The vanguard of that army has already reached within two miles of the city. It's very strange that this force doesn't use torches. However, if they intended to launch a surprise attack, they wouldn't have made such a loud commotion.
The night is still young, but the troops in the city dare not sleep. The central army is stationed outside the southern gate, and nearly everyone is speculating about the identity of this unknown army.
Warlord Wu has dispatched many scouts, and they return with information one by one. The enemy has set up camp about two miles from the city, and the majority of their forces are continuing to advance. They also carry banners, but it's impossible to see them in the dark of night. They haven't sent any messengers to communicate, and the scouts Wu has dispatched have gone missing, with no news from them. So, it's confirmed that they are indeed the enemy.
At this moment, a scout scrambles up to the city wall, shouting, "My lord, it's bad! It's bad! Those are monsters!"
Warlord Wu, from inside his tent, scolds, "Eagle, execute this useless person who's disturbing the troops!"
The scout is taken aback and says, "My lord, my lord, those aren't human; they are all monsters!"
Serpentfolk! This is the Serpentfolk army! I almost immediately have this thought. I glance at General Lu Gongxing, who stands beside the First Company. His face is filled with astonishment. He is probably also suspecting that it's a Serpentfolk army. General Qie and his subordinates seem a bit frightened, but not to the extent that they are as shocked as I am.
Inside his tent, Warlord Wu simply says, "Execute!" Eagle leaves the tent, grabs the scout's hair, and the scout cries out, "My lord, my lord, I'm not lying..."
Eagle doesn't let him finish. He pulls out a knife and swiftly beheads the scout. Blood from the scout's neck splatters across the ground. Eagle hands the severed head to a soldier guarding the tent and says, "Hang this head at the city wall as a signal."
Now, Warlord Wu steps out of his tent. We all kneel before him. He looks at us sternly and says loudly, "Vanguard Battalion soldiers, no matter who comes, do you have the confidence to defeat them?"
The soldiers of the Vanguard Battalion let out a resounding, uniform shout, "Yes!"
I join in the shout as well, but deep down, I'm feeling rather uneasy. One Serpentfolk was already so challenging to handle, and if there are indeed a hundred thousand Serpentfolk, wouldn't this be an impossible situation for us?
The company leaders, who were there when we killed the Serpentfolk, are calm now. Warlord Wu says, "Open the city. The Vanguard Battalion will engage them, and the central army will reinforce from behind."
Warlord Wu, with his tall and imposing figure, stood on the city wall like a god of the heavens. Even if they were truly evil spirits from hell, they would probably falter in his presence. I forced a wry smile, realizing I was being too timid.
The Vanguard Battalion orderly descended from the city, mounted their horses, and left the city in an organized formation. At this moment, a horseman came galloping toward the city. Clad in black armor, it was evident that he held a high-ranking position.
Was this the renowned Shen Xiping? I was slightly surprised. While Shen Xiping was known for his valor in battle, I had never been this close to him. Standing so near to him now, he didn't seem like the "Fire Tiger" they called him – he had an elegant and scholarly appearance. I wondered what would prompt him to approach Warlord Wu at this time.
Warlord Wu inquired, "Xiping, what do you need?"
It was our turn to descend from the city walls. Leading my 83 soldiers from the Fifth Battalion, I couldn't hear what Shen Xiping was saying behind me. As we reached the city gate, I noticed a sizable contingent of cavalry standing by – there must have been five to six hundred of them. The leader was General Tian Wei. When he saw me, he smiled in greeting.
At this point, it became clear to me why Shen Xiping had come. Shen Xiping commanded a unit of 500 "Dragon Scale" cavalry, which, within the Right Army, was equivalent to the Vanguard Battalion led by Warlord Wu. These elite cavalry were often regarded as the Empire's trump card in battles. In previous campaigns, Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry had been instrumental in securing victories during pitched battles. However, in this campaign against the Republican forces, which largely involved capturing fortified cities, there were limited opportunities for them to shine, and they had earned comparatively fewer merits. With the prospect of an upcoming field battle, Shen Xiping probably intended to seize the opportunity for recognition.
We mounted our horses and rode out of the gate. The Central Army had already formed up neatly outside the city gate. After the Vanguard Battalion assembled completely, the messenger, Thunder Drum, rushed out and proclaimed loudly in front of the Vanguard Battalion, "Soldiers of the Vanguard Battalion, take heed! Warlord Wu has issued an order. General Loyal and Righteousness, Shen Xiping, will lead the vanguard for this battle. The Vanguard Battalion will temporarily fall back one hundred paces to serve as General Shen's reserve."
