Chapter 31: Iron Armor Linked Ring Cavalry

  Li Meng said first: "General, this horse armor is probably over 200 jin, two sets of heavy armor add up to at least 300 jin. Even if the warhorse can run with a heavy load, it will not be able to carry the weight for more than 100 steps."

  All the military officers were people who had dealings with horses, and naturally understood the reasoning behind it, and nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

  Luo Zheng laughed and said: "No problem, this general has a wonderful plan."

  He then asked Old Horse, "The horseshoes, are they all made?"

  Old Horse said: "It's all settled."

  He then hastily called someone to bring a horseshoe and handed it over to Luo Zheng.

  Luo Zheng took a look and although it was a bit rough, he could barely make do with it.

  Li Meng and Wang Fang didn't know what this thing was for, each of them looked at it with a puzzled expression.

  Go to the school playground.

  Luo Zheng didn't explain either, he waved his hand and led the military school students to the training ground.

  "Zhong Kang, go and lead a war horse here."

  Arriving at the school grounds, Luo Zheng immediately gave an order.

  Xu Chu responded and quickly led a war horse over.

  Luo Zhen ordered the troops to tie up their war horses and had Xu Chu lay them down.

  Xu Zhu, this fierce man, hugged the horse's neck, and with one back throw, he flipped the warhorse to the ground, pinning it down tightly, allowing the warhorse to continuously raise its head and whinny loudly, struggling with all its might, but unable to break free from Xu Zhu's arm.

  The Western Liang army generals looked on with cold sweat, this guy's skills were quite impressive.

  Horseshoe nail.

  Lu Xun ordered his soldiers to nail horseshoes onto the four hooves of the war horse before allowing Xu Chu to release it.

  The war horse's four hooves exerted force, and its body straightened up afterwards, seemingly a bit unaccustomed to it, running back and forth repeatedly.

  "Zhong Kang, put heavy armor on the war horse."

  Luo Zhen ordered, and Xu Chu and several of his personal soldiers immediately stepped forward, helping him put on his armor.

  The full set of war horse armor consists of more than 20 components, hung together with iron hooks, except for the four legs and head of the horse, all other parts are covered with thick iron armor, as for the belly of the horse, there are two layers of thick leather armor.

  Although no helmet was given to Ma Tou, the vulnerable parts were protected with iron armor.

  The war horse became somewhat restive and impatient after being saddled with heavy armor, constantly tossing its head and stamping its hooves.

  Luo Zhen gave an order and Xu Chu immediately put on a suit of heavy armor with the help of his personal guards and mounted his warhorse.

  Let's go!

  He didn't wait for any further orders and Xu Chu urged his horse on, galloping back and forth across the drill grounds.

  After running several laps, the war horse was still vigorous and powerful.

  Although slightly out of breath, he didn't run his hooves off.

  The crowd of military school students widened their eyes one by one, all somewhat disbelieving.

  Just nailed an iron horseshoe and had such a great effect, it's really hard to imagine.

  Luo Zheng was very satisfied and ordered his soldiers to equip the war horses with stirrups.

  After all the military academy students personally tried it out, one by one they looked at Luo Zheng's eyes and immediately changed their expression.

  This is truly a genius idea, whether it's the small hoof or the stirrup, it's an epoch-making new discovery that has greatly helped the cavalry. As for how much benefit it brings, these cavalrymen know best in their hearts.

  For the first time, the eyes of the military academy students looking at Luo Zheng carried a hint of admiration.

  "Immediately select sturdy strength and war horse equipment heavy armor, forge iron armor chain mail."

  His morale greatly boosted, he immediately gave a loud order.

  It's late at night, but the school grounds are brightly lit with torches.

  A set of iron armor was brought over, and the military officers were busy selecting sturdy soldiers.

  Luo Zheng did not sleep for the whole night and waited until the two hundred robust soldiers and tall horses were fully equipped with heavy armor, it was already the end of the third watch, in the early summer dawn, just half a time unit later, the sky would be bright.

