Chapter 290 – Xu Shu’s Strategem (4) (1/2)

Xu Shu’s Strategem (4)

Liao Hua already had thoughts of death. The two thousand troops he brought with him were veterans and elites. However, they were now being slaughtered by others. They did not even have the chance to resist. Heavy cavalries were meant to crush light infantries. There was even once in the Song Dynasty where five thousand heavy cavalries crushed an army of two hundred thousand.

Heavy cavalries do not only rely on their armors but also on the sharpness of their swords. Another reason was that heavy cavalries could easily cause fear. Now, the two hundred cavalry has turned into a nightmare for the infantries.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!” The two hundred cavalries pierced through Liao Hua’s Army like a sharp knife. Two thousand of Liao Hua’s troops fell within the first moment. Unless there were preparations, it would only be slaughter when infantries fight against cavalries.

“Ah!” Someone finally collapsed. They now blamed their parents for not giving them longer legs, causing them to run more slowly. Because they were slow, they were killed. The ones that were killed were the happy ones. Some did not die and were dragged away by the cavalry. They were then trampled in the mud and experienced their bones being broken.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!” There were also those audacious few that did not fear death. They pulled out their swords and charged towards the cavalry. They wanted to live and thus, fought desperately. One soldier from Liao Hua’s Army gritted his teeth. He slashed at one of the armored soldiers. His eyes were ferocious. He targeted the rib area. Once he managed to cut it, he would have also cut down the bones and internal organs. However, he was soon stunned because instead of cutting the bones, there was only a series of sparks on the armor. Impossible! How can this be?

That soldier was unable to believe it. However, he no longer needs to think about it. This is because the that armored cavalry already chopped off his head. Without a head, there would be no thoughts or fear. What else was he able to think of?

The smart ones stopped trying to cut down the soldiers as it was evident that it was not easy to cut through that armor. They started targeting the horses. However, the cavalry places more importance in protecting their horses as opposed to protecting themselves. How could they give others the chance to attack their horses? That was why those that tried to attack the horse suffer worse fates than those attacking the soldiers riding it. The ones that attacked the horses were all trampled to death.

“Detestable!” Liao Hua felt even more depressed. He as unable to do anything as his opponents were too powerful. His own elites were chopped down like vegetables. Liao Hua felt hatred. If he had known, he would have been more prepared. The heavy cavalry would also not be able to slaughter them.

“N!” Liao Hua suddenly felt his heart grew tight. This was a general’s instinct. He felt as though he was stared at by someone, causing him to stand up straight. Liao Hua looked at the person staring and found Zhao Long. Zhao Long looked at everyone and sneered when he found Liao Hua.

“This is bad!” Liao Hua also knew that he was facing a crisis. So, he hurried his bodyguards stand in front of him. However, his guards were not of much use. If they were White Eared soldiers, they may have been able to withstand the heavy attacks of the heavy cavalry. Unfortunately, they were only Yuzhou Yellow Turbans. They were only ordinary light infantries and were easily overturned by the cavalry.

“Trying to rob our Xiliang Cavalry’s things? You must really be tired of living!” Zhao Long rushed over and roared.

“Xiliang Cavalry!” Liao Hua gritted his teeth hard. He never expected the Xiliang Cavalry to only be friendly on the surface. The man had praised Liao Hua and invited him for a drink, left, and then come back fighting.

“These barbarians! These shameless people!” Liao Hua shouted in his heart as his feet continued to display his skill. Running. Fortunately, Liao Hua was a Yellow Turban, who were experts in running. They were chased often by officers and soldiers. Those that were slow have already perished.

Besides that, Liao Hua’s men also gave him a small glimmer of hope. His bodyguards did not run away like him. Instead, they advanced towards the heavy cavalry, so that their master, Liao Hua, could live.

“Interesting. Interesting!” Zhao Long looked admirably at the bodyguards that sacrificed themselves for Liao Hua. Their loyalty was truly admired by Zhao Long. If both sides were not hostile, he would really not want to kill them. However, since they were enemies, Zhao Long would not show mercy. Zhao Long knew the difference between sympathy and killing.

Even the soldiers were not afraid of death and charged in front, they were still light infantries that are unable to stop heavy cavalries. On top of that, Zhao Long’s heavy cavalry was not an ordinary armored cavalry. Not only do they have a connection with the Wolf Cavalry. They were also related to the White Horse.

If Zhao Long took this seriously, Liao Hua would not be able to escape. Zhao Long could completely ignore these cannon fodder and rush straight to Liao Hua, killing him in one swoop. However, he deliberately slow down. The others also slowed down.

Liao Hua must not be killed. If he was killed, there would be no one to identify them as the Xiliang Cavalry.

“Use the carriages!” There were som really smart people amongst Liao Hua’s men. He knew that infantries could only choose to perish when fighting against heavy cavalries. However, if the heavy cavalry slows down, they would have a path to escape. The best thing to do would be to use the transport carriages. If they hide behind the carriages, they would be able to find a way out.