It had indeed come to pass. I couldn't help feeling somewhat irritated. Perhaps, the arrogance and rudeness of General Tian Wei had fueled my annoyance. I watched as Shen Xiping, along with his 500 Dragon Scale cavalry, passed through our formation and advanced to the front.
Putting aside any biases, Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry was undoubtedly a formidable force. All 500 soldiers were robust and clad in black helmets and armor. Their weapons were somewhat different from ours – roughly half of them wielded long-handled swords. The Dragon Scale cavalry was known for their charging tactics, and perhaps, the long spears were less potent than large swords during a charge.
Dawn was beginning to break, and the torches' light appeared dimmer in the growing light.
Looking down from the city walls, the approaching army appeared quite near, yet when viewed from below, there was still some distance to cover. From a distance, it seemed like a massive dust cloud that nearly engulfed the entire horizon.
Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry had formed a square formation a hundred paces away from our position. Beyond that, their relatively small force of soldiers and horses appeared like a grain of sand in the vast desert, compared to the distant line of dust and smoke that stretched across the entire horizon.
Shen Xiping was renowned for his skill with throwing spears, a technique that some military leaders practiced. We had also trained with throwing spears during our time at the military academy. However, the usual throwing spears were smaller and more like elongated arrows, quite different from the infantry spears used by Shen Xiping, which measured five feet and five inches in length. He had three horseboys, one carrying a spear over ten feet in length, and the other two with twenty throwing spears each. It was said that during the massacre at Hanluo, in the final decisive battle, the Dragon Scale cavalry, spearheaded by Shen Xiping, executed the first charge. Shen Xiping led the charge, and his cavalry threw all forty of their spears, each finding its mark, causing the Hanluo army to panic and break formation. This allowed the Imperial Army to launch a final, victorious assault. Shen Xiping would have claimed the highest accolades for his actions if it weren't for the incredible achievements of Lu Jingyu in that campaign.
Now, the Dragon Scale cavalry, like a solid wall of iron, stood a hundred paces in front of our formation, with a large flag fluttering in the wind. I couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy.
I had faced the snake people in direct combat, so I knew firsthand the strength of the snake people; they were not ordinary adversaries. If this was indeed the snake people, I wondered whether Shen Xiping could still showcase his fiery and gallant spirit in the face of such a formidable foe.
※ ※ ※
The approaching army had drawn even closer.
As the day was breaking, it became clear that this army had an interesting feature – chariots were leading the way. While chariots weren't uncommon, the southern region wasn't conducive to the swift movement of mounted cavalry, and thus, chariots were preferred. However, chariots were typically not used in the vanguard because of their limited maneuverability, which made them better suited for defensive tactics.
The force came to a halt at a distance of 300 paces from Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry.
In the early morning light, the long column of troops seemed almost endless. Were these truly the snake people's army? I strained my eyes to see, but amidst the billowing dust, I couldn't discern their exact nature. What was faintly visible were the glimmers of countless blades and spears, creating a shimmering effect within the swirling clouds of dust, much like stars embedded in the dusky sky.
If this army were to use its forward momentum to charge at us, even though we had the advantage of waiting, could we withstand their onslaught, characterized by the overwhelming force of a tempest? I couldn't help but worry. I didn't know if Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry lived up to its legendary reputation. Although I doubted that the Vanguard Battalion would suffer a complete defeat, our formation would likely be thrown into disarray.
Strangely, the army didn't make any move. Even though their formation appeared chaotic and disorganized, it looked as impervious as a fortress wall in the dim light of dawn. After a brief pause, a single chariot emerged from the formation.
A large flag waved proudly on top of the chariot.
Dawn was breaking, and the chariot was now clearly visible. It carried only one person, adorned in a helmet and armor. This figure, with one hand holding the large flag and the other gripping the reins, brought the chariot to a halt about a hundred paces away from Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry. The person extended their hand and firmly planted the flag into the ground. Even from my vantage point, I could hear the distinct "crunch" sound as the flag pierced the earth. I took a deep breath, and almost everyone present let out a hushed gasp.
The flag unfurled, revealing an image of two figures dressed in ancient clothing. The remarkable aspect was that both of these figures had the lower halves of serpents.
The design on the flag was not particularly frightening, but what truly astonished us was the individual who had planted it.
This person was wearing a helmet and armor and appeared normal while on the chariot. However, as they descended from the chariot, we noticed that their lower half, mirroring the imagery on the flag, had transformed into that of a serpent.
A genuine snake person!
Although I had anticipated it, facing an actual snake person army left me in such shock that I could hardly catch my breath. Lu Jingyu had once mentioned that an army of ten thousand snake people would be invincible. Now, this snake person army numbered not just ten thousand; it might not be a hundred thousand, but it likely exceeded twenty to thirty thousand. Were we destined to face our end on this battlefield?
