Chapter 26: The Three Armies Collapse

  (Thanks for the reward from "Zhao Wu Xie 2014", "Tiger Brother Not Confused" and "A Xian Ge", thanks!)

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  In the Three Kingdoms era, brave generals were as numerous as clouds, showing off their military prowess and boasting of their strength, thus creating a trend.

  A duel can not only strike at the enemy's morale, but also boost one's own side's morale. Moreover, it can be used to kill the enemy's brave and fierce generals, which is a triple gain. On various battlefields in the east, west, south, north, and central plains, there were no shortage of brave generals under the command of various lords, clashing swords and guns, their shadows intersecting as they fought on horseback.

  The Central Plains are still like this, let alone the Moghul people of Mobei who only recognize fists and do not recognize reason. Therefore, Ma Xian proposed a duel, which is to see that the Xianbei people will never be weak-minded. Even if the Xianbei people have an absolute advantage at this time, even if they are at a disadvantage, they will not refuse to fight, otherwise they would not mix on the grasslands. It's called losing people but not losing arrays, no matter where you mix or what era it is, this truth remains unchanged.

  "Now that we have arrived at the vast grassland, the pasture of the Xianbei people, we must follow the rules of the Xianbei people. The first round will be a duel to determine life and death." The leader of the Xianbei cavalry, Xiaoti Department's General Xiaogui Mudu, with an impartial identity, decided on the first round's duel project.

  When the first round of dueling began, Tannu and the Hango cavalrymen all breathed a sigh of relief. Their horseback archery skills were personally trained by Ma Yuan. Although it was still short-lived and lacked actual combat experience, their combat effectiveness had yet to be tested, but every Hango cavalryman had a deep understanding of their commander's incredibly powerful horseback archery abilities. The Xianbei people chose horseback archery for the first round, that was like hitting an iron plate, maybe they were laughing now, but soon after, they might not even be able to cry.

  The opponent of the Xianbei people was a helmeted warrior with two white feathers on his helmet, wearing black leather armor, with scars all over his face, thick and long arms, and a sturdy physique. As soon as he appeared, there was an uproar of cheers among the Xianbei cavalry, apparently having great fame and prestige within the tribe.

  Ma Huan saw clearly that this man was one of the four helmeted and armored guard knights beside Shi Gui, and could wear two white feathers on his helmet. According to the military system of the Hu people, he was at least a hundred-man general-level strong warrior.

  "Khotanese nobleman, Fuluohan's subordinate, Bateng, leader of a hundred men, has come to take your life, you lowly slave dog." The Xianbei knight's loud bellow inadvertently put him on the list of the dead.

  Ma Xun's eyes turned cold and he drew an arrow from his quiver.

  Ma Hu had four quivers, suspended on both sides of the horse's body, before and after. The quiver was made of leather, dark red in color, with 20 arrows in each bag. Only one bag contained three-edged heavy armor-piercing arrows, while the rest were flat-bladed iron-headed arrows.

  This Bateng, the Xianbei hundred-man commander, wore shining armor that was actually just double-layered leather. Within eighty paces, it couldn't withstand Ma Hu's six-stone strong bow firing iron-tipped arrows with a thunderous strike.

  Ma Hong did not ride a horse to move, but stood still and shot. This has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that the stability is high and the shooting accuracy is good. The disadvantage is that it becomes a fixed target and is easily locked and killed by the opponent.

  The Xianbei people opposite, especially Bateng and Xi Guimud, almost burst out laughing when they saw Ma Hu's shooting posture: it turned out that he was just a novice, almost intimidated by the opponent's boasting.

  Ride and shoot, ride and shoot, gallop to avoid, shoot the enemy like a fleeing rabbit. First, you must run to protect yourself, then seek to kill the enemy. If you don't move, won't you become a living target? When both sides are shooting arrows, one is a moving target, the other is a fixed target, who is more likely to be hit, it goes without saying.

  Ma Xun's mouth curled up in a cold arc, after escaping and killing for months, he had already been honed into a first-rate archer. This most basic principle of archery, how could you not know? The key is, if you want to shoot simultaneously, that also depends on whether I agree or not!

  The Xianbei people are skilled in archery, usually using a one-stone bow (the Hu people mostly have no armor, and the force of a one-stone bow is sufficient). Within sixty steps, exceeding sixty steps, both the hit rate and the killing power will drop significantly. Bateng is a good shooter, using an angle-ended bow that reaches two stones and five dou, sniping enemies over seventy steps away, with a hundred shots hitting a hundred targets, known as one of the three brave warriors of the Jian Ti department, otherwise it would not be possible to stand out in the Xianbei cavalry who mainly use archery.

