When Horse-Slaying Sickle's curved blade hooked the front leg of the seventh war horse, it finally let out an overwhelmed groan and broke at the tenon.
Before the Great Xuan soldier had time to throw away his hand and break the pole, he was knocked out by the Iron Pagoda who rushed in, including his armor and man. He was already shapeless in mid-air. But in just a few dozen breaths, the three hundred Horse-Slaying Sickle had torn more than a hundred wounds on the steel city wall.
The fallen Iron Pagoda war horses and knights became the most fatal obstacles for the subsequent chargers. The armored war horses could not turn flexibly during the high-speed charge, and could only step over the corpses of their comrades. Some war horses were tripped, and some had to slow down. Iron Pagoda's strict charging formation came to a chaotic stagnation for the first time.
"That's it now!" Li Xun's eyes on the Chinese military command platform were as cold as the frozen soil outside the customs. "Crossbow team--Armor Piercing cone, shoot!"
The eight hundred crossbowmen who were already ready to attack fired their weapons at the same time.
"Buzz--"
That was not the sound of arrows piercing the air, but the muffled sound of nearly a thousand heavy crossbows firing in unison, like a huge bee swarm suddenly awakening. The arrowhead of Armor Piercing was in the shape of a triangular pyramid, specially designed for Armor Piercing. At this moment, it drew an arc of death in the air, heading towards the stagnant Iron Pagoda!
Iron Pagoda Commander Helian Zhen was shouting in the formation to adjust the formation, "Don't stop! Charge over! Their resistance has been -"
Before he finished speaking, the first wave of Armor Piercing cones arrived.
"Puff puff puff puff..."
It was the muffled sound of arrowheads penetrating iron armor and piercing into flesh. The sound was not loud, but it was like thunder in Helianzheng's ears. He watched dozens of iron pagoda knights in front of him. They were shocked as if they were hit by invisible heavy hammers, and then fell slowly from their horses. Some people did not even scream in pain - the armor-piercing awl was shot directly through the eye slit of the mask and came out through the brain.
"This is impossible!" Helian Zheng's pupils shrank suddenly. Iron Pagoda's armor is cold-forged armor that Northern Di spent five years forging with hard work. Ordinary arrows cannot penetrate it!
But the Armor Piercing cone of Great Xuan is not an ordinary arrow. It is a killer weapon specially designed for heavy armor through repeated experiments by Qin Tiexin and Craftsmen's Camp, which thickened the arrowhead and adjusted the center of gravity. Within thirty steps, it is enough to penetrate a finger-thick cold forged iron!
"Retreat! Retreat! Avoid the front!" Helian Zheng roared wildly, with blood oozing out of the corners of his mouth - it was the bite of the gums caused by the intense fire.
But it's too late.
The second and third waves of Armor Piercing cones came one after another. The stagnant Iron Pagoda became the best target. The crossbowmen did not need to aim accurately at all, they only needed to throw towards the black steel cluster. When the arrow rain fell, someone was bound to fall.
When Helian Zheng finally took the remaining troops out of the crossbow range, when he looked back, his vision went dark.
Of the two thousand Iron Pagoda, there were less than one thousand two hundred riders left standing. The battlefield was littered with dead armored horses and crouched steel bodies. Blood gurgled from the gaps in the armor, forming dark red streams on the frozen soil.
"Go around the flank!" Helian Zheng pointed with red eyes to the left side of the battlefield - although it was narrow, there were fewer horses.
The remaining Iron Pagoda turned around and rushed toward the mouth of the valley on the left. As long as they rushed in, they could tear the Great Xuan army formation from the flank!
The valley is getting closer and closer. Helian Zheng can already see several sidecars scattered at the entrance of the valley - Great Xuan people seem to have no time to set up a complete defense line here.
"Come in!" He raised his scimitar.
At this moment, dense crowds of people suddenly stood up on the slopes on both sides of the valley!
They were not infantry, but crossbowmen. Each of them held a powerful crossbow that had been strung up. The arrowheads of the crossbows shone coldly in the gloomy sky - another Armor Piercing cone.