The snake person stood upright. Typically, their lower serpent half remained on the ground, and their height was only a quarter of their full length, roughly equivalent to the height of an average person. However, at this moment, their serpent half extended upwards by a third of its full length, making them significantly taller than a human. The upper half of their body resembled that of a human in every way, emphasizing the eerie contrast.
The snake person held a long spear in hand and pointed it in our direction, a gesture unmistakably signifying a challenge.
Shen Xiping shouted, "General Tian, do you have confidence?"
Tian Wei also shouted, "General Shen, Tian Wei will not disappoint you!"
His shout was so loud that we all heard it.
The twenty battalions of our Vanguard Battalion were lined up right behind the Dragon Scale cavalry. As Tian Wei advanced toward the formation, the Dragon Scale cavalry rhythmically chanted, "Tian Wei! Tian Wei!" Almost simultaneously, the Vanguard Battalion joined in, creating a thunderous wave. The battle standards of the central army behind us also began to shake and rattle as their soldiers joined the chant.
The day had brightened further. In the dawn's light, Tian Wei's shadow stretched long. He was undoubtedly in a superior position as the sun was behind him. The snake person, though I could only see their silhouette on horseback, seemed to exude an air of dominance that encompassed all directions.
However, my own feelings were far from optimistic.
The vanguard of that army had already reached two li outside the city. It was strange; the soldiers didn't light any torches. If they were planning a surprise attack, they wouldn't be making so much noise.
The night was still young, but the military within the city dared not sleep. The central command had stationed outside the southern gate, and nearly everyone was speculating about the unknown origins of this approaching army.
Wuhou had dispatched many scouts, and they took turns returning with reports. The army had set up camp about two li from the city, and the majority of the troops were still advancing. They carried banners, but the darkness concealed their details. No messengers had come forth, and those sent to communicate had seemingly disappeared without a trace. It was clear that they were enemies.
At that moment, a scout sprinted up to the city wall, shouting, "My lord, something's not right, those are monsters!"
Wuhou, inside his tent, ordered, "Da Ying, execute this troublemaker who's sowing discord among the troops."
The scout trembled, saying, "My lord, my lord, those are not human; they're monsters!"
Snake people! I had this thought almost immediately. I glanced at Lu Gongxing, who stood beside the First Battalion. His face also registered shock. Perhaps he, too, was suspecting they were snake people. Qilie and others seemed a bit frightened, but they weren't as shocked as I was.
Wuhou inside the tent merely said, "Execute him." Da Ying stepped out and grabbed the scout by his hair. The scout cried out, "My lord, my lord, I'm not lying..."
Da Ying didn't let him finish; he drew his sword and beheaded the scout. Blood sprayed from the scout's neck, and Da Ying handed the severed head to a soldier standing nearby, instructing him to display it on the city wall.
At that moment, Wuhou stepped out of his tent. We all knelt on the ground, and he sternly addressed us, "Vanguard Battalion soldiers, no matter who is coming, do you have the confidence to defeat them?"
The Vanguard Battalion shouted in unison, "Yes!"
I shouted too, but deep down, I felt uneasy. Facing one snake person had been incredibly challenging; if this was indeed a force of ten thousand snake people or more, wouldn't we be on the verge of certain death?
Tan Qing and the other company commanders, who had fought alongside me against the snake person, now seemed composed. Wuhou ordered, "Open the gates. The Vanguard Battalion will engage the enemy, while the central army will provide support."
Wuhou's towering figure stood atop the city wall, commanding the scene like a god. Even if real demons from hell had appeared, they might falter in his presence. I couldn't help but smile, realizing I was being overly timid.
The Vanguard Battalion began to descend the city walls, mount their horses, and form ranks. Meanwhile, a large force of soldiers had already gathered below the city gates. Leading them was Tian Wei. He saw me as he rode past and gave me a nod in greeting.
We mounted our horses and left through the gates. The central army had formed up beneath the city gates. As the Vanguard Battalion completed their formation, the drums started rolling out in front of our formation. The command was loud and clear: "Vanguard Battalion, listen! Wuhou's orders are for General Shen Xiping to lead the Vanguard. The Vanguard Battalion should step back a hundred paces and allow General Shen to take the front."
As expected, I was somewhat irritated, possibly because of Tian Wei's arrogance and disrespect. I watched Shen Xiping lead his five hundred Dragon Scale cavalry through our formation.
Looking at it objectively, Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry was indeed a formidable unit. These five hundred men were all strong and well-armed, dressed in black helmets and black armor. Their weapons differed slightly from ours, as about half of them carried long-handled blades. The Dragon Scale cavalry excelled in charging, and the added reach of the long spears was probably more suitable for such tactics.
