Chapter 33: Who Are the Reinforcements?

The leader of this Northern Barbarian cavalry troop was brimming with excitement. Ever since they had followed the Great Khan’s main force in routing the Liang Dynasty’s border guards, they had been rampaging through the northern territories of Liang, meeting no opposition. However, the Liang soldiers were as timid as mice; aside from one or two units, they all cowered behind their city walls. The Northern Barbarians excelled at cavalry warfare but were ill-suited for sieges, leaving them few opportunities to earn glory. On the grasslands, glory not only meant generous rewards from the great chieftains but also served as a means to establish one’s reputation among the various tribes.

"Brothers, this is a big catch! We must not let them escape. We must kill this Liang unit and seize their carriages to present to the Commander!"

"Nanhong, ride back to the main camp and report this."

A horseman saluted and agreed, ready to depart, but he was startled by the leader.

"Use your head, you brat! Military discipline requires that I report this, but don’t ride too fast. It would be best if we could secure this glory for ourselves!"

Nanhong was his trusted subordinate, so he could speak plainly. Nanhong understood instantly and agreed. Although he spurred his horse back to seek reinforcements, he deliberately slowed his pace, giving his own tribal unit more time to annihilate this Liang force. They numbered over two hundred riders, while the Liang force consisted of five or six hundred infantry. However, the Liang soldiers were demoralized after a crushing defeat, their movements were as slow as tortoises, and they were physically exhausted. The barbarians believed their strength was more than enough to crush them.

The Northern Barbarian cavalry launched rapid raids, repeatedly using feints and harassment to force the Liang soldiers into revealing flaws, intending to strike them down in one fell swoop. If this had been any other Liang unit they knew, they would have already lost the strength to resist. If they wanted to avoid total annihilation by the cavalry, they would have been forced to scatter into the mountains, their survival left to luck. Yet, this time, they remained steadfast, guarding the carriages and fighting to the death without retreating. The Northern Barbarian cavalry were furious; although they had inflicted heavy casualties on the Liang soldiers, they had also suffered significant losses themselves. The barbarian leader was completely enraged; even if only to vent his spite, he was determined to finish them off.

"Attack! Kill every last one of these hateful Liang people!"

The essence of cavalry lies in speed. When fighting infantry, one must avoid prolonged engagements, instead using repeated charges to break them, and then initiating the cavalry’s greatest strength: hunting down the routed enemy.

Everyone knew their leader was now in a frenzy. Even if they won, such tactics would come at a heavy cost. Just then, they heard the sound of approaching hooves in the distance.

"Commander, reinforcements have arrived!" A few of the soldiers who valued their lives breathed a sigh of relief. The incoming cavalry held their torches high, making their uniforms visible from afar. Even without seeing their attire, at a time like this, only Northern Barbarian cavalry would be moving in the open; even if there were any Liang cavalry left, they, like the infantry, were cowering in the cities.

"Damn it! Didn't I tell that brat Nanhong to take it slow? How did the reinforcements get here so fast?" the leader roared in anger.

However, the other soldiers ignored his mood; the most important thing was that victory was assured, and they had a better chance of surviving. "Reinforcements are here! Everyone, charge with all your might! The Liang soldiers won't last much longer."

Having confirmed that those approaching from behind were indeed their own, the leader only thought of killing as many Liang soldiers as possible before they arrived, so he could claim his share of the glory with a clear conscience.

The Liang soldiers, however, felt despair rising within them. Against a force of only two hundred barbarian riders, they might have had a chance to maneuver and perhaps hold out until they reached terrain disadvantageous to cavalry. But now, with barbarian reinforcements arriving, they were doomed.

A woman’s voice drifted from within the carriage. "Captain Cao, do not throw your lives away here in vain. Please, flee! My father will not blame you!"

Outside the carriage, Captain Cao’s blood boiled. "Young Lady, never speak like that! We have received great kindness from the City Governor, and this is the time to repay that debt with our lives! Brothers, fight these barbarian curs to the end!"

Under such circumstances, they actually remained firm, refusing to retreat. Not all the Liang soldiers were cowards; there were warriors among them who dared to face the Northern Barbarians. Yet, the entire northern border was currently being trampled by the barbarians, and the Liang army was powerless. It was a clear example of how a single incompetent general could lead an entire army to death, showing exactly what kind of officials and military commanders were in charge of the northern frontier.

So many civil and military officials had adopted a policy of appeasement, which, beyond the Barbarians' undeniable martial prowess, hinted that something was deeply wrong with the Great Liang court.

However, as they fought with the resolve of the damned, the battle took a turn that shocked everyone. The "Northern Barbarian reinforcements" who had charged onto the field were shouting in the language of Great Liang, and they violently stabbed into the backs of the barbarian cavalry they had been fighting!

"What is happening! Are you all blind?" the Northern Barbarian leader screamed in shock and rage.

"Commander, listen! They are speaking the Liang tongue! They are Liang soldiers in disguise!" the other soldiers warned their leader in desperation.

Xue Chengqian knew that defeating two or three hundred barbarian cavalry in a frontal assault would be no easy task; it would be a bitter struggle. Thus, he had gathered his cavalry with all possible speed and immediately ordered them to don Northern Barbarian uniforms. It was fortunate that these soldiers, who were from military households, possessed excellent horsemanship, allowing them to split up and carry torches while moving through the night. They had marched with deliberate, flashy intent, completely disarming the Barbarians' vigilance and earning the chance to launch a charge from the rear.

The Northern Barbarians had held the tactical advantage, but ultimately, there were only two hundred of them. While they had some combat effectiveness when gathered, once their formation was pierced from behind and they were scattered, they could no longer regroup to mount a defense. The dispersed barbarians were quickly surrounded and slaughtered by the Liang forces.

Yet, even though they had achieved a massive advantage, Xue Chengqian found that this battle was still incredibly difficult. Just as it had been on the banks of the Wangjiang River, even when trapped in desperate straits, these Northern Barbarians fought to the death without fleeing, resisting with every ounce of their strength.

More importantly, although the "Liang forces" present held an absolute numerical advantage, they could not bring it to bear. The hundreds of rescued Liang soldiers watched the shifting battle with suspicion and confusion; they knew reinforcements had arrived, but they could not join the fray. In their eyes, both sides were cavalry, and both were wearing the garb of the Northern Barbarians—how could they possibly coordinate their attack?

Luo Fang and Xue Chengqian had to rely on their own strength to hunt down the remaining barbarian riders, which cost them a great deal of time. If not for the overwhelming advantage they had held at the very start of the engagement, the final outcome might still have been in doubt.

They had won three major victories against small bands of Northern Barbarians, but except for the battle at Dayu Village, every fight had left Xue Chengqian and his men terrified, giving them a sobering realization of the ferocious bravery of the Northern Barbarians.