Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 309 Victory

The wind howled, and so did the people.

The sounds of the Xianbei people's horns rose and fell, unable to conceal their panic.

Liu Daogui led his army to the battlefield and, without any hesitation, immediately engaged in the great battle, launching the first attack on Tuoba Hena's camp in the southwest.

This group of people raised the most troops and posed the greatest threat.

We must not let them gather together.

"Kill!" Liu Zun and two hundred Tiger Warriors charged at the forefront, wielding either large axes or spears, with each man carrying a crossbow.

Charging into the enemy ranks was like a butcher slaughtering chickens and dogs, with blood gushing out like a fountain.

Following the Tiger Warriors was Xiao Chengzhi's 3,000 elite central army troops.

In this chaotic battle mode, infantry actually has an advantage over cavalry, and their killing efficiency is higher.

From the very first day of its establishment, the Jianwei Central Army was set out with the ultimate goal of expelling the barbarians. Now, facing the overlord of the north, they are even more ruthless, with blood and flesh flying wherever their axes and spears pass.

The fallen bodies were quickly frozen by the wind and snow.

Shen Qingzhi, inside the camp, quickly understood Liu Daogui's intention. A force of 10,000 soldiers charged out from the northwest and launched a swift attack on Tuoba Hena from both inside and outside.

The Wei army hastily mounted their horses, but cavalry only becomes lethal when it is in motion.

The Wei army not only couldn't escape, but also couldn't regroup.

They were surrounded and killed by the Northern Army in twos and threes.

At this moment, Yu Lidi and Gongsun Biao's troops also reacted, and the sound of horses' hooves rang out from the east and north at the same time.

Meng Ganzhi ran over to report, "Commander, Yu Lidi and Gongsun Biao are each leading five thousand cavalry to attack!"

“Brother Gao.” Liu Daogui looked at Gao Xun.

Gao Xun roared, "Archers!"

Three thousand archers pushed the wooden carts to the northeast, forming a semi-circle. The soldiers hid behind the carts, raised their long spears, and the archers stood inside the carts.

In the fifth year of Xianning in the Central Korean Dynasty (279 AD), Tufa Shujineng, the leader of the Xianbei in Hexi, launched the "Qin-Liang Rebellion" and successively killed several "famous generals" such as Hu Lieqianhong.

Ma Long, the Sima of Yanzhou, volunteered to lead 3,500 brave men from the prefecture to form a "side chariot" and storm into Liangzhou. They decisively defeated more than 100,000 Hu tribes in the north, killed Tuoba Shujineng, and quelled the Qin-Liang Rebellion that had lasted for ten years.

Chariot warfare was originally a tradition in the Central Plains. Since there were no horses in Jiangzuo, and with the increasing sophistication of crossbows, chariot warfare frequently appeared on the battlefield.

Liu Daogui had a large number of "high carriages" at his disposal, so he naturally had to adapt to local conditions.

The sound of galloping hooves echoed as two cavalry units gradually emerged from the wind and snow, each riding two horses and spaced twenty or thirty paces apart, like a large, spread-out net.

They charged to within a firing range of the chariot formation, but then suddenly turned their horses around, repeatedly probing the enemy.

"Hold on!" Gao Xun may not be the strongest in the military, but his command ability is superb.

The archers remained remarkably calm under his command, undeterred by the cavalry's imposing presence.

After several attempts to probe, the Wei army finally couldn't hold back any longer, and a cavalry force of three hundred men charged in.

At first, they were not fast, but once they were within a hundred paces, they suddenly accelerated. Although there were only three hundred riders, the ground shook and the mountains trembled, as if a giant wild boar was charging in.

The sharp spears were like fangs, and their imposing presence was extremely frightening.

"Hold on!" Gao Xun had followed Xie Xuan on the Northern Expedition and had seen a lot of the world, so he was in no hurry to make a move.

The archers did not move.

One hundred steps, eighty steps, sixty steps, fifty steps, until they were within thirty steps, Gao Xun shouted loudly: "Release!"

