MFMH C95

Chapter 95 — The Counterattack

The barbarian cavalry had come with overwhelming momentum, only to suffer heavy losses and gain nothing. By contrast, the blood-soaked soldiers of Great Qi were ablaze with spirit, their momentum unstoppable. Seeing the barbarians retreat in panic, Tai Qigang gave a single command for them to be intercepted and pursued.

The barbarian horsemen had galloped for thousands of li. Though they had spare mounts, the journey was long and exhausting. In the darkness, they had fallen into traps again and again, depleting both man and beast. The Great Qi soldiers, however, had fought while holding their ground. Though they too had expended energy, they had far more reserves than the enemy. When the order to pursue was given, they surged forth with strength to spare, catching up to the stragglers and thrusting them from their saddles.

“Slay the barbarians! Leave none alive!” Tai Qigang’s raised arm and booming cry pushed morale to even greater heights.

The soldiers around him echoed furiously: “Slay the barbarians! Leave none alive!”

The sight of the routed cavalry before them sent the frenzied soldiers roaring forward. Spears pierced flesh, spraying misty clouds of blood. Sweat and blood mingled, soaking through the warriors’ robes until they gleamed scarlet.

Uso, under the guard of Sangbu Ganda and others, led the tattered remnant in retreat. But as they fled, many horses screamed in agony. Already tormented by Great Qi’s tricks, the cavalry were like startled birds, thrashing their steeds mercilessly. The horses, injured by hidden caltrops, rebelled violently, refusing to obey. The more they were whipped, the more frenzied their struggles, throwing men and beasts into chaos.

The Great Qi soldiers swept down upon them like a hurricane, their crossbows and arrows like the grasping claws of underworld demons, dragging souls to death.

Hunters who once pursued prey had suddenly become prey themselves — and the barbarians were struck with terror.

“Kill—!”

Soaring morale drew forth every ounce of the soldiers’ strength, body and spirit alike. Though they numbered only half the barbarian cavalry, the Great Qi foot soldiers hounded tens of thousands of fleeing riders like chickens and ducks driven to slaughter. Yet the barbarians’ horses were powerful, and in the end, half managed to escape.

The mêlée raged from midnight until the following afternoon. Corpses carpeted the ground, rivers of blood ran, and only the fire of their will kept the Qi soldiers from collapsing outright.

“General?” one commander asked, still flushed with battle fervor. “Shall we continue the pursuit?”

Tai Qigang’s armor was caked with blood. He shook his head. “Do not pursue a cornered foe.” Their victory had been possible thanks to preparation. Now their crossbows and arrows were spent, their weapons worn, and the soldiers were too weary for a forced march. Most of all, if the barbarians were driven into desperation, a final stand could still cost them dearly.

The order was given to sound the retreat, sweep the battlefield, and count their numbers. With heaven’s favor, the lay of the land, and their careful preparation, they had slain over twenty thousand barbarian riders, though several thousand Qi soldiers had also fallen.

Watching from the rear, Shen Yanbei did not feel joy at the victory. Half of the fallen were new recruits — his husband’s men. When Gu Changfeng returned and found so many missing, how heavy would his grief be?

The strategist saw his frown, his mournful gaze lingering on the dead, and offered comfort. “These soldiers who died to guard their homeland will be honored with proper burials. You need not worry. This is already the best outcome. The barbarians were stopped at the steppe, never breaching the pass. To break their ambition with the sacrifice of only a few thousand — it is well worth it!”

This blow had crippled the barbarian cavalry. The frontier should now know years of peace. With new weapons and new tactics, once the soldiers trained further, if the cavalry dared return, they would be beaten like dogs.

Shen Yanbei managed a faint smile and asked, “Any word from the Right and Central Armies?” The barbarians had drawn them away to strike at Gu Yang Pass — had they run into trouble?

The strategist replied, “None yet. But both armies were led by veteran commanders. If they sensed anything wrong, they would surely act with caution.”

And indeed, events had unfolded as the strategist said.

