Chapter 51: Unparalleled Archery Skills

  After Luo Zheng led the army into Zhongshan State, except for camping at night, there was no more slaughter of Ji State aristocrats along the way. Instead, he led 3,000 Western Liang iron cavalry to march swiftly, and five days later, they passed through Guangchang and entered the territory of Youzhou.

  The farther north you go, the more desolate it becomes along the way.

  Youzhou was a border area of the Great Han Dynasty. Every time there were nomadic tribes from the north who came south to plunder, society was often in turmoil.

  During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, although many people were forcibly relocated to the border areas, over the centuries, due to extremely harsh living conditions, the population in these areas only decreased and never increased. Every day, there were common people who could not bear the suffering of being plundered by the Xianbei people, so they fled with their elderly and young to the Central Plains.

  The army marched northward all the way, and what they saw were precipitous mountains and desolate wilderness, where it was often dozens of miles before they could see any signs of human habitation.

  Luo Zheng was delighted to have Zhao Yun, and all along the way, he was in a great mood, pointing out the mountains and rivers with the other military officers, feeling very comfortable.

  At this time, the various lords of Kanto were unable to surround and pursue, and each had returned to their respective homes.

  Gongsun Zan, the governor of Beiping, originally wanted to avenge his younger brother Gongsun Yan with 3,000 Youyan cavalry. However, when he chased him to Hanchang, he learned that Luo Zheng had already led his army northward and could not catch up. He had no choice but to lead his army out of Jizhou from Puyin and head north back to Beiping.

  The vassals' campaign against Dong was thus brought down the curtain.

  Early August.

  Luo Zheng led three thousand cavalry into Dai Prefecture, passing through Lingqiu and Pingqu, heading north to Gao Liu, from Gao Liu out of the pass into the Great Desert, galloping freely on the endless grasslands, with no pursuing troops coming to attack again.

  The desert smoke is straight, the long river sunset is round.

  On the vast grassland, more than 3,000 Western Liang cavalrymen galloped like wild horses.

  The first time I came to the northern grasslands, everyone's heart was broadened, and there was an inexplicable sense of grandeur surging in their chests.

  The vast grassland, like the sky, has no obstacles in sight. Having been accustomed to rugged mountains and rivers, everyone felt that their chest seemed to have broadened a lot when they first came to the endless grassland. That feeling is hard to describe.

  The sky is vast and wide, the fields are lush and green, the wind blows and the grasses bend, revealing cows and sheep.

  When the golden sunset is like a fire and the sun sets in the west, the Xianbei herdsmen on the grassland begin to drive their cattle and sheep back to the enclosure.

  Suddenly, from afar came a faint rumble of thunder-like hoofbeats.

  On the grassland, horses are as numerous as sheep, and herdsmen have long been accustomed to this sound, and don't think it's strange.

  But soon, someone discovered something was off.

  When a black line appeared in sight, some herdsmen pointed to the distance and shouted loudly, "Cavalry, it's a large cavalry."

  The experienced herdsman said loudly: "At least no less than three thousand riders."

  The herdsmen were astonished but not frightened.

  It's not far from here to the Zhongbu Xianbei Old Camp, and a day's ride with light cavalry can get there. Those damned Wuhuan people, although they are some ungrateful wolf cubs, do not dare to come here to plunder the Xianbei people.

  More than three thousand cavalrymen lined up in a row on the vast grassland, galloping forward across mountains and fields.

  Soon, the herdsmen all saw clearly this group of cavalry.

  "Not good, he's Chinese."

  After seeing clearly who came, the Xianbei people were immediately panicked.

  Since the Yongxing period of Emperor Huan, Tan Shi Huai unified the Great Desert and established the Xianbei royal court. The increasingly powerful Xianbei people continuously drove their troops southward, frequently invading the borders of the Han Dynasty from the second year of Yongshou to the Guanghe period for over 20 years. During this time, the northern desert Xianbei posed a severe threat to the Han imperial court until Tan Shi Huai's death and the division of the Xianbei, when this situation was alleviated.

  The Xianbei and Han people also formed an unbreakable blood feud.

  In the eyes of the Xianbei people, the Han people were like weak sheep that could only be taken advantage of at will.

  Although the Xianbei Empire had been in a state of division since the death of Tan Shi Huai, every autumn after the horses had grown fat and strong, the Xianbei would habitually drive their armies south to plunder the northern provinces of the Great Han.

