123: Be on high alert

After She Jian put down the communication token, he looked at the Army with a solemn expression and ordered the Army to be on alert.

She Jian's expedition this time changed his usual style of combat. The entire Army was always in a state of alert, with Soldiers not disarming and horses not unsaddling, even at night.

The main reason was that his Army was primarily infantry, with only 60,000 cavalry, so his marching speed was not fast, but it was stable.

Lin Yue's White Horse Righteous Cavalry were responsible for reconnaissance ahead, with 30,000 cavalry covering the flanks. They moved in units, each unit echoing and watching out for the others, and their encampments were meticulously arranged.

During the day's march, the entire Army moved together, linking the whole Army, and so far, no mistakes had occurred.

However, these 300,000 Xiongnu people cavalry also brought him considerable pressure.

Since ancient times, cavalry has had a natural advantage over infantry, especially on the grasslands. Without terrain restrictions, once the Xiongnu people's warhorses picked up speed, the resulting impact was far beyond what infantry could withstand.

"All Army, be on alert! Shield-bearers in front, spearmen in the middle, archers and crossbowmen in the rear!" She Jian commanded.

The Central Army waved its banner, and soon the 300,000-strong Army responded, beginning to move... "General, the Xiongnu people cavalry are still twenty li away from us!" a scout reported!

"Understood, follow me!" Lin Yue shouted.

She Jian's Army was right in front of him. He quickly glanced at it and knew it was a circular formation. He then spurred his horse, accelerating his advance.

Seeing the White Horse Righteous Cavalry approaching, some Soldiers put away their shields and retreated to the side, leaving a path wide enough for five horses to pass abreast for the White Horse Righteous Cavalry.

"Advance!" Lin Yue gestured, and the White Horse Righteous Cavalry filed into the Army.

Lin Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief. 30,000 White Horse Righteous Cavalry against 300,000 Xiongnu people cavalry? He wasn't a genius like Huo Qubing. If he insisted on charging, in just one encounter, the 30,000 White Horse Righteous Cavalry would suffer heavy losses. He wouldn't do a losing business.

Now, he could only rely on She Jian!

It wasn't until the last White Horse Volunteer entered the Army formation that Lin Yue followed behind Zhao Yun.

The circular formation was clearly layered, and the Soldiers were all full of fighting spirit. Lin Yue came all the way to the center of the Army and found that the circular formation was tight on the outside and loose on the inside. Here, the White Horse Righteous Cavalry were on the left, 30,000 cavalry on the right, and in the middle, there were 30,000 elite infantry, presumably She Jian's Guard Battalion.

"Reporting to the General, all White Horse Righteous Cavalry have returned to camp!" Lin Yue dismounted and bowed to She Jian.

"Hmm!" She Jian nodded.

Lin Yue then returned to his unit. During this time, scouts continuously reported to She Jian, but She Jian said nothing.

It wasn't until a large banner was raised in front that She Jian picked up his long halberd and walked to the front: "They're here! Lin Yue, follow me!"

"Understood!" Lin Yue spurred his warhorse to catch up with She Jian.

The two arrived at the front, only to see countless Xiongnu people cavalry covering the grassland, exerting immense pressure.

The Xiongnu people cavalry stirred restlessly until a Xiongnu people banner slowly approached, stopping in the distance to gaze at the Qin Army.

"Prince Wuluoli, I see that this Qin Army has a strong killing aura. It looks difficult to deal with. Perhaps we should look for another opportunity," a Xiongnu General said.

"Are you perhaps afraid? There's no place for cowards on the grassland, and cowards don't end well," the Xiongnu people youth said.

He was the youngest son of the Xiongnu people Chanyu, and his mother was the Chanyu's favorite Consort, so he was naturally pampered. This time, the eight kings' southward raid was led by him.

He disdained the 300,000 Qin Army in front of him. On the grassland, these infantry posed no threat to him. He was eager to prove himself!

"Give the order. Let your subordinates attack!" Wuluoli said coldly.

"Yes!" The Xiongnu General knew he had misspoken, but he dared not defy Wuluoli's words. Helpless, he could only ride his horse to attack.

"Little wolf cubs, the prey is ahead, follow me!" The Xiongnu General shouted and then led approximately 50,000 Xiongnu people cavalry to circle She Jian's Army from a distance, looking for a weak point in the Qin Army to attack!

He had dealt with the Qin Army for many years and understood that only a dispersed Qin Army was a lamb; a structured Qin Army would become a fierce wolf!

"Attack quickly!" Wuluoli sent someone to shout, believing the General's actions challenged his authority!

"Alas," the Xiongnu General sighed, regretting his unintentional defiance of Wuluoli. But he had no choice now and could only shout, "Wolf cubs, charge with me!"

He knew that after this charge, he would have a slim chance of survival. Even if he miraculously survived, Wuluoli would not spare him. He only pitied the children behind him; they had come on this southern raid to temper their will, and now, before becoming true warriors, most of them would be killed or wounded!

This filled him with immense grief!

"Charge!" he shouted loudly.

"Crossbowmen, prepare!" She Jian shouted. As the Xiongnu people slowly approached and entered effective firing range, She Jian shouted again, "Fire!"

In an instant, a rain of Qin Army arrows covered the vast sky above them, as dense as a torrential downpour, and instantly fell upon them!

"Dodge!" the General shouted, instinctively pressing his body against his horse's belly!

Although he was a High-level Military General, he dared not directly confront the arrow rain. He only hoped his warhorse could dodge the arrows!

But the people behind him were not so lucky. Some couldn't dodge in time and were directly pierced by arrows. Some dodged to their horse's belly, but their horses were hit by arrows and they were crushed underneath!

The Xiongnu General looked at the 50,000 Xiongnu people cavalry behind him. After one round of arrows, over 10,000 had been lost. He was heartbroken, but now was not the time for sorrow. Only by breaking through their formation could he save more of his tribesmen!

"Kill!" He flipped back onto his warhorse, raised his saber, and shouted!

He wanted to use the brief lull after this round of arrows to break through them!

One hundred paces, eighty paces, getting closer and closer to the Qin Army!

His expression was grim. Suddenly, a line of Soldiers stepped out from the Qin Army, aiming their Qin Crossbows at them!

If before it was an arrow rain like a curtain, now it was a furious storm. Although Qin Crossbows did not have the range of bows, their speed was far beyond what bows could compare to!

"Fire!"

At a command, the crossbow bolts reached them in the blink of an eye!

"Ah!" Countless screams and groans echoed in his ears. He resisted with all his might but was still hit by two arrows!

However, for a High-level Military General like him, it was not fatal!

But the sight of one line of crossbowmen retreating and another line advancing to aim their Qin Crossbows at them made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar!

"Fire!"

Another round of arrows struck. He was hit by more than ten crossbow bolts but still did not fall!

He could feel his movements slowly becoming sluggish, and his life force gradually dissipating.

He looked back and saw only 10,000 cavalry remaining behind him.

He sighed. Nearly 40,000 young tribesmen had died in battle. His tribe's strength would be greatly reduced next year, and their pastures would shrink. He didn't know how many years it would take to recover.

He tragically raised his long saber, preparing for the final charge!

"Charge!"