Iron Dynasty Chapter 988

From atop the hill, Zak found it unbearable to witness his troops getting massacred by the soldiers of the Great Yu Empire.

At first, once the clash began, he had clung to some optimism about the fight, yet the fiery carnage unfolding beneath him left him utterly let down in the end.

During this short skirmish, his side's casualties mounted relentlessly. Factoring in the deaths from the initial assault, over half his forces had already perished.

Should they keep tangling like this, nothing would remain of his command by the arrival of reinforcements. Being a tribal banner leader, he simply couldn't stomach such devastating tolls.

“Ugh…”

After casting a fierce glare at the Great Yu Empire's cavalry down the slope, Zak commanded the sounding of the retreat horn.

“Taru, your brother will surely avenge you.” Tamu's eyes burned red with fury. Their defeat was total and crushing. All that remained for them was to rally the Golden Tent Khanate's horsemen and strike a deadly counter against the Great Yu Empire.

With the horn's call echoing, the barbarian riders on the hillside reined in their mounts and bolted away. Before long, nothing but the thick sprawl of fallen barbarian cavalry littered the ground below.

Qi Guangyi opted against pressing the chase, instead directing his men to fall back, fully aware that fresh waves of barbarian riders would soon descend, and a drawn-out grind would spell folly. Like a prowling wolf on the steppes, he aimed to seize openings and harass the barbarians relentlessly.

Beyond that, the clash had let him assess the rifle-mounted cavalry under his command. To his mind, barring a swarm of 50,000 barbarians encircling him outright, he could dash across the grasslands without restraint.

Yet right now, the barbarians lacked the spare manpower of 50,000 to counter him, since the three great tribes faced the real peril in this moment.

…

Raozhou.

The forces commanded by Niu Ben and Luo Quan now stood within a hundred miles of the Dzungar tribe. This grand host under their joint leadership unfurled across the plains, presenting a truly awe-inspiring spectacle.

Over recent days, enemy scouts from the barbarians had popped up sporadically nearby, while their own hunter riders stayed vigilant, ceaselessly scouting barbarian movements.

“Around 60,000 riders have assembled at the Dzungar tribe. Meanwhile, the three big tribes have united as one. Our hunter cavalry reports that plenty of the cannons Baishan crafted in his lifetime remain in their possession,” Niu Ben remarked, his brow furrowed deeply.

Luo Quan let out a cold scoff. “Those outdated cannons can't hold a candle to our Imperial Guard's artillery. The instant combat erupts, ours will blast theirs to pieces right away.”

“Indeed.” Niu Ben's gaze turned profound.

After a brief silence, he added, “The barbarians linger on because we've failed to raze their settlements. Merely cutting down their riders won't suffice; soon enough, new ones will rise from their clans. Thus, the northern frontier's woes will drag on forever. This campaign, you and I vow to wipe out the Golden Tent Khanate entirely, so mercy has no place here.”

Luo Quan's face grew solemn. He grasped Niu Ben's intent fully. In the Warring States era, Bai Qi had entombed 400,000 Zhao soldiers alive—not out of bloodlust, but to shatter Zhao's ability to wage war. The massive loss plunged Zhao into economic and martial ruin, leaving it unable to rival Qin.

With Niu Ben broaching the topic so gravely, Luo Quan quickly divined his plan.

After pondering briefly, he replied, “Two decades back, barbarians stormed Youzhou, claiming a million lives in horror. In the decade after, they struck Qingzhou repeatedly, slaying and maiming hundreds of thousands more. Beyond that, for years they've plundered our borders, slaughtering our folk without number. Just a few years ago, they ravaged Shu, butchering hundreds of thousands. Such debts of blood demand repayment in kind. True, it was their riders who slew our innocents, but wasn't every rider born to some barbarian parent? Their deaths are just. I scorn the soft-hearted prattle of those scholar-officials on mercy and virtue.”

“Hahaha…” Niu Ben burst into hearty laughter at these words. “Luo Quan, Luo Quan, the years haven't softened you one bit. You're exactly the sort I favor. Spot on, that's my very point. Vengeance's edge spares no innocents. This time, we'll throw everything into it and obliterate the Golden Tent Khanate for good.”

Luo Quan nodded firmly, balling his fist and clashing it mid-air against Niu Ben's.

Niu Ben went on, “Furthermore, we've both climbed to the pinnacle of officialdom. Tacking on this triumph would leave no higher honors to grant. Our emperor may be exceptional, but amassing excessive feats remains a courtly peril unbroken for millennia. Let's use this chance to hand the bureaucrats some handle against us, paving the way for a true exit from service.”

“Precisely. Lingering too long by the river soaks the feet eventually. We've served in the court far too many years; it's high time we stepped back.”

With those words exchanged, the pair shared a knowing grin before pressing onward. Two days on, their army reached the pastures of the Dzungar tribe.

To brace for the Great Yu Empire's onslaught, the Dzungar tribe had already excavated ditches and erected barricades for protection. Through the intervals in these barriers, ominous cannon barrels pointed toward the advancing Great Yu Empire troops.

“Fifty thousand horsemen and eighty thousand foot soldiers. The Great Yu Empire has truly committed substantial numbers this round.” Bahe observed the enemy host pitching camp, peering through his single-lens scope.

Wotai knitted his brows. “Why fear them? We've got 60,000 cavalry and 200,000 slave troops. When the backup riders join, we'll outnumber them threefold.”

Pang Duo scrutinized the Great Yu Empire's ranks. He'd always shared a close bond with Baishan, nearly mastering all of Baishan's tactics against the Great Yu Empire's forces in the process.

Baishan's passing still filled him with deep sorrow, for in his view, Baishan alone in the Golden Tent Khanate had truly grasped firearms and the arts of countering the Great Yu Empire's army.

Still, fortune had smiled on him somewhat. The Dzungar tribe had withdrawn from Guandong with minimal harm and hauled away hordes of slaves from there.

With the three major tribes now converged, their slave soldier count reached 200,000 in total.

And even excluding the slaves, the three tribes boasted over 400,000 souls beyond their riders. In wartime, each could serve as a fighter.

“Underestimate them at your peril. Have you forgotten Guandong's fall? This fight decides our fates and theirs alike; loss isn't an option for either side.” Pang Duo warned gravely.

He'd learned of the Azure Dragon Tribe's raid, but to safeguard army spirits, he withheld it from Bahe and Wotai.

Even with that setback, the Azure Dragon Tribe's survivors were en route to join them. Soon, their leftover cavalry would reinforce the position.

Bahe and Wotai shelved their cocky demeanors. They recognized Pang Duo's superior expertise in combat, particularly against the Great Yu Empire. The defenses now in place were his design.

“Rest easy, Pang Duo. Defeat isn't on the table. We won't act rashly,” both vowed together.

Pang Duo gave an approving nod. He kept watching the Great Yu Empire's army, furrowing his brow anew at the sight of their artillery.