The Great Cliff Ridge Ambush

Xueya led his men away from the Black Wood Tribe, and they had been traveling for several days. The group moved slowly along the mountain road, like a tired giant python, dragging its feet and stretching out in a long, endless line. The cattle and horses were carrying heavy supplies, making the animals pant heavily, with white mist coming out of their nostrils and some foaming at the corners of their mouths.

The prisoners, strung together by ropes, staggered behind. Some had wounded feet, limping with every step, leaving bloody footprints on the dirt road—a horrifying sight. Others were so hungry they were dizzy and fell down, only to be trampled on by those behind them, then get up, fall down again, and get up again.

The Wolf Tribe warriors were also a bit tired. They had been fighting for several days, killing so many people, looting so much, and traveling such a long distance. Even their iron bodies were starting to give way. Some were dozing off on horseback, their eyelids drooping, their heads bobbing up and down like chickens pecking at rice; others were walking, leading their horses, their steps heavy as if filled with lead, each step feeling like walking on cotton; still others were muttering curses under their breath, complaining about the difficult road, the abundance of supplies, the inability to move faster, and the damned weather.

The wind howled in from the mountain valley, sounding like someone was crying or wolves were howling. The leaves on the roadside trees had all fallen, and the bare branches stretched towards the gray sky like countless withered hands trembling in the wind.

Xueya, riding on his black ponies, watched the slow-moving procession. His brows furrowed deeply, forming a knot, and deep lines etched on his forehead. He tapped his fingers lightly on the Jiangsheng, a fire burning within him, making him restless. The Wolf Tribe was moving too slowly; at this pace, the Great Boulder Tribe's pursuers would soon catch up.

Yexiao Owl rode over to him, the horses almost side by side. His expression was also somewhat serious, his brows furrowed, his eyes narrowed into slits, as if he were scrutinizing something or plotting something. His lips were chapped and Baipi, and his voice was a little hoarse.

"Chief, we had a lot of supplies when we retreated, and although we used oxen and horses to carry them, our retreat was still slow."

He paused, glanced back at the long line behind him, which snaked along the mountain path, moving slowly. He said, "When we evacuated the Great Black Stone Tribe and the Black Wood Tribe, we set fire to them. We burned houses, grain, and corpses. The smoke rose high, billowing black smoke that could be seen from a great distance, like a giant black dragon. The people of the Great Boulder Tribe will probably get the news soon and come after us. They're not blind or deaf. Such a commotion can't be kept secret for long. Even a blind person can smell the smoke, and even a deaf person can hear the noise."

Xueya nodded and said, "That's right. I estimate that the Great Boulder Tribe's pursuers will catch up soon, and they may be nearby."

He paused, then continued, "If our Wolf Tribe retreats like this, we'll soon be caught up by the Great Boulder Tribe. If they hold us back and their reinforcements come together to deal with us, our Wolf Tribe will be in trouble."

Xueshou rode over and sat on Xueya's other side, his face full of anxiety. The veins on his forehead bulged like earthworms wriggling under his skin, and his eyes were wide open, almost popping out of their sockets. He said, "Yes, brother, we have to think of something! We can't keep going like this. If we keep going like this, we'll be caught by the Great Boulder Tribe sooner or later. If we're caught, all our gains these past few days will be gone. We won't be able to keep what we've stolen. We can't just lose the wealth we've worked so hard to build up."

Xueya didn't answer immediately. He sat on his horse, looking at the winding mountain road ahead, and said, "Not far ahead is Great Cliff Ridge. It's the only way back to our old nest in Stone Ridge Mountain. If we don't take this route, we'll have to go a long way around, taking several more days, crossing several mountains, several rivers, and several forests."

He paused for a moment and continued, "Both sides of this Great Cliff Ridge are hundreds of meters high and smooth. This treacherous road is two or three miles long, and only five or six riders can walk side by side at the same time. It's a perfect place to ambush. We can set up an ambush there to catch the Great Boulder Tribe's troops off guard, let them know the power of our Wolf Tribe, and let them taste the feeling of being ambushed."

Xueshou's eyes lit up. He slapped his thigh with a sharp "smack," a wide, excited smile spreading across his face, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. His eyes narrowed to slits as he exclaimed, "That's a great idea! The Great Cliff Ridge is flanked by sheer cliffs, bare and barren, with only a narrow, winding path in the middle, like a snake. Riding a horse through it, turning around is difficult, and running away is slow. If we ambush the Great Boulder Tribe like this, killing and wounding a bunch, they won't dare pursue us. If their losses are severe, they might even fear a counterattack from our Wolf Tribe!"