  Two hundred heavily armored cavalrymen were linked together with iron chains in two rows, one hundred men in each row.

  "General, Sun Jian's army has already left the camp."

  Two hundred iron-clad cavalrymen had not yet finished their training when a messenger from the vanguard hastily arrived to report.

  Although Luo Zhen did not sleep all night, his spirit was extremely excited. Upon hearing the words, his eyes gleamed with a fierce killing intent. He fiercely waved his arm and shouted loudly: "Pass down my order, have the great army assemble outside the North Gate, and engage in a decisive battle to the death with Sun Jian."

  "Got it."

  There was a small school with a loud voice leading the way, and they rushed out in a hurry.

  Luo Zhen issued several military orders in a row, then turned over and mounted his horse, under the escort of Xu Chu and his personal soldiers, he rushed straight to the North Gate.

  When a wisp of dawn mist appears on the horizon.

  Sun Jian led his troops in a fierce attack once again, but he did not plan to launch another strong assault.

  In three days, more than half of the 100,000-strong army has been wounded or killed, and there is no hope of breaking into the city.

  The great army arrived at the North Gate, but saw that the North Gate was open, and the 7,000 Western Liang iron cavalry had already exited the North Gate and were gathering below the city.

  Sun Jian reined in his warhorse and asked casually: "What is the Western Liang rebel army trying to do?"

  Han Zhang said to Cheng Pu Dao: "My lord, isn't it that the Xiliang rebel army wants to engage in a decisive battle with our army outside the city?"

  Sun Jian's eyes narrowed and he said: "It is not impossible that this Western Liang rebel army has invaded the Central Plains to burn, kill and loot, in order to force the various lords to retreat from Tiger Pass. They will not occupy the city for long. Now it seems that Luo Zhenxiao wants to defeat our army and lead them far away, preparing to advance into Yanzhou or Xuzhou to continue burning, killing and looting."

  Cheng Pu said: "Our army has been attacking the city strongly for days, although we have suffered heavy casualties"

  Although the casualties were heavy, our military strength was still superior to that of Luo Zheng Xiao Er, and there were also 3,000 Youyan Iron Riders who had not yet gone into battle. Luo Zheng Xiao Er thought he could defeat us, it's simply a delusion.

  Sun Jian said: "The target of Luo Zhen's small troops is likely to be three thousand Youyan cavalry."

  Cheng Pu nodded in agreement: "The end will also think so. The Western Liang army is all cavalry, and as long as they are led far away, they can naturally shake off our infantry. Only the 3,000 Youyan cavalry are their heart-worrying troubles."

  Sun Jian's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, and his tiger-like eyes shot out a wolf-like gaze. In a stern voice, he said: "Since that's the case, I'll have a decisive battle with Luo Zheng outside the city of Qiao County, and I must behead Luo Zheng to avenge the blood feud for Gong Yu and Yi Gong."

  Cheng Pu said in a low voice: "Even if all the troops are exhausted, it doesn't matter, they're not the main general's troops anyway."

  "What you said is exactly what I meant."

  Sun Jian also replied in a low voice, and the two of them exchanged a glance, both smiling at each other.

  Just then, a long and mournful sound of a cow horn suddenly echoed through the air.

  The 7,000 Western Liang Iron Cavalry had already assembled at the North Gate and launched a massive attack with a single order.

  "Deploy the army and form battle lines on the spot."

  Sun Jian immediately let out a loud whistle and quickly passed down military orders.

  The original 7,000 infantrymen who were advancing quickly received the military order and immediately gathered to form a defensive circular formation, with their luggage and vehicles spread out in a circle on the outside, looking like a turtle shell.

  As for the three thousand Yanyu cavalry, Yu Jin was on the flank of the main army, ready to strike at any time.

  "My lord, please take a look."

  Cheng Pu suddenly pointed forward and shouted: "The Western Liang rebels are rushing towards the 3,000 Youyan cavalry! This is a determined effort to destroy the 3,000 Youyan cavalry in one fell swoop! If our army does not engage them in battle, the Western Liang rebels will surely retreat far away. The only option is to fight to the death."

