Chapter 42: Victory, the Army Strikes Again
Before they could react, Xu Ning had already charged to the front lines on his iron ox. His voice boomed across the battlefield: "Xu Ning is here! Who dares to fight me!"
More than two hundred heavily armored cavalrymen immediately followed, their formation tight and devastating.
Only then did the enemy finally react, shocked by the speed of the charge. They scrambled hastily to prepare to meet the attack, their ranks already wavering.
"My comrades, the time has come to annihilate the rebels and achieve glory! Fight for your rewards!" the Da Xuan general shouted, trying to rally his men.
Rumble—
Then, the two armies clashed with a thunderous crash of metal and flesh.
However, the soldiers on Da Xuan's side quickly realized something was terribly wrong.
The strategist riding the black ox was terrifying. Each swing of his hoe shattered the weapons of anyone who tried to block, and he was taking the lives of four or five Da Xuan soldiers with every charge.
And the more than two hundred cavalrymen he led were equally terrifying, their charge utterly devastating. They cut through the Da Xuan lines like a knife through butter.
The main difference lay in the weaponry. The enemy's weapons were terrifying. Upon clashing with their own, the Da Xuan soldiers' weapons shattered instantly like glass. Their armor was equally formidable; the Da Xuan weapons barely left a mark, sliding off harmlessly.
The enemy's horses also seemed extraordinary, incredibly fast and powerful. Some soldiers trampled by them were instantly crushed, their bodies riddled with bloody wounds.
But by the time the Da Xuan soldiers realized this, it was too late. Their ranks had already been scattered, their morale shattered.
The remaining two thousand-plus troops arrived as planned, and the entire battle turned completely one-sided. It was a massacre, not a battle.
On the distant cliffside city wall, Xia Yun and Xia Li watched the scene below, utterly stunned!
Three thousand men, utterly defeating over ten thousand enemy soldiers? Were they even human?
And the incredibly brave Xu Ning, on the battlefield like a meat grinder, relentlessly reaping the lives of the Da Xuan soldiers. He was unstoppable.
"I never imagined you, sir, possessed such courage and martial skill. It's truly my brother's blessing to have your assistance," Xia Li murmured, her gaze fixed on Xu Ning below, watching him fight.
Xia Yun's voice was filled with awe. "A top scholar who achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, and now so brave and resourceful in battle! It's truly a blessing from heaven. We couldn't have asked for a better strategist."
Xia Li added, "It's also thanks to brother's discerning eye that we met Mr. Xu Ning when he was on his way to the examinations. If we had missed him, where would we be now?"
Xia Yun couldn't help but smile. "Speaking of which, it was actually my sister who recognized him first. If you hadn't spotted him on the road, we might have ridden right past him."
Xia Li had always had her own unique talent for intelligence gathering. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to recognize Xu Ning from the reports and invite him onto the carriage, which led to everything that happened afterward.
Xia Li nodded. "I was also fortunate enough to have seen the intelligence reports about the top scholar from Guanshan. They mentioned his unusual connection to the newly emerged master and that he was riding a black ox to the capital to take the examinations. When I saw him on the road, I knew it had to be him."
At this point, Xia Li couldn't help but recall the intelligence from before. The top scholar from Guanshan had connections with the newly emerged master and was riding a black ox to the capital to take the examinations.
Initially, the brother and sister had invited him onto the carriage because of his relationship with the master. They had hoped to gain his favor.
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However, after their conversation, both siblings were impressed by Xu Ning's talent and strategy, far beyond what they had expected.
Meanwhile, the battle below was nearing its end. The Da Xuan forces were in full retreat, their formation shattered. Xia Yun was overjoyed. "Come with me down to welcome the master back to camp! He deserves our gratitude."
Initially, no one had anticipated this outcome, neither Xia Yun nor the soldiers who had followed Xu Ning into battle. They had expected a hard fight.
This overwhelming victory boosted everyone's confidence, and the soldiers who had stayed behind fought with renewed vigor when called upon to mop up.
The scholar-strategist, whom everyone had initially doubted, displayed remarkable bravery in this battle, earning everyone's admiration. No one questioned his abilities now.
Afterwards, everyone cleaned up the battlefield, placing all the captured weapons in designated locations for later use.
The surviving horses were sent to pastures for future care and breeding.
The surrendered prisoners were temporarily imprisoned. Xu Ning planned to send them to mining later. They would earn their freedom through labor.
That night, Xia Yun held a grand victory banquet to celebrate the triumph. The camp was filled with laughter and relief.
