si-mexico Chapter 1138 The Battle for National Destiny (4)
Chapter 1138 The Battle for National Destiny (4)
The cavalryman recognized this type of cavalry.
Battle reports have described the Qing army's cavalry as steel monsters, but the rumors are far less shocking than seeing it with one's own eyes.
In contrast, the cavalry he led looked more like a band of bandits...
There are also differences between heavy cavalry.
This overwhelming momentum... is something that ordinary heavy cavalry simply cannot withstand.
However, at this moment, the two armies charged towards each other, and the distance between them began to close rapidly. It was a situation where the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released.
Any hesitation or change of direction will only expose your flanks to the enemy, leading to an even faster demise.
"May the King bless us! Charge forward!"
The Tibetan cavalry general let out a roar filled with fear, then spurred his horse forward, raising his scimitar at the same time.
The cavalry behind them knew there was no way to retreat, so they let out wild howls, brandished their weapons, and charged toward the ever-approaching steel wall.
The two cavalry forces, like two raging tides of different colors, collided with a thunderous roar on the snow-covered plain.
Just tens of meters before the impact, Yue Yun also pulled down his face armor, revealing only a pair of cold, star-like eyes.
A furious roar, capable of shattering metal and splitting rocks, erupted from his throat: "Armored Cavalry—"
"Charge! Charge! Charge!!!"
The three thousand iron cavalry behind him, as if they were one person, erupted with a deafening battle roar, casting aside their last trace of distraction and leaving only the purest will to kill.
boom--
A series of dull, deafening explosions echoed along the contact line!
It was a violent collision between steel and flesh, bones, and leather.
They pressed against each other and then broke apart, producing terrifying muffled thuds.
Yue Yun took the lead, his bright silver spear transforming into a roaring silver dragon.
He didn't parry the opponent's weapon at all; relying solely on his terrifying speed and powerful strength, he precisely thrust out, retracted, and thrust out again the tip of his spear in the instant the two passed each other!
puff-
The Tibetan cavalry's chainmail was like paper against the weighted spearhead; his chest was pierced instantly, and he fell from his horse with a scream.
With a flash of silver light, before another cavalryman's scimitar could fall, his neck was swept by the spear blade, and his head flew into the air with a spray of blood.
Yue Yun moved with his spear, becoming one with his horse, tearing a bloody path through the Tibetan cavalry.
Wherever they went, men and horses fell, and there was not a single enemy they could defeat.
His personal guard followed closely behind, like the tip of an arrow, easily splitting open a gap in the Tibetan cavalry's charging formation.
The heavily armored cavalry of the Qing army that followed closely behind demonstrated what a true crushing charge looks like!
They simply pointed the spears tucked under their arms forward and, relying on the terrifying kinetic energy of their warhorses charging at full speed, rammed into them!
Bang—Crack!
When the Tibetan cavalry's scimitars struck the Qing army cavalry's heavy armor, they mostly only managed to send up a trail of sparks and leave shallow white marks.
Their chainmail, however, proved much more vulnerable to the Qing army's armor-piercing spears and terrifying impact.
Long spears easily pierced through chainmail, stabbing into the chests and abdomens of Tibetan cavalrymen, and even using the horse's momentum to lift them off their horses.
The inevitable clash between warhorses was a foregone conclusion.
The Qing army's armored warhorses were tall and heavy, fully clad in armor, while the Tibetan mountain horses were relatively small, and they suffered a great loss in such a clash.
The sound of bones breaking rang out one after another, and the Tibetan warhorse neighed and rolled to the ground, throwing its rider off its back.
Some of the Qing army cavalrymen's lances broke during the impact, so they drew their spare sabers and maces and continued to hack and slash.
With the help of the horse's momentum, a saber can often cleave an opponent in two with a single strike, armor and all.
When the mace struck, the skull shattered and brain matter splattered everywhere!
The Tibetan cavalry's formation was shattered the moment they made contact.
They may be brave and fearless, but in the face of an absolute technological gap in equipment, individual bravery seems pale and powerless.
The Qing army's heavily armored cavalry was like a killing machine, using its ferocious power to completely crush their charge from the front.
The situation was almost entirely one-sided, a massacre.
Tibetan cavalrymen were constantly being stabbed, cut down, or knocked away, while the Qing army's heavy cavalry, though suffering minor casualties, maintained their formation intact.
A collapse is only a matter of time.
. . . . . .
The main camp of the Qing army, under the central banner.
Wang Sanchun put down his binoculars, his face showing little surprise, and simply nodded slightly.
Several generals from the Northwest and Sichuan provinces standing nearby could not help but show their joy.
Someone whispered a cheer: "General Yueyun is truly mighty! Our Great Qing armored cavalry is so invincible!"
"The Tibetan cavalry are nothing special. Let's see if they dare to launch a flanking attack again!"
"With such cavalry, who would dare to provoke my Great Qing?"
Most of these generals had heard of the armored cavalry's exploits, but this was the first time they had witnessed them in action, and they couldn't help but feel proud.
Wang Sanchun frowned, and without turning his head, said in a deep voice, "Silence! Are you getting carried away after winning a game?"
The generals immediately fell silent, embarrassed.
Wang Sanchun's gaze remained fixed on the Tibetan main force ahead: "Don't forget how the battle report described the Tibetans: 'Weak archers and weak cavalry, but their heavy infantry are exceptionally brave.'"
