Valley Ambush

Just as Yan and Julang led 1,500 elite cavalrymen from the Fire Tribe towards the Wolf Tribe's lair in the Stone Ridge Mountain to the northeast, Xueshou from the Wolf Tribe was also leading 900 cavalrymen towards the Great Rock River. Xueshou was Xueya's younger brother, taller and larger than Xueya, with shoulders as broad as a door, bulging muscles in his arms, thick, large hands, and knuckles as coarse as Xiaoshi. He wore a black leather armor over a dark gray linen robe, the front of which was stained with several indelible old marks. A bronze-buckled leather belt cinched his waist, from which hung a bronze dagger. He rode a tall, chestnut-red horse, its mane neatly trimmed. Neatly arranged, their tails tied with hemp rope, their hooves thumping dully on the dirt road, he dared not delay after receiving his elder brother Xueya's order to provide backup. That very day, he mustered nine hundred Wolf Tribe cavalrymen, carrying some dry rations, to go and make the backup. These cavalrymen were handpicked by him from his old lair in Stone Ridge Mountain. They were more elite than Yexiao's thousand men, but still inferior to the Fire Tribe's elite cavalry. Their bronze spearheads were mostly second-rate goods sourced from the Tiger Tribe, and their leather armor was made of a single layer of hard cowhide, with only a patch on the chest, leaving the back and ribs exposed. Their weapons and armor were far inferior to those of the Fire Tribe. However, these men had fought alongside Xueshou, seen blood, and killed people.

Xueshou, mounted on his horse, stared at the gray-yellow dirt road ahead. A fire burned within him, yet a Shitou pressed on his chest. He turned to a leader beside him, his voice booming with a long-suppressed urgency. "Brother's sudden order for our reinforcements must mean he's in serious trouble. Otherwise, knowing his temperament, he wouldn't suddenly abandon such a large amount of supplies and retreat. I know his temper; giving up something he's about to eat is harder for him than death. Since he's given the order to retreat, saying he might be in big trouble, we need to hurry, don't keep him waiting."

The leader nodded, shook the Jiangsheng to increase the horse's speed, and then said, "The second leader is right. The chief never gives such orders. He must be in big trouble this time. We need to hurry over there and not keep the chief waiting."

Xueshou gave the Jiangsheng a jolt, and the horse sped up again. The nine hundred cavalrymen behind him quickened their pace, their hooves kicking up a cloud of dust on the dirt road. The dust shimmered in the afternoon sun, casting a grayish-yellow glow over the entire column as they headed west along the Great Rock River.

Just as the two groups were advancing towards their respective destinations, the Fire Tribe's scouts spotted the Xueshou's nine hundred men, half a day's journey ahead, in the morning. The scout was a young warrior, riding a fast, dark gray horse, galloping back from the main road to the east. The horse was drenched in sweat, its legs trembling. He jumped off, panting, and ran to Yan, kneeling on one knee, clasping his hands in a fist salute. Then he spoke, his voice filled with an urgency born of time. "Young Chief, we've spotted Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe, about nine hundred strong, half a day's journey ahead. They're flying the Xueshou's banner and are heading west along the Great Rock River. It seems they're going to meet Xueya. They're moving very fast and are expected to reach the valley path ahead this afternoon."

After receiving the urgent message from Julang scouts ahead, Yan and Julang were taken aback for a moment, then slapped their knees and said, "Young Chief, you've thought this through. Sending scouts ahead of time during our march would have been much better. Otherwise, if we had encountered the Wolf Tribe's forces, we would have been caught off guard. They have nine hundred men, and we have fifteen hundred. Although we outnumber them, a head-on collision would have resulted in significant losses. Now that we've discovered them in advance, we can make preparations and minimize our losses!"

Yan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, tapping it lightly with his fingers, and then said, "I didn't know the Wolf Tribe's stronghold would send people over. I'm usually quite cautious, and I always send scouts out to explore before each battle. I didn't expect we discovered them ahead of time, which allows us to make preparations in advance and reduce losses. Xueshou bringing nine hundred men to meet Xueya means that Xueya sent someone back to his stronghold to report before retreating. He sent Xueshou with troops to meet him, intending to rendezvous halfway and then return to Stone Ridge Mountain together."

After listening, Julang nodded, took the knife from his belt, clenched it in his hand, then hung it back up. He then said, "Young Chief, tell me how we should fight! I'll listen to you; wherever you say we should fight, that's where I'll fight!"

Yan thought for a moment and said, "Our scouts just reported that there's a narrow valley path ahead, only wide enough for five or six riders to pass side-by-side. Both sides are sheer cliffs tens of meters high, too steep for humans to climb. There are bushes and Shitou on the cliff tops where we can hide, making it a perfect ambush spot. You select four hundred archers to ambush on both sides of the cliff, carrying plenty of arrows and Shitou. Once they enter the valley, push the Shitou down to hit their heads and horses. You take another five hundred cavalry to the back of the valley and hide. Once they're inside, you block their retreat, and I'll lead six hundred cavalry to block their advance. When the horn sounds, the archers ambushing on both sides of the cliff will throw Shitou and shoot arrows from above. I'll block their escape route from the front, and you, upon hearing the horn, will block their retreat. We must attack from both sides simultaneously! This time, we can't let any of these nine hundred Wolf Tribe cavalry escape! If any surrender, we can keep some; I have a great use for them!"

After listening, Julang nodded and said, "Alright! I'll make the arrangements right away! Four hundred archers will ambush on both sides of the cliff, bringing plenty of arrows Shitou. Five hundred cavalry will circle around to the back of the valley to block their retreat. You will lead six hundred cavalry to block the front. Attack from all sides; they won't be able to escape even if they had wings!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and shouted to the cavalry behind him in a loud voice, "Split into two teams! Archers, follow me up the cliff; cavalry, follow me around to the rear!"

Those who followed the Julang immediately split into two groups. Four hundred archers climbed up the cliffs on both sides of the valley, leading their horses up the gentle slopes beside the cliffs. They tied the horses behind bushes at the top of the cliffs, while the archers lay prone behind Shitou and in bushes along the cliff edge, taking arrows from their quivers and placing them beside them. They moved the Shitou to the edge of the cliff and piled them up. Five hundred cavalry followed the Julang wave and circled around to the back of the valley. They went around the gentle slope on the west side of the valley, passed through a grove of low trees, and reached the other side of the valley. They hid in the woods on both sides of the road, wrapped their horses' muzzles with strips of cloth, and crouched behind trees with their knives on their knees. Yan led six hundred cavalrymen to remain on the west side of the valley entrance, with their horses facing east and their spears pointing forward, waiting for Xueshou's men to enter the valley.

Yanqi, mounted on his horse, wrapped the Jiangsheng halfway around his fingers. His gaze was fixed on the main road to the east, waiting for Xueshou's men to appear. He lightly tapped the Jiangsheng with his fingers, pressing his fingertips against the rough leather before releasing them. He knew the key to this battle was to prevent anyone from escaping. If Xueshou's nine hundred men were trapped in the valley, he had to be attacked from all sides. He had to wipe out all nine hundred Wolf Tribe cavalrymen; not a single one could escape!