Chapter 64 – Battle of Mount Taibai Canyon (2)

Chapter 64 – Battle of Mount Taibai Canyon (2)

The Wolf Fang Squad, numbering a mere hundred, was holding out against an army of thirty thousand. Had it not been for the narrow canyon, such a feat would have been utterly impossible.

The squad members focused their internal energy into the shields in their left hands, continuing their struggle against the enemy. Since enemy weapons kept thrusting past the shields, their right hands had to move just as busily.

Thud! Crash!

The weapons continuously clashed against the shield wall. The squad members encouraged one another, shouting:

“Do not back down!”

“Hold your ground at all costs!”

The archers at the rear had stopped providing cover fire for some time. When So-mu glanced back, he saw that they had already formed ranks and were retreating along both sides of the canyon. General Jang-yang stood alone, silently clutching the command banner.

This meant that the Wolf Fang Squad was the only unit left in the passage.

There was no telling how long they could hold out in this state. If the members' internal energy ran dry, it would be the end.

Standing at the center of the squad, So-mu roared with all his might:

“Heavy Strike!”

The moment his voice echoed through the canyon, the squad members swung their shields in unison. The shields gripped in their left hands swept to the left, brutally bashing the oncoming enemy soldiers.

Crash! Crash!

Hundreds of enemy soldiers stumbled back or fell under the shield bash. However, this left the chest areas of the squad members, previously shielded, completely exposed. Other enemy soldiers rushed to exploit this gap.

Just then, So-mu's voice rang out once again:

“Thrusting Sword!”

Imbued with sword qi, the tips of a hundred swords lunged forward in a straight line.

Squelch! Stab!

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

As the front-row enemies collapsed, So-mu thrust his shield forward and roared:

“Frontal Charge!”

It was a drill they had practiced countless times. The squad members focused their internal energy into their shields and legs, charging forward like a battering ram.

“Push them back!”

Crash! Crash!

Under the Wolf Fang Squad's ferocious momentum, the enemy soldiers filling the canyon recoiled. Many stumbled over the corpses of men and horses.

“Decisive Strike!”

Keeping their shields raised, the squad members lowered their stances in unison. A hundred blades pointed downward, mercilessly skewering the fallen enemies.

Squelch! Stab!

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Just then, the thunderous rumble of hooves echoed from the rear of the squad.

So-mu glanced back. He saw about three hundred Hanzhong cavalrymen charging furiously down the canyon. Leaning forward with their long lances leveled, they looked ready to obliterate everything in their path.

“Now!”

At So-mu's signal, the squad members scattered to the left and right. Leaping off the ground, they drove their swords into the canyon walls and held on, dangling like rock climbers.

The moment the Wolf Fang Squad cleared the path, the cavalry charged through.

Crash! Crash!

Caught completely off guard, the enemy infantry fell into absolute panic. It was a scene of utter carnage.

“Argh!”

“Ugh!”

Over five hundred enemy soldiers were either run over by the warhorses or skewered by the lances. As the horses lost momentum and the riders tried to turn back, the enemy soldiers seized the opportunity and lunged at them.

“Protect the cavalry!”

Leaping from the cliffside, So-mu landed at the rear of the cavalry. His figure blurred as he began to sweep through the approaching enemies like lightning. The squad members also did everything in their power to cover the cavalry's retreat.

Slash! Stab!

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Having managed to turn their mounts, the riders closely hugged the left wall of the canyon and retreated swiftly. Yet, the cavalry's onslaught was not over.

Another three hundred cavalrymen were already charging along the right wall. Faced with these alternating waves of cavalry charges, the Hui infantry fell into despair.

The cavalry charges were repeated five times in succession. Due to the Wolf Fang Squad's interference, the enemy could not mount a proper counterattack.

Soon, the enemy ranks wavered. An officer's irritated command echoed through the canyon:

“Fall back!”

The front-line soldiers withdrew as their pikemen stepped forward.

Spotting this, Jang-yang waved his command flag again. The Hanzhong cavalry retreated, and the swordsmen emerged from the rear. Led by Commander Wi Jin-cheol, thousands of swordsmen rushed down the canyon.

“Sweep them all away!”

“We are the Hanzhong swordsmen!”

Their morale was sky-high.

So-mu's gaze was fixed on Jang-yang's command flag, as the retreat order had been given to the Wolf Fang Squad as well.

“Carry the wounded and fall back!”

The wounded consisted of only a few dozen cavalrymen. Carrying the wounded on their shoulders, the squad members retreated to swap places with the swordsmen.

General Jang-yang and So-mu exchanged looks.

“The Wolf Fang Squad will meditate in the rear to recover your energy.”

“I am fine, but I will let my men rest.”

There was no time for a long conversation, so Jang-yang simply nodded. The squad members continued to the rear where the medical camp was located.

So-mu turned his head back to the front. The Hanzhong swordsmen and the Hui pikemen clashed, initiating a fierce melee. The soldiers filling the canyon fought desperately, refusing to yield an inch.

Soon, So-mu's gaze locked onto the commander leading the enemy pikemen. The man's martial arts were formidable; he was cutting down two or three Hanzhong soldiers in a single breath. So-mu could not stand by and watch.

So-mu gripped his sword tightly.

