“What’s done is done. No use dwelling on it,” Jin Feng said calmly, issuing orders. “Sound the drums. Form the phalanx at top speed and take out those captives in the rear camp!”
“General, it’s too late,” Xu Xiao said. “They’ve seized the weapons depot. The shields and bamboo are there.”
As he spoke, flames erupted in the rear camp, accompanied by crackling sounds. Bamboo was flammable, and the fire grew, illuminating half the night sky.
“Are there any elsewhere?” Jin Feng asked, his expression grim.
“There’s one set at Clearwater Valley,” Xu Xiao replied.
It was early morning. The Iron Forest Army had only a few squads monitoring the heights near Clearwater Valley, with the rest resting. However, a rapid-response unit was stationed at the valley’s entrance, ready to form a phalanx if the Dangxiang attacked.
“Should we call them back?” Xu Xiao asked.
Jin Feng considered, then decided, “Recall them immediately to deal with the captives in the rear camp. But have the scouts watch the north. If there’s movement from the Dangxiang main camp, report back at once.”
“Yes, sir!” Xu Xiao ran off.
In the rear camp, the Dangxiang captives and Iron Forest Army were already clashing. The Iron Forest Army’s discipline and combat awareness far surpassed the Dening Army’s. Though outmatched by cavalry and caught off guard, no Iron Forest soldier fled. They instinctively grouped, fighting while retreating.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, Dangxiang scouts spotted the fire in the Iron Forest camp and raced back to their main camp. Li Jikui and his officers waited in the main tent. Hearing the scouts’ report of the fire, they knew their strategist’s plan had succeeded: spies among the Han slaves had freed the captive cavalry.
“Brothers, our last battle was the greatest shame of our lives. Only the blood of the Iron Forest Army can wash it away,” Li Jikui declared, slamming the table and standing. “Brothers, wipe them out!”
“Destroy the Iron Forest Army!” the Dangxiang officers echoed, rising.
“When passing through the valley, don’t raise command flags or direct the fight, to avoid being targeted by their crossbows. Understood?” Li Jikui’s strategist warned.
“Got it,” the officers nodded. They had witnessed the power of Great Kang’s heavy crossbows and wanted no part of it. Still, they weren’t overly concerned. Heavy crossbows were complex to craft, and the Iron Forest Army likely had few. At night, what could a handful of crossbows do? A few deaths were just bad luck in war.
“When I take down the Iron Forest Army, I’ll tear those damn things apart on the hill,” Li Jikui cursed, leading the way out.
Outside, the Dangxiang cavalry was ready. As the officers took their places, the force moved out. At Clearwater Valley, infantry braved crossbow fire to fill the horse traps. Expecting a phalanx, they were surprised to find no Iron Forest soldiers even after the traps were filled.
“Haha, looks like the Iron Forest Army was called back. Luck’s on our side!” Li Jikui laughed, ordering his cavalry to charge into the valley.
In the Iron Forest camp, rear soldiers were being pushed back by the Dangxiang captives. Most of the camp was in enemy hands, and as the captives neared the main tent, Xu Xiao arrived with the rapid-response unit from Clearwater Valley. They swiftly formed a phalanx on open ground, blocking the captives. The hedgehog-like formation was formidable, halting the captives’ momentum and stabilising the situation.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, a scout galloped in. “General, the Dangxiang main force is attacking. They’re in Clearwater Valley!”
“Damn it, we just recalled our men, and they strike now,” Zhong Wu said, clasping his fists. “Sir, I’ll take men and fight these captives. Let Xu Xiao take the phalanx to defend the valley.”
“Too late,” Jin Feng shook his head.
“Then what do we do?” Zhong Wu asked urgently.
“With only one phalanx, we’re caught between two fronts. There’s only one path left,” Jin Feng said, glancing at the hill to the left of Clearwater Valley. “Xu Xiao, follow the plan. I’ll cover you.”
“Yes, sir!” Xu Xiao nodded firmly and ran off.
Jin Feng’s Iron Forest soldiers dwindled, leaving only the phalanx, which held off the captives while moving toward the hill. The sound of hooves from Clearwater Valley grew closer as the phalanx reached the hill’s base. As the Dangxiang cavalry closed in to encircle them, Jin Feng gave the order. The soldiers dropped their bamboo poles and fled into the hill’s woods and cliffs, impassable to horses.
Fearing a trap, the Dangxiang captives stopped at the hill’s base. Li Jikui arrived, spotting their commander, Zhuoba, and gave him a bear hug. “Zhuoba, you’re alive! Thank goodness.”
Where there are people, there are politics. The Great Kang court had its struggles, and so did the Dangxiang. Zhuoba was one of Li Jikui’s most capable officers. In the last battle, the first of this year’s southern campaign, Li Jikui had wanted Zhuoba to lead, but the Yeli family pulled strings with the Dangxiang War Ministry, and Yeli Xiong took command. Yeli Xiong was killed by the Iron Forest Army’s crossbows, but Zhuoba survived.
“Commander, I’ve failed you and shamed our cavalry,” Zhuoba said, kneeling with his head bowed. “Take my head.”
“The last defeat wasn’t your fault. No one could’ve prevailed in that situation,” Li Jikui said, using his strategist’s advice to win loyalty, patting Zhuoba’s shoulder. “Besides, didn’t you overrun their camp? Victory is ours!”
“But their main force escaped into the hill. I feared a trap and didn’t pursue,” Zhuoba said, eyeing the hill regretfully.
“You did right. The Iron Forest Army is cunning as foxes, and it’s dark. Our cavalry isn’t suited for hills. No need to chase,” Li Jikui said. “I’ve surrounded the hill. They can’t escape! You’ve suffered these past days. Rest now, and we’ll deal with them at dawn.”
“Yes, sir!” Zhuoba, hungry and exhausted, didn’t argue and went to rest. He needed sleep for the tough fight ahead.
