Chapter 60 – The Sparrow Spreads Its Wings (2)

Chapter 60 – The Sparrow Spreads Its Wings (2)

The Hanzhong legion had been stationed at Huaping Town for two days. In exchange, Jang Yang had distributed a significant amount of the legion's supplies to the residents. Furthermore, he had strictly warned that any soldier who troubled the civilians would be executed. The residents could not help but welcome them with open arms.

Meanwhile, they had deployed over a thousand scouts to establish a web-like surveillance network. In the rear, the soldiers constructed a large number of wooden palisades by tying together sharply carved logs.

At the crossroads at the entrance of the town, a field command post had been set up, where the officers gathered. Though called a command post, it was merely a tent with a canopy to block the sun. Inside, there was only a table with a tactical map and a few chairs.

Jang Yang pointed to Officer Kwak Cheol and asked, "How much time is left before the enemy's main force arrives?"

"The main force will take four days. However, their vanguard cavalry could arrive in as little as half a day."

"Then we must begin our preparations. The Wolf Fang Squad will have to work hard."

So-mu stood and replied, "Understood."

As he turned, he was forced to stop. A group of people was suddenly approaching along the road. Though their skills were not high, they were clearly running using lightness techniques.

As So-mu gripped his sword hilt, Jang Yang asked, "What is it?"

"A group is trying to pass through here. They appear to be martial artists."

Since this was a combat zone, they could not let them pass freely. Civilians had already been redirected to take detour routes. They had to find out their business.

As they blocked the road, the running martial artists raised their hands and quickly came to a halt.

"Are you the Hanzhong legion? We wanted to see General Jang Yang."

There were about a dozen martial artists. All wore identical red robes embroidered with the same emblem. There was no hostility in their tone; rather, their voices were filled with excitement.

Before long, Jang Yang approached them himself. Since he rarely had opportunities to meet martial artists, curiosity had gotten the better of him.

"I am Jang Yang of Hanzhong."

The martial artists clasped their hands in greeting. The man leading the group spoke.

"We are from the Yicheon Sect of Baoji County. It is an honor to meet you, General."

It was a sect name So-mu did not recognize. The leader felt like a second-rate master, while the disciples had not yet escaped the third-rate level.

"But what brings martial artists to a combat zone?"

"We heard a militia is being raised in Yangcheon Town and are on our way to join. In our rush, we did not realize this was a combat zone."

Yangcheon Town was a crossroads the legion had passed a few days ago. The militia had likely been formed immediately after their departure.

A warm smile spread across Jang Yang's face at this unexpected good news.

"Haha… having the heroes of the rivers and lakes lend their strength is incredibly reassuring. Might I ask who the militia commander is?"

The leader of the Yicheon Sect hesitated for a moment before replying, "I heard it is General So-so. They say her martial arts are incredible."

Jang Yang and So-mu flinched simultaneously. Having heard a familiar name, it was an instinctive reaction.

However, the Central Plains were vast, and identical names were countless. They quickly regained their composure.

"This is perfect. Since the enemy's main force is targeting us, we had no strength to spare to deal with their small raiding parties."

"We will report to General So-so and do our best to crush those raiding parties."

Jang Yang cast a worried look.

The soldiers in the enemy's raiding parties did not have high martial arts skills. However, since the militia members had not received military training, effective and organized combat would be difficult, which made him worry.

"I will share our scout reports on the enemy's movements with the militia. Tell them not to engage recklessly and to focus on assisting the residents' evacuation."

"Understood, General. I will deliver the message without fail."

"Thank you. And tell them to let us know if they need any support. Coordinating with the militia will yield great results."

"Yes, I will deliver every word."

Bidding farewell, the Yicheon Sect members quickly ran off, using their lightness techniques. The officers who had listened to the conversation felt a sense of pride.

Half an hour after So-mu left the command post, the legion began to move.

They established their formation in a plain twenty zhang away from Huaping Town.

The enemy's vanguard would almost certainly be cavalry. In that case, selecting a forest or rugged terrain was the standard tactic. Deploying in a wide, flat plain was practically asking the cavalry to slaughter them.

Yet, they did not hesitate.

A commotion arose at the rear of the column, and the soldiers quickly cleared a path.

"Out of the way!"

"Move the palisades!"

Hundreds of palisades brought from the rear were set up in a row. The sharply carved logs were quickly secured.

After ten minutes, the palisades were lined up in a straight line about three hundred feet long. Furthermore, they were set up in two rows.

However, there was a strange detail. The front row of palisades faced forward, but the rear row faced backward, toward the legion.

Officer Jin Lip of the archers roared, "Archers, forward!"

Two thousand archers lined up behind the palisades. Usually, archers were positioned in the rear. Having the archers occupy the center of the vanguard was a highly unusual formation.

"Scatter caltrops!"

Caltrops were also called triangular iron spikes. With four sharp spikes, they were defensive weapons scattered on the ground to halt the movement of horses and men. The archers threw thousands of caltrops in front of the palisades.

At that moment, Yang Yeon-jeong stepped forward and shouted, "Left wing, forward!"

Four thousand infantry, consisting of swordsmen and spearmen, emerged from the rear. They moved to the left of the archers.

The same occurred on the right. The officer commanding this wing was Wi Jin-cheol.

"Right wing, forward!"

