Chapter 48: Heavy Cavalry

The darkness before dawn is the deepest.

The mountain ridges on both sides of Shen'er Valley are reduced to vague outlines, like a crouching giant beast.

A low Horn Sound comes from the direction of the Northern Yuan Army camp.

"Woo... woo... woo...."

Three long horn blasts, each faster than the last.

Inside the Ming army Military Camp, a sentinel struck the bronze gong.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The whole camp instantly sprang to life.

The soldiers rushed out of the tents, armor‑clad and weapon‑handed, quickly forming ranks.

Inside the Central Command Tent, Xu Da adjusted his armor neatly and scanned the generals.

"Kuokuo, this means we must fight to the death; last night the raid failed, today you intend a frontal charge," he said in a deep voice.

Chang Yuchun grinned, "That works perfectly; saves us from having to go after him."

Mu Ying clasped his fists and said, "Marshal, the junior commander requests your order to lead the left army to guard the valley mouth."

Li Wenzhong said, "The junior commander will guard the Right Wing."

Xu Da nodded, looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Prince, in today's battle Kuokuo will concentrate all forces to attack my central army, you..."

"I know, I guard the central army; whoever attacks whom," Zhu Yong said naively.

Xu Da smiled, "Very well, the central army is yours, Prince."

The generals exited the tent.

A pale, fish‑belly white spread across the horizon.

Morning mist rose from the valley floor, draping the battlefield in a thin veil.

The Northern Yuan Army left the camp.

A black mass of horsemen surged down the slope like a tide.

Cavalry led, infantry followed, War Flags like a forest.

Kuokuo Tie Mu Er personally donned his armor and took the field, wielding a Long Sword, standing at the front of the formation.

Behind him were the Northern Yuan's last elite, over fifty thousand men.

"Today's battle: advance without retreat! Victory lives, defeat dies!" Kuokuo shouted, raising his arm.

"Huho! Huho! Huho!"

The Northern Yuan Army roared in unison, their cries shaking the valley.

Within the Ming army formation, Xu Da squinted at the opposite side.

"Send the order, firearm soldiers prepare."

The Command Flag fluttered.

Three thousand firearm soldiers crouched in the front row, muzzles aimed forward.

This is the Ming army's standard Huogi, range Hundred Steps, one shot per reload.

Against cavalry charges its effect is limited, but it can blunt their momentum.

Kuokuo also saw the Ming army's firearm formation.

He sneered, pointing his sword forward.

"First formation, charge!"

Five thousand cavalry launched a charge.

Hooves struck the ground, booming like thunder.

Dust billowed.

Three Hundred Steps, Two Hundred Steps, One Hundred Fifty Steps...

"Release!"

Within the Ming army formation, the Command Flag was waved down.

"Bang bang bang..."

The firearms fired together, white smoke billowing.

The Northern Yuan cavalry at the front fell in a heap.

But the cavalry behind showed no pause, continuing the charge.

One Hundred Steps, Fifty Steps...

"Long Spear Formation!"

The Ming army Formation shifted.

Firearm soldiers fell back, Long Spear soldiers advanced.

A Three Zhang tall spear forest rose, slanting toward the front.

Cavalry crashed into the spear forest.

Men fell, horses overturned.

Wails, horse whinnies, clashing weapons blended into one.

The first wave of impact was blocked.

But Kuokuo's face remained expressionless.

These five thousand cavalry were consumables from the start.

"Second formation, up!"

Another five thousand cavalry surged forward.

This time, they skirted the gun forest, flanking from both sides.

The Ming army's infantry squares on both wings advanced to meet them.

The combat entered a fever pitch.

In the valley, fighting silhouettes were everywhere.

Blade flashes and sword shadows, flesh and blood flew everywhere.

Zhu Yong stood beneath the central army's great banner, watching quietly.

He held Double Hammers in his hands, the heads hanging to the ground.

Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng lined up on the left and right, with five thousand Imperial Troops behind them.

They were hand‑picked Strongmen, each standing Eight Chi tall, broad‑shouldered and waist‑wide.

"Prince, when do we charge?" Zhang Wu said, unable to hold back.

Zhu Yong shook his head: "Wait a bit longer, Kuokuo hasn't moved yet."

Just as he spoke, Kuokuo moved in the opposing Formation.

He personally led ten thousand elite cavalry, charging straight from the center road.

Of those ten thousand riders, the front five thousand were all Heavy Armor.

Both riders and horses wore iron armor, exposing only their eyes.

This is Northern Yuan's final trump card… heavy cavalry. Who would have thought Kuokuo Tie Mu Er had assembled such a force.

