"From now on, Zhao Cheng will be your Squad Leader. Feng Quan will serve as Squad Leader's deputy for the time being, mainly assisting Zhao Cheng."
Though Meng Tian was a Five-Hundred Commander, he had risen through the ranks one step at a time, fighting his way up from the lowest ranks.
These men under Feng Quan were all elite scouts in the Assault Cavalry Battalion. They had also been his earliest subordinates, so he knew them well.
Under Qin military regulations, five men formed a squad, with one leading the other four. Ten men formed a section, with two Squad Leaders among them. The Squad Leader, however, was not one of those ten; he was an independent officer who led the unit and charged at its head when battle began.
So although Feng Quan had become a Squad Leader, he had no soldiers to command, and Meng Tian had not assigned any to him.
First, his appointment was only temporary. Zhao Cheng would probably be promoted again before long, allowing Feng Quan to resume his original post.
Second, Zhao Cheng had only just joined the Assault Cavalry and had never seen battle. He needed someone to help him and pass on their experience. Feng Quan was a seasoned veteran who had fought in countless battles, so he would be a great help to Zhao Cheng.
Meng Tian glanced at Zhao Cheng, who nodded to show he understood.
Meng Tian then returned to the front and continued leading the troops onward.
At noon the next day, southeast of Ye County.
It was already late autumn. The cliffs of the Funiu Mountain Range had been dyed red by the maple leaves, and the fallen foliage lent the landscape a desolate air.
The army advanced along the main road. In the distance, they could just make out Fang City Pass, built against Fang City Mountain. It was the Chu Fang City that the Chu State had constructed here, a pass so easily defended that one man could hold it against ten thousand. It had yet to fall.
Countless corpses lay piled outside the pass, their blood staining the ground red.
From within the Qin army, Meng Wu gazed into the distance, his eyes gleaming. He already had the situation firmly in hand.
"This is the natural gateway on Nanyang's eastern side. It's easy to defend and hard to attack. If we take it, we can strike straight into Wan City's eastern flank and cut the land route between Han and Chu. But Han is using this treacherous terrain to block us. A direct assault would cost more than it's worth..."
Meng Wu waved his command flag. The army ignored the Han defenders at Fang City Pass and advanced straight toward Ye County's southern gate.
The pressure now fell on the Han army guarding Fang City. If Ye County fell, the northern gateway to Nanyang would lie wide open. But if they sent reinforcements to Ye County, how could they keep Fang City Pass secure?
As they wrestled with their anxiety and indecision,
a thousand five hundred Light Cavalry quietly broke away from the rear of the Qin army and swept along the Funiu Mountain Range, slipping into the Zhi River valley to the west. Their horses' hooves, wrapped in thick hemp cloth, trod over piles of dead leaves with muffled thuds as they headed straight for the southern side of Fang City Pass.
Meng Tian led the charge, with Flying Cavalry Zhao Cheng on his left.
"My father is bearing down on Ye County to put pressure on Fang City Pass. Whether or not the defenders split their forces, their defenses will have gaps we can exploit. We'll strike the southern side of the pass. Success depends on secrecy, and the route will be watched by plenty of scouts and hidden sentries. In a moment, we'll send out five hundred Assault Cavalry, with you at the tip of the spear. This chance to be first over the walls is yours to seize!"
Meng Tian rode ahead, then looked back at Zhao Cheng with a smile.
Once drawn, a sword had to be sharpened with blood.
This was Zhao Cheng's first battle, and Meng Tian intended to give him every chance to prove himself!
Zhao Cheng's gaze burned bright. He cupped his hands and smiled. "Thank you, elder brother!"
Meng Tian nodded, waved his command flag, and a whistle sounded.
"Two hundred scout riders, hear my command! Zhao Cheng will lead the way. Scout fifty li ahead, and kill every hidden sentry or scout you encounter! When the opportunity is right, attack the southern side of Fang City and join forces with the troops inside to break through the pass!"
"Understood!"
Zhao Cheng squeezed his horse's flanks. The glossy black steed beneath him shot ahead, its powerful body surging forward as the fierce wind whipped his hair back.
Behind him, countless scout cavalry rode up on either side, spreading out like wild geese across the sky as they fanned into the distance!
As the terrain opened up, the two hundred riders grew farther and farther apart. Only his ten men remained behind Zhao Cheng, along with Feng Quan, who rode close beside him, looking rather disgruntled.