Yexiao nodded in approval, "That's good. The terrain of Great Cliff Ridge is treacherous, making it an ideal place for an ambush, but..."

He paused, then frowned again and said, "How should we arrange our manpower? We can't all go to ambush, can we? What about supplies and prisoners? We can't just leave them on the road, can we?"

Xueya thought for a moment, his fingers pausing on the Jiangsheng. His gaze swept over the ranks behind him, over the cattle and horses laden with supplies, and over the prisoners strung on ropes. He said, "Have some brothers take the supplies and prisoners, and drive the cattle and horses back to our stronghold in Stone Ridge Mountain. We can't lose these things; if we do, we won't survive the winter. Without these supplies, how will we get through the winter? Will we just starve?"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Even if our ambush here fails, it will still hold off the Great Boulder Tribe's pursuers. If they waste time, our supplies will have already been transported back to our stronghold in Stone Ridge Mountain."

He took a deep breath and continued, "These supplies have safely arrived at our stronghold in Stone Ridge Mountain. At least we'll be fine this winter. We'll have food to eat, clothes to wear, wine to drink, and women to play with. Then we can continue to cause trouble for the Great Boulder Tribe next year. If we can't beat them this year, we'll fight them again next year. If we can't beat them next year, we'll fight them again the year after. One day, we'll crush the Great Boulder Tribe and turn this place into our Wolf Tribe's territory."

He turned around, looked at Xueshou and Yexiao, his gaze sweeping over their faces, and said, "The remaining 1,800 men, Yexiao, you take 600 men and ambush them on both sides of the cliff top of Great Cliff Ridge. Prepare plenty of Jushi and logs, the more the better, the bigger the better. Move all the movable Shitou up there, and cut down all the trees you can. Choose large Shitou, the bigger the better, and choose thick logs, the thicker the better. As soon as you hear the ox horn, start smashing things down. Kill one, kill one; kill two, kill two. Smash them until they're bleeding from their heads, smash them until they're crying for their parents."

He turned to Xueshou and ordered, "Xueshou, we'll lead the remaining 1,200 cavalry to ambush the Great Boulder Tribe at the exit of Great Cliff Ridge. They've been knocked unconscious and are terrified. When they rush out, that's when we'll strike. At that time, none of them will escape."

Xueshou and Yexiao nodded immediately and replied in unison, "Yes!"

The two turned their horses around to make arrangements. The warriors of the Wolf Tribe began to split up. A small group drove the cattle and horses, escorting the prisoners and supplies, and left first. The other group followed Xueya and Yexiao to ambush at Great Cliff Ridge.

They arrived at Daya Great Cliff Ridge. Xueya reined in his horse and looked up. On both sides were steep cliffs, as if cleaved by a knife and axe, straight up and down, bare and jagged. In the middle was a narrow, winding path, like a snake, meandering through the valley. The path was full of potholes and scattered with loose stones, some as big as washbasins and some as small as fists. Only five or six people could walk side by side, and only two or three horses could make it. Looking up, all that could be seen was a sliver of sky, gray and hazy, like a crack or a scar. The wind whistled through the cliff top, making a howling sound, like someone crying or wolves howling.

Led by Yexiao, six hundred men climbed up the cliff face. The cliff was very steep and difficult to climb, almost vertical, but they gritted their teeth and tried to climb up little by little. It took them most of the day to reach the top of the cliff.

At the top of the cliff, they began preparing Jushi and logs. They pried the Dashi off the ground, using wooden sticks and ropes, shouting and heaving as they pushed them to the edge of the cliff. They felled the large trees and piled them together. Everyone was exhausted and drenched in sweat, their clothes soaked and clinging to their bodies as if they had been pulled out of the water, but no one stopped.

Xueya and Xueshou led 1,200 cavalrymen to ambush at the exit of Great Cliff Ridge, waiting for the enemy to pounce. The exit of Great Cliff Ridge was an open area, perfect for a cavalry charge.

