"Everyone follow the village chief, we’re going to fight these Wolf Clan mbers to the death." The remaining soldiers, inspired by a few of the others, picked up their weapons and charged out. The Wolf Clan cavalry were not many in number and were now encircled by the Qin Army. So were dead, so injured, as rows of arrows from the crossbown flew, whenever a Wolf Clan cavalry fell off their horse, spears would pierce through them, turning them into bloody holes.
"Quick, set fire, burn the provisions." One of the Wolf Clan cavalry mbers took advantage of the commotion to secretly take out a fire starter, opened the lid, intending to set fire to the army’s provisions.
Swoosh.
At the mont he threw it, a long arrow precisely hit his left arm. The arrow’s force was so great that it went right through the entire arm, dragging him off the horse. When Ye Shikai turned and looked, it was Han Hao who had shot the arrow—hitting the arm from a hundred paces was nothing short of "skillful".
The Wolf Clan’s numbers were not great, previously relying on superior mobility and charge strength to invade, but now the Qin Army had reacted, squeezing the Wolf Clan’s horses into small areas to attack them individually.
"Quickly retreat." The plan to set fire to the provisions failed, and the Wolf Clan cavalry did not hesitate, knowing staying ant certain death, they broke through the weakest point of the Qin Army’s encirclent, trying to charge out.
"Don’t let them escape, try to capture them alive," Han Hao shouted loudly. The crossbown lowered their crossbows, aiming at the horses instead of the n. The cavalry close by were directly shot and fell to the ground, seized by the soldiers, yet the soldiers’ reluctance to kill gave so cavalry the chance to flee. Seeing the Qin Army was not shooting to kill, they charged at the weak encirclent point.
"There’s no escape." Man Cang, seemingly crazed, ignored his injuries, leaped from his horse onto a Wolf Clan cavalryman, and chopped him down with his machete, finishing him.
Ye Shikai took out a crossbow and shot at a cavalryman ahead, and the arrow pierced his shoulder. In extre pain, he fell from his horse. Ye Shikai rode up, lifted him, and put him on his horse, capturing him.
The battle lasted no more than the ti it takes incense to burn, ending with the complete defeat of the Wolf Clan cavalry. Eleven were captured, and on the battlefield, 139 dead Wolf Clan cavalry lay, though the Qin Army also lost nearly 200 n, most falling in the Wolf Clan’s charge. A casualty ratio of four to three against cavalry was impressive, the key point being that the Qin Army kept the provisions safe.
"Shangguan, Ye, you both did an excellent job this ti. Without you two, this Wolf Clan surprise attack would have succeeded," After the battle, Han Hao praised the two in front of the whole army, expressing a sense of "regained" joy, perhaps thinking earlier the provisions might be lost.
"Lord Han’s hidden skills, shooting an arrow from a hundred paces, truly opened my eyes," Ye Shikai was equally delighted, initially thinking Han Hao wasn’t skilled, yet his archery was masterful, likely requiring ten years to achieve.
"A hero doesn’t boast about past glories, these are just old tales," Han Hao said, patting their shoulders, "Both of you are heroes; when we return, I’ll report to the governor’s mansion and ensure your military rits are recognized."
Han Hao glanced behind them, seemingly searching for sothing.
"Where is that brave warrior who fought bare-chested?"
"Lord ans Man Cang, I’ll call him over now," Before Ye Shikai could call him, Man Cang had already walked over, blood covering him from the battle, and the soldiers around looked at him with respect and fear.
"Man Cang greets Lord Han."
"This warrior is indeed brave and intelligent, I saw your valor during the battle," Han Hao said seriously, noting Man Cang’s fierce energy and battlefield toughness, commanding respect from Han Hao.
"Under whose command are you, what is your rank?"
"I’m under Village Chief Ye, recently enlisted as part of the penal military, currently without rits," Man Cang replied.
"So you’re Ye’s vanguard, no wonder you’re so brave," Han Hao nodded, "You killed many Wolf Clan foes, rest assured, your military rits will be recognized, and your forced labor will be exempted."
"Thank you, Lord." Man Cang replied repeatedly, having faced disdain and unfair treatnt due to his penal military status; his aim upon enlisting was to be exempt from forced labor.
"Lord, I have a few brothers who also killed Wolf Clan mbers..."
"Don’t worry, I reward based on rit, anyone who killed enemy troops will be rewarded and their forced labor exempted," Han Hao waved, and everyone was delighted to hear of the rewards, seeing them as real benefits.
............
"Shangguan Jian, how did we attract so many Wolf Clan cavalry before leaving He Nei County? So many infiltrated and no one noticed either in the prefecture?" After the battle, Ye Shikai questioned, with 150 Wolf Clan cavalry a significant force, able to destroy several villages, yet there was no word from the prefecture, proving they’d remained hidden, making a long-distance assault directly on the provisions convoy.
"The army’s mobilization was loud, if soone with sinister intentions were around, they’d definitely deduce our route."
"You an those Wolf Clan spies," Ye Shikai inquired, rembering the night robbers attacked the Shangshui Village’s warehouse, where they caught a Wolf Clan spy suggesting he wasn’t the only one. Likely, hundreds of spies have infiltrated Qin Territory, gathering military intelligence, inciting robbers for sabotage, making Qin Country’s "backyard" burn while the army fought at the front lines.
Should they destroy the stored provisions and armories, it could even determine the outco of front-line battles.
"I think those spies provided precise information, letting the Wolf Clan find us," Shangguan Jian said calmly.
"From these prisoners, we might extract so intel. Wolf Clan cavalry can travel extrely fast; they can gather in half a day. Though we were prepared today, we must still guard against them. Perhaps they’ll attack again tonight," Shangguan Jian warned.
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