The season was high summer.
Thirty thousand cavalry charged at full speed, kicking up dust storms, their steeds all fine breeds meticulously selected from within the nation.
After years of dedicated breeding and selection, regardless of cost, coupled with ample nutrient-rich feed, the overall quality of warhorses in the Great Qian nation's major stables had significantly surpassed that of the Western tribes. Even the culled horses were suitable for pulling carts or as pack animals.
The sudden, ferocious assault caught the Sky-Sun Gallant Riders, ten thousand strong, completely off guard.
"The enemy force is clearly larger than ours. Should we engage them, hold them until reinforcements arrive, or retreat directly?"
In the blink of an eye, Caesar, astride his horse, his thoughts raced. He finally decided to risk holding this force.
"We are well-equipped. If we can stall them, once our army arrives, we can crush them, pursue the victory, and lay the foundation for our triumph!"
At Caesar's command, over ten thousand Sky-Sun Gallant Riders formed ranks on the spot, while a thousand simultaneously drew their bows, replicas of Great Qian's formidable archery.
A thousand arrows scattered against the wind, failing to inflict significant casualties on the similarly armored Great Qian cavalry.
The Great Qian cavalrymen on their horses, having estimated the distance between the two forces, finally made their move.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
The sudden volleys of flintlock fire, bringing with them bursts of blood spray from the front, signaled the official entry of flintlock rifles onto the battlefield, firing the first shot to end the Sky-Sun tribe.
Struck by flintlock rifles at close range, the foremost Sky-Sun Gallant Riders stared blankly at their own blood flowing through the holes blasted into their chainmail, their faces etched with terror.
They hadn't even had time to engage in close combat, their adrenaline hadn't even surged, yet the pain was so distinct, so intense.
In a single exchange, all the flintlock riflemen completed their first volley, immediately followed by a cacophony of screams and groans.
Of the ten thousand Sky-Sun Gallant Riders, the vanguard, bearing shields, numbering a thousand men, were pierced through, shields and all, and fell from their horses!
Having fired a round, the flintlock riflemen immediately turned their horses and retreated to the camp to reload. The inverted "V" formation on the field transitioned into an "m" shaped formation, orderly and preventing trampling and morale fluctuations from the returning cavalry.
The flintlock riflemen, after firing, also immediately reloaded. The bullet, wrapped in linen or deerskin, oiled and then greased, was inserted into the muzzle. This reduced friction and created a seal, eliminating the need for a ramrod to force the bullet into the barrel, thus significantly increasing loading speed, range, and accuracy.
The Great Qian archers from the rear also caught up, unleashing another volley of sky-obscuring arrows, the Great Qian Windfeather arrows.
Without their shield-bearers, the Sky-Sun Gallant Riders faced the Great Qian bows once more. Despite being armored, over a hundred were felled.
The close-range impact of the flintlock rifles far exceeded the comprehension of Western cavalry. Caesar and his Sky-Sun Gallant Riders, without even time to react, witnessed their vanguard of a thousand men fall to the ground.
"What is this? Sorcery?!"
Caesar was both shocked and enraged. However, years of battlefield experience told him that their vanguard had already collapsed, dealing a devastating blow to morale and combat strength. They had to retreat immediately.
"Retreat!"
The Sky-Sun Gallant Riders, who had once swept across the Western continent, now felt as if granted a great pardon and scrambled to turn their horses and withdraw.
Sensing the enemy's retreat, the flintlock riflemen immediately changed their formation, firing as they pursued. They reloaded their ammunition on horseback. The cavalry on the flanks no longer turned to respond to the enemy's pursuit but spread out to chase from both sides.
The military formation also transitioned from the "m" shape to a wave-like pattern specifically for encirclement, expanding the range of their volleys.
"Crack! Crack! Crack..."
After an indeterminate amount of time, the dense gunfire in the distance finally roused the Sky-Sun tribal camp, which had been awaiting news.
"What is happening?"
Mars was pondering when he noticed only a few dozen riders approaching from the rear.
These few dozen riders, having been at the rear and timely in their retreat, had escaped the encirclement of the Great Qian cavalry. With fear etched on their faces, they reported the situation to Mars.
"Great Marshal! Our army was suddenly ambushed by the enemy's sorcery! Marshal Caesar has fallen! Only a few of us escaped!"