The Wolf Tribe had arranged their forces and were ready for a short while when the Great Boulder Tribe's pursuers arrived. Shishan, riding a horse, led 1,500 warriors from the Great Boulder Tribe to a place not far from the entrance of the Great Cliff Ridge. He rode a tall, chestnut horse with a back as broad as a wall and hooves as big as bowls. He wore leather armor, and a bronze broadsword hung at his waist. The hilt of the sword was wrapped with hemp rope, and the blade was broad and sharp. His gaze was cold and sharp, like an eagle waiting for its prey, or a tiger patrolling its territory.

Shi Ya and Shizhua Claw rode up to catch up, both looking anxious with furrowed brows and sweat on their foreheads. Shi Ya was lean and wiry, with shrewd eyes, a short beard, and long, slender fingers. Shizhua was younger than him, also lean and capable, with a scar on his face that ran from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth, a mark left from the last battle.

"Chief Shishan, this Great Cliff Ridge is a treacherous place, with cliffs on both sides and a narrow path in the middle. It's a perfect spot for an ambush," Shi Ya said, pointing to the Great Cliff Ridge ahead, his voice tinged with urgency. "I'm worried the Wolf Tribe might be lying in ambush here. If they're hiding on the cliff top, they could throw Shitou down on us once we get in, and that would be terrible. Shitou falling from such a height would shatter bones if they hit a person, and kill a horse if they hit one."

Shishan scoffed, a disdainful smile playing on his lips. He said, "This Wolf Tribe only knows how to bully small tribes and win when they're winning. Why did they run away? Isn't it because they're afraid of our Great Boulder Tribe? They run away as soon as they see us coming, like rabbits, even faster than rabbits. The top of the Great Cliff Ridge is difficult to climb. If we send people up to scout, it will take a lot of time. Climbing up will take half a day, and climbing down will take another half a day. By then, the Wolf Tribe's forces will have long since disappeared."

Shizhua also spoke up, his voice earnest, almost pleading, "Chief Shishan, since the Wolf Tribe dared to attack our core subordinate tribe, they must be quite bold. They are not ordinary bandits; they are people with courage, methods, and brains. We cannot underestimate them, or we may suffer losses."

Shi Ya nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, Chief Shishan, the Wolf Tribe has grown from a hundred to over a thousand people so quickly. That's impressive. The fact that they could raise so many people in just a few months, increasing tenfold from a hundred to a thousand, shows that their leader is capable, shrewd, and has great leadership. Moreover, their operation was very well-hidden, fooling our scouts and our eyes and ears. By the time we discovered them, they had already wiped out two of our core subordinate tribes— Great Heishi and Black Wood —two large tribes with thousands of people, wiped out in an instant. Such tribes should not be underestimated."

He paused and continued, "When the chief came out, he also instructed us to be careful. As long as we hold off the Wolf Tribe, we can launch a Wolf Tribe attack on them once our reinforcements have joined us. We must not be rash, greedy for merit, or act on our own."

Eager to make a name for himself, Shishan wouldn't listen to any of this. He waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away flies, and said, "Stop talking. My mind is made up. We'll give chase immediately. If we delay any longer, the Wolf Tribe will get far away. What will we do when we can't catch them? Who will take responsibility if the chief asks? Will you take responsibility?"

Seeing Shishan's resolute attitude, Shi Ya knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise. He sighed and said, "Chief Shishan, how about I take five hundred cavalry to scout ahead? If there are no problems, you can follow. That way it won't take much time. Even if there's an ambush, we'll only lose five hundred men. Our main force will remain. We can afford to lose five hundred men."

Shishan thought for a moment, then nodded and agreed, "Alright."

Shi Ya nodded and led five hundred cavalrymen towards the entrance of Great Cliff Ridge. Five hundred cavalrymen, five hundred horses, their hooves thundering, dust billowing, like a giant yellow dragon. Relying on their numbers, they drove the Wolf Tribe scouts forward. Those scouts, only a few dozen strong, mounted on horseback and carrying swords, offered little resistance upon seeing the superior numbers of the Great Boulder Tribe, then retreated with their men like rabbits chased by wolves, disappearing in a flash. Shi Ya led his five hundred cavalrymen in pursuit, their hooves thundering, dust rising high. He charged at the forefront, brandishing his bronze sword, shouting, "Chase! Don't let them escape! Whoever captures a member of the Wolf Tribe will be rewarded with grain and women!"