The sky was brightening, and the torchlight lost some of its luster. When we looked down from the city walls, we saw the army was now quite close. However, from the ground, they still had some distance to cover. Even though they were disorganized, they appeared as unmovable as an iron wall in the early dawn light. After a while, a chariot emerged from their ranks.
This chariot was adorned with a large flag, which fluttered in the wind.
The sun was rising now, and we could clearly see the chariot. There was only one person on it, clad in full armor with a helmet. In one hand, they held a massive flag, and in the other, they gripped the reins. The chariot came to a halt about a hundred paces from Shen Xiping's Dragon Scale cavalry. The individual extended their arm and planted the large flag into the ground. Even from my position, I heard a distinct "crunch" as the flag pierced the earth. I took a deep breath, and almost everyone else let out a hushed exclamation.
The flag billowed in the wind, revealing an image of two figures in ancient clothing. However, the striking detail was that their lower halves were snake-like.
The image on the flag wasn't particularly intimidating, but it was the person himself who shocked us. They wore a helmet, had armored attire, and appeared ordinary while on the chariot. However, when they dismounted, we realized that their lower half was exactly like the serpent's body depicted on the flag.
A real snake person!
Even though I had a hunch, facing an entire snake person army left me almost breathless with shock. Road Gongxing had mentioned that ten thousand snake
At this point, he had no other option. He threw down his weapons, leaned back suddenly, and the snake person's spear pierced right through his face, but then suddenly pushed it downwards. This move was as fast as lightning, and with a cry, the man fell off his horse.
In the formation, there was almost immediate silence. Although Tian Wei had struck the snake person first, the counterattack from the snake person was terrifying. Now, no matter who it was, they could only say that Tian Wei had suffered a crushing defeat.
I looked at Shen Xi Ping, who was standing right in front of the formation. His face remained as composed as ever, without showing any change in expression. I couldn't help but wonder, could Tian Wei still turn the tables on his defeat?
The snake person now held two spears, with the right one pressed against the horse's back, and the horse suddenly let out a mournful neigh, dropping to its front knees. The left spear, however, swung around, initially held backward, but now the spearhead was facing forward. The snake person's grip loosened, and the spear was released, hurtling toward Tian Wei who was lying on the ground.
The speed of this spear was incredible, much like a bolt of lightning. The Dragon Scale troops and the Vanguard Battalion simultaneously exclaimed. Tian Wei extended his hand, grabbing the tip of the spear. But even if he caught the head, he had no way to stop the momentum of this long spear, which, propelled by the full force of the snake person, instantly thrust through Tian Wei's chest, pinning him to the ground.
At this moment, from within the Dragon Scale troops, one rider shot out like lightning. Qiu Lie whispered beside me, "It's Shen Xi Ping!"
His words carried an unmistakable excitement.
Shen Xi Ping's horse was exceptionally fast, and the grooms with his horses couldn't keep up. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of the snake person. We almost didn't see anything, just heard Shen Xi Ping shouting, "Monster, meet your death!"
From his hand, it was like lightning shooting out. A throwing spear was released. The snake person let out a strange cry, hardly having time to react. The throwing spear pierced through its chest, leaving it pinned to the ground just like Tian Wei. It howled and struggled on the ground, its long body coiling around the spear shaft. However, this time, almost half of the spear had buried itself in the earth. Unless they broke the spear shaft, it was impossible to pull it out.
The snake person wriggled, and suddenly, its body arched like a rainbow. The spear went through its body, and it somehow stood up again. Only, the spear on the ground appeared as if it had been pulled from a pool of blood, with blood still dripping from the end. From my position, looking over, the entire spear was now a dark red color.
Shen Xi Ping took a step back, pulling his horse, and suddenly roared, "Die!"
He still had a few more throwing spears at his disposal. This time, two throwing spears were hurled simultaneously. The snake person, already struggling to move, was hit by both spears and pinned to the ground again.
This time, it couldn't break free.
Shen Xi Ping's actions were highly unethical; it was a blatant ambush and completely lacked the dignity of a warrior. However, within the ranks of both armies, no one criticized him, especially when facing such a monstrous opponent. The soldiers, who had just been a bit disheartened by Tian Wei's defeat, were suddenly uplifted.
Shen Xi Ping paid no attention to Tian Wei, who was still struggling on the ground. He pulled the reins, and his horsemen stood up. He shouted, "Brave warriors of the Dragon Scale Army, charge!"
It was like a thunderbolt striking from a clear sky. The Dragon Scale Army erupted with a deafening roar, and the 500 black-armored knights surged forward like a tidal wave.