"Fell into a trap!" Helian Zheng buzzed in his head.
"Let it go!"
A cold command came from the hillside.
Arrows rained down! This time it was a top-down shot. Iron Pagoda's top armor was relatively weak, and Armor Piercing's cone penetrated easily! At the same time, dozens of boulders rolled down from the front of the valley, completely blocking the way!
"Back! Back!" Helian Zheng's voice was hoarse and deformed.
But the valley is so narrow that turning around is not easy. Those in front want to retreat, but those in the rear are still charging forward, and the men and horses are huddled together. The crossbowmen on the hillside are loading, aiming, and firing calmly, like hunters shooting trapped animals in a fence.
When Helian Zheng finally rushed out of the Death Valley with less than two hundred cavalry remnants, the eyes of the first Northern Di general were bloodshot. He looked back at the valley - it had become a steel cemetery, and 1,800 Iron Pagoda remained in that narrow valley forever.
"The king... the general... is guilty..." he murmured, and a mouthful of blood finally spurted out, staining the breastplate red.
In the rear, Great Xuan Chinese military command podium.
Li Xun put down Thousand-Li Mirror in his hand. There was no joy on his face, only cold determination.
"Iron Pagoda has been defeated." He said solemnly, "Send the order: Formation-Breaking Camp form a formation to press forward. It's time for them to go on the field. The infantry will follow up on both wings to cover, and the cavalry will be ready at any time. When the Northern Di cavalry is defeated, they will rush straight into the enemy's camp. Tell Li Zhenwei, his Formation-Breaking Second Camp, that it's time to go on the field."
He paused and looked at the wolf-headed banner in the distance. "This battle will completely end Yelü Hongshan."
The order spread across the battlefield like beacon fire.
The originally entrenched heavy armored infantry phalanx suddenly separated to both sides, making way for a passage. Walking out of the passage was another heavily armored unit.
But their armor is thicker and heavier.
Formation-Breaking Camp.
Five thousand Formation-Breaking Camp soldiers, wearing double layers of armor, with iron leaves on key parts. Each person carries a weight of more than 80 kilograms, but they walk steadily and make a sound when they step on the ground. In the front row is a giant shield. On the hand, the shield is shoulder-high and three inches thick; behind the shield is the spearman, the spear is two feet long, and the tip of the spear is frighteningly cold; then there is the Mo Dao hand, the knife is seven feet long and the blade is five inches wide. When it is swung, it cuts like a door panel, breaking both men and horses.
This is the trump card of Li Xun. It is the trump card that has been prepared for five years. Great Xuan gathered the whole country to create these five thousand qualified heavy armored infantry. It was originally for The final line of defense prepared by Iron Pagoda. However, the outstanding performance of Horse-Slaying Sickle and Armor Piercing cones allowed this ace to be retained, and now it became the sharp blade to strangle the Northern Di cavalry.
At the same time, hundreds of sidecars were pushed up in front of the battle formation. These tanks did not charge, but were connected end to end, forming a simple and Sturdiness barrier, dividing the front of the battlefield into several narrow passages. If the Northern Di cavalry wanted to charge, they had to squeeze into these passages - and at the end of the passage were Formation-Breaking Camp's giant shields and spears.
Northern Di Central Army, under the wolf-headed banner.
Helian Zheng knelt on one knee, his helmet had been taken off, and there was a bloody mark from an arrow on his forehead. "Your Majesty...Iron Pagoda... two thousand Iron Pagoda, only came back with less than two hundred riders... the last general... deserves death!"
Yelü Hongshan was sitting on the chariot, with no emotion or anger on his face. He just listened quietly, his gray-yellow eyes staring at the steel cemetery on the battlefield in the distance. The cold wind blew through his gray temples, and a few strands of hair trembled in the wind.
After a long time, he spoke slowly, and his voice was unusually calm. "Li Xun... Sure enough, it's still Li Xun."
