The Demon Lords

Chapter 434 - 50: Dare Not_1

Actually, ever since the Yan Army began to cross the river, the shadows of the Qian army had been lurking in the vicinity. Surprisingly, these Qian soldiers did not seem like scattered patrol riders. Some appeared to be men in formation, and others possessed impressive martial skills and horsemanship. However, most were not dressed in the Qian army’s armor.

These scattered forces were messy, lacking any semblance of system and organization—they appeared much more like street wanderers.

As Liang Cheng put it, the role patrol riders play in war is akin to the eyes of an army. This is similar to exploratory units in a modern strategy video game that clear fog from areas of the map. Their arrangement—how many are sent out, how they are positioned, and the quality of the riders themselves—all require great tactical precision.

Typically, in an army, the individuals or small teams with the greatest combat capacity are the patrol riders. For a long time, before the concept of special forces was developed, scouts and reconnaissance troops often fulfilled this role. This was reflected in many films and TV shows depicting scout soldiers—so much so, that these programs inspired several generations of children to dream of becoming scout soldiers.

Green Willow Fortress mainly employed barbarian soldiers as patrol riders. Whether from Green Willow Fortress itself or the North Guard Army, these elite scouts, capable of surviving in the adverse conditions of vast deserts, were considered among the best in the world. Hence, the Qian scouts paled in comparison.

Even though these men were skilled, they were quickly overpowered by the combined forces of several patrol riders, killed or captured with ease. Interrogation revealed that some weren’t Qian army scouts at all, but servants sent by various families to gather intelligence.

If earlier skirmishes were minor, now a significant change was noticed—a fully organized Qian army was reported to be advancing towards them. It was an army of over two thousand men.

Structural organization was a key factor in determining an army’s combat effectiveness. Hence, until the organized Qian army’s arrival, the earlier fights seemed like illusory one-on-one war games. But now things were different.

With the Yan Army still crossing the river, even a novice military student like Zheng Fan knew the strategy of "striking while half-crossing." Consequently, he spurred his horse and led almost two thousand of his men towards the enemy.

Zheng Fan’s role ended there. Next, Chief Zheng willingly handed over command to Liang Cheng.

Before experiencing actual battle, I had always felt the world was vast and open for me to roam. Only after witnessing the true brutality of the battlefield did I understand that a leader must possess an absolute grasp of the situation. A single misjudgment on my part could lead to the needless sacrifice of many lives under my command.

However, Chief Zheng soon had cause for regret.

Because there was no probing, no reforming of the battle lines, and no deployment in waves, Liang Cheng, brandishing his saber, unhesitatingly gave the order to charge!

The pace of the horses quickened, with all knights breaking into a gallop!

Being in the thick of it, with the towering Fanli in front, the other great warriors flanking him, and his own cavalry forming an outer ring, Chief Zheng hadn’t actually managed to get a clear view of the enemy.

Oh, by the way, when Zheng Fan ordered the charge, Fanli patted the little sword boy on the head and left her where she stood; Fanli didn’t bring her onto the battlefield. Whether she chose to slip away and flee was entirely her own decision.

Finally, the two sides clashed.

Once the battle commenced, many standing protocols crumbled. Everyone’s eyes narrowed on their immediate enemies, their minds thinking only of killing.

Zheng Fan slew a Qian soldier. But after the man fell, Zheng Fan was taken aback. The man’s attire was unlike that of the Qian army. Instead, it resembled the dress worn by performers in plays he had seen.

The people of Yan State favored black, and their system often blurred the lines between military and civilian affairs. In other words, the Yan people lacked much "aesthetic" and "class" in terms of artistic talent.

"My lord, these are government servants," A Ming pointed out.

Ah, that’s right, Zheng Fan realized. No wonder the man’s clothes looked so familiar. These indeed weren’t regular Qian army soldiers but likely bailiffs from a nearby government office.

That’s why Liang Cheng had ordered a direct charge. Against a disorderly crowd composed of government servants and other miscellaneous individuals, following any detailed plan would be overkill. A straightforward rush was all it took.

Indeed, even when properly formed up, the Qian army could barely withstand the charge of the Yan cavalry. This haphazard mob didn’t stand a chance.

After the first charge, these Qian people’s forces dissolved into chaos, and what followed was a one-sided slaughter by the Yan Army.

However, among the Qian forces was a civil official riding a donkey.

Yes, a donkey. He had graying hair and was dragging a sword that was too heavy for him to lift.