  When Bateng galloped to eighty paces, he began to draw his bow and prepare for shooting. When he reached seventy paces, he released the string and shot from a distance - since his opponent was fixed in place, he had full confidence. But Bateng did not know that his actions would become the path to his swift death.

  Ma Hu's killer is a long-range sniper, no matter who the opponent is, he always shoots faster, farther and more accurately than the other side. As long as you grasp these three words - fast, far and accurate - you can stand undefeated.

  The enemy does not move, I do not move; the enemy moves slightly, I move first.

  When Bateng entered the hundred-step range, Ma Hong had already raised his leopard bow, with an iron-tipped arrow in hand. The arrow was placed on the bowstring, and the string was drawn taut. The infrared sight was activated to capture the target; at ninety steps, a small red dot appeared on Bateng's forehead as he galloped on horseback, then moved left and down to his left chest. According to the opponent's horse speed and rhythm, Ma Hong calculated the lead time in advance, and adjusted the direction of the arrow according to the wind direction and speed; at eighty steps, when Bateng had just raised his bow and arrow, without even having time to aim, Ma Hong, who had already completed target locking, calmly released his right thumb and index finger.

  Twang! The sound of the bowstring shook the silent battlefield, causing hearts to skip a beat, and leaving the Xianbei people in shock.

  Whoosh——

  A swift and fierce arrow pierced the air, entering his ears. Bateng's eyes narrowed, only to feel a wave of murderous aura rushing towards him, making his skin numb. Before he could react, a massive force struck his chest... Bateng let out a loud cry, threw away his bow and arrow, fell off his horse, and lay on the grassy ground, convulsing all over, spitting blood with each mouthful, gradually becoming still...

  Stillness, a battlefield of over three hundred horses, except for the sound of warhorses restlessly stamping their hooves and snorting, only the howling of the strong west wind was heard.

  A burst of swift hoofbeats broke the silence, Tannu excitedly galloped out, rushed to Batu's corpse, jumped off his horse, stripped off Batu's helmet and armor, collected bows, arrows, swords, and axes. Then he led away the masterless warhorse, held up the spoils of war in his hand, and waved them repeatedly at the Han Gog cavalrymen.

  "Waaaah!"

  Twenty-five people shouted in unison, their excited voices forming a stark contrast with the Xianbei people's look of despair.

  The winner of the duel can own all the personal belongings of the loser, which is the spoils of war. Neither side is allowed to interfere with this, it's an ancient rule passed down. Therefore, no matter how resentful the Xianbei people are, they can only watch as Tang Nu takes away Batu's armor, wealth and horses, not even daring to fart.

  "Good grief……" The shocked expression on his muddy face took a long time to subside, his fists clenched tightly, desperately suppressing the urge to rush forward and challenge. Because he knew all too well that as one of the top archers in the Khitan tribe, Batu's horseback archery skills far surpassed his own. Even someone as skilled as Batu had fallen, if he went up there would be no doubt he'd be serving himself up on a platter.

  "This man is too dangerous, can't let him live! Cavalry charge! Use cavalry to kill him, absolutely cannot leave him alive!" Xie Gui Mudan gritted his teeth and shouted, pointing forward with his whip. As he pointed, a rider swiftly galloped out from beside him, waving an iron sword, and charged towards Ma Hong like lightning.

  Ma Xun hung the leopard bow on the saddle, took over the 7-foot-long spear handed over by the attendant, clamped it under his right arm, and rode out with a loud laugh.

  The art of cavalry combat prioritizes length, and short swords against long spears are simply a recipe for getting beaten. Ma Xiu had complete confidence that in the instant when two horses crossed paths, he would stab his opponent under the horse.

  Just as the two riders approached within ten paces, Ma Xian's spearhead was ready to drink blood. Suddenly, the Xianbei man withdrew his sword and raised his hand, throwing out a cowhide rope that accurately wrapped around Ma Xian's two arms and upper body.

  The Xiongnu people outside the Great Wall were best at throwing lassos to catch horses, and from this developed the skill of throwing lassos at people. They could usually get one with a single throw. The Xianbei cavalryman sent by the Mudan tribe was also one of the three bravest warriors in his tribe, known as being unbeatable in close combat. Whether it was catching horses or people, he had never missed. And this time, he didn't miss either.