"Father!" the eldest son Yelü Yun said anxiously, "Iron Pagoda is gone, but we still have 50,000 cavalry! Let me lead the troops into the formation, and I will be able to break through the Great Xuan army formation!"
"You?" Yelü Hongshan glanced at his son, and that look made Yelü Yun subconsciously take a half step back, "Do you know what's waiting in front of you?"
He raised his hand and pointed to the battlefield. "The chariots restricted the passage, forcing our cavalry to crowd together. At the end of the passage, there are the most elite heavy armored infantry from Formation-Breaking Camp-Li Xun. Their armor is thicker than Iron Pagoda, and their Mo Dao is specialized in cutting horse legs. If you rush in, you will die."
"Then... what should we do?" Yelü Yun turned pale.
Yelü Hongshan was silent. He looked around - behind him was an army of 500,000 Northern Di, and in front of him was a 150,000 Great Xuan army waiting in full formation. In this battle, he staked Northern Di's national destiny for the next ten years, his own life, and the future of his two sons.
Retreat? Can't retreat. Once the army of 500,000 retreats, it will be defeated. The Great Xuan cavalry will be like a pack of wolves chasing prey, killing Northern Di's son on the way to Mount Wula.
Enter? Iron Pagoda has been destroyed. How many lives will it take to fill Formation-Breaking Camp in a frontal attack?
But he has no choice.
His skinny fingers clenched the handle of the knife tightly, his joints turned white, and he forced himself to swallow the blood he was about to cough up.
"Send the order." He finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "Fifty thousand cavalry, divided into three groups, charge with all strength. Don't be afraid of death - tell the men, today you will either break through Xinyang Pass, or you will die here. There is no third way."
"Yes!" The messenger rushed away.
Yelü Hongshan stood up slowly and walked down from the chariot. The attendants brought his war horse - a red horse. He turned on the horse, but his movements were still vigorous.
"Father, you are..." Yelü Yun was stunned.
"I personally supervise the battle." Yelü Hongshan pulled out the scimitar from his waist. The handle had been rubbed as smooth as a mirror, "Yun'er, you follow me in the army. Today, let Great Xuan people see what a Northern Di man is."
The trumpet sounded again, this time, more stern and more desperate.
Fifty thousand Northern Di cavalry began to charge. They did not have the Heaviness armor of Iron Pagoda, but they were faster and more flexible. They divided into three torrents and rushed towards the Great Xuan military formation!
The cavalry at the front ran into a barrier formed by sidecars. Some tried to jump over, but were stabbed through the horse's belly by the spears on the roof of the car; some tried to go around, but squeezed into the preset narrow passage - and at the end of the passage, Formation-Breaking Camp's giant shield had been slammed to the ground, and spears were pierced out like a forest!
"Stab!"
The spearmen roared in unison, thrusting forward with their two-foot long spears at the same time! The Northern Di cavalry who rushed forward were stabbed through with their horses and men! But the following cavalry were not afraid and continued to charge over the corpses of their comrades! The sabers struck the giant shield, splashing sparks; some cavalry even rode their horses directly into the shield wall, using their flesh and blood to clear the way for the following comrades!
The battle entered the most brutal tug-of-war stage. Formation-Breaking Camp's Mo Dao hand began to step forward, swinging the heavy Mo Dao, and each chop could cut off the front legs of the war horse at the knee level! The horse's blood spattered, dyeing the armor red, dyeing the frozen soil red, and dyeing every ferocious face red.
Just when the frontal battlefield was filled with blood, behind the Great Xuan military formation, in several inconspicuous corners, black shadows faintly fainted like ink drops falling into water.
Night Scouts.
These Northern Di elites are like fine sand seeping through the fingers, wedged in the gaps between the battle lines. Their goal is clear-not to charge head-on, but to point directly at Great Xuan's throat: command flags, crossbow positions, food, grass and baggage.
