CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 38 DEATH WITHOUT LIFE! _5

As a rule, cavalry relishes the sight of infantry in disarray, running for their lives. If the thirty thousand men of the Qian army had shown signs of breaking ranks or collapsing in chaos earlier, the two generals leading these six thousand cavalry would have undoubtedly ordered a charge. Six thousand cavalry piercing through thirty thousand disorganized infantry might seem like a considerable disparity in numbers, but the odds of victory would still heavily favor the former.

Prior to this, while on the march, they hadn’t received news that Yan cavalry had crossed the three-sided border region and penetrated deep into Qian State territory. Consequently, their journey had naturally taken on an aspect of "going through the motions." After all, being in the heartland of one’s own country was like walking from the living room to the bedroom to sleep each night. Would anyone really carry a fruit knife in one hand and a mobile phone in the other, ready to dial emergency services at any moment?

Fortunately, Zu Dongcheng was more perceptive. He sensed an anomaly, a feeling that their "eyes and ears" were being obstructed. This prompted him to immediately order a change of course towards Qingshan County, instead of continuing towards Chuzhou City.

If not for Zu Dongcheng, this mixed contingent might have marched right to the walls of Chuzhou City by dusk today.

Yet, when they actually caught sight of the Yan cavalry, everyone was taken aback.

Had the three-sided border region already fallen? Had the north been lost? How could it be so fast! And what of our uncles back home?

Fortunately, Zu Dongcheng immediately roared, stabilizing the army’s morale. He declared that this was merely an infiltrating Yan cavalry unit, here to deliver battle honors to them!

Six thousand Yan cavalry was indeed a formidable sight, but it didn’t particularly unnerve these young masters. After all, Yan and Qian hadn’t engaged in a true, pitched battle for a hundred years. Much like inexperienced youths who haven’t yet faced the harsh realities of the world, they possessed a baffling sort of confidence.

However, as more Yan cavalry reinforcements began to arrive in succession, everyone started to become flustered.

Direct Thief! Why are there so many Yan bastards!

Even Zu Dongcheng felt a chill run down his spine. If he had the thirty thousand strong Zu family army under his command, he would have the confidence to fight a retreating battle. As long as they could fall back to Qingshan City and use its walls for defense, the situation could be stabilized.

However, he knew full well that his own Zu family army did not constitute the majority of this force. Holding their ground and forming up was one thing. Attempting a fighting retreat, however, would likely expose vulnerabilities that the Yan people could exploit. If the enemy charged then, it could very well lead to a complete rout!

Messengers requesting reinforcements had already been dispatched in all directions.

By the time twenty thousand Yan cavalry had arrived, everyone understood that there was no alternative but to dig in and await reinforcements. If anyone was to blame, it was their uncles, for allowing twenty thousand Yan cavalry to penetrate so far south!

Of course, if they knew that it wasn’t twenty thousand but two hundred fifty thousand Yan cavalry heading south, they would likely have been scared witless.

But for now, at least, the situation was being held.

"Dongcheng, which flank do you think the Yan people will attack?" Zhong Mao asked.

Zu Dongcheng took a deep breath and said, "They will definitely attack one of them."

The three divisions, arrayed in a triangular formation, seemed mutually supportive, yet each operated with considerable independence.

The division at the front, designated to bear the brunt of the pressure, was built around the Zu family army, supplemented by three thousand soldiers from the West Army Division. It could be said that this was the unit with the best troop quality and discipline.

The western flank was composed of Beihe Dare-to-Die Squads combined with more West Army Division soldiers, while the eastern flank was made up entirely of the Imperial Guards.

Previously, the Yan people had been probing, testing the quality of these three army divisions.

Zu Dongcheng believed the Yan people had likely figured it out: the eastern division, composed of the Imperial Guards, had shown the poorest performance when pressured by the Yan assault.

This caused Dou Guoming and Yue Huan to look somewhat abashed. Their troops hadn’t brought them honor, and as The Main Generals, they naturally lost face as well.

However, concealed within this eastern division were hundreds of war chariots. These weren’t the ancient chariots from the era of states boasting "a thousand chariots, ten thousand chariots." Instead, they were war machines designed by his father specifically to counter Yan cavalry. In field battles, these war chariots could serve as a defensive line, akin to city walls, to impede and neutralize the advantage of the Yan cavalry.

Furthermore, the most skilled archers and crossbowmen had been positioned by Zu Dongcheng in the center of the Imperial Guard’s division. And while a few ballistae had already fired, nearly forty more remained hidden within this eastern division!

If the Yan people truly intended to devour their forces, they would undoubtedly choose the easiest point of entry. And that spot was precisely where Zu Dongcheng had prepared a grand gift for them.

Zu Dongcheng turned to Dou Guoming and Yue Huan and said, "Brother Guoming, Brother Huan, please enter the formation and reassure your troops. Our cavalry has been kept in reserve for you."

"Acknowledged!"

"Acknowledged!"

There was no formal superior-subordinate relationship between them; in fact, if one were to consider noble titles, Dou Guoming’s rank was higher than Zu Dongcheng’s.

But being intelligent men, they wouldn’t act foolishly in such a situation. Anecdotes like the historical tale of "Why not eat minced meat?" or other such jokes are, most of the time, just that—jokes to be taken lightly.

Therefore, at this juncture, these young masters all deferred to Zu Dongcheng as their commander-in-chief, obeying his orders.

Regardless, the situation was critical. They had to hold their ground, endure, and wait for reinforcements or for the Yan Army to retreat.

"General Han, please take your position with the cavalry and await my commands!"

"Acknowledged!"

Han Laowu clasped his fist in salute.

Within this thirty-thousand-strong army, there were only three thousand cavalrymen. Moreover, their quality was uneven, so they certainly couldn’t be sent out for a direct confrontation with the Yan cavalry. They could only be kept as a mobile reserve.

"They say the Yan cavalry is the finest under heaven. At first, I didn’t believe it, always thinking that the West Mountain Camp cavalry under my second uncle was in no way inferior to the Yan people’s. But now, having seen it with my own eyes, I’m starting to believe it."