Not long after Shi Ya led his men into Great Cliff Ridge, the sound of a bull's horn suddenly rang out. The sound was deep and long, echoing in the valley, like an old bull bellowing or a giant beast roaring. It shook the cliffs and made the Shitou tremble. Instantly, shouts of battle rose up all over Great Cliff Ridge, like a pot exploding or a volcanic eruption.

On the cliff top, Yexiao led his men in hurling Shitou down. Jushi rolled down from a height of over a hundred meters, whistling through the air like meteorites, crashing to the ground with deafening roars that shook the earth like an earthquake. Logs also tumbled down the cliff, their thick trunks bouncing through the valley, striking the cliff face and sending up a spray of shrapnel. The shrapnel flew like bullet fragments, creating large craters in the ground. If it hit a person, they were turned into mincemeat; if it hit a horse, it was reduced to a bloody pulp.

Upon hearing the commotion, Shishan of the Great Boulder Tribe inwardly cursed, his face turning deathly pale. He abruptly reined in his horse, which neighed and reared up, nearly throwing him off. His eyes widened, his mouth gaped open, and his jaw almost dropped to the ground. He knew that the Wolf Tribe must have been lying in ambush here.

"Stop! Don't go in! Don't go any further! There's an ambush at Great Cliff Ridge! Stop right now!"

While sending scouts cautiously in to gather information, he also sent men to climb to the top of Great Cliff Ridge, hoping to seize the high ground. Not long after Shi Ya led his men into Great Cliff Ridge, they heard the sound of ox horns, knowing that the Wolf Tribe must have ambushed them there. He looked up and saw a dense crowd of people on the cliff top, as numerous as ants, with Jushi and logs rolling down like rain.

"Oh no! We've been ambushed!" he shouted, his face turning ashen, like a piece of rusty iron.

Jushi boulders and logs suddenly tumbled down from above, crashing to the ground and striking people. Screams, neighing horses, and the sound of bones shattering mingled together, creating a scene of utter devastation, like a living hell. A soldier was struck in the head by Jushi and died instantly, without even a groan. A horse was struck in the back by a log, its spine broken, and it collapsed to the ground convulsing, its hooves thrashing wildly, foaming at the mouth. A soldier had his leg broken by a rolling boulder, clutching his severed leg and screaming in agony, his voice piercing like a pig being slaughtered. Then another Jushi crashed down, smashing him into a bloody pulp before he could even utter a sound.

Shi Ya knew the way back was blocked; behind him lay piles of rubble and logs, like a Little Mountain, impossible to cross, with debris constantly falling. Staying there meant certain death. He gritted his teeth, drew his bronze sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and shouted, "Brothers! The Wolf Tribe has committed countless atrocities; staying here means certain death! Follow me and charge out! Fight the Wolf Tribe! Killing one is enough, killing two is a bonus! Kill!"

He led the remaining three hundred or so cavalrymen toward the exit of Great Cliff Ridge. The sound of hooves thundered and dust filled the air. They ran for their lives, running without regard for anything else. Some were knocked off their horses by Shitou, but no one stopped to help them. Horses trampled over them. Some were tripped by tree trunks, but no one looked back. People behind them stepped over them.

Xueya and Xueshou were already waiting for them at the exit with 1,200 cavalrymen. The 1,200 cavalrymen were lined up in neat formation, armed, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust, like a pack of wolves waiting for their prey. Xueya rode on his black ponies, his gaze cold and sharp, like a Tujiu waiting for its prey, or a tiger patrolling its territory. Xueshou rode beside him, holding a bronze greatsword, the blade still stained with dried blood, gleaming a dark red in the setting sun.

Seeing Shi Ya and his men rush out, Xueya waved his hand and shouted, "Kill!"

The 1,200 cavalry surged forward like a tidal wave, completely surrounding Shi Ya's 300-odd men, forming an impenetrable barrier like an iron barrel. Although Shi Ya and his men possessed several dozen bronze weapons, the Wolf Tribe had recently seized many more, including forty or fifty bronze weapons. Furthermore, the Wolf Tribe outnumbered Shi Ya's forces by three or four times—three or four times! How could they possibly fight? One against three? Ten against thirty? How could they possibly win?

The battle cries were deafening. In no time, all of Shi Ya's men were cut down, and Shi Ya was also knocked down. Several Wolf Tribe warriors pinned him to the ground, tied him up, and brought him before Xueya. Shi Ya was covered in blood, his hair disheveled, looking like a madman. His leather armor was covered in knife marks, with several cuts revealing the wounds inside. He knelt on the ground, still cursing incessantly, spitting as he spoke, his eyes glaring red like two balls of fire, as if he wanted to devour someone.