At the edge of the right-wing crossbow formation, the crossbowmen were concentrating on throwing rain of arrows into the distance. The only infantry guards faced outwards on guard, but they did not realize that the god of death was behind them. A Night Scouts team lay in the grass among the remains. The leader slowly raised his hand, and the five bows were filled with strings silently--
"Whoosh!"
The arrow has not yet shot, but has already penetrated the throat.
A white-feathered arrow shot through the air from the side and accurately pierced the throat of leader Night Scouts. The bowstring in his hand was loose and he fell backwards, clutching the splattered blood.
On the hillside, Zhao Ling lowered his hard bow and glanced over like a hawk. "At three o'clock, behind the bushes, there are three more."
Before he finished speaking, three black arrows struck in succession! Zhao Ling twisted to dodge, and his leather arm guard was scratched by an arrow. But the fourth arrow predicted the direction of his dodge and went straight to his heart - Night Scouts also had a sharp shot.
"Lower your head!" Li Shun roared and rushed towards him, knocking Zhao Ling away.
"Pfft!"
The arrowhead sank deeply into Li Shun's right shoulder. He grunted and threw the short knife at his waist with his backhand. There was a pitiful cry from the darkness, and a Night Scouts covered his neck and staggered out. Zhao Ling took the opportunity to draw his bow and shoot quickly, killing another person.
"How are you?" Zhao Ling held on to Li Shun, his tentacles all wet and sticky.
"You can't die..." Li Shun's teeth chattered. He grabbed the arrow shaft and pulled it out fiercely, bringing out a stream of black blood. "But... the arrow trough is black... it's poison!"
The skin and flesh of the wound quickly turned purple and turned black. Zhao Ling's pupils shrank suddenly and he screamed, "Medical soldier--!"
The only response he received was the boiling sound of killing a hundred steps away. The battle lines were stalemate, and help was hard to come.
A short figure flew close to the ground at this time. It was Chen San. He only glanced at the wound, took out the skin bag from his arms, and pressed a pinch of black powder on the wound. "Instructor Shi's antidote powder can last for a moment." He raised his head, his eyes bright with dirty face, "Take him away, I'll cut it off."
"How can you alone--"
"Execute the order!" Chen San shouted rarely, but his usual sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "We Team A must leave a sharp archer to return the favor."
Zhao Ling's eyes were hot, he gritted his teeth, picked up Li Shun and retreated.
Chen San turned around and unsheathed his swords. The three Night Scouts in front were already surrounded by horns. He spat out blood, and suddenly ducked forward - not a direct collision, but an oblique thrust into the enemy's blind spot on the left. The scimitar drew a cold arc, first cutting off one man's hamstrings, and then piercing his abdominal ribs with his backhand. Warm blood sprayed all over his arms.
But the enemy's knife on the right was already coming at him. Chen San leaned back as much as possible, and the blade brushed past the tip of his nose, still tearing a deep gash in his back. The severe pain made his eyes black, but he used the momentum of rolling to throw the knife in his left hand, and the tip of the stainless steel knife penetrated the other person's eye socket.
In the blink of an eye, only the last person was left.
Chen San leaned against the overturned sidecar and gasped heavily. The blood soaked into his trouser legs along the ridge and accumulated into dark puddles around his feet. He pulled out the last dagger from his boot and grinned. "Here."
Night Scouts was obviously frightened by the cruelty of this short and thin man, and walked around Chen San step by step. Bleeding was on the right side. Chen San saw through the intention. The moment the opponent moved, he used his last strength to pounce on him. The dagger stabbed into the enemy's heart with all its strength. At the same time, he also felt a chill in his ribs - the enemy's blade also pierced his heart.
The two fell to the ground suddenly.
Chen San looked up at the leaden sky, with snowflakes falling on his face. His lips moved, as if he wanted to shout something, but only blood foam came out. Finally, he smiled and slowly closed his eyes.
In the distance, Zhao Ling staggered away with the unconscious Li Shun on his back. The arrow wound on his arm stung, but it was nothing like the pain in his heart. He did not look back, but he knew that the short figure behind him would never follow him again.