The Xianbei army moved like thunder, dust swirling wildly beneath the horses' hooves. The two armies clashed, and the retreat came swiftly, while the rest of the army remained undisturbed, standing as steady as mountains.
Truly, they were Swift as the Wind, Quiet as the Forest, Aggressive as Fire, Immovable as a Mountain, Unfathomable as the Shade, and Move Like Thunder.
By contrast, among the Western Regions Allied Army, the Temple Army naturally remained as steady as a deep abyss, and the elite troops of the kingdoms likewise stood firmly beneath their banners, but the hastily conscripted herders and farmers showed some panic before the Xianbei army.
"Hah! Hah! Hah!"
Faced with the Xianbei's probing attack, Luo Gu did not respond immediately. He, too, wanted to test both the Xianbei army's strength and that of his own allied army.
The Xianbei army harassed them in successive waves, charging forward on horseback before reining their mounts aside. The rear ranks charged next as the front ranks wheeled back around, forming a staggered, rolling assault. The Western Regions Army could neither advance nor retreat, feeling attacked from front and rear. After only a few exchanges, their formation fell into disorder, and many soldiers were killed amid the chaos by volleys of arrows.
Luo Gu's gaze sharpened. He waved his left hand, and a thousand Temple Army soldiers slowly urged their horses forward, gathering speed. The twenty thousand-odd Xianbei bow cavalry wheeled away in retreat while surging past along the Temple Army's flank.
The Temple Army refused to yield, drawing their bows and loosing arrows. Every Temple Army soldier had greater arm strength than the bow cavalry, and the Xianbei troops had already entered their range before the two sides even met.
As bowstrings rang out, Xianbei bow cavalry tumbled from their mounts