Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The gyrfalcon soared through the air, its sharp eyes watching the rapidly advancing cavalry below, its two iron beaks open.

-

"The Song army is over there, speed up, speed up—"

Wang Yin pointed at the gyrfalcon's shrunken form and roared. The Qi cavalry on horseback shouted "Giddy up!" and "Hah!" and gradually formed a wedge formation behind Wang Yin.

"Send a message to the rear troops: Our troops have encountered the enemy."

Shi Wengong shouted from within the formation, and immediately someone raised a flag and waved it in the air. Behind him, cavalrymen were ordered to slow down their horses. Once they were out of the cavalry formation, they turned their horses around and galloped away quickly.

Amidst the thunderous hoofbeats, the flying yellow dust obscured the banners of the cavalry behind them. In the midst of the dust, the banners bearing the characters "Shi" and "Shi" and the banner bearing the character "Wang" in front were arranged in a triangular formation. The three wedge formations formed a larger wedge and rapidly approached the infantry below the gyrfalcon.

On the plains, Song Jiang's vanguard stood ready, tense and alert. Lei Yingchun looked north, and on the dusty horizon, a black line moved towards them. He mounted his warhorse, took a deep breath, and raised his broadsword: "Ready—"

A loud voice rang out, and in his vision, the black figure seemed to blend into the yellow sand in the sky, like a demon devouring heaven and earth.

Boom boom boom——

Countless hooves trampled across the grasslands, and under the bright spring sun, seven thousand black-armored cavalrymen advanced rapidly like a surging tide.

The cavalry formation was filled with the sounds of weapons clashing and armor clashing, and the pounding of iron hooves, isolating them from all outside noise.

"Break through the enemy lines—"

The captains and military commanders shouted in the crowd, and the various formations galloping on horseback began to adjust their weapons. The knights in front drew their throwing axes, while the cavalry behind them raised their bows and arrows, pointing them diagonally to the sky.

These troops were originally expanded from cavalrymen who had fought in battles for many years. The north had many horses, and they were skilled in riding, archery, and raiding, making them very powerful. Now that they have entered the army, they have quickly become accustomed to the army's formations and tactics by mentoring the new recruits. They can already be considered elite troops.

The dense hooves of horses, clad in horseshoes, pounded the ground, sending pebbles and dust flying into the air. The faces of the infantrymen in the front row, once bloodless, were now as pale as those of a leaky earthenware jar, and many had closed their eyes.

What keeps them from fleeing now is probably the several defeats they suffered in the north a few years ago.

Without anyone else to draw the cavalry away, turning around and running away would mean certain death.

"shoot--"

Shouts came from the Song army formation, powerful bows trembled, and arrows rained down.

The cavalrymen at the forefront clenched their horses' bellies, crouching low behind their necks. The first volley of arrows whistled through the air, leaving a sharp whistling sound in the ears of men and horses. The first few feet of arrows fell to the ground.

"Damn it, can't you even do the math? You called too early!"

Lei Yingchun suddenly felt all the heat in his body vanish, leaving his heart feeling cold.

The archer commander in the formation shouted, "Nock the arrow, quick—" The trembling archers drew their arrows, but failed to get them onto the bowstring several times.

Lei Yingchun watched anxiously, and couldn't help but stand up on his horse. His vision blurred as he saw the ferocious faces of the cavalrymen ahead. He roared, "What are you standing there for? Raise your spears—"

In the Song army formation, the front-line infantrymen tensed their muscles to brace against their large shields.

Behind them, the spearmen extended their spears through the gaps in the shields, straining so hard that their tiger's mouths turned white, and their bulging arms and legs made the spear tips tremble incessantly.

Ahead, at a distance of twenty feet, the vast cavalry formation became increasingly clear.

……

"What should we do, sir? Should we surrender?" Zhang Yue'e, with her only three hundred cavalry, surrounded Lei Yingchun: "We're not like Song Jiang; we don't have to risk our lives for that Zhao fellow."

The roar grew louder and louder, and the earthy smell of the dust rising into our noses.

Cold sweat streamed down Lei Yingchun's forehead. His eyes darted around, and he uttered in a strained voice, "It's too late."

hum-

Arrows rose from the cavalry ranks, briefly obscuring the sunlight, and fell towards the infantry ranks behind them. Shields were raised to meet them, and a series of cracking sounds rang out.

The screams of many of his comrades rang in the ears of the Song soldiers. Fang Zi, who was still alive, breathed a sigh of relief. He then saw the cavalryman in front of him straighten up from behind his horse's neck, raise one arm, and swing it fiercely.

call--

Dozens or even hundreds of throwing axes were thrown from the front of the wedge formation, and a series of booming sounds rang out. Many spearmen who did not know how to dodge were hit by the axes, and shocking screams rang out. The wounded rolled on the ground.

"rush--"

Wang Yin shouted and thrust out his spear. "Bang—" A large shield flew up, followed by a loud crash as a person was struck by a galloping warhorse. The sound of bones cracking echoed as the person was sent flying backward. Then came a second impact, a third...

