teeth in hatred, immediately launched their attack!

A dense rain of arrows flew out from the cliffs on both sides, shooting toward the Barbarian army like a swarm of locusts.

"Thwip, thwip, thwip."

Barbarian soldiers fell one after another; the Tungsten Steel Arrows easily pierced through their armor, penetrating their chests in a single shot!

Wudabu was firmly protected by shield-bearers, his expression one of shock and rage.

"What kind of sharp arrows are these that can pierce armor?"

The Barbarian soldiers suffered countless casualties, riddled with holes like a sieve.

But soon, they began to counterattack, shooting arrows toward the mountain!

Xiao Moting commanded with composure.

"Shield-bearer squad, defend!"

Hundreds of soldiers rushed forward, raised their Shields, and built an indestructible Shield Wall.

A chaotic clanging sound rang out.

All the Pig Iron Arrows were blocked.

The Barbarian archers' Pig Iron Arrows could not penetrate the Shields!

Instead, they exposed their bodies, and the Barbarian soldiers were pierced through their armor by the Tungsten Steel Arrows, with a large number dying on the spot!

The Barbarian archers were completely crushed by the Beijiang Army, unable to even lift their heads.

Wudabu could never have imagined that such a situation would occur.

Filled with shock and rage, he shouted sternly.

"Prince of the Beijiang, if you have the guts, bring your troops out and fight me!"

Qin Zhan braved the rain of arrows and rushed forward to report urgently.

"Prince, Wudabu is cunning; he is keeping his main army in place, and if the Barbarian cavalry does not step into the Landmine Array, it will be disadvantageous for us."

Xiao Moting frowned deeply.

Cavalry is the main force of an army; if the Barbarian cavalry cannot be wiped out, many will die during close-quarters combat.

At this moment, something suddenly crawled out of the wardrobe.

A large gray megaphone, though it was unclear what material it was made of.

Bai Wei: "Xiao Moting, open it quickly; I have a way to make the Barbarian army enter the Landmine Array."