The Right Army had marched two days at forced pace, reaching the heart of the steppe, still two days short of Muyang City — yet they saw no sign of any barbarian host.

Three hundred thousand cavalry could not pass without leaving traces. How could their scouts have searched a hundred li in every direction and found nothing?

General Wang ordered the vanguard to search along the grasslands. At last, more than a hundred li ahead, they found something on a yellowing slope.

A dark herd of horses grazed idly. On the ground lay scattered straw dummies and discarded barbarian garb…

The vanguard stared, stunned beyond words.

Closer inspection revealed them to be old horses, tails tied with branches, dragging lines across the dirt. Some even had straw men in barbarian armor lashed to their backs, half falling apart from the gallop.

All knew at once — they had been duped. Two days already gone; even if they turned back at once, they could not return in time to aid Gu Yang Pass.

What now?

Wang’s face darkened. After a long moment he said coldly, “Then hunt down those barbarians who played at being an army. Hack them into pulp!” Even if the dummies fooled their scouts, some real cavalry had to be among them to pull off the ruse.

The vanguard were all mounted troops, nimble and fast. Their horses lacked the quality of the barbarians’, but with new weapons, they feared nothing. Leaving his deputy in charge of the infantry, Wang led the cavalry in pursuit, carrying ample rations.

The decoy barbarians’ task had been to lure the Qi army away, buying time for the main host to strike Gu Yang Pass. With their task done, they withdrew. Where would they go? Either to rejoin their main force at the pass, or to return to their rear camp.

The Central Army faced the same trick.

Blunt-spoken General Ma hacked apart a straw dummy on horseback, cursing furiously. “The barbarians must be mad from drinking horse piss! Using old nags to fool us!”

“General, do we return?” his pale-faced guard asked.

“Return? And what then?” Ma glared. “We’ve been out two days already!”

“Then what are your orders?”

“The General and the strategist aren’t fools. If they truly can’t hold, they’ll endure until the heir returns! Us breaking our backs rushing back would be useless!” Ma sheathed his blade and bellowed, “Come! Let’s smash the barbarians’ nest instead!” Their rear was empty — but so was the barbarians’.

Thus, the Right and Central Armies, by separate minds, conceived the same idea. From left and right, they converged upon the barbarian camp.

Meanwhile, Gu Changfeng had already turned back to aid the pass.

“Report! Eighty li ahead, a barbarian host sighted!” Scouts galloped back at speed.

Gu Changfeng tightened his reins, voice like steel. “Details?”

“Over ten thousand, no order in their ranks. They looked panicked, their armor stained with blood. They seemed like fugitives!”

Gu Changfeng’s brows furrowed. “Verify again!”

“Yes, sir!”

Ordering the men to rest, Gu Changfeng gazed at the ashen sky, silver spear clenched tight in his grip.

“Report! The barbarian host is fleeing from Gu Yang Pass — more than twenty thousand strong, bearing the commander’s banner! They are but forty li away!”

General Chen started in surprise. “From the pass? You are certain?”

“Certain, sir! Three of us confirmed it. Some stragglers are wounded with crossbow bolts, some with swollen lips like sausages — they were surely struck by chili powder!”

“Excellent! Then the General has driven them off!” Chen nearly wept with relief. But then Gu Changfeng’s low murmur froze his heart anew.

“Come and go as they please…” His eyes glittered cold, the murderous aura rolling off him made even hardened soldiers shudder.

“Lord Heir?” Chen felt a dread omen.

“Soldiers, hear my command!” Gu Changfeng thrust his silver spear skyward.

“Follow me — we will slaughter the barbarians to the last!”

Chen went pale. “My lord, reconsider! They are defeated, yes, but still over twenty thousand! We are exhausted — to fight head-on…”

“Leave weeds uncut, and they will sprout anew. Better to strike now, end them once and for all, than let them recover and invade again,” Gu Changfeng cut him off, voice chillingly calm.

Chen opened his mouth, but no argument came.

