Chapter 32: The Great Slaughter of Youzhou's Cavalry

  "Hmm?"

  Gongsun Yue's face stiffened for a moment, then he revealed a cold smile.

  Want to raid the flank? Utterly foolish.

  Changing formation in front of the enemy is a great taboo in using troops.

  The two armies are now less than two arrow-lengths apart. At this time, the best strategy is to advance bravely and decide victory or defeat with actual strength. It's almost time for a showdown, but suddenly changing formation is simply asking for death.

  Gongsun Yue even suspected that the leaders of the Western Liang rebel army had their heads kicked by war horses.

  If it weren't for this, would they have changed their formation in front of the enemy and made such a stupid mistake?

  But anyway, whether Luo Zheng's head was kicked by a war horse or not is no longer important.

  Just as the two hundred Xiliang cavalrymen were approaching within shooting range, Gongsunyue immediately drew his sword and shouted, "Release arrows."

  Youzhou cavalry is good at riding and shooting, when facing the enemy in battle, they naturally play to their strengths.

  In an instant, three thousand longbows were drawn simultaneously.

  A dense and heavy rain of arrows shot down like a swarm of locusts, swiftly sweeping across the sky and then pouring down on the heads of the two hundred Western Liang cavalrymen who were charging forward.

  Under such a dense hail of arrows, the mere two hundred Western Liang cavalry didn't have any possibility of survival.

  The only outcome is being shot into a hedgehog.

  Gongsun Yue's mouth curled up in a cold smile, what an idiot, not only did he change formation in the face of the enemy, but also arranged his 200 Western Liang cavalry into two horizontal rows, front and back, isn't this just rushing to come and die?!

  Every cavalryman knows that cavalry must be arrayed in a triangular formation in order to maximize the advantages of charging.

  Horizontal array, only when collecting troops and sweeping arrays will they be arranged in this horizontal array with two wings extending to both sides.

  Forming a line like this and charging head-on against cavalry formed in a wedge-shaped formation is simply suicidal.

  Gongsun Yue could already foresee the miserable defeat of the Western Liang cavalry, and the cold smile at the corner of his mouth grew thicker. However, soon he suddenly widened his eyes, with an incredulous look on his face, as if he had seen a ghost.

  Only dense arrows poured down on the heads of these two hundred Western coolies, but they couldn't shoot down a single rider.

  Strong arrows shot onto the Western Liang cavalry and war horses, making a loud clanging sound, as if they had been shot into iron studs.

  The result was so stunning that all the Youyan cavalry were wide-eyed with incredulity.

  What's going on, how did all these Western Xia cavalrymen turn into men of iron? Not only that, even the war horses are all wearing iron armor, with such a heavy weight, how can the warhorses run for a long time carrying this load.

  However, there is no time to think about it now.

  The two armies were now within twenty paces of each other.

  "Kill."

  Gongsun Yue gritted his teeth and swung his sword with a loud shout.

  At the same time, a small school from Xiliang in the front row of the subway cavalry raised his knife to the sky and shouted loudly, "Kill!"

  Two cavalry troops approached each other rapidly and clashed head-on without any fanfare, splashing up blood lights everywhere.

  The cries of killing and wailing suddenly shattered the sky, but the result of the collision was unbelievable.

  Gongsun Yue's sword chopped down onto the head of a Western Liang soldier, sparks flying everywhere. The Western Liang cavalryman's body swayed back and forth, but he didn't fall off his horse. Instead, he fiercely counterattacked with a slash of his own, his iron helmet's two eye holes gleaming with murderous intent.

  "Get out."

  Gongsun Yue nearly had his jaw dropped, and hastily dodged to the side.

  But at this moment, **the war horse let out a loud whinny and was knocked flying into the air.

  Iron chains locked in a row, the iron-clad cavalry charged forward with an unstoppable momentum, and even if one horse was frightened, it would be dragged by other war horses and could only gallop forward frantically, unable to stop at all, and it was really impossible for human power to block.