In an instant, a thousand crossbows fired simultaneously, arrows flying like locusts towards the Wei army's heavy cavalry.

A burst of metallic clang rang out, but only a dozen or so riders fell.

First, the Wei heavy cavalry were relatively dispersed, with each side spaced more than twenty paces apart. Second, their armor was extremely protective; even if they were hit, the bullets would only embed themselves in the iron plates or bounce off directly.

Shi Hu migrated over a million Hu people from the Western Regions into the Central Plains, bringing with him their skills and techniques.

Through mutual integration, the level of technology has risen sharply.

Especially in the development of heavy cavalry, the iron smelting technology of the Central Plains was combined, and each generation of Hu dynasty would create a large number of heavy cavalry.

"Release it again, spear forward!" Gao Xun commanded calmly.

After two shots, more than two hundred cavalrymen had already charged to the front of the chariot formation.

The earth-shaking force seemed to tear the heavens and the earth apart.

The lead group of more than ten riders charged directly into the dense forest of long spears.

Call——

The pierced warhorse reared up and neighed, its rider also impaled, but it managed to crash through the air due to its momentum.

With a loud crash, the tall cart was smashed, sending splinters flying everywhere, and the archers inside were thrown out of the cart.

Even though the high chariot was overturned, it remained stationary, continuing to block the next wave of heavy cavalry charges.

Taking advantage of this gap, more than thirty Tiger Warriors, clad in double armor, blocked the breach, each wielding a spear.

The blade of the infantry spear is longer than that of the long spear, and it is specially designed to penetrate armor. The shaft is made of yellow pear wood or jujube wood that has been dried in the shade for many years, which has a certain degree of toughness.

Heavy cavalry charged from behind, and the spears pierced through them, but did not break.

Screams rang out, and more than ten knights were immediately nailed to the breach, their corpses blocking the gap.

However, the Wei army clearly had some open hands. As the cavalry charged, the infantry also arrived, advancing like a wall with their large shields, while the other light cavalry circled the chariot formation and fired arrows, trying to tear open a gap.

But mounted archery can never compare to foot archery.

The carriage was filled with archers, and arrows rained down, pinning the charging light cavalry to the ground one by one.

The war quickly devolved into a war of attrition.

The Wei soldiers formed a spiked formation and charged toward the four large carts that the iron cavalry had overturned.

The battlefield instantly erupted into chaos, with swords, spears, axes, and halberds clashing back and forth, occasionally bursting into bursts of blood mist that drifted away in the wind.

The four large carts were quickly covered by corpses, piling up into a small hill. Soldiers on both sides continued to charge up, each wanting to seize this small high ground.

The outcome of the war will depend on this mound of corpses!
"Where is Wang Zhongde?!" Liu Daogui shouted.

"Here I am!" Wang Zhongde raised a heavy axe, and a thousand of his men stepped forward, shouting, "Kill!"

The brave wins when we meet on a narrow road.

In a battle between two armies, there aren't many ingenious strategies; it's straightforward, and the stronger side wins. It depends on the bravery of the soldiers, the sharpness of their weapons and armor, and the strength of their morale.

The fighting between infantry was far more brutal than that between cavalry.

The two human walls collided head-on; it was a fight to the death.

But when it comes to infantry, the Northern Army has never met its match!
Wang Zhongde took the lead, wielding his heavy axe with sweeping, powerful strokes, slaying two men in succession before charging to the top of the corpse mound.

But he was immediately hit by three arrows, and his body swayed. Liu Daogui's heart sank. This was what generals feared most. Throughout history, countless fierce generals and famous generals had died from hidden arrows.

Fortunately, he was physically strong and wearing bright armor, so he was unharmed and raised his axe to continue fighting.

Under the heavy axe, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and man's armor was shattered.

The surrounding soldiers were greatly encouraged and fought bravely, gradually driving the Wei army that surged up the mound of corpses away and occupying the high ground.

Gao Xun quickly led his spearmen to follow, and hundreds of spears thrust downwards simultaneously, creating an impenetrable barrier, causing enemies to fall one after another.