At that critical juncture with their lives threatened, Liao Hua’s Army broke out with unprecedented strength. They had no choice as the only other alternative was death. They quickly surrounded themselves with the carriage before they could finally take a breather.

“Everyone, hold out! Our reinforcements are behind us. Leader Liu Pi would arrive soon. Everyone must hold out!” Liao Hua shouted at his own soldiers.

However, Liao Hua still felt anxious. Why are they not here yet? Aren’t they supposed to be here thirty minutes after us? How long has it been? If they do not appear soon, it is possible that we may all die here.

Zhao Long was also anxious like Liao Hua. He wanted Liao Hua’s reinforcements to arrive. This is because two thousand men was not enough for Zhao Long. Zhao Long felt helpless because if they kept killing, Liao Hua would be finished, causing the strategy to fail. He could not continue to kill.

The carriages may be useful against an ordinary cavalry but was actually worthless against heavy cavalries. At worst, they would just ram into the carriage. Besides that, Zhao Long’s ‘Xiliang Cavalry’ was very skilled and could just jump over the carriage.

However, in order to wait for Liao Hua’s reinforcements, Zhao Long had to pretend to be stopped by the carriages. He gave a worried expression and shouted, “Bandit Liao Hua. If you have the ability, come on out!”

“Shameless Zhao Long. You even attack friendly forces. Wait and see. I want to see how General Yang Wu punishes you when, I, Liao Hua expose you to the Left General and say that you attack friendly forces for merits.” Liao Hua became bolder when he saw that Zhao Long and the Xiliang Cavalry seemingly had no way around the carriages.

“Heh. Our general let..!” The deputy from the ‘Xiliang Cavalry’ opened his mouth. However, he was soon slapped and stopped by Zhao Long. “Don’t talk so much nonsense!”

“Yes. Yes. Yes!” The deputy beaten by Zhao Long did not resist. In fact, he even looked like he was complimented.

Their general? Liao Hua looked into their eyes and was shocked. The more Liao Hua thought, the more afraid and bewitched.

He had no choice but to think. After all, even if they were friendly forces that had a falling out, it would not be right now. It would have been better for it to happen after Shou Chun has fallen. However, the two hundred Xiliang Cavalry had now killed so many soldiers under Liao Hua, causing a scene of tragedy. Only a few hundred of Liao Hua’s men remained. The others were already dead.

“Liao Hua. Did you really think I cannot enter?” Zhao Long looked at the edge of the forest as though he saw something. His voice became fierce again. “Let me tell you. You better not think that any one of you can escape. Those that heard the secret better stay here. Brothers. Kill them all and spare us from future troubles.” Zhao Long shouted at his subordinates.

“Yes!” The soldiers echoed in concert. “The Xiliang Cavalry is ready for another a.s.sault.” Their horses sped up. The earth began to shake again. Liao Hua’s heart tightened. Can these carriages really stop them?

The next scene made Liao Hua give up hope. This is because his carriage formation had three layers. Liao Hua was at the last one. When the Xiliang Cavalry reached the first one, there was no collision. Instead, all of them pulled their horses and just jumped over. The carriages were just like decorations. At most, the Xiliang Cavalry would just need to jump another two more times and Liao Hua would be finished.

“Will I really die here?” Liao Hua laughed bitterly. He felt really bitter. He never expected that he would not die by the hands of the enemy or on the walls but in the hands of allies. If he was killed today, he would not even know who was the one that killed him. He really felt depressed. He had thought that he could become someone who Liu Bei deemed as talented with these merits but in the end, it belonged to others.

Just as Liao Hua was about to give up, a battle cry suddenly came from around them. “Liao Hua. Do not be afraid. Liu Pi is here!”

“Kill! Kill them all!” Many troops appeared from the edge of the woods. One by one, they brandished their weapons and approached.

“What? An ambus.h.!.+” Zhao Long immediately shouted. Both he and Liao Hua gave a sigh of relief. Both of them were happy that reinforcements had arrived. If the reinforcement did not come, Zhao Long would have no choice but to kill Liao Hua.

The Xiliang Cavalry finally showed their riding skills and quickly got pa.s.s the three layers of carriages. They also killed a few people before leaving. “Liao Hua. You better remember me. I will be back. Collect your merits and wait!” After saying that, the two hundred cavalry ran and vanished from Liao Hua’s eyes.

“Phew.” Liao Hua finally relaxed. His forehead was filled with cold sweat. He had been very close to losing his life. Now that he had escaped death, he was in high spirits.

Zhao Long’s Xiliang cavalry quickly dispersed without coming into contact with Liu Pi’s Army. So, Liu Pi helped Liao Hua’s remaining troops to pick up the provisions and carriages. Liiu Pi then had time to meet with Liao Hua.