In the context of the entire army, 500 men were an insignificant number. But the Dragon Scale Army felt like an irresistible force, a dominating torrent. Their shiny black armor glistened in the rising sun, making the entire formation look like a long arrow piercing into the enemy ranks.
With the Dragon Scale Army charging, the main force behind us had also rushed forward. However, General Lu Gongxing had not issued the order to charge yet. I watched the main force advancing from behind and couldn't help but feel anxious. "Retreat from the battle line is punished by death," that was the command of Warlord Wu. To not charge with the main force was also a capital offense. I rode a few steps forward and asked, "General Lu, why aren't we charging?"
Lu Gongxing was intently watching the Dragon Scale Army's charge into the ranks of the snake people. He turned around and said, "Do you think now is the right time to charge?"
I looked across at the enemy. The Dragon Scale Army's charge resembled a towering wave, as if it would crush anything in its path, but the snake people's army remained strangely unchanged. This army that seemed to oppress the horizon was like an unfathomable abyss, capable of swallowing up anything thrown into it.
I asked with some doubt, "Aren't they using their full strength?"
Lu Gongxing nodded solemnly and said, "They seem to still be testing us."
"Why don't they launch an attack first? By still testing us at this point, they've already lost the initiative."
Lu Gongxing spoke slowly, "I don't know. I think taming these snake people is a remarkable feat."
By now, the main force had charged up. I said, "General Lu, if you don't charge now, it will be difficult to explain this to Warlord Wu."
Lu Gongxing lowered his head in anguish and said, "I can't."
"Why?" I was a bit puzzled. Just then, Pu Anli came over and shouted, "General Lu, why aren't we charging?"
Lu Gongxing glanced at us, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine, charge!"
We reined in our horses, and all of us couldn't help but feel excited, with Pu Anli even offering a smile. At that moment, I heard Lu Gongxing loudly shout, "Brothers, charge, but be careful!"
In the heat of a charge, words like "be careful" were quite infuriating. Whatever Lu Gongxing had in mind, saying such disheartening words at this time only added to the chaos among our ranks. I led my horse over to Qi Lie and said, "Charge!"
The bugler of the Vanguard Battalion sounded the charge signal. The Vanguard Battalion had a specially crafted bull's horn for their charge signal, which, when sounded well, created a deep and resonant tone, with one wave of sound following the next, each one higher than the last. As the horn blared at this moment, it was somewhat like a thunderbolt rolling over the crowd's heads, and the deafening noise from the advancing main force behind us couldn't drown out the waves of horn calls.
I took the lead on my horse and said, "Xiao Lie, follow me!"
My Guanri bow was too large and heavy, so I usually had him carry it. My horse was only equipped with a long spear and a siege axe, along with ten arrows on my back. The siege axe wasn't much use at the moment, but in case I needed the longbow, I needed him by my side.
As I charged forward, I caught up with Pu Anli's Third Battalion, which had already engaged with Lu Gongxing's First Battalion. When the Vanguard Battalion charged, they formed a four-row triangular formation, with the First Battalion in the front, and the Second and Third Battalions closely following, followed again by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Battalions, and three more battalions behind that, and so on, with the last two rows consisting of four battalions each. This was the charge formation described in the fifth volume of Ting Tian's "Seven Essentials of Marching" titled "Formation." However, the charge formation was now in disarray, with the battalions from behind surging ahead even faster than the vanguard.
What on earth was Lu Gongxing doing?
A surge of anger welled up within me. Could he truly be frightened by the snake people?
By now, we had reached the snake people's ranks.
When I saw the snake people, I couldn't help but shiver.
Not many of these snake people wore armor; most of them were covered in glistening green scales, but they wielded strange weapons, almost anything you could imagine, some even fought barehanded. The Dragon Scale Army was locked in a bloody battle, and it was evident that they were running out of steam, with their forces divided into several segments. Around Shen Xi Ping, there were only a few dozen black-armored knights, while the rest were scattered, each fighting on their own. Although not many had fallen, they couldn't advance another half-step.
If the Dragon Scale Army was a nail, the piece of iron they were hammering was tough.
Could these monsters truly be that formidable? Even the world-renowned Dragon Scale Army was struggling. I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, but deep down, there was a hint of schadenfreude.
When the Vanguard Battalion charged into the enemy formation, we all shouted in unison. Our shouts reverberated through the Dragon Scale Army, and Lu Gongxing called out, "Brothers of the Vanguard Battalion, protect General Shen!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Pu Anli shouted, "Those with courage, follow me and break through the center of these monsters!"
He might have been somewhat displeased with Lu Gongxing's lack of resolve.
The snake people's central force was gathered in the heart of their formation, surrounded by countless snake people. Breaking through that central force was a pipe dream. But I had no time to hesitate, as Pu Anli was already charging ahead.
