"Boom, boom, boom!"
As the war drums thundered incessantly, the clang of clashing blades and spears rang across the countryside. A rain of arrows fell from the sky, sharp shafts killing soldier after soldier. Blood spurted as they collapsed to the ground howling, and countless feet trampled over them until they fell silent.
On a battlefield of frontal combat, what was the invincible king?
Fully armored heavy infantry!
Before fully armored cavalry such as the Iron Pagoda Cavalry appeared, heavy infantry were invincible in frontal combat. Advancing in formation, their blades and spears churned like a meat grinder.
Without heavy crossbows, mounted bows alone simply could not pierce their armor. Nor could cavalry charge straight into an infantry formation-that was simply courting death.
The Han Army had few heavy infantry in the Western Regions, but every one of them was a mighty warrior. Beneath the rain of arrows, Han soldiers and their allies fell in wave after wave, while the heavy infantry kept advancing almost entirely unscathed.
Luo Shi had been watching the battlefield throughout. Seeing that the Han Army held the advantage in morale, and that the armored soldiers in particular advanced with magnificent momentum, he brandished his sword and roared, "Press forward! Send everyone in!"
At his command, the two reserve forces that had remained in the center since the battle began immediately charged forward to disrupt the Dayuan army's formation. Mounted on his horse, Luo Shi turned and said, "Brothers, please join the battle and lead the Temple Army against the Dayuan army's left flank. Father asked me to bestow his blessing upon you.
'The Sage King is with you!'"
As Luo Shi relayed the message, he crossed his hands and raised them high above his head, bowing his head deeply in the opposite direction. The Luo