"Report! A Wei cavalry force has bypassed our chariot formation from the southeast and is charging straight at the center!" The scout galloped over, but at a distance of about thirty paces, his warhorse let out a mournful cry and collapsed, throwing the scout off with it.

In this battle, the Wei army deployed over 40,000 troops, most of whom were elite soldiers and fierce warriors. Unable to break through on the main battlefield, they naturally resorted to flanking maneuvers.

Liu Daogui looked southeast and saw a long whip sweeping across the area. There were about three thousand riders, each holding a long spear and wearing iron armor, each riding two horses.

The leader, clad in black armor and wielding a black spear, moved with the ferocity of a mad tiger.

Upon seeing this momentum, the supply train and volunteer soldiers at the rear collapsed on the spot and scattered and fled.

At this time, Liu Daogui only had eight hundred personal guards left.

I thought that the chariot formation alone could stop the Wei army's infantry and cavalry charge, but I underestimated them. The Wei army is not lacking in famous generals, and their cavalry tactics are superb. If we were to transfer troops from elsewhere, it would be too late, and there would be a lot of pressure elsewhere as well.

Just as the guards were preparing for a decisive battle, Liu Daogui shouted, "Drive the livestock south to harass the enemy cavalry!"

They brought more than four thousand head of livestock with them, all of which were gathered in the central area.

If not now, when?

"What are you all standing there for?" Liu Daogui picked up a spear and drove away the donkeys, mules, camels, and horses around him.

The other soldiers followed, and the livestock, frightened, rushed frantically towards the southeast.

The Wei cavalry was riding high and had no idea that Liu Daogui had any chance of fighting back, so they were unprepared.

Livestock are stupid creatures. When frightened, they just charge forward. When the Wei cavalry reached their maximum speed, they couldn't stop in time. With screams of pain, they knocked over more than a hundred riders and tripped up dozens more.

The subsequent cavalry had to slow down.

"All soldiers, listen to my command! Charge with me!" Liu Daogui, wielding the precious sword Xintinghou in his left hand and a short axe in his right, charged forward first.

"Kill!" The guards were greatly encouraged and leaped forward.

To become a member of the Imperial Guard, one must be either an elite soldier or a member of the Liu clan, a group with extremely strong cohesion. Everyone is clad in iron armor and armed with swords, axes, spears, and halberds, using them however they please. Each person is also equipped with a powerful crossbow, making their equipment superior to all other armies.

Liu Huaijing and Liu Huaimo also protected Liu Daogui from the left and right.

Once the cavalry lost their momentum, they were like lambs to the slaughter, blocked by the livestock and unable to advance or retreat. In contrast, the infantry were much more agile, moving freely among the livestock.

A burst of crossbow bolts felled dozens of riders on the spot.

Liu Huaijing, wielding a spear, charged ahead and killed an enemy general.

The others followed suit, cutting down cavalrymen one by one as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.

Liu Daogui wanted to rush forward and fight, but Liu Huaimo and five Tiger Warriors held him back tightly. "Brother, you must not act rashly!"

Helpless, Liu Daogui could only roar, "My lads, fight bravely against the enemy!"

Upon hearing Liu Daogui's voice, the guards became even more excited, and they brandished various weapons at the Wei army envoy.

Although the weapons were varied, they coordinated very well, with shields in front, followed by spears, and then crossbows, each row forming a small infantry formation.

The soldiers in each column were either relatives or comrades-in-arms who had fought together for many years, and they shared the same sentiments.

When one person dies in battle, the others instantly become envious and rush forward without hesitation to seek revenge.

"Dismount!" came a shout from the enemy ranks.

The Wei cavalry dismounted and fought on foot, but their formation was in disarray, and they could only fight individually.

If he were a cavalryman, he might have been able to fight Liu Daogui to a standstill, but now that he's dismounted, he's no match for him.

After several volleys of fire, the enemy soldiers fell like rice being harvested.

In the blink of an eye, less than half of the Wei army remained standing.