The Fifth Battalion had already advanced to the second layer of enemy lines. With Pu Anli leading the charge, his subordinate centurions followed from behind. I quickly made up my mind, raised my spear, and shouted, "Brothers, charge!"
Lu Gongxing's First Battalion was already engaged with the snake people. As we charged forward, we witnessed one of the soldiers from the First Battalion being impaled through the chest by a snake person's spear, falling from his horse. I clenched my teeth and spurred my horse into action.
The snake person's spear still held the soldier from the First Battalion, almost effortlessly as if it was merely standing on the lower half of its body on the ground. Most people couldn't achieve such a feat; even a light person weighed over a hundred pounds, hanging on the spear like that required arms with strength exceeding a thousand pounds. The soldier wasn't dead yet, but he was certainly beyond saving, with blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
As my horse charged toward it, I tightly gripped my spear, channeling all my strength into it.
In terms of raw strength, I was no match for the snake person. When I was entangled by a snake person earlier, it felt like I was bound by iron chains, unable to move.
But I knew that my speed exceeded that of the snake person. At this moment, I had to combine my speed with the horse's velocity to stand a chance.
Seeing me coming, the snake person turned its head towards me. Its eyes were a pale yellow, not quite like human eyes but cold like two blocks of ice. It flicked its spear, and the dead soldier on the spearhead suddenly accelerated towards me.
I knew that if I used my spear to push the corpse aside, it would inevitably slow me down. As I charged toward the snake person, I anticipated this move. I clamped my legs against the horse's flank, abruptly tilted to the right, pressing tightly against the horse's right side. At that moment, the lifeless body "whooshed" past from the horse's back. If I had been a step slower, the body would have struck me directly.
As the body flew past the horse's back, I nearly made eye contact with it. The soldier's face was filled with shock and fear, perhaps still terrified even in death.
I couldn't afford to dwell on that thought. At this point, my horse was already by the side of the snake person. Without straightening myself, I thrust my spear into the snake person's chest.
My own strength wasn't particularly great, but with the added momentum from the horse's charge, I was confident that I wouldn't fall short of Shen Xiping's javelin throw. The snake person was momentarily slow, perhaps it didn't anticipate or even think about the dead body flung at it, which didn't slow me down. It couldn't react in time as my spear reached its chest.
The snake person tried to push my spear away by thrusting its own spear horizontally. However, my spear was much quicker, and my strength was far superior. Before its spear could be raised, mine was already in front of it, with the spearhead resting on its spear shaft.
At this range, even if it raised its own spear, my spearhead was positioned perfectly to strike its head. It must have realized it was in a dire situation, and for a brief moment, a glimmer of fear flickered in its cold eyes.
Just like a human.
As I thought this, a "plunging" sound echoed as the spearhead pierced something hard.
It was the snake person's left arm.
In its final attempt to evade, it managed to avoid a vital hit but couldn't escape the fate of its left arm. My spearhead was unusually long, nearly half the length of a normal spear, resembling a thick double-edged blade. I thrust my left hand forward, positioning the spear shaft against its left arm. With a swift pull of the spear handle, my spear jerked upward, producing a "crack" as it sliced off the left arm at the shoulder, leaving just a bit of skin hanging.
Its blood sprayed out, with a few droplets landing on my face, and it was chilling.
The snake person's left arm was incapacitated, and it could no longer grip its spear. At this point, my horse and the snake person were entangled. I yanked my spear out, seizing the opportunity as the snake person seemed somewhat bewildered, and thrust backward.
The speed of this strike didn't benefit from the horse's power and had significantly slowed down.
As my spear pierced, I felt an immense weight tugging at my hand as if it would pull me off my horse. I clamped down on the horse's back, but the steed couldn't advance further and reared up.
Had my spear struck something solid like wood? I attempted to pull the spear out, but it seemed rooted in place, exerting a backward force.
I glanced over my shoulder. It was the snake person, clutching my spear's head with its remaining right hand.
The snake person's strength was astonishingly immense, leaving me thoroughly surprised. It tugged with such force that I was almost pulled off my horse. Capitalizing on the opportunity, I released my grip, and the snake person wrested the spear from me. Without waiting for it to wield my spear against me, I reached for the siege axe hanging in front of my horse. I slipped my feet from the stirrups, leaped onto the horse's front, and with a swift motion, swung my right hand.
The axe struck the snake person's neck dead center.
Although the snake person's neck was thick and short, my swing was powered by my entire body, and with a resounding "crack," it cleaved through the snake person's neck. It was now incapacitated and blood gushed from the neck wound.
easily. If the snake person thought like humans, it probably believed that even with just a wooden stick, it could pierce me through.
