832 The Start of the War (1/2)
The wind was blowing hard.
Dugu Xian ordered the first 10,000-men army to launch their attack. Flags fluttered as gusts of wind blew through them, and the sounds they made were so loud that they nearly drowned out the rumble of the horse hooves. The troops in the rear could only feel the shaking ground through their mounts.
Horseback archery was all about distance. Only when the distance was right could the Norland cavalrymen freely launch attacks on their enemies while keeping themselves safe at the same time. When two such armies engaged, the battlefield naturally became exceptionally vast. Even if there was only a small amount of dust in the air, the two sides would easily lose sight of each other.
Dugu Xian had ordered some of his men to build a dozen observing pavilions about sixteen to nineteen meters in height. The soldiers on them would take turns to report the battle situation. There were also scouts going back and forth between the front line and the Commander-in-chief.
Very soon, news came in that Luoluo had sent 20,000 to 30,000 men into battle. Dugu Xian waited awhile longer before ordering the second and the third 10,000-men armies to also depart. The two armies kept a certain distance from each other to make sure that they wouldn't enter the battlefield at the same time.
The 10,000 Dragon Army troops didn't move, because their weapons were mainly sabers and spears. When the number of the enemies was around the same as them, they would be committing suicide if they tried to engage the enemies. Like the common generals, Gu Shenwei stayed beside Dugu Xian – on the battlefield, even he had to follow the orders of the Commander-in-chief.
At the front line, the fighting had already begun. Numerous steeds galloped through the battlefield as roaring battle-cries shook the sky. Dust engulfed the entire battlefield and the sun was nowhere to be seen. Only the soldiers on the observing pavilions closest to the battleground could look through the dust and see the situation on the opposite side.
Luoluo didn't send more troops, and neither did Dugu Xian.
The news brought back by the front line scouts were becoming increasingly contradictory, indicating that the battle had entered a chaotic state.
Shangguan Ru was riding the Flame Foal, with dozens of female soldiers closely surrounding her. As she glanced at the Dragon King who was riding ahead of her at an angle, she suddenly felt nervous. A layer of fine sweat inexplicably appeared in her palms. As she stroked the Flame Foal's neck, which was as smooth as silk, she could feel the undulating muscles and the pulsating blood.
Her palms dried. Shangguan Ru raised her head and discovered that someone was looking at her.
Azheba hurriedly turned his head, feeling even more nervous than Shangguan Ru did – instead of staying at the rightmost position, the Dragon King was actually with the Middle Corps. Not only had he provided the wrong intelligence to Prince Duodun, but he also didn't know how he would control Dugu Xian later on.
Duodun had assigned ten guards to Azheba, telling him that they were all kung fu experts and should be able to overpower Tie Linglong who would be behind Dugu Xian. But if the Dragon King were there… Azheba could only hope that the Dragon King would enter the battlefield early on.
About three to five miles west of the Middle Corps, Mo Chu was sitting in a temporarily erected main tent, listening to the news from the front line. He knew his place was, so he seldom spoke, only using the phrase ”got it” as a universal answer. Only in one circumference, when Luoluo's army mounted an all-out attack, would he order the corresponding armies to attack.
The Dragon King had unexpectedly assigned Mo Lin to be his bodyguard. Mo Chu had been very surprised by this, and he also acted very politely, letting this old Khan's wing guard stand beside him.
Duodun had also sent a dozen guards who were now standing at the tent's entrance.
”This is not a good weather to fight in,” Mo Chu said casually. This was his ”main tent,” but these generals and guards were all under other people's command, which made him feel somewhat unwanted.
Mo Lin turned his body slightly as he said, ”It's the same for Luoluo.”
Mo Chu nodded, smiling. ”If the Court Attendants Army hasn't changed much, they will probably gain the upper hand.”
The soldiers of the Court Attendants Army indeed hadn't changed much, but all the officers had been replaced. Having no interest in chatting, Mo Lin simply mumbled ”Um” in response. The guards at the door then caught his attention.
They were neither Norlanders nor common soldiers. Judging from the way they stood and held their sabers, they were better at fighting on foot than at horseback archery.
Mo Lin said to Mo Chu, ”I'm going to go check something.”
”Check what?”
”Just a routine check on the circumstances outside.”
”Heh-heh. I'm talking too much. Go ahead.”
Mo Lin walked out of the tent. Outside, there were the hundred plus soldiers guarding Mo Chu, and a bit further away, some troops who were holding reins and waiting to join the fight. The front line scouts were riding back one by one like an endless stream of ants.
There was nothing unusual. Mo Lin walked back towards the tent and encountered an oncoming guard sent by Duodun.
”His Highness hopes that you will stand by wherever you are,” the guard said in a low voice.
”You're from the Western Regions?” Mo Lin asked.
The guard raised his head and shot him a dark glance but didn't answer. Mo Lin was pretty sure that no Norland soldier would show such an expression before a wing guard of the previous Khan.
In the tent, a scout had just brought back the latest news. ”The enemy's right wing is on the move. Our left wing is ready to fight.”
”Got it,” Mo Chu answered as usual. The left wing was under Duodun and Liman's command, so he didn't have to issue any orders.
In the tent of the left wing's Commander-in-chief, Duodun was sitting at the chief position, with Liman and the other companions encircling the prince. In fact, Duodun had already taken full command of the Left Corps. As an utter puppet, Liman's status was even lower than that of Mo Chu.
This was the final life-or-death showdown, and Duodun wouldn't entrust the power to anyone else.
”Azheba's an idiot.” Duodun tried very hard to control himself, but he still burst into anger. ”His only job was to figure out where the Dragon King would be, and yet he still screwed it up.”
A couple of companions snorted in schadenfreude.
”It's no big deal.” Liman always took on the unpleasant roles. ”The Dragon King will definitely join the fight himself. Azheba can still stick to the original plan.”
”Definitely, definitely. Azheba also said definitely. You're all the same – always thinking that you're smart and that others are stupid.”
Duodun felt that he had gone too far, so he intimately slapped Liman's shoulder twice as he said, ”You are very smart. Azheba has amazing courage, but his taste is terrible. His judgement has been clouded by a woman.”
He was just talking about woman when a guard came in and reported, ”The Second Consort's here.”
Duodun frowned as he thought, The Second Consort's growing bolder and bolder. She's even daring enough to come here on this occasion. It seems that she worrying that others won't be able to realize our special relationship.
Her face full of smiles, the Second Consort walked in, followed by two maidservants. ”How's it going at the front line? All the news I heard is outdated. I can't wait any longer.”