Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 781 (1): Heroes of the Grasslands

Chi Li led his cavalry in a swift charge from the rear, launching harassing attacks against the Han army’s rear.

This was not the small-scale raiding force of a few hundred men that the Han army had expected. Instead, it was an elite cavalry force of 3,000. It had simply not appeared as such due to the swirling sand of the battlefield that largely obscured one’s vision.

In a confrontation on narrow ground, one could not simply let the heat of battle cloud their judgment and charge headlong into a well-formed spear and shield formation. The riders of the Grasslands were never meant to crash directly into such formations, let alone Chi Li’s force, which was even more adept at mobile warfare yet consequently weak in a head-on clash.

Once northern barbarian cavalry began their hit-and-run tactics, they became a terrifying force. If they found an opening to weave through and carve up the enemy, no number of troops could withstand the slaughter. The earlier assault, where a sea of cavalry had emerged from the sandstorm before the Han forces even had time to form up, had left little room for suspense. That battle had been over before it even started.

But this time, the Han army had formed their ranks.

A force of 100,000 was not easily commanded, yet they had assembled their formations with near-flawless coordination. Even if these formations were simple, the speed at which they had been deployed demonstrated unparalleled command ability. Timur had no hesitation in calling Huangfu Yongxian the greatest general of the era, even going so far as to admit “I am not his equal.” Had it been any other commander, the battlefield would have descended into chaos, and however much Lady Three had stalled for time, it would not have made any difference.

This ability, unlike raw martial prowess, did not stand out as dramatically in battle, thereby often leading people to overlook its significance. Yet it was the most crucial quality of a great commander and something that Zhao Changhe, for all his qualities, simply did not have.

Now that the enemy had solidified their formation, breaking through would not be easy. But the real problem was the terrain. Swamps surrounded them on all sides, making swift maneuvers nearly impossible. That was the true disaster.

So is this the main reason Zhao Changhe and the others had Lady Three split off to this side... but whose idea was it? Huangfu Yongxian’s? Or perhaps it came from his daughter, the so-called supreme commander?

Timur had no time to ponder. He was already fending off the dual assault from the two Lady Three figures while simultaneously releasing vigorous qi in an attempt to dry the sodden ground. Unfortunately, such efforts required time. Though the swamp was beginning to dissipate, the terrain remained soft and treacherous, robbing the Grasslands cavalry of their greatest advantage—speed and mobility.

As for dismounting and engaging in a melee? That was out of the question. Their armor was far inferior to the Han troops, not to mention the disciplined formations they faced. Even Vulture Beak had no idea how to approach such a battle.

Fortunately, their goal was not to break the formation but to stall Huangfu Yongxian’s advance. Their main purpose was to buy time for their cavalry to regroup and for Timur to dry the battlefield. They did not need to fight to the death. They only needed to hold out long enough to regain mobility.

A combined force of 300,000 troops did not only have value in quantity but also in their presence that spanned great distances. Even as the frontline struggled, endless reinforcements continued advancing from the rear under the command of the tribal leaders, avoiding the chaos ahead. If managed correctly, the battle could still be steered back into their favor.

For now, however, only one force remained capable of maneuvering freely: Chi Li’s cavalry force of 3,000 in the rear.

In the grand scale of this battle, 3,000 seemed insignificant. But for the mobile warfare they excelled in, it was already enough. If deployed effectively, they could wreak havoc on the Han army’s rear. In the best-case scenario, they might even manage to penetrate deep into the enemy ranks, cutting open a bloody path.

After all, with a battlefield this vast, Huangfu Yongxian could not possibly control every corner of it. Much would depend on the skill of his subordinate generals.

Similarly, Timur had placed high hopes on Chi Li. This battle’s outcome seemed to rest not on Vulture Beak’s head-on charge but on the maneuvers of this elite cavalry force.

However, just as Chi Li was preparing to launch his assault, the loathsome face of Situ Xiao appeared once more. Situ Xiao even had the leisure to take a swig of wine, grinning mischievously. “Little Cui and I each sparred with you a few times as a test. In the end, we decided I was the better match for you.”

Chi Li refused to waste words on him, instead directing his mounted archers to unleash a volley of arrows.

Before, in smaller skirmishes, Situ Xiao alone had been able to block all incoming arrows, but the numbers involved this time were quite different. Does he really think he can do that against a barrage from 3,000 archers? What, does he think he’s Li Shentong?

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

A rain of arrows descended like a swarm of locusts. Yet, in the next instant, the soldiers around Situ Xiao pulled off their outer garments, revealing bodies as solid as steel and abandoning their weapons in favor of two small shields, one in each hand.

Chi Li’s jaw dropped.

Shield-bearers? And why the hell are you guys stripping?

Before he could process this absurdity, a cacophony of clangs and thuds echoed through the air. The incoming arrows were intercepted with uncanny precision as the group of soldiers twisted, leaped, and blocked almost all arrows with their shields. Naturally, there were too many arrows, and some of them struck them as well. Yet the arrows making contact with their skin sounded as if they’d struck metal, and left behind nothing more than shallow marks.