"What sorcery? Concentrate your forces and face the enemy!"
Observing the increasingly approaching Great Qian forces in the distance, Mars, filled with shock and anger, immediately gave his orders.
The Sky-Sun tribal forces, upon learning of the enemy's attack, mobilized urgently.
"Explain it to me clearly! How did Caesar die?!"
Mars seized one of the fleeing Sky-Sun generals and roared fiercely.
"They used a weapon entirely different from arrows. The barrel was very long, and they aimed at us from their horses. We could only see the sudden puff of smoke from those things, and then countless soldiers fell..."
The man was still shaken, his voice trembling as he described the events.
Mars looked at this once most valiant subordinate and found him now utterly demoralized. He couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"The Great Qian army has delayed its advance. They must be waiting for these weapons to be fully equipped. Attila did not overestimate the enemy!"
At this moment, Mars was filled with regret.
To ensure sufficient forces to contain the Xiongnu Empire, Britain, the Liang Family Army, the Ayyubid dynasty, and various rebel forces, the Sky-Sun tribe had been employing a delaying tactic here. Without sufficient certainty of taking Yumenguan at an acceptable cost, they dared not launch an offensive.
But now, they had finally encountered the Great Qian army's proactive strike, and their scouts hadn't even had time to redeploy!
"But they will not advance further!" Mars suddenly raised his head, his expression contorted. "Immediately bring all the trebuchets to the front line!"
The flintlock riflemen did not immediately attack the Sky-Sun tribal camp. Under the command of He Zizhang, they formed ranks on the spot, awaiting the infantry from the rear.
Liang Xiao, riding Baiye Feiying, was stationed at the center of the army.
Qin Feng and others were directing operations at the front.
"Reporting to the Emperor, our army has assembled!"
After the messenger from the front reported back, Liang Xiao, looking from a high vantage point at the somewhat chaotic Sky-Sun encampments in the distance, raised his Heavenly Dragon Breaker Halberd and issued his command.
"All three armies, heed my order! This battle will crush the White Ghosts and secure eternal prosperity and historical renown for our Qian tribe!"
Over a hundred command flags waved in the wind with the divine halberd. The hundreds of thousands of Great Qian soldiers instantly transformed into tigers and wolves, charging towards the front lines with roars that shook the heavens.
Nan Jiyun, leading his troops, halted ten li from the Xiongnu Empire's camp and immediately gave the order.
"Arm yourselves!"
All heavy cavalry dismounted to retrieve their armor from their spare steeds, donned it, then collected their lances and crossbows from nearby wagons, and remounted their horses.
The Great Qian cavalry had gathered here in large numbers!
The Western coalition numbered over four hundred thousand, their camps stretching for dozens of miles.
The Xiongnu Empire's camp was to the southwest of the Sky-Sun tribe, thirty li from the front lines of the latter, and they too were in full battle array.
Attila and his men, observing the situation from a high position, suddenly noticed yellow sand flying in the distance, like surging yellow clouds rolling in. He frowned.
"The enemy cavalry seems to have come out in full force. Prepare to meet them!"
Attila roared, and the Xiongnu cavalry, who had been prepared, charged out of their camp, forming square formations, their aura fierce. 138 Reading Network.
"They've finally come? Liang Xiao!"
Attila swept away the gloom in his heart, mounted his horse, and gazed eastward, waiting for reports from the front scouts before preparing to launch his attack.
"Reporting to His Majesty, the enemy cavalry's scale absolutely exceeds one hundred thousand!"
Attila exclaimed with joy, "Where is Liang Xiao!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty! No banners related to Liang Xiao were found!" the scout reported with a trembling voice, his expression a mixture of joy and relief.
"How is that possible? Who is on the other side?" Attila looked astonished.
"Reporting to Your Majesty! We clearly saw all the banners of the opposing side! Several Great Qian marshals are leading the troops together!"
"Grand Marshal of the West, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Nan Jiyun!"
"Grand Marshal of the North, General of the Flying Cavalry, Lü Changhe!"
"Deputy Grand Marshal of the West, Great General of the West, Yue Yun!"
"Grand Marshal of the East, General of the Right, Nie Yuan. His banner is also present!"
"And a pile of blood-red Great Qian military banners, but no sign of Liang Xiao..."