  Gongsun Yue was shocked and lost his color, but before he could turn over the horse's back, a flash of light appeared on the side, and a Xiliang cavalryman who happened to be passing by quickly cut off half of Gongsun Yue's head with one knife, ending Gongsun Yue's life.

  In a flash of blood and light, the first row of iron-clad chainmail cavalry rushed past like a plow turning over the earth.

  The three thousand Youyan cavalry were immediately dispersed and their formation was broken. A large area of the triangular array collapsed, and they no longer formed a battle line.

  Immediately afterwards, the second row of iron-clad chain cavalry arrived, once again plowing through the 3,000 Youyan cavalry formation. The already shaky formation immediately fell into disarray, and panic spread rapidly.

  Especially after Gong Sunyue's death in battle, this Youyan cavalry corps was thrown into great disorder in an instant.

  After two rows of iron-clad cavalrymen rushed from the front to the back, they trampled the three thousand Youyan cavalrymen severely. The three thousand Youzhou cavalrymen had already collapsed and were scattered all over the place like torn window paper.

  Just then, the real killer of the Western Xia army was just beginning.

  In the mournful sound of the horn, the Western Iron Cavalry finally turned their horses' heads and killed them in this most critical moment, like two bone-picking steel knives, fiercely inserting themselves into the wings of the Youzhou cavalry formation.

  The task of iron-clad cavalry is to break through the enemy's formation, not to annihilate them.

  The real killer was after the iron-clad cavalry broke through the Youzhou cavalry formation and launched a fatal blow.

  Just as the Ironclad Cavalry's massive killing power had shocked them, and before they could calm down from their panic, the 3,000 Youzhou cavalry were once again struck by the Xiliang Iron Horsemen with a deadly and sharp blow, and in an instant, their army collapsed like a mountain.

  Iron-clad cavalry excels at breaking formations rather than killing enemies.

  Only a couple of hundred people, even if the enemy army is waiting to be slaughtered, they can't kill many people at all.

  The real force responsible for annihilating the enemy was the 7,000 Western Liang Iron Cavalry waiting to launch the final blow.

  If the two armies clashed head-on, it would be impossible for the 3,000 Youzhou cavalry to be defeated so easily. Even if the troops were vastly outnumbered, the 7,000 Xiliang Iron Cavalry would have to pay a considerable price in casualties to defeat this Yan Iron Cavalry head-on.

  Luo Zheng's reason for not taking the initiative to attack before was precisely because of this.

  However, at this moment, the 3,000 Youyan cavalry were greatly intimidated by the iron armor and the mighty momentum of the giant horse, their morale was shaken, and the cavalry formation was disrupted. How could they withstand the 7,000 Xiliang iron cavalry that came like wolves? The final outcome had already been decided.

  The three thousand Youyan cavalry collapsed and were no longer an army, just one round of charging and nearly a thousand people were lost.

  Moreover, Gong Sunyue had fallen early on, and the remaining troops no longer had the heart to fight to the death, and they fled in all directions on horseback.

  Just then, Sun Jian led his 7,000 infantrymen over.

  "Pass on my military order, exert all strength to pursue and kill the Youzhou soldiers."

  A deafening shout shook the vast wilderness, and Luo Zheng's thunderous roar spread in all directions, audible to everyone.

  70,000 Western Liang iron cavalry responded with a loud noise, scattered in units of tuan, and pursued the defeated Youzhou cavalry on horseback.

  Luo Zhen quickly gathered 500 cavalrymen and cut off Sun Jian's army's path of retreat.

  The green grassland has now been dyed red with blood.

  Wounded but still alive soldiers and war horses let out helpless wails, with severed limbs scattered all around.

  Sun Jian reined in his horse and stood upright under the fluttering commander's flag, his tiger eyes wide with incredulity, his face full of disbelief.

  Lost, actually lost just like that.

  The three thousand elite Youzhou cavalry were defeated just like that, a defeat so unbelievable it was hard to accept the reality before one's eyes.