  "Hurray!" Xie Gui retreated to a distance, clenching his fist and slapping his palm, overjoyed. As long as he was tied up with the rope, even if he were the bravest warrior in the tribe, he wouldn't be able to escape - Ma Xun was done for!

  The Xianbei people couldn't help but cheer and shout, but in the next moment, an unbelievable thing happened.

  After the rope wrapped around Ma Huan, the Xianbei people pulled the rope with great force, just about to pull Ma Huan off his horse by relying on the horse's momentum. At this moment of lightning and stone fire, Ma Huan suddenly dropped his long spear, raised his palm, and cut through the rope with a single stroke. The cowhide rope, which would not necessarily be broken even if it was chopped three or five times with a sharp knife, was torn apart like grass paper.

  The Xianbei man was suddenly pulled empty, his balance lost, just like being pushed hard by someone, and he fell off the horse's back. When he finally managed to get up, the sound of hooves shook the ground behind him, and a sharp wind broke through the air. With a "pu" sound, half of the bloody spearhead emerged from his chest, and at the same time, a huge force came, lifting his entire body into mid-air...

  A white horse gallops, a silver spear is stained with blood, a corpse hangs high, standing proudly like a peak.

  This time, the Xianbei people were completely speechless. Under the scorching sun, everyone had a kind of chill from inside out.

  "Who dares to fight again?" Ma Huan shouted loudly.

  "Who dares to fight again?" The Hango cavalry shouted in unison.

  Fingernails dug deep into the palm, teeth chattered loudly, eyes blazed like fire, nose flared like smoke, yet not a sound could be made.

  At this time, a humming voice came from behind: "Young master, let me go up."

  He dismounted and stood on the ground, his height almost identical to that of himself riding a horse. A pair of copper bell-like eyes circled around, revealing a hint of excitement at finding an opponent, and this excitement carried with it a thread of bloodthirsty cruelty.

  Buddha! The first brave warrior of the Kshatriya clan, his father's personal bodyguard. Will he be a match for that fearsome man called Mahan?

  "No need for swords, no need for bows and arrows, bare-handed wrestling, I guarantee a single strike to kill." Budo clenched his iron-fist-sized fists with a crackling sound, full of confidence and killing intent.

  "Alright, you go up." Xie Gui Ni considered it again and again, repeatedly comparing Ma Huan's and Bu Tuo's physiques, finally agreeing, only reminding him with six words, "Kill him, come back alive."

  Green green plains, wind blows grass low, disarmament horse and Buddha stand facing each other.

  Ma Hu's build was already quite tall, and his physique was strong enough, but compared to this guy who was almost as tall as Yao Ming, he was a whole size smaller. Tang Nu and the Han cavalrymen looked on, all of them sweating for their commander. Tang Nu had even made preparations, if the commander were to encounter danger, he would immediately rush up to replace him, as for whether he himself could be a match for this giant, it was no longer within his consideration.

  Buddha lowered his head and smiled, his thick arms as big as thighs spread out, resembling a bear-like man. His somewhat distorted face twisted, looking extremely ferocious: "The young master told me, kill you, live to come back."

  Ma Yun didn't say a word, stretched out one finger, held it upright in front of his chest, and shook it lightly - the next moment, he suddenly took a step forward, flashed towards Bu Tuo like lightning, with his right palm together like a knife, and inserted it into Bu Tuo's left chest with a "poof" sound. Immediately afterwards, he quickly retreated amidst the massive blood mist and Bu Tuo's earth-shaking roar - under the gaze of hundreds of pairs of shocked eyes, only to see that his right palm was dripping with fresh blood, and in the center of his palm, a heart was jumping up and down, emitting hot air, dazzling everyone's eyes...

  The Xianbei people collapsed, they lost so cleanly and thoroughly, morale, will, courage... all collapsed. Without the order to retreat, the 300 Xianbei cavalrymen fled wildly in all directions like they had seen a ghost. They would rather fight against the 300 Han cavalrymen than engage in single combat with this person, no, this devil.

  On the north bank of the wet water, three armies fought a decisive battle. Ma Xian single-handedly defeated not only 300 Xianbei cavalrymen but also thoroughly intimidated the most important tribe in central Xianbei: the Juti tribe. From then on, the name "Heart-Digging Han Beast" could stop children from crying at night in the Juti tribe.