An equal number of swordsmen and spearmen occupied the right, forming their line. Having undergone intense training, the soldiers' movements were highly coordinated.

In an instant, the infantry completed their formation. About three hundred feet behind them, the supply wagons were lined up.

And about a thousand feet behind the wagons, Han Baek's cavalry unit waited. The command staff was positioned behind the archers.

This was a formation designed by Jang Yang, known as the Continuous Fang Capture Formation.

Once the formation was complete, the soldiers sat on the ground to rest, maintaining their lines. They waited like fishermen waiting for a bite.

Two hours passed. Finally, a response came. A figure was running frantically toward them from the front. It was Officer Baek Moon-hwi of the scouts.

"General! About a hundred enemy cavalry are approaching!"

The soldiers gripped their weapons and tried to stand. Jang Yang snatched a command flag from a nearby soldier and quickly signaled.

"Stay seated!"

The soldiers were confused. To remain seated when the enemy was approaching, even if they were few, was hard to understand.

A quarter of an hour later, about a hundred cavalry appeared. They approached in tight formation.

As the distance closed, the soldiers at the front grew tense.

When the distance closed to about two hundred zhang, Jang Yang shouted again.

"Prepare for battle! Do not move, stand by!"

Seeing the soldiers stand up only now, the enemy cavalry sneered. At a glance, it looked like the slow reaction of a ragtag force.

Jin Lip shouted, "Archers, draw!"

Two thousand archers drew their bows tight.

*Creak!*

"Hold!"

The moment they entered bow range, the cavalry scattered and changed direction. They circled the legion's formation from a distance.

As Jang Yang had predicted, this was a scout unit sent to probe their lines.

The legion did not react, waiting silently. After inspecting the lines for a while, the cavalry quietly withdrew.

Officer Kwak Cheol, standing beside Jang Yang, spoke, "Seeing how bold their scouts are, their main cavalry must be close."

"It seems so. Officer Baek Moon-hwi, did you ascertain their strength?"

"Their scouts were highly alert, so we could not get close. Based on the reports of our scouts, we estimate their strength to be about eight thousand cavalry."

Though fewer than the legion, the value of cavalry was incomparable to infantry. To face them on a plain, one usually needed at least five times their number.

"Well done. The enemy will charge soon, so tell the men to rest as much as possible."

The cavalry's response was swift. In less than an hour, the rumbling of hooves shaking the ground echoed. They clearly wanted to strike before the legion could adjust their lines.

Kwak Cheol waved the command flag from the center of the formation.

"Prepare for battle!"

Tense, the soldiers gripped their weapons and stood ready.

Soon, dust rose from the horizon, and the cavalry began to appear. The sight of eight thousand cavalry charging with furious momentum was enough to strike terror into anyone. The soldiers swallowed hard and tightened their grips.

From the center of the legion, Jang Yang roared at the top of his lungs, "Do not fear! Remember, we are an invincible legion that has never lost a battle!"

The officers of each unit encouraged their men, keeping the lines tight.

When the cavalry closed to within a thousand feet, the archers readied their arrows. Though the archers were at the front, they had the thick palisades before them.

The Hui cavalry had no intention of sacrificing their horses by ramming into the palisades. The moment they reached bow range, the eight thousand cavalry split into two columns, turning ninety degrees to the left and right. It was a fluid, spectacular movement.

They intended to bypass the front, strike the supply wagons in the rear, and attack the infantry from behind. It was the optimal way to avoid the palisades and crush the legion's formation.

The flanking cavalry soon passed the infantry, heading toward the rear. The infantry behind the palisades seemed to have been bypassed.

"Haha! What fools!"

"They call this a formation?!"

The cavalry sneered as they rode. It was too easy. They believed they had already won.

But how could they know? They were riding straight into the mouth of the Continuous Fang Capture Formation.

In front of them, thirty supply wagons lay seemingly defenseless. Burning these alone would be a massive victory. But the cavalry wanted more.

When the leading horses reached within thirty feet of the wagons, the straw covering them flew open. A hundred black wolves leaped into the air.

"Gasp!"

"What?!"

Soaring into the sky, the Wolf Fang Squad members unleashed their sword qi upon the riders.

*Slash! Whoosh!*

"Arrgh!"

"Urgh!"

Their movements were blindingly fast. Their strikes were powerful enough to cut through both horse and rider.

As the leading horses collapsed, the column behind them collided and tangled, losing all momentum. The enemy officers realized they had been lured into a trap.

They had to change direction and strike the rear of the infantry instead.

But it was not to be. The archers had already moved.

"Fire!"

At Jin Lip's command, two thousand arrows rained down on the cavalry.

*Thwip! Thump!*

"Aaargh!"

"Gah!"

Jin Lip notched three arrows at once and roared, "Rapid fire!"

The archers' assault was relentless. They notched and fired with the speed of master marksmen.

The cavalry tried to escape through the flanks, but the infantry led by Yang Yeon-jeong and Wi Jin-cheol closed in, cutting off their retreat. The infantry, running with lightness techniques, were no easy opponents. Furthermore, Han Baek's cavalry of two thousand was charging from the rear.

The Hui cavalry was horrified.

"This is impossible…"

"How can this be…"

Eight thousand cavalry were completely surrounded in the center of the enemy's formation. Even in their confusion, the Wolf Fang Squad ran rampant through their ranks, while a relentless rain of arrows poured down from the front. They had to make a decision immediately.