Marching in the Grassland! . . .
Simultaneously, within Cha Nantian's clandestine encampment, crucial preparations were underway.
"We've displayed our vulnerability to an extreme degree. I have no doubt they will launch their ultimate assault shortly. When the battle commences, we must feign defenselessness to lure them in! Then, we shall eliminate them en masse—once and for all!"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Gunpowder?"
"Prepared!"
"Bows and arrows?"
"One hundred thousand archers, organized into ten units, are on standby, each equipped with three quivers, each holding thirty arrows. We've triple-checked everything!"
"So, we have a total of nine million arrows?"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Excellent. We can also recycle some of them. Envenomed arrowheads?"
"Half of them are poisoned; we're working on the rest. The enemy could attack at any moment. I fear we may not finish in time. I failed in my mission, so I'm prepared to accept my punishment."
"What punishment? Completing half of this task in such a short time is remarkable. Half of nine million arrows is more than sufficient. Poison?"
"Prepared!"
"Where is my cavalry?"
"Commander, they're fully prepared. They await your order to charge into the grasslands!"
"Battle pits? Long-handled hooks? Heel ropes?"
"All in place!"
"Rolling stones on the mountainsides?"
"Ready! I'm willing to take my own life should anything go awry!"
"Your life holds no importance to me! I demand that everything is in order!"
"Yes, all set!"
"Good!"
Cha Nantian rose to his feet, standing tall as a pointed sword aimed at the heavens. His eyes blazed with a golden aura of deadly determination. "In three days, we must be ready for superior battle readiness. I anticipate an attack from the Grassland Wolves tonight or tomorrow night... Regardless of the timing, as the battle commences, I have but one goal—to eliminate every last one of those Grassland Wolves from the world!"
"All troops, prepare! Each of you will have three horses. Two hundred thousand cavalrymen will lead the vanguard, while seven hundred thousand foot soldiers will follow in the grasslands."
"We shall scour the north to the very ends of the wastelands!"
"Yes, Commander!"
"No prisoners will be taken this time! Women, men, the elderly, and children—kill them all!"
"Yes, Commander!"
The men in the tent rose to their feet, their eyes filled with fiery determination and excitement.
The Grassland Wolf army had posed a grave threat to all the kingdoms of the Land of Han-Yang. For years, they had continually harassed the borderlands, even penetrating deep into the heart of the land. Wherever they ventured, they left behind death and destruction.
This was more than just a conflict between the kingdoms and the grassland people; it was a deeply ingrained ethnic animosity—a feud destined to end only when one side was wiped out.
Only the extinction of one side would bring this strife to a close.
Cha Nantian had been planning this campaign for a long time.
In his heart, there would be no more grassland tribes left in the world after this battle. The threat would be eradicated once and for all.
"This is when I fulfill my promise to you."
"My future will forever be in the Qing-Yun Realm."
...
Later that night, the sky was shrouded in darkness due to thick clouds, and a fierce wind howled.
The grasslands seemed like a tumultuous ocean, rolling and surging in the midst of a relentless rainstorm.
Amidst the undulating sea of the grasslands, a dark-clad troop resembling spectral figures raced with the swiftness of ghosts.
As time passed, more and more horsemen emerged, converging into a massive army, advancing like a seismic sea wave.
The resounding battle cry of countless men abruptly pierced the air.
"KILL THEM ALL!"
With relentless intensity, the tide of warriors surged toward Cha Nantian's Northern Army encampment.
Their inherent ferocity and cruelty struck fear into the hearts of all who beheld them.
Within this chaos, the Wolf King, positioned within the second echelon of the marching forces, was mounted on his horse, delivering a rousing speech. "This is a heaven-sent opportunity! Our steeds now tread upon this land. Let me try my hand at crafting a poem akin to those of the southerners!"
He contemplated for a moment before abruptly pointing his riding crop forward, bellowing, "Ink-splashed skies and fierce winds blow; a million waves advance to the heartland! Mountains and rivers spring forth from dreams; ancient enmity ends this very night!"
"Bravo, Wolf King!"
"Remarkable! An outstanding poem!"
"Hahahaha... Brothers, follow me!"
"Kill them all!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Ahhhh...."
...
The iron riders from the grasslands surged into the Northern Army's encampment with overwhelming force. Chaos reigned, accompanied by moans, battles, roars, and shouts. The pandemonium created an unending cacophony that seemed to engulf the entire world.
Simultaneously, fires erupted across the encampment.
Within a brief span, nearly half of the tents spanning a hundred miles lay in ruins.
"The grassland people are upon us! Everyone, retreat for now! Fall back!"
A voice urgently resounded, "Retreat! Retreat..."
After a brief attempt at defense, the Northern Army soldiers swiftly scattered in all directions, as if they were fleeing a relentless pursuit. Their speed was such that they appeared to be escaping from imminent danger.
They fled for their lives...
The sky became shrouded in thick smoke, threatening to obscure the celestial lights. However, the wild wind soon dissipated the haze.
Nevertheless, the grassland warriors had already sustained significant losses, numbering in the thousands.
"Without Cha Nantian, the Northern Army is no longer the invincible force we once knew! They can't even withstand a single blow! Seize the opportunity! Let's embark on a victorious campaign! We will reign over the heartland!"
"Wolf King, please reconsider! Could this be a trap? We've been in conflict with the Northern Army for countless years. When have they ever been so easily defeated? I fear this may be part of their plan!"
"Hahaha... You give Cha Nantian too much credit! You've grown timid! Had Cha Nantian led these troops, I might have been more cautious... But look at them! They're fleeing in disarray, no longer an army but a pack of hounds on the run!"
"Observe the dust cloud in their wake. You understand warfare, and you're familiar with elite forces, right? When elite troops retreat, the dust rises in a disciplined manner! Now look at them..."
"If they've set a trap like this... it would truly be the most peculiar thing in the world..."