Wu Shangzhi and Guo Luo led 500 cavalrymen, who had been equipped with Lu Zhizi's new heavy armor, and demonstrated their terrifying power in actual combat for the first time.
charge!
Like a torrent of steel sweeping across!
The arrows fired by the Tartar cavalry protecting the grain were deflected with a clang, and their scimitars could only leave shallow marks on the heavy armor.
However, the spears and lances of the heavy cavalry from Hedong could easily pierce through the enemy's leather armor and even chainmail.
The battle was almost a one-sided massacre. In less than half an hour, the entire grain escort team was wiped out, and the grain was burned to ashes. The towering flames were particularly conspicuous under the night sky.
"Great nails!"
Wu Shangzhi stroked a shallow mark on the armor plate and exclaimed in admiration.
This new armor not only offers amazing protection, but also has a more reasonable weight distribution, making it more durable for charging.
Having won the first battle, Zhao Muyun did not linger and the army continued northward.
He broke the army down into smaller units.
Murong Chunhua, Namtso, and Huanwu (commander of the Wuhuan cavalry) were three light cavalry generals, each leading more than a thousand riders, who scattered and attacked like three agile daggers.
Murong Chunhua was skilled in raids. In one night, he attacked three Northern Di post stations and a small military horse farm, capturing a number of horses.
The Qiang and Rong cavalry of Namtso were familiar with the mountainous terrain. They crossed the hills and launched a surprise attack on a Northern Di tribe that was resting in the valley, capturing a large number of cattle and sheep and replenishing their military rations on the spot.
The Wuhuan cavalry, led by Wuhuan Su, were even more ferocious. They even disguised themselves as defeated Northern Di soldiers and approached a poorly defended county town before launching a sudden attack.
They even managed to storm the county town, burning down government offices and some granaries, causing panic among the surrounding northern barbarian garrisons.
These actions greatly disrupted the rear of the Northern Barbarians, hindering the transmission of messages and leaving their logistical supply lines riddled with holes.
Wuzhu began to receive a constant stream of bad news about attacks on the rear while he was at the front.
Meanwhile, Zhao Muyun personally led the central army, which consisted of Wu Shangzhi and Guo Luo's heavy cavalry, Xi Sheng's Mo Dao Battalion, Liu Yi's Shenji Battalion, and Tang Yanhai's scout battalion. This army was like a sharp sword hidden in the fog, which was silent until it moved, and when it did, it was as powerful as thunder!
Their first major target was Linming Pass, a strategic transportation hub.
This pass is not large, but it is located on a key road leading to Zhuozhou, and the garrison is about two thousand men.
Zhao Muyun did not launch a direct attack; instead, he chose to outsmart the enemy.
As night fell, Tang Yanhai's scouts, skilled in their own right, silently eliminated the sentries on the wall.
Immediately, like giant apes in the darkness, they used their grappling hooks to scale the city walls and open the city gates.
"Enter the city! Mo Dao Battalion, clear the way! Shen Ji Battalion, occupy the high ground! Heavy cavalry, block the streets!"
Zhao Muyun's command was concise and powerful.
The battle broke out in the narrow streets and barracks inside the pass.
In this environment, the Mo Dao Battalion displayed terrifying close combat capabilities. Their gleaming Mo Dao blades were almost unstoppable, cleaving through the hastily responding Northern Di soldiers, armor and all!
Liu Yi's Shenji Battalion used repeating crossbows to block key routes and accurately shot down officers who attempted to organize resistance.
Wu Shangzhi and Guo Luo's heavy and light cavalry charged back and forth on the main streets, completely crushing any organized resistance from the defenders.
At daybreak, Linming Pass changed hands.
This battle not only cleared the way forward, but also captured a large amount of defensive equipment and some food supplies. Liu Yi's Shenji Battalion also received a significant replenishment of arrows.
With a series of victories, their military might is heading straight for Zhuozhou!
This is the most important barrier in the south of Youzhou. If we take it, the gates of Youzhou will be wide open!
The garrison commander of Zhuozhou was Darughachi, a veteran general of the Northern Di, who commanded 8,000 troops, including 1,000 elite soldiers from the Northern Di royal court.
He had already received warnings, strengthened the city's defenses, and prepared ample supplies for its defense.
Zhao Muyun knew this was a tough nut to crack.
The army approached the city but did not attack immediately. Instead, they set up camp and sent out scouts to conduct thorough reconnaissance.
"The city walls are sturdy, and the moat is wide and fed by fresh water. The garrison on the city walls is heavily guarded, with ample supplies of logs, rolling stones, hot oil, and molten gold. A direct assault would result in heavy losses," Tang Yanhai reported.
Liu Yi added, "Our army has used up nearly half of its fire oil and thunderbolts in successive battles, so we need to use them with caution."
After pondering for a long time, Zhao Muyun decided on a strategy: "Surround three sides and leave one open, feign an attack on the north and east gates, and launch the main attack on the west gate!"
"The Divine Machine Battalion will concentrate all its Divine Machine Cannons and bombard the West Gate tower and a section of the city wall to create chaos and breaches!"
"The Mo Dao Battalion is on standby. Once the breach is opened, seize and secure it immediately! Heavy cavalry, prepare to deliver a crushing blow if the enemy launches a counterattack!"
The battle began the following morning.
Liu Yi's Shenji Battalion pushed ten improved Shenji cannons to the front of the formation and bombarded the west gate fiercely.
The deafening roar was deafening as the solid iron ball smashed into the brick-clad city wall, sending bricks and stones flying and dust billowing everywhere.
Although it could not immediately breach the city walls, it caused enormous psychological pressure and casualties among the defending troops.
Meanwhile, Murong Chunhua and Namtso's light cavalry launched feint attacks at the north and east gates to draw away the defending troops.
The Darughachi was also a veteran. He figured out Zhao Muyun's main attack direction and moved the main force to the west gate.
The bombardment lasted for half an hour, and the west gate tower was already in ruins, with cracks appearing in a section of the city wall.
Seeing that the time was right, Zhao Muyun ordered: "Mo Dao Battalion! Charge!"
With a roar, Xi Sheng took the lead, wielding his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), and led the Mo Dao Battalion, which was like an iron fortress, in a desperate charge towards the West Gate.
The defending troops rained arrows down, but the soldiers of the Mo Dao Battalion, clad in heavy armor, were fearless and charged to the city walls amidst the arrow rain. They erected ladders and climbed them with all their might!
The defenders on the city wall desperately pounded down logs and stones, poured hot oil down, and then set it on fire.
In an instant, the area below the city was engulfed in flames.
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