All positions reported being harassed by cavalry, but no one could say for sure how many cavalrymen there were.
These cavalrymen, each riding two horses, galloped back and forth, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sun, making it appear as if there were tens of thousands of cavalrymen.
Ma Zongliang received an urgent report from the lookout tower, his brow furrowing: "Zhao Muyun actually hid so many cavalrymen..."
He thought the Yin army's cavalry were all on the flanks, but he didn't expect there to be a reserve force behind the lines.
"General, the rear positions are in dire need of reinforcement. Should we send troops back to reinforce them?" Li Bao asked urgently.
Ma Zongliang pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "We can't divert them. This is Zhao Muyun's trick to lure us away from our base. He wants us to send troops back to reinforce our defenses and weaken our front line."
He looked toward the center of the battlefield—where Li Biao's five thousand imperial guards were locked in a bloody battle with the central formation of the Yin Army.
Although they have the upper hand for the time being, the left flank of the Yin army is closing in, and once they join forces, the situation will be reversed.
"Order Li Biao to defeat the enemy in front of him within fifteen minutes! Then immediately return to reinforce the central defense line to guard against the general offensive of the Yin Army!"
"yes!"
When the order was delivered, Li Biao was in the middle of a killing spree.
He wielded a long sword and killed three officers of the Yin army, his body covered in blood.
"General, the commander-in-chief has ordered a swift and decisive victory!"
Li Biao gritted his teeth, looking at the Yin Army who were still putting up a stubborn resistance, feeling anxious.
Although these Yin soldiers were surrounded, their formation remained intact, and they fought to the death without retreating.
To defeat them within fifteen minutes...
"Order the heavy armor battalion to advance! Break through the formation!"
Five hundred heavily armored infantrymen charged out from the Fengtian Army's ranks.
These men were covered in iron armor and wielded giant axes and hammers, making them formidable weapons for attacking fortified positions.
They crashed into the Yin army's ranks like iron towers, wielding giant axes that shattered shields and killed men wherever they went.
The central formation of the Yin army finally could not hold on and began to collapse.
"Retreat! Move closer to friendly forces!" Li Mao ordered hoarsely.
The remaining few thousand Yin soldiers began to break out to the left, attempting to join the approaching left-wing formation.
How could Li Biao let them have their way?
"Chase them! Leave no one alive!"
The Fengtian Army seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack.
But just as they were pursuing, the left flank of the Yin army suddenly changed formation—the front-line swordsmen and shieldmen scattered to both sides, revealing a full thousand crossbowmen behind them.
These were not ordinary crossbowmen, but the Lin Yuan Crossbow Battalion, equipped with the most powerful crossbows such as the "Divine Arm Crossbow" and the "Armor-Piercing Cone".
"put!"
A thousand crossbow bolts were fired simultaneously, their sharp, piercing sound cutting through the air.
Caught off guard, the pursuing Fengtian troops fell in droves.
The five hundred heavily armored infantrymen at the forefront became sitting ducks—their iron armor was like paper in front of the crossbow, and the crossbow bolts pierced through their breastplates and emerged from their backs.
"There's an ambush! Retreat!" Li Biao ordered urgently.
But it was too late.
A second wave of crossbow bolts followed, then a third...
Three volleys of fire resulted in over half of the pursuing Fengtian Army troops being killed or wounded.
Li Biao was struck in the shoulder by an arrow; the arrowhead pierced through his armor, reaching deep enough to expose the bone.
"General, run!" The guards fought desperately to protect him.
Li Biao gritted his teeth and pulled out the arrow, blood gushing out.
He glanced at the battlefield—the left flank of the Yin army had rejoined the remnants of the central forces and regrouped.
On the Fengtian Army's side, nearly half of its 5,000 elite troops had been lost, leaving them unable to fight any longer.
"Withdraw...withdraw back to the defensive line..." he ordered hoarsely.
The Fengtian Army began its retreat.
Yin Jun did not pursue, but slowly retreated back to the starting position.
In their first encounter, both sides had their share of victories and defeats.
The central formation of the Yin army suffered approximately 4,000 casualties, while the Feng army suffered approximately 3,000 casualties.
However, the Fengtian Army revealed its trump cards, such as heavily armored infantry and ballistae, while the Yin Army's super crossbow also alarmed Ma Zongliang.
At noon, both sides temporarily ceased hostilities.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com