"You bastards! All you know is how to resort to underhanded tactics! If you've got the guts, fight us, the Great Boulder Tribe, fair and square! What kind of skill is a sneak attack? What kind of hero is an ambush? Come out here, one-on-one, a duel!"

Xueya sneered, "Whatever the methods, as long as it wins, it's a good method. You lost, so accept it. A loss is a loss, nothing you say will change that."

Shi Ya continued his hoarse curses, "You dogs, don't be so smug! The main force of our Great Boulder Tribe is unharmed, with over a thousand men remaining! Our core affiliated tribes have also sent eight hundred cavalrymen behind us, they'll be here soon! Our other affiliated tribes are also sending troops on their way, one after another! When the time comes, we'll slaughter every last one of your Wolf Tribe! We'll chop you into mincemeat! We'll take your heads off and use them as footballs!"

Xueya sneered, "Now that your Great Boulder Tribe has lost many warriors, how dare you continue to attack our Wolf Tribe? We've already scared you of your courage. By the time your rest of your forces arrive, the supplies we plundered will have already been transported back to our stronghold in Stone Ridge Mountain. We're returning lightly equipped; how could you possibly catch up with us?"

He paused, then continued, "Even if you catch up with us, would your Great Boulder Tribe dare to fight us? Your warriors are already terrified of us. Would those subordinate tribes dare to fight to the death with our Wolf Tribe? Would they be willing to risk their lives for you? If they die, who will provide them with compensation? Who will take care of their families? Who will collect their bodies?"

Shi Ya cursed loudly, spitting Xueya all over his face. "Bullshit! Your Wolf Tribe will be wiped out by our Great Boulder Tribe sooner or later! Just wait! That day is not far off! I'll be waiting for you down there!"

He became more and more agitated as he cursed, struggling to stand up like a mad bull. Two soldiers held him down tightly, his knees scraped raw on the ground, blood seeping out. Suddenly, he frantically spat bloody phlegm into the Xueya, one mouthful after another, like a fountain, like rain.

Ever since Xueya was spat blood by Migen last time, he had been on guard against this tactic. He was prepared, and with a turn of his head, he dodged it. The blood phlegm flew past his ear, landed on the ground, splashing up a small patch of dust. A few drops landed on his shoulder, but he didn't care and wiped them away with his hand.

Xueya's face darkened, like the sky before a storm, overcast with dark clouds. He turned to Xueshou and said, "We know what we need to know. There's no use keeping him alive. Take him away and torture him properly. Don't let him die too quickly. Take it slow and let him taste what it means to wish he were dead."

Xueshou nodded, grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and said, "Alright, this guy's talking nasty stuff. I'll take him down and tear his mouth apart, let's see if he can still curse. Once his mouth is torn apart, let's see how he spits."

With a wave of his hand, several soldiers dragged Shi Ya away. Shi Ya continued cursing, his voice growing fainter and fainter, like the buzzing of mosquitoes. Soon after, a series of shrill screams came from afar, one after another, like pigs being slaughtered.

Xueya led the remaining men to clear out the wounded troops of the Great Boulder Tribe, collecting all the captured weapons, horses, and leather armor without leaving anything behind. Soon, the results were in: they had wiped out nearly five hundred members of the Great Boulder Tribe and captured more than three hundred usable ponies. These horses were plump, strong, and had glossy coats, and they ran very fast.

There were also many leather armors and dozens of bronze weapons. Although the leather armor was torn, it could still be worn after some repairs. The bronze weapons were even more precious. The hundred or so ponies that were no longer usable were also there. Some had injured legs and were limping; some had broken backs and could not even stand up; some had internal injuries and were spitting blood, their Xueya had been cut off. They were used as a supplement to the Wolf Tribe warriors' meal. A large pot of horse meat was stewed with salt and wild vegetables, and the aroma filled the air. The Wolf Tribe warriors sat around the fire, eating meat and drinking wine heartily. They ate until their mouths were greasy and their faces were red and their necks were thick, and their laughter shook the heavens.

And so, the Wolf Tribe and the Great Boulder Tribe faced off at the Great Cliff Ridge. The Great Boulder Tribe blocked the entrance, while the Wolf Tribe guarded the exit, and both sides occupied strategic positions on the cliff top.