Behind him, 30,000 infantrymen were arranged in ten square formations, each with 3,000 men. The first three formations were swordsmen and shieldmen, the middle three formations were spearmen, the last three formations were archers and crossbowmen, and the last formation was engineers and auxiliary soldiers.
The formation was disciplined, and the atmosphere was tense and silent.
"Brothers!" Wu Shangzhi's voice boomed, "Today's battle concerns the fate of the world! Behind us are the Great General, His Majesty, and countless people!"
"Before us stand two hundred thousand enemy troops—so what? We've braved the snows of Yunzhou and the sands of the Western Regions! Today, we'll trample this Yi River as well!"
"Sweep the Yi River flat! Sweep the Yi River flat!"
Thirty thousand people shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the plains.
On the Fengtian Army's observation platform on the north bank, Ma Zongliang squinted at the opposite bank.
In the morning mist, the Yin army's formation was so disciplined it was chilling.
He listened intently, then suddenly frowned: "Something's not right... It's too quiet."
"General?" the soldier asked, puzzled.
“Zhao Muyun’s military tactics always combine feints and real attacks. Such a grand display of force seems to be…” Before Ma Zongliang could finish speaking, war drums suddenly sounded on the south bank.
"Thump thump thump—thump thump thump—"
The drumbeats were rapid and heavy, like a torrential downpour, and the first three waves of the Yin army began their advance.
The swordsmen, carrying large rattan shields, slowly walked towards the riverbank.
In spring, the Yi River is about thirty feet wide, and at its deepest point it is only waist-deep, but the current is rapid.
"Archers, prepare!" Li Biao shouted at the front of the central army.
At the forefront of the 50,000 Imperial Guards, 10,000 archers drew their bows and nocked their arrows, the arrowheads pointing diagonally into the sky.
Logs and stones were piled up on the riverbank, waiting for half of Yin's army to cross the river.
Wu Shangzhi, who had a clear view from behind the lines, raised his command flag: "Frontline troops, wade through the water!"
Three thousand swordsmen and shieldmen stepped into the Yi River.
The icy river water soaked through their boots, yet they moved with steady steps, shields held high, forming a moving wall on the river.
"Release the arrows!"
Li Biao waved his command flag, and ten thousand arrows were unleashed.
Arrows flew across the river like locusts, most of them embedding themselves in the rattan shields with a dull "thud".
Occasionally, an arrow would pierce through the gap, and a soldier would groan and fall to the ground, his blood staining the river red.
But the formation remained intact, and the back row immediately filled in.
"Second wave, follow up!" Wu Shangzhi waved the command flag again.
Another three thousand people stepped into the river.
At this time, there were already 6,000 people wading across the river, forming a line that stretched for half a mile.
Watching from the observation tower, Ma Zongliang's doubts deepened: "Zhao Muyun... are you really going to force your way across? But this is too slow..."
Logically, when crossing a river, one should act swiftly and decisively to avoid being caught off guard.
But Yin Jun's speed was like taking a stroll.
"General, the ambush troops on the south bank are requesting permission to attack," a personal guard reported.
Ma Zongliang hesitated for a moment: "Wait a little longer. Wait until they cross to the middle of the river..."
Before he could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred.
A deafening roar suddenly erupted in the hilly area west of the Yi River.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com