219: The astronomical image of Huo Qubing, the bloody battle against the Western Rong!

Chapter 217: Heavenly Elephant Huo Qubing, Bloody Battle in Western Rong!

In over half a year, Li Chang'an's forces grew from 20,000 to 120,000.

This news quickly spread, making Northern Liang, Northern Mang, and the Li Yang Dynasty uneasy.

The Li Yang Dynasty repeatedly hinted to Xu Xiao to send troops to deal with Li Chang'an.

However, Xu Xiao couldn't reveal that his son was in Li Chang'an's hands, so he could only delay again and again.

[Consume 20,000 Mortal World points, exchange for 20,000 Great Tang Iron Cavalry!]

These Great Tang Iron Cavalry, like the Great Tang Gui Yi Army, were all Eighth-Rank Martial Warrior troops.

Although they couldn't compare to the Fourth-Rank Martial Warrior Xuanjia Army, Bai Er Soldiers, Modao Soldiers, or White Horse Volunteers, they were still much stronger than the Bei Liang Cavalry.

After several months of training, the refugee army had now become 100,000 combat-ready soldiers.

Among the 100,000, half were cavalry and half infantry. Li Chang'an dispersed and fused 20,000 Great Tang Iron Cavalry into the 50,000 cavalry.

Among Li Chang'an's 120,000 troops, 35,000 elites were integrated with templates.

The combat power of such an army was already comparable to Northern Liang's 350,000 troops.

With the remaining 8,000 Mortal World points, Li Chang'an exchanged for another cavalry general.

[Consume 6,000 Mortal World points, exchange for the general Huo Qubing!]

Zhang Yichao led 10,000 Guiyi Army permanently stationed in Yumen, specifically to deter and erode the Fan People.

Although Wala was already in Li Chang'an's hands, Yalong and Shanshan still had some strength.

After spring, the Guiyi Army would be fully capable of first eliminating the Shanshan tribe.

Gu Dazu was the infantry commander, leading the Bai Er Soldiers, Modao Soldiers, and 50,000 Green Cang infantry.

Li Chang'an planned for the Xuanjia Army and 25,000 Great Tang Iron Cavalry to be led by Li Cunxiao.

Because Li Cunxiao was a fierce general, most suitable for donning armor, charging, and smashing through everything.

As for the White Horse Volunteers and the other 25,000 Great Tang Iron Cavalry, Li Chang'an entrusted them to Huo Qubing.

Because Huo Qubing was most skilled at long-distance raids and was best suited to lead light cavalry.

Name: Huo Qubing

Age: 21 years old

Realm: First-rank Martial Artist (Celestial Phenomenon Realm Early Stage)

Talents: Command (First-Rank), Military Strategy (First-Rank), Martial Dao (Second-Rank)

Abilities: Command (First-Rank), Military Strategy (First-Rank)

Affection: 100 (Die-hard loyalty)

What is a Genius? This is a Genius!

After Huo Qubing took his post, Li Chang'an immediately arranged for them to train their troops, preparing for a bloody battle against the Western Rong after spring.

However, just after winter passed, before Li Chang'an made a move, the Western Rong tribes began to stir.

In Li Chang'an's princely mansion hall, Zhao Dingxiu's face was flushed with anger.

"Your Highness, this old subject had just restored a glimmer of vitality to Green Cang, only for it to be destroyed by the Western Rong!"

"Those Western Rong people come and go like the wind, perhaps driven by extreme hunger from the snow disaster. This time, they directly plundered five counties in Green Cang!"

Zhuge Liang also said, "Three counties in Kuitun Commandery were also plundered by Western Rong tribes, though they might not be the same group of people."

"These Western Rong barbarians were driven to the west by Northern Mang and are extremely savage, treating the common people as livestock."

Sha Province did not have a Great Wall to defend against foreign tribes, and Li Chang'an's armies were all near Jinchang Commandery, so the county garrisons were not numerous.

When Huang Boren was in office, he always turned a blind eye to these matters.

As long as the upper-class aristocratic families and officials were not in mortal danger, the lives of ordinary people were never within their consideration.

This was also why Yuan Benxi dared to banish Li Chang'an to Sha Province, because the hooves of foreign tribes could arrive at any moment.

And after so many years, they had grown accustomed to this way of life, raiding when hungry.

After raiding, they would let the area recover for a few years, and then raid again when it became prosperous.

Therefore, the 200,000 people of Green Cang had always been refugees, unable to change their situation.

This time, just as Li Chang'an planned to develop Green Cang, he was targeted by the Western Rong tribes.

Zhao Dingxiu, who was originally a Grand Academician in the central government of Western Chu, where there was no border with foreign tribes.

Now, he was so angry that tears were about to flow. "Your Highness, this old subject has failed Your Highness's trust!"

"The seeds and provisions that were just sent to those counties have all been stolen."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of Li Cunxiao and Huo Qubing were filled with murderous intent.

The reason why Han people could survive in Sha Province was because these areas had some conditions for cultivation.

But it had remained barren for so many years, all thanks to the Western Rong and Northern Mang.