Feng Quan had no idea how he had lost. When he woke, he was draped over a horse's belly and had already been carried a long way.
Still, he had to admit Zhao Cheng's horsemanship was astounding. And Feng Quan was a man who accepted defeat when he lost. Since he had lost, he would do his best to assist Zhao Cheng and pass on everything he knew.
"Squad Leader, there are hoofprints here. The branches are broken, and the trail heads south. We'll probably run into enemy scouts before long!"
He had barely finished speaking when he saw Zhao Cheng nock an arrow up ahead. His powerful arms seemed strong enough to hold up heaven and earth. The heavy, solid-looking Ebony Bow bent beneath his hands, drawn to the full moon!
What shocked Feng Quan most was that Zhao Cheng had nocked three arrows at once!
You could shoot arrows like that?
As Feng Quan stood there, dumbstruck, the bowstring cracked!
The three arrows didn't scatter in every direction as Feng Quan had expected. They shot straight ahead like meteors, like bolts of lightning, vanishing into the distance as they pierced through the branches and crossed the woodland.
Then, to his horror, faint cries of pain and alarm drifted back from afar.
The moment those shouts reached them, Zhao Cheng was already drawing his bow again as he galloped, loosing two more arrows!
Two sharp whistles rang out!
Two more cries of pain came from the distance!
Then all fell silent...
Feng Quan swallowed, his mouth gone dry. Brother, I'd only just spotted their tracks, and you've already killed them all!?
What kind of eyesight is that!?
And at this speed, over that distance, shooting several arrows at once—how on earth did you hit them, big brother??
Does it really have to be this incredible?
You're making me look useless!
"Keep up!"
Zhao Cheng barked from up ahead and suddenly sped up. The eleven men behind him had no time to stay astonished; they hurried after him.
This terrain put their horsemanship to the test. Even these elite Assault Cavalry riders couldn't move quickly through the relatively dense woods.
But Zhao Cheng seemed to ignore the trees entirely. He and his horse were as one, dancing through the forest!
He showed not the slightest sign of awkwardness or uncertainty, moving with effortless ease. His men could not match his speed and could only watch him pull farther and farther ahead.
"Slow down, brother!"
Feng Quan was sweating buckets. He had never seen anyone like him!
Only now did he understand that the Five-Hundred Commander hadn't been trying to shame him or take his position. If anything, he had shown Feng Quan far too much respect. For a man like Zhao Cheng to take his place—as a mere Squad Leader—there was no need for a contest or for anyone's approval.
With archery like that, Zhao Cheng could become a Squad Leader in the Assault Cavalry Battalion in an instant.
Under military regulations, anyone who took one armored soldier's head would be granted the Gongshi rank, one qing of land, a residence, one servant, and the military post of Wuzhang!
Taking two heads earned the Shangzao rank, double the land and servants, and the military post of Squad Leader!
Judging by those arrows, Zhao Cheng had already earned his title as Squad Leader fair and square. And he had killed scouts—elite cavalry in the enemy ranks—whose heads were worth far more!
As they marvelled, the men caught up with Zhao Cheng. Five headless corpses lay on the ground, and five severed heads now hung from his horse.
Blood stained Zhao Cheng's body, and both his hands were crimson. His face was slightly pale, but killing intent poured from his eyes. The blood and corpses had not frightened him. If anything, they seemed to have awakened something feral within him!
With his powerful, tiger-like build and blazing vitality, he looked like a savage tiger brought to life!
Even Feng Quan felt a chill run down his back.
This man was a born fiend!
Excitement flashed in Zhao Cheng's eyes. His heart pounded like a war drum, and his hands trembled slightly.
To be honest, this was the first time he had ever killed anyone. The feeling was impossible to describe, impossible to suppress. There was some unease, certainly, but even more than that, he felt a fierce shiver of excitement, like a wolf drunk on blood. A primal savagery was awakening in his heart.
What excited him even more was the information coming from the system.
[You killed an enemy and seized forty-eight years of life!]
[You killed an enemy and seized thirty-five years of life!]
[You killed an enemy and seized thirty-seven years of life!]
[You killed an enemy and seized forty-two years of life!]
[You killed an enemy and seized eighteen years of life!]
[Current remaining lifespan: 246 years and 7 months]
He now had more than two hundred and forty years left to live, and killing enemies let him seize their lifespans in full!
Before you continue