  It was just a charge, and the 3,000-strong Wei army from Yanmen was defeated by only 200 Western Liang cavalry, routed and unable to regroup. Such an outcome would be hard for anyone to believe, not just Sun Jian.

  Sun Jian was shocked and stunned, a suffocating feeling of extreme annoyance brewing in his chest.

  Cheng Pu was also stunned, unable to accept the unbelievable result.

  At this time, Luo Zheng led five hundred Xiliang cavalrymen to swiftly kill over.

  "Alas!"

  Luo Zheng raised his hand and the war horse immediately slowed down its running speed.

  Behind him, the 500 Western Liang cavalry swiftly spread out to both wings and eventually formed a fan-shaped line at a distance of two arrows from Sun Jian's main camp, in two rows, each holding knives and reins, with fierce eyes and killing intent.

  Sun Jian finally came back to his senses and immediately shouted loudly, "Form up in battle array on the spot."

  Cheng Cheng also calmed down from the shock and immediately ordered the archers to draw their bows and prepare for an attack, preventing the Western Liang army from launching a surprise assault.

  Lu Zhen stepped forward a few steps on horseback and laughed loudly: "Sun Jian, you rustic fellow, how can the iron cavalry of the Western Liang compare to my general's military prowess?"

  Sun Jian had not yet responded, when Cheng Pu suddenly became enraged, urging his horse out of the formation and shouting loudly: "Luo Zhen, you little boy, if you have the guts, come out and decide life and death with me. Hiding in the army and boasting of your eloquence, what kind of skill is that?"

  Luo Zheng glanced at Cheng Pu with disdain and smiled: "Cheng Pu, talking to you this brainless fool is simply an insult to General's IQ. As a general in command of the army, how can I be on the same level as you who are brave but lack strategy?"

  "Wow, what a suffocating guy!"

  Cheng Pu's loud roar shook the sky, his hair and beard stood on end, and the corners of his eyes nearly split open.

  Sun Jian slowly rode his horse out of the formation, his tiger eyes gleaming with authority, and shouted: "Luo Zhen, you little boy, dare to fight me?"

  "Ha! Sun Jian, you are a defeated general under Xu Chu's command in my army. How dare you be so arrogant here? However, I am feeling particularly pleased today, so I won't bother with the likes of you and your futile bravery. After I annihilate the 3,000 Youyan cavalry, I'll come back to deal with these remnants of defeated soldiers. Clean up Bo Zhu for me, and wait obediently in Qiao County for me to take your dog life."

  Having said that, he waved his hand and led the 500 Western Liang Iron Cavalry away like a whirlwind.

  Sun Jian's face turned iron-green with rage, and he almost spat blood, but there was nothing he could do.

  At present, three thousand Yanyu cavalry were defeated, leaving only seven thousand infantrymen, who could not cope with this Xiliang cavalry at all.

  Almost choked to death and nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood again.

  Thinking of himself, since following General Zhu Huan to conquer the Yellow Turbans and the Western Liang rebels, he has gone through dozens of battles, big and small, but never suffered such a great defeat. First, he was almost captured at the Battle of Xingyang, and this time he lost three thousand Youyan cavalry.

  Even if I return to Tiger Trap Pass, I fear I will no longer have the face to meet the various lords of Guandong.

  Watching the Western Liang rebels pursue and kill the fleeing Youzhou cavalry, they were powerless to stop the enemy, feeling extremely stifled and frustrated.

  Sun Jian's anger grew with each passing moment, a suffocating sense of frustration and resentment accumulating in his chest, making him feel like he was about to spit blood.

  Cheng Pu let out a loud roar, wielding his iron spear with all his might. "Luo Zhenxiao, you dare to bully others too much! If I don't kill this villain, will he ever stop?"

  Sun Jian sighed and waved his hand: "Let's go, first retreat back to Chen County, and then discuss the strategy to defeat the enemy."