The Ansu and Yongan armies together numbered five thousand five hundred men. According to the plan, five thousand would depart from the north gate to draw the attention of the Dangxiang main force, while the remaining five hundred would leave from the south gate, taking a side path to head straight for Qingshui Mountain to attack the Dangxiang cavalry besieging it, creating an opening for the Tielin army to break out.
At dawn the next day, the Ansu and Yongan allied forces were fully assembled.
The five hundred men slipped out of the south gate quietly before daybreak.
The remaining five thousand waited an hour, then marched out boldly from the north gate.
Weizhou City had scouts, but so did the Dangxiang.
Less than half an hour after the Ansu and Yongan allied forces left the city, Li Jikui received the news.
“After fighting Dakang for so many years, they either flee at the sight of us or hole up in their cities. Now, finally, someone with some backbone has emerged,” Li Jikui laughed heartily. “It’s just as well we let those Han slaves go. Saves us the trouble of capturing more in the Central Plains.”
Most Han slaves captured from the Central Plains were old, weak, sick, or disabled, with many dying en route to Dangxiang. War captives, however, were strong and able-bodied, highly valued by Dangxiang nobles.
Dakang prisoners of war were one of the main sources of slaves for the Dangxiang.
“Dakang is no longer what it once was. Commander, you’d best not underestimate them,” the staff officer cautioned, then asked, “How many men did they send?”
“About five thousand, carrying the banners of the Ansu and Yongan armies,” the scout replied. “Also, before dawn, around five hundred men slipped out from the south gate.”
“Commander, three miles south of Weizhou City, there’s a fork in the road that leads to Qingshui Mountain. Those five hundred are likely planning a surprise attack on Qingshui Mountain,” the staff officer, well-versed in the terrain around Qingshui Valley and an experienced commander, immediately deduced the allied forces’ intentions.
After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Did the Dakang troops bring bamboo and shields?”
“The main force from the north gate brought them, dozens of carts full. But the five hundred from the south gate didn’t, they’re travelling light,” the scout replied.
“They’re definitely planning to use the phalanx against us!” the staff officer said. “Commander, forming a phalanx takes time. I suggest we strike immediately to catch them off guard.”
Li Jikui, wary of the Tielin army’s phalanx, thought for a moment, nodded, and shouted outside, “Pass the order, have Zhuo Ban assemble the First and Second Divisions at once.”
Being captured had left a thorn in Zhuo Ban’s heart. Yesterday, he had repeatedly requested to lead an attack on Qingshui Mountain, but Li Jikui had denied him each time.
Now, burning with frustration, he was thrilled at the prospect of battle, nearly jumping with excitement.
A Dangxiang cavalry division numbered two thousand men. The First and Second Divisions, part of the day’s rapid-response units, ate with their armour on and swords at their sides.
By the time Li Jikui donned his armour and reached the parade ground, the four thousand men of the First and Second Divisions were already mounted.
“General Zhuo Ban, you’ve seen the terror of the Tielin army’s phalanx. You must be cautious in this battle and aim for a swift victory, not giving them a chance to form their phalanx,” the staff officer ran over to remind him. “However, they’ve likely sent scouts ahead. If you can’t stop them in time, attack the phalanx’s flanks. I’ve observed that while the phalanx is highly lethal, it moves slowly, and its killing power is concentrated at the front. Last time, we suffered because Qingshui Valley’s terrain, with a cliff on one side and a river on the other, forced us to face the phalanx head-on. But this time, the terrain is open. If you can manoeuvre to their left, right, or rear, the phalanx will collapse on its own.”
“That makes sense!” Zhuo Ban’s eyes lit up. He dismounted and bowed to the staff officer. “Thank you for your guidance, sir.”
“Alright, move out,” the staff officer patted Zhuo Ban’s shoulder. “Wishing you a triumphant return, General!”
“Commander, sir, just wait and see,” Zhuo Ban mounted his horse and led the cavalry galloping away.
The staff officer was right; the Dangxiang cavalry’s movements were too large to go unnoticed by the Ansu army’s scouts.
But the Dangxiang had deployed only cavalry, moving at incredible speed.
Though an army’s overall speed couldn’t match a lone scout, it wasn’t far behind.
By the time the scout returned to report to the Ansu army, Zhuo Ban’s cavalry was already five miles away.
“How are they so fast?” Ding Yunfei, being a noble-born officer, was facing the Dangxiang cavalry head-on for the first time.
Despite his bold departure, when the Dangxiang cavalry actually charged, he panicked.
“Quick, form the grand formation! Have the auxiliary troops dig horse-trapping pits a hundred paces ahead,” Cheng Peng, older and more experienced in warfare, immediately ordered the drummers to signal a halt.
Having trained for some time, the troops, following Cheng Peng’s orders, quickly divided into small square formations.
Logistics soldiers pushed carts of shields and long bamboo poles, rushing to each phalanx.
Hundreds of auxiliary troops, carrying shovels and hoes, charged forward.
At a hundred paces out, they began digging frantically.
But the cavalry’s speed was simply too fast.
The auxiliary troops had barely started digging when the sound of thundering hooves reached them.
The dust kicked up by the charging Dangxiang cavalry was clearly visible.
Many auxiliary troops’ legs trembled, their hands shaking.
They knew full well what they would face when the cavalry arrived.
Auxiliary troops, often composed of poor farmers or criminals with no connections, handled the most gruelling tasks and were sent on high-risk missions like charging or storming cities.
Many had long accepted the likelihood of dying in battle.
But accepting death and not fearing it were two different things.
Fear of death is an instinct in all living beings, but worse than death itself is the moment when the sword hangs over your neck but hasn’t yet fallen.
The sound of hooves grew louder, like thunder pounding in the auxiliaries’ hearts.
Finally, one could bear it no longer, threw down his hoe, and ran.
He’d rather be cut down by the enforcement team than trampled into pulp by the Dangxiang cavalry.
But he wasn’t the only one afraid; all the auxiliaries were.
With someone taking the lead, the others quickly followed suit.
In just a dozen seconds, hundreds of auxiliaries dropped their tools and fled.
The enforcement team, only a dozen strong, couldn’t stop so many.
In the end, even the enforcement team turned and ran.
A few hundred metres behind them, the cavalry rounded the mountain’s base, coming into view of the Ansu and Yongan armies.
Fortunately, several phalanxes had already formed.
Ding Yunfei was too nervous to speak, so Cheng Peng took command, ordering the completed phalanxes to move to the front.