Gu Changfeng’s gaze swept the recruits, sharp as blades. “The barbarian remnants lie ahead. Their commander is among them. Whoever kills him will be richly rewarded by the Emperor himself!”

“Win this day, and the barbarians will be broken for years. You will return home in glory, to your families, to tell your beloved how bravely you fought…”

The recruits, weary from the march, felt their blood ignite.

“We obey!”

Zhou Yu shouted first, and the others roared with him: “We obey!”

Gu Changfeng leveled his silver spear forward. “Fight for Great Qi! Fight for yourselves! Kill!!”

“Kill!!”

Their cries shook the sky. With banners snapping, the soldiers surged like tigers down the mountain, charging the barbarian host.

Sangbu Ganda, escorting Uso in retreat, stared in mute disbelief at the Qi force bursting out of nowhere.

But no one was more shaken than Uso himself. Arrogant and proud, he had thought his stratagem flawless. To be seen through was insult enough. Now to be ambushed mid-retreat — his pride was trampled in the dirt. Eyes bulging, features twisted, he clutched Sangbu Ganda and roared, “How are Qi soldiers here? Cough—cough—”

“Subordinate does not know! The Qi are spreading their poison again — Great Khan, you must… cough, cough… retreat, I will hold them—cough—” Sangbu Ganda’s face was flushed, his throat and mouth aflame as though burning from within.

Explosions boomed without end, red powder bursting into the air. The cavalry and their mounts inhaled it, screams rising in waves. Sangbu Ganda now knew what had driven the horses mad the night before.

“Cover your mouths! Don’t breathe the red dust!”

But it was too late. Many riders and steeds had already succumbed. A savage wind blew, dispersing the powder, but the army was shattered. Their morale broke. Qi foot soldiers charged with thunderous cries, unleashing volleys of strange featherless arrows from odd new bows. Riders who had barely survived collapsed in heaps.

“Protect the Khan!” Sangbu Ganda rallied the generals, chopping a Qi spear in two, raising his blade to cut down a soldier — when a silver spear barred his strike.

He looked up into the stern eyes of a cold-faced young general.

Gu Changfeng shoved aside his blade, sweeping the spear across to smash his belly. The force nearly toppled Sangbu Ganda from his horse.

Blood sprayed from his mouth. He swung wildly, but even one exchange told him this man’s martial skill was unmatched. He could not win. He called soldiers to surround him — but Gu Changfeng’s spear scattered them all, plucking riders from their saddles one by one.

Fear clutched Sangbu Ganda’s heart. Still, he forced himself to fight on. But Gu Changfeng only feinted and wheeled his mount toward Uso, who was ringed by guards.

He did not know who this man was, but anyone guarded so tightly must be someone of great importance. And he had already glimpsed the barbarian commander shielding him earlier. This man was higher still.

Sangbu Ganda’s pupils shrank in alarm. He spurred forward — but Zhou Yu and his men blocked him. Baptized in blood and fire, the youth was now a true soldier. Though weaker than his master, he stood fearless before his stronger foe.

“Out of the way!” Sangbu Ganda howled, his great blade whistling. Zhou Yu dodged narrowly, losing only a lock of hair.

“Pah!” Zhou Yu spat, eyes full of scorn. He could not match this foe in single combat — but war was no duel.

The northwest wind howled. None felt the cold. Their own blood and their enemies’ drenched their faces, burning hot. Barbarian riders, stripped of will, fell in heaps. The craven shouted surrender.

Amid the chaos, reeking of blood, Gu Changfeng drove alone at the man fleeing ahead.

The rider’s guards, falling back with him, turned two to intercept. Gu Changfeng’s eyes hardened. With a touch of his heel, he vaulted from his horse, driving his spear into one man’s chest even as the other’s blade flashed beneath him.

Landing lightly, he wrenched free the spear, dodged a stroke, then swept the weapon across, shattering the second rider’s skull.

He spurred forward again.

He could not let that man escape. He knew — deep in his bones — that capturing him would end this war once and for all.

He was finished with these days of having his beloved so near, yet never able to hold him through the night.