Meanwhile, Situ Xiao had one dedicated task, and that was to catch the arrows that Chi Li personally shot. Anything else, his men handled. The division of labor was terrifyingly efficient.

Chi Li’s heart sank. While the Li Shentong had not come, the Divine Brilliance Sect had sent over a thousand of their elites, each one proficient in the Iron Shirt[1]! Aren’t they supposed to be advancing into Hanzhong? Why would an elite force like this be sent here, so far beyond their borders?

One full arrow volley, and they had not even drawn blood. These martial artists deflected arrows far more effectively than any shield formation. The Han soldiers standing behind the Divine Brilliance Sect warriors watched in amusement, their expressions almost mocking.

Then, they nocked their own arrows and shot back.

The moment Chi Li’s men got even slightly closer, riders began dropping from their saddles.

Chi Li was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. Forget about harassing their lines with high-speed attacks and digging into the enemy formation; he could not even get close enough to shoot arrows at them!

His only option now was to circle around and try shooting from another angle. But Situ Xiao and his men were like lingering specters, shadowing their every move. No matter which direction Chi Li attempted to attack from, Situ Xiao would be there, cutting off his approach. The usual tactics that had always yielded results were utterly neutralized.

With his sharp eyes, Chi Li noticed a small contingent of Han cavalry emerging from the formation in the distance, galloping in his direction. Leading them was a veteran from Yanmen, and it was a face he recognized well. He glanced at Situ Xiao, but Situ Xiao stood firm, showing no intention of pursuing. His plan was clear: hold the line, and let reinforcements take care of the rest.

Chi Li felt both frustration and helplessness. Gritting his teeth, he pulled his reins, signaling a retreat. It was clear that they would have to find another opportunity.

Chi Li had been given the title “Fox Spirit” by the Tome of Troubled Times not just for his fox-like saber technique but for his elusive, ghostly skirmishing style. Yet in this battle, his very specialty had been countered so thoroughly that he had not even made a ripple.

He was certain that his natural talent surpassed Situ Xiao’s. The title of First Hidden Dragon back then was no empty boast, and his cultivation now was undeniably superior. However, his expertise lay in agility, not direct assault. He was also a very good archer, but unlike Zhao Changhe, he lacked overwhelming force, making this match-up against Situ Xiao especially stifling.

Even as he retreated far into the distance, his voice, thick with frustration, still carried to Situ Xiao’s ears, “Isn’t your Divine Brilliance Sect rebelling? Because to me, you lot look just like lapdogs for the Han!”

Situ Xiao burst into laughter. “Your grandfathers right here just love beating you up, you northern barbarians! When the divine land was named Xia, we beat you down all the same. Now that it bears the name of Zhao, we’re even happier to do it!”

The current emperor still has the surname Xia! Chi Li raged inwardly, but he did not have the spare time to argue; he simply fled and vanished into the distance.

Situ Xiao spat on the ground and muttered, “You’re lucky, that’s all. We don’t have enough Divine Punishment artillery. The battlefronts are too many, and that stingy Zhao Changhe said that with a battle this large, sending just a handful would make no difference, so he didn’t give us any at all. If we had a full deployment of Divine Punishment, I would’ve blown your stupid head clean off! I would’ve loved to see you try that hit-and-run nonsense then!”

Just thinking about the sheer power of Divine Punishment sent a shudder down Situ Xiao’s spine. Even he would not want to be on the receiving end of such powerful artillery. He wondered how the protectors of the Divine Temple on Bo’e’s battlefield were holding up against it...

But as much as the Han artillery was limited, Chi Li’s force had a similar problem as their arrows were running out.

They were merely a harassing force that had been detached from the main army for days. How much food, water, and arrows could they have possibly brought? They had already expended a considerable amount in previous skirmishes. Now, each man had only one or two quivers left.

One or two quivers might have been enough to tear open a breach in a normal battle. But in this scenario, they were like mice trying to bite a turtle; they might not even be able to inflict a single light wound.

“Our arrows are running low,” one of Chi Li’s deputies reported grimly. “And this isn’t the result the Khagan wanted...”

Chi Li reined in his horse, gazing into the distance. The wind and sand mixed with sweat on his face, obscuring the handsomeness he once had.

From his position, he had no clear sight of the frontlines. All he could make out was that the Han army’s formation had advanced slightly. It was just a small shift forward, but he could imagine the immense pressure the Vulture Tribe was enduring in such a short time.

The battle doctrine of the Grasslands tribes was fundamentally different from that of the Central Plains. They would never sacrifice their entire tribe in a battle to the death. The moment casualties became too severe, Chi Li had no doubt that Vulture Beak would turn and flee.

But this was a battle they could not afford to flee from. If they did, the will of all tngri would falter.

1. This is a real-life martial practice done, among others, by the Shaolin monks. It can allegedly harden the body in order to withstand hard blows and not be cut by sharp blades. Allegedly. Do not try this at home. ☜