181: First Battle

Early spring.

The roads had not yet thawed, so the Army marched quickly.

Spring was the best time for the Qin Army to advance.

Because the Xiongnu people's warhorses could only eat hay in winter, and the strong warhorses and livestock from autumn had thinned considerably after a winter of consumption. The Xiongnu people were also in a similar state, which was beneficial for the Qin Army's northward advance.

Secondly, in winter, the Xiongnu people mostly gathered together to pass the winter, which was conducive to the Qin Army forming an encirclement!

And once the Xiongnu people settled down and gathered together, facing the vast, snow-covered grassland in winter, they would mostly choose to engage in recreational activities within their Encampments.

Of course, this was also the wisdom of the Xiongnu people over a long period.

Because only in winter, after Xiongnu people men, through diligent labor, impregnated women, and after ten months of pregnancy, could children be born in autumn, when the Xiongnu people's food supply was most abundant.

Only in this way could infants in swaddling clothes grow strong and survive the cold winter.

At this moment, with the Qin Army launching an attack, the Xiongnu people, with their low combat power and gathered together, could only flee frantically, and pregnant women would frequently miscarry during the long and arduous escape.

This also helped to weaken the Xiongnu people's population.

Although somewhat cruel, the war between the two tribes was precisely this brutal.

Lin Yue was currently leading the White Horse Camp, galloping across the grasslands.

Their one hundred thousand White Horse Righteous Cavalry were now serving as the vanguard of the right flank, clearing obstacles for the Army's advance.

And in front of Lin Yue and his men, two teams of skirmishers met, with both sides continuously riding their warhorses and shooting at each other, suffering casualties.

"These are Xiongnu Scouts. Among the Xiongnu people, only cavalry with superb horsemanship and excellent martial arts would be chosen as Scouts.

They engage in life-and-death combat before the Army meets, solely to ascertain the enemy's movements and allow the Army to seize the initiative!" Li Mu said, a hint of recollection in his eyes.

"Have you been a Scout?" Lin Yue asked.

"Yes." Li Mu nodded and said, "I served as a Scout for three months, killing twenty-seven Xiongnu Scouts in total, before being transferred to General General Meng Tian's personal guard."

"How many Xiongnu Scouts do our Scouts have to kill before they can be transferred elsewhere?" Lin Yue asked, looking at the Scouts in front of him who were constantly engaging in back-and-forth combat.

"Kill ten Xiongnu Scouts, or reach the Half-step Military General realm.

Of course, it also depends on individual choice," Li Mu said:

"This is the fastest way for them to improve their realm and merits, and it is also an unspoken method of training troops between the two nations."

Lin Yue nodded. It was only after the White Horse Righteous Cavalry, at the cost of three injured and one dead, had killed all ten Xiongnu Scouts, that Lin Yue sighed:

"Let's go."

This was the fastest and most effective way to train troops; only through life-and-death combat could one transform.

This kind of training occurred every day, every year, along the Shang Commandery border.

"My Lord, thirty li ahead, there's a Xiongnu people tribe, numbering about one hundred thousand!" Xing Daorong rode back and reported.

"Depart."

Lin Yue led the White Horse Camp to advance!

On the way, they encountered many Xiongnu people herders. They were taking advantage of the clear spring day and good weather to graze their cattle and sheep, but unexpectedly, they ran into the Qin Army.

They all showed expressions of horror, but before they could even escape, they were shot dead by an arrow!

The White Horse Camp charged all the way, straight to the Xiongnu people Encampment!

"Shoot!"

A sky-filling rain of arrows fell instantly!

Some Xiongnu people still hadn't understood what was happening before they were pierced through the throat by arrows and died on the spot!

"Kill!"

Lin Yue charged at the forefront!

Although he had sparred with Zi Long every day during the long winter, he also desperately needed to vent!

At this moment, he felt his adrenaline surging, and every cell in his body was cheering with excitement!

Lin Yue's Miao Blade sliced through, and blood splattered!

The Xiongnu Soldiers who were lucky enough to escape were also taken down by the White Horse Righteous Cavalry behind Lin Yue.

These Xiongnu people, weakened by a winter of attrition, now faced the White Horse Camp with no power to resist!

In an instant, panic, fear, and death filled the entire Xiongnu people Encampment!

But some also organized Xiongnu Soldiers to resist. A Xiongnu General gathered cavalry and charged towards Lin Yue and his men!

"Charge!" a Xiongnu General shouted!

Lin Yue's eyes narrowed. This was a High-level Military General, equal in strength to him, perfect for honing himself!

Lin Yue made a gesture, and the White Horse Righteous Cavalry behind him spread out to the left and right, attacking elsewhere, leaving him a space for a one-on-one duel!

Only Zhao Yun remained behind Lin Yue, silently observing their exchange and protecting Lin Yue's safety.

Lin Yue watched the approaching enemy General, gripping his Miao Blade with one hand. Just as the General was about to enter his attack range, he swung his blade with force!

The edge of the Miao Blade went straight for the enemy General's face!

The Xiongnu Military General's eyes were bloodshot. Seeing the cold glint, he ducked his body downwards and dodged it.

But he held his scimitar and immediately returned a blow to Lin Yue!

Lin Yue parried with his blade, and the two blades met with a crisp clang.

Then the two warhorses crossed paths, and both men simultaneously turned their horses to face each other.

The Xiongnu Military General saw that the cavalry behind him had been separated by the Qin Army, and only the Military General opposite him was engaging him. He then said to Lin Yue, "You're using me to hone yourself?"

"Yes!

It seems you're not that impressive after all." Lin Yue said with a laugh, speaking fluent Xiongnu people.

"Hmph, then let's try it and see who will fall under the blade!" The Xiongnu Military General was furious. He knew all too well that his tribe would likely not escape this calamity!

Since that was the case, he might as well take a Qin Army General down with him!

Then the two spurred their horses and fought again. They went back and forth, neither giving way, and after more than ten rounds, no victor could be determined!

But the Xiongnu Military General, watching the shouts of battle gradually subside and the surroundings grow quieter, his eyes bloodshot, roared, "Damn Qin People, go to hell!"

Lin Yue sneered and charged forward!

Halfway there, Lin Yue suddenly leaped up, drawing an arc in the air!

The Xiongnu Military General narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Lin Yue in mid-air. He couldn't make out his figure, only a blurry black silhouette, because Lin Yue was hidden in the dazzling sunlight behind him!

With the great sun at his back, he was like a deity!

Gradually approaching him!

The next moment, he planted his feet on the saddle, and his warhorse immediately stumbled, but he leaped high, colliding with Lin Yue!

However, the height he leaped was ultimately a section shorter than Lin Yue's. Before he could continue to ascend, Lin Yue's long blade was already before him!

Lin Yue, carrying the momentum of his descent, slashed down at the Xiongnu Military General with one strike!

"Clang!"

The Heavenly Grade Miao Blade split the Xiongnu Military General's scimitar in two!

This was not the end; the next moment, the Miao Blade was before him!

"Bang!"

Lin Yue landed on the ground, propped by his Miao Blade. Immediately after, the enemy General fell behind him, a vertical blade mark on his face slowly seeping blood, his eyes wide, staring at the sky, a terrifying bloody sight!

[Congratulations, Player, for slaying a Xiongnu people High-level Military General! Awarding 10,000 Merit Points!]

[Player's Merit Points are 13,140!]