Iron Dynasty Chapter 1020

Within the dense mountain woods, Feng Dongjin peered intently using his binoculars.

Soon enough, he spotted a figure resembling a general right in the heart of the Cossack forces, issuing commands to reposition the troops. The men surrounding him obeyed without the tiniest hesitation, and what stood out most was how his uniform differed from the standard Tsarist Russian officer attire, showing his immense authority within the ranks.

Thus, he glanced over and instructed the regimental commander next to him, “Have your troops target the fellow with the gold stripes on his shoulder. Eliminate him.”

Feng Dongjin referred to Kasimov. Amid the turmoil, his soldiers shielded him at the core, letting him evade shots from either flank and steer clear of the melee at the front and rear.

With his security largely assured, he swiftly started rallying for a retaliation. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect the once-unbeatable Cossack forces to get trapped in an ambush like this, getting pummeled with no chance to strike back.

As he barked directives in a frenzy, a burst of shots rang out abruptly, causing his nearby soldiers to cry out and collapse in piles.

Kasimov felt a chill of sweat trickle down his spine. Moments ago, he had been scheming an assault on the flanking forests, aiming to smash through Gubat’s barbarian cavalry.

This turn of events forced him to act without further pause. He bellowed, “Storm the forests, slaughter the Great Yu people within!”

Obeying his command, the trapped cavalry divided abruptly into two groups: one surged toward the eastern woods, the other toward the western ones. They barreled into the trees like frenzied beasts.

One hundred meters provided ample space for the horsemen to build speed. Wielding their sabers fiercely, the Cossack riders thundered into the woods at breakneck pace.

Feng Dongjin’s spirits dropped. He had slightly misjudged the savage intensity of these Cossack horsemen. Luckily, their position in the woods offered cover. An open-field assault would have inflicted devastating losses.

At present, the thick trunks at least acted as barriers to halt the mounted onslaught.

“Ula!”

Upon plunging into the woods, the Cossack riders yelled together, slashing wildly with their blades.

Spotting the advance, the imperial troops swiftly evaded. As fellow riders themselves, they fully grasped the deadly impact of a charging steed.

Yet the Cossack onslaught arrived with blinding speed, and certain imperial soldiers couldn’t react in time, getting struck by thundering hooves or sliced by flashing sabers.

During this short clash, the rifle-mounted cavalry started taking losses.

“Kill them!” Feng Dongjin yanked the pistol from his belt and shot at an oncoming Cossack rider.

The struck rider wailed and tumbled off his mount, tumbling across the earth before going still.

Simultaneously, the trees impeded the Cossack charge’s force, forcing the horses to halt short of collision.

Deprived of their momentum, the riders lost their edge. The imperial forces methodically reloaded and shot, toppling Cossack horsemen from their saddles one by one.

Still, the Cossack riders displayed wild bravery. Several leaped down, pulling out compact guns for firefights or lunging with sabers into brutal close combat against the imperials.

Suddenly, the whole woodland resounded with “Ula” cries and roars of warfare.

As brutal combat erupted in the forests, Kasimov urgently directed his men to press a full assault on Gubat’s troops, striving to force a breach.

The reason lay in the Great Yu Empire’s cavalry sealing their escape—they proved far deadlier. These disciplined riders now savagely cut down his forces. If mired too long, escape would prove impossible.

“Advance!” Kasimov yelled once more, amid a barrage of explosive booms. He whipped his head toward the noise, witnessing a swarm of dark, rod-shaped items hurtling straight at him.

In that instant, Kasimov’s pulse nearly halted, for the packed grenades offered no escape path, and their rapid fall rendered dodging futile.

In his final moments, Kasimov watched his form lift skyward, his comrades soaring alongside. Blood sprayed in a crimson downpour, drenching the earth.

Witnessing the Tsarist Russian general’s demise, Feng Dongjin let out a deep breath of relief. Though the Cossack rush had disrupted their lines, he had kept his focus on that key Tsarist Russian leader.

Capturing the head first, he guided a thousand men through waves of Cossack opposition and ultimately dispatched him via a hail of grenades.

With the Tsarist Russian leader gone, Feng Dongjin kept scanning the field. True to form, the general’s fall amplified the Cossack disarray.

Even with remaining Tsarist Russian officers managing their squads, overall coordination had vanished.

Grasping the moment, Feng Dongjin called out loudly, “Your commander is dead, surrender quickly!”

Catching Feng Dongjin’s yell, the rifle cavalry echoed it, chanting, “Your commander is dead, surrender quickly…”

“The commander is dead, surrender quickly.” Increasing numbers joined in, their calls reverberating across the valley.

From the valley’s southern edge, Qi Guangyi surveyed the full scene from an elevated spot. The shouts reached him, drawing a faint smile.

Back at the military academy, picking up basic phrases from foreign tongues formed part of the required curriculum, particularly calls like “surrender immediately,” “disarm and live,” and “your commander is dead.”

Such expressions covered numerous nations, Tsarist Russia among them. Within the forces, troops received orders to memorize them, preparing for battlefield cries.

“Full attack!”

The resounding echoes in the valley signaled the Tsarist Russian leader’s end, ensuring the commandless Tsarist Russian horsemen would plunge into turmoil.

As anticipated, some Cossack riders discarded arms and ceased resistance, while the defiant ones couldn’t hold against the rifle cavalry and Gubat’s onslaught. Quickly, the valley fight tilted decisively.

The intense clash dragged on from morning ten until afternoon two. Finally, the battlefield’s gunfire faded to silence.

This fight spanned four hours. The bulk of the Cossacks met destruction, with merely a handful opting to yield.

Guiding his steed to the battlefield’s midst, Qi Guangyi spotted Gubat approaching. Gubat then stepped down, gripping a curved blade, his frame marked by fresh gore.

Looming above Kasimov’s remains, Gubat lifted his scimitar and severed the head, thrusting it aloft. With venom, he declared, “It’s a pity I couldn’t kill this villain with my own hands!”

Qi Guangyi shifted his view westward. Calmly, he replied, “But you still have a chance to kill Dolgor.”

Gubat’s gaze sparked. He responded, “That’s right, there’s still Dolgor. General Qi, Dolgor must be waiting for Kasimov to return now.”

“That’s right. So we’re going to launch a surprise attack when it’s dusk and faces are indistinct. Now, let’s change into Cossack cavalry uniforms and give him an extra meal for dinner.”