Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 19: Knife Opens the Moon Ring

"If a man wants to be strong, he doesn't need many companions. A kite flies across the sky, and a flock of sparrows flies towards the waves."

Kou Qianzhi was already over thirty, with a full forehead and a square figure. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes with a gleam in them, a prominent nose, a handsome face, and an imposing aura, giving him the air of a true general.

He galloped on his horse and sang loudly on the horse. The song he sang was the folk song "Qi Yu Song" from the Northern Dynasties. His singing was rough and powerful, with the heroic spirit of the blue wind sweeping in from the grassland and desert.

This song is also very appropriate. The Twenty-Eight Star Cloud Cavalry, who suddenly attacked and split the Ten Thousand Grass Army in two, and then escaped unscathed, is no different from a kite scattering a flock of birds?
When the soldiers of Huang Chao's army heard this song, they were filled with shame and hatred, but found it difficult to refute it.

In the Taining army formation, the sound of an iron flute was heard, like the roar of a dragon in the sea, piercing the clouds nine times, becoming higher and higher in pitch, and finally almost piercing gold and splitting stone. The sound was "Falling Plum Blossoms", one of the twenty-eight horizontal blowing music in the Han Dynasty Yuefu.

Inspired by the music, the long sword in the shape of the Well Moon on Kou Qianzhi's waist also became more and more brilliant, as bright as the moon. It was really like this - the flute played the plum blossom song, and the sword opened the bright moon ring!
The blade of the Moon in the Well is usually dull and lacks any luster. At first glance, it seems unremarkable, without any ornate patterns. However, a closer look reveals a noble and unadorned aura that should not be underestimated. If the wielder is a master, exerting all their strength, the blade will burst forth with dazzling light.

"Taining warriors, follow me as I charge! Wherever our horses lead, we will trample the wastelands!"

Kou Qianzhi shouted loudly and blew the blue ox horn, not only to order the Twenty-Eight Star Cloud Cavalry, but also to inform the entire Taining army to prepare to launch another attack!
"Long live the Marshal! Long live the Deputy Marshal! Kill all the bandits and restore peace to the Tang Dynasty!" The soldiers of Taining shouted in response.

The voice of one person is as small as a mosquito; the voices of ten people are as loud as a crowd; the voices of a hundred people are deafening; the voices of a thousand people are as loud as a roaring voice.

Thousands of Snow Marshal's soldiers shouted in unison, creating an atmosphere of "one million men with one heart". Their morale became increasingly high, and everyone was ready to fight to the death, wanting to devour the bandits in front of them!

Huang Chao, after all, had a well-trained army. He had been caught off guard by Kou Qianzhi's charge from a high plateau, suffering a heavy loss. After the twenty-eight Xingyun riders had broken free from the battle formation, he had already been on his chariot, brandishing his sword and issuing orders to regroup.

"The banner has given the order, shield soldiers, prepare!"

Huang Chao's central army's banner fluttered in the wind, and the general's orders were transmitted to the entire army. In an instant, the front line became the rear line, and the rear line became the front line, turning around to fight the Taining army. Not only in the front, but also on both sides, the shield-bearing warriors formed a shield wall, each pentagonal long shield connected together, completely protecting the soldiers in the rear.

Even with the courage of the "Twenty-eight Riders of Nebula", it would not be easy to charge straight into the long wall with rows of shields pierced by cold spears below.

However, at Kou Qianzhi's command, twenty-eight elite Xingyun cavalrymen instantly split into two flanks, charging ahead of the Taining army's two flanks. The rest of the Taining cavalry also gathered. Though few in number, with Kou Qianzhi's support, their fighting spirit soared, each eager to showcase their prowess in a bloody battle, disregarding life and death.

"Little brats of Huang Chao's army, I'll give you a good taste of my snake spear!"

The "Qinglong" who led the left wing shouted loudly, and a snake spear faced the flowing sunlight, shaking like a golden snake dancing. Wherever it passed, the soldiers of the Grass Army fell to the ground like mowed grass.