*Thud!*

In that instant, his figure blurred. Running like a flash of lightning, he leaped onto the shoulders of the soldiers and sprinted along the canyon wall. The moment he reached the center of the battlefield, he kicked off the wall again. Swooping down like a hawk, he landed squarely in the middle of the enemy ranks, not far from the enemy commander.

The moment So-mu's feet touched the ground, an invisible current of qi erupted from his entire body. It was the Counter-Shock Qi, a technique that projects internal energy outward to repel and kill surrounding foes.

*Boom!*

The surrounding enemies stumbled back in agony.

“Ah!”

“Ugh!”

In the blink of an eye, a small clearing opened up in the middle of the enemy ranks. Only the enemy commander, who had managed to withstand the Counter-Shock Qi, stood there dazed.

His gaze locked with So-mu's. A moment later, their figures clashed as the duel between the two commanders began.

* * *

Mayang Village became the temporary base of the volunteer army. The residents had all evacuated, and volunteers were stationed throughout the village.

Before long, their numbers exceeded five hundred, as martial artists from all over continued to join after hearing the rumors. Wooden barricades and makeshift watchtowers now stood along the village paths. Although it could not compare to a regular army, the volunteer force's strength was growing exponentially.

Two volunteers stood guard in front of the largest and cleanest house in the village. Commander Mu-hyeon approached them and asked, “Is the general awake?”

“She is still fast asleep.”

Mu-hyeon glanced up at the sky. The sun was already high in the heavens.

“Well… considering the number of enemies she incapacitated yesterday, it's only natural she's exhausted. I have something to discuss, so I will wake her.”

“Yes, Commander.”

As the guards stepped aside, Mu-hyeon knocked and said, “General, it is Mu-hyeon.”

There was no answer. Pressing his ear to the door, he heard soft snoring. She was indeed very tired. Mu-hyeon gently opened the door and saw General So-so sprawled out on the floor.

“General!”

Sensing his presence, So-so's eyes snapped open.

“Huh?”

“Could you come to the command post? We have something to discuss.”

“Yaaawn…”

Sitting up, So-so let out a long yawn and stretched her arms out.

“Carry me~”

Hesitating for a moment, Mu-hyeon stepped inside.

*Come to think of it, the general dislikes walking unnecessarily. I should prepare a dedicated human carriage for her soon.*

Mu-hyeon carefully picked So-so up in his arms.

He walked toward the volunteer army's command post, where the officers had already gathered.

“The general has arrived.”

Everyone stood up to greet her. Setting her down from Mu-hyeon's arms, So-so climbed onto an empty chair and sat down. Her legs were too short to reach the floor.

Seeing this, Song Gyeom said to a nearby volunteer, “Didn't I tell you to prepare a dedicated chair for the general?”

“Yes, I traded some captured weapons to a local hunter for a tiger pelt. It's being made right now, so it should be ready soon.”

“Understood.”

The command post was quite well-equipped, complete with various furniture and a tactical map. The only issue was that the officers had absolutely no experience in formulating military strategy. A great strategist is only born through continuous study and research, but Yang Heung, their advisor, had only picked up a few things here and there.

As everyone settled down, Yang Heung pointed at the map spread out on the table.

“Let us begin. Please look at the tactical map.”

It was a map of the Mount Taibai region, dotted with small flags based on the intelligence provided by the government forces. He pointed to a cluster of flags.

“This is the region where the battle is currently taking place. In terms of numbers, our government forces are at an overwhelming disadvantage.”

Song Gyeom studied the map and asked, “The government forces told us to lay low and wait, but shouldn't we help them?”

“The passage is too narrow. There is no room for us to join their ranks.”

“Then how about launching a surprise attack on the enemy's rear?”

Yang Heung pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “The enemy army is over a hundred thousand strong. If we launch a surprise attack with our numbers, we will be wiped out instantly.”

“Sigh… I guess we have no choice but to wait here and cheer for the government forces.”

Commander Mu-hyeon, who had been quietly watching, turned to So-so and asked, “General, what are your thoughts?”

So-so, still half-asleep, had her eyes half-closed. Just then, a blue stone on the map caught her eye. It was located far behind the cluster of flags.

“What's that?”

“That is the enemy's supply depot, constructed as an earthen fortress. Supplies from Chang'an are stockpiled there before being forwarded to the front-line army at regular intervals. Most of it is likely grain.”

So-so's eyes wavered at the mention of food. She hadn't eaten anything yet today and was extremely hungry.

“Food? Then shall we go take it and eat it?”

A brief silence fell over the room. The officers exchanged glances in silence.

A moment later, Yang Heung suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed in admiration.

“That is a brilliant strategy! Since their main army is engaged in battle, the rear supply base won't have many guards. Furthermore, if we hit their supplies, the entire enemy army will crumble. And you even thought of seizing it…”

Mu-hyeon and Song Gyeom turned their gazes back to So-so, their eyes filled with deep respect.

“As expected of the General.”

“How did you come up with such an idea…”

So-so gave a bashful smile, her deep dimples showing.

“Hehe. Let's go quickly.”

Song Gyeom turned his head sharply to the volunteer behind him. It was Sama Gang, who managed the administration of the volunteer army. He was from the Sama Clan of the Jianghu and was also Song Gyeom's junior.

“The General has ordered an immediate march. Assemble all volunteers at once!”