  But the timid Han people never dared to set foot in the vast desert.

  Suddenly, more than 3,000 Xiliang Iron Riders appeared out of nowhere, leaving the Xianbei nomads utterly disbelieving their own eyes.

  When did the Han people become so bold as to ride horses on the vast grasslands of Menggu?

  Incredible as it may seem, the herdsmen immediately drove their cattle, horses and sheep to gallop quickly towards the settlement five miles away.

  In front of the Western Cool Army formation, a small school rode over and said to Luo Zheng: "General, every autumn, the Xianbei people will inevitably launch a large-scale raid on our Great Han border townspeople. Do we want to take advantage of this opportunity to destroy several Xianbei tribes?"

  Luo Zheng galloped on horseback, scanning the Xianbei herdsmen who were hastily driving their sheep to flee. He shook his head and said, "Forget it, they're just women and children, what's the point of killing them?"

  The little school said "hey" and then stopped talking.

  After sunset, the Western Liang cavalry set up camp at the foot of a small hill.

  Although Luo Zhen did not trouble those Xianbei herdsmen, he sent someone to the nearest small Xianbei tribe, and brought back several hundred sheep for slaughter. The next day at dawn, the army broke camp and continued westward.

  Until the Western Liang cavalry left, the Xianbei Xiaoluo tribe finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  At noon, the army passed by Jinquan Beach and prepared to cross the Chou River to advance westward.

  Although it's already deep autumn, the lingering heat of the Indian summer still remains.

  More than three thousand Western Liang cavalrymen took off their clothes and rushed into the shallow water at the riverbank, driving away the heat to cool down.

  The horses, freed from their saddles, grazed leisurely by the riverbank, utterly content.

  Just then, a faint shout and scream came from the north.

  Zhao Yun listened intently for a moment and said: "There are about two hundred cavalrymen."

  Luo Zheng said in surprise: "Zi Long seems to be quite familiar with the Xianbei people?"

  Zhao Yun said: "In the past when I was serving under General Gongsun, I had fought several battles against the Xianbei people."

  Lu Zheng didn't want to pay attention, but that voice was coming this way anyway.

  Before long, a group of tattered and destitute refugees were seen fleeing wildly across the grasslands, with over 200 Xianbei cavalrymen galloping after them, shooting down the escapees at will, laughing maniacally like cats playing with mice.

  He didn't stop until he saw the cavalry of Xiliang on the riverbank.

  At this time, dozens of refugees fleeing the disaster were less than two arrow lengths away from the Western Liang cavalry by the river.

  Zhao Yun's eyesight was astonishing, and he was also quite familiar with border affairs. With just one glance, his gaze suddenly froze.

  Lu Zheng asked: "Does Zilong know the origin of these refugees?"

  Zhao Yun said in a low voice: "He is an escaped slave."

  "Runaway slave?"

  Luo Zheng was not familiar with the border town's affairs and found it quite incomprehensible upon hearing about it.

  Zhao Yun explained: "The people outside the pass are mostly barbarians, fond of raising slaves. Every autumn, the Xianbei people drive their troops south to plunder and loot the Han Dynasty's border counties, not only robbing money and grain but also capturing large numbers of Han civilians, taking them back and assigning them as slaves, making Han civilians work for them in farming, herding and other labor, killing or flogging at will, truly a beastly behavior."

  Luo Zheng's eyes suddenly narrowed, "How can this be!"

  Zhao Yun nodded and said, "The Han people who were captured by the Xianbei are not willing to be slaves. Every year, a large number of them will escape, and they are called 'escaped slaves' by the Xianbei. Although very few people can escape back to the Han territory, the number of escaped slaves has never decreased."

  A fierce killing intent burst forth in Luo Zheng's eyes as he growled: "To enslave the Han people, the Xianbei truly deserve to die."

  Zhao Yun expressed his deep agreement, saying: "Those who are not of our kind must have a different heart. The Xianbei people should indeed die."

  Xu Zhu's eyes widened and he said loudly: "My lord, shall we finish off this Xianbei cavalry?"

  Luo Zheng grunted and shouted: "Zhao Yun, listen to orders."

  Zhoa Yun hastily stood up and said: "Yes."

  Luo Zhen said: "Take 500 cavalrymen and annihilate this Xianbei cavalry."

  "Roger."

  Zhoa Yun accepted the order and immediately led the command to go and inspect the troops.