Now, I was sitting atop my horse, and I believed this strike could deflect the spear. But unexpectedly, it severed the spearhead instead. Now, there was no time to dodge, and attempting to block it with the axe wouldn't work due to my weakened state. I clenched my teeth and used the axe's momentum to fling it aside, while at the same time, I shifted my body to the side.
My siege axe struck the snake person's head with a powerful blow. The sequence of actions I had just undertaken didn't seem significant at the time, but now, it left me feeling drained. Despite being weaponless, the axe was still an axe. It cleaved the snake person's head in two. Almost simultaneously, the spear that had lost its head pierced my left side.
I had shifted my body just in time, and the spear slid across my armor, causing a sharp, stabbing pain as it passed.
Before I could react, a snake person suddenly appeared in front of my horse's head.
This snake person, like the one who had challenged me earlier, had only a third of its body on the ground, making it even taller than me sitting on the horse. I instinctively reached for where I had my spear before but felt only air. It dawned on me that the first snake person had taken my spear when I killed it.
At this moment, I was unarmed.
As I stared at the snake person, I felt a sudden chill wash over me.
The snake person held a long spear and was aiming it at me from its mounted position. I knew my strength was no match for the snake person's, and with the horse stationary, I couldn't utilize its power to fight back. In my weakened state, I doubted I could evade the impending strike.
I closed my eyes. I began to topple off the horse. I instinctively pulled on the reins, causing the horse to back up a few steps. With a resounding "thud," the snake person fell to the ground.
It was clutching a thrown javelin!
Shen Xiping had saved me. I couldn't help but feel grateful, but when I looked, Shen Xiping was just a dozen steps away.
Ordinarily, a dozen steps would be an easy distance to cover, but the force generated by the thrown javelin was so tremendous that besides Shen Xiping, no one else could have achieved such an impact. At this moment, Qilie had picked up my spear and said, "General..."
I had just received the long spear when I saw four snake people simultaneously attacking Shen Xiping.
Probably because Shen Xiping had just saved me, he was still holding a weapon with one hand. The spears from the four snake people came at him from different angles. I heard a Dragon Scale Army soldier standing beside him shout, "My lord, be careful!"
That soldier was wielding a large sword. He was originally on Shen Xiping's right side and managed to strike one of the snake people on the head. However, the other three spears pierced Shen Xiping's armor, and one of them even went through his body, exiting his back.
I cried out, and the Dragon Scale Army soldier also screamed almost simultaneously. Shen Xiping wavered on his horse and reached for his side to draw his dagger. However, as his hand touched his waist, his upper body slumped, and he tumbled off the horse.
Shen Xiping had fallen in battle!
It was like a bolt from the blue. Although I hadn't thought the Dragon Scale Army would necessarily win, I never expected Shen Xiping to die in this battle. It left me stunned and motionless.
In the Dragon Scale Army, an officer wailed, "My lord! The lord has fallen!"
This was like an invisible noose that constricted all the Dragon Scale Army soldiers who had been fighting gallantly just moments ago. In an instant, the battle cries turned into pain-filled screams, as many Dragon Scale Army soldiers, with hands paused, were cut down by the snake people.
I didn't know where the strength came from, but I called out, "Follow me!" I spurred my horse forward.
The snake people must have sensed our leader had fallen because they began swarming towards us. I cleared a path through two of them, and soon I was standing where Shen Xiping had fallen. A snake person had already picked up his body, and two Dragon Scale Army soldiers were trying to retrieve it. There were over a dozen other snake people blocking their way. I said, "Qilie, hand me the Guanri Bow."
Qilie tossed me the Guanri Bow from behind. As I caught it, I leaped into the air. In mid-air, I nocked an arrow, then using all my strength, drew the bowstring, taking careful aim at the snake person holding Shen Xiping's body and shouted, "Destroy!"
At this distance, the arrow I shot was undoubtedly more powerful than Shen Xiping's thrown javelin. The spear flew off the string and struck the snake person directly, pinning it to the ground. I mounted my horse again, tossed the bow to Qilie, and turned to him, saying, "Give me the axe!"
Qilie took the bow and the axe but seemed unsure of how to hand them to me. I said, "Throw them over!"
By this time, I had reached Shen Xiping's fallen body, but two snake people blocked my path, thrusting their spears simultaneously. My momentum was too rapid, and I had no weapon in hand. I pulled on the reins as the horse was just regaining its balance, and the spears from the snake people penetrated the horse's chest.
Before my horse could collapse, I kicked my feet free from the stirrups and leaped off. At that moment, the battle axe flew overhead, whistling through the air. I was on foot, and the axe had been thrown high into the sky. How could I possibly reach it?