The guards fought with increasing ferocity, eventually breaking through them and separating them.

"Leave no one alive!" Stimulated by the stench of blood, Liu Daogui became extremely ferocious.

If it weren't for a sudden inspiration to drive the livestock forward, he would have been seriously injured, if not killed.

Anything can happen on the battlefield. Changsun Fei, Yulidi, and Tuoba He were all renowned veterans, and their performance in this great battle was flawless.

Various luring tactics and surprise attacks brought cavalry tactics to their fullest potential.

But the Northern Army was stronger.

The Battle of Luojian and the Battle of Feishui were both hard-fought and bloody battles in which the few defeated the many. In contrast, Tuoba Gui's Battle of Canhebei had a great deal of luck involved, and he also encountered the lovable Murong Bao, who repeatedly gave away kills.

In the subsequent Battle of Chaibi, Yao Xing dared not take the field and watched as his 40,000 elite troops surrendered due to lack of supplies.

In other words, they had not experienced the bloody battles fought by the Northern Army.

Elite troops are forged in war; the more brutal the war, the more elite the soldiers become.

The Jianwei Central Army originated from the Northern Army. Liu Daogui fought against Murong Long and Murong Zhou in Huai and Si, and the difficulties and dangers he encountered were indescribable.

The battlefield clearly shows that the soldiers are not afraid of the Wei cavalry at all and are fighting to the death.

The battlefield situation has turned in our favor.

"Kill!" The guards' eyes turned bloodshot, like tigers and wolves whose ferocity had been provoked, ready to tear apart all the enemies in front of them.

The seven hundred-plus men, each one fighting like ten, actually managed to surround more than 1,300 Wei soldiers...

Everyone rushed forward, and one column of men could hold off a troop of Wei soldiers.

Without warhorses, these barbarian tribes lost their greatest advantage.

"We surrender! We admit defeat!"

One of the enemy soldiers shouted, and immediately another stepped forward—it was the enemy general in black armor and wielding a black spear.

Liu Daogui vaguely remembered seeing this outfit somewhere before, “Yu Lidi!”

The other party did not deny it, staring at Liu Daogui, "I lost this battle somewhat unjustly. If it weren't for these beasts blocking my way, I would surely have taken your head!"

"Those who died felt even more wronged; if you gamble, you have to accept the consequences!"

Even without these livestock, Liu Daogui felt he might not necessarily lose.

"I have long heard of the fierce tiger and the crouching dragon, and seeing them today, I am truly impressed. You may kill or beat them as you please, but these servants have followed me for many years. I beg you, Commander, to spare their lives. They are at your mercy, whether they serve as slaves or maids."

Yu Lidi readily admitted it.

"General!" The soldiers knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces.

"Take them down." Liu Daogui was too lazy to watch their tragic drama.

Once Yu Lidi is defeated, the outcome of this great battle will be virtually certain.

Under the combined attack of Shen Qingzhi, Liu Zun, and Xiao Chengzhi, Tuoba Hena led his three thousand remaining troops in a hasty retreat westward, and Shen Qingzhi and Liu Zun's infantry could not catch up.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Gongsun Biao, who was in the northeast, withdrew from the battlefield early on.

"Wan Sheng!"

Cheers from the soldiers echoed across the battlefield.

Liu Daogui breathed a sigh of relief. This battle was truly solid and could be compared to Murong Chui's killing of Tuoba Qian.

The main force of the Wei army in Ji Province was basically decimated, with at least 10,000 killed, countless wounded, and no fewer than 8,000 captured. A large number of warhorses were also seized.

There's no point in besieging Luoyang anymore. Liu Daogui could even drive straight into Pingcheng, which is sparsely defended!

Killing a thousand enemies resulted in losing eight hundred of our own; our own casualties were also quite heavy.

According to the combined figures from all units, more than 4,100 soldiers were killed in action, and countless others were wounded.

Fortunately, Changsun Fei's 20,000 elite troops did not join the battle, otherwise the casualties would have been even greater...

(End of this chapter)