"Their cavalry are brave and fierce, but in terms of equipment, they are not even as good as the elite cavalry of the grasslands, let alone able to compete with the top-class armored heavy cavalry under General Yueyun's command."
"Killing and scattering them is the only right thing to do, so why should we be happy?"
Wang Sanchun was very clear-headed; a war is not something that can be resolved once a victory is achieved.
Until the very last moment, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious.
The impetuous man of yesteryear has now developed the composure and magnanimity of a great general.
Wang Sanchun paused, then pointed to the Tibetan army formation: "The real tough nuts to crack are those who haven't been touched yet."
“Those heavy infantrymen composed of noble private soldiers are the enemy’s trump card.”
"Order all troops to remain vigilant and on high alert. Keep your eyes wide open!"
The generals were startled and quickly and solemnly agreed, returning to their posts to relay their commander's warning.
In contrast, the atmosphere within the Tibetan army was completely different.
Beneath the central banner, the faces of most of the noble generals had lost all color.
The cavalry on both flanks shattered like fragile ice under the crushing force of the Qing army's cavalry. The survivors scattered in panic and could no longer pose an effective threat.
Seeing this scene unfold before their eyes, the generals were immediately thrown into a panic.
"Great news! The cavalry has been defeated!"
"What kind of cavalry is the Qing Army? Both men and horses are made of iron, and when they charge, it's like a mountain moving!"
"It's over. The flank has been lost. The Qing army's artillery can now bombard us at will!"
"Great Master, it is getting late. Why don't we retreat for now and regroup?"
"The Qing army's firearms are formidable, and their cavalry is so fierce; a direct confrontation would be..."
"Yes, the first battle was unsuccessful, and our morale has been dampened. It would be better to temporarily avoid direct confrontation..."
The cacophony of voices buzzed around Lu Dongzan's ears like flies.
These generals usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly in their fiefdoms, and when they led their troops out, they only bullied weaker neighboring countries.
At this moment, in front of a truly ruthless character, he revealed his true nature of being all bark and no bite.
The veins on the back of Lu Dongzan's hand, which was gripping the horsewhip, bulged.
How could he not be surprised? How could he not be angry?
The Qing army's heavy cavalry was more powerful than the enemy's artillery.
The Qing army's firepower and troop coordination put him under unprecedented pressure.
He first used slave soldiers to wear down and probe the enemy's formation, and then used elite cavalry to flank and break through their lines, but he couldn't even get a foothold in their formation!
"enough!"
A furious shout drowned out all the noise.
Lu Dongzan turned around, his cold gaze sweeping over the generals like a hawk's.
Everyone who saw him felt a chill run down their spine and instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Lu Dongzan's voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth: "The two armies are facing each other, and the battle formations have been set. We have only suffered two setbacks, and we are already forced to retreat in haste?"
"Do you all know that once this order is given, the morale of the army will immediately collapse, and if the Qing army takes advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack, it will be a rout!"
"At that time, what we will lose will not only be this battle, but also the shield of Tibet in the eastern plateau, as well as your glory, territory, and even your lives!"
His words were like iron, striking the hearts of everyone present.
They were not unaware of the consequences of retreating, but were temporarily blinded by fear.
Now that Lu Dongzan had exposed him, he broke out in a cold sweat.
"If we lose the first battle, we can't fight anymore? That's absurd!" Lu Dongzan's chest heaved slightly as he forcefully suppressed his surging blood. "Our Tibetan Empire was founded not on archery and horsemanship, but on the heavy infantry forged in the high mountains and fertile soil!"
His gaze returned to the battlefield, his fierce spirit reignited: "The Qing army relies on nothing more than these strange weapons and momentary courage, while our Tubo has heavy armored warriors who can endure hardship and fight to the death!"
He took a deep breath; the cold air of the plateau made him clearer-headed and helped him make a decision.
We can't test the waters anymore, we can't hold back any longer.
We must unleash our true strength, crush them head-on with overwhelming force, and defeat them using the methods that Tibetan warriors excel at!
"Pass on the order!" Lu Dongzan's voice resounded throughout the central army, "The scattered slave soldiers need not be gathered up any further; let them fend for themselves!"
"The supervisory team must advance, drive away the remaining slave soldiers, and disrupt the Qing army's front lines regardless of casualties!"
Those slave soldiers were just cannon fodder anyway, so let's squeeze out their last bit of value and use them to create chaos.
"All 'Katsura' warriors, assemble at the front!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the noble generals around him, and called out the names of two of them: "You two will personally lead the 'Gui' warriors as the vanguard of the central army, and the rest of the units will follow in turn!"
"If we fail this time, you two will bring your heads to me!"
Upon hearing this, the two generals felt as if a stone was lodged in their hearts.
They were also known for their bravery and were considered fierce generals in the Tibetan army, confident that they were no less than General Qing.
But... that depends on how you play!
If it's a battle between two armies, there's no question, they'll fight to the death! Even if they're outmatched, at least they'll know why they died!
However, the Qing army's methods were endless, and heaven knows what other strange and bizarre things they might have up their sleeves, leaving people completely uncertain.
But now, on the battlefield, no matter how afraid he is, he dares not disobey orders.
The two had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Yes!"