The young Huo Qubing said fiercely, "Your Highness, this subordinate requests to fight!"

"We must not allow these barbarians to come and go as they please."

"This subordinate will only lead his 3,000 White Horse Volunteers, which is enough to slaughter through the Western Rong!"

Seeing the newly joined Huo Qubing so eager, Li Cunxiao also couldn't sit still.

Both were generals in the Celestial Phenomenon Realm Early Stage. Now, this pretty boy was even more boastful than him; how could he show weakness?

"Your Highness, this subordinate will only lead his Xuanjia Army and can also slaughter through the Western Rong!"

This was Li Chang'an's purpose in summoning Huo Qubing; with two fierce generals under his command, there would be both competition and motivation between them.

Li Chang'an turned his gaze to Zhuge Liang, "Military Advisor, what do you think?"

Zhuge Liang fanned his feather fan and slowly shook his head.

Li Cunxiao said anxiously, "Military Advisor, even if this subordinate only leads 3,000 men, is it still not enough?"

Huo Qubing was even more aggressive, "Military Advisor, this subordinate doesn't need provisions!"

Zhuge Liang couldn't help but smile, seeing the two vying so intensely.

"My meaning is, for the two generals to bring all their troops and ensure that the Western Rong are thoroughly intimidated."

"In the south of Sha Province, Old General Zhang deters the Fan People. In the north, General Gu defends against Northern Mang."

"With 10,000 elites of the Guiyi Army in the south, and over 50,000 infantry remaining in Sha Province, it is enough to cope with any offensive."

The 4,000 elite veteran soldiers of the Bai Er Soldiers and Modao Soldiers never left Li Chang'an's side.

In this way, Li Cunxiao and Huo Qubing could each lead their respective 28,000 men and charge into the Western Rong tribes.

Li Cunxiao and Huo Qubing listened, their blood boiling, each looking eagerly at Li Chang'an.

Li Chang'an said calmly, "The Military Advisor is a great philanthropist, but this king is not."

"The Western Rong treat the Han people as livestock, so we don't need to treat them as humans."

"Since they were the first to provoke this time, this king allows each of you to slaughter ten tribes!"

The two answered loudly, "This subordinate obeys the command!"

Li Cunxiao marched his troops to Kuitun, and his army directly pierced into the heartland of Western Rong. Huo Qubing marched his troops to Green Cang, with the White Horse Volunteers and Great Tang Iron Cavalry specifically passing through Green Cang Commandery City.

The purpose of doing this was to tell these newly settled refugees that the King of Tang was not just all talk.

Huo Qubing rode at the forefront, saying to the onlookers, "Fellow villagers!"

"His Highness the King of Tang keeps his word. Since he said he would give you a home, he will definitely do it!"

His Great Tang Iron Cavalry were originally refugees. Hearing these words, their blood surged.

After so many years, they finally had a home. How could they not fight desperately to kill the enemy and protect their homeland?

The common people were enraged, countless people discussing excitedly.

However, many people were also worried. After all, for several centuries, the Han people had not been able to establish a firm foothold in the Northwest.

Even the militarily distinguished Xu Xiao did not recover Sha Province, but instead used it as a buffer zone with the Western Rong, which shows how troublesome the Western Rong tribes were.

Western Rong Grasslands.

The so-called Western Rong, in fact, like Northern Mang before its rise, were all composed of various tribes.

But Northern Mang successfully broke away from the backward political organization method and established a formidable Northern Mang Empire.

They also drove some even more savage and backward tribes all to the west, which are the current Western Rong people.

Large and small Western Rong tribes all received news of Sha Province's troop deployment, but these people were not worried at all.

The Tuli tribe, this was the most savage tribe in Western Rong.

The tribal leader Tuli He said with a sneer, "Blind fools."

"We've been eating the two-legged sheep of Green Cang for so many years, and these people actually want to attack us."

He pulled a recently captured woman into his arms and pressed her beneath him in front of everyone.

A burst of laughter erupted in the tent, and the fierce-looking big men laughed uncontrollably.

Around each of these men, there was a captured woman serving them.

"I heard the King of Tang killed Huang Boren, so he thinks he can do it now, huh?"

"That good-for-nothing Huang Boren, if he hadn't offered us tribute every year, we would have long ago snatched his daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law!"

"Since this Li Chang'an is so ignorant, why don't we just invade Sha Province directly and slaughter him!"

"I heard that this King of Tang, Li Chang'an, has beauties like clouds around him, *slurp*!"

These big men uttered vulgarities, casually gnawing on the cooked meat in front of them.

The captured women all retched at the sight of the meat.

Seeing this scene, the big men of the Tuli tribe burst into laughter, and many even stuffed meat into the mouths of these women.

Tuli He shouted loudly, "Brave warriors!"

"This battle must be fought fiercely, to let Li Chang'an know the might of the grassland heroes!"

"After killing the Sha Province soldiers, I will lead you to slaughter the five commanderies of Sha Province!"

Tuli He's order quickly spread throughout the tribe, and the men of the Tuli tribe became excited.