The roaring sound spread outwards.

Mottled bloodstains were scattered across the battlefield. Amidst the deafening roar of the breakthrough, large numbers of shields were smashed open, and figures were swept beneath the hooves of horses. Lei Yingchun and Zhang Yue'e had experienced the Liao army's cavalry warfare, but they had never witnessed the Qi army's brutality. The fearless figures of the cavalry sent chills down the spines of the couple.

In sight, an unfortunate cavalryman crashed into a large shield, horse and all, his body pierced by a spear, yet he still mustered his last strength to throw his weapon, attempting to take one more with him in death.

This is different from the cavalry of the Liao Dynasty!
Lei Yingchun cursed inwardly, and a look of despair appeared in his eyes as he watched the cavalry sweeping into the enemy formation.

Indeed, they were different. The Liao people preferred archery and mainly used cavalry to repeatedly charge forward and shoot arrows to lure the enemy, while these Qi soldiers in black armor preferred to charge and fight head-on. Their violent killing left the Song army, who were fighting against Qi for the first time in a formal field battle, stunned.

Arrows streaked across the sky; there were no arrows that flew away, only arrows that flew towards them.

On the plains, cavalrymen who had not yet engaged the Song army continuously drew their bows, firing arrows to cover their comrades fighting ahead.

Wang Yin, leading the charge, flicked his wrist, shaking off the thick blood from the gun barrel and the blood-stained shield, and roared fiercely, "Keep up—"

He charged toward the general's flag, brandishing his gun.

Zhang Yue'e felt a chill run down her spine. Even though she was an unusual person who liked to cry and act before killing, no one would give her any room to perform in this kind of battle. She quickly pulled on the reins and grabbed her husband, shouting, "Honey, run!"

The sounds of fighting and shouting came from behind. Horse hooves trampled over the corpses lying on the ground, the sound of bones breaking rang in the ears, and the thick smell of blood spread throughout the area.

As Wang Yin watched the two flags, "Lei" and "Zhang," retreat in front of him, he cursed, "Cowardly scoundrels, all they know is how to run away!"

With a flick of his spear, he sent the soldier in front of him flying into the air. He spurred his horse and galloped past. Wang Yin's eyes were fixed on the fleeing figure ahead. He roared, "Chase—!"

The cavalrymen behind him spurred their horses forward, and the latter roared "Chase!" as they charged forward, breaking through the enemy lines. On either side, Shi Bao and Shi Wengong, wielding their broadswords and halberds, slashed through the Song soldiers ahead. Watching Wang Yin's banner disappear into the distance, they shouted without hesitation, "Blow the horns! Blow the horns! Follow them! Follow them!"

Woohoo——

The horn sounded from the cavalry formation, and the cavalry, barely recognizable as a wedge formation, sped forward under the guidance of their general's banner. A large number of cavalrymen trampled across the plain, and two or three hundred of the last cavalrymen slowed their horses to prepare to help their wounded or fallen comrades.

The corpses of men and horses lay on the ground, and large pools of blood seeped into the soil. The dying lay on the ground, uttering faint groans. The survivors looked at the two hundred or so cavalrymen who were slowly turning their gazes toward them, let out a shout, and ran away.

……

As the rider galloped, large beads of sweat slid down his temples and were wiped away by his slightly tanned hands.

Song Jiang glanced at the dust billowing in the distance. To his left and right, soldiers and generals with solemn expressions ran along. A little further away, Mu Hong, along with Lu Junyi, Xu Ning, and five hundred cavalry, were protecting his left flank.

In the central army formation, a battalion of five hundred burly men carried large axes. They wore the best armor in the army, with fine rhinoceros hide covered by iron armor. Their arms and legs were made of iron plates, which reflected a cold metallic luster when the sunlight shone down. These were Zhu Tong's axe soldiers, who were established in Hejian Prefecture.

Upon receiving the message from the Lei family couple at the front, Song Jiang did not rush to their aid immediately. Instead, he first deployed his troops and ordered Dai Zong and Liu Tong to scout ahead while simultaneously commanding the army to advance. After all, the message from the front indicated that cavalry was attacking, so it was only natural for him to make some preparations.

Several figures rushed forward. Dai Zong and Liu Tong ran up to Song Jiang, not daring to shout loudly, and said anxiously as they approached, "General, Lei Yingchun has been defeated at the front, and the Qi army is about to attack."

"...So fast? Don't they have three thousand men?!"

Under the iron helmet, Song Jiang's face paled slightly. How much time had passed since he received the news? Such a short time made him suspect that the couple had not accepted the challenge and were deliberately trying to trick him.

Boom boom boom——

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer. Song Jiang looked up and saw two familiar general's flags in the distance. The crimson figures told him that they were his own people.

Behind these cavalrymen, even more dust billowed in the air, and black figures could be vaguely seen through the yellow dust raised by their own men.

"Could it be..."

Song Jiang's face twitched. He wiped the sweat from his temples, pulled on the reins, and shouted, "Halt! Defend! Defend!"

