"Okay, don't delay the business."
"Has the news been sent to the Lord?"
Ying Mo, still looking blank, asked in a cold voice.
"Don't worry. As soon as I received the information, I reported it to the Lord immediately!"
"That's good."
Ying Mo nodded. "What did the Lord say? Do you still want us to act as internal responders?"
Yuxiang confirmed, "That's right. According to the intelligence, only the cavalry from Beiyang City will be coming out at night."
"The rest of the infantry will remain to defend the city."
"Following the Lord's instructions, once Zhao Kuanying leads his troops out, we will seize the opportunity to capture the city gate."
"We'll wait for the Lord to secure a great victory and defeat the enemy's cavalry. Then we'll coordinate from the inside and outside to destroy Beiyang City!"
Hearing this, Ying Mo nodded slightly. "Sounds good. When the enemy comes to raid, the city gate defenses will likely be relaxed, which benefits our plan."
However, Yuxiang's tone shifted, and her expression showed concern. "But… Zhao Kuanying is a semi-saint. Moreover, the troops he's leading are all elite soldiers."
"With hundreds of thousands of troops, we should be cautious about his safety..."
Yuxiang sighed. Although she had assessed Zhao Kuanying's forces as inferior to the Dragoon Army and the trapped camp, the sheer number posed a risk. Any mistake could have severe consequences.
Ying Mo furrowed her brows slightly. "Don't worry. The Lord is surrounded by many semi-saint masters, including Li Sandao, the holy realm guardian. A mere beginning semi-saint shouldn't pose a threat."
Still, Ying Mo's eyes held a trace of anxiety. "If necessary, we can rush back with reinforcements after capturing the gate. Though unlikely, we must ensure our master's safety."
That Night
Tens of thousands of Zhao Kuanying's troops gathered quietly. The small Wengcheng in Beiyang City was packed with soldiers and horses. All the warhorses had their hooves wrapped in cotton, and the soldiers were silent, their chopsticks still in their mouths.
Zhao Kuanying, clad in heavy armor and riding a monstrous hybrid war horse, led the way with a commanding presence. Having completed the mobilization earlier in the day, Zhao Kuanying had no need for further speeches.
Seeing everything was ready, he waved his hand. "Open the city gate! The whole army, advance!"
The massive 10,000-ton gate groaned as it opened, allowing the darkness to seep in. Zhao Kuanying's cavalry, swift as lightning, surged forward. The dull thud of hooves wrapped in cotton echoed as they moved.
Zhao Kuanying's eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty excitement. "Huh! Little Orion, today is the day you die!"
Orion's Camp
The distance from Beiyang City to where the Dragon Cavalry Army and the trapped camp were stationed was not far. Zhao Kuanying could see the bonfires of Orion's camp from a distance.
Everything seemed peaceful in Orion's camp, as if they hadn't noticed the impending raid.
"Charge!"
Zhao Kuanying shouted, drawing his weapon with a clatter. "Boys! Charge with me!"
The cavalry, driven by Zhao Kuanying's command, surged forward with rapid momentum. Even if the enemy reacted now, it would be too late.
Zhao Kuanying's eyes glinted with smug satisfaction. The credit for this victory was within his grasp.
The Trap
Just as Zhao Kuanying's cavalry charged within a hundred meters of the camp, his war horse suddenly collapsed, as if it had sprained a foot.
Zhao Kuanying, initially shocked but quickly regaining composure, landed safely on the ground. The presence of a trap became apparent.
Looking at the ground, Zhao Kuanying saw potholes the size of horseshoes everywhere, covered with weeds. This was why he hadn't noticed it earlier.
"Trapped in a horse trap!" Zhao Kuanying exclaimed in embarrassment. Horse traps were a common tactic against cavalry, typically used in ambushes.
Could Orion have anticipated the night raid? Zhao Kuanying thought with frustration. But there was no time to ponder further. Cries of pain began to emanate from the fallen cavalry.
"Be careful! There's a trap!"
Zhao Kuanying shouted to the rear, but the cavalry, caught off guard, couldn't stop in time. The advancing troops fell into the trap like dumplings.
"Stop! Stop!"
"Hissing~!"
"Don't want!"
"Ah...."
The rear cavalry, not as skilled as Zhao Kuanying, suffered the most. Many were thrown from their horses, some sustaining fatal injuries. The chaos was compounded by the following cavalry trampling over them.
The scene was one of utter disaster, with cries for help, horse neighs, and painful wails mixing together. The ground was a grim mixture of mud, blood, and chaos.
Seeing this, Zhao Kuanying's face turned pale with rage. "Orion, you wretched scoundrel… I will make you pay for this!"
His eyes burned with anger. Being outwitted by Orion was a severe blow to Zhao Kuanying's pride. The massive army's mishap was beyond his ability to rectify.
Yet, despite the turmoil, the elite cavalry eventually stabilized, though their morale was shattered. The momentum of the charge dissipated completely.
From a distance, Orion watched coldly from a slope. "Yuxiang's intelligence was accurate. Zhao Kuanying did lead a night raid, and it's a trap."
"This should serve as a lesson. Notify the Dragoon Army to be ready for action. It's time to show them what true cavalry is capable of!"