Later, Xu Ning reminded Xia Yun that this was likely only the vanguard of Da Xuan's forces. Once news of the defeat returned, a larger army would surely be dispatched. They couldn't rest on their laurels.
After listening, Xia Yun pondered for a moment, then asked Xu Ning, "In your opinion, sir, should we take advantage of this momentum to recruit more soldiers and talented individuals? People will be more willing to join a winning side."
Xu Ning thought it was feasible and nodded in agreement. "Yes, but be selective. We need quality, not just quantity."
However, as Xu Ning had predicted, they didn't recruit many soldiers, but rather a considerable number of refugees arrived, fleeing the chaos of war.
Xu Ning didn't refuse them. He accepted all who came for safety, but didn't give them important positions. The refugees were all assigned to farming and horse training, contributing in other ways.
Some talented individuals were placed in low-level positions to temporarily temper their character and prove their loyalty. He wasn't about to trust newcomers with important roles.
The upgrading of weapons and armor didn't stop either. Every day, more equipment was improved.
Xu Ning used all the weapons he had collected from the battlefield for upgrading, directly producing a thousand sets of mid-grade mortal weapons. They were vastly superior to standard issue.
Later, Xu Ning ordered people to forge over a thousand sets of warhorse armor and upgraded them all to mid-grade mortal as well.
Thus, the number of the exceptionally well-equipped Invincible Iron Cavalry reached over a thousand. They were a force to be reckoned with.
If they were to face the ten thousand Da Xuan troops again, Xu Ning, leading these thousand-plus Iron Cavalry, was completely confident that he could crush them in a very short time. The first battle had proven their effectiveness.
After completing all these tasks, another three months had passed. The base was now a fortified stronghold.
This time, Da Xuan dispatched 50,000 troops, completely surrounding the garrison. They were determined to end the rebellion once and for all.
"Rebel Xia Yun, surrender immediately!" a Da Xuan general shouted from below the city walls. "There is no escape!"
Xia Yun looked on gravely, his expression hard. Then he spoke, his voice carrying across the field. "General Gong Shichang, you know my situation. Giving up resistance means certain death! Don't waste your breath! I will not surrender."
Beside him, Xia Li was explaining to Xu Ning, dressed in white strategist's robes. "Gong Shichang, one of Da Xuan's most famous generals. He has achieved great military exploits over many years. He is not to be underestimated."
Xu Ning nodded slightly, his expression calm. He had heard of the general.
Gong Shichang looked at Xia Yun above, his gaze complex, a mixture of respect and duty. "Fifth Prince, this humble general has no choice. I must follow the Emperor's orders. If the Fifth Prince is willing to surrender, I will certainly plead for His Highness's life before His Majesty. I swear it."
Xia Yun shook his head firmly. "General, don't waste your breath. If you want to fight, then fight! No need for further words. I will not surrender."
In short, surrender was out of the question. He would rather die fighting.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Xia Yun, Gong Shichang couldn't help but turn to Xu Ning, dressed in white, standing beside the prince. His eyes narrowed. "I didn't expect the famous top scholar to be here serving the Fifth Prince. What a waste of talent."
Xu Ning's voice was calm. "General Gong, a wise ruler is hard to find. I am grateful for His Highness the Fifth Prince's favor, and I am willing to serve him faithfully. I have found my purpose."
Gong Shichang sighed. "In that case, send men to meet the enemy. There is nothing more to discuss."
Xu Ning smiled. "General Gong, just attack the city. We are ready for you."
Xu Ning's words left Gong Shichang somewhat bewildered. He couldn't understand what the other was up to. Why was he inviting an attack?
In the end, Gong Shichang could only raise his hand and order, his voice heavy. "All troops, attack the city!"
Rumble—
"Kill!"
"Charge!"
Instantly, the army charged forward, pressing in on all sides. Drums beat and horns sounded.
Catapults were activated, huge stones raining down on the city walls.
At the same time, soldiers carrying siege ladders arrived at the foot of the city walls, ready to scale them.
The siege engines followed behind, heavy battering rams ready to smash the city gate.
However, problems soon arose that Gong Shichang hadn't anticipated.
First, the stones launched by the catapults were simply not high enough, only hitting the middle of the city wall. Not only did they fail to hit the people above, but they also knocked stones off the wall, killing many soldiers below as debris rained down on them!
At the same time, at Xu Ning's command, the soldiers on the wall began to hurl huge, carefully prepared boulders down onto the attackers. The counterattack was devastating.