There were many captured slaves in the tribe, some of whom had even been in the tribe for several years.

For so many years, no one had ever ventured deep into the grasslands. Could it really happen this time?

Ten days later, Huo Qubing had already reached the outskirts of the Tuli tribe.

The Brocade-Clad Guards who were scouting reported, "Reporting, General Huo, this place is a hundred li from the Tuli tribe!"

Huo Qubing frowned, then cursed.

"The grassland people actually dare to encamp so close. This Li Yang Dynasty is too cowardly, isn't it?"

Huo Qubing had thought it would take months of raiding to find a Western Rong tribe.

But he really didn't expect to find one so easily.

His eyes were filled with excitement. Finding grassland people so easily, this world was truly too interesting.

"Pass down the order, this general will lead the White Horse Volunteers in a frontal charge!"

"The others will flank from both sides. Of the 30,000 people in the Tuli tribe, except for the captured slaves, not a single one shall be left alive!"

Speed is paramount in war; Huo Qubing was most skilled at raiding battles.

He knew that although the Tuli tribe was backward, they were by no means fools and wouldn't just wait to be slaughtered.

What he had to do was to enter the tribe at the fastest possible speed, before the other side could react!

The next morning, Huo Qubing received a report from the scouts, "Still ten li from the Tuli tribe!"

Huo Qubing raised his long spear and roared at the iron cavalry behind him, "Increase speed! Charge!"

"Kill!"

Tuli tribe. The sun had just risen, and the previous night's bonfire still emitted wisps of white smoke.

The grassland strongmen were still asleep, and the patrolling soldiers never expected anyone to come.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Just then, a dull yet resounding sound of hooves suddenly rose, and the earth itself trembled!

On the distant horizon, a white line gradually appeared, approaching dozens of zhang in the blink of an eye!

On both sides of the white line were endless black iron cavalry!

Cavalry!

The White Horse Volunteers, with their white horses and silver spears, had already unleashed a sky full of arrows!

After several rounds of arrows, they drew out their long spears, becoming light cavalry charging to kill the foreign tribes!

The black iron cavalry split into two directions, charging towards the tribe from different angles!

"Swish swish swish!"

Several rounds of arrows landed successively in the tribe, and screams rang out.

"Puff!"

Huo Qubing, charging at the very front, ripped off a large tent with one spear, piercing through the chests of several strongmen!

Kill!

The 3,000 White Horse Volunteers successfully charged into the tribe, their silver spears piercing through the chests of the Tuli strongmen.

The Tuli strongmen, who had been so confident just a few days ago, now became lambs to the slaughter.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"It's the Sha Province cavalry!"

The Tuli people awoke from their dreams, frantically searching for weapons.

These people barely managed to form a strong resistance, but they were instantly breached by the White Horse Volunteers.

A strongman of the Vajra Realm, holding an iron hammer, roared, "Child of Huangzhou..."

As soon as he spoke, Huo Qubing's long spear, like a Dragon, instantly pierced his throat.

The strongman fell from his horse, trampled by countless steeds, becoming a puddle of mud.

"Capture Tuli He alive!"

Soon, the flanking iron cavalry also arrived, and the entire Tuli tribe became a large slaughterhouse.

Heads rolled, and nearly 3,000 iron cavalry were already in a killing frenzy.

The captured slaves trembled with excitement.

"His Highness the King of Tang's army has arrived!"

"The Prince has come to save us!"

The slaughter gradually ceased around noon.

Tuli He was tied up, staring blankly at the corpses of his tribesmen scattered everywhere.

"Spare me, please spare me..."

Huo Qubing said coldly, "Keep an eye on him. We'll send him to Jinchang to be slowly tortured to death along with the other tribal leaders."

In this battle, tens of thousands of people from the Tuli tribe were massacred, over ten thousand cattle and sheep were captured, and all the items stolen by the Tuli tribe were returned to their original owners.

Huo Qubing said to the hundreds of enslaved and abducted women, "Go home!"

"With His Highness the King of Tang from now on, no one will ever bully you again!"

Upon hearing the word "home," these people burst into tears, filled with gratitude.

Then Huo Qubing said to the person beside him, "Send 2,000 iron cavalry to escort the common people and spoils of war home."

"The rest, rest in place and prepare to attack the next tribe."

A month later, Li Cunxiao's side had also penetrated hundreds of li deep into the grasslands.

Baye tribe.

"Xuanjia Army charge!"

"You wouldn't want to be slower than the White Horse Volunteers, would you!"

Li Cunxiao had already slaughtered nine tribes, and the current Baye tribe was the tenth.

The entire grassland was already terrified, knowing that two iron cavalry forces were rampaging through the grasslands.

Although they were prepared, everyone was still in danger.

The Xuanjia Army was like a black torrent; the once powerful grassland iron cavalry were as fragile as tofu before them.

"Kill!"

"Leave no one!"

The grassland people were scared out of their wits, kneeling and begging for mercy.

"Spare us, we are willing to return the people and provisions we stole!"

"We will never dare again!"

"We are willing to surrender!"