  Sun Jian was a decisive person and immediately ordered: "Pass the order to the great army, arrange the formation of halberds and arrows, prepare to launch a counterattack. Also, order Gongsun Yue to lead three thousand iron cavalry to meet the enemy head-on, and must hold off the first wave of attack from the Western Liang rebels, in order to buy time for the main force."

  "Very good."

  The heralds had long since gone forth at his bidding and were rapidly conveying his orders by means of flags.

  Three thousand valiant cavalrymen in front of the formation.

  Gongsun Yue saw the 7,000 Western Liang iron cavalry charging towards his own camp, and then he saw Sun Jian's central army flag signal. Suddenly, his eyes revealed a cold killing intent, and he loudly shouted: "Form a wedge-shaped formation, follow this general to break through the Western Liang barbarians!"

  "Waaaah!"

  Three thousand Yanyu cavalrymen pounded their chests in unison and let out a loud cry, their momentum ignited in an instant.

  Like Hexi Iron Riders, Youzhou cavalry has always believed that Youzhou Iron Riders are the most elite cavalry in the world.

  At Tiger Trap Pass previously, three thousand Youzhou cavalry never had a chance to go into battle.

  Arrived at Jiaozhou, the Western Liang army still did not come out of the city, and the 3,000 Youzhou cavalry also had no opportunity to fight.

  The Western Liang Iron Cavalry may not have taken the Youzhou cavalry seriously, but the three thousand Youzhou cavalry were not afraid of the Western Liang Iron Cavalry either.

  Originally had been holding back for a long time, now finally has the opportunity for a head-on decisive battle, all Youzhou cavalry's blood is mysteriously boiling up, their will to fight was instantly ignited, even though their military strength is less than half of Xiliang Iron Cavalry's, they have no fear.

  The two wings quickly gathered inwards, and the three thousand Youyan cavalry soon formed a triangular wedge-shaped formation.

  Gongsun Yue gave a loud order and led 3,000 cavalrymen to charge forward with himself as the vanguard against the incoming 7,000 Western Liang Iron Cavalry.

  When heroes meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins.

  Youzhou cavalry has been fighting with nomadic nations for years, and they have never seen any battlefield that they are not familiar with, and they have always had the determination to fight to the death.

  Not to mention that these three thousand Youyan cavalry were Sun Gongzhu's personal guards, and they were the elite of the elite. Even if they faced several times their own number of Xianbei iron cavalry, they dared to launch a head-on charge and win the battle.

  A mere 7,000 barbarians from Western Liang, how could they possibly make the invincible Youyan Iron Cavalry, who have never been defeated beyond the Great Wall, retreat in fear?

  In the midst of a prolonged and muffled sound of cattle horns, both armies simultaneously formed into triangular arrays and launched a charge, rapidly closing in.

  On the right flank, Sun Jian also led 7,000 infantrymen in a formation of halberds and spears, charging towards the Western Liang army's flank.

  Iron hooves galloping, thunder rumbling.

  A sudden chill fills the air, spreading in all directions.

  Luo Zheng rode his horse at the forefront of the triangular arrowhead formation, brandishing his sword and letting out a long, mournful howl.

  Seven thousand Western Liang iron cavalry responded with a thunderous roar that almost overwhelmed the momentum of ten thousand galloping horses, their battle intent and momentum not one bit weaker than the three thousand Youyan iron cavalry, their killing intent almost boiling over.

  Closer, even closer.

  The thundering hooves are stirring, two cavalry troops are approaching at an astonishing speed.

  Gongsun Yue had already vaguely seen the vanguard of the Western Liang Iron Cavalry Array, with the face of a mounted general galloping forward.

  However, at this time.

  When the two armies were still at a distance of two arrows, the seven thousand Western Liang iron cavalry, who had formed a triangular array, suddenly split in half and divided into two teams from both wings to surround the three thousand Youyan cavalry from the side and rear, leaving only two hundred cavalrymen, who formed two rows and continued to charge forward.