"Here it comes," Zhu Yong's eyes brightened.

He lifted the Double Hammers and vaulted onto his horse.

"Brothers, charge with me!"

The five thousand Imperial Troops answered in unison.

"Kill!"

Zhu Yong led his horse, breaking out of the Formation.

Opposite, Kuokuo also saw Zhu Yong.

Enemies meeting, their eyes reddened with hatred.

"Zhu Yong… give me your life!" Kuokuo roared furiously.

Two iron cavalry units charged head‑on.

The distance closed rapidly.

One hundred zhang, fifty zhang, twenty zhang…

Zhu Yong raised his right hammer.

Kuokuo raised his Long Sword.

Ten zhang!

"Clang!"

Hammer and sword collided.

Kuokuo felt a massive force; the Long Sword slipped from his hand and flew away.

He was shaken off his horse, thrown backward.

Zhu Yong swept his left hammer horizontally.

Three of Kuokuo's personal guards were blasted away at once, their chest armor dented, blood spouting from their mouths.

Kuokuo hit the ground and rolled several times before stopping.

He struggled to rise, discovering his right hand's web split open, blood streaming.

When he looked up, Zhu Yong had already plunged into the Iron Pagoda Formation.

Those drum‑beating golden hammers moved through the Heavy Armor cavalry as if entering an empty realm.

One hammer struck a horse's head, the warhorse whined and fell.

One hammer swept a horse's leg, flipping both rider and horse.

Zhu Yong never selected targets; he charged wherever the crowd was thickest.

Every hammer swing brings casualties.

The Heavy Armor that Heavy Armor cavalry pride themselves on is like paper in front of the drum‑beating golden hammers.

One hammer strike dents the iron armor, breaking the bones and tendons inside.

Another hammer blows both rider and armor flying dozens of zhang.

Kuokuo's eyes bulged as if about to split.

These five thousand Heavy Armor cavalry are the result of his ten years of painstaking effort.

Each suit of armor is worth a thousand gold, each rider a veteran elite.

But now, before Zhu Yong, they are reaped like straw.

"Stop him! Stop him!" Kuokuo shrieked angrily.

More cavalry surged toward Zhu Yong.

But to no avail.

Zhu Yong's horse is swift, his hammer heavy, his strength great.

He never stopped, just kept charging forward.

Where he passed, corpses lay everywhere.

The five thousand Imperial Troops followed behind like a spear, tearing a gap in the Iron Pagoda Formation.

Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng each held a long spear, protecting Zhu Yong's two flanks.

The three formed a spearhead formation, piercing straight into the enemy's core.

Kuokuo was lifted onto another horse by Imperial Troops, still eager to fight.

The Vice General grabbed the reins and said, "General, retreat! If we don't withdraw now, it'll be too late!"

Kuokuo turned his head and looked.

The Ming army's left and right wings had already pressed in.

Mu Ying and Li Wenzhong each led twenty thousand troops, flanking from both sides.

The Northern Yuan Army's formation fell into chaos.

Heavy Armor cavalry were scattered by Zhu Yong, losing their impact.

The infantry were blocked by the Ming army's long‑spear formation, unable to advance a single step.

The defeat was already sealed.

"No, I won't retreat! Minmin is still in their hands!" Kuokuo roared.

"General, as long as the green mountains remain!" the Vice General pleaded desperately.

At that moment, a swift horse galloped from behind.

"General! Reinforcements from Longxi have arrived! Just thirty li away!"

Kuokuo's eyes brightened: "How many?"

"Twenty thousand cavalry!"

"Good! Send the order: fight while retreating, close in toward Longxi!" Kuokuo said, his spirit revived.

Horn Sound rang out.

The Northern Yuan Army began to withdraw.

But the retreat quickly turned into a rout.

The Ming army seized the chance to strike down.

Zhu Yong led Imperial Troops in a relentless pursuit, cutting all the way to beneath Erdao Liang.

Kuokuo led the remnants up the ridge, holding the dangerous position.

Only then did Zhu Yong halt his horse.

The ridge before them was steep, easy to defend but hard to attack.

A strong assault would incur massive casualties.

"Prince, pursue or not?" Zhang Wu asked.

Zhu Yong shook his head: "No pursuit, we'll wait for Xu Shu."

They turned the horse's head, leading the troops back.

Along the way, corpses lay scattered everywhere.

Mostly the bodies of the Northern Yuan Army, with a few Ming soldiers.

Zhu Yong's face was expressionless.

The battlefield is like this: either you die, or I perish.