He drew his longsword from his waist and pointed it forward: "Enemy attack!"

The approximately seven thousand infantrymen halted and quickly formed ranks at the command of their general. They were already in formation, and it would only take a short time to get them ready.

Under the banner, Song Jiang watched the approaching figure and suddenly gave the order: "Have Lei Yingchun and his wife enter from the side to join Mu Hong, and do not rush into the formation."

The messenger rushed forward, shouting loudly. The couple fleeing ahead knew that their commander was strict in disciplining his troops, so they dared not charge straight into the formation. Instead, they ran in an arc in front of the formation, passing by one side.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves galloped across the verdant plains, and the rushing figures kicked up dust. Wang Yin could see the figure standing there in the distance, and he said with disdain, "So there are reinforcements here."

"Give the order to prepare to charge the enemy lines!"

The horn played a unique tune, and the soldiers on horseback adjusted their postures. Behind them, Shi Bao and Shi Wengong rode forward, gradually changing the formation from a large wedge formation to three smaller wedge formations in a triangular shape.

The three generals, surrounded by hundreds of cavalry, pressed forward.

Song Jiang squinted at the seemingly endless cavalry, a look of envy on his face. He then waved his flag, ordering the large shields to protect the army's front, back, left, and right sides.

Shi Wengong watched the figures flashing in the Song army formation from the rear. His eyes flickered, and he made a gesture. A personal guard next to him took out a bull horn and blew a long and short sound, which was exchanged for two short horn sounds. The triangular wedge formation began to change, and the protruding wedge heads were slowly worn down and the distance between them increased.

In the ranks, several Hebei generals who had recently surrendered from Tian Hu's side stared intently at the approaching cavalry, raising their hands in preparation to call for arrows to be fired and give the enemy a taste of their power.

As the Qi cavalry charged towards them, horns sounded, and bows were drawn at an angle and pointed towards the sky. Wang Yin, Shi Bao, and Shi Wengong calmly observed the movements of their cavalry. When they estimated that the distance was right, they suddenly shouted, "Scatter!"

"shoot--"

Yu Deyuan, Fan Yuming, Dong Cheng, and Shen Ji shouted out loud.

Arrows streaked across the sky.

Song Jiang, who was looking down from the central command flag, suddenly felt his eyelids twitch: "What?!"

The mud swirled and scattered on the ground a few feet away under the iron hooves. The Qi soldiers, who had already scattered, did not charge as before, but instead turned left and right in an arc. Dense arrows whizzed down on the open ground. Only a few unlucky horses slipped, fell to the side, and were impaled by arrows, howling in pain.

Wang Yin and Shi Bao went to the right, and Shi Wengong went to the left. The three generals led six thousand iron cavalry who had circled around both sides. Arrows with a cold gleam stretched out in their hands, reflecting the sunlight, and were nocked onto bowstrings.

A hoarse voice shouted:

"put--"

The sound of bowstrings vibrating rang out one after another, forming a continuous chorus.

buzzing-

A dense volley of arrows flew out from the cavalry and then fell.

Blood splattered from the dense crowd. Some people instinctively turned to dodge the incoming arrows. Shi Wengong, Wang Yin, and Shi Bao were all quick-witted. Seeing the wooden shield formation wavering, they quickly pulled on their reins and, with a whoosh, crashed into the defenses under the protection of their cavalry.

With his cloak billowing, Shi Wengong wielded his halberd from horseback, sending fragments of his large shield flying mixed with blood. The immense force sent soldiers blocking his path flying.

"Spearmen, charge!" Qian Bin and Qian Yi roared.

Having realized that the enemy cavalry was stronger than the Liao army, Song Jiang's face turned pale. He had originally intended to wear down the enemy with a circular formation, but he did not expect to fall into a disadvantageous position in just a short time. Even if he understood that it was because the morale of the soldiers on both sides was different, it was already too late.

The renowned generals leading cavalry on both sides charged into the formation, quickly creating an opening. The Qian brothers immediately mounted their horses, brandishing their long weapons, and charged towards Shi Wengong.

The heavy weapon was wielded by the cold-faced general, a series of metallic clanging sounds and sparks flying. Two Song army generals who looked alike were hit in the hand by a halberd, and gritted their teeth to endure the pain.

The elite cavalrymen who attacked from all sides slashed and thrust, killing several men in succession. Screams of agony rang out near the two generals.

Qian Bin was caught off guard, and Shi Wengong seized the opportunity to strike him on the neck with his halberd. Warm blood spurted out from where the halberd had been raised.

Qian Yi cried out in grief and indignation, "Brother—!" before Shi Wengong shouted, "Hah—!" and thrust his halberd forward with lightning speed.

The halberd tip pierced the gaping maw, penetrating the back of the head, and a spray of blood gushed out. The two Qian brothers fell to the ground one after the other.

On the other side, Shi Jin brandished his three-pointed, double-edged sword and charged towards the banner bearing the character "Shi" (石). (End of Chapter)