  Before long, 500 Western Liang iron cavalry broke away from the main formation and swiftly charged towards more than 200 Xianbei cavalry who were still watching from a distance.

  Xu Chu watched as Zhao Yun led his troops far away, and couldn't help but let out a "hiss" of discontent.

  "The second prince, the Han people have come to kill."

  In front of the Xianbei cavalry formation, a sturdy man hastily reminded the young Xianbei in front of the Le Ma formation.

  "We have five hundred cavalry, what is there to fear!"

  The little king scorned them and didn't take these Han cavalrymen seriously at all.

  In the eyes of the Xianbei warriors, the Han people were just prey for the Xianbei to hunt, no matter how strong they were, they could not escape their fate as prey. If it weren't for this group of Han cavalry being numerous and powerful, he would have ordered them to be killed long ago.

  However, with only 500 cavalry arriving, how could the young prince take them seriously?

  The Xianbei iron cavalry galloped across the vast desert, and even the powerful Xiongnu and Wuhuan people of yesterday were no match for them. Those Han people who were not much stronger than sheep, no matter how many they had, could hardly be a match for the great Xianbei iron cavalry.

  "Prepare, let us go into battle with the prince."

  The second prince held up his horse whip and let out a loud shout, his divine power was awe-inspiring.

  More than 200 Xianbei cavalrymen immediately raised their sabers and shouted loudly, like a pack of wolves howling at the moon.

  Western Cool Cavalry Array Front

  Zhang Yun held the reins in one hand and a gun in the other, riding his horse at full gallop.

  Seeing more than 200 Xianbei cavalrymen rushing over, a shocking killing intent suddenly rose in his eyes.

  On the open plain, two cavalry units approached each other at high speed, both sides with high morale.

  When they were still two hundred paces apart, Zhao Yun suddenly put the iron spear into the horse's saddle, took a five-stone cow horn bow from behind the saddle, and with his backhand took out five wolf-toothed iron arrows from the quiver, simultaneously placing them on the string, and then opened the bow to shoot.

  In a burst of energy like thunder, five iron arrows as thick as thumbs transformed into five black dots and flashed by in an instant.

  In front of the Xianbei cavalry formation, the two princes and Chong were among the four Xianbei people who instantly stood up with goosebumps, but before they could react, they simultaneously had arrows in their throats. They didn't even let out a hum, and directly fell off their horses, dead.

  Two hundred paces apart, five arrows were fired simultaneously, each hitting one person, and all of them hit the same part.

  Such a divine archery skill, instantly made all the Western Liang cavalry look almost stupid.

  "Good archery!"

  On the shore of the river, Luo Zheng also watched with his eyes wide and his spirit rushing, unable to help but shout out in praise.

  One bow and five arrows, none of which were wasted, all hitting the throat.

  Such an astonishing archery skill, I haven't even heard of it, let alone seen it.

  Xu Chu couldn't help but exclaim, "Who would have thought that Zhao Yun's archery skills were so formidable? I'm no match for him!"

  The three thousand Western Liang soldiers erupted into thunderous applause, almost as if they wanted to turn the entire grassland upside down.

  "The Second Prince!"

  More than 200 Xianbei cavalrymen all lost their voices and shouted in surprise, with their eyes wide open.

  The sound of the bowstring rang out again like thunder, and five more Xianbei cavalrymen fell from their horses with arrows in them, none missed.

  Just as they were about to die of grief and rage, preparing to slaughter the entire Han cavalry to avenge the two princes, the Xianbei people witnessed such an astonishingly divine archery technique, and their morale was instantly shattered, and the momentum of the charge was suddenly halted.

  Just then, five hundred Western Liang cavalry arrived in a mighty rush.

  Zhaoyun drew his bow and quiver, the iron spear had already arrived in his hand, he led the charge into the Xianbei cavalry formation, the iron spear stabbed swiftly, in an instant three Xianbei cavalrymen were stabbed off their horses, the Xianbei people who had lost the initiative were suddenly frightened out of their wits and scattered to avoid him.

  Five hundred Western Liang cavalrymen formed a triangular arrowhead with Zhao Yun at its tip, charging forward with all their might.

  When Zhao Yun led five hundred cavalrymen to break through the Xianbei cavalry formation, more than two hundred Xianbei cavalrymen had been killed.

  As for the remaining tens of riders, they had already been frightened out of their wits and fled in all directions across the mountains.