"Xuanwu," dressed in silver and riding a white horse, commanded the right wing of the "Twenty-Eight Riders of the Nebula." His face was hard and stern, and he was taciturn, resembling the famous general of the early Qing dynasty, Luo Cheng, nicknamed "Cold Face and Cold Spear," Luo Shixin.

But his attack seemed even more ruthless than "Qinglong". He targeted weak points such as the throat and eyes, and was quick and ruthless.

"White Tiger" and "Suzaku" are better at long-range attacks, so they will patrol the rear.

Kou Qianzhi charged once more, charging directly into Huang Chao's ranks. Just as he and his horse were about to collide with the dense forest of spears and lances, Kou Qianzhi pulled the reins and clamped his horse's belly, bringing the purple-steed horse to an instant halt. He drew his bow and unleashed an arrow. The shield soldier in front of him hurriedly raised his shield to block it, but the arrow was a projectile, piercing through the shield's edge as if it had eyes. The immense force of the bow pierced directly into the shield soldier's armor, piercing the shield soldier's neck, creating a massive hole and sending blood and flesh flying. His bow continued to thrust, striking a spearman sheltered in the rear, entwining the two men like a gourd!
Du Zimei's poem says: "When drawing a bow, use a strong one; when using an arrow, use a long one."

Kou Qianzhi used the Tang Dynasty longbow, armor-piercing chisel heavy arrows, and the method of shooting in the face from ten steps away. He shot at the armored Cao army soldiers at close range, but he treated the armor as nothing and killed two people with one arrow.

The twenty-eight Xingyun cavalrymen were also well versed in mounted archery, drawing their bows and arrows, each making a killing move. However, the crossbows fired back by Huang Chao's army were either knocked down by their swords or blocked by their armor, failing to injure them at all.

Although the other Taining cavalrymen were not proficient in riding and archery, they did not dare to shoot at close range and only dared to shoot a few arrows from a distance. However, the arrows rained down, but in the end they could only add fuel to the fire, further dampening the morale of the Cao army, which was already exhausted from a long battle and was retreating.

Although Kou Qianzhi killed not many soldiers in this shooting spree, a mere 28 of them were so unscrupulous in showing off their bravery to the Cao army, which was really an underestimation of the Cao army's lack of troops.

"Warfare requires courage." Huang Chao's army was mainly composed of infantry. Once their morale collapsed and they were left to be hunted down in the plains, the consequences would be disastrous.

However, on the front, Huang Chao was pinned down by the Taining Army led by Qi Kerang, and it was impossible for him to lead the cavalry to counterattack Kou Qianzhi.

He looked at Zhu Wen and Meng Kai with a serious expression.

"Kou Qianzhi is a world-renowned general. The twenty-eight cavalrymen of Xingyun can defeat a hundred with one man. They are no match for our cavalry."

"But if we have to fight today, there's no way we can escape. Liangyu, Juehai, you two, carry on your master's expectations and go out and fight. Don't bring shame to the ambitions of us humble men!"

At this moment, Zhu Wen was concentrating on watching the charge of the twenty-eight riders of Xingyun. When he heard Huang Chao's order, he suddenly reacted.

The movements of this group of knights had the air of desert sand.

Zhu Wen felt that when their horses' hooves clattered past, it was as if the desolate north wind from the desert and Gobi was blowing towards his face.

Under Kou Qianzhi's leadership, they acted as if they were his own arms, but they undoubtedly all possessed the most precious unrestrained and free heart of a knight.

He was also very curious about what power Kou Qianzhi relied on to recruit such a group of knights who loved freedom by nature to fight for him?

But no matter what, the new things he saw in this wonderful world would make it impossible for Zhu Wen to do things with only 60% of his effort as he did in the past.

If he didn't try his best, he wouldn't even be able to survive in the chaotic and bloody world.

Then let’s kill to our heart’s content.

Face this group of new and interesting opponents.

(End of this chapter)