Then, with a loud thud, the two snake people raised their heads to look up. A short arrow struck the siege axe, causing it to lose its spinning momentum but continue its forward trajectory. I heard Tan Qing call out from the side, "General, catch!"
It was the brothers from the Fifth Battalion coming to support me. A moment ago, I had been nearly fighting alone, but now my spirits were lifted. I snatched the battle axe that Tan Qing had thrown, and I charged forward.
The snake people had been prepared to face me mounted, but now I was on foot. I took advantage of their spears still embedded in the horse, and with a swing of my axe, I targeted the snake person on the left.
The axe struck, and the snake person emitted an eerie cry, falling backward with its long, massive body. The other snake person was about to counterattack, but three or four arrows simultaneously pierced its head. Two arrows hit its eyes, and before I could act again, a long spear pierced its chest.
I only heard Lu Gongxing say, "General Chu, are you all right?"
It was the Vanguard Battalion! I felt a surge of relief and was about to respond when I saw a snake person holding a broom-shaped sword dragging Shen Xiping's body backward.
If it retreated into the snake people's ranks, we might never recover it.
We all seemed to have the same idea and rushed almost in unison toward the snake person. I was closest, and with Lu Gongxing on his horse, he wasn't as nimble in his advance. I, on the other hand, benefited from being on foot. The snake people's attacks were mostly intercepted by the Dragon Scale Army and Vanguard Battalion soldiers alongside me. I was the first to reach Shen Xiping's body.
The snake person was holding Shen Xiping's head between its two arms, attempting to drag him away. I grabbed Shen Xiping's feet, and the siege axe in my right hand was thrown. I knew that if I could secure Shen Xiping, others would help fend off the other snake people's attacks.
The snake person, upon seeing my axe flying toward it, suddenly released its grip. I had been exerting all my strength to pull Shen Xiping, so this sudden release caused me to stumble backward. I was about to make an effort to pull Shen Xiping's body closer, but the snake person seized Shen Xiping's armor and with one stroke, it decapitated Shen Xiping, cutting off his head.
I let out a loud cry and was about to rush forward to retrieve Shen Xiping's head when the snake person abruptly retreated, slipping back into the crowd of other snake people. As it withdrew, it even flashed a smile in my direction.
A chill ran down my spine. At that moment, Lu Gongxing arrived, and there was a soldier nearby with an empty horse. He called out, "General Chu, take Shen Xiping and retreat quickly!"
I hoisted Shen Xiping's body onto the horse and secured it. Lu Gongxing shouted, "All troops, fall back! Vanguard Battalion, hold the line!"
At this point, his words held the utmost authority. We began retreating, and the snake people were forced to give ground as the Vanguard Battalion fought tenaciously.
Our combined forces fought and retreated, eventually reaching the base of the city walls. The city walls rained arrows upon the snake people, who finally began to withdraw.
Once we were by the city's moat, the barrage of arrows from the city walls intensified. The snake people, now with their numbers diminished, gradually retreated.
At the city wall, I removed Shen Xiping's headless body from my shoulder and handed it over to a Dragon Scale Army officer. He cradled Shen Xiping's body and suddenly burst into tears, saying, "General!"
The remaining Dragon Scale Army soldiers, now numbering only around two hundred, were all on the city wall. They knelt down in unison and cried out, "General!"
Wuhou had appeared on the city wall, his face as dark as night. The Middle Army Commander, Lord Muzhenwu, rushed to the city wall and knelt before Wuhou, saying, "Lord Marquis..."
Wuhou just waved his hand and said, "Discuss General Shen's arrangements."
There was a coldness in his expression, mixed with a hint of desolation. I felt that Wuhou had many things he wanted to say at this moment, but he remained silent. He glanced at me briefly, said nothing, and turned to enter his tent. His two trusted bodyguards, Big Eagle and Little Eagle, followed him inside.
I turned around to see that by this time, our forces had retreated into the city, and the city gates were slowly closing.
I don't know why, but the image of that snake person beheading Shen Xiping suddenly reappeared in my mind. The snake person's smile before it retreated seemed no different from the cunning smiles of humans.
Even though it was close to noon, I couldn't help but shiver as a chill coursed through my entire body.
Looking down from the city wall, the ground below was a patchwork of snake people and Imperial soldiers' corpses. Broken weapons were scattered everywhere, covering the earth like a layer of indistinguishable colors. The ground was awash with blood, making it difficult to distinguish its original color. Even my armor was covered in congealed blood, as though I wore a dark red cloak over my iron armor.
But whether it was the hot blood of humans or the cold-bloodedness of the snake people, when mixed together, the two were indistinguishable from each other.